Judgement

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Lessons from Old Lions |A Changed King Manasseh

After this Manasseh rebuilt the outer wall of the City of David, from west of the Gihon Spring in the Kidron Valley to the Fish Gate, and continuing around the hill of Ophel. He built the wall very high. And he stationed his military officers in all of the fortified towns of Judah. ~ 2 Chronicles 33:14 NLT (Emphasis Added)

It looks like Manasseh was not about to help those Assyrians take over Judah or risk being dragged off to Babylon in chains again!

Continuing on in 2 Chronicles Chapter 33:

  1. He wasted no time in securing the borders.  He walled off Judah and the public water supply from invaders.
  2. Manasseh removed the idols, including the one he carved and put in the Lord’s Temple
  3. He tore down all the foreign altars and dumped them outside Jerusalem.
  4. Manasseh was thankful. He restored the altar in the Temple and offered the proper offerings of peace and thanksgiving on it.
  5. He encouraged the people of Judah to worship the Lord of Israel – However, a lot of damage had been done.  They did not respect King Manasseh like they respected his father, King Hezekiah.  They continued to worship at pagan shrines even though they worshipped only Jehovah.

This story of two father-son Old Testament kings holds truths for our own nation on many levels.  We have had numerous King Hezekiah-type leaders in our nation’s history.  They attended church and got wealthier while they were in office.  They built great projects, led us into wars, forged the United States of America into a military and economic superpower; but did not always protect our freedoms.  Our King Hezekiahs kicked the can of growing evils down the road by not keeping us One Nation Under God.  Then they left office and wrote prideful memoirs.

I would rather have leaders like King Manasseh – Repentant sinners who do their best to right a whole bunch of our country’s wrongs.  One sad thing is that even though King Manasseh humbled himself, his own people never really trusted his leadership again.  So even though Manasseh worked hard to secure the nation from foreign invasion and to reinstate proper Temple worship of the One True God, Jehovah; his reputation remained as a man who did evil in the Lord’s sight.  Judah’s subjects respected King Hezekiah more; and he was a non-repentant prideful king!

It just goes to show that only God knows the heart.  We can’t trust the fickleness of humans.  God is just and He does not change.  Praise Him for loving us sinners!  We are all condemned if we fall under human judgement.  I am thankful –

So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. And because you belong to Him, the Power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death. ~ Romans 8:1-2 NLT

One Lesson from Old Lions is this: Nations are judged or blessed by God according to their leadership.  We need righteous leaders who work humbly for We the People under the guidance of  Jehovah, who is God over all.  Vote every election and vote responsibly.  Vote for leaders who seek God’s wise counsel.  Pray for Kings!   If we expect God to bless our nation, His church needs to REPENT AND PRAY!

“Father Jehovah God, You are HOLY! HOLY! HOLY! And You are LORD GOD ALMIGHTY!!!  Today we pray for those in authority over our nation.  We repent for ourselves and our nation of the sins of pride and of rebellion against You.  May our people rally behind leaders who realize that the LORD alone is God!  We pray for undeserved mercy – knowing that Your judgement looms large. LORD, SHAKE BUT DON’T BREAK!  In Jesus’ Name, Amen!” 

Why are the wicked so prosperous? Why are evil people so happy? You have planted them, and they have taken root and prospered. Your Name is on their lips, but You are far from their hearts. ~Jeremiah 12:1b-2 NLT

Bless you for following Jesus, our Messiah and King of Kings!!

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Lessons from Old Lions | Evil King Manasseh

Because of the wicked things Manasseh son of Hezekiah, king of Judah, did in Jerusalem, I will make my people an object of horror to all the kingdoms of the earth. ~Jeremiah 15:4 NLT

B.C. 698 – 2 Chronicles 33

King Manasseh is described as a ruler who followed the pagan practices of the countries surrounding Judah.

