1 and 2 Kings – Prophecies for our Day?
D. P. Weary – August 2023
Is
the story of Elijah and Ahab told in 1 and 2 Kings a prophecy of events in
Israel and even perhaps in the world today? In this study, we will look at the
characters and the storyline primarily from the perspective that it is related
to and about Israel. However, as the story unfolds it might have a much broader
application to the world today.
First,
let us look at the characters in the story -
Elijah
– Elijah the Tishbite, of the inhabitants of Gilead. Elijah was a foreigner who
lived in Gilead. He was a God-fearing man who knew the scriptures and listened
to and obeyed the Holy Spirit as a prophet of God.
We will look at Elijah as God-fearing people who know the Holy
Spirit, listen to Him, and obey Him.
A
widow and her son – A very poor Jewish woman and her son who felt they were
desperate and felt that they were about to die.
They represent downtrodden, poor, and desperate people.
Ahab
– Ahab was the seventh king of Israel, the son and successor of King Omri, and
the husband of Jezebel of Sidon. Ahab was a wicked king, particularly for
condoning Jezebel's influence on religious policies. Ahab's reign was about
871–852 BC.
Ahab represents the wicked, evil, political leaders, especially
those that condone demonic religious policies and beliefs.
Obadiah
– Obadiah is said to have been a convert to Judaism from Edom. In some
Christian traditions, he is said to have been born in "Sychem"
(Shechem). He was in the service of Ahab and was said to be "in charge of
his house". Obadiah was a brave man who stood for God and His prophets in
a difficult time.
Obadiah represents people who stand for God but find themselves in
the service of wicked leaders. They are in ways, beholding and controlled by
the evil leaders but their good efforts are primarily to "hide" God's
people, from the wicked leaders.
Jezebel
– Jezebel (died c. 843 BCE), the wife of King Ahab, who ruled the kingdom of
Israel. By interfering with the worship of the Hebrew God, Yahweh, by
disregarding the rights of the common people, and by defying the great prophets
Elijah and Elisha, she provoked the internecine strife that enfeebled Israel
for decades. She has come to be known as an archetype of the wicked people.
She
was the daughter of the priest-king Ethbaal, ruler of the coastal Phoenician
cities of Tyre and Sidon. When Jezebel married Ahab (ruled c. 874–c. 853 BCE),
she persuaded him to introduce the worship of the Tyrian god Baal-Melkart, a
nature god. A woman of fierce energy, she tried to destroy those who opposed
her; most of the prophets of Yahweh were killed at her command.
Jezebel represents the hidden satanic leaders who are empowered and
led by Satan himself. They hate God and God's people and are actively trying to
destroy all those who oppose them, especially God-fearing people. They
disregard the rights of the common people, defy prophets, and provoke strife
and disunity wherever and whenever they can.
Obadiah's
prophets – Prophets of the LORD in Israel who were saved by Obadiah during a
time when Jezebel was massacring the prophets of the LORD.
Obadiah’s prophets represent God's people, especially prophets who
are "in hiding" (keeping a low profile, being politically correct).
Jezebel's
prophets of Baal – Jezebel's prophets who worshipped Baal.
These are people serving Satan, knowingly or unknowingly, especially
the very high-profile and vocal voices in the land.
Hazael
– One of the most powerful of the kings of Syria (Aram), ruling from c. 843
b.c. to c. 796 b.c. He reigned contemporaneously with Jehoram (the last few
years), Jehu, and Jehoahaz, kings of Israel; and Jehoram, Ahaziah, Athaliah,
and Joash, kings of Judah.
Hazael represents people used by God to execute His commands,
whether they know it or not.
Elisha
– Elisha, whose name means "God is salvation," was the successor of
Elijah in the office of the prophet in Israel. He was called to follow Elijah,
and he spent the next several years as the prophet's protégé until Elijah was
taken into heaven. At that time, Elisha began his ministry, which lasted about
60 years, spanning the reigns of kings Jehoram, Jehu, Jehoahaz, and Joash. He
instigated and directed Jehu's revolt against the house of Omri, which was
marked by a bloodbath at Jezreel in which King Ahab of Israel and his family
were slaughtered.
