#061 Welcome to Episode #061 of Way of the Bible podcast. This is our fifth of eight episodes in our mini-series entitled, Major and Minor Prophets | Isaiah to Malachi. On this episode we’re going to look at the first six books of the minor prophets, Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, and Micah. These prophets prophesied to the Northern Kingdom of Israel, the Southern Kingdom of Judah, and several of the surrounding nations in the times of the Assyrian invasion of the north and the Babylonian conquest to the south.
The Assyrian invasion was one of destruction to the uttermost of the northern kingdom with remnant survivors dispersed throughout the Assyrian empire. The Babylonians invaded and conquered Judah in stages, taking captive into exile remnant survivors of each stage back to Babylon. Israel’s vassal kings kept breaking their agreements with the Babylonians eventually forcing a massive offensive that sacked Jerusalem and leveled the temple.
The minor prophets all address coming judgment of God because of wickedness, idolatry, and apostasy. Some of the minor prophets also speak of a coming day of the LORD’s vengeance against the whole world such as never has been seen or will again be seen in the future. While some of these prophecies may reflect the Assyrian or Babylonian invasions to a point, these prophecies also indicate there is a judgment yet to come on a global scale.
What we learned in Daniel was the promised land was to be ruled over by gentile nations until the fulness of wickedness of the gentile nations had been reached. At this time God would return with a final global judgment and reestablish Israel in their promised land.
Given we’re covering six individual books on one episode, we’ll not going to linger long in any one book. This overview is to give you a taste of what these books contain, and to perhaps encourage you to read these books for yourself. Psalm 34:8 – Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!
When you read these books you will see Western culture has reached the same pinnacle of worldliness, idolatry, and apostasy as the northern and southern kingdoms of Israel. Excess wealth of some with no end in sight, 21st century military might, and loss of even obligatory Christian religious practices. While we see the world enclosing around us with its sex, drugs, and rock and roll 24/7 and opiates for the masses, we also see a shift toward totalitarian control on a global scale.
Are we now in a slide toward a similar judgment by God which he rendered on the apostate and idolatrous Israelites? Let’s get started and see
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