The primary text for this phase of God’s Strategic Plan for His True Church is 2 Chronicles 32, where Sennacherib threatens Jerusalem. However, more specific information regarding the lead-up to this event and the timings can be gleaned from 2 Kings 17-19, so many of my scriptural references will come from there.
Step 9) The TRUE (Philadelphian) Church will witness, before the year 2027, the annihilation of the FALSE (Laodicean) Church, most likely through the latter’s absorption into a common world-wide religion
2 Kings 18:9-12 — 9 In King Hezekiah’s fourth year, which was the seventh year of Hoshea son of Elah king of Israel, Shalmaneser king of Assyria marched against Samaria and laid siege to it. 10 At the end of three years the Assyrians took it. So Samaria was captured in Hezekiah’s sixth year, which was the ninth year of Hoshea king of Israel. 11 The king of Assyria deported Israel to Assyria and settled them in Halah, in Gozan on the River Habor and in towns of the Medes. 12 This happened because they had not obeyed the Lord their God, but had violated his covenant – all that Moses the servant of the Lord commanded. They neither listened to the commands nor carried them out.
2 Kings 17:24-34 — 24 And the king of Assyria brought men from Babylon, and from Cuthah, and from Ava, and from Hamath, and from Sepharvaim, and placed them in the cities of Samaria instead of the children of Israel: and they possessed Samaria, and dwelt in the cities thereof. 29 Howbeit every nation made gods of their own, and put them in the houses of the high places which the Samaritans had made, every nation in their cities wherein they dwelt. 30 And the men of Babylon made Succoth-benoth, and the men of Cuth made Nergal, and the men of Hamath made Ashima, 31 and the Avites made Nibhaz and Tartak, and the Sepharvites burnt their children in fire to Adrammelech and Anammelech, the gods of Sepharvaim. 32 So they feared the Lord, and made unto themselves of the lowest of them priests of the high places, which sacrificed for them in the houses of the high places. 33 They feared the Lord, and served their own gods, after the manner of the nations whom they carried away from thence. 34 Unto this day they do after the former manners: they fear not the Lord, neither do they after their statutes, or after their ordinances, or after the law and commandment which the Lord commanded the children of Jacob, whom he named Israel.
As I have studied King Hezekiah, I have come to see Him as representing KING JESUS heading up His TRUE Philadelphian Church, whilst Samaria and the apostate kings of the northern tribes of Israel symbolise the FALSE Laodicean Church. (Please read Revelation 3:7-22 for further insight into my use of these labels.)
In the above scriptures, we see that early on in Hezekiah’s reign he witnessed the annihilation of the northern tribes of Israel at the hands of the Assyrians. Part of the Assyrian strategy was to encourage multi-faith worship as a means of breaking down national pride and to neutralise any power the God of the Israelites might have over His people. In the case of the apostate northern tribes, this was very easily done as they had already lost touch with the God of Abraham, with His Word and with His ways as made known to Moses.
Prior to 2020, we had already seen many Christian denominations either giving way to or dividing over issues such as gay marriage and the appointment of homosexuals to leadership roles within the Church. Most of us have stayed silent on issues such as abortion and euthanasia. It is my sense that, following the Day of Atonement, as the world develops unbiblical and ungodly strategies to address Covid-19 and other threats to the planet and the economy, the Body of Christ will face increasing pressure to compromise regarding our commitment to Christ in order to submit to the ‘world’s’ response to these crises. This pressure will eventually lead to a clear division being made between the FALSE church, which will easily submit to this pressure, and the TRUE Church, who will resist and stand up to these threats and remain faithful to her Lord. Unfettered from the traditional, Bible-believing church, the FALSE / Laodicean Church will become quickly and easily secularised and prone to absorption into a new religion promoted by the anti-christ and his human agents.
Step 10) The TRUE Church will gradually realise that only a stalwart trust in their covenant relationship with King Jesus (which was re-established and strengthened in Phase One) can save them from the same annihilation experienced by the FALSE Church. This will cause them to making the necessary adjustments and preparations , as individuals and as congregations, to ensure that they are equipped and prepared to stand up to the enemy and to identify and listen to TRUE prophets who only speak what is consistent with Bible prophecy.
