5. (a) What prophet of the seventh century B.C.E. also had a vision of that war, and what does his name mean? (b) How does Habakkuk 3:1 indicate that he was interested in sacred music?

⁵ Seven centuries before the Christian prophet John gave the name of the battlefield of the coming universal war, Har–Magedon, there was a Hebrew prophet who gave a description of that same war. His Hebrew name was Habakkuk, which means “Embrace (of love),” or, “Ardent Embrace.” He finished writing his thrilling prophecy about the year 628 before our Common Era. He was interested in sacred music. This is indicated in the third and last Hab chapter 3 of the book of his prophecy, which is in the form of a lyric, a poem that was to be set to music. The opening verse of this chapter Hab 3:1 suggests mournful strains of music, such as those of dirges, saying: “The prayer of Habakkuk the prophet in dirges”; or, as The Jerusalem Bible says: “tone as for dirges.” Other Bible translations give the Hebrew word here for “dirges,” and read: “Upon Shigionoth,” or, “according to songs, or, tunes,” or, according to the Authorized Version Bible margin: “according to variable songs, or, tunes.” (Jewish Publication Society; An American Translation; Authorized Version) The New American Bible says: “To a plaintive tune.”

6. (a) What does the close of Habakkuk 3:19 further suggest regarding the prophet? (b) What building did he doubtless have in mind, and why?

⁶ The chapter closes with another musical reference, reading: “To the director on my stringed instruments.” (Hab. 3:19; Byington; AT) Other translations render the Hebrew term for “director” as “choirmaster” and “Leader.” (Revised Standard Version; Je; JP) Moffatt’s translation reads: “From the Choirmaster’s collection.” These musical references have suggested to some that Habakkuk was a member of the choir of the temple at Jerusalem and hence was a Levite. At least, on finishing his lyrical prayer, the prophet Habakkuk handed it to the musical director at the temple for him to compose a suitable melody for it. The prophet Habakkuk doubtless had the temple in mind, for, immediately before his lyrical prayer, he says: “But Jehovah is in his holy temple. Keep silence before him, all the earth!”​—Hab. 2:20.

7. Which one was the temple referred to in Habakkuk 2:20?

⁷ Likely the temple at Jerusalem was the one that Habakkuk had in mind, but the real reference is to Jehovah’s heavenly spiritual temple, that He built, and not King Solomon of Jerusalem. It was into the Most Holy of this spiritual temple that Jesus the Messiah entered after his resurrection from the dead and his ascension to heaven in the year 33 of our Common Era.​—Heb. 8:2; 9:23, 24.

8, 9. Where do the Holy Scriptures locate the fulfillment of Habakkuk’s prophetic prayer, and how so?

⁸ As we study Habakkuk’s lyrical prayer, we can appreciate why he called for plaintive tunes or dirgelike melody for it. He did not live to see his prophetic prayer answered. The Christian Greek Scriptures quote from Habakkuk’s prophecy and locate its final fulfillment in the future, in our own generation. That is why we are interested in it. Our faith in the inspiration of the prophecy and its sureness leads us to look for its fulfillment in our generation. The book of Hebrews, written to the Christianized Hebrews about the year 61 of our Common Era, quotes from Habakkuk’s prophecy, Hab chapter two, verses three and four, and says:

⁹ “You have need of endurance, in order that, after you have done the will of God, you may receive the fulfillment of the promise. For yet ‘a very little while,’ and ‘he who is coming will arrive and will not delay.’ ‘But my righteous one will live by reason of faith,’ and, ‘if he shrinks back, my soul has no pleasure in him.’ Now we are not the sort that shrink back to destruction, but the sort that have faith to the preserving alive of the soul.”​—Heb. 10:36-39.

A “PRAYER” FOR WHOM, FOR WHAT?

10. (a) While speaking in the first person, in what way was Habakkuk speaking? (b) Thus how could the prayer be answered in behalf of the one prayed for?

¹⁰ In his prophetic prayer, Habakkuk speaks in the first person, using the pronouns I, my, me. Really, though, he is speaking representatively. He represents the nation of his people, the people of the kingdom of Judah with Jerusalem as its capital. This is clear from Hab chapter three, verses thirteen through sixteen, where we read: “And you went forth for the salvation of your people, to save your anointed one. . . . With his own rods you pierced the head of his warriors when they moved tempestuously to scatter me. . . . and in my situation I was agitated, that I should quietly wait for the day of distress.” So the one that was to be scattered by an army of warriors under a military leader was, not Habakkuk himself, but the nation of which the prophet Habakkuk was a member. So the answer to Habakkuk’s prayer could come after he himself was dead, and yet it would come upon the quietly waiting nation for whom he prayed.

11. What is there to say about whether Habakkuk’s prayer was fulfilled upon the Israelites in 607 B.C.E., or 539 B.C.E., or 70 C.E., and in 1967 C.E.?

