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The lesson of Josiah and what one man can do to change the course of a nation!
Fred R. Coulter—June 25, 2020
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When we look at the world today, it reminds me of 1969. At that time, we still had the doctrine that the Church is going to flee in 1972, and be in a place of safety for three years. Then Christ is going to return in 1975.
Well, the cities were burning, the riots were taking place. There was upheaval in the political system, and it certainly looked like that could be true. But as it turned out, it wasn't!
Here we are looking at political upheaval, cities burning and in a different way, and with more maliciousness and open Marxists!
So, we have to be aware of what's going to happen, and why do these things happen? Let's see that these things come about because of continuously rejecting God, and coming against the authority of God in the civil government!
Rom. 13 tells us that God gave the civil authorities the power to exercise judgment, law and order, right and wrong, and even up to the death penalty! As we know, God cares for the world and that's why He has given this. But He also knows that there is Satan the devil, and when human nature becomes absolutely self-centered on a vast scale, then things change and things become perverted and things lead to anarchy and wretchedness.
The whole key thing is leaving God!
2-Timothy 3:1: "Know this also, that in the last days perilous times shall come"—and they are perilous!
- How many of us have an alarm in your home?
- How many of us have protection where you live?
- How many of us are afraid to go in certain places because of the criminality of certain areas where you live?
Everyone of us!
Verse 2: "For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money…"
Isn't it interesting how this is taking place? The stock market is going up and down, and the ones in the know are making lots of money.
"…braggarts, proud, blasphemers…" (v 2). That's what we have today!
Look at the Protestants; they fall into the category of fake Christianity, but on the other hand, Jesus said, 'Those who are on our part are not against us.' So, they have a certain function in society to help stabilize the society, because of the criminality of the human mind.
Remember what it says about the human mind? It's deceitful above everything and desperately wicked! Look at how that is playing out where they're voting to get rid of the police. Or telling the police to back off and let crimes take place. Changing the laws so that it's okay to loot and steal up to several hundred dollars or more without facing any punishment.
Where does that lead? To the chaos that we're in today!
"…disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy" (v 2). Isn't that true?
How many of those people that are out there rioting and tearing down statues, and disrupting everything are thankful that they live in a country that God has blessed? Having the freedoms that they have? Well, obviously not!
Verse 3: "Without natural affection…" We have so much perversion that I call it 'the alphabet genders'!
"…implacable, slanderers, without self-control, savage, despisers of those who are good, betrayers, reckless, egotistical, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God" (vs 3-4). Think about that for a minute!
- How many people even really know of God?
- How many people care about God?
- How many peoplereally love God?
Let's see where we're headed!
- What if all of this kind of calms down, and we go forward again where it's not quite so violent?
- Where are we headed?
- Where do we go?
Dan. 12 verifies what's been brought out concerning Matt. 24. what we're facing is exactly what Jesus said, 'Lawlessness shall be multiplied!'When you multiply something, you go 2x2=4; 4x4=16; etc., etc., and you have lawlessness everywhere! Where does that lead to?
This shows that the end result of what's taking place, God is going to have to intervene and rescue! That's a prelude to the return of Christ. Dan. 12:1 is probably referring to the 144,000 and the great innumerable multitude.
Daniel 12:1: "And at that time Michael shall stand up, the great prince who stands for the children of your people. And there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even until that time…." Mark records 'from creation'!
Jesus said, 'As it was in the days of Noah, so shall it be in the days of the coming of the Son of man'!So, we are looking at a future that has great trouble in every area:
- in society
- in education
- in government
Look at the news every day. Today they are discovering more corruption against the current President Donald Trump of the United States. Never before anything like this happened. We don't know how that's going to turn out.
Remember, we've had some Presidents assassinated. So, we don't know what's going to happen, but there has never been a President trying to do good who is so hated! The hatred is because those who are corrupt do not want it exposed. But if God exposes it, we'll see what happens.
"…And at that time your people shall be delivered—everyone who shall be found written in the book" (v 1).
Let's see the reason for all of these things coming upon us. God is kind, merciful and longsuffering. God will intervene and help if there are those who are trying to do good. But it's really quite a situation.