  1. He rebuilt shrines, idols, and altars to pagan gods that his father, King Hezekiah had destroyed.
  2. He built pagan altars in the very Temple of the Lord.
  3. He sacrificed his own sons in the fires of Ben-Hinnom.
  4. He practiced sorcery, divination, and witchcraft.
  5. He consulted with mediums and psychics.
  6. Manasseh even carved his own idol and set it up in God’s Temple.
  7. He murdered many innocent people until Jerusalem was filled with blood from end to end.
  8. He led the people to do even more evil than the original residents of Canaan.
  9. And if that wasn’t bad enough, he was pompous, too.  He defied Jehovah every way possible.

Jehovah promised that if the people and king obeyed His law they would be spared from exile judgement. When God’s warnings fell upon deaf ears, He sent the Assyrians back to Judah.  This time they took King Manasseh prisoner.  They put a ring through his nose and led him back to Babylon in chains.  From the life of a proud and powerful king to that of a conquered slave led around by the nose …

Yes, Jehovah finally had Manasseh’s attention!  But unlike his father, King Hezekiah, Manasseh humbled himself and repented before God.

And when he prayed, the LORD listened to him and was moved by his request. So the LORD brought Manasseh back to Jerusalem and to his kingdom. Then Manasseh finally realized that the LORD alone is God! ~ 2 Chronicles 33:13 NLT

So we see that the basic difference between this father and son is that King Hezekiah is a picture of today’s church – indifferent, proud, and wealthy.

Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. ~ II Timothy 3:5 (KJV)

Jesus rebuked a church like this – the Church of Laodicea (Revelation 3:14-22).  Jesus described it as one of the seven churches that is neither cold nor hot and is pompously wealthy.

“You say, ‘I am rich. I have everything I want. I don’t need a thing!’ And you don’t realize that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked.” ~ Rev. 3:17 NLT

I think Hezekiah possibly went to his grave in a prideful state.  Manasseh, on the other hand, had a genuine change of heart.  When Manasseh prayed for forgiveness and humbled himself, God extended grace and gave him a second chance.  Jehovah not only freed Manasseh, but restored Manasseh to his kingdom.

What did Manasseh do then?

Well, he did a lot so it’s going to take another post.  While I get busy writing that, God bless you all and thank you for following

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Lessons from Old Lions | King Hezekiah

¹Hezekiah was twenty-five years old when he became the king of Judah, and he reigned in Jerusalem twenty-nine years. His mother was Abijah, the daughter of Zechariah. ²He did what was pleasing in the Lord’s sight, just as his ancestor David had done. ³In the very first month of the first year of his reign, Hezekiah re-opened the doors of the Temple of the Lord and repaired them. ~2Chronicles 29:1-2 NLT

The Word of God contains many warnings to rebellious nations (and to leaders of nations) that turn their hearts away from Almighty Jehovah.  One example can be found in the Old Testament of how the Lord dealt with two kings who fell short in their service to both the nation of Judah and to their Covenant-God Jehovah.

B.C. 726 – 2 Chronicles 29-32

King Hezekiah was a highly respected monarch who pleased God by tearing down the pagan worship centers in the country.  He restored Temple worship of Jehovah and declared national observance of holy festivals such as Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread.  This may not seem like such a big deal to us now, but at that time in history, the previous King Ahaz was so evil that he had actually closed the Lord’s Temple!  Hezekiah showed great faith in restoring God’s Law in Judah coupled with fervent positive action to get the Lord’s work done.

As a result, the Lord forestalled judgement upon Judah when King Hezekiah and the prophet Isaiah prayed to Him for deliverance from invading Assyrian King Sennacherib in B.C. 713.  Sennacherib not only besieged Judah with the plan to take over Jerusalem; he also mocked the God of Israel in the process.  The Lord sent an angel who destroyed Sennacherib’s entire army.  Sennacherib returned home to Assyria in defeat and was assassinated there by his own two sons.

