Tanak Foundations-Concepts in Second Kings-Part 16

2 Kings 15.32-38 and 2 Chr 27.1-9 tell us about Yotam. He inherited a strong government and he was a good administrator. He built the Upper Gate of the Temple giving him a link between the palace and the Temple. Yotam fought wars against Rezin of Syria and Pekah, King of Israel. He also defeated the Ammorites. He was a contemporary of Isaiah, Hosea, Amos and Micah.

Eschatologically, he pictures the first year of the birth-pains/tribulation. The Russians (Assyria) will be fighting a conventional war with Europe and the False Messiah after America is destroyed, and will be winning (Isa 20.1-6, 16.14, 37.30). The Two Witnesses and the 144,000 will be working in Israel. The Temple services are being conducted and things will begin to get worse. The people of Israel will be warned not to flee to Europe (Isa 30, 31, Isa 14.28-32; Isa 10.1-4; Isa 52.4; Isa 46).

In 2 Kings 16.1-20 and 2 Chr 28.1-27 we learn about the reign of King Ahaz. Ahaz is an abbreviation of Yehoahaz which means “Yehovah has held.” He was asked to join a coalition with Syria and Israel against Assyria, but he refused. To protect himself he calls for aid from Assyria and they destroy Damascus. Assyria then attacked Israel and deported the people to Assyria. Because of Assyria’s help, Ahaz had some security from his neighbors, but it came with a price. Assyria now had some control over Judah. The prophet Isaiah opposed this appeal to Assyria because he was to rely on the Lord, not men. Ahaz was free from trouble during his reign but Samaria and northern Israel was taken into exile in 722 B.C.

Eschatologically, the reign of King Ahaz tells us about some of the events in the second year of the birth-pains. Syria, Saudi Arabia and the Palestinians will attack the Second Jewish State and Israel is cut off. They will appeal to Russia for help and the Arabs will be defeated. A conspiracy forms and Damascus in Syria is destroyed. Israel will let its guard down and will be losing its military power. Jordan will not be involved and this sets up the conspiracy of the third year.

Meanwhile, the Russians are still fighting a conventional war with Europe and the False Messiah and winning. The Two Witnesses and the 144,000 are working in Israel and the Temple services continue (2 Chr 28.16-21; 2 Kings 16.8-9; Isa 7 through 10; 2 Kings 15.2-9; Isa 8.12, 10.5-7; Ezek 38.10; Hos 12.1).

2 Kings 18.1 through 20.21 and 2 Chr 29.1 through 32.33 tell us about King Hezekiah (“God strengthens”). He was a righteous king and he witnessed the destruction of the northern kingdom of Israel and he was king when Assyria attacked Jerusalem and was defeated. He made many religious reforms, including the fact that only Yehovah will be worshiped. But there is a conspiracy being formulated at this time between Assyria and the surrounding nations. The peace experienced by this coalition will soon come to an end.

Eschatologically, the reign of King Hezekiah teaches us about the third year of the birth-pains. A confederacy is made in Heshbon, Jordan to destroy Israel. Feeling safe, Israel has let down her defenses because part of this conspiracy involves the cessation of terrorism by the Arabs. They were convinced by Russia to do this temporarily, then at the right time attack and destroy the Jewish state. This confederacy includes Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, the Palestinians and the Russians. But Russia is just using these nations to get what she wants, and will destroy them eventually (Psa 83.1-8; Zech 2.1-9; Oba 6-7; Ezek 38.11; Isa 10.1-14; Jer 47 through 49).

At the turn of the year (Rosh Ha Shanah, year 6004) Russia and her allies will invade Israel. Many Jews will see this coming and flee to Europe, but they were warned not to do that by the Two Witnesses and the 144,000 because they are running right into the hands of the False Messiah. The Israeli army is defeated by this alliance and this invasion is called the invasion of Gog and Magog. However, Russia is defeated by God himself on Yom Kippur (Tishri 10), year 6004, in a ten day war. All of Israel realizes and accepts that Yeshua is the Messiah and the shaliach of God (agent) sent to redeem them (Ezek 39.22).