Lev. 26—here God lays out the basis for the country to have peace. Then He says that if you don't do that He will bring the judgment. Let's read the important things that God says here right at the beginning. As we read this, think about how it is in the world. Think about all the idols that so many people have that they don't even think are idols. An idol is something that you devote your time to.
Leviticus 26:1: "You shall make no idols to yourselves; and you shall not set up for yourselves graven images, or a standing pillar. And you shall not set up any image of stone in your land in order to bow down to it, for I am the LORD your God."
Ezekiel says that the elders in captivity came to him and wanted to know what the Lord has to say today (Ezek. 14). The answer from God was that 'I'm not going to recognize these men at all whatsoever, because of the idols in their minds!
Think about that today. How many—the majority—of the people have idols in their mind? Then they wonder what's going on! They don't understand that every human being—wherever you are and whatever it is—lives, moves and has their being in God! He created the earth and put everything there for us. He give us life, breath, water, food, time, all of these things to us! So, they go against God!
Notice what is so key and important here; v 2: "You shall keep My Sabbaths and reverence My sanctuary. I am the LORD."
Stop and think about how Israel has always turned their backs on the Sabbath and Holy Days. What did they do when they had the temple? Look at what happened in the days of Manasseh! They even put idols, and booths for homosexuals around about the temple. Look what happened: God took them into captivity! Think about how far we are away from that today!
Then God gives them a proposition, v 3: "If you walk in My statutes and keep My commandments and do them, then I will give you rain in due season, and the land shall yield her increase, and the trees of the field shall yield their fruit. And your threshing shall reach to the vintage, and the vintage shall reach to the sowing time. And you shall eat your bread to the full and dwell in your land safely" (vs 3-5).
Remember that God gave a warning in Deut. 8. He told them why He led them in the wilderness for 40 years, gave them manna and is taking them into a land where they are going to have everything they ever wanted.
Deuteronomy 8:9: "A land in which you shall eat bread without scarceness…." There's going to come a time like it was in the depression; you won't know where your next meal is coming from! What's going to happen then?
"…You shall not lack any thing in it. It is a land whose stones are iron, and out of whose hills you may dig copper. When you have eaten and are full, then you shall bless the LORD your God for the good land, which He has given you. Beware that you do not forget the LORD your God by not keeping His commandments, and His judgments, and His statutes, which I command you today, lest… [here's where we are today, and this is why so much trouble is coming on]: …when you have eaten and are full and have built goodly houses and lived in them, and when your herds and your flocks multiply, and your silver and your gold is multiplied, and all that you have is multiplied, then you become haughty of heart, and you forget the LORD your God Who brought you forth out of the land of Egypt from the house of bondage" (vs 9-14).
We are going through all the things that we are going through because those who handle the Word of God do not teach the people of this country and the other modern nations of Israel their history, and that they have come from the 12 tribes of Israel!
Therefore, as it says in Deut. 28, the stranger is going rise up high above you! Is that not happening today? Yes, indeed!
So, God says that if you honor Him… It says in one place that God, when He kills them, run back to Him and 'flatter' Him. Don't we see that today? Yes, they talk about God, pray for the country! Well, I hope there are enough who will repent enough of what they're doing that God will have mercy and turn back the hand of correction for a while. We don't know. But if you do what He says you'll have peace in the land.
Leviticus 26:6: "And I will give peace in the land…"
Verse 7: "And you shall chase your enemies…"—and in another place it says you will put 10,000 to flight!
Verse 9: "For I will have respect to you…" Blessings will come!
Verse 10: "And you shall eat of the old provision, and clear away the old because of the new. And I will set My tabernacle among you. And My soul shall not abhor you. And I will walk among you and will be your God, and you shall be My people" (vs 10-12).
That's quite promise! Look at all the blessings that God has poured out on the modern ten tribes of Israel: Western Europe, America, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. All from God, the fairest parts of the world!
God gives a choice. For the nation, the requirements are not quite as stringent as they are for the Church, so there has to be:
- a recognition of God
- an honoring of God
- a thanking God for what He has given
and God will hear!
The civil authorities must carry out their duties to bring peace in the land!
