“This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come” (2 Timothy 3:1).

“For men shall be… unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good” (2 Timothy 3:3).

Introduction

This series is a study examining the societal characteristics of the last days that Paul wrote about in 2 Timothy 3.

Admittedly, and not surprisingly, this series might very well be considered offensive to the world. This study is viewed through the lens of the Creator’s revealed character and expectations of His creatures found in the Word of God.

The Savior has commanded His children to love all people, including our enemies. Jesus Christ proved His love to all of humanity as He prayed for His executioners while being crucified and, ultimately, paying the penalty of every human being’s sins on the cross, satisfying the Father’s wrath against us.

The truth is, we all were an abomination in the eyes of a Holy and Just God before realizing our desperate need for a Savior and giving our lives to Him. May our love of God and mankind always be our guide as we witness to a lost and dying world, directing them to the one true God and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Part 1 can be found here: Societal Characteristics of the Last Days: Part 1 :: By Mark A. Becker – Rapture Ready or Societal Characteristics of the Last Days Part 1 | FaithWriters

For Men Shall Be… Unholy

The Greek word for “unholy” is 462 anósios (an adjective, derived from 1/A, “without” and 3741/hósios, “reverence for what should be hallowed”) – properly, utter disregard of what is sacred, i.e., willful (arrogant) disrespect of the things of God; “impious; wicked” (J. Thayer). [All definitions from Biblehub.com]

“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” (Jeremiah 17:9).

Marriage is sanctified and sacred before God, and to mar what God has ordained in his created order is an abomination according to the Lord and His Word. But man thinks he knows better than his Creator and is actually promoting that which is diametrically opposed to God’s stated purposes for mankind.

Protections for a class of people based upon sexual attraction is enveloping the world. Norway just passed legislation that would imprison anyone for speaking against the LGBT+ community in public for up to three years and in the privacy of one’s own home for up to a year.

Laws like these are being enacted all over the earth that protect alternative sexual attractions and behaviors while suggesting these activities are civil rights issues.

Culture at large has embraced the agenda – mainly through educational indoctrination and governmental laws – and permeates all sectors of society. Once traditional Christmas movies on Hallmark have made the transformation.

Hallmark Movie’ The Christmas House’ to Include Homosexual Men Adopting Child | Christian News Network

I have somewhat of a riddle for the reader to consider in regard to those who claim that people who have alternative sexual attractions are “born that way,” even though there is not one iota of evidence to this assertion.

Identical twins have the same exact genetic makeup (although I would note that mutations can occur, but the basic genetic code is identical), yet one can be a heterosexual and the other a homosexual. What does this tell us, scientifically? Think it through. You may have an “Ah-ha!” moment.

“How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning!” (Isaiah 14:12a).

God, Himself, is most sacred and not to be equaled. To turn one’s self from the Creator and giver of all life to the one who opposes all that is God’s and desires to usurp His eternal throne, is the definition of “unholy.”

Satanism no longer lurks in the darkest recesses of society. Evil has come out of the darkest shadows and has prominently risen into the light of day.

Rejection of God is regarded and exalted as “enlightenment” and, as they believe Lucifer to be the “light-bearer,” this is front and center in the hallowed halls of academia, media, entertainment, and government.

“And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light” (2 Corinthians 11:14).

The Luciferian cults have infiltrated all sectors of societies. Examples abound, from the “secret societies” and ancient mystery religions of the Illuminati, The Rosicrucian Order, and Knights Templar, to the local societal institutions of Masonry/Freemasonry and their offshoots Scottish Rite and Shriners, along with other local “Lodges” and “Orders” (only the hierarchy of the leaderships of these groups have knowledge of what they truly believe), to the governmental and economic indoctrination centers and “think tanks” of the world’s leadership that include The Bilderberg Group, Skull and Bones, Bohemian Grove, Trilateral Commission, Council on Foreign Relations (CFR), and The Club of Rome (with many others), lies the undercarriage and foundation of all that is Luciferian and Antichrist.

Not to mention the New Age, Gaia-worshiping United Nations and world institutions working together for globalization such as World Economic Forum (WEF), World Trade Organization (WTO), World Bank Group (WBG), International Monetary Fund (IMF), World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF, and The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Again, with many other “foundations” and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO’s) united in purpose to usher in the globalist New World Order.

The web that Satan has developed, in regard to absolute control of this world system, is nothing short of astounding.

“In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them” (2 Corinthians 4:4).

“Unholy” and wicked? Satanic and Luciferian? Absolutely – and in plain sight!

For Men Shall Be… Without Natural Affection

The Greek word for “without natural affection” is 794 astorgos, without natural affection, unloving, devoid of affection. From a (as a negative particle) and a presumed derivative of stergo (to cherish affectionately); hard-hearted towards kindred — without natural affection.

