Old Testament Survey –Southern Kingdom and Her Prophets
Southern Kingdom of Judah –
The King of Judah originally was Rehoboam (Solomon’s son)
The kingdom was made up of two Tribes – Benjamin and Judah
The capitol city of Judah was (Jerusalem)
Judah went through three captivities before it finally was destroyed these were the modern powers of the day.
Assyrians – The Assyrians rose to all power and made a treaty with the Egyptians for all of their territory.
The Egyptians - had control over the land of Judah at this time
The Babylonians -under the command of Nebuchadnezer defeated the Egyptians and the Assyrians in 606 BC and claimed all of the land belonging to both empires
The Kings and progression of the Fall of Judah-
Judah had years of evil and a few righteous kings in her history. But the last 110 years before Judah went into Exile she was steadily falling away from Jehovah.
King Hezekiah Dies (who was a righteous King) He tore down alter of false worship
King Manasseh takes his place (The most wicked king in Judah) –
Manasseh was 12 when he became king. During this time Idol worship began to spring back up in Judah.
Manasseh turned towards the worship of the Assyrians that his father Hezekiah had abolished. He made a pack with Assyrians to pay taxes.
He named his Son Amon after an Egyptian God
Manasseh was known for killing the Prophets of the lord (especially Isaiah –cut in two)
Manasseh repents after he is captured by the Assyrians and is finally released and tries to turn the nation back to God but after 50 years of wickedness, he had little or no success.
King Amon becomes king after him and reigns for 2 years-
King Josiah is 8 years old son becomes king. (Josiah raised by a priest Hilkiah + prophetess + Shaphan the Scribe)
Destroys the alters of false worship built by Manasseh and reads the law in Israel.
Restores worship back to the temple and Israel – Help of prophets Jeremiah
King Jehoahaz – Josiah’s son reigns for three months taken captive by Egypt for rebelling
King Jehoiakim- Josiah’s son reigns 11 years in Judah
Known for the evil he committed- killed the prophet Uriah for prophesying against his evil.
King Jekoiakin – Johoiakim’s son ruled in his place. Gets plundered in 2 captivity of Judah and is taken to Babylon.
King Zedekiah – Josiah’s Son Rules in his place. He also rebels against Babylon and the city is destroyed by King Nebuchadnezzar and Zedekiah is imprisoned for life.
The Three Captivities of Israel by Babylon.
(All of the prophets died prior, during or after these three events)
1st Captivity - In 606 BC The Babylonians defeated the Assyrians and The Egyptians. They immediately claimed all of their territory including Judah under King Jehoiakim’s Reign.
Nebuchadnezzar went straight to Jerusalem and forced the loyalty of Judah
To assure the Loyalty he took favored young men to Babylon including The Prophet Daniel
2nd Captivity-
3 Years later Jehoiakim rebelled against Babylon and refused to pay loyalty so Nebuchadnezzar hired certain bands of raiders from the ammonites, Moabites, Syrians, and Chaldeans to plunder Jerusalem.
Finally, Jehoiakim dies and his son becomes king (Jehoiakin)
Three months into Jehoiakin’s reign Nebuchadnezzar attacks Jerusalem and Takes Jehoiakin and his family and 10,000 leading citizens to Babylon leaving mostly poor in Jerusalem.
The Prophet Ezekiel was among these men taken in the 2nd Captivity.
3rd Captivity – Jerusalem Destroyed –
Zedekiah Josiah’s son is made ruler in Judah Reigned 11 years
The prophet Jeremiah was the main prophetic voice of the day but Zedekiah would not respond and he was an Evil King.
Zedekiah also rebelled against the Babylonians thinking Egypt would help.
Nebuchadnezzar immediately attacked the city and starved the city until they surrendered.
Zedekiah and his army ran and left the city unprotected but was caught in the plains of Jericho/
He and his sons were taken to Babylon and his sons were killed in front of him and then he was blinded and left to die in prison.
