Josiah – Idolatry – Part 5
A Synopsis on Idolatry
The Birth, Progression and End of Idolatry
And it came to pass in the eighteenth year of king Josiah, that the king sent Shaphan the son of Azaliah, the son of Meshullam, the scribe, to the house of the LORD, saying, (2 Kings 22:3)
Go up to Hilkiah the high priest, that he may sum the silver which is brought into the house of the LORD, which the keepers of the door have gathered of the people: (2 Kings 22:4)
And let them deliver it into the hand of the doers of the work, that have the oversight of the house of the LORD: and let them give it to the doers of the work which is in the house of the LORD, to repair the breaches of the house, (2 Kings 22:5)
And Shaphan the scribe shewed the king, saying. Hilkiah the priest hath delivered me a book. And Shaphan read it before the king. (2 Kings 22:10)
Josiah and his purpose in connection to idolatry
Josiah was a child of prophecy. The prophecy of his life and his name had been given by a man of God approximately 340 years prior to his birth. The prophecy was given to condemn both the altar at Bethel, and the idolatry of Jeroboam. Josiah in his eighteenth year became involved in the things of God when he sent Shaphan (the scribe) to enquire of Hilkiah (the priest) regarding the state of the Lord’s house. It was obviously in need of repair and silver had been collected for the repair, but apparently there was a spirit of complacency among the priests in charge of distributing the funds to the workers, and in the purchasing of the materials needed for the work. This attitude of indifference of the things of Jehovah had taken place because of the apostasy of the nation, their kings, and even the priesthood. Remember that in the days of Ahaz (2 Kings 16:10-12) that it was the priests who built the replica of the altar of Damascus. This apostasy and idolatry led to the neglect of the house of God. The hearts of the Israelites were carried away by the lusts of their own hearts. The Israelites were controlled by the influences of the pagan priests who used sensual and perverse ordinances to deceive the hearts of the people. They held them in bondage to their false gods.
The purpose of the birth of Josiah and his reign by God was to destroy all idolatry in the land of Israel; even though idolatry had deep roots in their culture things were about to change. God the Holy Spirit was working in the heart of the king, and although young in years, Josiah was trusting in the God who held eternity in His hands. This was the child of prophecy — God would and could do all that was necessary to bring this king to the fulfillment of His purposes. All was in the hands of the Holy Spirit: a godly mother and a godly grandfather prepared by Jehovah and for Jehovah to prepare this child king of prophecy to lead Israel out of her idolatry.
The Words in the Book
And Hilkiah the high priest said unto Shaphan the scribe, I have found the book of the law in the house of the LORD. And Hilkiah gave the book to Shaphan, and he read it. (2 Kings 22:8)
Hilkiah declared to Shaphan that he had found the book of the law in the house of the Lord. What does this tell us? Someone had put the book of the law out of the sight of the priests and out of the hearing of the people because of the idolatry that had come into the house of God. Remove the word of God from reaching the people: remove the authority of God from the knowledge of the people; remove the conviction of the words of God from the people and they will be open to all erroneous forms of worship. The temple of God had been saturated with the idols of Baal in the reign of Manasseh. He had built altars in the very house of God.
And he built altars in the house of the LORD, of which the LORD said, In Jerusalem will I put my name. (2 Kings 21:4)
And he built altars for all the host of heaven in the two courts of the house of the LORD. (2 Kings 21:5)
And he made his son pass through the fire, and observed times, and used enchantments, and dealt with familiar spirits and wizards: he wrought much wickedness in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger. (2 Kings 21:6)
And he set a graven image of the grove that he had made in the house, of which the LORD said to David, and to Solomon his son, In this house, and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all tribes of Israel, will I put my name for ever: (2 Kings 21:7)
Why had the word of God been put aside? If it had been read openly it would have exposed the idolatry in Israel. Whenever the word of God is denied idolatry takes it’s place in the heart of man. In our modern age it would be compared to the wishy-washy sermons that have no truth, no conviction, and no understanding of the true God of heaven and earth. The word of God has been put aside for a social gospel, and a gospel of comfort (ease) and convenience, and a gospel of pride in works and of human achievement. For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or [if] ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with [him]. (2 Corinthians 11:4) )The outward or professing church of the world is unquestionably accepted as true christianity. It is neither christian nor true, it preaches and teaches another Jesus, and praises works under the guidance of another spirit, and it does all this by the authority of man and not by the authority of God and His written word and His Living Word. There is only one faith, and one God, and that God is Jesus Christ. All others are liars, and deceivers, and will do all kinds of abominable things to get their doctrines into the hearts of men. As Israel went into idolatry so too the church followed in the same path for they had both left their first love.