Russia can invade Israel because America has been destroyed for three years and they have been winning a conventional war with Europe. The Two Witnesses and the 144,000 have been preaching about this invasion for three years and they have warned the people not to flee to Europe. In addition, the Temple services have continued (Num 19.12,19; Isa 10.12-20; Isa 8.6; Micah 5.5-6; Isa 36 and 37; Isa 11.11-16, Zech 12 and 13; Jer 6.1-4; Ezek 38 and 39; Joel 2.15; Isa 37.30; Zech 12.10; Isa 16.1-14; Isa 9.1-7; Isa 42.10-13; Isa 21.13-15; Jer 48.13-28). Russia is defeated on Yom Kippur (Tishri 10) so that means there is six months left until the exact halfway point of the birth-pains on Nisan 10. This brings us to the fourth king.

2 Kings 21.1-18 and 2 Chr 33.1-20 tell us about the reign of King Manasseh (“to forget”). He reinstituted paganism and reversed the religious reforms made by his father Hezekiah. He made his sons pass through the fire (killed them) in the valley of Ben-hinnom and he practiced witchcraft, used divination and practiced sorcery. He also was involved with mediums and spiritists. He did much evil in the sight of the Lord. He also put an Asherah (carved female image) idol into the Temple and made war with those who were righteous.

Eschatologically, the reign of King Manasseh is a picture of the fourth year of the birth-pains and a picture of the False Messiah. European armies under the False Messiah invade Russia between Tishri 10 and Nisan 10, after the armies of Russia are defeated by God between Rosh Ha Shanah and Yom Kippur (Num 24.20-24; Mic 5.5-6; Ezek 31.1-11, 39.6).

On Adar 10 (around Purim )and about 30 days prior to the exact halfway point of the birth-pains, the False Prophet sets up the Abomination of Desolation in the Temple. The Asherah of Manasseh is seen as the first Abomination of Desolation in Jewish thought. The second one was when Antiochus Epiphanes set up an idol of Zeus in the Temple. This will be the third one. In actuality, it is said that Manasseh set up two statues, one of Baal and the other of Asherah, portraying a male and female imagery. This may indicate that the False Prophet will erect two statues also. One will be a crucifix (male imagery) and the other one of “Mary” (projecting female imagery).

The Jewish believers will begin to flee towards the valleys of Jordan after the Abomination of Desolation is set up (Dan 9.27, 11.31, 12.11; Matt 24.15-22; 2 Kings 27.3; Jer 32.24). Nisan 10 is the exact half-way point of the birth-pains. The False Messiah will enter Jerusalem and he will go into the Temple and will claim to be “Jesus” and the one pictured on the crucifix placed there as the Abomination of Desolation. The rabbis have thought that Christianity (also called “Edom/Rome”) was the kingdom of the False Messiah. People today are being “set up” for this idol by what is called the Shroud of Turin, so-called “apparitions of Mary” and images of “Jesus” and “Mary” in churches and other places. So, we believe that a statue of Mary could be alongside a crucifix in the Ha Kodesh (“Holy Place”) of the Temple. We know that these images are very important in the worship of Replacement Theology Christianity, and this will be done to show the dominance of Replacement Theology Christianity over Judaism and the worship that has been going on in the Temple. Remember, the False Messiah and the False Prophet are “lawless” or “without Torah.”

On Nisan 10, the exact midpoint of the birth-pains, the False Messiah will kill the Two Witnesses and their bodies will lay in the streets of Jerusalem for three and a half days (till noon on Nisan 14 and Passover). The Jews will flee in a massive Exodus to the Jordanian wilderness (remember it was Passover when they left Egypt) where they will be aided by believing Jordanians. A large group will go to Petra with the Mishkan that was constructed sometime during the first years of the birth-pains. We believe the Mishkan is hidden on the Temple Mount, along with the Ark, and will be brought out at the time appointed by Yehovah. The other valleys in the Jordan where the Jews will flee to are the Jabbok, Arnon and Zered. Jacob came to the Jabbok after fleeing from Laban in Gen 31.32. Elijah fled to the Pella area and the Jabbok and so did David when he fled from Absalom. (Dan 7.25, 9.27, 11.31,32,45; 2 Thes 2; Mark 13.14-23; Isa 16.1-5; Ezek 37.26-27; Rev 12.14; 1 Kings 17.3, 19.4). On Nisan 14, the Two Witnesses will be resurrected at noon in plain sight of the world. They immediately ascend to heaven (Rev 11.7-13).

In Part 17 we will pick up here and discuss the second half of the birth-pains using the last six kings of Judah.

Posted in All Teachings, Articles, Idioms, Phrases and Concepts, Prophecy/Eschatology, The Festivals of the Lord, The Tanak, Tying into the New Testament

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