Death and destruction was the message that Amos was going to have to carry in chapters 8 and 9. A message that probably wasn't the first thing that came to his mind to talk about. After all, who wants to be the "Bad News Bear?"
Even though Amos had been threatened for coming and telling people that they were not living right. A message that God loved them, but they were not living up to His standards. Amos made sure that he continued to say "I'm just telling you what God said and is saying."
His blast may have been "You got a problem with this message, then take it up with the One who gave it to me!"
One of the things that Amos proclaimed[more] was the even though all the problems that might come would be bad, the worst would be not hearing the word of the Lord. The image he brought to people's minds was that of no food or water, the missing word would be even worse. He said "You will want to hear the word of the Lord, but as hard as you look, you won't find it."
The message was that even though He comes to destroy this wicked nation – He will leave some who will return to rebuild the nation. Who were the wicked, and what was the punishment – you can read it for yourself. It was not a pretty picture! His word was that He would sift Israel like grain. It probably came as a shock then that no one escaped punishment for their sins. Even those who said "Nothing is going to happen to us."
But…
The story does not end at "death and destruction!" God has greater plans. From a down and out, destroyed nation, they will rebuild. Their regrowth will be in ways they cannot imagine. He says "You will have so many crops, that the harvesting crew won't be able to keep up with the planter." It will be like fast growing crops.
God would be faithful to His promise to restore David's people. He would see that the tent was repaired and it's ruins rebuilt.
He said it. He meant it. He did it!