What is idolatry and what was it’s origin? It is the heart of man turning from God. This makes man an idolater for his heart has been turned to something else, or someone else. Cain was the first idolater for he cherished and worshiped the work of his hands, and he refused to worship the true God of heaven and earth as Jehovah had instituted. Through Cain’s idolatry came murder for he murdered his brother Abel because Abel worshiped God and only God. God had laid out the doctrine, manner and purpose of true and acceptable sacrifice and worship. One doctrine, one manner, one purpose, one truth, and only one acceptable form of worship which was a blood sacrifice that pointed to the fulfillment of the true sacrifice yet to come for Israel and for man.
For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul. (Leviticus 17:11)
And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission. (Hebrews 9:22)
And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together. (Genesis 22:8) But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: (1 Peter 1:19)
The Progression of Idolatry
The world in the age of Noah was judged for it’s idolatry, and everything that accompanied idolatry. And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.(Genesis 6:5) And he said, This is wickedness. And he cast it into the midst of the ephah; and he cast the weight of lead upon the mouth thereof. (Zechariah 5:8) Compare the word ‘wickedness’ in both Genesis and in Zechariah. We are dealing with the same subject of idolatry. In the day of Noah it had corrupted the whole earth.
Idolatry described in the Book of Romans
For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; (Romans 1:18)
Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. (Romans 1:19)
For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: (Romans 1:20)
Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. (Romans 1:21)
Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, (Romans 1:22)
And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. (Romans 1:23)
Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: (Romans 1:24)
Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. (Romans 1:25)
For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: (Romans 1:26)
And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet. (Romans 1:27)
And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; (Romans 1:28)
Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, (Romans 1:29)
Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, (Romans 1:30)
Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: (Romans 1:31)
Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them. (Romans 1:32)
Read Romans 1 very carefully and understand the world around you. In our day we have an abundance of so-called religion, but in reality, according to the word of God, it is idolatrous deception full of wickedness.
The Progression of Idolatry in the Postdiluvian Age
In the days of Noah, God destroyed all of mankind except eight souls. Even though Noah built an altar and worshiped God there is nothing recorded of Noah’s sons building an altar, or any mention of their worshiping Jehovah. It is apparent that one of his children (Ham) brought the seeds of idolatry with him through the flood. As man populated the earth a Hamite (a great grandson of Noah/Noah—Ham—Cush—Nimrod) became the worlds’s first imperial ruler, the first world monarch. It was this man Nimrod whose name means ‘The Rebel’ who created the first successful unification program by bringing together religion and politics. Nimrod was the first recorded great community and tribal organizer. He was the force behind a tremendous building program that gave birth to powerful city states. The first one world order recorded is for our understanding of the last and final one world order to come. Through this unified front of financial, religious and political power the symbol of idolatry and rebellion was constructed — the Tower of Babel. The state approved pagan worship of Nimrod and the worship of the stars and of a multitude of female (mother and child cults) and male deities swept over the earth. The essence of these cults and deities reach even into our current age of technology.
The world had become of one language, and God moved to disrupt their ability to unite in their idolatry by confounding their language; thus, man unable to communicate with each other became divided one from another; consequently in time tribes formed, cultures developed and nations were born to become opposing forces. And ever since, man has been trying to become united once more, but not for the benefit or enrichment of it’s citizens, but in rebellion against the true and only God. Language has been a prime element of division throughout history until the 20th century when the language of the computer has given man the means to become united once again through language. What’s next? The sons of men are going to band together in the biggest wave of idolatry that the world has ever seen. It is going to become very interesting in all cultures. Though hand join in hand, the wicked shall not be unpunished: but the seed of the righteous shall be delivered. (Proverbs 11:21)
A Brief Summary of the Progression of Idolatry in Israel.
In the days of Moses God called out Israel from Egypt because the world once again was full of idolatry. God, therefore, gave His law to overthrow the whorish hearts of those who came out of Egypt. Jehovah promised His people that if they would follow after His law and only worship Him that He would bless them; however, idolatry was so deep in their hearts that even as the law was being given to Moses —Aaron was building a golden calf.
God judged them for their idolatry even at Mount Sinai. In God’s mercy and grace He would fulfill His promises to Abraham to give his seed the land of Canaan, but because of their sins and their idolatry they wandered for 40 years in the wilderness until God had raised up a new generation supposedly free of idolatry. Once in the land of promise, however, they began to take on the idols of the land that they had conquered. Through the history of the kings they became more and more worshipers of idols than worshipers of Jehovah, and for this God finally banished them to Babylon, the birthplace of idolatry. If they wanted to be idolaters they would live in the land of idolatry.