Nebuchadnezzar destroyed Jerusalem and plundered the temple and palace of the kings. He burned the city with fire as well.
He took 25,000 people to Babylon and left the poorest people in Judah.
The prophet Jeremiah was able to stay by choice in Jerusalem
Jerusalem was destroyed and remained that way for the next ½ century
Judah at this point ceases to exist under Babylonian rule.
The Prophets of the Southern Kingdom of Judah
Pre-Exile Prophets Exile Prophets Post Exile Prophets
Isaiah 1. Daniel (1st Captivity) 1. Haggai
Micah 2. Ezekiel (2nd Captivity) 2. Zechariah
Obadiah 3. Lamentations of Jeremiah 3. Joel
Nahum 4. Malachi
Zephaniah
Habakkuk
Jeremiah
The Contemporary Prophets of Judah:
This is a general list of the prophets who were alive
and Ministering at the same time frames in Judah or Babylon
(Warnings of approaching fall of Israel & Judah)
1. Isaiah
2. Micah
(Warnings of Judah’s destruction - attack of Babylonian Empire)
1. Obadiah
2. Zephaniah
3. Nahum
4. Habakkuk
5.Jeremiah
(Prophesying to the Jews In Babylon after 1,2,3 Captivities)
1. Daniel
2. Ezekiel
3. Jeremiah (book of Lamentations sent to the Babylonian Jews)
(Restoration and rebuilding of Jerusalem)
1. Haggia
2. Zechariah
3. Malachi
Isaiah – Major prophet – Messianic Prophet
Prophesied Israel’s captivity to The Babylonians.
Isaiah Prophesied to Both Kingdoms of Israel and Judah
Prophesied the judgment of Jehovah against them because they had the form of godliness but where empty of the spirit of True worship. Isaiah stated they had become a Stench to God.
Prophesied about Zion and Her future Glory (chpt 2-4)
(Chpt 9-10) Prophesies the calamity of the Northern Kingdoms, Foreign Invasions, and Anarchy in Israel, Finally Captivity.
Prophesies Babylon’s destruction by the Mede’s and Persians (chpt 13-14)
Prophesies against the surrounding foreign nations their destructions or judgments by God. (Assyria, Babylon, Philistia, Moab, Syria, Ethiopia, Egypt)
Prophesies the fall of Judah to the Assyrians, and the Assyrians fall to the Babylonians and The Babylonians to the Persians.
Predicts the Messianic Prophesies of Christ and the Nation of Israel’s Restoration.
Micah – Minor Prophet - Name means Who is Like Jehovah
Author of the Book of Micah - Micah
Micah was born in small village named Morsheth-Gath about 20 miles south of Jerusalem.
Micah Prophesied directly to Israel (Samaria) & Judah (Jerusalem). Most of his prophecies were directed towards Judah
Unlike Isaiah who prophesied to the political + National matters of the nation Micah is known as “the Peoples Prophet” because he directed the majority of his prophesies towards the mistreatment of the poor people of Judah.
Micah is known, as a small Version of the book of Isaiah because of it’s content.
Micah Prophesied during the Reigns of the following King’s
Judah Kings – Jotham, Ahaz, Hezekiah
Israel Kings – Pekahiah, Pekah, Hoshea
Prophesied mostly during Hezekiah’s Reign in Judah. (Jeremiah 26:19)
Micah is divided into Three Part Outline
1-3 Oppression of the Poor by the Rich
4-5 Messianic Prophesies of Christ
6-7 The Demands of True Religion by God
Micah’s Message Strongly promoted
God’s Hatred for Empty Religious Form (6:7)
Concern for Social Justice In Judah (6:8)
God’s Pardoning Grace (7:18)
God’s Faithfulness to His Covenants (7:20)
Micah’s Book is divided into two Categories of Prophesies
Denunciation of Judah – Judah’s Sin and Captivity
The Salvation of Judah and even the Gentiles Salvation to come
Micah prophesied Christ international Salvation. The main Theme of Micah is – Judah was mislead by false rulers but will be redeemed by the Messiah the one true Ruler.
