Destruction of the Bethel Temple had been foretold way back in 2 Kings 13.1-3

• “I am the Lord; that is my name; my glory I give to no other, nor my praise to carved idols.” Isa 42.8

• The necessity of reforming the church arose from the fact that the first thing that goes off the tangent is often in the area of worship

• When true worship goes, so goes true religion

3. Punishment for the Unrepentant (v. 2-10)

• The Lord knows the sins of every man and woman past, present and future
• “The soul who sins shall die. The son shall not suffer for the iniquity of the father, nor the father suffer for the iniquity of the son. The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon himself.” Eze 18.20
• There is no escape from the wrath of God 
• “So too at the present time there is a remnant, chosen by grace” Rom 11:5

4. Prosperity of God’s kingdom (v. 11-15)