The Birthplace of Idolatry
We have already viewed the birthplace of idolatry in the land of Babylon, the Tower of Babel, and the man who was the type of the antichrist, Nimrod, but we need to see the importance that the location has in the progression of idolatry. The Book of Zechariah, Chapter 5 reveals more about this world consuming idolatry.
The Location — Babylon — Shinar — the plain of Dura
Then I turned, and lifted up mine eyes, and looked, and behold a flying roll. (Zechariah 5:1)
And he said unto me, What seest thou? And I answered, I see a flying roll; the length thereof is twenty cubits, and the breadth thereof ten cubits. (Zechariah 5:2)
Then said he unto me, This is the curse that goeth forth over the face of the whole earth: for every one that stealeth shall be cut off as on this side according to it; and every one that sweareth shall be cut off as on that side according to it. (Zechariah 5:3)
I will bring it forth, saith the LORD of hosts, and it shall enter into the house of the thief, and into the house of him that sweareth falsely by my name: and it shall remain in the midst of his house, and shall consume it with the timber thereof and the stones thereof. (Zechariah 5:4)
Then the angel that talked with me went forth, and said unto me, Lift up now thine eyes, and see what is this that goeth forth. (Zechariah 5:5)
And I said, What is it? And he said, This is an ephah that goeth forth. He said moreover, This is their resemblance through all the earth. (Zechariah 5:6)
And, behold, there was lifted up a talent of lead: and this is a woman that sitteth in the midst of the ephah. (Zechariah 5:7)
And he said, This is wickedness. And he cast it into the midst of the ephah; and he cast the weight of lead upon the mouth thereof. (Zechariah 5:8)
Then lifted I up mine eyes, and looked, and, behold, there came out two women, and the wind was in their wings; for they had wings like the wings of a stork: and they lifted up the ephah between the earth and the heaven. (Zechariah 5:9)
Then said I to the angel that talked with me, Whither do these bear the ephah? (Zechariah 5:10)
And he said unto me, To build it an house in the land of Shinar: and it shall be established, and set there upon her own base. (Zechariah 5:11)
We must examine Zechariah, Chapter 5 to understand the gravity of idolatry that Josiah faced. Although Josiah and Zechariah were not contemporaries, the tentacles of idolatry bridges time. Verse 1 of Zechariah 5 begins with a flying roll full of all wickedness, this is the scroll of the doctrines of idolatry, which began in the land of Shinar at the Tower of Babel. And the beginning of his kingdom was Babel, and Erech, and Accad, and Calneh, in the land of Shinar. (Genesis 10:10)
Idolatry Described in Zechariah, Chapter 5
In verse 2 of Zechariah, Chapter 5 we are given the size of the roll. It is huge. The description is for us to understand the height, and depth, and the length of this wickedness. It carries a curse, and that is the curse of all idolatry. The curse in this prophecy (which is yet future in its fulfillment) goes into the whole earth.
Verse 3 of Zechariah, Chapter 5 brings these abominations of Babylon the Great over every square inch of the earth.
In verse 4 the curse will enter into the house (the whole world), we presume that this house contains all the false idolatrous religions of this world. These religions are the thieves of the soul of man. Also, this thief (idolatry) will swear falsely by the name of God. These thieves (these false prophets, false religionists) of idolatry will remain in the house till the house is totally consumed and destroyed by it’s own idolatry.
Am I a God at hand, saith the LORD, and not a God afar off? (Jeremiah 23:23)
Can any hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him? saith the LORD. Do not I fill heaven and earth? saith the LORD. (Jeremiah 23:24)
I have heard what the prophets said, that prophesy lies in my name, saying, I have dreamed, I have dreamed. (Jeremiah 23:25)
How long shall this be in the heart of the prophets that prophesy lies? yea, they are prophets of the deceit of their own heart; (Jeremiah 23:26)
Which think to cause my people to forget my name by their dreams which they tell every man to his neighbour, as their fathers have forgotten my name for Baal (Jeremiah 23:27).
The prophet that hath a dream, let him tell a dream; and he that hath my word, let him speak my word faithfully. What is the chaff to the wheat? saith the LORD. (Jeremiah 23:28)
Is not my word like as a fire? saith the LORD; and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces? (Jeremiah 23:29)
Therefore, behold, I am against the prophets, saith the LORD, that steal my words every one from his neighbour. (Jeremiah 23:30)
Behold, I am against the prophets, saith the LORD, that use their tongues, and say, He saith. (Jeremiah 23:31)
The Thieves of the word of God in the Church Age.
Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. (Matthew 7:15)
Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. (Matthew 7:21)
Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? (Matthew 7:22)
And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. (Matthew 7:23)
Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. (John 10:1)
Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. (John 10:7)
All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them. (John 10:8)
I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. (John 10:9)
The Description of Idolatry in the Book of Revelation
So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns. (Revelation 17:3)
And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication: (Revelation 17:4)
And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.(Revelation 17:5)
And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus: and when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration. (Revelation 17:6)
Idolatry — a System
Notice in Revelation 17:6 that this system (described as a woman) does not attack any of it’s own idolatrous systems, but it attacks only one belief system, and that is faith in the Lord Jesus Christ — true Christianity. Organized and false, pagan christianity is universally approved and accepted. This is clearly seen in Revelation17:6 that she (idolatry) does not denounces all the current religious systems of the world, except our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and those who follow Him. Again notice in our current age how politicians and dignitaries make excuses and appeasing arguments for these false religions who steal the words of God. They themselves have no faith, and have cast off the living God for their idolatrous systems; yet, they would rather have their nations under the doctrines of devils so that they can be used to unify the world in one location to oppose the Almighty God. A final one world order unified religiously and politically in the land of Shinar — Babylon — the plain of Dura. Idolatry was born in the land of the Arabs in the postdiluvian world known today as Iran and formerly called Persia. It not only was the place of the birth of idolatry, but it will once again become the powerful center and force of all evil, as the prophecy in Chapter 5 of Zechariah states. It will return to it’s place of origin, and set upon it’s base . . . finally home at last.
Idolatry Measured
In verse 5 of Zechariah, Then the angel that talked with me went forth, and said unto me, Lift up now thine eyes, and see what is this that goeth forth. (Zechariah 5:5) In Zechariah’s prophecy the angel sets our eyes and attention on what idolatry is and how idolatry progresses and becomes a one world order: it’s final state before God’s judgment.
In verse 6 of Zechariah, Chapter 5, the angel presents an ephah (standard of measurement) to the prophet and the prophet asks And I said, What is it? And he said, This is an ephah that goeth forth. He said moreover, This is their resemblance through all the earth. (Zechariah 5:6) This ephah is a means of measurement to comprehend the depth of idolatry and the occult. For all idolatry culminates in the worship of Satan. This is the ephah (or quantifier) of all wickedness, and it has progressed throughout the entire earth. Pay attention to the whole earth . . . this is all systems . . . . both political and religious systems. They will be corrupted by this ephah (totality) of wickedness.
And, behold, there was lifted up a talent of lead: and this is a woman that sitteth in the midst of the ephah. (Zechariah 5:7)
Verse 7 of Zechariah, Chapter 5, the ephah is lifted up. This places it between heaven and earth as a substitute of worship so that the masses of the world will worship devils instead of the true God of heaven and earth.
Idolatry in the symbol of a woman
A talent of lead is placed upon the abominations of the whole earth, this is the woman of idolatry, one of her names is Semiramis (a self-deified woman) (mother of the gods) the predecessor and originator of the goddess-mother figure and the mother-child cults. She has had other names throughout history such as Astarte, Isis (the Egyptian goddess— ideal mother and wife, plus other pagan concepts), Diana of Ephesus (the virgin goddess of childbirth and women), and the worship that Rome created in Mariolatry, and many others too numerable to mention.
And he said, This is wickedness. And he cast it into the midst of the ephah; and he cast the weight of lead upon the mouth thereof. (Zechariah 5:8)
In verse 8 of Zechariah, Chapter 5 This ephah is sealed, the seal showing unity (a oneness of evil) of all that is within the ephah, and sealed to prevent it’s doctrines from being lost. This is the woman who sits in the midst of Babylon as the great whore, she is the epitome of all wickedness. She has been cast into the midst of the ephah and then sealed with the weight of her abominations.
In the old economy if you were going to send valuables in a container a long distance you would seal it with lead to preserve the enclosed article. And if it was government doing the sealing it would be pressed with the signet of the sender to preserve all that was in the container. This is what we have with the ephah to preserve all wickedness, it is sealed and secure. The wickedness of evil political doctrines, and religious doctrines have been sealed and secured with the authority in their origin by the devil himself.
The Two Women in the System of Idolatry
Then lifted I up mine eyes, and looked, and, behold, there came out two women, and the wind was in their wings; for they had wings like the wings of a stork: and they lifted up the ephah between the earth and the heaven. (Zechariah 5:9)
In verse 9 of Zechariah, Chapter 5 we are introduced to two more women. Let me give you their names. One is Jezebel and the other is Athaliah, both mother and daughter of the same Zidonian cult which originated in Babylon.