Micah’s Most Famous Prophecy
Micah 5:2 – Micah prophesies that Christ will be born in Judea in Bethlehem
Jeremiah – The weeping prophet - Name means Established of The Lord
Jeremiah is Known as being the (Major Prophet) of Judah’s Darkest Hour
We know more about the personality of Jeremiah than any other Prophet
Jeremiah was the son of Hilkiah the Priest (Same priest that found the law for King Josiah)
Jeremiah was about 20 years old when he began his prophetic ministry, which he had received at a younger age. (Jer 1)
Jeremiah (Like Isaiah) belonged to the upper class in Jerusalem. Because of this he was able to demand the respect of Kings and dignitaries and men of official rank. (We know this because he was able to buy land) and he prophesied openly before the kings many of times.
Time frame of His Ministry
Jeremiah Prophesied in Judah between (40-50 years). Trying to win Judah back to repentance.
He Prophesied during 4 kings reigns of Judah
King Josiah
King Jehoiakim
King Jehoiakin
King Zedekiah
He prophesied 18 years with King Josiah with the reformation of Judah under his Kingship.
Jeremiah was a man filled with urgency of his mission. At one point he wanted to quit he makes the famous statement “how can I not speak for him – his words are like fire shut in my bone”
Most of his Prophesies belong under the time of ruler ship of Kings Jehoiakim and Zedekiah both of whom strongly persecuted Jeremiah for rebuking them and prophesying the fall of Judah to Babylon. He prophesied 70 years of captivity in Babylon (Jer 25:11)
Portrait of Jeremiah’s Life
Jeremiah had seen the captivity of Judah coming years before it actually happened. His warnings to King Jehoiakim fell to the ground and he was persecuted for his prophecies.
Jeremiah was known as the weeping Prophet because of the heart of Godly sorrow he revealed over the nation of Judah. His heart and heaviness can be heard in his prophecies.
Jeremiah would prophecy to the kings about their need of repentance or God would destroy Judah & Jerusalem. The False prophets of the kings would prophecy the opposite of Jeremiah before the kings. (Jer 15:10+15+18)
Jeremiah for these prophecies was arrested and beaten by the orders of the priest of Jerusalem Pashur.
Jeremiah witnessed the first captivity under Jehoiakim’s reign fulfilling his prophesies against the king and saw the Prophet Daniel carried off to Babylon.
Then Jehoiakin took reign and Jeremiah also gave him warning to live holy but he also refused. Then Jeremiah saw the 2nd Captivity by Babylon in which this king was killed and the Prophet Ezekiel was taken to Babylon.
Then Zedekiah took reign and Jeremiah again warned him to repent and live Holy before God. He refused. When Jeremiah saw that Babylon was going to attack again, he went to leave the city and was arrested for treason against Jerusalem and thrown into prison. Jeremiah was condemned to die.
He was thrown into a pit to die but was saved by a black man who was a servant to the king.
Jeremiah witnessed the destruction of Jerusalem and saw all of it’s noble taken to Babylon. Jeremiah remained in Jerusalem with the poor and prophesied to those who had gone into captivity. (The book of lamentations)
Jeremiahs Message after Captivity
Was directed at the scattered Jews in Palestine, Egypt, and those captive in Babylon.
Jeremiah messages were two part
Warnings of Judah’s Future and Captivity
Second half - messages of Hope to scattered & Captive Jews of restoration
Jeremiah like Ezekiel began to preach and pronounce personal responsibility for individual sin. The Exile period produced a spiritual reformation for the Jews. Great Leaders began to arise and Explore the realms of the spirit + mind with heaven-born Inspiration. (Jer 31:29)
Nahum– Name means Consolation - (Minor Prophet)
Author of the Book of Nahum: Nahum
Nahum lived in a small town known as Eklosh- it is believed to have been around Galilee
Not much is known personally about Nahum. He prophesied during three Kings of Judah’s reigns
King Manasseh
King Amon
King Josiah
In Nahum’s day the Assyrian army had grown to be the super power of their day. All of the land feared the Assyrians who were known for their cruelties and manor of war.