“The father shall be divided against the son, and the son against the father; the mother against the daughter, and the daughter against the mother; the mother in law against her daughter in law, and the daughter in law against her mother in law” (Luke 12:53).

While Jesus had in mind the division in one’s own home-life regarding those who would give their lives to Him and those who would not, it sure seems like a vivid picture of what the loss of “natural affection” in today’s world looks like.

The glaringly obvious symptom of this characteristic is the divorce rate and how easy it is for one to “fall out of love” with one’s mate.

Other abominable examples of the loss of natural affection in the family unit include: Parents injecting their children with heroin to keep them sedated and quiet; child abuse – mental, physical, and sexual; infanticide; newborn babies found in garbage dumpsters; etc.

Consider the inhumane, selfish, and brutal act of killing the unborn child for evidence that this characteristic is profoundly universal in our day. To kill one’s own child in the name of “choice” and “personal freedom” is nothing short of Satanic wickedness that arises from the pit of hell.

If a child does make it out of their mother’s womb, they can still find themselves subject to a myriad of examples from the culture that shines a dark light on humankind’s loss of natural affection.

For me, seeing what we are doing to our children in the name of “tolerance” in our school system is just the tip of the iceberg. Teaching our children “alternative sexual lifestyles” and describing, in detail, what all that entails is as diabolical as it comes. So I thought.

Then came the “Drag Queen Story Hour” at our local libraries. This, of course, played out in our actually encouraging our little boys to dress and act like girls or grown women, and our little girls to dress and act like prostitutes and, sometimes, boys and/or men. Confusion abounds.

Now, we even have “no gender” clothing lines because we don’t want to intrude on what sex our children may perceive themselves to be. After all, their genitalia isn’t a determining factor — so they say.

All of this lays the foundation for parents to decide for their children what sex they think they should be. As shocking as it is, we have judges siding with one parent over another, who would like to “transition” their little boy into a girl. Why? Because the parent either thinks their little boy is “exhibiting female tendencies” or they would just rather have a little girl instead of the boy God gifted them with. This abomination has even been encouraged and celebrated in the so-called “church.”

HBO documentary ‘Transhood’ shows mom forcing her son to declare himself a girl at religious ceremony | Blogs | Lifesitenews

Can we lose any more natural affection? It’s hard to believe, but I think we can.

For God’s people, we have a command, and we do well to live by it:

“Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets” (Matthew 22:37-40).

The world has most certainly lost its natural affection, but we, as God’s ambassadors, can fight this loss of love with our love of God and love of others. Our greatest “knock-out punch,” of course, is sharing the gospel with a lost and dying world and directing their hearts to the Savior of their souls, Jesus Christ. The more people we bring into the Kingdom of Christ, the less there will be who will have lost their natural affection.

For Men Shall Be… Trucebreakers

The Greek word for “trucebreakers” is 786 áspondos (an adjective which is the negation of spondē, “a libation-sacrifice” used for making treaties and covenants) – properly, unable to please (placate) someone; implacable. Implacable, irreconcilable. From a (as a negative particle) and a derivative of spendo; literally, without libation (which usually accompanied a treaty), i.e., (by implication) truceless — implacable, truce-breaker.

“And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease” (Daniel 9:27a).

The Antichrist will break his covenant with Israel and the “many” in the middle of the Tribulation. This can be considered the ultimate in “truce-breaking.”

Breaking a truce is a daily newspaper headline. Truces made in the interest of peace, cessation of violence, or remedy of national disagreements and disputes are a common theme in geopolitical tensions.

But what about in everyday life today?

“Truce-breaking,” or the breaking of promises, seems to be a prerequisite in the political field. How many politicians keep their word when running for office? Promises made/promises kept? I think not.

What about in our daily experiences? In the workplace? Friendships? How about family?

I’m sure we all have our stories of those who have broken our hearts when we have a mutually agreed-upon truce, agreement, or promise that was eventually forgotten or, worse yet, annulled for selfish reasons.

We don’t even bother to say in our courts anymore when taking an oath of truth, “So help me God.” What would be the point? Truth has fled away, and the oath is dead.

As Christians, in opposition to the truce-breaking and corrupt world system, we should…

“Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him” (Colossians 3:12-17).

For Men Shall Be… False Accusers

The Greek word for “false accusers” is 1228 diábolos (from 1225/diabállō, “to slander, accuse, defame”) – properly, a slanderer; a false accuser; unjustly criticizing to hurt (malign) and condemn to sever a relationship. [1228 (diábolos) is the root of the English word, “Devil” (see also Webster’s Dictionary). 1228 (diabolos) in secular Greek means “backbiter,” i.e., an accuser, calumniator (slanderer). 1228 (diábolos) is literally someone who “casts through,” i.e., making charges that bring down (destroy). Satan is used by God in this plan – as a predictable wind-up toy, playing out his evil nature.]

