Through The Bible #4: The Minor Prophets

Hi Everyone!

Just as a refresher, let’s review the last sermon.

If you recall, we talked about Bible Prophecy, which makes up over 1/3 of our Bibles.   We also discussed that in the Old Testament, YAHWEH sent 16 different prophets to both the House of Israel and the House of Judah, warning them to repent of their sins and return to Him, but to no avail.

These 16 prophets can be assigned to different periods in Israel’s history:  The Pre-Assyrian prophets who prophesied to the House of Israel were Joel, Jonah, Amos, Hosea, Isaiah, and Micah and the Pre-Babylonian prophets who prophesied to the House of Judah were Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, Obadiah, Nahum, Habakkuk, and Zephaniah.  Those prophets who preached to the Restored Nation of Judah were Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi.

Lastly, we covered the four Major Prophets of Isaiah, Jeremiah and Lamentations, Ezekiel, and Daniel, which are only called “Major” because of the long length of these Books.

Today, we will talk about the 12 Minor Prophets of Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi.

Hosea, whose name means, “May YAHWEH Save,” was a prophet to the House of Israel during the reigns of the last seven Kings of Israel: Jeroboam II, Zechariah, Shallum, Menahem, Pekahiah, Pekah, and Hoshea, who was the last King of Israel.  From 721 to 676 B.C., the Assyrians captured and ultimately dispersed the House of Israel as prophesied by YAHWEH through the prophets.

The Book of Hosea is a story of one-sided love and faithfulness that represents the relationship between Israel and YAHWEH.  As Gomer is married to Hosea, so Israel is betrothed to YAHWEH.  Both relationships gradually disintegrate with Gomer running after other men, and Israel running after other gods, such as Ba’al.  Gomer’s physical adultery is representative of Israel’s spiritual idolatry.

Hosea’s message reflects Israel’s horrible fascination with Ba’al worship.  Ba’al actually means, “lord,” so why is YAHWEH translated as LORD in our Bibles?  Are we praying to Ba’al without actually realizing it?  Something to think about…

Ba’al worship involved fertility rites that included ritual prostitution, and it was to Ba’al that Israel turned, not YAHWEH.

The Book of Hosea is divided into eight sections:

1. The Rejection of Israel Pictured by the Names of Hosea’s Three Children (Chapter 1:1 through 9):

Hosea 1:4 states, “And the LORD said to him, “Call his name Jezreel, for yet a little while, and I will avenge the blood of Jezreel on the house of Jehu and will cause the kingdom of the house of Israel to cease.”

So, the Northern Kingdom of the House of Israel was going to cease!

Hosea 1:6 states, “And she conceived again and bore a daughter.  And God said to him, “Call her name Lo-Ruhamah, for I will no more have mercy on the house of Israel. But I will utterly take them away.”

Next, YAHWEH was not going to have any more mercy on the Northern Kingdom of the House of Israel and have them taken away.

Hosea 1:8-9 state, “And when she had weaned Lo-Ruhamah, she conceived and bore a son.  And He said, “Call his name Lo-Ammi, for you are not My people, and I will not be your God.”

Then, YAHWEH told the Northern Kingdom of the House of Israel that they were not His people anymore and that He was not their God anymore.

2. The Restoration of Israel Promised (Chapters 1:10 through 2:1).
3. YAHWEH’s Warning Against Israel’s Unfaithfulness and His Threatened Judgment (Chapter 2:2 through 13).
4. A Future of Blessing Foretold for Israel (Chapter 2:14 through 23).
5. The Redemption of Hosea’s Wife A Type of Israel’s Ultimate Return to YAHWEH (Chapter 3:1 through 5).
6. YAHWEH’s Controversy with His People (Chapter 4:1 through 10:15), which includes The Sins of the People; The Sins of the Priests; The Idolatry of the People; A Special Appeal to Judah; The Evil Behavior of the Priests, the People, and the Royal Family; The Promised Judgments of Israel and Judah and YAHWEH’s Intention to Await Their Repentance; An Appeal to Israel to Repent; The Sinfulness of Both Israel and Judah; The Wickedness of Israel Unveiled; A Warning to Prepare for Foreign Invasion Because of Idolatry and Foreign Alliances; and The Captivity of Israel Predicted as a Result of Its Iniquity.
7. In Wrath, YAHWEH Remembers Mercy (Chapters 11:1 through 13:16).
8. Israel Urged to Repent and Enjoy YAHWEH’s Blessings (Chapter 14:1 through 9).

YAHWEH promises Israel in Hosea 1:10 that “(Now the number of the children of Israel was like the sand of the sea which cannot be measured nor counted.) But it shall come to pass that in the place where it was said to them, You are not My People, they shall be called children of the Living God;”

Joel, whose name means, YAHWEH is God, prophesied to the House of Judah from the reign of King Joash to that of King Ahaz, which would make him the earliest of the writing prophets.