It had been 150 years since Jonah had went to Nineveh (which was the capitol of the Assyrian nation) and preached repentance to them. They had responded in Jonah’s day and God with held their destruction. But now God was angry with the Assyrians for their ungodliness
Nahum Prophecies the destruction of Nineveh and the Assyrians to the Babylonians in his book. These event a cure in 612 BC
Nineveh was located north of what had once been Israel but the Assyrians had carried the 10 tribes of Israel off into captivity about 100 years earlier.
Nahum’s message to Nineveh and Judah
Deals with the justice of God in dealing with Evil and God’s Goodness of God towards the righteous.
Nahum preached shortly after Isaiah and Micah and prior to Jeremiah.
Nahum and Jeremiah + Zephaniah + Habakkuk probably knew of one another during the reign of King Josiah.
Zephaniah – Minor Prophet – Hidden by Jehovah
Zephaniah was a relative to the king Hezekiah (Great-Great Grandson)
Zephaniah prophesied Judgment on Both Judah and Jerusalem
Prophesied during Josiah’s reign and helped with Reformation under Josiah’s reign when he was rebuilding the temple and tearing down the alters of Baal built by King Manasseh.
The Main message of Zephaniah was Judgment on the nations “the day of the Lord”
Prophesied that God would not only Judge Nineveh alone, but also Judah and all of the nations of the earth.
Zephaniah was prophesying to a land in chaos, a Land that was to come under Judgment. But he told that that judgment was not to destroy the earth but to change the earth. Kings, Priest, the city and Nation would not repent and had lost worship, and lived in the luxury of self pleasure and greatly oppressed the poor of the day
Judgment would produce Songs instead of Sorrow
Judgment would produce Service instead of selfishness
Judgment would produce Solidarity instead of being Scattered
Outline of Zephaniah
Warning of coming Judgment
Call to repentance
The Promise of future restoration
Zephaniah lived in Jerusalem and was one of the only Prophets of Royal Blood.
Prophesied just after Isaiah, Micah and Nahum and in the beginning years of Jeremiah
Habakkuk – Minor Prophet – name means to Embrace
Habakkuk’s message is very clear in his prophecies:
God is Holy and cannot look with approval on Sin
The Life + Ministry of Habakkuk:
Author of the book of Habakkuk
Habakkuk was a Judean prophet with a Levitical background in the worship of the temple
Habakkuk prophesied during the reigns of three of Judah’s Kings
King Jehoahaz
King Josiah
King Jehoiakim
Habakkuk prophesied just after the fall of Assyria and the city of Nineveh to the Babylonians just prior to the conquest of Babylon against Judah.
Habakkuk questioned God why are you tolerating evil with out Judgment.
God’s response came quickly with the fall of Assyria and the soon coming 1st captivity of Jerusalem. God chose the Chaldean’s to plunder and inflict judgment upon Judah. Habakkuk was puzzled why God would use a nation more evil than Judah to punish her. God answer I will use them to execute Judgment and once they have achieved this they will swell with pride and I will Judge them accordingly. All is just and Righteous
Habakkuk is known as the prophet of Faith.
His major prophecy has been quoted three times in the writings of the new testament (Rom 1:17, Gal 3: 11, Heb 10:38) “ The Just shall Live by Faith”
Habakkuk prophesied the downfall of the Chaldean’s after they plundered Judah.
Prophesied during the latter part of Nahum, and same time as Zephaniah and Jeremiah in Judah.
Two-part outline of the book of Habakkuk
The conflict of faith
The triumph of Faith
Obadiah – Minor Prophet – name means Worshiper or Servant
Obadiah is the shortest book of all the Old Testament books.
Author of the Book of Obadiah: Obadiah
Obadiah is often referred to as the prophet of Judah.
