PREVIEW TO JESUS IN THE MINOR PROPHETS (Hosea-Malachi)

Portions of the book for preview

Who was the Lord of Hosts?. 9

Jesus in the Minor Prophets:

In Chronological Order

· 885 BC Obadiah

· 862 BC Jonah

· 800 BC Joel

· 787 BC Amos

· 785 BC Hosea

· 750 BC Micah

· 713 BC Nahum

· 626 BC Habakkuk

· 630 BC Zephaniah

· 520 BC Haggai

· 520 BC Zechariah

· 397 BC Malachi

33 A. D.

AΩ Luke 24. 25. Then He said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken: 26. Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory? 27. And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, He expounded unto them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.

On the road to Emmaus

It had been three days since the crucifixion of Jesus of Nazareth in Jerusalem. While walking to Emmaus two of Jesus' discouraged followers discussed his words, deeds, and death on the cross.

Suddenly a Stranger appeared to them and listened to their sad story- how Jesus died, and how His body was gone.

"We trusted that He would have been the Redeemer of Israel, but He has been dead three days already, and the "women said they saw angels who said He was alive." Their lack of faith was obvious to Jesus, the Stranger, and He obviously rebuked them saying they should have known the Messiah would have suffered these things and then return to His Glory.

Then, "He expounded unto them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself."

What were those references?

The purpose of this book is to study the many references to Jesus in the Old Testament Prophets. They will be annotated AΩ

Obadiah : The Vision of
Each reference to the Lord of Hosts, Jehovah of Armies, is annotated

with the Alpha-Omega sign to draw our attention to the Lord of Lords and King of Kings, Jesus Christ, whom the prophet Zechariah in particular identified as the Lord of Hosts,[1] the Lord their God[2], the One who stretched out the Heavens[3]. He was the Smitten one, was sold for thirty pieces of silver, rode into Jerusalem on a donkey one day[4], the Governor[5] and God[6] of Israel, sold for thirty pieces of silver[7], pierced[8], and the coming King[9]-

He was Jesus of Nazareth!

The Lord will bring Edom down

AΩ 1. The vision of Obadiah. Thus saith the Lord God[10] concerning Edom; We have heard a rumour from the Lord, and an ambassador is sent among the heathen, Arise ye, and let us rise up against her in battle.

2. Behold, I have made thee small among the heathen: thou art greatly despised.

etc

The Day of the LORD in Obadiah

The Prophet Obadiah was the first to speak of the Day of the Lord. Obadiah was not only referring to a day in his lifetime when Edom would be humiliated, but a day in the then distant future when the Messiah, Adonai Jahweh, would come to earth. Around 888[11] years passed and Jesus was born in Bethlehem. Almost twenty centuries have passed since Jesus ascended into Heaven..

Luke 21 and Matthew 24 have many details of the Day of the Lord no one knew before. You might want to read those.

Jesus said in Luke 21. 28. And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh ."

Revelation 11 The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and He shall reign for ever and ever..

The Prophet Joel has a complete depiction of the Day of the Lord Jesus as follows:

· The Captivity of Israel. Although the Dispersion is not mentioned, the fact that sacrifices and feasts cease is.

· The captivity of Israel will culminate in a time of darkness and gloominess: a day when the land would be like the garden of Eden before them and like a desolate wilderness behind them. The Apostle Peter's description of the day of the Lord would remind us of a nuclear holocaust.

· Spectacular signs precede the Lord's coming according to Joel:

Earthquakes, the heavens tremble, the sun and moon are darkened, and stars withdraw their shining.

· The Lord's voice

Revelation 1 10. I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet, 11. Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest, write in a book,.

· Blessings for the Redeemed of the Lord-

Israel will be blessed of the Lord. The Northern Army (although they are not named here they are named elsewhere, Gog and Magog) will be defeated.

· It will be the time of the latter rains. This prophecy is also mentioned in Zechariah, and James 5.

· The Lord's great army Revelation 19. 13. And He was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. 14. And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. 15. And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. 16. And He hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS..

· His People Will Not Be Ashamed

First, note that He will be ashamed of some who do not believe in Him nor confess Him, Mark 8. 38. Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when He cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.

· Secondly, those who do believe and confess Him will not be ashamed anymore. Paul quotes Psalm 118 in Romans 9.33. As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. The Psalmist continued 23. This is the Lord's doing; it is marvellous in our eyes. 24. This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.

· God will dwell in their midst!

God Himself dwelled among them, when Jesus of Nazareth dwelled among them. He was Immanuel, God with us.

God Himself will dwell with them when the Lord comes back.

Revelation 21. Behold, the tabernacle of God[12] is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. 4. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

· The Holy Spirit will be poured out upon them

According to Acts this happened in the Upper Room when they prophesied or preached in other languages. This wonderful prophecy from 800 B. C. was fulfilled that day and is repeated each time we empty ourselves of sin and self and ask God to fill us with the Holy Spirit.. Then, we proclaim Jesus crucified, risen and coming again.