The key phrase in the Book of Joel is, “The Day of the Lord,” and is found five times in Chapters 1:15; 2:1, 11, and 31; and 3:14, with the main theme of the Book found at Chapter 1:15, “For the Day of the LORD is at hand; and it will come like destruction on destruction.”

The Book of Joel is divided into five sections:

1. The Description of the Locust Plague (Chapter 1:1 through 20, and its effect upon Drunkards, Priests, Farmers, and the Prophet Himself.
2. The Description of the Enemy Invasion (Chapter 2:1 through 11).
3. The Divine Appeal to Judah to Repent (Chapter 2:12 through 14).
4. The Declaration of a Fast (Chapter 2:15 through 17).
5. The Divine Deliverance Promised (Chapters 2:18 through 3:21) of Material Prosperity; The Destruction of the Enemy; The Pouring Out of YAHWEH’s Spirit; The Signs Preceding Christ’s Second Coming; The Judgment of the Nations of Tyre, Sidon, and Philistia; and The Restoration and Future Blessing of the House of Judah.

Amos, whose name means, Burden, prophesied to the House of Israel during the reign of King Jeroboam II.  The main theme of this Book is found in Amos 3:1-2 which states, “HEAR this word which the LORD hath spoken against you, O House of Israel!  Yes, against every tribe which I brought out of the land of Egypt, saying, Of all the tribes of the earth, I acknowledge none but you.  Therefore, I will punish you for all your sins.”

The Book of Amos is divided into four parts:

1. The Threatened Judgments on the Eight Nations (Chapters 1:1 though 2:16) of Damascus; Gaza; Tyre; Edom; Ammon; Moab; Judah; and Israel.
2. The Guilt and Punishment of Israel (Chapters 3:1 through 6:14).
3. The Symbols of Approaching Judgment (Chapters 7:1 through 9:10).
4. The Future Restoration of Israel (Chapters 9:11 through 15).

Obadiah, whose name means, Servant of YAHWEH, prophesied against the Edomites, who were the descendants of Esau, Jacob/Israel’s brother.  The forthcoming destruction of the House of Esau is prophesied in Obadiah 18 which states, “and the House of Jacob shall possess those who possessed them; and the House of Jacob shall be a fire, and the House of Joseph, a flame; and the House of Esau shall be as stubble; and upon these they shall kindle and consume them, so that there shall not be a torch-bearer to the House of Esau.  For the LORD hath spoken.”

The Book of Obadiah, which is only one chapter, is divided into five parts:

1. Edom’s Pride to Be Abased (Verses 1 through 4).
2. The Destruction of Edom (Verses 5 through 9), which includes The Completeness of the Plunder, The Betrayal by Edom’s Allies, and The Destruction of Edom’s Leaders.
3. The Reasons for Edom’s Downfall (Verses 10 through 14).
4. Edom’s Judgment Is Retributive (Verses 15 and 16).
5. The Restoration of Israel and Judah and The Extinction of Edom (Verses 17 through 21).

In Malachi 1:1-3, YAHWEH states, “The burden of the word of the LORD to Israel by Malachi.  I have loved you, saith the LORD.  Yet ye say, Wherein hast thou loved us? Was not Esau Jacob’s brother? Saith the LORD: yet I loved Jacob, and I hated Esau, and laid his mountains and his heritage waste for the dragons of the wilderness.”

This same sentiment is restated by the Apostle Paul in Romans 9:13 which states, “As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.”

Jonah, whose name means, Dove, prophesied only to Nineveh, the capital of the Assyrian Empire, and, as a result, repented of their sins in sackcloth and ashes.

The Book of Jonah is divided into four parts:

1. The Disobedience of the Prophet (Chapters 1:1 through 17) which includes Jonah’s Missionary Call; His Flight to Tarshish; The Storm at Sea; thus, resulting in Jonah being thrown overboard and being swallowed by a Great Fish, in which he stayed 3 days and 3 nights in the belly of the Great Fish, just as Jesus Christ stayed 3 days and 3 nights in the belly of the Earth.
2. The Deliverance of the Prophet (Chapter 2:1 through 10), which includes his prayer and YAHWEH’s answer.
3. The Declaration of YAHWEH’s Message Through the Prophet (Chapter 3:1 through 10) in which, Jonah prophesied the Threat of Judgment, resulting in The City-Wide Repentance and the Judgment Averted.
4. The Displeasure of the Prophet (Chapter 4:1 through 11), which includes Jonah’s Petulant Prayer; God’s Searching Question; Jonah’s Sulking Outside of the City; and The Object Lesson on YAHWEH’s Sovereign Mercy.

Micah, whose name means, Who Is Like YAHWEH, prophesied to the House of Judah under the reigns of King Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah.  However, Micah did prophesy the captivity of the Northern Kingdom of Israel.