¹¹ In the year 607 before our Common Era the city of Jerusalem and its temple were destroyed by the armies of Babylon, but there was no answer to Habakkuk’s prayer then. Nor in the year 539 B.C.E., when the mightily walled city of Babylon on the Euphrates River fell to the victorious armies of the Medes and Persians under the Persian king, Cyrus the Great. The city of Jerusalem that was rebuilt thereafter, from 537 B.C.E. onward, suffered a destruction and its rebuilt temple along with it. That was in the year 70 of our Common Era, by the military legions of Rome under General Titus. And yet there was no answer to Habakkuk’s prophetic prayer at that time. On the site of the wrecked city of Jerusalem a new city was built by the Romans. Even down to the outbreak of World War I in the year 1914 that city continued under non-Jewish or Gentile rulers. The capture of the old walled city of Jerusalem by the Israelis in the six-day war of June 5-10, 1967, was not the answer to Habakkuk’s prayer. Nothing like what is described in chapter three of Habakkuk happened then or since to the Israelis.

12, 13. (a) Upon whom, then, is Habakkuk’s prayer due to be fulfilled? (b) What does the Christianized Hebrew Paul call these?

¹² In the light of the facts it is plain that Habakkuk’s prophetic prayer is not to have a fulfillment upon the political Republic of Israel nor upon the Zionist movement nor the natural Israelites who are citizens of the various Gentile countries all around the globe. There is a reason for this. To the Christianized Hebrews of the first century C.E., it was revealed that Habakkuk’s prophecy must have its fulfillment in favor of the faithful followers of Jesus the Messiah. These true disciples of him were anointed with the holy spirit of Jehovah God in the year 33 C.E. and thereafter, and so these form a spiritual Israel of God. They are spiritual Israelites, spiritual Jews. (Rom. 2:28, 29) Referring to this spiritual Israel, the Christianized Hebrew, the apostle Paul, wrote to the Christians in the province of Galatia:

¹³ “Never may it occur that I should boast, except in the torture stake of our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom the world has been impaled to me and I to the world. For neither is circumcision anything nor is uncircumcision, but a new creation is something. And all those who will walk orderly by this rule of conduct, upon them be peace and mercy, even upon the Israel of God.”​—Gal. 6:14-16; Moffatt, The Jerusalem Bible, Revised Standard Version.

14. (a) What is to be said as to whether Christendom is the “Israel of God”? (b) How do the spiritual Israelites of the first century and those of today correspond as to their experience?

¹⁴ In the days when the apostle Paul wrote those words, Christendom did not exist, and so Paul was not calling Christendom the “Israel of God.” First three centuries later did Christendom come into existence, in the days of the Roman Emperor Constantine the Great, the pagan Pontifex Maximus, and even down till now Christendom has not shown itself to be the spiritual Israel of God, blessed with “peace and mercy.” Both World War I and World War II broke out in Christendom, and the nations who then showed no mercy to one another were mostly nations of Christendom. The faithful Christians of the first century whom the apostle Paul called “the Israel of God” came under persecution by the Roman Empire. Correspondingly, the surviving remnant of that spiritual Israel of God that was living in the time of World Wars I and II came under persecution by the warring nations of Christendom. Why? Because such spiritual Israelites, anointed with God’s holy spirit, tried to “walk orderly by this rule of conduct,” not having any active part in shedding blood with the nations of Christendom.

15. Who make up this remnant of spiritual Israel since 1914 C.E., and how were they to be identified?

¹⁵ Who made up that remnant of spiritual Israelites anointed with holy spirit of Jehovah God? The facts of history identify them. They were the ones concerning whom Jesus Christ said in his prophecy about the “conclusion of the system of things”: “Then people will deliver you up to tribulation and will kill you, and you will be objects of hatred by all the nations on account of my name.” (Matt. 24:9) Those spirit-anointed Christians upon whom those prophetic words had their fulfillment since 1914 C.E. were the faithful Bible students known as Jehovah’s Christian witnesses. Their Christlike neutral position toward national politics, revolutions and international wars is well known world wide, and has focused upon them the hatred and persecution by Christendom and also nations no part of Christendom. Nevertheless, they are loved by Jehovah their God. As it were, they are in his ‘loving embrace,’ a fact that is suggested in the prophet’s name, Habakkuk.

16, 17. (a) Why is it very urgent for the remnant of spiritual Israel to make Habakkuk’s prayer their own? (b) Why was it appropriate for Habakkuk to instruct the “director” to set the prayer to dirge tones?

¹⁶ These spiritual Israelites today make the prophetic prayer of Habakkuk their own, and upon themselves they expect its fulfillment as an answer from Jehovah, whose spirit-anointed witnesses they are. There is very urgent reason for them to offer such a prayer to God. In the light of Bible prophecies and the situation that is developing throughout the earth, they expect that shortly, within this generation, the “great tribulation” will overtake Christendom and all the rest of this system of things and will reach its greatest intensity in the “war of the great day of God the Almighty” at Har–Magedon. They realize that this will mean great hardship for them and for all those who take their stand alongside the spirit-anointed remnant and become their loyal companions in suffering. Already there is a “great crowd” of such God-fearing companions, who are like strangers or ‘alien residents’ within the gates of spiritual Israel. (Rev. 7:9, 10, 14; Ex. 20:10; Matt. 24:21, 22) It was therefore quite fitting that the prophet Habakkuk should instruct the musical “director” of the temple at Jerusalem to compose the somber tones of a dirgea for these opening words:

¹⁷ “O Jehovah, I have heard the report about you. I have become afraid, O Jehovah, of your activity.”​—Hab. 3:2.