“… for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night” (Revelation 12:10b).

While Satan is the ultimate false accuser of the saints of God, can we see an outbreak of false accusations in the world today?

Most certainly, we can, especially against conservative Christians and those whose standards are based on morality and truth. No surprise here, as these accusations emanate from the master accuser – Satan himself.

“For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places” (Ephesians 6:12).

An unfortunate and universal condition of the believer in Christ is to be constantly accused before a God-denying, Christ-rejecting world of being hypocrites and not living up to the standards they see us encouraging and demanding of them. In some cases, this may very well be true and justified. There are many awful representatives of Christ out there – whether they be backslidden or false converts.

But a true child of God, who stands upon the foundation of God’s Word and lives, to the best of their ability, through the indwelling Holy Spirit, a decent and respectable life is active and fair game to the lost of this world.

Remembering, as the above verse states, that “we wrestle not against flesh and blood” but against Satan, fallen angels, and demonic entities, we need to fight the good fight against those forces of evil who influence and guide lost humanity.

We, too, before coming to Christ, were of this same unregenerative mindset, and we must never forget this truth. This is a real fight with real consequences.

As difficult as it can be, Jesus commanded us to…

“… Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you” (Matthew 5:44).

Jesus wouldn’t have commanded us to do this if we were not able to achieve this. With the Holy Spirit’s help, we…

“… can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth [us]” (Philippians 4:13).

For Men Shall Be… Incontinent

The Greek word for “incontinent” is 193 akratḗs (an adjective, derived from 1/A “without” and 2904/krátos, “prevailing power”) – properly, incontinent, i.e., lacking self-control (self-discipline, self-restraint; used only in 2 Tim 3:3). See 192 (akrasia). [193 (akratḗs) is the opposite (antonym) of 1468/egkratḗs, “enabled from within” (see there).]

“He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls” (Proverbs 25:28).

Political riots in the name of “Social Justice,” fighting against real or perceived inequality, and relentless political desires – while destroying property, lives, and the rule of law – characterize our lawless days. People cannot restrain themselves; they are radically out of control, abusive, and violent.

Everybody’s offended. Emotions and feelings rule over rational and logical thought. It only matters how one “feels” and, unfortunately, those feelings are almost always deceptive, usually resulting in rage and ire at the perceived “injustices” of the world.

How can peace be achieved by such unbridled incontinence of emotions that so easily deceives us? We are seeing it play out on a daily basis and on a deadly scale.

But we, as children of God, have…

“… the fruit of the Spirit [which] is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law” (Galatians 5:22-23).

For Men Shall Be… Fierce

The Greek word for “fierce” is 434 anémeros Not tame. fierce, savage. From a (as a negative particle) and hemeros (lame); savage – fierce. see GREEK a.

“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour” (1 Peter 5:8).

Antifa, Black Lives Matter, anarchists, Marxists/Socialists/Communists, all fiercely screaming, “Defund the police!” “Burn it down!” “We need political enemies hit lists!” “Payback is coming!” And many more despicable slogans that aren’t appropriate for public consumption, all while raging in the streets with riots, looting, burning, and killing.

“For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom” (Matthew 24:7a).

“Nation” in this verse is the Greek word 1484 éthnos (from ethō, “forming a custom, culture”) – properly, people joined by practicing similar customs or common culture; nation(s), usually referring to unbelieving Gentiles (non-Jews). A race, a nation.

“Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord, and against his anointed, saying, Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us” (Psalm 2:1-3).

This is what the end will look like, but the birth pangs are moving and building in frequency and intensity.

We most certainly are living in times similar to the “days of Noah” and the “days of Lot.”

“And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man. They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all. Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded; But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all” (Luke 17:26-29).

The “days of Lot” were filled with sexual wickedness. So were the “days of Noah,” which were also filled with corruption and violence:

“The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence. And God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth. And God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is come before me; for the earth is filled with violence through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth” (Genesis 6:11-13).

The world’s end will be as theirs: Destroyed by the Lord. This time, not by water, but by His wrath being poured on a God-denying, Christ-rejecting world and climaxed at the Lord’s glorious Second Coming.

As believers in Jesus Christ, our characteristics are shown by these fruits of righteousness:

“But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace” (James 3:17-18).

And this peace won’t be fully realized on this earth until the Prince of Peace comes back.

For Men Shall Be… Despisers Of Those That Are Good

The Greek word for “despisers of those that are good” is 865 aphilágathos (from 1/A, “not” and 5358/philágathos, “a friend, lover of what is good”) – properly, a hater of good describing someone who is hostile to the things of God – i.e., an active opponent (enemy) of God’s kingdom (good).

Christians and Jews are the most persecuted people in the entire world, and yet they are most often the backbone of all that is good in society. This hatred of the Judeo/Christian God and His people has infiltrated every corner of the globe and is accelerating in the western hemisphere at record speed.