Elisha represents Spirit-led people who are instrumental in finally
dealing with the wicked leaders. Primarily they are disciples of the
"Elijah" people.
Jehu
– Jehu was the tenth king of the northern Kingdom of Israel, noted for
exterminating the house of Ahab. His reign lasted 27 years from about 871 to
852 B.C.
God
chose Jehu as one of three men who would enact His judgment upon Ahab's family;
Jehu, Elijah, and Elisha.
God
also chose Jehu to be the king of Israel. After he was anointed king, Jehu took
steps to secure the throne. Ahab died in battle. During the reign of Ahab's son
as king, Jehu went to Jezebel's palace in Jezreel, where the queen stood
watching for him at her window. At Jehu's command, eunuchs surrounding Jezebel
threw her down from the window.
Jehu
left no man standing who was in alliance with King Ahab, as God had commanded
long before through Elijah. Entering the temple of Baal, Jehu slaughtered all
the priests of Baal and destroyed the temple and its sacred stone, thus
eradicating Baal worship in Israel.
The
Lord blessed Jehu for his obedience, granting him a dynasty that would last to
the fourth generation. Jehu reigned over Israel for a total of twenty-eight
years.
Jehu represents God's chosen leaders who are instruments of God for
dealing with wicked spiritual and human leaders.
Ben-hada
– Ben-Hadad seems to have been the title of the reigning king of Aram (Syria).
Ben-Hadad attacked the northern kingdom of Israel, and although he had 32 kings
helping him, he was defeated by King Ahab and the army of Israel. About three
years later, Israel and Syria renewed their conflict, leading to Ahab's final
battle and death.
Ben-hada again represents leaders, not necessarily God-fearing
believers, used by God in dealing with evil and evil leaders.
Naboth
– Owner of the field that Ahab wanted and Jezebel had killed to get the field
for Ahab.
Naboth represents the victims of the wicked and evil.
Now
the story -
The
story begins with Elijah [God-fearing
people who know the Holy Spirit, listen to Him, and obey Him] confronting
Ahab [the wicked, evil,
political leaders, especially those that condone demonic religious policies and
beliefs] declaring that there will be no rain in the land because of his
evil and wicked ways (natural
harmful or destructive events that are warnings of coming judgments). (about
870 B.C.)
Our prophecy begins with Spirit-filled and obedient servants of the
Lord being bold and confronting the evil and wickedness in the land around
them. As they do the judgments, or at least warnings of coming judgments come
in the form of unusual natural disasters or events in form, intensity, or
frequency.
This might be likened to the Charismatic Messianic believers in the
land (the new "Elijah's") and the developing exposure of the demonic
evil and wickedness in the land today. The unusual natural disasters around the
world could be likened to the lack of rain and resulting famines in the 1 Kings
story.
God
then sends Elijah into the wilderness where He supernaturally takes care of him
in preparation for the tasks God gives him.
During the season of natural disasters, there seems to be a season
of retreat for the new "Elijahs" where they are cared for and
prepared for a coming new assignment by God.
After
this season of preparation, God sends Elijah to a Jewish widow and her son [downtrodden, poor, and desperate
people] to take care of them. (About 869 B.C.)
At
the word of God, the widow responded by obeying Elijah and miraculously her
flour and oil did not run out for many days.
Then
the son of the widow became ill and died. Her reaction was to think that Elijah
and God were punishing her because of her sin. Then Elijah prayed for the boy
and the LORD answered and brought the boy back to life. It was this great act
of God that convinced the widow that Elijah was indeed a man of God and that
the word of the LORD was in his mouth. Even though God supplied the basic needs
of the widow and her son it took a great miracle of raising her son from the
dead to convince her that Elijah was indeed a representation of God and spoke
His words.
