Vindication 3
Vindication 2-3 (1932)
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VINDICATION
The name and word of the Eternal God proven and justified by EZEKIEL’S PROPHECY and revealing what must speedily come to pass upon the nations of the world.
Comments by J. F. Rutherford
Author of
CREATION DELIVERANCE RECONCILIATION GOVERNMENT PROPHECY LIGHT and other books
&
BOOK THREE
First printing 1,000,000 copies
Publishers
WATCH TOWER
BIBLE AND TRACT SOCIETY International Bible Students Association Brooklyn, New York, U. S. A.
Also
London, Toronto, Strathfield, Cape Town, Berne, Magdeburg, and in other countries
TO
JEHOVAH
THE KING ETERNAL
This Book Is Dedicated
“But the Lord is the true God, he is the living God, and an everlasting King: at his wrath the earth shall tremble, and the nations shall not be able to abide his indignation.’’—Jer. 10:10.
“Let thy name be magnified for ever.”—2 Sam. 7:26.
Copyrighted 1932 by J. F. RUTHERFORD
Made in U. S. A.INTRODUCTION
JEHOVAH especially used the prophets Elijah and Elisha to foretell the development and outworking of His purposes. In connection with them he also used Jehu to do a great slaughter work. Whom did Jehu foreshadow, and what is the meaning of the Jehu work? Vindication, Book Three, makes this matter plain and clear. It also discloses who will constitute the class known as “Millions Now Living [that] Will Never Die” and by whom that class was foreshadowed in the prophecy relating to the Jehu work.
Solomon built a great temple at Jerusalem. It was destroyed, and was rebuilt by Zerubbabel. Later that temple was removed, and another was built by Herod. The purpose and meaning of these temple buildings is also explained in this book.
Ezekiel was given a vision of a great and marvelous temple. That vision of Ezekiel concerning the temple has been a mystery for ages and generations, but now is due to be understood. The Scriptures and the physical facts both show that this prophecy was not due to be understood by God’s people on earth until the year 1932. The explanation thereof is fully set forth in this Book Three of Vindication.
What is Jehovah’s purpose in having the gospel preached by those whom he makes his witnesses? What are the divine requirements that must be met and measured up to by all those who will be made a part of the heavenly kingdom? Who will be the visible rulers of the peoples on earth, and approximately at what time will they be on earth? and how will the world be governed in righteousness? These questions and others of like interest are fully considered and answered in this book. Ezekiel’s prophecy is corroborated by others of the holy prophets, and these, together with the physical facts showing fulfilment of such prophecies, make known how Jehovah God will completely vindicate his holy name.
VINDICATION
BOOK THREE
VINDICATION
CHAPTER X
HIS EXECUTIONER
JEHOVAH caused his prophet Ezekiel to prophesy against Jerusalem and the nations round about her. Jerusalem pictured “Christendom”. Concerning Jerusalem, and therefore concerning “Christendom”, Jehovah said: “I have set it in the midst of the nations and countries that are round about her.” “Christendom,” by her hypocritical practices and oppressions of the people, has brought the greatest amount of reproach upon and defamation of Jehovah’s name, and upon her the execution of God’s judgment falls with greatest severity. “And she hath changed my judgments into wickedness more than the nations, and my statutes more than the countries that are round about her; for they have refused my judgments and my statutes, they have not walked in them. Therefore thus saith the Lord God, Because ye multiplied more than the nations that are round about you, and have not walked in my statutes, neither have kept my judgments, neither have done according to the judgments of the nations that are round about you.” —Ezek. 5:6,7.
Within the realms of “Christendom”, and immediately adjacent to her, there are many others whoare Jehovah’s enemies. These are symbolized in the prophecy of Ezekiel by the countries of Ammon, Moab and others. They have known about God and have had opportunity to know much more, but have joined with “Christendom” in defaming Jehovah’s name, and they must suffer the consequences in connection with “Christendom’s” downfall Out from the nations Jehovah has taken “a people for his name” which constitute his witnesses. Before his judgment falls upon the enemy Jehovah’s witnesses must go throughout the land and deliver the testimony of Jesus Christ and give notice and warning to the enemy, as well as to the peoples of good will. In giving this testimony Jehovah’s witnesses are spectacles, or an open show, to angels and men, particularly to those who have defamed and reproached God and his organization.
It would seem impossible before Armageddon to bring to the multitudes of ignorant and depraved persons of earth who have never heard of the Word of God such knowledge as would make them responsible; therefore, for their knowledge they must wait until the times of restitution. It is hypocritical ‘ ‘ Christendom”, and those within her realms and immediately adjacent to her, that the Devil and his wicked angels, which “bear rule over all the earth”, have used to exploit and oppress mankind and to grossly defame God’s holy name. “Therefore thus saith the Lord God, Behold I, even I, am against thee, and will execute judgments in the midst of thee, in the sight of the nations. And I will do in thee that which I have not done, and whereunto I will not do any more the like, because of all thine abominations. ”-Ezek. 5: 8, 9.
Satan is assembling his forces for Armageddon, and these forces are under the immediate command of his field marshal Gog. At Armageddon Jehovah’s army, under the immediate leadership of Christ Jesus, will destroy Satan’s army and then take Satan and put him into the pit, meaning death, for the period of a thousand years. Within that period the judgment of the individuals of the human race will take place and all those who love God and obey him will be restored. All this will be to the glory of the Most High.
Jehovah must and will execute all of his enemies in order that his holy name, fame and good reputation may abide for ever. In no other way could the universe be made clean and the name of Jehovah made to occupy the place where it belongs in the hearts and minds of his creatures. His judgments against his enemies are written. In the execution of these judgments Jehovah employs certain of his creatures that are loyal, true and faithful to him. An executioner is one who executes a legal judgment in conformity to his certificate of authority or commission. The one who renders the judgment takes the responsibility therefor. The executioner is merely the arm of the law or supreme authority. The judgment of Jehovah God against his enemies declares that they shall be destroyed. (Ps. 145:20) “Thine hand shall find out all thine enemies; thy right hand shall find out those that hate thee. Thou shalt make them as a fiery oven in the time of thine anger: the Lord shall swallow them up in bis wrath, and the fire shall devour them. For they intended evil against thee; they imagined a mischievous device, which they are not able to perform. Therefore shalt thou make them turn their back, when thou shalt make ready thine arrows upon thy strings against the face of them. ’’ (Ps. 21: 8, 9,11,12) An executioner is a vindicator of God’s name. “If I whet my glittering sword, and mine hand take hold on judgment, I will render vengeance to mine enemies, and will reward them that hate me.”—Deut. 32:41.