This idolatrous cult spread quickly from Babylon to the far reaches of the Fertile Crescent. To the west of the Fertile Crescent the coast cities and countries located on the Mediterranean, Tyre, Sidon, and Phoenicia (known today as Syria, Lebanon, and Israel). From these seaports, the Phoenician traders and their galley ships quickly spread their goddess cult into all the lands on the Mediterranean . . . . as if they had wings. Notice the words, for they had wings like the wings of a stork. The stork is recognized as the maternal bird, and it also carries the imagery of a mother-child concept. It symbolizes here in this section of Scripture the rebirth and culmination of idolatry in it’s land of origin, in it’s land of birth — Babylon. Idolatry is reborn in newness and energy — Babylon once again reaches into the skies in power as the Tower of Babel of the past.
Why Jezebel and Athaliah?
Jezebel was a Zidonian princess, and a priestess of Baal and a queen over Israel. She corrupted the ten northern tribes of Israel with all the ancient occult of Babylon or Babel. She was a royal priestess over Baal in Ahab’s kingdom. She wore the pants in the family.
But there was none like unto Ahab, which did sell himself to work wickedness in the sight of the LORD, whom Jezebel his wife stirred up. (1 Kings 21:25)
And thou shalt smite the house of Ahab thy master, that I may avenge the blood of my servants the prophets, and the blood of all the servants of the LORD, at the hand of Jezebel. (2 Kings 9:7)
Jezebel, priestess of Baal, plotted the murder of Naboth, slaughtered the servants of Jehovah, infamous for her whoredoms, and treachery. Even to our age, her name is has become a symbol of total wickedness, evil, and the occult.
Athaliah was a princess of evil and a queen over Judah. Athaliah was the mirror image, a replica, of her evil mother and trained in all the occult activities of the Baal of Babylon. The Zidonians were known as a sea-faring people and where ever they sailed they took this ancient occult worship with them. These two, both Jezebel and Athaliah, are symbols or types of the two women in Zechariah, Chapter 5.
As Jezebel corrupted the northen kingdom (Israel), her daughter Athaliah corrupted the southern kingdom (Judah). Athaliah married Jehoram, the son of Jehoshaphat the king of Judah. When Jehoram died his son, and Athaliah’s son, Ahazaiah become king of Judah. When Ahazaiah died, Athaliah killed all the seed royal and became queen over Judah. When reading the history of Israel and Judah it becomes evident that the connection between these two kingdoms was much more than similar names and political marriages, there is an affinity that drew these two powerful kingdoms together.
But when Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she arose and destroyed all the seed royal of the house of Judah. (2 Chronicles 22:10)
But Jehoshabeath, the daughter of the king, 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, the daughter of king Jehoram, the wife of Jehoiada the priest, (for she was the sister of Ahaziah,) hid him from Athaliah, so that she slew him not. (2 Chronicles 22:11)
And he was with them hid in the house of God six years: and Athaliah reigned over the land. (2 Chronicles 22:12)
During Athaliah’s seven year reign over Judah the worship of Baal was promoted as it had been in the northern kingdom by her mother Jezebel. The references below show the end of Athaliah on the throne.
And the seventh year Jehoiada sent and fetched the rulers over hundreds, with the captains and the guard, and brought them to him into the house of the LORD, and made a covenant with them, and took an oath of them in the house of the LORD, and shewed them the king’s son. (2 Kings 11:4)
Jehoiada, the high priest, put Joash on the throne in verse 12. And he brought forth the king’s son, and put the crown upon him, and gave him the testimony; and they made him king, and anointed him; and they clapped their hands, and said, God save the king. (2 Kings 11:12)
And when Athaliah heard the noise of the guard and of the people, she came to the people into the temple of the LORD. (2 Kings 11:13)
And when she looked, behold, the king stood by a pillar, as the manner was, and the princes and the trumpeters by the king, and all the people of the land rejoiced, and blew with trumpets: and Athaliah rent her clothes, and cried, Treason, Treason. (2 Kings 11:14)
But Jehoiada the priest commanded the captains of the hundreds, the officers of the host, and said unto them, Have her forth without the ranges: and him that followeth her kill with the sword. For the priest had said, Let her not be slain in the house of the LORD. (2 Kings 11:15)
And they laid hands on her; and she went by the way by the which the horses came into the king’s house: and there was she slain. (2 Kings 11:16)
Remember that Athaliah was queen and had power over the kingdom. It was extremely brave of Jehoiada and his fellow priests to set Joash on the throne. They were prepared for a battle if necessary; however, God would have it that they face Athaliah alone, and they took her life and ended her reign and the reign of Baal.