The “lock-downs” due to COVID-19 here in the States has shown us, if nothing else, that these unconstitutional government orders are targeting churches and synagogues in the hopes of nullifying any influence the people of God may have on our secular society. Riots and Democratic celebrations don’t seem to be super-spreader events, but worshiping at your local church is putting all of society at risk – physically and culturally – so the “powers that be” say.

“And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven. And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations” (Revelation 13:6-7).

Of course, Antichrist will be the ultimate “despiser of all that is good,” and for a short season, will fulfill the mandate from the master-despiser, Satan himself.

Conclusion

Is it me, or are we seeing a sociopolitical theme in these characteristics that are setting up the world for the New World Order under Antichrist? It seems we are witnessing qualities that begin as characteristics present in the individual but actively progress into a collective unity within the masses.

Let’s review the list:

Unholy… Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good.

Unholy: A Satanic and Luciferian New Age, New World Order set up by the political elite and their minions, while God’s sacred plan for the family unit is under assault.

Without natural affection: Murder of the unborn – and protected by despicable “laws” in the name of “choice” and freedom – and the sexualization and mistreatment, of all degrees and stripes, of our children if they are lucky enough to make it out of the womb.

Truce-breakers: Lying politicians, in a desperate and manic desire for power and wealth, along with the truce-breaking in everyday citizens’ lives prevail.

False accusers: Liars and accusers are ruling the world with a Satanic vengeance, and it filters down to the public they are pledged to serve.

Incontinent: The masses are hysterical and out of control as they are instigated by the powers that be and agitated by their own lusts and deceptive “feelings.”

Fierce: Hatred and rage are filling the hearts of all mankind, paving the way for the “Fiercest” of them all – a Satanically energized Antichrist.

Despisers of those that are good: The demonic hunt and persecution of Christians and Jews, their sincere religious beliefs and practices, and – most importantly to the enemy – their God, is the destructive battle cry heard round the world as “the nations rage.”

But for those who have been called and have responded to the love of Christ and have given their lives to Him, we must…

“Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. Quench not the Spirit. Despise not prophesyings. Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. Abstain from all appearance of evil. And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-24).

Love, grace, mercy, and shalom in Messiah Yeshua, and Maranatha!

[Note: I realize that this study on Societal Characteristics of the Last Days is United States-centric, as this is where I live. My guess is that this series will also ring true in the rest of the Western world. But what I’m really interested in is: Do these characteristics describe the current conditions in the nation of Israel as well? After all, the Bible is Israel-centric. If any of our dear friends in Israel would like to reach out with their take on this study and its relationship to Israel, I’d really love to hear from you!]

Email: mab10666@yahoo.com

Rehoboam, the son of Solomon, began his reign as king of all 12 tribes of Israel in 930 BC after the death of his father. He was king of the united kingdom of Israel for three days until the 10 tribes of the north, led by Jeroboam, rebelled against him and started their own kingdom (Israel) with Jeroboam as their king (1 Kings 12:5-20). The northern kingdom of Israel was in existence for 207 years, from 930 BC to 723 BC (note: this is a correction from my previous article which I stated was for 186 years). Rehoboam (1) then became the first king of the southern kingdom of Judah. There were a total of 19 kings and 1 queen of Judah, and the kingdom was in existence for 344 years (930 to 586 BC).

After the separation of the tribes, the Levites who were living in the north left their homes and came to Judah and Jerusalem because Jeroboam and his sons had cast them off from executing the priest’s office unto the Lord. “Jeroboam had ordained him priests for the high places, and for the devils, and for the calves which he had made. And after them out of all the tribes of Israel such as set their hearts to seek the Lord God of Israel came to Jerusalem, to sacrifice unto the Lord God of their fathers. So they strengthened the kingdom of Judah, and made Rehoboam, the son of Solomon, strong three years; for three years they walked in the way of David and Solomon” (2 Chronicles 11:15-17).

After three years had passed, Rehoboam forsook the law of the Lord and transgressed against Him. In Rehoboam’s fifth year, Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem with a vast army and hundreds of chariots, and he took the fenced cities of Judah and then Jerusalem. He also took away the treasures of the house of the Lord, the treasures of the king’s house, and the shields of gold which Solomon had made. Shemaiah the prophet came to Rehoboam and to the princes of Judah, and said unto them, “Thus says the Lord, You have forsaken me, and therefore have I also left you in the hand of Shishak” (2 Chronicles 12:5). After hearing this message from the Lord, the king and his princes humbled themselves and said, “The Lord is righteous.”

Because the rulers of Judah humbled themselves, the Lord said he would not destroy them. However, Judah did become Egypt’s servants for a short time and had to pay tribute to them. Rehoboam ruled Judah for 17 years and died at the age of 58. His mother was from Ammon and was one of the many pagan wives of Solomon. Rehoboam did evil because he prepared not his heart to seek the Lord (2 Chronicles 12:14). There must have been too much ungodly influence coming from his parents for Rehoboam to seek the Lord.

