September 1, 2022

One of the important ways that God teaches us prophecy is through ‘pre-enactments’ contained within Bible stories. The singularly sordid story of Athaliah, daughter of the wicked Jezebel, is meant to get our attention with its parallels to current and future events. She was the ruthless queen-mother in Judah. And when her son King Ahaziah died, she sprang into action to eliminate all of the royal heirs to the throne (namely her own grandsons!) so she could occupy the throne herself.

But Jehosheba . . . sister of Ahaziah took Joash the son of Ahaziah, and stole him away from the sons who were being murdered; and they hid him and his nurse . . . from Athaliah so that he was not killed. So he was hidden with her in the house of the LORD for six years while Athaliah reigned over the land. 2 Kings 11:2-3

During these six years, only a very few trusted people knew that the royal child was alive and hidden in the temple of God. The high priest, Jehoiada, loved Joash and trained him as his own child, while praying for the ideal time to present this rightful heir to the people. In the seventh year, Jehoiada brought in captains of hundreds—of the bodyguards and escorts (v.4) and solidified a plan to present seven-year-old Joash the following Sabbath, a Friday evening as the people would be gathered for worship. Initially, the people were surely very stunned and astonished. But the shock gave way to a loud expression of tremendous joy as the crown was placed on his little head!

And [Jehoiada] brought out the king’s son, put the crown on him, and gave him the Testimony; They made him king and anointed him, and they clapped their hands and said, “Long live the king!” (v.12)

The six years that little Joash lived in the temple while Athaliah reigned over the land is a picture of day one through day six of the millennial week*, agreed upon by numerous Bible scholars as the six-thousand-year period of earth’s history under the reign of Satan. The climax of the millennial week is the Sabbath when Jesus comes to take His own to heaven (John 14:1-3), leaving Satan on earth with no one alive to tempt (see Revelation 20:2).

The rightful heir to the throne is the Son of the LORD God Almighty who now resides in the heavenly temple of the LORD. His Spirit also resides and reigns in the hearts of His people who eagerly await His coming, enduring with patience the trials, tests, tribulations, and injustices of this fallen world under Satan’s rule. Beloved, King Jesus is soon to emerge publicly as the rightful Heir! GLORY!!

Let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. James 1:4

Here is the patience of the saints; here are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. Revelation 14:12

*see Psalm 90:4 & 2 Peter 3:8