These two women, Jezebel and Athaliah, are types of the final system in the land of Shinar. Jezebel is a type of the pagan priesthood and regal queen. (Revelation 18:7) Athaliah is a type of kingdom rule and political corruptness. In these two women we have 1: Jezebel symbolizing religion (a corrupt, pagan priesthood) and 2: Athaliah symbolizing government or political corruption. Together they are the unification of religion and politics or government.
Jezebel seen in the church in Thyatira in the Book of Revelation.
And unto the angel of the church in Thyatira write; These things saith the Son of God, who hath his eyes like unto a flame of fire, and his feet are like fine brass; (Revelation 2:18)
I know thy works, and charity, and service, and faith, and thy patience, and thy works; and the last to be more than the first. (Revelation 2:19)
Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols. (Revelation 2:20)
And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not. (Revelation 2:21)
Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds. (Revelation 2:22)
And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works. (Revelation 2:23)
But unto you I say, and unto the rest in Thyatira, as many as have not this doctrine, and which have not known the depths of Satan, as they speak; I will put upon you none other burden. (Revelation 2:24)
But that which ye have already hold fast till I come. (Revelation 2:25)
And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations:(Revelation 2:26)
And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father. (Revelation 2:27)
And I will give him the morning star. (Revelation 2:28)
He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.(Revelation 2:29)
Jezebel is the symbol of idolatry and pagan worship brought into the Church through the doctrines and deeds of the Nicolaitans; who brought in their own form of pagan priesthood; thus, corrupting the Priesthood of Christ and removing the rights, and privileges of all believers in their responsibility as priests before God.
Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. (1 Peter 2:5)
But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: (1 Peter 2:9)
And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. (Revelation 1:6)
The pagan priesthood, and the thieves and robbers of the words of God came into the Church as early as Ephesus.
And that because of false brethren unawares brought in, who came in privily to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage: (Galatians 2:4)
For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ. (Jude 1:4)
They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate. (Titus 1:16)
The worship of Diana of Ephesus was a sensual idolatrous worldwide influence not only involving worship, but also included an extensive merchandising system. Paul rebuked the Corinthians for such idolatry. The Church in Ephesus, as recorded in Revelation Chapter 2, had left their first love which was Christ. If you leave your first love it is because you love another. The Book of Ephesians confirms the oneness of the Christian with Christ: the unity of the Spirit, the holy union of marriage, the unity of being in Christ; consequently because they loved idolatry more than they loved Christ, when we get to the Church at Pergamos we find that Satan is so bold that he sets his throne in the midst of the visible Church.
And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write; These things saith he which hath the sharp sword with two edges; (Revelation 2:12)
I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where Satan’s seat is: and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth. (Revelation 2:13)
But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication. (Revelation 2:14)
So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate. (Revelations 2:15)
When Antipas (his name means ‘against fatherland’ or ‘against all’) fought against idolatry, the professing Church killed Antipas. The only Christian that is named throughout the entire section of the seven churches in Revelation, Chapter 2 and 3 is Antipas. He stood alone against all the evil around him and it cost him his life. The world did not kill him — it was the church who slaughtered this “faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth.” This section in verse 13 of Chapter 2 of Revelation reveals that Antipas was faithful and refused to denounce the truth of Christianity (martyr), and was murdered among you (in the midst of the church) where Satan dwelleth. Satan was in this professing false church and existing securely within the realm of the church. The slaughter of this faithful Christian was only a shadow of what happened later in the history of this false church as it bathed itself in the blood of not only faithful Christians, but also in the blood of Jews, and in the mass destruction of tribes and nations. They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service. (John 16:2) At this point in the beginning of Church history, the professing Christians had cast of the Lord Jesus Christ as the center of all. They had turned from Christ as being all-in-all, and turned to another gospel, another spirit, and another Christ.