Abijam or Abijah (2), the son of Rehoboam, reigned as king of Judah after the death of his father. He ruled for only three years. “He walked in all the sins of his father, which he had done before him: and his heart was not perfect with the Lord his God, as the heart of David his father [actually great grandfather]” (1 Kings 15:3). For David’s sake, the Lord allowed his rule to continue and to establish Jerusalem as his capital. There was war between Abijah and Jeroboam. Abijah had 400,000 valiant men of war from Judah, and Jeroboam had 800,000 mighty men of valor from the northern kingdom. To Abijah’s credit, he called out Jeroboam for rebelling against Rehoboam and making golden calves for gods. He also criticized him for making priests out of non-Levites.

At first, it looked like Israel was winning, but then the men of Judah gave a shout, and the priests sounded with their trumpets. At this time, God smote Jeroboam and all Israel before Abijah and Judah, and the children of Israel fled before Judah: and God delivered them into their hand. 500,000 men of Israel were slaughtered on this day. It reminds me of the story of Joshua and the slaughter of the citizens of Jericho with the shouting and the trumpets sounding, which occurred about 500 years earlier.

After the death of Abijam in 910 BC, his son Asa (3) became king of Judah. “Asa did that which was good and right in the eyes of the Lord his God: for he took away the altars of the strange gods, and the high places, and broke down the images, and cut down the groves, and commanded Judah to seek the Lord God of their fathers, and to do the law and the commandments. Asa abolished the male cult prostitution that was taking place when the people worshiped the Canaanite goddess Asherah and removed all the idols his predecessors had made.

For Asa’s faith in the Lord, God gave Asa a great victory over an Ethiopian army of one million men who attacked Judah. Asa was wise in that he did not depend on his military might and his army but instead depended on the Lord. This was his prayer before the battle: “Lord, it is nothing with your help, whether with many, or with them that have no power: help us, O Lord our God, for we rest on you, and in your name we go against this multitude: O Lord, you are our God, let not man prevail against you” (2 Chronicles 14:11).

Many true believers of Yahweh defected from Israel to Judah when they realized that God was with Asa. Because of Asa’s righteousness and mentoring of the people, God allowed Judah to be at peace for many decades. They even celebrated the feast of Pentecost (in the third month, in the 15th year of Asa’s rule), which hadn’t been done in a long time. They sacrificed 700 oxen and 7,000 sheep (seven being a perfect and complete number of God). They even entered into a covenant to seek the Lord God of their fathers with all their heart and with all their soul. “They sought Him with their whole desire; and he was found of them: and the Lord gave them rest round about” (2 Chronicles 15:12,15).

Asa reigned 41 years as king of Judah. Eight kings reigned in Israel during Asa’s 41-year rule, and they were all evil. However, when Asa was old, he made the mistake of depending on another country (Aram/Syria) for assistance against Israel instead of the Lord. God forgave him because in God’s eyes, the heart of Asa was perfect all his days (2 Chronicles 15:17).

Jehoshaphat (4) became king of Judah after the death of Asa in 869 BC. Jehoshaphat was one of the best kings of Judah regarding his love of the Lord. “And the Lord was with Jehoshaphat, because he walked in the first ways of his father David, and sought not unto Baalim; but sought to the Lord God of his father, and walked in his commandments, and not after the doings of Israel. Therefore the Lord established the kingdom in his hand; and all Judah brought to Jehoshaphat presents; and he had riches and honor in abundance. And his heart was lifted up in the ways of the Lord; moreover he took away the high places and groves out of Judah” (2 Chronicles 17:3-6). He also sent out traveling teachers of the law of Moses and reorganized Judah’s justice system by placing judges in key cities and a high court in Jerusalem, with Levites and priests as judges.

The evil King Ahab of Israel reigned in the time of Jehoshaphat. There couldn’t have been more of a contrast between the two kings. About this time, Ahab was at war with Syria, and so he called a meeting with Jehoshaphat to see if he would join forces with him against Syria. Jehoshaphat answered him, “I am as you are, and my people as your people; and we will be with you in the war” (2 Chronicles 18:3). This is the war where Ahab is struck with an arrow as he is riding in his chariot and dies shortly afterward. Jehoshaphat gets in trouble as he is surrounded by enemy forces but cries out to the Lord, who helps him to escape.

When Jehoshaphat returned to Jerusalem, a prophet by the name of Jehu gave him this message from the Lord: “Should you help the ungodly, and love them that hate the Lord [Israel/Ahab]? Therefore is wrath upon you from before the Lord, Nevertheless there are good things found in you, in that you have taken away the groves out of the land, and have prepared your heart to seek God” (2 Chronicles 18:2-3).