NATURALLY “AFRAID” AT SUPERNATURAL “ACTIVITY”

18. How did Habakkuk hear the “report” about Jehovah, and how does the remnant of spiritual Israel hear the “report”?

¹⁸ Like the Israelite prophet Habakkuk, the spirit-anointed remnant of spiritual Israelites today have heard the report about this God of the Holy Bible, whose name is Jehovah. By the time of Habakkuk’s prophecy, the greater part of the inspired Hebrew Scriptures had been written, and through the pages of these he had “heard the report” about Jehovah. Today the remnant of spiritual Israelites have all the inspired Hebrew Scriptures, and, in addition to them, all twenty-seven books of the inspired Greek Scriptures. By a diligent study of all these Sacred Scriptures the spirit-anointed remnant have “heard the report,” the true-to-fact report, about Habakkuk’s God, Jehovah. It is an awe-inspiring report of what actually took place because of Jehovah God.

19, 20. (a) How do the anointed remnant, like Habakkuk, see the ancient activity of Jehovah? (b) What effect should the “report” of such divine activity have upon the anointed remnant?

¹⁹ Through the Scriptural “report” the prophet Habakkuk saw his God Jehovah in action. Likewise, the anointed remnant of today, drawing a mental picture of Jehovah’s “activity” as described in the Scriptural “report,” have also seen Him in action. If they had been personally on the scene back there to be eyewitnesses of Jehovah’s activity, they would have “become afraid,” just as Habakkuk said that he was at the report alone. Just think of Jehovah’s activity in the year 1513 B.C.E., when he liberated the enslaved ancestors of Habakkuk in Egypt and then destroyed the chariots and horsemen of Pharaoh of Egypt as they madly pursued the escaping Israelites through the dried-up bed of the Red Sea.

²⁰ Think, too, of the fear-inspiring demonstration that Jehovah gave at Mount Sinai in Arabia at the time that he declared the Ten Commandments to the encamped Israelites. Think, further, of what activity he miraculously displayed in behalf of his chosen people during their forty-year wandering in the dangerous wilderness and how, at the end of those forty years, he brought this migrant people through the Jordan River at flood stage and into the Promised Land, in 1473 B.C.E. Think still further of Jehovah’s activity during the centuries when he raised up the judges to act as deliverers of his oppressed people. Yes, think of when, not too long before the time of Habakkuk, Jehovah used his heavenly angel to wipe out 185,000 Assyrian invaders in a single night and delivered Jerusalem from capture by the God-defying Assyrian king Sennacherib. If we try to visualize all this activity on the part of this Almighty God Jehovah, it should have no other effect than to make us afraid. Habakkuk admitted he was afraid.

21, 22. (a) Why was there need to bring to mind such a fear-inspiring “report,” both in Habakkuk’s case and in that of the anointed remnant? (b) So what fervent prayer of Habakkuk for action is it now the time for the remnant to take up?

²¹ Why, though, make oneself afraid? Why bring to mind such a fear-inspiring “report”? There was a need to do so as Habakkuk looked ahead prophetically to the future and foresaw an international attack upon the true worshipers of Jehovah. For the anointed remnant of today there is a need to do likewise, for now this remnant knows that it is getting close to the time of that international attack by the enemies of Jehovah. It is now a time to believe and depend on it that this God of such ancient “activity” is not dead! For the sake of the anointed remnant and their loyal companions he needs to be alive and just as active. So it is time for them to take up the fervent prayer of Habakkuk and say:

²² “In the midst of the years O bring it to life! In the midst of the years may you make it known. During the agitation, to show mercy may you remember.”​—Hab. 3:2.

23, 24. (a) For what to be brought to life in the midst of the years was Habakkuk thus praying? (b) Whose “agitation” was it here and against whom, and in what way was the showing of mercy to be remembered?

²³ For what was Habakkuk here praying while prophetically speaking for the anointed remnant of today? It was for Jehovah God to repeat his activity, to revive it, to make it come alive again, in the course of the years, at the critical time during those years. Let Him again make known his activity in behalf of his endangered worshipers. There is reason for Jehovah to be agitated into taking action. If his agitation is at his anointed remnant and the “great crowd” of loyal companions because of any shortcomings on their part, may He graciously remember to show mercy to them for his holy name’s sake. But if His agitation is against persecutors and attackers of his worshipers, then, during the action that his agitation moves him to take against these arrogant enemies, may he remember to show mercy to the remnant and the “great crowd” of companions in their distress. Let him not permit the “great tribulation” to result in their death. Let him fulfill the prophecy of his Son Jesus Christ concerning the “great tribulation”:

²⁴ “For then there will be great tribulation such as has not occurred since the world’s beginning until now, no, nor will occur again. In fact, unless those days were cut short, no flesh would be saved; but on account of the chosen ones those days will be cut short.” (Matt. 24:21, 22) “In fact, unless Jehovah had cut short the days, no flesh would be saved. But on account of the chosen ones whom he has chosen he has cut short the days.”​—Mark 13:20, NW; The Christian’s Bible​—New Testament, by George N. LeFevre (1928), which also uses the name Jehovah here.

GOD ON THE MARCH!

25, 26. (a) From what two historical places does Habakkuk now describe God as marching? (b) What were the features of those two localities?

²⁵ After the prophet Habakkuk prays for Jehovah to bring to life again his activity of old in the coming years, the kind of activity for which Habakkuk prays he now describes, saying: “God himself proceeded to come from Teman, even a Holy One from Mount Paran. Selah. His dignity covered the heavens; and with his praise the earth became filled. As for his brightness, it got to be just like the light. He had two rays issuing out of his hand, and there the hiding of his strength was. Before him pestilence kept going, and burning fever would go forth at his feet.”​—Hab. 3:3-5.