The Lord blessed Hezekiah for his devotion, piety, and faithful reforms.  Hezekiah became extremely wealthy.  Evidently while in the process of building banks, warehouses, and water dams, King Hezekiah fell into the sin of pride.  Oh, haven’t we heard about this sort of problem before?  Jehovah was patient with Hezekiah, and healed Hezekiah on his death bed when Hezekiah repented and prayed; granting Hezekiah fifteen more years of life.  The Lord gave a famous sign to King Hezekiah of the sun going backwards ten degrees as proof of Hezekiah’s healing and that it was from the Lord (2 Kings ch20).

Wouldn’t we think that Hezekiah would be thankful to receive the miracle of life plus such a splendorous and powerful sign sealing God’s promise?

However, when ambassadors arrived from Babylon to ask about the remarkable events that had taken place in the land, God withdrew from Hezekiah in order to test him and to see what was really in his heart. ~ 2Chronicles 32:31NLT

 13Hezekiah received the Babylonian envoys and showed them everything … there was nothing in his palace or kingdom that Hezekiah did not show them. 14Then Isaiah the prophet went to King Hezekiah and asked him, “What did those men want? Where were they from?”

Hezekiah replied, “They came from the distant land of Babylon.”

15What did they see in your palace?” Isaiah asked.

“They saw everything,” Hezekiah replied. “I showed them everything I own – all my royal treasuries.” (Emphasis added)

16Then Isaiah said to Hezekiah, “Listen to this message from the Lord: The time is coming when everything in your palace – all the treasures stored up by your ancestors until now – will be carried off to Babylon. Nothing will be left, says the Lord. 18Some of your very own sons will be taken away into exile. They will become eunuchs who will serve in the palace of Babylon’s king.”

19Then Hezekiah said to Isaiah, “This message you have given me from the Lord is good.” For the king was thinking, “At least there will be peace and security during my lifetime.” ~ 2Kings 20:13-19 NLT

Did you catch that?  It is okay to kick that cursed can down the road to future generations as long as judgement is delayed and served upon the children!  Isn’t that a lot like what is going on in America today?

King Hezekiah reminds me of another king that served Israel named Solomon.  Solomon started out great by pleasing the Lord as he built God’s Temple in Jerusalem and asked for wisdom instead of riches …

But they both turned away from Jehovah through the sin of pride as they gained wealth and stature.  Eventually the unrepentant actions of each brought national judgement to succeeding generations whose citizens lost their freedoms to foreign invaders.  That means not only being physically enslaved to conquering governments but also means being barred from the freedom to worship the one true Creator God, Jehovah.

9”The human heart is the most deceitful of all things, and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is? 10But I, the Lord, search all hearts and examine secret motives. I give all people their due rewards, according to what their actions deserve.” ~ Jeremiah 17:9-10 NLT

Next time we will take a look at Hezekiah’s son, Manasseh’s, reign over Judah.  It should be interesting to compare father and son monarchies, and possibly gain clues about what may be in store for our own nation in these end times …

Until then, thank you for following

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The Most Important Book

Of all the books in the modern world (almost 130 million), The Lamb’s Book of Life is the most important book – at least as far as it relates to every person who has ever lived.  And why would that be?

Read Revelation 20-21

Notice the events of the Great White Throne Judgement, which takes place at the end of Christ’s Millennial Reign on this earth:

11And I saw a great white throne, and Him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.  12And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works . . .  15And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.  (Emphasis added) ~Rev. 20 KJV

The scripture is meant to grab our attention.  It is nearly impossible to read that verse and just move on without experiencing a strong reaction to the horrifying finality of verse 15 – a pang; likely followed by fearful thoughts, “Is my name written there?”  And, “How can I know?”

1And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea . . . 9aAnd there came to me one of the seven angels . . .  10And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God.  27And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life. (Emphasis added)  ~ Revelation 21 KJV

Exactly who are they who are already written in the Lamb’s Book of Life?