It came to pass after this that the nations of Moab and Ammon (and others) were marching towards Jerusalem. “And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the Lord, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. And Judah gathered themselves together, to ask help of the Lord: even out of all the cities of Judah they came to seek the Lord” (2 Chronicles 20:3-4). Jehoshaphat stood in the congregation of Judah and Jerusalem, in the house of the Lord, and spoke to the Lord, asking for his help. 2 Chronicles 20:6-12 is one of the greatest prayers recorded in the Old Testament. It is too lengthy to repeat here, but I highly recommend you read it for yourselves.

After this petition to the Lord, a Levite of the sons of Asaph came forward with the mighty Spirit of the Lord upon him and said, “Hearken you, all Judah and Jerusalem, and you king Jehoshaphat, Thus says the Lord unto you, Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God’s. You shall not need to fight in this battle: set yourselves, stand you still, and see the salvation of the Lord with you, O Judah and Jerusalem; fear not, nor be dismayed; tomorrow go out against them: for the Lord will be with you” (2 Chronicles 20:15-17).

The Lord God used one of his greatest tricks to destroy the enemies of Judah. He got the different armies to fight against one another. It must have been sheer madness. “And when Judah came toward the watch tower in the wilderness, they looked unto the multitude, and, behold, they were dead bodies fallen to the earth, and none escaped” (2 Chronicles 20:24). “And the fear of God was on all the kingdoms of those countries, when they had heard that the Lord fought against the enemies of Israel. So the realm of Jehoshaphat was quiet: for his God gave him rest round about” (2 Chronicles 20:29-30).

Jehoshaphat reigned in Jerusalem for 25 years. Upon his death in 848 BC, his eldest son Jehoram (5) ruled Judah. When Jehoram became king, he strengthened himself (or so he thought) by killing all his six brothers; so he was the only heir to the kingdom. “And he walked in the way of the kings of Israel, like as did the house of Ahab: for he had the daughter of Ahab (Athaliah) to wife: and he did that which was evil in the eyes of the Lord” (2 Chronicles 21:6). Jehoshaphat had foolishly arranged this marriage, before his death, as a sort of peace treaty between the two kingdoms. Jehoram also made high places in the mountains of Judah and caused the inhabitants of Jerusalem to commit fornication in their rituals of Baal worship, and compelled Judah in this regard.

There came a writing to Jehoram from Elijah the prophet, saying, “Thus says the Lord God of David your father, Because you have not walked in the ways of Jehoshaphat your father, nor in the ways of Asa king of Judah, but have walked in the way of the kings of Israel, and have made Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to go a whoring, like to the whoredoms of the house of Ahab, and also have slain your brothers of your father’s house, which were better than yourself: behold, with a great plague will the Lord smite your people, and your children, and your wives, and all your goods: and you shall have great sickness by disease of your bowels, until your bowels fall out by reason of the sickness day by day” (2 Chronicles 21:12-15).

The plague came in the way of the Philistines and the Arabians. They came into Judah and broke into the king’s house and carried away all the substance and valuables that were in it. This was probably very substantial as Jehoram probably inherited all the riches from his father and grandfather. The raiders also carried away all of Jehoram’s wives and sons except Ahaziah, the youngest of his sons.

After the end of two years, Elijah’s prophecy came true as Jehoram’s bowels fell out by reason of his sickness, and he died in 841 BC. The people made no burning for him as they did for his fathers. He only lived to be 40 years old, and it is said he departed without being desired. The people buried him in the city of David, but not in the tombs of the kings. It makes you wonder why a man that had such a good influence on his life as his father did would turn out so evil. After all, he was coregent with Jehoshaphat for five years before he became the actual king of Judah. I believe it was because of the evil influence he had with his wife, Athaliah, who was a Baal worshiper like her parents, Ahab and Jezebel.

You either seek the Lord God or you seek after vain things that lead to destruction. These are the two choices each of us has to make in this life.

Ahaziah (6) was 42 years old when he began to reign, and he reigned one year in Jerusalem. His mother was Athaliah, who was a wicked woman. The only woman that was probably more wicked than her was Jezebel, her mother. Ahaziah walked in the ways of the house of Ahab, for his mother was his counsellor to do wickedly. “Wherefore he did evil in the sight of the Lord like the house of Ahab: for they were his counsellors after the death of his father to his destruction” (2 Chronicles 22:4).

As mentioned in my previous article, Jehu, the captain of Israel’s army, killed king Joram of Israel and all of Ahab’s descendants; he also killed king Ahaziah of Judah and all of the sons of the brethren of Ahaziah. The people buried him because they said he is the son (grandson) of Jehoshaphat, who sought the Lord with all his heart.