2 Kings 18:13-17; 7 — 13 Now in the fourteenth year of king Hezekiah did Sennacherib king of Assyria come up against all the fenced cities of Judah, and took them. 14 And Hezekiah king of Judah sent to the king of Assyria to Lachish, saying, I have offended; return from me: that which thou puttest on me will I bear. And the king of Assyria appointed unto Hezekiah king of Judah three hundred talents of silver and thirty talents of gold. 15 And Hezekiah gave him all the silver that was found in the house of the Lord, and in the treasures of the king’s house. 16 At that time did Hezekiah cut off the gold from the doors of the temple of the Lord, and from the pillars which Hezekiah king of Judah had overlaid, and gave it to the king of Assyria. 17 And the king of Assyria sent Tartan and Rabsaris and Rab-shakeh from Lachish to king Hezekiah with a great host against Jerusalem. And they went up and came to Jerusalem. 7 [But later, Hezekiah] rebelled against the king of Assyria and did not serve him.
2 Chronicles 32:1-8—1 After these things, and the establishment thereof, Sennacherib king of Assyria came, and entered into Judah, and encamped against the fenced cities, and thought to win them for himself. 2 And when Hezekiah saw that Sennacherib was come, and that he was purposed to fight against Jerusalem, 3 he took counsel with his princes and his mighty men to stop the waters of the fountains which were without the city: and they did help him. 4 So there was gathered much people together, who stopped all the fountains, and the brook that ran through the midst of the land, saying, Why should the kings of Assyria come, and find much water? 5 Also he strengthened himself, and built up all the wall that was broken, and raised it up to the towers, and another wall without, and repaired Millo in the city of David, and made darts and shields in abundance. 6 And he set captains of war over the people, and gathered them together to him in the street of the gate of the city, and spake comfortably to them, saying, 7 Be strong and courageous, be not afraid nor dismayed for the king of Assyria, nor for all the multitude that is with him: for there be more with us than with him: 8 with him is an arm of flesh; but with us is the Lord our God to help us, and to fight our battles. And the people rested themselves upon the words of Hezekiah king of Judah.
As the pressure to turn its back on the Ways of God and the Lordship of Christ increases, the TRUE Church will, like Hezekiah, be tempted at first to give into the demands of the ‘world’ and its attempts to neutralise and secularise the Body of Christ. As time goes on, however, it will become apparent that this approach will not assuage an enemy who is intent on the Church’s complete annihilation. It will become obvious that the Church has only one option and that is to “rebel against the [enemy] and not serve him” (2 Kings 18:7).
There were two key differences between the approach of the northern apostate tribes (i.e. the FALSE Church) and King Hezekiah (i.e. the TRUE Church) which I feel are very relevant today.
- The northern tribes did not prepare for what was coming and so were easily conquered (Ezekiel 13:4-5; Amos 4:3). Hezekiah, however, saw danger coming and made appropriate modifications to his structures, supply chain, defences and military forces (2 Chronicles 32:2-6).
- Israel listened to FALSE prophets whilst Hezekiah listened to TRUE prophets. Before God judged Israel through the Assyrians, He sent them many true prophets (such as Elijah, Elisha, Amos and Hosea) who pleaded with the apostate tribes to repent of their idolatry and to turn back to the one true God (2 Kings 17:13-15, 22-23). Israel chose instead to threaten and kill the true prophets, whilst listening to the false prophets who would say whatever the King wanted them to say (1 Kings 18:4; 19:1-2; 22:1-29; Nehemiah 9:26, 29-30). Hezekiah, on the other hand, was in constant communication with Isaiah and heeded his warnings as well as those of the prophet Micah (Jeremiah 26:17-19)
The approach that Hezekiah takes to prepare His people for the coming Assyrian invasion can therefore serve as a guide to individuals and elders of the TRUE Church as they seek to realign themselves with King Jesus and the Ways of the Father in anticipation of a fast approaching attack by the anti-christ.