²⁶ Habakkuk here names two historical places in the Middle East, namely, Teman and Mount Paran. Teman was associated with the land of Edom. Edom (meaning “Red”) was the nickname that was given to Abraham’s grandson Esau after he sold his Abrahamic birthright to his twin brother Jacob for some red pottage to satisfy his raging hunger. (Gen. 25:27-34) Paran was a mountainous wilderness region that lay north of Mount Sinai. In this wilderness region the migrant nation of Israel wandered about for some thirty-eight years prior to their invading the Promised Land. (Num. 10:11, 12; Deut. 2:14) The land of Edom lay to the northeast of this, between the Gulf of Aqabah and the Dead Sea. The “King’s Highway” passed through Edom. As for Teman (meaning “southern”), there was a descendant of Edom (Esau) named Teman, and the place named for Teman may have been an Edomite city. But Jewish authorities locate it to the northeast of Edom. But it was from Teman that “God himself proceeded to come” when leading his chosen people to the Promised Land.

27, 28. (a) How did the migrant Israelites keep advancing in spite of enemies and unfriendly peoples? (b) How do Moses’ references agree with those of Habakkuk as to the starting point of Israel’s march?

²⁷ Because of Edomite disapproval and opposition, the migrant nation of Israel did not use the King’s Highway through the land of Edom, but likely passed northward alongside the eastern boundary of Edom and around Moab toward the Dead Sea. (Num. 20:14-21) Thus, enemies and unfriendly people along the line of march did not stop the Israelites in their progress from the mountainous region of Paran and past Teman and toward the Promised Land. The prophet Moses was the visible leader of the marching nation, and his description is in agreement with that of Habakkuk regarding the southern point of departure for the advancing Israelites. Just within two months before the Israelites crossed the Jordan River into the Promised Land, he began his blessing on Israel by saying:

²⁸ “Jehovah​—from Sinai he came, and he flashed forth from Seir [occupied by the Edomites] upon them. He beamed forth from the mountainous region of Paran, and with him were holy myriads, at his right hand warriors belonging to them. He was also cherishing his people; all their holy ones are in your hand.”​—Deut. 33:1-3.

29. How did Jehovah go before his marching people, and what kind of record did he make for himself?

²⁹ Of course, Jehovah God did not visibly appear at the head of the marching columns of the Israelites. However, although remaining invisible to human eye, he did make a praiseworthy record for himself as their unseen Leader. Also, the visible representation of Him, namely, the pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night, went before them.​—Ex. 13:21, 22; Num. 14:14; Deut. 31:15.

30. After decades in obscurity, how were the Israelites again brought into the light?

³⁰ When, in the year 1474 B.C.E., Jehovah finally moved his homeless people from the mountainous region of Paran with the Promised Land as their destination, the Gentile nations became aware of it. It was like a shining light that made things manifest to them. It was evidence that God himself in dignity was on the march. For decades his people had been in obscurity in the wilderness of the Sinai Peninsula, and now they were brought into the light. It was the powerful “hand” of Jehovah that was being seen in action. It was as if double rays of light were issuing from his “hand,” beaming forth light in both directions, on both sides. Strength is hidden in Jehovah’s hand. The light therefrom is a strong light. Enemy nations cannot bedim it or fail to see its glory.​—Hab. 3:4.

31, 32. (a) How does Habakkuk 3:5 undergo fulfillment concerning pestilence and burning fever? (b) How, at the plains of Moab, did Jehovah demonstrate his ability to do this?

³¹ Concerning the “time of the end,” which history proves began in the year 1914 C.E. as marked by World War I, Jesus prophesied that, not only would there be international war, but there would also be earthquakes, famines and pestilences. (Matt. 24:3, 7, 8; Luke 21:10, 11; Dan. 12:4) Such pestilences were produced by the unsanitary conditions created by immoral and war-afflicted mankind. But, when, in the near future, Jehovah marches to the “war of the great day of God the Almighty” at Har–Magedon, he will bring death upon many of his enemies by the nonviolent, silent means of execution, pestilence.

³² It will then be dangerous, fatal, to get in the way of Jehovah’s line of march to victory, for ahead of his steps he will send the pestilence and behind his heels he will leave victims afflicted with death-dealing burning fever. As Habakkuk 3:5 said of the oncoming Jehovah: “Before him pestilence kept going, and burning fever would go forth at his feet.” His ability to do this he illustrated during the final days of Moses, when Jehovah laid low in death 24,000 immoral Israelites on the plains of Moab across the river from the Promised Land, because they broke his commandments and committed fornication with pagan women and turned to worshiping the false god, Baal of Peor.​—Num. 25:1-9.

NATIONS TO BE STARTLED

33. Before proceeding against the enemy forces at Har–Magedon, what will Jehovah do, as suggested in Habakkuk 3:6?

³³ According to the way that Jehovah has acted long ago under given circumstances, he will survey the battlefield of Har–Magedon and take note of the deployment of the enemy battle lines. So Habakkuk’s dirgelike prayer continues on to say: “He stood still, that he might shake up the earth. He saw, and then caused nations to leap. And the eternal mountains got to be smashed; the indefinitely lasting hills bowed down. The walkings of long ago are his. Under what is hurtful I saw the tents of Cushan. The tent cloths of the land of Midian began to be agitated.”​—Hab. 3:6, 7.