Who are God’s enemies? His arch or chief enemy is Satan the Devil, and with him there is a host of wicked ones. Satan’s covetous desire to make merchandise of the human race led him to formulate a scheme for the alienation of mankind from God. That scheme was based upon a false religion, to wit, the worship of the Devil primarily, and secondarily, the worship of anything to turn man away from Jehovah. The express purpose of Jehovah is to destroy Satan’s false religious schemes and what has grown out of them, and this purpose he definitely makes known when he says: “Against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment.” (Ex. 12:12) Whom will Jehovah use to execute his judgments? With the people of Israel God began to make pictures of the execution of his judgments and to foreshadow his Executioner. “David executed judgment and justice unto all his people.” (2 Sam. 8:15) David was a type of Christ Jesus. Solomon was commanded to execute the judgments of Jehovah. (1 Ki. 6:12) He also was a type of Christ as long as he was faithful to Jehovah. “0 house of David, thus saith the Lord, Execute judgment in the morning, and deliver him that is spoiled out of the hand of the oppressor.” (Jer. 21:12) “Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth. In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely; and this is his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.” (Jer. 23:5,6) These scriptures foreshadow Christ Jesus. “And I will execute vengeance in anger and fury upon the heathen, such as they have not heard.” (Mie. 5:15) This prophecy foretells the work of Christ Jesus. Jesus himself stated that to him is committed all judgment and the execution thereof.—John 5: 22, 27.
These scriptures definitely prove that Christ Jesus is Jehovah’s Executioner and support the conclusion that those appointed by Jehovah in Israel to execute his judgments typify or foreshadow Christ Jesus. By the will of Jehovah God Christ Jesus associates others with him in the execution of Jehovah’s judgments. Together these constitute the “higher powers” that are ordained of God. ‘ ‘ For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain; for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.” (Rom. 13:1-4) This is further supported by the statement: “Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints, to execute judgment upon all; and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him.” (Jude 14,15) This scripture refers to the execution of final judgment. As to those who are associated with Christ Jesus in this work: “To execute upon them the judgment written: this honour have all his saints. Praise ye the Lord. ’ ’—Ps. 149: 9.
JEHU
Having in mind the foregoing points, which are definitely settled by the Scriptures, consideration is now given as to whom Jehu foreshadowed or pictured. As the Scriptures show that we are near the great conflict in which Jehovah will express his wrath upon his enemies, we may look with confidence to him to give us an understanding of the matter concerning Jehu and his slaughter work of which the Scriptures specifically speak. That Jehu was an executioner of judgments of Jehovah there cannot be the slightest doubt, because it is written, in 2 Chronicles 22: 7, 8: “And the destruction of Ahaziah was of God by coming to Joram; for when he was come, he went out with Jehoram against Jehu the son of Nimshi, whom the Lord had anointed to cut off the house of Ahab. And it came to pass, that, when Jehu was executing judgment upon the house of Ahab, and found the princes of Judah and the sons of the brethren of Ahaziah, that ministered to Ahaziah, he slew them.” Whom did Jehu foreshadow? What is meant by the Jehu work?
In the outset, and in order to consider the Scriptural proof to a better advantage, the answer to the foregoing question as to whom Jehu foreshadowed is specifically given, and then followed by argument based upon the Scriptures in support of the answer. This will enable the student in progressing with the study to determine whether or not the answer is correct. The answer is, to wit:
From the time Jehu was anointed and until he had completed the execution of his divinely given commission he pictured or foreshadowed the work of the execution to be done in “the day of the Lord” by Christ Jesus, the Chief Executive of Jehovah, and in which work his body members in glory, the remnant who are members of his body and are now on the earth, and his host of holy angels, all participate. The Jehu work runs parallel with the work foreshadowed by the prophecy of Ezekiel appearing in chapters nine and ten concerning ‘the man clothed in linen and with the writer’s inkhorn by his side’, and with the work of marking the foreheads of the people and scattering coals of fire over the city, and with the six men that followed him with slaughter weapons, and the destroying the city. The Lord having revealed to his people the meaning of the ninth and tenth chapters of Ezekiel’s prophecy, as well as other parts thereof, and since the Jehu work is directly related thereto, it seems God’s due time to permit his people to understand the Jehu picture and the work that Jehu performed. The work of Jehu was for the vindication of Jehovah’s name, and therefore is properly considered in connection with the study of Ezekiel’s prophecy.
Elijah foreshadowed the ambassadorial or witness work to be done by God’s people during the time of ‘preparing the way before the Lord’. His was a restitution work also, as Jesus declared, and thus showing that in the Elijah period of the church a similar work was done. (Matt. 17:11) His was also a work looking to the vindication of Jehovah’s name. Elisha was anointed to finish the work Elijah had begun, and hence his was an ambassadorial or witness work also. But furthermore of him it is written: “And him that escapeth from the sword of Jehu shall Elisha slay.” This shows that the Elisha work is directly related to the execution of the enemies of Jehovah. (1 Ki. 19:17) Jehu pictures an execution or destructive work for the vindication of Jehovah’s name. Elisha also foreshadows a vindication work, showing that the. same persons connected with the Elisha work are likewise connected with the Jehu work. Elisha was anointed long before Jehu received his anointing; which shows that the witness work must be done first and must then be followed by the work of destruction, even as shown by the ninth chapter of Ezekiel.
HISTORICAL
Some historical facts concerning Israel’s rulers, and in which Jehu figures, will be of interest at this point. The ten tribes of Israel had rebelled against the house of David and had selected their own king. Asa was king of Judah and reigned at Jerusalem about 979 B.C. The ten tribes were located in the north part of Palestine. Omri, a captain in the army of Israel, seized the throne of Israel, making himself king. Later he bought the site of Samaria and built his royal house there, where he reigned over the ten tribes of Israel. (1 Ki. 16:16-24) Ahab succeeded Omri as king of Israel. Ahab married Jezebel, the daughter of Eth- baal. To Ahab and Jezebel was born a daughter named Athaliah. Some time later Elijah prophesied concerning the coming of the three and one-half years of famine. Afterwards Ahab was killed in battle, and was succeeded by his son Ahaziah.—1 Ki. 22: 34-40.