NOW is the time to be preparing for the coming season by restructuring how things are done in a way that anticipates a day when the Church will be driven underground, preparing ourselves for the battle ahead by ensuring we are grounded in THE WORD, which is Christ, and knowledgeable in how to stand on that WORD in prayer. All of us must allow Holy Spirit to challenge every single doctrinal position we hold to ensure that it is obedient to Christ and in line with the true nature of God. The TRUE Church must remove anything that has become an idol in either their personal lives or in their fellowships. Divisions and competitiveness within churches and between churches must be eradicated and sacrificial love amongst Christians must be established. The TRUE Church must “Come out of Babylon” and commit their financial resources to the Kingdom of God. The TRUE Church must be secure in their Identity as Sons of God in Christ and have a full grasp of their covenant with God. The TRUE Church must know how to pray effective and faith-filled prayers.
The TRUE Church must also be identifying, acknowledging and listening to TRUE prophets whose words are consistent with the ENTIRE WORD of God and who are not just rattling off soothing platitudes that itching ears want to hear.
Most importantly, the TRUE Church must be utterly and completely filled with Power of the Holy Spirit and the Glory of Jesus Christ as a sign to all peoples, kingdoms and nations.
Step 11) The TRUE Church will face unparalleled intimidation and threats of destruction if it does not surrender to the same governmental, economic and societal forces that overcome the false church (see 2 Kings 18:19-36). The TRUE Church will rise above these attacks only as it rebels against these forces and chooses to trust KING JESUS for protection and deliverance
The ‘world’ will threaten the Church with both lack and death
31 … for thus saith the king of Assyria, Make an agreement with me by a present, and come out to me… 32 … that ye may live, and not die:
2) The ‘world’ will tempt the leaders and the flock to question their trust in KING JESUS’ desire and ability to save them
19 And Rab-shakeh said unto them, Speak ye now to Hezekiah, Thus saith the great king, the king of Assyria, What confidence is this wherein thou trustest? 20 Thou sayest, (but they are but vain words,) I have counsel and strength for the war. Now on whom dost thou trust, that thou rebellest against me?22 But if ye say unto me, We trust in the Lord our God: is not that he, whose high places and whose altars Hezekiah hath taken away, and hath said to Judah and Jerusalem, Ye shall worship before this altar in Jerusalem? 28 Then Rab-shakeh stood and cried with a loud voice in the Jews’ language, and spake, saying, Hear the word of the great king, the king of Assyria: 29 Thus saith the king, Let not Hezekiah deceive you: for he shall not be able to deliver you out of his hand: 30 neither let Hezekiah make you trust in the Lord, saying, The Lord will surely deliver us, and this city shall not be delivered into the hand of the king of Assyria.
3) The ‘world’ will speak through people who will claim to be acting on behalf of God
25 Am I now come up without the Lord against this place to destroy it? The Lord said to me, Go up against this land, and destroy it.
4) The ‘world’ will aim its threats and attacks primarily at the flock
26 Then said Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, and Shebna, and Joah, unto Rab-shakeh, Speak, I pray thee, to thy servants in the Syrian language; for we understand it: and talk notwith us in the Jews’ language in the ears of the people that are on the wall. 27 But Rab- shakeh said unto them, Hath my master sent me to thy master, and to thee, to speak these words? hath he not sent me to the men which sit on the wall, that they may eat their own dung, and drink their own piss with you?
5) The ‘world’ will claim to offer a better deal than KING JESUS
23 Now therefore, I pray thee, give pledges to my lord the king of Assyria, and I will deliver thee two thousand horses, if thou be able on thy part to set riders upon them. 24 How then wilt thou turn away the face of one captain of the least of my master’s ser- vants, and put thy trust on Egypt for chariots and for horsemen?31 Hearken not to Hezekiah: for thus saith the king of Assyria, Make an agreement with me by a present, and come out to me, and then eat ye every man of his own vine, and every one of his fig tree, and drink ye every one the waters of his cistern: 32 until I come and take you away to a land like your own land, a land of corn and wine, a land of bread and vineyards, a land of oil olive and of honey, that ye may live, and not die:
6) The ‘world’ will point to the annihilated or secularized false church and other religions which have agreed to come together as a one-world religion as examples of why the TRUE Church must also submit to the ‘world’s’ domination and control
32 … and hearken not unto Hezekiah, when he persuadeth you, saying, The Lord will deliver us. 33 Hath any of the gods of the nations delivered at all his land out of the hand of the king of Assyria? 34 Where are the gods of Hamath, and of Arpad? Where are the gods of Sepharvaim, Hena, and Ivah? have they delivered Samaria out of mine hand? 35 Who are they among all the gods of the countries, that have delivered their country out of mine hand, that the Lord should deliver Jerusalem out of mine hand?