Obadiah is often placed under King Jehoram’s reign in the 9th century but Modern Scholars place him in the 6th century just after the destruction of Jerusalem by the Babylonians during the reign of King Zedekiah.
There was a great conflict in the days of Obadiah with land of Edom. Edom was a descendant of Esau where Judah was a descendant of Jacob. So the conflict had been long standing since the Days of Isaac and the conflict between the two brothers.
Obadiah prophesied against the land of Edom and tells of her judgments.
Outline of Obadiah
The sins of Edom
Prophecies the violence against Judah in the day of their calamities
Edom’s punishment: National destruction pronounced
Prophesied just after the destruction of Jerusalem.
Daniel – Major Prophet – Name means God is my Judge
Daniel was growing up in Jerusalem as a young boy during the days of King Jehoiakim. While he was still young Jeremiah was prophesying against Judah and the king to repent. So Daniel would have grown up in the shadow of Jeremiah, Nahum, Zephaniah, and Habakkuk.
Portrait of Daniel
Daniel was taken to Babylon by King Nebuchadezzar in the 1st Captivity of Jerusalem. He was from the tribe of Judah
Daniel received his call as a prophet once in Babylon.
Daniel did not preach his messages like the other prophets of his day but had a rare gift to be able to interpret dreams and saw lots of visions.
Once in Babylon Daniel excelled in favor with the Gentiles kings to the highest places in the kingdom.
King Nebuchadnezzar
King Beshazarr
King Darius
King Cyrus
Daniel was in Babylon 8 years before Ezekiel was taken in the 2nd captivity under King Jehoiakin’s reign
Daniel’s Messages:
Daniel and Ezekiel both prophesied of the future restoration of Israel and Judah as one nation
Daniel’s whole life and message was directed to the Jews in captivity on Babylon
Daniel is often known as the revelation of the Old Testament due to the nature of his words and visions. Daniel may have moved so much in dreams and visions due to the fact that he was raised under Chaldean customs not Jewish and it was a sure way for God to communicate to Daniel according to his understanding.
Daniel Prophesied from Nebuchadnezzar to King Cyrus who let the Jews return to Jerusalem to rebuild the temple in Ezra + Nehemiah’s day (73 years)
Daniel’s main Focus of his message was the restoration of the nation as a whole.
Daniel prophesied current affairs all the way up to the 1st +2nd coming of Christ
Daniel Strongly teaches – All History has a goal, God is in Charge of all things
Ezekiel – Major Prophet – Prophet of the Exile
Ezekiel is the author of the book of Ezekiel.
Ezekiel like Jeremiah was a priest as well as a prophet
Ezekiel like Daniel was carried away into Babylon through one of the sieges on Jerusalem.
Ezekiel 8 years after Daniel had been taken was living in Jerusalem under the rule of King Jehoiakin. After his rebellion against Babylon Ezekiel was taken with the 10,000 men taken in this siege back to Babylon. About 10 years before the final destruction of Jerusalem under Zedekiah’s Reign
Ezekiel received his calling to be a prophet while in Babylon three years after he arrived.
Ezekiel like Jeremiah had a strong message against person Sins. He prophesied the person responsibilities of individual sin (Ezek 3:18)
He prophesied in Babylon his entire ministry that began about 7 years before the destruction of Jerusalem and ended about 15 years after the event.
Ezekiel Covers about 21 years of history
Outline of Ezekiel
Ezekiel’s calling
Fate of Jerusalem and the nation
Prophesies against the nation
Restoration of Israel
Unlike Daniel – who prophesied with a strong Prophetic edge, Ezekiel prophesied with a strong priestly voice to the nation.
Ezekiel prophesied the destruction of Jerusalem before it happened. Prior to this event Ezekiel was calling the nations to repentance. He warned those still in Jerusalem not to live in false security in hoping for the help of Egypt in rebelling against Babylon.