Let us return to the Old Testament to see faithful men willing to die for the truth of Jehovah. Not only do we have Daniel in the land of Shinar, we also find the three Hebrew faithful princes Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the plain of Dura in Shinar. We now have the scene of Nebuchadnezzar commanding that all would worship his golden image. Nebuchadnezzar the king made an image of gold, whose height was threescore cubits, and the breadth thereof six cubits: he set it up in the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon. (Daniel 3:1)
Then an herald cried aloud, To you it is commanded, O people, nations, and languages, (Daniel 3:4)
That at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, ye fall down and worship the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king hath set up: (Daniel 3:5)
And whoso falleth not down and worshippeth shall the same hour be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace. (Daniel 3:6)
The witness of their belief in Jehovah stands as a monument to all faithful men, when they bravely answered this monarch with these words:
If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. (Daniel 3:17)
But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up. (Daniel 3:18)
No matter how God would act on their behalf, whether to save them or not, they maintained their faithfulness to Jehovah. At their refusal to participate in this false pagan worship they were cast into the fiery furnace. They were a symbol or type of the last of the Israelites during the coming tribulation period. They were preserved by the Lord Himself who came in the midst of the fire and walked with them; therefore, delivering them without any hurt, not even the smell of smoke upon them. Only their bands were gone showing His love for them and the future of Israel as a whole. In the end time the Lord will bring a remnant of Israel through the fires of the great tribulation.
And it shall come to pass, that in all the land, saith the LORD, two parts therein shall be cut off and die; but the third shall be left therein. (Zechariah 13:8)
And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, The LORD is my God. (Zechariah 13:9)
This prophecy will take place at the time called Jacob’s trouble. All the nations of the earth will be against Israel and the Jew. This will be their darkest hour. Two thirds of all the people in the land of Israel, the promised land, will perish. This great slaughter will come at the hands of an idolatrous world stirred by the devil himself; however, in their darkest hour, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob will rise up and go forth and fight for Israel with all His divine power and majesty.
Behold, the day of the LORD cometh, and thy spoil shall be divided in the midst of thee. (Zechariah 14:1)
For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle; and the city shall be taken, and the houses rifled, and the women ravished; and half of the city shall go forth into captivity, and the residue of the people shall not be cut off from the city. (Zechariah 14:2)
Then shall the LORD go forth, and fight against those nations, as when he fought in the day of battle. (Zechariah 14:3)
And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west, and there shall be a very great valley; and half of the mountain shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south. (Zechariah 14:4)
And ye shall flee to the valley of the mountains; for the valley of the mountains shall reach unto Azal: yea, ye shall flee, like as ye fled from before the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah: and the LORD my God shall come, and all the saints with thee. (Zechariah 14:5)
The Lord of all glory goes forth and fights for Israel, and brings the armies of the world into the Valley of Decision. Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision: for the day of the LORD is near in the valley of decision.(Joel 3:14) This valley is also known as the Valley of Jehosophat.
I will also gather all nations, and will bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat, and will plead with them there for my people and for my heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations, and parted my land. (Joel 3:2) Read the entire Chapter 3 of Joel, especially the last two verses.
The end of strife for Israel.
Sing, O daughter of Zion; shout, O Israel; be glad and rejoice with all the heart, O daughter of Jerusalem. (Zephaniah 3:14)
The LORD hath taken away thy judgments, he hath cast out thine enemy: the king of Israel, even the LORD, is in the midst of thee: thou shalt not see evil any more. (Zephaniah 3:15)
In that day it shall be said to Jerusalem, Fear thou not: and to Zion, Let not thine hands be slack. (Zephaniah 3:16)
The LORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing.(Zephaniah 3:17)
I will gather them that are sorrowful for the solemn assembly, who are of thee, to whom the reproach of it was a burden. (Zephaniah 3:18)
Behold, at that time I will undo all that afflict thee: and I will save her that halteth, and gather her that was driven out; and I will get them praise and fame in every land where they have been put to shame. (Zephaniah 3:19)
At that time will I bring you again, even in the time that I gather you: for I will make you a name and a praise among all people of the earth, when I turn back your captivity before your eyes, saith the LORD. (Zephaniah 3:20)
At the end of verse 20 Israel will look upon Him, their Christ, whom they had pierced on the cross at Calvary and they will wail, and then the Lord will turn their tears of sorrow into tears of joy
And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn. (Zechariah 12:10)
In that day shall there be a great mourning in Jerusalem, as the mourning of Hadadrimmon in the valley of Megiddon. (Zechariah 12:11)
And the land shall mourn, every family apart; the family of the house of David apart, and their wives apart; the family of the house of Nathan apart, and their wives apart; (Zechariah 12:12)
The family of the house of Levi apart, and their wives apart; the family of Shimei apart, and their wives apart; (Zechariah 12:13)
All the families that remain, every family apart, and their wives apart. (Zechariah 12:14)
Idols removed from the land, and from the hearts of men.