We see that both Hezekiah and Jerusalem’s inhabitants were able to successfully withstand these attacks and taunts and rise up above their enemy because they had been well taught and prepared throughout the King’s reign BEFORE Sennacherib’s arrival.
- The Temple and the Levitical priesthood had been reconsecrated and re-established and were operating in the manner commanded by God (2 Chronicles 29).
- The Levites had returned to worshipping the Lord in the way prescribed by the Lord through His Prophets and using the words Of David and Asaph found in the Psalms (2 Chronicles 29).
- The KING had re-established the covenant between Himself and His people with God, thereby ensuring that God’s fierce anger would turn away from the people and ensuring that nothing was enduring God’s blessings from being poured out upon the people. (2 Chronicles 29)
- The people of Judah and a remnant from the northern kingdom had turned back to the LORD and were celebrating all of His festivals as made known to Moses (2 Chronicles 30 and Leviticus 23).
- The people had returned to celebrating the Passover and acknowledging the power of the Blood to atone for them, to protect them, to heal them and to unite them. (2 Chronicles 30)
- Unity and love amongst the brethren was restored and they acted with “one heart” (2 Chronicles 30).
- Hezekiah and his people had cleared the land of any vestiges of idol worship, even including the brazen snake of Moses (2 Kings 18:4 and 2 Chronicles 31:1).
- The tithes, offerings and firstfruits were being brought to the Temple as prescribed in the Law of Moses, meaning that there was now food in God’s house and so much blessing was being poured out on the land that there was not enough room for it! (see Malachi 3:10 and 2 Chronicles 31)
- Both King Hezekiah and the people of Jerusalem “trusted in the LORD, the God of Israel. [They] held fast to the Lord and did not stop following him; [they] kept the commands the Lord had given Moses (2 Kings 18:5,6).
- In other words, they became acquainted with the WORD of God, with His Covenant and with His Promises (Proverbs 25:1).
- This steadfast confidence in God, in God’s Word and in God’s covenant promises led Hezekiah,when faced with certain annihilation, to call out to the Lord Himself through heartfelt and humble prayer rather than bowing down to his enemy’s threats and demands (see 2 Chronicles 30:27: and 32:20-21 and 24).
Like king Hezekiah, King Jesus knows that the only way to protect His TRUE Church from the coming attack from the enemy is through revival. During this brief period leading up to the Great Tribulation and eventually, His Second Coming, KING Jesus is therefore “sounding the trumpet” and calling each of us into a deeper level of consecration, purification, intimacy, worship, understanding of the Word, baptism in the Holy Spirit, unity, sacrificial giving and active participation in expanding the Kingdom. All those who respond to this call will find themselves under the shadow of the Father’s wings where they will experience God’s protection and deliverance from EVERY enemy in the days ahead. The time is now, the trumpet has sounded and the season is short before the enemy will arrive outside the camp. Will we heed the call of the KING while we have time?
Step 9) God delivers Jerusalem and it’s people from destruction at the hand of the Enemy as a result of their faithful obedience to everything the KING commanded them to do.
2 Chronicles 32:1-21 — 1 After all that Hezekiah had so faithfully done, Sennacherib king of Assyria came and invaded Judah. He laid siege to the fortified cities, thinking to conquer them for himself. 20 King Hezekiah and the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz cried out in prayer to heaven about this. 21 And the Lord sent an angel, who annihilated all the fighting men and the commanders and officers in the camp of the Assyrian king. So he withdrew to his own land in disgrace. And when he went into the temple of his god, some of his sons, his own flesh and blood, cut him down with the sword.
Because Hezekiah and his people had diligently returned to God’s Ways, they knew they were keeping up their side of their covenant with God and that they could therefore count on God to keep up His.
“[The KING] …encouraged [His people] with these words: ‘Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or discouraged because of the king of Assyria and the vast army with him, for there is a greater power with us than with him. With him is only the arm of flesh, but with us is the Lord our God to help us and to fight our battles.’ And the people gained confidence from what [the KING] said. (2 Chronicles 32:6-8)
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