Resurrection Life of Jesus Church

THE LAST EFFORT
The Godhead paused the virtual time run and looked at each other with grief and astonishment. How was Lucifer able to produce a religion so powerful that king after king adhered to it? Godly prophets and tremendous calamities had visited the twelve tribes of Israel and yet they still persisted in serving the Devil. Lucifer was successfully appealing to the sinful nature of humanity – the same sinful nature exhibited in Satan and his minions!

The Godhead decided that the next king of Judah would be its last unless there was repentance. They decided to go all out and bring the next king into their fold. Prophets and messages would be sent to the king and the people. 2 Chronicles 36:15

ZEDEKIAH
Before the King Nebuchadnezzar returned home, he appointed Mattaniah – brother of Jehoiakim and uncle to Jehoiachin – to be vassal king over Judah. Nebuchadnezzar changed his name from Mattaniah (gift of the Lord) to Zedekiah (God is my righteousness). Zedekiah was 21 years old when he began to reign as a vassal king of Babylon. 2 Kings 24:17-18

Zedekiah was a devoted Kabbalist and did his utmost to serve Lucifer. 2 Kings 24:19

The priestly and political leadership in Judah were corrupt. 2 Chronicles 36:12-16

CONSPIRACY IN JERUSALEM
God revealed to the prophet Jeremiah that there was a conspiracy in Jerusalem against Him. Jeremiah 11:9-10

The prophet Ezekiel was given a vivid description from the Lord concerning the conspiracy. Ezekiel 22:23-31

DUELING PROPHETS
Lucifer thought this was a golden opportunity to forever derail the coming of the Redeemer and spoke lying words through his prophet, Hananiah.   Jeremiah 28:1-17

SEEKING FAVOR
Zedekiah wanted to cover all his bases, and instead of personally speaking to the prophet Jeremiah, he sent two emissaries, requesting that Jeremiah pray for the king and the nation. Jeremiah 37:1-4

PHARAOH NECHO
Pharaoh Necho of Egypt tried to push the Babylonians away from Judah and recover the territory he had lost. verse 5

Jeremiah received a prophecy concerning Egypt and Babylon. verses 6-10

JEREMIAH IS ARRESTED
Jeremiah had enough of the politics in Jerusalem and decided to leave after the Babylonian siege. He was now older and had fought hard on behalf of the Lord for many years. He was accused of treason and arrested. verses 11-14

He was brought before Jerusalem’s political leaders. They hated the prophet and ordered him put in prison, which was run by his archenemy, Jonathan the Scribe. verses 15-16

Zedekiah was not sure that he was receiving correct counsel from the other prophets and political leaders in Judah, so he summoned Jeremiah to speak to the prophet in secret. verse 17

Jeremiah scolded the king and was subsequently returned to prison. verses 18-21

The priestly and the political leadership in Judah viewed Jeremiah as a traitor. They believed his words would weaken the soldiers resolve to fight the Babylonians and recommended that Jeremiah be executed for treason. Jeremiah 38:1-4

Zedekiah did not resist the Jewish leadership and told them to do whatever they wanted with Jeremiah. The prophet was put in a pit of mud with the expectation that he would eventually succumb to exhaustion and choke to death. verses 5-6

THE EUNUCH
Ebedmelech was a black man from Ethiopia who had been captured in a battle and brought to Jerusalem. He was castrated and given the job of working in the king’s palace. Kings often had more than one wife and eunuchs were preferred to work around the harem since they had no desire for women.

It is likely that Ebedmelech converted to faith in the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob because he had compassion on Jeremiah. Jeremiah 38:7-9

Zedekiah heeded the words of his eunuch and ordered Jeremiah extracted from the pit.  verses 10-13

ZEDEKIAH CONSULTS THE PROPHET
Even though Zedekiah was deeply into the Kabbalah, he must have known that he was on a wrong path. He knew that Jeremiah believed in God with all his heart, that he was sincere, and that he was willing to die for his faith. Zedekiah summoned Jeremiah to ask him privately what would happen in the future. verse 14

Jeremiah told the king that if he told Zedekiah the truth, the king would surely put him to death. verse 15

Zedekiah responded with an oath not harm Jeremiah regardless of the message. verse 16

SURRENDER OR PERISH
Jeremiah stated that if Zedekiah surrendered to the Babylonians, the city would be spared and the king would survive. If Zedekiah did not surrender, Jerusalem would be destroyed and he would be taken captive. verses 17-18

Zedekiah responded that he was afraid of the Jews that had previously been captured by the Babylonians. verse 19

A LAST CHANCE TO BE SAVED
God was giving Zedekiah one last chance to save his life and the city of Jerusalem. There would be dire consequences for the king and Jerusalem if he refused to listen. verses 20-23

POLITICS
Zedekiah did not want Jeremiah to publicly disclose the information he had shared with anyone else. The prophet was threatened with death if he spoke openly about God’s warning. verses 24-26

The news that Zedekiah had met with Jeremiah was uncovered by the political leaders in Jerusalem and they wanted to know what God had stated. Jeremiah refused to tell them because he knew it was Zedekiah’s decision alone and whatever he did would affect the nation. The prophet was left in prison until the Babylonians conquered the city. verses 27-28

SUMMARY
The intent of the Godhead concerning the twelve tribes was thwarted by Lucifer because he successfully appealed to the sinful nature of humanity:

• The united Kingdom of Israel only lasted for 100 years.

• The Northern Kingdom of Israel would go on to survive for 226 years with pretty much all of its kings choosing to serve Lucifer in various forms.

• The Southern Kingdom of Judah came to an end after 320 years. It was a seesaw battle which saw many good kings struggle to lead the people in righteousness, only to be offset by evil kings that served Lucifer.

The united Kingdom of Israel won’t come into existence again until Jesus returns and sets up the millennial kingdom.¹

1. The political State of Israel created in 1948 is not a fulfillment of prophecy as many erroneously believe and has nothing to do with the 1,000 Years Kingdom mentioned in the Book of Revelation. I have dealt with this topic extensively in the series, “Biblical Truth Concerning the State of Israel.”