After the Destruction of Jerusalem Ezekiel consoles the Jews by prophesying the future deliverance and restoration of the Jews and their Land
Ezekiel was about 30 years old when he began his ministry.
He was a preacher, a writer, a pastor, and a prophet of the Jews while in captivity.
Famous Messages
Ezekiel 37:1-14 The valley of Dry Bones – God shows Ezekiel that he can reform Israel and put life back in her again
Streaming Living water flowing from the alter – Ezekiel 47:1-12
Ezekiel prophesied a lot by actions forth telling the events that would befall the Jews. He was instructed by God to be silent until God instructed him to speak.
If I have nothing to say – You have nothing to say.
Ezekiel was murdered in Babylon by a Jew that he rebuked for his Idol worship
Lamentations – Jeremiah’s thoughts to Babylonian Jews
The Book of Lamentations was written by: Jeremiah
It is an ad on to the book of Jeremiah. It covers the emotions and thoughts of the heart-Broken sorrow of Jeremiah for the desolation of Jerusalem
The Goal of the Book:
To help the Jews Recognize God’s chastening hand against their hardness of heart in their calamities. It is a message for them to turn back to God in sincere Repentance.
Lamentations was written to the Jews in Captivity in Babylon
When you read the book it’s almost as if you can see the tears of the people while they watch the smoke rise from the stones of the city as they are burning
Lamentations strongly promotes a mixture of the wrath and Mercy of God. It stressed his faithfulness to his promise to punish evil and yet his steadfast love and compassion for his people
In the Septuagint Lamentations is titled – “Tears of Jeremiah”
In the Book of Lamentations Christ can be seen as:
1:12 Afflicted of the Lord
2:15 Despised of his enemies
3:19 Smitten +insulted
Jeremiah relates the sorrow of Jerusalem after her destruction as the following
A Mourning Widow
A Weeping Daughter
An Afflicted Man
Tarnished Gold
A fatherless Child
Haggai – Minor Prophet – name means Festival
Haggai is the author of the book of Haggai
Haggai lived during the time of the prophets Zechariah and Zerubbabel the governor in the days of King Cyrus and Nehemiah and Ezra
King Cyrus had released the Jews from Babylon after the Persians had conquered the Babylonian Empire. Cyrus had released the Jews under the care of Zerubbabel to rebuild the temple. After two years of hardship and persecution by surrounding bands of men. The temple process laid dormant for 16 years. After this time Ezra came and began to envision the people to rebuild again in the days of King Darius and Nehemiah
Haggai at this time rose up as a prophet in Jerusalem to inspire the people to build the temple
Haggai’s Message
God blesses those who put him First
Don’t Grow weary in well doing
God’s Promise’s for tomorrow is our Hope for Today
Haggai with great passion Prophesied during the building Process not to neglect the temple of the lord for the sake of taking care of themselves. He prophesied that the fruit of neglecting Gods house for their own was Drought and Barrenness.
Hag 1:1-9
In the second year of Darius the king, on the first day of the sixth month, the word of the LORD came by the prophet Haggai to Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, saying,
2 “Thus says the LORD of hosts, “This people says, “The time has not come, even the time for the house of the LORD to be rebuilt.”’”
3 Then the word of the LORD came by Haggai the prophet, saying,
4 “Is it time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses while this house lies desolate?”
5 Now therefore, thus says the LORD of hosts, “Consider your ways!
6 “You have sown much, but harvest little; you eat, but there is not enough to be satisfied; you drink, but there is not enough to become drunk; you put on clothing, but no one is warm enough; and he who earns, earns wages to put into a purse with holes.”
7 Thus says the LORD of hosts, “Consider your ways!
8 “Go up to the mountains, bring wood and rebuild the temple, that I may be pleased with it and be glorified,” says the LORD.
9 “You look for much, but behold, it comes to little; when you bring it home, I blow it away. Why?” declares the LORD of hosts, “Because of My house which lies desolate, while each of you runs to his own house.