34. (a) How will the earth be shaken up by Jehovah’s standing still? (b) How will the nations leap when Jehovah ‘sees’?

³⁴ Jehovah does not impulsively rush pell-mell into anything. He takes his position and turns his attention to the situation that calls for action, to see that he has his enemies just where he wants them, fully exposing themselves as to their intents. His taking his stand, ready for action, causes a commotion in the figurative “earth” that lies before him; it causes, as it were, an earthquake in the earthly organization of the enemy. When it becomes evident that it is indeed Jehovah who has approached and stands before them, the earthly organization gets all shaken up prior to falling to ruin. When the nations at last realize that Jehovah God the Almighty ‘sees’ them and that he is giving his attention to them, they are indeed startled. Awakening now to the real state of affairs, they leap, not for joy, but with a shock, in a burst of agitation. They will be like the Egyptian charioteers and cavalrymen, who, when bogged down in the midst of the Red Sea, saw the real cause of their trouble and began crying out: “Let us flee from any contact with Israel, because Jehovah certainly fights for them against the Egyptians.”​—Ex. 14:25.

35. (a) What will happen to organizations, like mountains and hills, in Jehovah’s line of march? (b) In what way will the “walkings of long ago” be those of Jehovah then?

³⁵ No earthly organization, even though imposingly high like a mountain, will be allowed to obstruct Jehovah’s march to triumph. All such mountainlike organizations, though appearing to be eternal for age, will be smashed. Other less prominent earthly organizations, whose capacity for endurance seemed to be indefinitely lasting, like that of the hills, will have to bow in defeat, letting Jehovah march ahead, trampling them underfoot. His ways of walking at Har–Magedon will be like his “walkings of long ago,” only on a greatly magnified scale. What He did of old he can do today. He will bring to life again his activity of olden time.

36. (a) What is illustrated by the tents of Cushan feeling hurt and the tent cloths of Midian being agitated? (b) Such ones are not among what exultant people?

³⁶ What the God of Habakkuk does as he pushes forward irresistibly strikes terror into all those who hear the report of it, these ones not being friendly to Jehovah and his chosen people. As an illustration of these, Habakkuk uses the tent dwellers of Cushan and of the land of Midian, closely related or neighboring territories. Although the land of Midian lay east of the Gulf of Aqabah and was not in the direct line of march of the Israelites on their way to the Promised Land, yet the Midianites were agitated, as it were even the tent cloths taking on the agitation of the dwellers inside. The prophet Habakkuk saw “what is hurtful” upon the tents of Cushan. The tenters felt that Jehovah’s passing by with his redeemed people meant no good for those in Cushan. The depressed and tense feelings that afflicted them hurt them, pained them, kept them in suspense. Certainly it will not be good to be among those who are afflicted with painful feelings and agitation at the report of Jehovah’s forward movements at Har–Magedon. They are not among those who exult in Jehovah under such circumstances, although hardships may be involved.

Why Exult in Spite of Personal Hardships?

1, 2. (a) Those able to exult at Har–Magedon are called what? (b) What display of superhuman power with waters on the part of Jehovah does Habakkuk now describe?

BLESSED are those who will be able to exult at Har–Magedon in spite of the personal hardships that will then befall them. Habakkuk finally sets forth the reason for such exultation as he carries forward his prophetic prayer. Still describing the exploits of Jehovah God as He enters into the “war of the great day of God the Almighty” at Har–Magedon, the prophet says:

² “Is it against the rivers, O Jehovah, is it against the rivers that your anger has become hot, or is your fury against the sea? For you went riding upon your horses; your chariots were salvation. In its nakedness your bow comes to be uncovered. The sworn oaths of the tribes are the thing said. Selah. With rivers you proceeded to split the earth. Mountains saw you; they got to be in severe pains. A thunderstorm of waters passed through. The watery deep gave forth its sound. On high its hands it lifted up. Sun​—moon—​stood still, in the lofty abode thereof. Like light your own arrows kept going. The lightning of your spear served for brightness.”​—Hab. 3:8-11.

3. How did Jehovah, in the years 1513 and 1473 B.C.E., demonstrate that things like a sea and river are no obstacle to Him?

³ Not only do mountainlike obstacles fail to halt Jehovah in his march, but also seemingly uncrossable things like rivers and seas do. In the year 1513 B.C.E. the Red Sea learned that fact, when Jehovah divided its waters from east to west in order to bring his liberated people through to safety on the shores of the Sinai Peninsula. In the year 1473 B.C.E. the flooding Jordan River was taught the same fact when God the Almighty cut off its flood tide from the north and dried up the riverbed for his people under General Joshua to cross over and set foot at length upon the Promised Land. At such treatment of obstructing waters, the prophet could well ask whether wrath and fury were against rivers and sea. Whereas Egypt’s Pharaoh and his horsemen and chariots were swallowed up in the attempted Red Sea crossing, Jehovah and his heavenly armies, riding as it were on war horses, plunge right in and churn their way through anything like rivers and sea seemingly blocking passage. His symbolic chariots, instead of conveying their drivers to a watery grave, bear the riders to salvation, to victory!