The main promise to the Book of Micah is found in Chapter 4:1-2, which states, “BUT it shall come to pass in the last of these days, that the mountain of the LORD shall be conspicuous: it shall be established on the tops of the mountains and raised high above the hills; and peoples shall hasten to it.  And many nations shall come – they will say, Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, and to the House of the God of Jacob; that they may point out to us His ways, and that we may walk in His paths.”

The Book of Micah is divided into nine parts:

1. The Prediction of Wrath Against Israel and Judah (Chapter 1:1 through 16).
2. The Doom of the Wealthy Oppressors (Chapter 2: 1 through 11).
3. The Promise of Restoration (Chapter 2:12 and 13).
4. The Denunciation of Rulers, False Prophets, and Priests (Chapter 3:1 through 12.
5. The Glory of Christ’s Millennial Reign (Chapter 4:1 through 13).
6. The Promise of the Messiah’s Coming (Chapter 5:1 through 15).
7. Israel on Trial (Chapter 6:1 through 16).
8. The Nation Bewails Its Sad State (Chapter 7:1 through 10).
9. The Future Blessings for Israel (Chapter 7:11 through 20).

Nahum, whose name means, Consoler, prophesied against Nineveh, the capital of the Assyrian Empire.  Under the Prophet Jonah, Nineveh repented of its sins; however, Nineveh had returned to its wicked ways.  Thus, Nahum predicts the destruction of Nineveh, the capital of the Assyrian Empire and the world’s largest city of that day.

The Book of Nahum is divided into four sections:

1. The Character of YAHWEH, The Judge (Chapter 1:1 through 8).
2. The Certainty of the Doom of Nineveh (Chapter 1:9 through 15).
3. The Description of the Siege of Nineveh (Chapter 2:1 through 12).
4. YAHWEH’s Determination to Destroy the City (Chapters 2:13 through 3:19).

Habakkuk, whose name means, Embrace or Wrestle, prophesied to the House of Judah, most likely under the reigns of King Manasseh, Josiah, and Jehoiakim.  The theme of this book is found in Habakkuk 2:4 which states, “If anyone draw back, My soul hath no pleasure in him.  But the just shall live by faith in Me.”

The Book of Habakkuk is divided into five sections:

1. The Prophet is Perplexed that God Does Not Punish the Iniquity of Judah (Chapter 1:1 through 4).
2. YAHWEH Replies That He Will Use the Babylonians to Punish Judah (Chapter 1:5 through 11).
3. Habakkuk Now Questions YAHWEH’s Choice of a More Wicked Nation to Punish Judah (Chapter 1:12 through 17).
4. YAHWEH’s Answer Is That the Just People of Judah Will Survive, But the Unjust Chaldeans Will Be Destroyed (Chapter 2:1 through 20).
5. Habakkuk Prays and Trusts (Chapter 3:1 through 19).

Zephaniah, whose name means, YAHWEH hides, protects, or treasures, prophesied to the House of Judah during the reign of King Josiah.  He, too, uses the term, The Day of the LORD, seven times and the theme of the Book deals with YAHWEH’s judgment on the House of Judah for disobedience.  With that being said, YAHWEH states in Zephaniah 3:9, “For then will I turn to the people a pure language, that they may all call upon the name of the LORD, to serve Him with one consent.”

The Book of Zephaniah is divided into five sections:

1. YAHWEH’s Determination to Execute Judgment (Chapter 1:1 through 18), which includes on All of the Earth; On Judah and Jerusalem because of Idolatry; The Day of the LORD; and The Terror of the Day of the LORD.
2. Judah is Called to Repent (Chapter 2:1 through 3).
3. The Doom of the Nations Is Prophesied (Chapter 2:4 through 15), which includes The Philistines; the Moabites and Ammonites; the Ethiopians; and the Assyrians and Especially the City of Nineveh.
4. Woe Is Pronounced on Jerusalem (Chapter 3:1 through 7) for Disobedience, Unresponsiveness, Unbelief, and Impenitence; The Greed of the Princes and the Judges; The Levity and Treachery of the Prophets and Sacrilege of the Priests; and The LORD’s Presence in Judgment.
5. The Message of Comfort to the Faithful Remnant (Chapter 3:8 through 20), which includes The Destruction of the Wicked Nations; The Conversion of the Remaining Nations; The Restoration of Dispersed Israel; The Rejoicing over the Second Coming of Jesus Christ; and What YAHWEH Will Do for His People.

Haggai, whose name means, festal or festive, was one of three prophets to prophesy to the House of Judah after their return from Babylon, i.e., the second year of King Darius (520 B.C.).  The key expressions used throughout this Book are, “I am with you, says the LORD” (1:13 and 2:4); “Consider your ways” (1:5, 7; 2:15, 18); and “Be strong” (2:4).