Zechariah – Minor Prophet
Zechariah is the Author of the book of Zechariah
Life of Zechariah
Zechariah prophesied in Jerusalem the same time as Malachi and Haggai. Israel had returned from captivity under the rule of the Persians Kings Cyrus and Darius. God was wanting to rebuild the temple and city walls through the lives of Ezra and Nehemiah and the people of Jerusalem. Zechariah stirred that hearts of the Jews through very pictorial prophecies and relating building the house of God to a spiritual work not just natural.
Zechariah was the son Iddo the priest – probably born in Babylon.
Began his prophetic Ministry very young in Captivity.
Zechariah prophesied to the remnant Jews that had returned from Babylon.
He began to envision the Jews by his inspirational Messages pointing towards ths coming Messiah.
Zechariah encouraged the Jews by making the building process a spiritual process (Zech 4:6) – “It’s not by power nor by might but by My Spirit says the Lord.”
Zechariah encouraged the Jews that small beginnings show greater things to come. The reason for this is after the temple was rebuild the people were discouraged because it was so small compared to Solomon’s Temple that the Babylonians had destroyed under the Rule of King Zedekiah in the 3rd Captivity of Jerusalem
Zechariah next to the prophet Isaiah is considered the Most important Messianic Prophet of the Old Testament. He prophesied with such clear portraits of Christ and certain events of his life.
Zech 9:9-10 The entrance into Jerusalem on Good Friday
Zech 11: 12 Christ betrayal by Judas for thirty pieces of silver
Zech 12:10 The Piercing of Jesus Side at the death of Christ
Zech 13:1 The shedding of Blood for the forgiveness of Sins
Zech 13:6 The Nail scars in Jesus Hands
Zech 13:7 The scattering of the Disciples
Zech 14:4 The second Coming of Christ Jesus
Zechariah painted a portrait with his words and prophesies of a fully restored Israel with the Messiah in her Midst keeping her unto himself.
Malachi – Minor Prophet – Last Prophetic book of the OT
Malachi – is the author of the Book of Malachi
Malachi is also the last of the 12 Minor Prophet books.
Ministered about 100 Years after the Prophets Haggai and Zechariah
Lived in Ezra & Nehemiah time frames and is the last prophetic voice of the Old Testament before 400 years of Silence from God.
Malachi was preaching in a time where Israel had lost their worship - They had begun to take on a form of Godliness and Holiness in their worship but in their hearts, they were continually robbing God.
Malachi’s Message:
Addressed the crowds of the common people of Jerusalem and the leaders in their way of worship.
The Priest had become corrupt + Immoral, people refused to pay their tithes and offerings to god
Worship had degenerated down to just mere form with no heart felt power
The people were offering blemished animals for sacrifice as the norm
The nation had begun to inter marry foreign women again and divorce was becoming the normal in the society of Israel.
Malachi began to Prophecy the return of the spirit of Elijah before the coming of the predicted Messiah in Israel.
His Famous quote: where has a man Robbed God – In his tithes & Offerings
Joel – Minor Prophet – Prophet of Pentecost
The exact time of the Prophet Joel and his prophetic ministry is unknown.
In the prophet Joel’s Life and his prophetic Ministry his words were set up by the natural events of his day.
A severe drought + infest of Locust had come upon the land and was causing great suffering for the Jews.
Joel sees in the trials of the day the symbolism of the Great Day of the Lord.
He Prophesied in the similar language as Zephaniah had, he uses the coming of the Lord as a tool to call Israel to Repentance.
Joel is Famous for his future outpouring prophecies and end time events
Joel Prophecies restoration of the Good times ahead for Judah but he also
Prophesies outpouring of the spirit upon men. He also prophesied they would be
Delivered from their sin as a people.
Prophesied that the sons and Daughters and servants and men and women of the people of God would Prophecy by the spirit.
Joel predicts future events coming to Judah out of present-day events happening in Israel.
Joel prophesied possibly through the life of Joash king of Judah.