Elijah anointed Elisha in his place or stead. Athaliah the daughter of Ahab and Jezebel married Jehoram, the heir to the throne over Judah. He began to reign about 913 B.C., at Jerusalem. (2 Chron. 21:1) He was succeeded to the throne by Ahaziah the son of Athaliah, who was a grandson of Jezebel. Joram (Jchoram) the son of Ahab succeeded Ahaziah his brother to the throne of Israel. Elijah was taken away, and was succeeded by the Prophet Elisha. Then Jehu the son of Jehoshaphat, the son of Nimshi, was anointed to be king over Israel. (2 Ki. 9:1-6) Shortly thereafter Jehu slew Joram (or Jehoram). (2 Ki. 9:24) Thereafter Jehu wiped out the entire house of Ahab.
THE KEY
Jehovah’s purpose in having the house of Ahab destroyed furnishes the main key to the understanding of the work that Jehu performed and what it foreshadowed. Ahab pictured Satan, that old Serpent the Devil. Jezebel, his wife, pictured Satan’s woman or organization. Their offspring or seed pictures ‘the seed of the Serpent’, which must be destroyed because anti-God, anti-Christ and anti-kingdom. The work of Jehu pictures Jehovah’s procedure in destroying that which has brought depravity upon the human race and dishonor upon Jehovah’s name.
The chief development leading up to the slaughter work done by Jehu was Baal worship, which is Devil worship. The name Baal means “to be master; hence, to marry, to be the husband and, figuratively, the owner”. Baal worship therefore appears to be the worship of the Devil by joining the organization of which the Devil is the master, husband and owner, and by accepting him, the Devil, as lord and head. “Baal-peor” means the practice of this Devil religion in connection with lewd and immoral women. It was a seductive means of turning men away from Jehovah God.
Balaam, the soothsayer from Mesopotamia, taught Balak the king of Moab how to seduce the Israelites in connection with this devilish religion of Baal-peor. That Jehovah hated the detestable thing is shown by the following: “And Israel abode in Shittim, and the people began to commit whoredom with the daughters of Moab. And they called the people unto the sacrifices of their gods: and the people did eat, and bowed down to their gods. And Israel joined himself unto Baal-peor; and the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel. And the Lord said unto Moses, Take all the heads of the people, and hang them up before the Lord, against the sun, that the fierce anger of the Lord may be turned away from Israel. And Moses said unto the judges of Israel, Slay ye every one his men that were joined unto Baal-peor.” (Num. 25:1-5) That wicked Balaam was slain by the sword at the command of the Lord given to Moses.—Num. 31:8.
Gideon was faithful to the Lord and was also used to execute God’s judgment against Baal worship. (Judg. 6:24-32) After Gideon’s death the Israelites again fell away to Baal worship. (Judg. 8:33) God caused his faithful prophet Samuel to warn the Israelites concerning Baal worship. “And Samuel spake unto all the house of Israel, saying, If ye do return unto the Lord with all your hearts, then put away the strange gods and Ashtaroth from among you, and prepare your hearts unto the Lord, and serve him only; and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines. Then the children of Israel did put away
Baalim and Ashtaroth, and served the Lord only.” —1 Sam. 7: 3,4.
David was faithful to Jehovah and he “sought not unto Baalim, but sought to the LORD God of his father, and walked in his commandments, and not after the doings of Israel”. (2 Chron. 17:3,4) Jehovah was long-suffering with the Israelites, and when they repented he forgave them and further extended his favors to them.
After the ten tribes withdrew from Judah and set Up their own kingdom at Samaria it was Omri who gave official sanction to Satanic worship by the Israelites. Ahab followed him on the throne, and concerning him it is written: “And Ahab the son of Omri did evil in the sight of the Lord above all that were before him. And it came to pass, as if it had been a light thing for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, that he took to wife Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal king of the Zidonians, and went and served Baal, and worshipped him. And he reared up an altar for Baal in the house of Baal, which he had built in Samaria. And Ahab made a grove; and Ahab did more to provoke the Lord God of Israel to anger than all the kings of Israel that were before him.”—1 Ki. 16:30-33.
The three and one-half years’ famine came upon Israel even as Elijah had prophesied. About the time of the end of that famine Elijah met Ahab and then and there told Ahab to his face that his practice of the Devil religion was the real cause of the trouble upon Israel. “And it came to pass, when Ahab saw Elijah, that Ahab said unto him, Art thou he that troubleth Israel? And he answered, I have net troubled Israel; but thou and thy father’s house, in that ye have forsaken the commandments of the Lord, and thou hast followed Baalim.”—1 Ki. 18:17, 18.
Ahab and Jezebel maintained “the prophets of Baal” by which the Israelites were debauched and turned away from Jehovah. Jehovah God used Elijah to execute his judgment upon these four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal. Later, when Jehu was addressing an assembly of the people he said to them: ‘‘Ahab served Baal.” (2 Ki. 10:18) These scriptures definitely show that Ahab was given over entirely to Devil worship.
During Ahab’s reign Jehu was an officer in his army. He was a captain and a charioteer. At the time Jehovah told Elijah that Jehu and Elisha must be anointed he also said: ‘‘Yet I have left me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which hath not kissed him.” (1 Ki. 19:18) It seems quite reasonable, therefore, that although Jehu was serving in the army of Ahab Jehu was among the seven thousand Israelites that had refused to indulge in the Devil worship of Baalism.
Ahaziah succeeded his father Ahab to the throne. He was injured by a fall and he sent messengers to inquire of Baal-zebub, meaning the Devil-god of Ekron, concerning his recovery: ‘‘And Ahaziah fell down through a lattice in his upper chamber that was in Samaria, and was sick: and he sent messengers, and said unto them, Go, inquire of Baal-zebub the god of Ekron, whether I shall recover of this disease. But the angel of the Lord said to Elijah the Tishbite, Arise, go up to meet the messengers of the king of Samaria, and say unto them, Is it not because there is not a God in Israel, that ye go to inquire of Baal-zebub the god of Ekron? Now, therefore, thus saith the Lord, Thou shalt not come down from that bed on which thou art gone up, but shalt surely die. And Elijah departed.”—2 Ki. 1:2-4.
Jehoram (or Joram) succeeded Ahaziah to the throne; and while he was not as wicked as Ahab, still Baal worship persisted in Israel during his reign. During his reign the old woman Jezebel was still alive and she continued to sponsor the Devil worship. (2 Ki. 3:1-3) Afterwards, concerning Jehu, it is written: ‘‘Thus Jehu destroyed Baal out of Israel.” (2 Ki. 10:28) At that point the Jehu picture ends. The subsequent facts recorded concerning him do not foreshadow any work done by any servant of Jehovah.