Verse 15: "And if you shall despise My statutes, or if your soul hates My judgments, so that you will not do all My commandments, so that you break My covenant; I will also do this to you… [this is what we're looking at] …I will even appoint over you terror…" (vs 15-16).
We've had terror attacks! Take what we're reading here, and because it's the end-times and expand it around the world.
"…consumption, and burning fever, consuming the eyes and causing sorrow of heart. And you shall sow your seed in vain, for your enemies shall eat it" (v 16).
Isn't it interesting how much food we're sending to China; prophecy fulfilled! Here's where we don't want to get, but I think we're right there. I think we're at this point right now:
Verse 17: "And I will set My face against you, and you shall be slain before your enemies. They that hate you shall reign over you…. [Sound like what's going on today?] …And you shall flee when none pursues you. And if you will not yet, for all this, hearken to Me, then I will punish you seven times more for your sins" (vs 17-18).
God goes along and gives us correction, eases up and sees if there's going to be repentance. If not, it comes again! Is there going to be repentance? If not, it comes again!
Verse 19: "And I will break the pride of your power, and I will make your heaven like iron and your earth like bronze." That happened during The Depression in the 30s!
The dust storm was so great that they only thing that changed Congress' mind in The Depression, and with all the depravation of food in the middle of the country, that a big dust storm came and swept into Washington, D.C., and finally they voted to do some things that would help. They wouldn't do it until then.
Verse 20: "And your strength shall be spent in vain… [not going to profit from what you do] …for your land shall not yield its increase, neither shall the trees of the field yield their fruits. And if you walk contrary to Me…" (vs 20-21).
Now it gets even stronger. So, God give the choice:
- What's going to happen?
- How bad will it be?
If you remember, Jeremiah was told to go find one man—a man—who would seek truth and justice (Jer. 5). That's on a societal basis in ruling the land—'I [God] will pardon all their sins.'
So, we don't know what's going to happen, but most of the country is crying out to God falsely, while they're walking contrary to Him by not obeying Him!
Verse 21: "And if you walk contrary to Me and will not hearken to Me, I will bring seven times more plagues on you according to your sins. I will also send wild beasts among you… [we have that] …which shall bereave you. And I will destroy your livestock, and make you few. And your highways shall be deserted" (vs 21-22).
That's interesting; what happened during the Wuhan plague? Did you see the streets of New York City, Los Angeles, the highways deserted, gone! We're going to be lucky if we recover from the economic depravity that was brought on us by the lockdown.
Then God gives another chance at this point, v 23: And if after these things you will not be reformed by Me, but will still walk contrary to Me, then I will walk contrary to you and will punish you seven times more for your sins. And I will bring a sword on you that shall execute the vengeance of the covenant…." (vs 23-25).
What is that going to be? We don't know! Let's understand that our biggest enemy today is China. They have infiltrated so many levels of American society that it's almost impossible to change it.
What will happen if Biden becomes President? America could become the western colony of China! That would fulfill Deut. 28, the stranger among you shall rise up very high above you, and you shall come down very low!
When we realize that all the words of God are true, and they're all going to come to pass, we in the Church have got to stay close to God! We have got to, and with all the other Churches of God, and pray for them, too, because the witness has to go out to the whole world. We have to preach the coming of Christ, the return of Jesus to this earth and the Kingdom of God coming to rule all nations.
We are going to be up against some tremendous powers that will seek to squash it all down, and right at the end they will. So, there we have it right there!
Verse 26: "When I have broken the staff of your bread…"
All of us get our food from stores, except a very few. What if major highways are stopped and major railways are blown up, there's going to be instantaneous shortage of food, and famine, violence and roving gangs. If you don't think that can happen, look at Venezuela and Mexico. If you don't think that those cartels mean evil business—death and destruction—you've got another thought coming.
As bad as that is, let's look at some more mercy of God. God does not like to do these things, but these are the automatic results of sin. If you let sin multiply and expand, it's going to be absolutely destructive.
Note our DVD: God's Judgment and America's Greatest Sin—truthofgod.org—which is abortion. We can be thankful that there are some who are trying to eliminate, as much as possible, the practice of abortion. God looks upon abortion as evil and murder!