The Book of Haggai is divided into four prophecies:

1. The First Prophecy – The First Day of the Sixth Month (Chapter 1:1 through 15), which includes The Rebuke for Neglect in Rebuilding the Temple; The Failure to Rebuild Resulted in Scarcity and Drought; and Through the Encouragement of Haggai, the People Resumed Work on the Temple.
2. The Second Prophecy – The Twenty-First Day of the Seventh Month (Chapter 2:1 through 9), which includes The Prophet Again Encouraging the People with Assurance of the LORD’s Presence; and The Glory of the Future Temple Would Exceed that of the Past.
3. The Third Prophecy – The Twenty-Fourth Day of the Ninth Month (Chapter 2:10 through 19), which includes The Sacrifices Offered on the Altar That Were Unclean as Long as the Temple Was in Ruins; The People Suffered from Scarcity Before the Foundation of the Temple was Laid; and If They Would Resume Work on the Temple, the LORD Would Bless Them.
4. The Fourth Prophecy – The Twenty-Fourth Day of the Ninth Month (Chapter 2:2-23), which states that The People Were Encouraged by the Promise of the Overthrow of the Kingdoms and the Establishment of the Messiah’s Reign.

Zechariah, whose name means YAHWEH Remembers, was a prophet and priest during the Babylonian Exile.  He had eight visions, which used highly symbolic language, depicting the overthrow of world powers; the judgment of apostate Jews because of their rejection of Jesus Christ as their Messiah; the cleansing, restoration, and glory of a remnant; and the future prosperity of Jerusalem.  The first five visions are messages of grace; and the last three of judgment.

The most important End-Time Prophecy is found in Zechariah 13:8 through 9, which states, “And it shall come to pass, that in all the earth, saith the LORD, two parts of it shall be cut off and die and the third part shall be left in it.  And when I have passed this third part through fire, and tried them as silver is tried, and proved them as gold is proved; this people will invoke My Name, and I will hear them and say, This is My People, and they will say, The LORD is My God.”

Imagine this – two-thirds of True Israel will be wiped out in the End Times.

Zechariah’s notable prophecies concerning the Messiah foretell His entry into Jerusalem (9:9); His betrayal for thirty pieces of silver (11:12-13); His death as the stricken Shepherd (13:7); His coming again to the Mount of Olives (14:4); and His Millennial Reign as High Priest and King (14:9).

The Book of Zechariah is divided into six sections:

1. The Exhortation to Repentance and Obedience, and The Warning to Profit from the Mistakes of the Fathers (Chapter 1:1 through 6).
2. A Series of Eight Visions, Designed to Encourage People to Rebuild the Temple (Chapter 1:7 through Chapter 6:8).
3. Joshua Crowned as High Priest (Chapter 6:9 through 15).
4. The Judahites from Bethel Inquire Concerning Continuance of the Fast (Chapters 7:1 through 8:23.
5. The First Oracle or Burden, Emphasizing the Messiah’s First Advent/Coming (Chapters 9:1 through 11:17).
6. The Second Oracle or Burden, Emphasizing the Messiah’s Second Advent/Coming (Chapters 12:1 through 14:21).

Malachi, which means, Messenger of YAHWEH, was the last prophet of the Old Testament, with Jesus Christ stating that John the Baptist was the very last prophet before His First Coming.

Perhaps, the most telling verse in Malachi is found in Chapter 4:4 which states, “Remember ye the Law of Moses My Servant, which I commanded unto him in Horeb (Sinai) for all Israel, with the statutes and judgments.”  So, what was nailed to the Cross when Jesus was crucified?  The Ceremonial Sacrificial Laws.  And in 70 A.D., the Temple System and Sacrificial System were destroyed once and for all time!

Always remember that the TRUE ISRAEL NATIONS moved West and North of Palestine, NEVER TO RETURN!

So, why did Father YAHWEH say that there would be abominations there at the End of Time?

What’s there NOW?

Malachi describes three messengers:

1. The Priest of the LORD (2:2).
2. John the Baptist (3:1a).
3. Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ Himself (3:16).

The Book of Malachi is divided into two sections:

1. YAHWEH’s Charges Against Israel, Their Replies, and His Threatened Judgments (Chapters 1:1 through 3:15).
2. The Blessing of the Remnant and The Judgment of the Wicked (Chapters 3:16 through 4:6).

This ends the Old Testament Survey which has included the Torah, the Historical Books, the Poetical Books, the Four Major Prophets, and the Twelve Minor Prophets.  With the Advent/First Coming of Jesus Christ, He made a New Covenant with the many, which was not based on the Sacrificial System of various animals, but on the once and for all perfect sacrifice of Himself for our sins, thus bringing to an end, The Old Covenant.

YAHWEH Bless!

Justin