Jehu came in contact with the Prophet Elijah and lived through more than twenty-eight years of Elisha’s prophetic work. This would strongly support the conclusion that the company whom Jehu foreshadowed Jehovah began to gather and prepare for his name during the Elijah period of the work of the church and those proving faithful in that period he made a part of the ‘elect servant’ class. Jehovah takes away from Lucifer, now Satan, the rulership of the world and gives it to his beloved Son Christ Jesus, earth’s rightful Ruler. This great work he illustrated by taking away the kingdom from Saul and giving it to David the beloved, who foreshadowed Christ Jesus. (1 Sam. 15:28) Likewise in the picture in which Jehu appears, the Lord takes away the kingdom from Ahab and gives it to Jehu. The same rule applies to those who are given an opportunity for the kingdom and who prove unfaithful to Jehovah. “Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof.” (Matt. 21: 43) This would show that the remnant of God’s people are embraced within the picture of the Jehu work. Jehu therefore pictured Christ Jesus, earth’s rightful King, and all of his body members sharing in the kingdom with him, and which necessarily includes the remnant, and also his holy angels who serve him always in the kingdom.
OBJECTIONS
Because some may raise objections to the conclusion that Jehu pictured the faithful “seiwant” class of Jehovah the strongest possible objections are here considered. First, the objection is made that Jehu could not be a representative of Jehovah’s “servant” because Jehu was a charioteer and a captain in the army of Ahab and also of his successor, who were Baal worshipers, and which army is that of the ten tribes of Israel which had broken off from Judah. This objection is not well taken, for the reason that God approved David, who fought in the army of the unfaithful king Saul, not because David fought in the army, but because he was faithful to Jehovah. Practically all the members of the remnant class now on the earth were once engaged more or less in the systems of “Christendom” and then honestly believed that the rulers of the hypocritical Devil-worshiping “Christendom” constituted the “higher powers” mentioned by the apostle, and to which all are admonished to give allegiance, (Rom. 13:1-4) Of course they were wrong in that, but they were not unfaithful to God.
Another objection is raised because of Jehovah’s declaration against the house of Jehu, as uttered by his prophet, to wit: “And the Lord said unto him, Call his name Jezreel; for yet a little while, and I will avenge the blood of Jezreel upon the house of Jehu, and will cause to cease the kingdom of the house of Israel.” (Hos. 1:4) This objection cannot be consistent, for the reason that this prophecy of Hosea was pronounced about fifty years after the death of Jehu. It was pronounced against “the house of Jehu” because of the wicked course taken by his son and his grandsons who succeeded him to the throne. God’s vengeance did not come upon Jehu’s house until more than eighty years after Jehu’s death; hence Jehu did not see or experience it any more than King Solomon saw Jehovah’s vengeance come upon his house, which came years after his death.
Another objection is raised on the ground that during the rulership of Jehu worship was conducted in connection with the golden calves at Bethel and Dan: “Howbeit, from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin, Jehu departed not from after them, to wit, the golden calves that were in Bethel, and that were in Dan.” (2 Ki. 10: 29) This objection is not sound and must be overruled for the reason that Jehovah did not commission Jehu to destroy calf worship out of Israel. The golden calves set up by Jeroboam at Bethel and Dan pictured hero worship in which many of the Lord’s people ignorantly indulged and have continued to indulge until recent years because they knew no better. (See The Watchtower 1930, page 116.) The commission given by Jehovah to Jehu manifestly directed that he should destroy all the house of Ahab and Jezebel. (2 Ki. 9:5-10; 2 Chron. 22: 7, 8) That commission Jehu carried out, and after he had done so the record of his approval is given, to wit: “And the Lord said unto Jehu, Because thou hast done well in executing that which is right in mine eyes, and hast done unto the house of Ahab according to all that was in mine heart, thy children of the fourth generation shall sit on the throne of Israel.” (2 Ki. 10:30) God approved him for the faithful performance of the work he had been commissioned to do. At this point the picture of Jehu necessarily ends. The Scriptures show that God has used men in the fulfilment of his purposes even though such men were not wholly devoted to him. An example is that of Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon.
IN SUPPORT
In support of the conclusion that Jehu pictured Jehovah’s ‘elect servant’ the following is submitted: Jehu was born under the law covenant and was therefore an Israelite, in covenant relationship with Jehovah, and which facts are shown by the Scriptures and God’s dealing with him. (2 Ki. 13:1-6; 14:23-27) The fact that he was against Baal worship is further proof that he was in the favor of the Lord God.
The name “Jehu” means “Jehovah is he”. His name is emphatic in calling attention to the fact that Jehovah is he that is the Supreme One, and this is the same fact to which the “servant” class, including Jehovah’s witness the remnant, now call the attention of the people. The names of his father and grandfather are also significant. Jehu was the son of Jehoshaphat, who was the son of Nimshi. (2 Ki. 9:2,14)
ANOINTING OF JEHU Page 27
“Nimshi,” the name of his grandfather, means “extricated”, being probably derived from mashah, the primitive root word meaning to “pull out”, and being the same root word from which the name Moses is derived. “Jehoshaphat,” the name of the father of Jehu, means “Jehovah-judged, that is, vindicated”. The latter part of the name, shaphat, means “to judge or pronounce judgment or sentence either for or against, and, by implication, to govern or rule and vindicate”. This Jehoshaphat, the son of Nimshi, is not the same Jehoshaphat mentioned in 1 Kings 15: 24 as the son of Asa. These two names therefore, Nimshi and Jehoshaphat, would represent that which is taken out or pulled out and used for the vindication of Jehovah’s name.
It was Jehovah who gave order for the anointing of Jehu to be king over Israel, and therefore the anointing was by Jehovah. Ahab was never anointed by Jehovah. So far as the record discloses Jehu was the only man ever anointed by order of Jehovah to be king over Israel, the ten-tribe kingdom. The record is: “And Jehu the son of Nimshi shalt thou anoint to be king over Israel.” (1 Ki. 19:16) Acting under instructions from the Lord, Elisha directed his young man to go and perform the anointing. “And when thou comest thither, look out there Jehu, the son of Jehoshaphat, the son of Nimshi, and go in, and make him arise up from among his brethren, and carry him to an inner chamber; then take the box of oil, and pour it on his head, and say, Thus saith the Lord, I have anointed thee king over Israel. Then open the door, and flee, and tarry not. And he arose, and went into the house; and he poured the oil on his head, and said unto him, Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, I have anointed thee king over the people of the Lord, even over Israel. ’ ’—2 Ki. 9: 2, 3, 6.