During the days of the children of Israel and Judah, they had child sacrifice. They were killing the children thinking how good they were giving them to Molech. It's all because the leaders allowed it. Look where we are today because of abortion.
Jeremiah 19:1: "Thus says the LORD, 'Go and get a potter's earthen jar, and assemble some of the elders of the people and of the elders of the priests'"—the leaders of the country!
It would be like saying today, you go get Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer and bring them out here to the abortion clinic and make them watch the killing and destruction of that poor innocent life in its mother's womb being torn apart!
Verse 2: "And go out to the valley of the son of Hinnom by the entry of Potsherd Gate. And there declare the words that I shall tell you. And say, "Hear the Word of the LORD, O kings of Judah, and people of Jerusalem. Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, 'Behold, I will bring evil upon this place, which shall cause the ears of him who hears it to tingle'" (vs 2-3).
Think about all this evil that is taking place right now. Outlawing police departments! That's going against God! A great sin in addition to abortion. Once sin gets running wild it multiplies exponentially in lawless activity of all kinds.
Verse 4: "Because they have forsaken Me, and have profaned this place and have burned incense in it to other gods whom neither they nor their fathers have known, nor the kings of Judah, and have filled this place with the blood of innocents"—that's the sacrifice of children!
Verse 5: "They have also built the high places of Baal to burn their sons with fire for burnt offerings to Baal…"
I don't know how that can be done; I don't know how a father and mother can take a little child—sweet and loving—and be so deluded that they offer this as a live sacrifice to Baal. But that's exactly what these abortion clinics are doing! Millions—63 million from 1972 till today, not counting the rest of the world!!
"'…which I [God] never commanded nor spoke, nor did it come into My mind. Therefore, behold, the days come,' says the LORD, 'that this place shall no more be called Tophet, nor the valley of the son of Hinnom, but, The Valley of Slaughter'" (vs 5-6).
What did God do? He said, 'If you will cease this, if you will keep My Sabbaths, I will withdraw My hand of correction, and I won't destroy this place!'
But they didn't listen! Think about that! He even said later in the chapter that 'the kings of Judah will ride on their horses and chariots and come into this city.' But they wouldn't listen!
God destroyed Jerusalem, scraped it twice because of the sins of the people! That means that unless there is a change, God is going to do it to us!
Look at the situation in the UK; look at the situation in other countries in the world: the Netherlands, Belgium, France, Ireland, Norway, Sweden, Canada, Australia, New Zealand.
God does not desire to do this, but He knows that He has to do it!
- Could there be a change?
- Could there be a turnaround?
Let's see what one man did who was the king of Judah. This man came to reign after 33 years of Manasseh. Believe it or not, when Manasseh was in prison in Babylon, repented! Think of that! He repented! The worst king of all!
He repented and God brought him back as king—a vassal king—the Babylonians ruled, but he was the vassal king. Then came Josiah:
2-Chronicles 34:1: "Josiah was eight years old when he began to reign…"
He did things and loved God and kept His commandments. He got rid of the idols, and even went up and fulfilled a prophecy concerning the idol in Bethel. He had the priests and different workers cleaning the temple.
Here was God's temple, where He put His presence, and they were in there cleaning it. Guess what they found? Think about how far they left God. Where the Temple of God was they found the Book of the Law! They brought it and had Shaphan read it to Josiah.
Verse 16: "And Shaphan carried the book to the king and brought the king word back again, saying, 'All that was given into the hands of your servants, they are doing. And they have gathered together the money that was found in the house of the LORD, and delivered it into the hands of the overseers and to the hands of the workmen.' And Shaphan the scribe told the king, saying, 'Hilkiah the priest has given me a book.' And Shaphan read it before the king" (vs 16-18).
What was he reading? Probably Lev. 26! Deut. 28!
Verse 19: "And it came to pass when the king heard the words of the Law, he tore his clothes. And the king commanded Hilkiah, and Ahikam the son of Shaphan, and Abdon the son of Micah, and Shaphan the scribe, and Asaiah a servant of the king, saying, 'Go inquire of the LORD for me and for those who are left in Israel and in Judah, concerning the words of the book that has been found, for great is the wrath of the LORD that is poured out upon us because our fathers have not kept the Word of the LORD to do according to all that is written in this book'" (vs 19-21).