4. How can God split the earth with rivers and cause the watery deep to raise up it “hands” on high?

⁴ How faith-strengthening this is to Jehovah’s anointed remnant of spiritual Israelites today, who, like the tribes of ancient Israel, are under sworn oaths to Him, through the new covenant with Him as mediated through his Son Jesus Christ! They know that flash floods are at the disposal of the Creator to split the earth and engulf the enemies, as in the days of Judge Barak and the prophetess Deborah. Waters from the skies above can pour down in a thunderstorm. In contrast to waters dropping from above, the waters of the deep under the earth can be made to geyser or spout up, as if the deep were lifting up its hands on high to play a part in the destruction of the enemies.​—Hab. 3:9, 10.

5. How does Habakkuk 3:11 picture Jehovah’s brilliant weapons of warfare?

⁵ While mountains writhe as if in severe pains, Jehovah displays himself as a warrior with superhuman weapons of war. His winged darts of death and his means of propelling them are no mere man-made arrows and bow. They will not be left covered, concealed, as if in a bow cover and a quiver. Roaring thunderbolts and crackling lightnings are in his divine armory. At the flashing of God’s means of death to his enemies the light will be so intense by day and night, that the natural sun and moon will, as it were, feel themselves not needed for illumination. It will be as if they “stood still,” not functioning as light bearers, but letting Jehovah’s radiant missiles put on a display of illuminating power. To add to the awe-inspiring spectacle of speedy flashing missiles of destruction, Jehovah’s larger weapon, like a spear, will be sent streaking through the air and add to the brightness by its lightnings. Imagine the mental effect of such war action upon the foes of Jehovah and of his people!

FOR WHOSE SALVATION THE WAR IS WAGED

6. What warning should the nations take as regards those to be saved at Har–Magedon?

⁶ Let the nations of the earth take warning. The very ones whom they have now for decades made the “objects of hatred by all the nations” are the ones whom Jehovah will save at Har–Magedon, whereas the nations themselves suffer for hating those whom He loves. Under inspiration, the prophet Habakkuk makes this plain, as he goes on to say: “With denunciation you went marching through the earth. In anger you went threshing the nations. And you went forth for the salvation of your people, to save your anointed one. You broke to pieces the head one out of the house of the wicked one. There was a laying of the foundation bare, clear up to the neck. Selah.”​—Hab. 3:12, 13; Matt. 24:9.

7, 8. (a) After what great religious event will this salvation take place? (b) To preserve what on earth will Jehovah perform this salvation, and how will he treat the nations?

⁷ Thus the worshipers of Jehovah God may have confidence that He will come to their aid at Har–Magedon. They are the ones that will be under attack by all the worldly nations. As the book of Revelation, chapters seventeen through nineteen, shows, this will be after the surprising destruction of that international prostitute, Babylon the Great, the world empire of false religion, including Christendom. Jehovah’s worshipers who have come out from bondage in that Babylonish religious empire, will be preserved clear through the destruction of Christendom and all the rest of Babylon the Great.

⁸ The irreligious nations who will have brought about this destruction will then concentrate on trying to wipe out from the earth the pure worship of the one living and true God, Jehovah. In order not to let the godless nations succeed in this, Jehovah will have to go forth for the salvation of ‘his people.’ So in “denunciation” of the evil-intentioned nations He will march through the earth and angrily thresh the nations, pounding them underfoot like grain on a threshing floor.

9, 10. Who is the “anointed one” whom Jehovah goes forth to save?

⁹ The “anointed one” whom Jehovah goes forth to save is not his glorified Son, Jesus the Messiah or Anointed One. Revelation 17:14 and Re 19:11-16 reveal that Jesus Christ needs no salvation from the earthly nations, but, rather, leads the armies of heavenly angels against the nations that are attacking Jehovah’s “people” at Har–Magedon. This “people” is composed of the remnant of spirit-anointed disciples of Jesus Christ, and, together, these spirit-begotten anointed members of spiritual Israel make up Jehovah’s “anointed one” at Har–Magedon. As it is written in Psalm 28:8, 9, prophetically, concerning spiritual Israel:

¹⁰ “Jehovah is a strength to his people, and he is a stronghold of the grand salvation of his anointed one. Do save your people, and bless your inheritance; and shepherd them and carry them to time indefinite.”​—See also 1 John 2:20, 27; 2 Corinthians 1:21.

11. Who else on earth will be saved along with the “anointed one” at Har–Magedon?

¹¹ Along with Jehovah’s “anointed one” there will be a “great crowd” of fellow worshipers that will be saved at Har–Magedon. These also will have fled from the Babylonish world empire of false religion before the destruction of Babylon the Great. Although not being of the spiritual Israelites who make up Jehovah’s “anointed one,” they will join the “anointed one” in worshiping and serving Jehovah at his spiritual temple. Revelation 7:9-15 assures us that they will survive the “great tribulation.”

12. What, however, will happen then to the “house of the wicked one”?

¹² In dramatic contrast with the salvation of the “anointed one” and the “great crowd” there will be the complete desolation of the “house of the wicked one.” Like a house that is laid bare and destroyed from the roof to the foundation, the wicked system of things that they established under the unseen influence of Satan the Devil will be knocked to pieces. The head ones of this international “house” will be crushed in, broken to pieces, and those making up the underpart of the worldwide structure will be demolished clear to the base, not even the “foundation” being left covered in the ground as a base for a new building thereon. The foundation will be laid bare, exposed in a wrecked condition. The “house of the wicked one” will be no more on earth.