Jehu was duly anointed and commissioned as the executioner of Jehovah to exterminate Baal, or Devil worship, in Israel. His divinely given commission reads: “And thou shalt smite the house of Ahab thy master, that I may avenge the blood of my servants the prophets, and the blood of all the servants of the Lord, at the hand of Jezebel. For the whole house of Ahab shall perish; and I will cut off from Ahab him that pisseth against the wall, and him that is shut up and left in Israel. And I will make the house of Ahab like the house of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, and like the house of Baasha the son of Abijah; and the dogs shall eat Jezebel in the portion of Jezreel, and there shall be none to bury her. And he opened the door, and fled.’’—2 Ki. 9:7-10.
Jehu fulfilled his commission. “And it came to pass, that, when Jehu was executing judgment upon the house of Ahab’’ (2 Chron. 22: 7, 8) ; which words prove that he was an executioner. In carrying out his commission from the Lord Jehu gained Jehovah’s “well done’’ or approval, and for that reason Jehovah made the covenant with Jehu that his sons should continue to reign on the throne. (2 Ki. 10:30) This statement is that they should reign for four generations, that is to say, a foursquare or complete succession to the throne. Jehu and his house occupied the throne of Israel for a hundred years. Jehu himself reigned twenty-eight years. (2 Ki. 10:36) Jehoahaz, his first generation, reigned for seventeen years, and during that time God favored Israel. (2 Ki. 13:4,5) Joash, or Jehoash, the grandson of Jehu, was on the throne of Israel at the death of Elisha, and he was favored by Jehovah’s prophet.—2 Ki. 13:14-23.
Jehu associated unto himself Jehonadab the son of Rechab, whose descendants, the Rechabites, won Jehovah’s favor in Jeremiah’s day. (2 Ki. 10:15,16; Jer. 35; 8,18,19) Jehu invited Jehonadab to ride in his chariot and to come with him and see his zeal for the Lord.—2 Ki. 10:16.
At Mount Carmel Elijah had slaughtered four hundred and fifty of the priests of Baal; and Jehu duplicated that slaughter work, only on a far greater scale. (1 Ki. 18:40; 2 Ki. 10:18-25) Elijah made a start at the slaughter work of Baal worship, and Jehu completed that work. (2 Ki. 10:28) Another point in his favor is that Jehu was anti-Jezebel. He had and manifested the spirit similar to that of the Lord’s approved people who have and manifest the anti-Jezebel spirit, as described in Revelation 2:20-23. He rode over Jezebel in utter contempt and trampled her to death. Jehu was a vindicator of Jehovah’s Word in this, that he fulfilled the word of Jehovah spoken by his prophet Elijah against Ahab and Jezebel. In this work he also completed that which Elijah had begun. Elijah had called down fire from heaven in the presence of the prophets of Baal and Ahab at Mount Carmel. His prayer was: “Hear me, O Lord, hear me; that this people may know that thou art the Lord God.” (1 Ki. 18: 37) That was a vindication of Jehovah’s reputation, but not sufficient to cause the reformation of Ahab and Jezebel. Baal worship continued, and the Lord God used Jehu to vindicate his Word and his name in connection with Baal worship. — 2 Ki. 9: 25-37; 10: 9-11.
These are merely abstract statements of historical facts showing that Jehu was used by Jehovah in performing the work of execution upon the representatives of. Satan, and therefore supporting the conclusion that he foreshadowed the work of executing God’s judgment upon Satan and his organization and which the Scriptures plainly show will be done by Christ Jesus and those associated with him; lienee these facts fully support the conclusion first announced as to whom Jehu foreshadowed. Other facts will be considered in the argument that follows.
ARGUMENT
Jehu was a fighting man. He was in the chariot corps and a captain in the army of Israel. Whenever Jehovah favored the army of Israel that army was victorious over the enemy, and hence the army became and was the army of the Lord of hosts; and that, being true, would make Jehu a captain in the army of the Lord of hosts. (1 Ki. 20:1-30; 2 Ki. 3:5-25; 6:24-7:16) Jehu was known and was recognized by reason of his rapid driving, because he drove "furiously”, that is, “in madness.” (2 Ki. 9:16,20, marginal reading) The fact that Jehu was associated with the war chariot of Israel seems to suggest that those who fulfil the Jehu picture must have to do and are associated with “the chariot of the cherubims” (1 Chron. 28:18) that pictures the colossal chariot of Jehovah’s organization, which the Prophet Ezekiel saw in vision and which the Ezekiel class understands to picture Jehovah’s great organization. (Ezek. 1; 10)
"The chariots of God are twenty thousand, even thousands of angels; the Lord is among them as in Sinai, in the holy place." (Ps. 68:17) "The shield of his mighty men is made red, the valiant men are in scarlet ; the chariots shall be with flaming torches in the day of his preparation, and the fir trees shall be terribly shaken. ” (Nah. 2:3) "Was the Lord displeased against the rivers? was thine anger against the rivers? was thy wrath against the sea, that thou didst ride upon thine horses and thy chariots of salvation?” (Hab. 3:8) “Who layeth the beams of his chambers in the waters; who maketh the clouds his chariots; who walketh upon the wings of the wind.”—Ps. 104: 3.
NABOTH
That Ahab and Jezebel pictured Satan and his organization is borne out by the facts. Ahab ruled over God’s covenant people, but, like Satan, he turned all his power and authority to wickedness. Jezebel, his woman, pictured the “wife” or “woman” of the Devil, hence pictured the Devil’s organization. The seed of Ahab and Jezebel, therefore, would necessarily picture or represent the ‘seed of the Serpent’. Ahab and Jezebel, like Satan and his representatives, were guilty of covetousness, hypocrisy, lying, stealing, commercial oppression, and murder, and brought great reproach upon the name of Jehovah by the practice of the Devil religion.
There was a man, a Jezreelite, whose name was Naboth and who was the owner and possessor of a vineyard situate near the place of residence of Ahab the king. “Jezreel,” the name of the town of the residence of Naboth, means "God is planter” or “God will sow”. The name is derived from the Hebrew words meaning ‘God’ and ‘seed’ and appears to refer to the “seed of God”, that is to say, to his royal house which he sows and brings forth in many fold, that is to say, the seed of God according to the promise made to Abraham. (Gen. 22:15-18; John 12:24) “Naboth” means “fruits”. “And the earth shall hear the corn, and the wine, and the oil; and they shall hear Jezrecl. And I will sow her unto me in the earth; and I will have mercy upon her that had not obtained mercy; and I will say to them which were not my people, Thou art my people; and they shall say, Thou art my God." — Hos. 2: 22, 23.