The first assignment for the new Elijahs is to care for the poor and
downtrodden. This is being manifested in food pantries, pregnancy centers,
groups helping human trafficking victims, and many other works to help the poor
and downtrodden. The problem has been that these efforts have not produced a
great revival. The rising from the dead of the widow's son seems to foreshow a
more significant supernatural, God event that will cause many to believe in and
trust God's Spirit-led people and God and accept Jesus as their Lord and
Savior.
After
many days, like 2 to 3 years, God Commands Elijah to directly confront Ahab.
Fanine was severe in the land but God told Elijah that this would initiate a
season where He would once again send rain to the land. It is at this point
that Obadiah enters the story (people
who believe in and stand for God but find themselves in the service of wicked
leaders. They are in ways, beholding and controlled by the evil leaders. Their
good efforts are primarily to "hide" God's people, from the wicked
leaders). (About 867 B.C.)
When
Jezebel (the satanic evil
spiritual force behind the wicked leaders) was killing the prophets of
the LORD, Obadiah began hiding them in caves and providing for them. It is at
this point that Obadiah meets Elijah. Elijah tells Obadiah to go to Ahab and
tell him that he, Elijah is here (in the land). Obadiah is afraid thinking that
Elijah will not show up and Ahab will kill him. But Elijah promises to meet
with Ahab that very day and Obadiah does what Elijah requests and goes to Ahab.
Elijah confronts Ahad directly calling him a troubler of Israel for forsaken
the commandments of the LORD and following the Baals. This sets up the great
confrontation between Elijah and Jezebel's prophets of Baal and Asherah on
Mount Carmel (people who are
serving Satan, knowingly or unknowingly, especially the very high profile and
vocal voices in the world).
Here we see the new Elijahs confronting nominal, fearful believers
and encouraging them to begin to stand up to the evil and wicked leaders in the
land. This sets up a great spiritual confrontation between the new Elijahs,
God, and the demonic servants of Satan).
On
Mount Carmel, With the people of Israel looking on, Elijah challenges the
prophets of Baal to a spiritual contest. First, the prophets of Baal called on
their god to consume a sacrificial bull but to no avail no matter how hard they
tried. But, at the time of the evening sacrifice (about 3 p.m.) Elijah repaired
the altar of the LORD that was broken down, had the sacrificial bull covered
with water, and then called on God to consume the sacrifice. When the people
saw God consume not only the bull but the altar and the water around and
covering the sacrifice, they fell on their faces and cried out, "The LORD,
He is God! The LORD, He is God!" Elijah then called upon the people to
seize the prophets of Baal and execute them.
The prophetic picture here is of a great spiritual contest or battle
between believers and their God and Satan and his people or servants. It is an
event seen by the people of the world. God does something supernaturally to
defeat and destroy the servants of Satan so great and spectacular (like a Red
Sea event) that the people believe and cry out, "The LORD, He is God! The
LORD, He is God!" And there is some revival in the land.
Elijah
then announces that the drought is over and a season of abundance of rain is
coming. As the rain began Ahab rode away and went to Jezreel to tell Jezebel
all that had transpired. Then the hand of the LORD came upon Elijah, and he
girded up his loins and ran ahead of Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel. Then
Jezebel threatens to kill Elijah. Elijah realizing that all His efforts and
victories over the prophets of Baal have not changed or even discouraged
Jezebel or effected the conversion of the court and country, runs away into the
wilderness discouraged and possibly in fear.
With the defeat of the servants of the Jezebels, the warning events
of coming judgments end and the Elijahs move to directly confront the Jezebels.
When the new Elijahs realize that their efforts have not resulted in a change
at the wicked leadership level and the revival was not as great as they
expected, they retreat in discouragement and even fear.