When Athaliah saw that her son was dead, she murdered all the seed royal of the house of Judah. “But Jehoshabeath, the daughter of king Jehoram (and sister of Ahaziah), took Joash the son of Ahaziah, and stole him from among the king’s sons that were slain, and put him and his nurse in a bedchamber. So Jehoshabeath (who was also the wife of Jehoiada the priest) hid him from Athaliah, so that she slew him not. And he was with them hid in the house of God six years: and Athaliah (7) reigned over the land” (2 Chronicles 22:11-12). Athaliah, the queen mother, was the only ruler of Judah who wasn’t a direct descendant of King David.

In the seventh (number of completion) year of Joash, the priest Jehoiada strengthened himself and made a covenant with the captains (of the army of Judah) of hundreds, the Levites out of all the cities of Judah, and the chief of the fathers of Israel, and they came to Jerusalem to make Joash king. Jehoiada gave all the men weapons and surrounded the young Joash. “Then they brought out the king’s son, and put upon him the crown, and gave him the testimony, and made him king. And Jehoiada and his sons anointed him, and said, God save the king” (2 Chronicles 23:11).

Athaliah heard the noise of the people who were running and praising the king and came to the temple to see what was going on. She saw the ‘true’ king, Joash (8), standing with the princes and all the people who were rejoicing and singing, and the trumpeters sounding; so Athaliah rent her clothes, and said, “Treason, Treason “(2 Corinthians 23:13). Jehoiada the priest told the captains of the host to kill her, but not in the house of the Lord. So Athaliah died after a six-year stint as ruler of Israel. The year was 835 BC.

Jehoiada made a covenant between him and the people and the king, that they should be the Lord’s people. “Then all the people went to the house of Baal, and broke it down, and broke his altars and his images in pieces, and slew Mattan the priest of Baal before the altars. And Jehoiada appointed the offices of the house of the Lord by the hand of the priests the Levites, whom David had distributed in the house of the Lord, to offer the burnt offerings of the Lord, as it is written in the law of Moses” (2 Chronicles 23:17-18). Joash and Jehoiada also repaired the temple in Jerusalem and offered burnt offerings there continually all the days of Jehoiada.

Jehoiada died at the age of 130 (which was very old for this time period), and they buried him in Jerusalem because he had done good in Israel, both toward God and toward his house. (2 Chronicles 24:16). After Jehoiada’s death, Joash listened to the princes (elites) of Judah. “And they left the house of the Lord God of their fathers, and served groves and idols: and wrath came upon Judah and Jerusalem for this their trespass. Yet He sent prophets to them, to bring them again unto the Lord; and they testified against them: but they would not give ear” (2 Chronicles 24:18-19). Joel may have been one of these prophets.

The Spirit of God came upon Zechariah, the son of Jehoiada the priest and Jehoshabeath (Joash’s aunt), and he said unto them, “Thus says God, Why transgress you the commandments of the Lord, that you cannot prosper? Because you have forsaken the Lord, he has also forsaken you” (2 Chronicles 24:20). Joash the king remembered not the kindness which Jehoiada and Jeshoshabeath had done for him but had Zechariah stoned to death. For Joash’s transgressions, the Lord sent Syria against him and against Judah and Jerusalem. With just a small company of men, the army of the Syrians destroyed all the princes of the people and spoiled Judah because they had forsaken the Lord God of their fathers. So they executed judgment against Joash. When they had departed, several men conspired against the king and murdered him on his bed.

Joash’s son, Amaziah (9), began to reign in 796 BC when he was 25 years old. He did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, but not with a perfect heart. (2 Chronicles 25:2). His first act as king was to kill the men who had murdered his father. Amaziah went to war against Edom, which had previously won its independence from Judah, and was victorious over them. Amaziah set up idols he had brought back from Edom and bowed down himself before them, and burned incense unto them. This greatly angered the Lord; however, he sent a prophet to warn him of his foolishness. Amaziah arrogantly rebuked the prophet, who then told him that God had determined to destroy the king because he did not hearken to the word of the Lord.

After Amaziah’s victory over Edom, he next went to war against King Jehoash of Israel. Amaziah was captured, and his army was overwhelmingly defeated. Part of the walls and gates of Jerusalem were destroyed, and the temple and palace were plundered of their gold and silver. Amaziah was released from Israel but was eventually assassinated by his own people in 767 BC.

The people of Judah then took Amaziah’s 16-year-old son, Uzziah/Azariah (10), and made him king. He actually became coregent with his father for 25 years while Amaziah was in prison in Samaria. “Uzziah did that which was right in the sight of the Lord and he sought God in the days of Zechariah, who had understanding in the visions of God: and as long as he sought the Lord, God made him to prosper” (2 Chronicles 26:4-5).