Glory is not to be in one who speaks in a foreign language, nor even in the Holy Spirit who glorifies Jesus, but in the Lamb of God.

· The Valley of Armageddon or Jehoshaphat

After the Great Tribulation, Israel will be surrounded by its enemies. Christ will come with His saints, and will with the Word of His mouth destroy the enemies[13], Gog and Magog, and others numbering over one hundred million . Blood will be deep as horse's bridles in the Valley of Jehoshaphat or Har (Hill) Mageddon for about two hundred miles.

· Zionism- the Regathering of Israel Joel 3.7

With the formation of the Nation of Israel in 1948, Israel has been regathering from all nations. That is not the final regathering however. When Jesus comes to separate the sheep from the goats, He will gather His people together, the saved from every tribe and nation.

· The Harvest Is Ripe Joel 3.13

Perhaps Jesus was referring to this prophecy when He said,

Matthew 13.38 but the tares are the children of the wicked one; 39. The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels. 40. As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world. 41. The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; 42. And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. 43. Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.

And- Luke 2. 2. Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest.

And- Joel 3. 14. Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision: for the day of the Lord is near in the valley of decision.

· Jerusalem will be holy Joel 3.17

Zechariah says even the bells of the horses will say "Holiness unto the Lord." John the Revelator writes "I saw the Holy City New Jerusalem coming down from God out of Heaven."[14]

· A fountain shall come from the House of the Lord

Zechariah, Daniel, and Revelation have beautiful descriptions of the River of Life coming out of the Throne of God flowing as far as Egypt.

· Judah will dwell forever Joel 3.20

The Lion of the Tribe of Judah will rule and reign forever and ever. in the Holy city, New Jerusalem. [15]

· The Lord will cleanse their blood. Could this mean that He even will cleanse DNA?

· The Lord will dwell in Jerusalem.

etc

Habakkuk

Each reference to the Lord of Hosts, Jehovah of Armies, is annotated

with the Alpha-Omega sign to draw our attention to the Lord of Lords and King of Kings, Jesus Christ, whom the prophet Zechariah in particular identified as the Lord of Hosts,[16] the Lord their God[17], the One who stretched out the Heavens[18]. He was the Smitten one, was sold for thirty pieces of silver, rode into Jerusalem on a donkey one day[19], the Governor[20] and God[21] of Israel, sold for thirty pieces of silver[22], pierced[23], and the coming King[24]-

Jesus of Nazareth Is the Lord of Hosts, Lord of Lords and King of Kings!

· Paul refers to Habakkuk in Acts 13. 35. Wherefore he saith also in another psalm, Thou shalt not suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.

36. For David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God, fell on sleep, and was laid unto his fathers, and saw corruption:

37. But He, whom God raised again, saw no corruption.

38. Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins:

39. And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.

40. Beware therefore, lest that come upon you, which is spoken of in the prophets;

41. Behold, ye despisers, and wonder, and perish: for I work a work in your days, a work which ye shall in no wise believe, though a man declare it unto you.

Habakkuk 1 1. The burden which Habakkuk the prophet did see.

2. O Lord, how long shall I cry, and thou wilt not hear! even cry out unto thee of violence, and thou wilt not save!

3. Why dost thou shew me iniquity, and cause me to behold grievance? for spoiling and violence are before me: and there are that raise up strife and contention.

4. Therefore the law is slacked, and judgment doth never go forth: for the wicked doth compass about the righteous; therefore wrong judgment proceedeth.

AΩ 5. Behold ye among the heathen, and regard, and wonder marvellously: for I will work a work in your days which ye will not believe, though it be told you.[25]

6. For, lo, I raise up the Chaldeans, that bitter and hasty nation, which shall march through the breadth of the land, to possess the dwellingplaces that are not theirs.

7. They are terrible and dreadful: their judgment and their dignity shall proceed of themselves.

8. Their horses also are swifter than the leopards, and are more fierce than the evening wolves: and their horsemen shall spread themselves, and their horsemen shall come from far; they shall fly as the eagle that hasteth to eat.

9. They shall come all for violence: their faces shall sup up as the east wind, and they shall gather the captivity as the sand.

10. And they shall scoff at the kings, and the princes shall be a scorn unto them: they shall deride every strong hold; for they shall heap dust, and take it.

11. Then shall his mind change, and he shall pass over, and offend, imputing this his power unto his god.

33 A. D.

The Lord of hosts demanded repentance[26] as did Jesus.

Luke 13. 2. And Jesus answering said unto them, Suppose ye that these Galilaeans were sinners above all the Galilaeans, because they suffered such things?

3. I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.

The Lord of hosts is Jahweh of armies in Zechariah.

Matthew 26.53

53. Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and He shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels?

Revelation 19. 14. And the armies which were in Heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.

15. And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and He shall rule them with a rod of iron: and He treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.