By Jehovah’s law of inheritance the vineyard had come into the possession of Naboth, who was therefore the lawful owner, and for this reason he desired to keep it. (Lev. 25:23; Num. 36:7) Ahab coveted that which Naboth possessed. He saw the garden, liked it, and wanted Naboth to turn it over to him, which Naboth refused to do. Ahab was displeased and reported the matter to his woman Jezebel. A conspiracy was formed against Naboth to obtain possession of his vineyard; and this conspiracy is exactly in line with others that the Devil has formed and carried out.
Naboth was charged with the crime of sedition and blasphemy against God. Witnesses were hired to swear falsely against him, and upon this false testimony, produced at the instance of Jezebel, Naboth was convicted and stoned to death. Then his vineyard was seized by Ahab and Jezebel on the theory that the property of a condemned criminal reverted to the state. (1 Ki. 21:1-15) Both Ahab and Jezebel were therefore guilty of covetousness. (Ex. 20:17) By hiring witnesses to swear falsely they were guilty of hypocrisy and lying. (Ex. 20:16) By conspiring to wrongfully get possession of Naboth’s vineyard they were guilty of stealing in violation of the law. (Ex. 20:15) They were also guilty of murder, which was a breaking of God’s everlasting covenant. (Ex. 20:13; Gen. 9:6) Both Ahab and Jezebel were equally responsible before God for these crimes.—Num. 30: 6, 7,10,11,14.
Satan and his organization has repeatedly acted in a similar way toward others, and this is specially true with regard to the action of Satan and his organization toward Jesus Christ and his faithful followers. Christ Jesus is the “true vine’’, and the heir of God, and the owner of the vineyard. Therefore Christ Jesus owned the vineyard by God’s law of inheritance. Jesus bore fruits unto Jehovah, even as Naboth’s name means ‘to bear fruits’; and hence Naboth foreshadowed Christ Jesus. Satan incited the Jews, and especially the clergy and other leaders, to acts of violence against Christ Jesus. This was done to gain possession of the kingdom or vineyard that is the ruling power. This was accomplished by the Jews’ falsely charging Jesus with sedition and blasphemy against God. Upon perjured testimony they convicted Jesus and crucified him, the method of killing him being an accursed thing, and hence it would represent that all of his possessions revert to the Devil’s organization pictured by Ahab and Jezebel. Like Jezebel, the clergy and leaders of the Jews were the chief movers in the commission of this crime against God’s beloved Son, the possessor of the vineyard. Jesus had related a parable in the presence of these clergy and leaders in Israel, the words of which show that he had in mind the very thing that was done against Naboth and which would be done concerning himself. Amongst other things he said:
“But when the husbandmen saw the son, they said among themselves, This is the heir: come, let us kill him, and let us seize on his inheritance. And they caught him, and cast him out of the vineyard, and slew him. When the lord therefore of the vineyard cometh, what will he do unto those husbandmen? They say unto him. He will miserably destroy those wicked men, and will let out his vineyard unto other husbandmen, which shall render him the fruits in their seasons. Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord’s doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes ? Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof.’’ — Matt. 21: 38-43.
During the World War period the governing class of ‘ ‘ Christendom ’ ’, at the instance of the clergy, seized God’s “servant” class, which class was then bearing fruit before the Lord, the fruit of the kingdom, and who had to do with the “true vine” of Jehovah’s vineyard, namely, Christ Jesus. These faithful followers of Christ were maltreated, charged with sedition and blasphemy, convicted upon unlawful testimony and imprisoned, and some of them killed, and the work in which they were engaged, to wit, the Elijah work, was killed or stopped. (Rev. 11:3-10) In order to hold the possession and occupancy of the imperial vineyard the same crowd of the Devil’s organization formed and established the League of Nations and now cause this abominable thing to “stand in the holy place”, that is to say, in the possession of that which rightfully belongs to the Lord.—Matt. 24:15.
JUDGMENT PRONOUNCED
When Ahab was taking possession of the vineyard that had been stolen from Naboth God caused Elijah to go down there and meet Ahab and tell him to his face what should come upon Ahab and Jezebel, and this Elijah did. “And thou shalt speak unto him, saying, Thus saith the Lord, Hast thou killed, and also taken possession? And thou shalt speak unto him, saying, Thus saith the Lord, In the place where dogs licked the blood of Naboth shall dogs lick thy blood, even thine. And Ahab said to Elijah, Hast thou found me, 0 mine enemy? And he answered, I have found thee; because thou hast sold thyself to work evil in the sight of the Lord. Behold, I will bring evil upon thee, and will take away thy posterity, and will cut off from Ahab him that pisseth against the wall, and him that is shut up and left in Israel, and will make thine house like the house of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, and like the house of Baasha the son of Ahijah, for the provocation wherewith thou hast provoked me to anger, and made Israel to sin. And of Jezebel also spake the Lord, saying, The dogs shall eat Jezebel by the wall of Jezreel. Him that dieth of Ahab in the city the dogs shall eat; and him that dieth in the field shall the fowls of the air eat. ’ ’—1 Ki. 21:19-24.
Doubtless Ahab and Jezebel had a regiment of the army on the spot to see that nothing should interfere with their taking over the vineyard which they had stolen after murdering Naboth. At least the facts show beyond any question that Jehu, a captain and a charioteer, was present and heard Elijah denounce Ahab. Jehu’s own words prove that fact, as appears later. (2 Ki. 9; 25, 26) It was at that time that Jehu came in contact with Elijah and heard his denunciation of Ahab and Jezebel; and this shows that the class whom Jehu pictured began to form in the time of the Elijah period of the work of the church, and the faithful ones thereof were made the “faithful and wise servant’’ class.
For some time before 1918 the Jehu picture was a much mooted question and was often considered and discussed by the Lord’s people in a desire to know what it meant. Since then God’s people have been diligently trying to ascertain the meaning thereof. God’s due time now seems to have arrived to permit his people to understand the meaning of the Jehu work. These facts further support the conclusion that Jehu, prior to the time that he was anointed, corresponded to the class pictured by Mordecai prior to the time of the selection of Esther for the place on the throne, and before Mordecai and Esther together represented the remnant of God. (Esther 2:5-7) As we are now approaching the day of the final execution of Jehovah’s vengeance upon Satan’s organization, it seems to be pleasing to the Lord to show his people the meaning of the Jehu picture and what it foreshadows; and this is further evidence that this final execution is in the very near future.
