Tanak Foundations-Concepts in Second Kings-Part 17

Passover was to be celebrated on Nisan 14, but Israel had to flee into the wilderness from the False Messiah on Nisan 10, the exact halfway point of the birth-pains. In addition, Israel will still be unclean from the war with Russia, so Passover will be celebrated in the wilderness with the Mishkan on Iyar 14 (Num 9.1-11; 2 Chr 30.1-6, 18-19; Ezek 39.12, Isa 16.5; Ezek 37.26-27). In the meantime, an army has been sent against the fleeing Jews by the False Messiah (like Pharaoh in Exodus). This army is destroyed by an earthquake. More armies are sent but they are unable to penetrate the protection of God (Rev 12.13-17).

The False Messiah has now relocated his armies and headquarters to Israel (Dan 11.45). The Abomination of Desolation has been set up in the Temple (probably a crucifix) and will be there for 1290 days. The 144,000 minister in the non-Jewish world for 1260 days, the last half of the birth-pains (Dan 9.27, 11.31, 12.11, Matt 24.15-22, 2 Kings 21.3; Jer 32.24). The Temple will be desecrated for 1335 days, which runs from Nisan 10 (midpoint of the birth-pains) to the first Chanukah after Yeshua returns (Dan 12.12), and Replacement Theology Christianity claims to be the true Israel through their False Messiah. Some Jews ignored the warning to flee to Europe and are persecuted and possibly taken to death camps by order of the False Messiah (Isa 19.18; Rev 12.17).

2 Kings 21.19-26 and 2 Chr 33.21-33 tells us about the reign of King Amon. He is most remembered for his idolatry and evil. After two years he was assassinated by his servants who conspired against him. Amon’s reign was during a time of transition for Israel and the surrounding regions.

Eschatologically, the reign of Amon (faithful) alludes to the fifth year of the birth-pains. The 144,000 are still working among the nations and the False Messiah is hunting down believers (Acts 1.7-8; Matt 28.19-20; Micah 5.7-9; Isa 48.20; 52.7-12, 6.1-13; Jer 1.15; Mark 13.10; Rev 7.3-8, 14.1-5). A European army is maintained by the False Messiah in Jordan trying to get to the Jews being protected by God there. Sometime during this period the False Messiah institutes laws concerning the biblical festivals, buying and selling and the mark of the Beast. Oriental (eastern) armies march out of the east to confront the False Messiah in the Middle East, and African armies march out of the south to attack the False Messiah in the Middle East (Jeremiah Chapters 1 through 52, Ezek Chapters 29 through 32; Dan 11.40-45).

2 Kings 22.1 through 23.20 and 2 Chr 34.1 through 35.27 tells us about the reign of King Josiah. He instituted many religious reforms back to the Torah. He walked in the ways of David his father and he destroyed the altars and images of pagan gods in the north.

A power vacuum was developing and the Assyrians were getting weaker and Babylon was on the rise. Pharaoh Necho (lame, beaten) of Egypt decided to lead an army up to the Euphrates River to help Assyria against Babylon. He travels north up the Via Maris (way of the sea), but he must pass through the Jezreel Valley. The valley was blocked by King Josiah. Josiah considered that the Assyrians and Egyptians were weak because Pharaoh Necho was a new pharaoh. Josiah was killed as he attempted to block the Egyptians at Megiddo. Necho then joined forces with Assyria and laid siege to Haran, but failed. Pharaoh Necho was driven back to northern Syria.

Eschatologically, the reign of King Josiah (Yehovah supports) is a picture of the sixth year of the birth-pains. The 144,000 are still working among the non-Jews in the nations and the False Messiah hunts believers. A European army continues to be maintained by the False Messiah in Jordan trying to get to the Jewish believers hiding in Jordan, but they are protected by God. There will be a great move among the the non-Jews as they move away from the False Messiah and believe in Yeshua. These non-Jewish believers are Torah observant and against idolatry.

An army of non-Jewish believers in Yeshua (Josiah) goes to fight against the False Messiah (Pharaoh) who is on his way to help Russian forces (Assyria) who are now under his control (Mic 5.6; Ezek 39.1-6) against the forces from the east (Babylon) who are moving west. The believers will be defeated at Megiddo and the Jezreel Valley (Ezek 32.11-16; Rev 9.13-16, 14.14-20, 16.10-16; 2 Kings 23.28-30; 2 Chr 35.20-24; Dan 11.29-33; Dan 7.21-25). Now we come to the seventh year of the birth-pains. Events will be moving swiftly to a close and that is why this last year will be characterized by the last four kings of Judah altogether.

2 Kings 23.31-33 and 2 Chr 36.1-4 tells us about the reign of King Yehoahaz (Yehovah has held). He only reigned for three months before being deposed by Pharaoh Necho and taken to Egypt. He disregarded the religious reforms of Josiah. 2 Kings 23.34 to 35.5 and 2 Chr 36.5-8 tells us about the reign of King Yehoikim (raised by Yehovah) and he reigned for eleven years. He was appointed king by Pharaoh Necho after the Battle of Haran. Yehoikim ruled as a vassal king of Egypt and paid a heavy tribute. However, the Egyptians were defeated by the Babylonians at the Battle of Charchemish and the Babylonians besieged Jerusalem. Yehoikim changed his alliance to the Babylonians and paid tribute to them.

Jeremiah rebuked him and insisted on repentance and Torah observance. If this was done, God would help. But Yehoikim did not listen and killed another prophet who said the same thing as Jeremiah (Jer 26.20-23). Judah and Yehoikim continued as a vassal to Babylon until they failed to win an invasion of Egypt. This undermined their control and Yehoikim switched allegiances again. Babylon then invaded Judah, laid siege to Jerusalem and Yehoikim died before the siege was over.

2 Kings 24.6-16 and 2 Chr 36.9-10 tell us about the reign of King Yehoichin (Yehovah establishes). He ruled for three months and he was also known as Coniah and Yeconiah. He was dethroned by Nebuchadnezzar and taken into captivity. Not much is know about his reign. The siege of Jerusalem ended three months into his reign and he was exiled to Babylon.

2 Kings 24.18 to 25.21 and 2 Chr 36.11-21 tells us about the reign of Zedekiah (Yehovah is righteous), the last king of Judah. He reigned for eleven years. Already we can see an unusual pattern in these last four kings. Their reign was three months, eleven years, three months and eleven years. This is not a coincidence. The Lord wants us to take notice.

Zedekiah was originally called Mattanyahu or Maataniah (gift of Yehovah). He was installed as king by Nebuchadnezzar after his nephew Yehoichin was deposed after three months. Zedekiah revolted against Nebuchadnezzar and entered an alliance with Pharaoh Hophra of Egypt. Babylon responded and laid siege to Jerusalem that lasted three years.

Nebuchadnezzar succeeded in capturing Jerusalem and Zedekiah and his followers tried to escape out of the city, but were captured on the plains to Jericho. After seeing his sons put to death, his eyes were plucked out and he was carried away into Babylon as a prisoner and died there. Nebuchadnezzar was sent by God to destroy the city, and it was plundered and destroyed. Solomon’s Temple was also destroyed and only a small amount of farmers and vine dressers were allowed to remain in the land.

Eschatologically, the combined reigns of Yehoahaz, Yehoikim, Yehoichin and Zedekiah are a picture of the seventh year of the birth-pains, and in our conclusion of Second Kings we will go over what happens.

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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