Verse 22: "And Hilkiah, and those of the king, went to Huldah the prophetess…"
- How important was a single woman?
Think about this: a single woman was given the Word of God to give the answer back to the king!
- Could there be something like this today with the nations of Israel here in America?
- Could there be something of this take place?
We don't know! But let's see what happened here. They went to find out what it was:
Verse 23: "And she answered them, 'Thus says the LORD God of Israel, "Tell the man who sent you to me, 'Thus says the LORD: "Behold, I will bring evil upon this place and upon its people, even all the curses that are written in the book which they have read before the king of Judah"'"'" (vs 23-24).
Think about all of the curses—and God did eventually totally destroy it—but here was a man who turned to God, a king. Let's see what he did.
Verse 25: "Because they have forsaken Me and have burned incense to other gods, so that they might provoke Me to anger with all the works of their hands. And My wrath shall be poured out upon this place and shall not be quenched. And as for the king of Judah, who sent you to inquire of the LORD, so shall you say to him, 'Thus says the LORD God of Israel concerning the words you have heard, "Because your heart was tender…"'" (vs 25-27).
He was able to repent; so we don't know how many people are going to repent. They might not repent unto salvation, but they can repent of the deeds that they are doing, and God may give a little time of respite to us; we don't know!
"'…and you humbled yourself before your God when you heard His words against this place and against its people, and humbled yourself before Me, and tore your clothes and wept before Me, I have even heard you also,' says the LORD. 'Behold, I will gather you to your fathers, and you shall be gathered to your grave in peace, nor shall your eyes see all the evil that I will bring upon this place and upon its people.' And they brought the king word again" (vs 27-28).
What did Josiah do? He gathered all the leaders, all the elders and priests and went into the Temple of God
Verse 29: "And the king sent and gathered together all the elders of Judah and Jerusalem. And the king went up into the house of the LORD… [Temple of God] …and all the men of Judah, and the people of Jerusalem, and the priests, and the Levites, and all the people from the great to the small…." (vs 29-30)
Verse 31: And the king stood in his place and made a covenant before the LORD to walk after the LORD and to keep His commandments and His testimonies and His statutes…"—and made them swear that they would return to God, and they did!
They kept a Passover that was really the Feast of Unleavened Bread. But because they returned to God…
- One man made them do it!
- One man turned them back!
Unfortunately, 12 years later his vanity got the best of him, and he went out to battle to fight when he was told not to. But he went out and disguised himself and he took an arrow right into the heart!
Then Jeremiah pronounced the lamentations, the book of Lamentations! You read that! Go through it and think about it.
We are headed for some difficult times! We need God to:
- bless His people
- protect His people
- bless His churches
All of us need to feed the flock and preach the Word of God, and whatever doors God will open for any of our Churches of God wherever they are to let the Truth be known, it must go out!
We can't leave it to anybody else to do! That's not to exalt ourselves or lift us up, but to come to God in the same attitude as Josiah:
- in weeping
- in praying
- in repenting
Asking God—if it's His desire—to spare for a while to give us time to do what He wants us to do. That He would:
- give that space of time
- give us the understanding of how we need to do it
This is where we are right now, right at the brink, at the precipice!
We can hope that current President may be this man! If he is, pray that God will strengthen him and protected, because if not, China is knocking on the door!
Scriptural References:
- 2 Timothy 3:1-4
- Daniel 12:1
- Leviticus 26:1-5
- Deuteronomy 8:9-14
- Leviticus 26:6-7, 9-12, 14-26
- Jeremiah 19:1-6
- 2 Chronicles 34:1, 16-21, 23-31
Scriptures referenced, not quoted:
- Romans 13
- Matthew 24
- Ezekiel 14
- Deuteronomy 28
- Jeremiah 5
Also referenced: DVD: God's Judgment and America's Greatest Sin (truthofGod.org)
FRC:bo
Transcribed: 7/1/20
Copyright 2020—All rights reserved. Except for brief excerpts for review purposes, no part of this publication may be reproduced or used in any form or by any means without the written permission of the copyright owner. This includes electronic and mechanical photocopying or recording, as well as the use of information storage and retrieval systems.
