Biblical Prophets - Bible Study Online
If you have been following along, you will know that the Jehoram we have been writing about up to this point, is the youngest son of Ahab. He took the throne after his father and older brother Ahaziah had passed away. Now remember that this family ruled the Northern Kingdom (Israel), which consisted of the ten tribes that God took away from the house of David (Southern Kingdom - Judah). Now in the fifth year of Jehoram's reign (Northern Kingdom - Israel), we find that within the Southern Kingdom (Judah) king Jehoshaphat had died. His older son has now taken the throne and he also goes by the name of Jehoram as well. So stay with me and please understand that there are now two Jehoram's, one is in the Northern Kingdom (Israel) and the other is in the Southern Kingdom (Judah). This page is dealing with the one that's in the Southern Kingdom (Judah), which is the oldest son of Jehoshaphat. But wait... it gets more interesting? This Jehoram who ruled Judah, decided to marry Athaliah who was the daughter of Ahab & Jezebel. Did you catch that? Athaliah was the daughter of Ahab & Jezebel, which means that she belonged to the family dynasty that ruled the Northern Kingdom (Israel) and served under the false god of Baal and practice the Calf Religion. But now she has married into the Southern Kingdom (Judah), causing the two very different family dynasties to be united through marriage. Now these are very important details that I'm trying to point out to you. For you must understand that the Northern Kingdom (Israel) was into worshiping Baal and the Calf Religion. But the Southern Kingdom (Judah) was staying loyal to the one true God and did not participate in Idol worship. But here we find that Jehoram had fallen under his wife influence and started following in the steps of the house of Ahab. He went against everything that the house of David stood for and did evil in the eyes of the Lord. Going against his family to please his wife would bring disaster to the kingdom of Judah? We would also find that after Jehoram became king he had all six of his younger brothers killed. Azariah, Jehiel, Zechariah, Azariahu, Michael, and Shephatiah were all put down by the sword. The reason why Jehoram would do such a barbaric deed is not revealed in the sacred writings. But seeing that he was going against everything that his royal family stood for, killing off anything that would pose a threat to his crown would seem wise to a corrupt soul like Jehoram. These events sent shock waves throughout the kingdom of Judah. We find that Edom would break away and begin their rebellion against the house of David. Jehoram would go and try to break the rebellion by taking his officers and all the chariots he could gather. But the Edomites would hold strong and they surrounded the wicked king and his army, but somehow Jehoram would escape. Libnah which is a city that was located inside of the Southern Kingdom (Judah) had also revolted. They refused to following under Jehoram and his false gods. So they declared themselves a free state and set up their own king. But Jehoram continued to ignore the signs that his kingdom was falling apart, and he continued to lead Judah astray. He set up high places and caused Jerusalem to commit fornication and whoredom. He also had the people eating foods that were being sacrificed unto his idol gods. Now we find that Elijah had reached out from eternity to deliver a message to Jehoram. Reached out from eternity? Okay, I'll try to explain? Remember that Jehoram was Jehoshaphat's oldest son. Now when Jehoshaphat had taken the throne Elijah was the master prophet at the time. We can only assume that Jehoram was already born being that he was Jehoshaphat's oldest. After all he was thirty two when he inherited the throne. God probably revealed to Elijah the type of king that Jehoram would turn out to be while he was giving the prophet the three phase judgment plan that he had planned for Israel. So we can only assume that God had revealed to Elijah that he would not be alive when Jehoram took the throne and had him to write a letter of warning that would be delivered to the wicked king at a particular time. I know we have a lot of assumptions. But when you're dealing with God, His reasons for His actions far surpass the understanding that any man could possibly have. You have also murdered your own brothers, members of your father's house, men who were better than you. So now the Lord is about to strike your people, your sons, your wives and everything that is yours, with a heavy blow. You yourself will be very ill with a lingering disease of the bowels, until the disease causes your bowels to come out." (2 Chronicles 21: 12-15) So God created intense tension between Judah and the Philistines along with the Arabs who lived near the Cushites. The Philistines and the Arabs attacked Judah and carried off all the goods that were in the king's palace. They stripped Jehoram of all his comforts; they also took his wives and killed all his sons except one in the invasion. The one son that they left him was his youngest one Ahaziah. But God was not done; He also afflicted Jehoram with an incurable disease that affected his bowels. Over the course of time we will find that the disease had eaten away at his bowels so much so, that they eventually fell out and the wicked king died while suffering in great pain. There were no regrets and no honor given to him. He was buried in the city of David, but he was kept out of the tombs of the kings. He reigned for eight years. Start at the Beginning: Elijah the Fire Prophet 13) Elijah and the Chariot of Fire 15) Elisha - She Bears Attacking 17) The Blood Water 19) Shunammite's Son Raised From The Dead 20) Elisha and the Pot of Death 24) The Siege of the Dark Famine 26) The Shunammite's Divine Provision 27) Hazael Anointed Syrian King 28) <-CURRENT PAGE-> 29) Jehu Is Anointed King of Israel 30) The Demise of Jehoram & Ahaziah 
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