Jehu was conveniently present at Naboth’s vineyard to hear the pronouncement of God’s judgment upon Ahab and Jezebel. As Naboth had been murdered God’s declaration was that in like manner the murderers should die, and must die at the hands of the one to whom Jehovah transferred the kingdom. (1 Ki. 21:19-23) Both Elijah and Elisha knew that God had determined to transfer the kingdom from Ahab to Jehu, but Jehu did not know that fact at the time. (1 Ki. 19:16) Jehu must wait until God’s duly appointed time for the execution of his judgment in destroying Ahab and Jezebel and then he would know, and was so informed. Likewise Christ Jesus must wait for many centuries until God’s due time to send him forth for the vindication of his name. What part will the remnant have in the Jehu work?
JEHU HEARS ELIJAH DENOUNCE KING AHAB Page 35
PERIOD OF WAITING
Jehovah’s law of retribution is just and right. Like violence must be requited with like violence. ‘An eye for an eye; a life for a life.’ (Ex. 21:24; Deut. 19: 21) It was the duty of Lucifer to worship Jehovah; but instead he set up a worship for himself, and this led him to commit murder. Satan and his organization for centuries has continued to reproach Jehovah’s name and to shed innocent blood. It was the duty of Ahab to worship God; but he adopted and practiced the Devil religion, which led him to commit murder. God has declared that Satan and his organization shall be destroyed and all of his possessions transferred to Christ Jesus. God’s decree that Ahab and Jezebel and all their house should be destroyed and that the kingdom should be transferred to Jehu foreshadows transferring the possession of the earth to Christ. When Elijah was at Mount Horeb God had instructed him to anoint Jehu to the kingdom. The slaying of Ahab and Jezebel would meet the requirements of God’s law for the murder of Naboth; therefore it was doubtless because of the introduction of Baal worship into Israel that God decreed that the kingdom should be taken away from Ahab and given to Jehu. Elijah, without doubt under the direction of the Lord, withheld from Ahab the information that the kingdom should be transferred to Jehu, who then and there was present; because, had Ahab been given that knowledge, he and Jezebel would have tried to kill Jehu and probably would have done so.
More than fourteen years elapsed from the time Elijah was directed to anoint Jehu until the anointing was actually performed. Immediately thereafter Jehu went forth and drove furiously or with madness in the execution of Jehovah’s purpose against the enemy. This pictured how Jesus must wait until God’s due time for him to begin action against the enemy and how as soon as he received the order from Jehovah Jesus did proceed to the execution of that order by ousting Satan from heaven and is proceeding now to the further execution of his orders.—Ps. 110:1, 2.
Doubtless Elijah and Elisha often wondered as to when Jehovah would issue orders to proceed with the anointing of Jehu and to the execution of the work he was to do. Those of the church pictured by Elijah and Elisha have often wondered what is the meaning of the Jehu work, and when it will begin, and whether or not they will have any part in it. It is consoling to God’s people to know that Jehovah in his own good time directs his anointed people to proceed with his work. His work is done according to his will, not according to the will of man. In harmony with this it is written: “And when the seven thunders had uttered their voices, I was about to write: and I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Seal up those things which the seven thunders uttered, and write them not.’’—Rev. 10:4; see Light, Book One, pages 177, 178.
JEHU ANOINTED
In due time the day arrived for the anointing of Jehu and the Lord directed Elisha to act. Therefore Elisha sent a young man, one of the children of the prophets, to perform the work of anointing Jehu. This occurred at a time when Jehu was warring at Ramoth-gilead. This name, Ramoth-gilead, means “heights of the heap of the witness (or testimony)’’. (2 Ki. 9:1-10) This would seem to suggest that the anointing of Jehu and the beginning of his work would be at a time when God’s people were bearing testimony against Satan’s organization. The anointing of Jehu was done secretly and was unobserved even by the members of his military staff, and it was done in haste. It was Elisha who sent this young man to do the anointing. So far as the Jehu picture relates to the faithful witnesses of Jehovah on earth this shows that the anointing comes upon the Jehu class during the period of the Elisha work of the church after 1919. The facts indicate that it points to the date of September 1922, which marks the beginning of the pouring out of the seven plagues upon “Christendom”, upon both the church and the state, that is to say, upon the Devil’s organization. As Jehu’s military staff did not know what was taking place, and had to inquire, so likewise the remnant of the Jehu company on earth were having a part in the fulfilment of the prophecy, by the grace of the Lord, but they were unaware that the anointing had been poured out upon the Jehu class and that the Jehu work was being done and they were participating in it.
The anointing of Jehu was really done by Jehovah, and Elisha and the young man whom he sent were merely outward symbols of this work. (1 Ki. 19:16; 2 Ki. 9:3-6) The young man here mentioned seems to correspond very well with what Queen Esther pictured, to wit, the bringing of others into the service of Jehovah with Mordecai after Mordecai had been for some time in God’s service. Also, the one performing this work being designated “young man” suggests that it was a time when, according to the prophecy, ‘young men see visions.’ (Joel 2:28,29) All this points to the fact that the anointing and the beginning of the Jehu work would take place during the Elisha period or work of the church and during which time God raised up his “young man” for the occasion.
It further shows that God would reveal the fact of the anointing and the commission involved therein by means of unfolding and revealing the meaning of his prophecies to those devoted to him. It is well known by God’s people that he has opened up his prophecies to his people within the last few years. Also it suggests that Jehovah is using members of the Elisha class to call this matter to the attention of one another who form the class pictured by Jehu. Christ Jesus is the Head of the Jehu company. We must not, therefore, make the mistake of concluding that the young man doing the anointing would represent the remnant informing Jesus that the time had come to begin the Jehu work. On the contrary, this merely shows that the anointing was made in harmony with God’s will, and the statement of the young man to Jehu was an announcement made calling attention to what was to be done, similar to that made by the angel, as represented in Revelation 14:18. (See Light, Book One, page 340.) It is Jesus who is the Head of the Elisha company, and he gives information to the remnant concerning Jehu, his commission, and the work that is to be done. We must bear in mind that both Elisha and the young man were merely instruments in the hands of the Lord.
THE COMMISSION
A commission is a formal warrant of authority defining what shall be done by the one to whom it is directed, and grants certain powers and authority to perform the duties therein specified. It is hardly reasonable that Jehovah would anoint and commission one to do something with which the creature was not in sympathy and in harmony. The facts show that during the fourteen or more years following the death of Naboth Jehu had kept in mind the denunciation of Jehovah’s prophet Elijah against Ahab and Jezebel. When Ahab fought with the Syrians and was killed Jehu had witnessed a partial fulfilment of Jehovah’s decree against Ahab’s house, as the record shows; but that was not the end of it, by any means. (1 Ki. 22:37, 38) Jehu must have been against Baal worship; otherwise God would not have anointed and commissioned him to do the work he did. Jehu must have concluded that when God’s due time came he would take his place on the side of Jehovah and do what Jehovah commanded him. Jehovah had said to Elijah that he yet had seven thousand in Israel that had not bowed the knee to Baal, and the course taken by Jehu strongly supports the conclusion that Jehu was one of these seven thousand. This would further support the conclusion that the fulfilment of the Jehu picture includes the remnant, Jehovah’s witnesses now on earth, and who are pictured in the seven thousand. —See Revelation 11:13; Light, Book One, page 214.