After
The Angel of the LORD (Jesus' pre-incarnation) feeds and ministers to him,
Elijah takes a journey too great for him to take in naturally to the mountain
of God. Here on the mountain in the midst of a great storm and an earthquake,
God meets Elijah with a still small voice. Then God gives Elijah his last
assignments. Elijah is to go to Damascus and anoint Hazael (people in the land used by God to
execute His commands, whether they know it or not) as king over Syria,
and Jehu (God's chosen leaders
who are instruments of God for dealing with wicked spiritual and human wicked
leaders) as king over Israel, and Elisha (Spirit-led people who are instrumental in finally
dealing with the wicked leaders. Primarily they are disciples of the
"Elijah" generation) as prophet in his place. God then tells
Elijah that Hazel, Jehu, and Elisha will complete the destruction of the wicked
and evil people in the land. God also tells Elijah that He has reserved seven
thousand in Israel, all who have not bowed to Baal and worshipped him.
In a place of discouragement (retreat) Jesus ministers to the new
Elijahs directly. Then He gives them their last assignment. This is a season of
establishing new anointings for the days ahead and the Elijahs transferring
their anointing to the new Elishas but in double portion. These new Elishas are
the reserved remanent in the land that God told Elijah about. This begins the
judgments of the final "Jehu," Jesus.
During
the reign of Jehu as king, Elisha followed Elijah as his disciple until Elijah
was taken up to heaven in a chariot of fire (about 842 B.C.) after anointing
Elisha with a double portion of his anointing (about 865 B.C.). During the
reign of Jehu and Elisha, Ahab was killed in a battle (about 851 B.C.), and at
Jehu's command, eunuchs surrounding Jezebel threw her down from the window and
killed her (about 842 B.C.). Jehu left no man standing who was in alliance with
King Ahab and Jezebel, as God had commanded long before through Elijah.
Entering the temple of Baal, Jehu slaughtered all the priests of Baal and
destroyed the temple and its sacred stone, thus eradicating Baal worship in
Israel. This all occurred at or shortly after Jezebel’s death.
As the new Jehu, Hazels, and Elishas take their places and begin to
carry out their assignments, the Elijahs are supernaturally taken to Heaven by
God just as Elijah was taken to Heaven. At this point, the new Jehus becomes
the Lord Jesus himself and Jezebel is manifested as the Antichrist. It is Jesus
who finally destroys the Jezebels, the Antichrist, and all those who served
them and imprisons the demonic spirit that controlled and empowered them
(Satan).
As
we consider these scriptures from the point of view of being a prophecy of our
day, it is apparent that they apply not only to Israel but to the entire world
as well. Where are we in this scenario? We have seen the renewed awareness of,
belief in, listening to, and obeying the Holy Spirit. The new Elijahs have
risen. We are experiencing a great rise in lawlessness, wickedness, and evil in
our world today. We are experiencing serious and unusual natural disasters and
events. We are seeing God's people ministering to the poor, downtrodden, and
abused people of the world. We are seeing the clashing of the new Elijahs with
the nominal believers. We are seeing the evil in the world being exposed and
confronted. What we are waiting for is an Act of God to deal with all the
wickedness and evil in our world today.
It
seems that we are at a place leading to a great spiritual battle between God
and the new Elijahs and Satan and his servants. We are looking for a great
"supernatural God event" to deal with the great evil and wickedness
manifesting itself in our world today. This event will occur. But it will not
result in the eradication of all evil leaders and Baal (Satan) worship. It will
produce some revival but not the very great revival so hoped for. What it does
set up is a time of intimacy and refreshing with the Lord for the discouraged
Elijahs and a season of new anointings. These anointings will release a new
Jehu (the Lord Jesus as His wrath is released on the wicked world), new Elishas
(the 144, 000 Jewish witnesses of Revelation 7), the Elijahs being taken to
Heaven, the new Hazels, (the king of the north and the kings of the east), and
the release of the Antichrist and his 10-nation coalition of nations. It all
ends at the end of 7 years of tribulation as the Lord Jesus returns to the
earth to completely defeat the Antichrist and all his servants, imprison Satan
in the abyss, and establish His Kingdom here on the earth as King of kings, and
Lord of lords!