13, 14. (a) When speaking of the nations moving tempestuously to scatter “me,” of whom is Habakkuk speaking? (b) Who is the “afflicted one” whom the nations expect to devour gleefully in a place of concealment?

¹³ At the battlefield of Har–Magedon the nationalistic enemies of Jehovah’s “anointed one” will be thrown into suicidal confusion. In a prophetic vision of this, the prophet Habakkuk says in his prayer to Jehovah as a Warrior: “With his own rods you pierced the head of his warriors when they moved tempestuously to scatter me. Their high glee was as of those bent on devouring an afflicted one in a place of concealment. Through the sea you trod with your horses, through the heap of vast waters.”​—Hab. 3:14, 15.

¹⁴ When speaking of the international attempt to “scatter me” with tempestuous force, Habakkuk is speaking of himself as representing or standing for Jehovah’s “anointed one,” His people in need of salvation from the attackers. Like marauders who lie in wait in a concealed place for a victim, the nations assembled in full array at Har–Magedon will leap out upon Jehovah’s “anointed one” and the “great crowd” of fellow worshipers to destroy all these as they destroyed religious Babylon the Great. The “afflicted one” whom they expect to devour in high glee at their “place of concealment” is Jehovah’s “anointed one,” whom the worldly nations have always afflicted in their hatred of Jehovah’s worshipers. But their concealed place is not hid from Jehovah God.

15. (a) How is it that the heads of the warriors of the wicked one are pierced “with his own rods” by Jehovah? (b) How is the destruction of the enemy forces brought to a completion by Jehovah?

¹⁵ Jehovah will not be taken by any surprise. He will not lead his afflicted “anointed one” and their loyal companions into any ambush of the enemy. When the anti-God nations storm out tempestuously to scatter the practicers of the true, pure religion, Almighty God will turn the weapons of the attacking nations against themselves to fight among and against themselves. (Zech. 14:13; 2 Chron. 20:22-24) However, Almighty God will do more than just cause the international enemies to use their own military rods to pierce the heads of their own warriors. He will also himself use superhuman forces at His command to carry the destruction to a completion. With the “horses” of his heavenly armies under Jesus Christ, he will push onward victoriously through the “sea” and the “heap of vast waters” of the surging, roaring enemies. Thus His own people will not be overwhelmed in destruction at Har–Magedon. They will be eyewitnesses of Jehovah’s sublime victory!

QUIETLY WAITING FOR THE “DAY OF DISTRESS”

16. How are we affected by the prospect of what Har–Magedon will mean for people, as indicated by the effects of the “report” on Habakkuk himself?

¹⁶ As we today look ahead to the coming “war of the great day of God the Almighty” at Har–Magedon, we do not leave out of mind what it will mean as respects the physical living conditions of people, especially of those under attack by the desperate nations. Hence, the certain prospect of hardships grows upon us more and more and makes us very serious. Look at how the prophet Habakkuk was affected by merely the prophetic vision of that solemn time. He says: “I heard, and my belly began to be agitated; at the sound my lips quivered; rottenness began to enter into my bones; and in my situation I was agitated, that I should quietly wait for the day of distress, for his coming up to the people, that he may raid them.”​—Hab. 3:16.

17. (a) Habakkuk’s agitation over the “report” moved him to do what, and why? (b) How should the remnant and the “great crowd” react today to the “report”?

¹⁷ At just contemplating the report on the coming “day of distress” in all its sobering significance, as set out in Habakkuk 3:2-15, the prophet felt as if he were about to collapse. His bones seemed to melt in decay, providing no strong frame to hold his body erect on his feet; his whole body underwent agitation; his lips could utter no words, but merely quiver. His situation was indeed one of agitation even before the actual arrival of the terrifying “day of distress.” But did his agitation drive him to suicide as a way of escape, or to the use of drugs to deaden his senses to reality? No! His agitation was induced by God through the inspired report given to him as a prophet. So his agitation affected him in the right way, in the right direction, namely, “that I should quietly wait for the day of distress.” This is the way that the remnant of spiritual Israelites today, and also the “great crowd” of faithful companions, should react as they see the evidences that the frightening “day of distress” is getting closer within this generation. They should keep calm and wait.

18, 19. (a) For whom is the “day of distress” meant? (b) How is this day of distress personified, with what result to the “people”?

¹⁸ They should note that Habakkuk does not say that the “day of distress” is for Jehovah’s people, His “anointed one.” Habakkuk said that he himself would quietly wait for the “day of distress” to come from Jehovah “up to the people,” or, literally, “up to a people.” In the Hebrew Scriptures the term “people” is often applied to an army, as in the prophecy of Daniel 9:26. So the “people” for whom the “day of distress” is prepared is the hostile army of the nations that attack Jehovah’s “anointed one” at Har–Magedon. That “day of distress” will dawn for such “people” or anti-God army.

¹⁹ Whereas that hostile “people” aims at raiding Jehovah’s “anointed one” at Har–Magedon, the “day of distress” from Jehovah will be like a raider that will raid the armed “people.” Thus the “day of distress” is personified as a man who comes up to the people or army of the enemies “that he may raid them.” (Hab. 3:16) As the Jewish Publication Society Version puts it: “That I should wait for the day of trouble, when he cometh up against the people that he invadeth.” This will mean destruction for the enemy “people.”