  1. Believers that Jesus (Yeshua) is the only way of salvation  ~John 14:6, Acts 4:10-12
  2. Fellow laborers in God’s fields of harvest of souls  ~Philippians 4:3
  3. Witnesses to the Gospel of Jesus  ~ Luke 10
  4. Overcomers  ~Rev. 3:5
  5. Tribulation Saints  ~Daniel 12:1

Whose names WILL NOT be found written in the Lamb’s Book of Life?

  1. Unbelievers, and those who rely on their own “works” to be judged holy before God  ~Rev. 21:8, Rev. 20:12,15
  2. Those whose names have been blotted out! – Shocking, but true  ~ Rev. 3:5, Rev. 22:19, Exodus 32:31-33
  3. Worshippers of the Antichrist  ~Rev. 13:8
  4. Those who wonder after the Beast in the Great Tribulation  ~Rev. 17:8
  5. Those who accept the mark of the Beast and worship his image  ~Rev. 14:9-11
  6. Those who grieve the Holy Spirit of God (A whole other subject!)  ~Ephesians 4:30

Someday all dead people of the earth will be resurrected to stand before The Lamb, Jesus Christ, at the Great White Throne Judgement.  But we can know TODAY what our individual outcome of judgement for sin will be.

Today is the day of salvation.  Today is the day to make a decision on where we will spend eternity.  No one knows if life tomorrow will be granted.  There is no opportunity to change the outcome after death.  God loves us and has sent His Only Begotten Son, Jesus, to die in our place.  Our Heavenly Father doesn’t want anyone to perish in the lake of fire.

For the Son of Man is not come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them.  ~Luke 9:56a KJV

If you have never made a decision about this, take care of spiritual business right now.  Prayerfully ask Jesus to come into your life; to reign and to rule; to be your Sovereign Lord:

  1. Accept that Jesus is the Son of the Almighty God (Jehovah), Who came to earth to offer Himself as a sacrifice on a bloody cross for our sins.
  2. Repent now and ask Jesus to forgive you for sin; and believe on His Name for salvation.
  3. Give your life to Jesus and ask that your name be written in His Book of Life!  The world will say that redemption cannot be that simple.  Well, God chose to make it simple for us and hard for Him!  Jesus was beaten, tortured, and crucified for our sin – He Who had no sin.  Our works will never be good enough to save ourselves.  All we have to do is to make the right choice.  Doing nothing about this dilemma is making the wrong choice.
  4. If you just trusted Jesus to redeem your life by His Truth, Congratulations!  Welcome to God’s everlasting kingdom!  You are saved!  The angels in heaven are singing praises to God for your decision!  One angel is now writing your name in that most important Lamb’s Book of Life!
  5. Thank Him and rejoice for delivering you from eternal damnation to the lake of fire!
  6. It is very important that you confess your decision to someone else.  Profess by faith your confidence that you are sealed to Jesus and are redeemed by His innocent blood which was shed at the cross of Calvary for your sins:

Whosoever therefore shall confess Me before men, him will I confess also before My Father which is in heaven.  ~Matthew 10:32 KJV

Email me to share your decision for Christ.  That counts as confessing Jesus before men, yes!  I will pray for you as you begin your new life in Christ.  Find a Bible and begin reading in the New Testament, Book of John.  Search out a Bible-believing-teaching-preaching local church and be obedient by following our Lord Jesus in baptism.  You now have a ready-made witness to share with others about where your name is written!

Are there any other special privileges or rights associated with having our name written in The Lamb’s Book of Life?  Definitely!

  1. Only those whose names are found written in The Lamb’s Book of Life will be granted entrance into the New Jerusalem.  ~Rev. 21:27
  2. Only those found in The Lamb’s Book of Life have the right to eat the fruit of The Tree of Life (yes, that’s eternal life!).  ~Rev. 22:14

God bless you, and thank you for following

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