16. And He hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.

Zechariah 1.3. Therefore say thou unto them, Thus saith the Lord of hosts; Turn ye unto me, saith the Lord of hosts, and I will turn unto you, saith the Lord of hosts.

1 Samuel 17. 45. Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied.

Who was the Lord of Hosts?

Psalm 24. 10. Who is this King of glory? The Lord of hosts, He is the King of glory. Selah.

One[27], the Rejected One[28], the Coming King[29], God with us[30], the One who removed sin in one day[31], the Governor[32] and God[33] of Israel, sold for thirty pieces of silver[34], Pierced[35], and the coming King[36]-

He was Jesus of Nazareth!

John 5. 39. Search the Scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.

Zechariah 1 6. But my words and my statutes, which I commanded my servants the prophets, did they not take hold of your fathers? and they returned and said, Like as the Lord of hosts thought to do unto us, according to our ways, and according to our doings, so hath He dealt with us..

Jesus' Words

Matthew 24. 35. Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.

Mark 8. 38. Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when He cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.

John 5. 45. Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father: there is one that accuseth you, even Moses, in whom ye trust.

46. For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me: for he wrote of me.

47. But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words?

There is only one book in the world called Holy. Any other book is just a book. We had better be continually reading, believing, and practicing the

Holy Bible.

You can read it through once in forty years, once in a year, or once in forty days. Let us encourage one another to read the New Testament through once every month for the rest of your life, and do what it says!!

Zechariah 1. 14. So the angel that communed with me said unto me, Cry thou, saying, Thus saith the Lord of hosts; I am jealous for Jerusalem and for Zion with a great jealousy.

15. And I am very sore displeased with the heathen that are at ease: for I was but a little displeased, and they helped forward the affliction.

Is Jesus Jealous? God is[37]!

1 Corinthians 10. 21. Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord's table, and of the table of devils.

22. Do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? are we stronger than He?

Matthew 21.13. My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.

When they spoke of Abraham, Jesus said, "Before Abraham was. I AM."

When they spake of the wisdom of Solomon, Jesus said One wiser than Solomon is here.

When they spake of the Sabbath, Jesus said He was greater than the Sabbath.

Jonah was a great prophet, said Jesus, but He was greater.

If in Heaven one were to ask David, Solomon, Jonah, the Queen of Sheba of their greatness

all they will want to talk about is Jesus!

Zechariah 2.4. Jerusalem shall be inhabited as towns without walls for the multitude of men and cattle therein:

5. For I, saith the Lord, will be unto her a wall of fire round about, and will be the glory in the midst of her.

"He will never, never leave me, nor yet forsake me here,

While I live by faith and do His blessed will;

A wall of fire about me, I've nothing now to fear,

With His manna He my hungry soul shall fill.

Stanza from "The Lily of the Valley"- Author unknown

A Wall of Fire

Revelation 21. 22. And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it.

23. And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.

Daniel 7 9. I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire.

10. A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened..

Revelation 1. 14. His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire;

15. And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters.

16. And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength.

17. And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last:

18. I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.

Jerusalem-

He that toucheth you,

toucheth the apple of His eye.

Zechariah 2.8.

Luke 19 41. And when He was come near, He beheld the city, and wept over it,.

Zechariah 2.8. For thus saith the Lord of hosts; After the glory hath he sent me unto the nations which spoiled you: for he that toucheth you toucheth the apple[38] of his eye.

Matthew 23 37. O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!

Jesus proved His love for Jerusalem when He said, "Father, forgive them for they know not what they do!"[39]

"I will see you again." [40]

Someday Jerusalem will be surrounded and Jesus, the Returning Messiah, will

defend it with nuclear-explosion like fire from Heaven![41]

Jerusalem is the apple of His eye!

Zechariah 2. 10. Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion: for, lo, I come, and I will dwell in the midst of thee, saith the Lord.

The Gathering of the Kingdom

Matthew 24.30. And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in Heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of Heaven with power and great glory.

31. And He shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other

Matthew 8.11. And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven. 12. But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Zechariah 2.11. And many nations shall be joined to the Lord in that day, and shall be my people: and I will dwell in the midst of thee, and thou shalt know that the Lord of hosts hath sent me unto thee.

Revelation 7. 17. For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.

John 17. 9. I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine.

10. And all mine are thine, and thine are mine; and I am glorified in them.

11. And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are.

John 142. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.

3. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

John 16.. I will see you again

Zechariah 2. 12. And the Lord shall inherit Judah his portion in the holy land, and shall choose Jerusalem again.

13. Be silent, O all flesh, before the Lord: for he is raised up out of his holy habitation.

The Lion Out of the Tribe of Judah[42]

Matthew 2. 5. And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet,

6. And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel.

Hebrews 7. 14. For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Juda; of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood.

Hebrews 8. 8. Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah:

Hebrews 8. 12. For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.

Revelation 21. 2. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.

3. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.

[11] Eight is the number for a new beginning in Scripture. Ex. Eight is the New Sabbath.

[26] Please see the Appendix for an article on Repentance.