On-ramp to Exile

Warnings

There are no exact parallels between the events leading to the Exile and current times

There are no prescriptions for us to follow

However, there are are descriptions of events, circumstances, actions and results

We should be able to pick up application from these—plain as the noses on our faces

This is also not doomsday message

However, we should be ready for the imminent return of Jesus

If not ready for the Rapture—you have a problem

If not ready for the Tribulation—you have a problem

Both are spiritual issues; both fall back to knowing Christ

Is This Divine Judgment?

We are NOT claiming God’s divine judgment on the US—no more than on any other part of the world

We reap the penalty of sin; living in an ever declining and degrading world system

Even righteous were caught up in the upheaval of that time—even the godly caught up in the events of our day—and previous pandemics—other chaotic events

Might we be in the period of the “seals” of Rev. 6-8?

Some scholars believe so

What we know for sure from the seals: God is still in charge—even amidst apparent chaos

Background

Highs and Lows in the history of Israel (here, Judah)

Captivity in Egypt—but made His nation there

Exodus—turmoil…due to sin; but ended in conquest of the Promised Land

Period of the Judges—sad time…brought on by sin in the nation

Theocracy—led by Samuel

Saul’s Kingdom—both good and bad; ended badly…due to sin

David’s Kingdom—united all Israel; powerful and stable

Solomon followed David

Temple Built in Jerusalem

Jehovah God chose this city in which to make His home—a true high point!

God’s glory dwelt in Jerusalem

Solomon’s Kingdom—powerful, stable and wealthy…for awhile!

Divided Kingdom—Israel, North; Judah, South

Israel captive to the Assyrians (722 BC)

Ultimately, Assyria was judged for their brutality

Judah ultimately captive to Babylon (586 BC); 70 years in exile

…and Babylon was judged, conquered by the Medes...

Fuzzy timeline…vassal state before that

On-ramp begins at the beginning of 1 Chron. 36

Main Idea: To learn the cumulative effect of sin upon a nation

Looking at the results of their mistakes—the exile—and learning some lessons

Message to Judah

Note the reason behind the message

v.15, ...because He had compassion on His people and on His dwelling place

Many messages from many messengers “pre-exilic prophets”

Some were generic: idolatry, wickedness, bribery, oppression of the people, denial of the true God

Some from Micah:

1:3 …the LORD is coming out of His place, and will come down and tread upon the high places of the earth

It was about idolatry

1: 7 All her carved images shall be beaten to pieces…all her idols I will lay waste....

Some from Habakkuk, his 1st complaint:

1:3, Why do you make me see iniquity....Destruction and violence…strife and contention....

1:4, The law is paralyzed and justice never goes forth....wicked surround the righteous; so that justice goes forth perverted.

Zephaniah 3:1 ESV

Woe to her who is rebellious and defiled, the oppressing city!

Zephaniah 3:2 ESV

She listens to no voice; she accepts no correction. She does not trust in the Lord; she does not draw near to her God.

Zephaniah 3:3 ESV

Her officials within her are roaring lions; her judges are evening wolves that leave nothing till the morning.

Zephaniah 3:4 ESV

Her prophets are fickle, treacherous men; her priests profane what is holy; they do violence to the law.

Zephaniah 3:5 ESV

The Lord within her is righteous; he does no injustice; every morning he shows forth his justice; each dawn he does not fail; but the unjust knows no shame.

https://static1.squarespace.com/static/563bc9dae4b0433b2825cd69/t/56d649cf59827ed3dbaa75c4/1456884178723/Summary+Chart+of+Prophets.pdf

Mocking by Judah

His prophets—messengers—were not just ignored; but mocked

Some event in life of Jeremiah

His letter was burned by the king, though the common people were alarmed by it

Jeremiah 36:23 ESV

As Jehudi read three or four columns, the king would cut them off with a knife and throw them into the fire in the fire pot, until the entire scroll was consumed in the fire that was in the fire pot.

Jeremiah 37:15 ESV

And the officials were enraged at Jeremiah, and they beat him and imprisoned him in the house of Jonathan the secretary, for it had been made a prison.

Jeremiah 38:6 ESV

So they took Jeremiah and cast him into the cistern of Malchiah, the king’s son, which was in the court of the guard, letting Jeremiah down by ropes. And there was no water in the cistern, but only mud, and Jeremiah sank in the mud.

We don’t know exactly how all the prophets were treated…but this is probably typical in attitude…if not behavior

This was not mocking of the prophets; it was the mocking of the message they had delivered

Massacre of Judah

It was brought because there was

We may think back to Genesis…Noah and the flood

No Remedy!

v. 16

Not for the squeamish!

v. 17, …killed their young men

...no compassion...

Looted the temple…burned the temple

Broke down the city’s wall

Took everyone else captive vv. 20-21

We have a pattern of God preserving a remnant

Mess We Are In

Let’s first of all remember that God had compassion and sent messengers—prophets

He still does

We still have the Gospel!

The Word of God is available—books, downloads, virtual access…

Whole Bibles, NT’s, Gospels of John, tracts, booklets...

No shortage of languages, translations

No shortage of preachers, accurately preaching the full counsel of the Word

They’re on radio, TV, across the virtual world...

We still have the church

Even though we are not meeting collectively, we are still meeting virtually and connecting among ourselves

Believers are driven to silence

So often mocked—look at VP Pence

Not a national thing

This is NOT an indictment of the United States

It IS an indictment of culture…particularly western culture

We were blessed with the Church

A culture that fails to learn the lesson of history

Those who fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it.

(Santayana)

We have walked away from the true God—idolatry of self reigns

Nothing more important than self

We have ceased to know God

He has become unimportant—”unneeded” or so it is said

He was declared dead, at one time

Do we not see destruction and violence—seeing that in mob actions around the world

It takes nothing to start a riot

Perversion of justice

Criminal go free to prey on the public

The List Is Endless

Not our job to argue politics

Is our job to know, speak and display the Gospel

There will be another reckoning

First was Noah’s time—removal of the sinful and saving of the righteous

Second was the Exile

Third will be end of times—the great and awesome Day of the Lord.

Earlier comment—be prepared

Not delving into end-times time-line...

The baseline of the judgment: Do we know Jesus Christ

The difference between Heaven and Hell

Have We Learned our History Lesson?

Maybe the better question: What have we learned from history?

Judah’s sin—in its leadership—took the nation astray and into gross sin

Do we see parallels here?

Good commercial for doing our civic duty and voting imbedded here—Judah didn’t have that option

Ultimately, our entire culture will be judged; this earth destroyed

Yes, we may be seeing some shadows of coming events in the current events

Then, there will be a new Heaven and new Earth.

Also, the Lake of Fire

Our destination will be one of those

In the meantime, God is still in control; still compassionate

See His workings; hear His messages and listen to His messengers