Uzziah had many successful military campaigns against the Philistines, Arabians, and the Mehunims. He also fortified the defenses of Jerusalem, dug many wells in the desert, and loved husbandry. “And he made in Jerusalem engines, invented by cunning men, to be on the towers and upon the bulwarks, to shoot arrows and great stones withal. And his name spread far abroad; for he was marvelously helped, till he was strong. But when he was strong, his heart was lifted up to his destruction: for he transgressed against the Lord his God, and went into the temple of the Lord to burn incense upon the altar of incense” (2 Chronicles 26:15-16).

This was a job that only the priests (sons of Aaron) were allowed to do. For this sin, Uzziah was struck with leprosy, and he remained a leper until the day he died. Uzziah ruled Judah for 52 years and died at the age of 68. The year was 740 BC.

Jotham, a son of Uzziah, was coregent with his father for 10 years. After Uzziah’s death, Jotham (11) began his official reign of Judah. This was the year that the great prophet Isaiah was commissioned as a prophet and had his vison of God on His throne as described in Isaiah 6:1. “Jotham did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, according to all that his father Uzziah did: however he entered not into the temple of the Lord. And the people did yet corruptly” (2 Chronicles 27:2). Jotham built up the defenses of Judah and built cities, castles, and towers. He defeated the Ammonites, who became a vassal kingdom of Judah, which had to pay annual tributes in the form of much silver and wheat and barley to King Jotham. “So Jotham became mighty, because he prepared his ways before the Lord his God” (2 Chronicles 27:6).

Jotham reigned until 732 BC, but three years earlier, in 735 BC, his son Ahaz co-ruled with him. They probably had a contentious relationship as some scholars believe that Ahaz was raised to the throne with the aid of a pro-Assyrian faction. Ahaz was more conciliatory to Assyria than was Jotham.

Ahaz (12) became sole ruler/king of Judah after the death of Jotham in 735 BC. “He did not that which was right in the sight of the Lord, like David his father: for he walked in the ways of the kings of Israel, and made also molten images for Baalim. Moreover he burnt incense in the valley of the son of Hinnom, and burnt his children in the fire, after the abominations of the heathen whom the Lord had cast out before the children of Israel. He sacrificed also and burnt incense in the high places, and on the hills, and under every green tree” (2 Chronicles 28:1-4). Micah was a prophet during this period and spoke regarding a future judgment against Israel and Judah.

Early in Ahaz’s reign, Israel’s King Pekah and the king of Syria asked him to join them in an alliance against Assyria. When he refused, Israel and Syria invaded Judah, inflicting heavy casualties. Syria also carried away a great multitude of them captive and brought them to Damascus.

King Pekah of Israel slaughtered 120,000 men of Judah in one day and carried away captive of their brethren 200,000 women, sons, and daughters, and took also away much spoil from them, and brought them back to Samaria. A prophet of the Lord named Oded had to be dispatched there to confront the tribes of Israel. These were his words from the Lord: “Behold, because the Lord God of your fathers was angry with Judah, he has delivered them into your hand, and you have slain them in a rage that reaches up unto heaven. And now you purpose to keep under the children of Judah and Jerusalem for bondmen and bondwomen unto you; but are there not with you, even with you, sins against the Lord your God: Now hear me therefore, and deliver the captives again, which you have taken captive of your brethren: for the fierce wrath of the Lord is upon you” (2 Chronicles 28:9-11).

The leaders of Israel relented and returned the captives back to Judah.

Isaiah the prophet encouraged Ahaz to put his trust in God, but the king turned to Assyria instead. As a result, Judah became a vassal of Assyria for the next century, and the tribute they were forced to pay depleted the country’s resources. Ahaz’s wickedness consumed him to the point that he burned his own son as a sacrifice to the Assyrian gods, ordered an Assyrian-style altar built in the temple, and used the bronze altar for divination.

King Ahaz was so wicked that he sacrificed unto the gods of Damascus, which devastated Judah. He foolishly reasoned that since the gods of the kings of Syria helped them, therefore he would sacrifice to them, that they help him. This was the ruin of Ahaz and the beginning of the ruin of Judah. “And Ahaz gathered together the vessels of the house of God, and cut in pieces the vessels of the house of God, and shut up the doors of the house of the Lord, and he made them altars in every corner of Jerusalem. And in every several city of Judah he made high places to burn incense unto other gods, and provoked to anger the Lord God of his fathers” (2 Chronicles 28:24-25).

Ahaz died in 715 BC, and the people buried him in Jerusalem, but not into the tombs of the kings of Israel.

As you can see, the sins of Judah are becoming quite full just as Israel’s had. The evil Ahaz was king of Judah at the same time the last evil king of Israel, Hoshea, was on the throne. Israel fell to the Assyrians in 722 BC after a three-year siege. Judah still has 136 more years until God’s judgment and punishment finally catches up with their “fullness of sin” against the Lord, as we will see in part 5.

Randy Nettles

nettlesr@suddenlink.net