The promises made in Amos 9:1–15 seem too good to be true. What guarantee do we have that our death really is the gateway to life in glory and that Amos is not simply filling our heads with dreams in order to help us cope with the hardships of life?

In answer to that question we should notice how many of the stages mentioned in this chapter have in a sense already happened.

• Yes, we are still waiting for all evil to be removed, but if we want proof that Israel was destroyed, we simply have to go and walk through the British Museum. There is lots of evidence to show how Assyria came to capture and defeat the Israelites. But more than that, we can also consider what God did in sending his Son. At the cross, the judgment of God against the sin, against evil fell upon him. Jesus Christ the only true and righteous Israelite—yet he was punished for the sins of all God’s people. Our evil was dealt with and removed from God’s sight on that day.

• When it comes to the salvation of the elect, we know that there is a way to God through the sieve of his judgment. The blood of Christ gives us the confidence to draw near to God through faith, our hearts having been sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water (Hebrews 10:22).

• When it comes to the gathering of the nations, we have ample evidence that that is taking place as we speak. God’s church includes people from all over the world with lots of different ethnicities and languages. The work of gathering is clearly in progress and it has been ongoing since Jesus’ ascension into heaven.

The destruction of Israel, the first coming of Jesus Chris, and the history of the church are all proof that Amos’s words are not wishful thinking. Jesus will come again and he really will establish and rule over a perfect new creation.