In that day there shall be a fountain opened to the house of David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem for sin and for uncleanness. (Zechariah 13:1)
And it shall come to pass in that day, saith the LORD of hosts, that I will cut off the names of the idols out of the land, and they shall no more be remembered: and also I will cause the prophets and the unclean spirit to pass out of the land. (Zechariah 13:2)
And it shall come to pass, that when any shall yet prophesy, then his father and his mother that begat him shall say unto him, Thou shalt not live; for thou speakest lies in the name of the LORD: and his father and his mother that begat him shall thrust him through when he prophesieth. (Zechariah 13:3)
And it shall come to pass in that day, that the prophets shall be ashamed every one of his vision, when he hath prophesied; neither shall they wear a rough garment to deceive: (Zechariah 13:4)
But he shall say, I am no prophet, I am an husbandman; for man taught me to keep cattle from my youth. (Zechariah 13:5)
And one shall say unto him, What are these wounds in thine hands? Then he shall answer, Those with which I was wounded in the house of my friends. (Zechariah 13:6)
Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, and against the man that is my fellow, saith the LORD of hosts: smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered: and I will turn mine hand upon the little ones. (Zechariah 13:7)
And it shall come to pass, that in all the land, saith the LORD, two parts therein shall be cut off and die; but the third shall be left therein. (Zechariah 13:8)
And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, The LORD is my God (Zechariah 13:9).
Christ will sow the seeds of rejoicing in all the land of Israel, and will rule over them as LORD of LORDS, and KING of KINGS. The whole earth will be full of His glory and all the nations of the earth will be brought into subjection to The man of Calvary, the Lord Jesus Christ.
Josiah is a type or picture of this great day to come, even though it was merely a reformation for Josiah’s lifetime, he was the only king who turned not to the right nor to the left. Josiah was the only king in the history of Israel marked by a prophecy (1 Kings 13:2) announcing his birth, his name, and his work to recover Israel from her idolatry. This does not include the Lord Jesus who is Lord of Lords and King of Kings. There is no other person in all of Scripture that has more prophecy dedicated to His Person, Christ is unique in every prophecy, and every one of these prophecies when accomplished are exact fulfillments, and this will include all the future prophecies concerning our Lord and His kingdom.
The prophecy given in 1 Kings 13:2 took place approximately 340 years before Josiah was born, and was fulfilled exactly as stated by the prophet, that a child or child king would be born to the house of David, and would destroy that same altar that Jeroboam was offering sacrifices on. Three hundred and forty years later — Josiah would not know of the prophecy until he spied the sepluchre of the man of God that had proclaimed his reign 340 year before. Then he said, What title is that that I see? And the men of the city told him, It is the sepulchre of the man of God, which came from Judah, and proclaimed these things that thou hast done against the altar of Bethel. (2 Kings 23:17)
Only the Almighty God has the authority and the power to accomplish and fulfill such a prophecy. The exact fulfillment of these prophecies remind us of the detailed complete fulfillment of all the prophecies concerning our Lord Jesus Christ: His birth, His life, His death on the cross, His resurrection, and His ascension to glory. The God of heaven did not leave out a single detail of the life of Christ; yet, man still does not believe.
Josiah died when he was only 39 years old, and after his death the nation of Israel went whoreing after pagan gods once again. So the Lord of glory gave them the desires of their hearts and sent them into a land of idolatry. He picked them up by the hand of Nebuchadnezzar and placed them in the land of Shinar. Once again, this takes us back to Genesis 11:2 and the Tower of Babel. Has man changed today? No, he still worships anything and everything else but God. Man denies the word of God: he tries in vain to destroy or pollute God’s word. Man’s seminaries and colleges do everything to rewrite, and to corrupt His word. Then we have the political animosity outwardly against God and His Son, Jesus Christ, who is the image of the invisble God.
Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high; (Hebrews 1:3)
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)
In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: (Colossians 1:14)
Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:(Colossians 1:15)
By the Book, where is your heart? Do you worship Jesus Christ, the only true God of heaven and earth, or are you an idolater and worship the gods of this world? Man has conjured up all these vain abominations, the world cannot have it both ways. There is no middle ground. They who worship Christ are the friend of God and His children.
Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. (1 John 3:1) They who worship other gods and deny Christ are the enemies of God, and are the children of the devil.
Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law. (1 John 3:4)
And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin. (1 John 3:5)
Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him. (1 John 3:6)
Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous. (1 John 3:7)
He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. (1 John 3:8)
Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. (1 John 3:9)
In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother. (1 John 3:10)
For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. (1 John 3:11)
Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother’s righteous. (1 John 3:12)
There is no wiggle room here, faith answers to Christ and only Christ. He is the only Savior of the souls of men. Amen.
© Copyright 2016, Michael Haigh
Article may be used, but not for gain. Freely ye have received, freely give.
All Scripture references are from the Authorized King James Bible. (KJV)