The commission or warrant of authority which Jehovah gave to Jehu reads: “And thou shalt smite the house of Ahab thy master, that I may avenge the blood of my servants the prophets, and the blood of all the servants of the Lord, at the hand of Jezebel. For the whole house of Ahab shall perish; and I will cut off from Ahab him that pisseth against the wall, and him that is shut up and left in Israel. And I will make the house of Ahab like the house of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, and like the house of Baasha the son of Ahijah; and the dogs shall eat Jezebel in the portion of Jezreel, and there shall be none to bury her.”—2 Ki. 9:7-10.
Jehu’s military associates were eager to know the mission of the “young man” who had come and left so hurriedly, and they put the question to Jehu. Upon learning from him that Jehu had been anointed as the ruler in Israel these men hastened to make known the anointing of the king. The words of the prophet, which doubtless Jehu had just repeated to them, were sufficient authority for them to hail him as the king. The facts show that at the Cedar Point convention in 1922, when the eyes of the understanding of God’s people were opened to the great truths that Jehovah God had commissioned Christ Jesus to destroy Satan’s power and organization in the universe; that Christ Jesus was at the temple of Jehovah for judgment; that judgment had begun and that now there was a great witness work to be done on the earth by the anointed people of God, and that under the direction of the King at the temple, God’s people then and there raised the slogan: “Advertise the King and the kingdom.” Jehu’s military assistants blew long blasts upon their trumpets and shouted: “Jehu is king.’’ Likewise God’s anointed people in convention, on learning that the King was at the temple, shouted for joy and began immediately to take action accordingly. An organized movement for the giving of the testimony was begun, and those who understood and appreciated what must be done manifested their willingness and eagerness to do their part in this day of the Lord’s power. (Ps. 110: 3) ‘All power in heaven and in earth is given to Christ Jesus,’ and which is his commission, and includes full authority and power to destroy the Devil and his organization.— Matt. 28:18; Heb. 2:14; 2 Thess. 2: 8; 1 John 3:8; Rev. 11:17,18.
BEGINS WORK
Immediately following his anointing and the receipt of his commission Jehu took steps to execute and he did execute the same. He “conspired” with, or, literally, brought to him, others and united them with him in his movement against Joram (or Jehoram). Likewise, immediately upon learning not only of the commission to Christ Jesus but that the time had come for judgment, and that a testimony work must be given in connection therewith, God’s people banded themselves together in an organized movement to do this work.
Jehu had his plans laid and he did not want any worshiper of Baal or traitor to interfere with the carrying out of his commission. He determined, therefore, to move secretly and to surprise the enemy. This shows that it is in harmony with God’s will for his people to go about their business without calling attention to themselves. Jehu directed that no one should go forth or be permitted to escape out of the city and go and tell Joram and Jezebel concerning his movement. Jehoram (or Joram) had been in a fight with the Syrians under Hazael, who was also doing some executing work against the wicked Israelites, and Jehoram had got bruised up and had gone down to Jezreel for repairs. He was keeping close to the vineyard that his father had stolen from Naboth by killing him. It is quite likely that that was an elegant place for taking sun baths and Jehoram was indulging in that luxury that he might recuperate from his wounds. This Joram (or Jehoram) was a bad man and he is the same one of whom Elisha said: “This son of a murderer hath sent to take away mine head.” (2 Ki. 6:32) During the World War the rulers of “Christendom” got pretty well bruised up, and since then they have been keeping close to their League of Nations, basking in its sunlight and trying to recuperate, even as Joram was doing. But they will not recover.
Ahaziah was then king of Judah at Jerusalem. He was a grandson of Ahab, because Athaliah, the daughter of Ahab and Jezebel, had married Jehoram of Jerusalem, the father of Ahaziah. Ahab had a son named Jehoram (or Joram) also, and he succeeded Ahab as king of Samaria. In addition Ahab had seventy sons still living in Samaria. (2 Ki. 10:1) Of course by that time Jezebel was an old granny, but as mean as ever. Ahaziah, king of Judah, had certain princes and sons of his brethren that ministered to him. God’s decree was that all of the house of Ahab, which pictured Satan’s organization, must be cut off. Jehu started out to clean out the whole crowd.
Just at the time Jehu started on his work of executing his commission these two kings of the house of Israel and Judah, that is to say, the king of Judah at Jerusalem, who was Ahaziah, and the king of the ten tribes at Samaria who was Jehoram (or Joram), were together down at Jezrccl. Ahaziah had gone down there to visit his uncle because he was sick, and doubtless to console him while he was being patched up. (2 Chron. 22:6) Those two kings then and there present constituted the ruling factors of the entire twelve tribes of Israel, and both were unfaithful to the Lord and would walk in the way of their ancestor Ahab. Of Ahaziah, king of Judah, it is written: “Forty and two years old was Ahaziah when he began to reign; and he reigned one year in Jerusalem. His mother’s name also was Athaliah the daughter [granddaughter] of Omri. He also walked in the ways of the house of Ahab: for his mother was his counsellor to do wickedly. Wherefore he did evil in the sight of the Lord like the house of Ahab; for they were his counsellors after the death of his father to his destruction. He walked also after their counsel, and went with Jehoram the son of Ahab king of Israel to war against Hazael king of Syria at Ramoth-gilead: and the Syrians smote Joram. ’ ’—2 Chron. 22: 2-5.
These two rulers had been influenced by the wicked women Athaliah and Jezebel and had turned the house of the Lord at Jerusalem into a place of worship of Baal. “For the sons of Athaliah, that wicked woman, had broken up the house of God; and also all the dedicated things of the house of the Lord did they bestow upon Baalim.” (2 Chron. 24:7; 2 Ki. 8:26) Without doubt God had so ordained the matter that these two kings would be down at Jezreel together so that Jehu could catch them there and speedily execute his commission against them. This is proof that the Jehu company of which Christ Jesus is the Head will make a clean sweep of the ruling powers of “Christendom” and their allies who are together in a conspiracy against God’s people. And here it is interesting to note how Jehu carried out his commission.
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