20. (a) What kind of conditions does war always bring, and particularly for whom? (b) So what bad economic condition does Habakkuk describe, and this as merely possible or as likely?

²⁰ War always brings disagreeable conditions for those involved, especially for those under attack. The “war of the great day of God the Almighty” at Har–Magedon can be expected to bring hardships for those who are then under attack by the combined enemies of Jehovah’s worshipers. It was not as a mere possibility of such hardships that the prophet Habakkuk spoke of such a thing, saying: “Although the fig tree itself may not blossom, and there may be no yield on the vines; the work of the olive tree may actually turn out a failure, and the terraces themselves may actually produce no food; the flock may actually be severed from the pen, and there may be no herd in the enclosures; yet, as for me, I will exult in Jehovah himself; I will be joyful in the God of my salvation.” (Hab. 3:17, 18) Habakkuk speaks of this as a very real likelihood.

21. For whom did Habakkuk envision such extreme economic conditions, and because of what?

²¹ Habakkuk prophetically envisioned extreme economic hardship for Jehovah’s “anointed one” because of the international attempt to scatter the worshipers of Jehovah. It would seem as if there was nothing for these to live on. Their survival was in doubt!

22. (a) According to His prophecies, with what will Jehovah take action against his enemies during the “great tribulation”? (b) Why can His worshipers not expect preferential treatment and exemption from the worldwide discomfort?

²² Even today, in this “time of the end,” when the famines, pestilences, earthquakes and international warfare are taking their toll of the inhabitants of the earth even before the outbreak of the “great tribulation,” the economic and other living conditions of all mankind are working hardship for more and more people. Even during the “great tribulation” itself, according to His own prophecies, Jehovah God will take action against his earthly enemies with plague, earthquakes and other elemental forces against which His enemies cannot fight with their nuclear bombs and economic and medical programs. Who can escape from being affected to some extent? It is true that the spirit-anointed remnant of spiritual Israelites and the associated “great crowd” are, like Jesus, “no part of the world,” yet they are “in the world” and cannot help but feel effects due to world conditions. Moreover, as “objects of hatred” by all nations and peoples, they cannot expect to be given favored treatment and exemptions from worldwide discomfort.​—John 15:19; 17:11.

23. From being God’s ministers for good, what will the “superior authorities” become, and how will this affect Jehovah’s witnesses?

²³ What, though, when the nations, having wreaked their vengeance on Babylon the Great, mass together in total warfare against Jehovah’s surviving worshipers to scatter and devour them? No longer will the governmental “superior authorities” of this world serve as ‘God’s ministers’ to Jehovah’s Christian witnesses for their good. (Rom. 13:1-4) Their means of serving the public in general will break down or be disrupted. Besides now failing as ‘God’s ministers’ in this respect, they will now turn themselves into fighters against Jehovah God by unitedly attacking his people, thus provoking the war of Har–Magedon. Naturally, the economic and living conditions and personal freedoms of Jehovah’s Christian witnesses should be reduced to a very low subsistence level. Extermination will stare them in the face! O the hardships then!

24. What questions arise as to the conduct of Jehovah’s witnesses at that time, but how does Habakkuk prophetically answer for them?

²⁴ Will they panic with fear? Will they yield to the attacking enemies and renounce their faith and cease to be Jehovah’s Christian witnesses? Or, will they lose hope and sink into the slough of despondency and die spiritually? No! answers back Habakkuk in speaking prophetically for them. Despite all these hardships brought upon them for their faithfulness to the one living and true God, Jehovah’s Christian witnesses will cry out: “Yet, as for me, I will exult in Jehovah himself; I will be joyful in the God of my salvation.”​—Hab. 3:18.

25. How will Jehovah then vindicate himself as a Savior, and who on earth will be eyewitnesses of his vindicating his sovereignty?

²⁵ Their God, Jehovah, is a God of salvation, and he will save them. Jehovah will vindicate himself as their Savior and Deliverer. When they seem to be in their worst extremity and certain extermination threatens, the “day of distress” will break forth upon their persecutors and attackers. It will swiftly invade them like a raider, for then Jehovah will go forth with his heavenly angels under Jesus Christ and will save his faithful witnesses on earth. They will become witnesses of Jehovah in a further regard, when they behold him destroy all the enemies on earth and vindicate his universal sovereignty.

26. (a) In view of Habakkuk’s closing words, what is this not the time for, as respects Jehovah’s witnesses? (b) How will they act as if having hinds’ feet from Jehovah?

²⁶ This is not the time for Jehovah’s Christian witnesses to weaken as they discern the hardships incidental to Har–Magedon shaping up and getting closer. Instead, let their voices ring out with the triumphant closing words of the prophet Habakkuk: “Jehovah the Sovereign Lord is my vital energy; and he will make my feet like those of the hinds, and upon my high places he will cause me to tread.” (Hab. 3:19) Strengthened in their spiritual limbs by their exultation and joy in Jehovah God, they will dash up to the safe heights of undefeated integrity toward the Sovereign Lord Jehovah. There they will continue treading surefootedly as followers of the reigning King Jesus Christ. Like bounding hinds they will leap into the blessings of God’s righteous new order, as survivors of all the hardships of Har–Magedon.