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It took me months to do the study. One hard part of reading the Bible cover to cover is that it is not in chronological order. 1 & 2 Samuel, Kings and Chronicles cover the same time periods. Before I did the study I thought Israel kept doing the same things over and over. They did to a certain degree, but the whole Old Testament fits together like a glove.

I read the International Inductive Study Bible (New American Standard Version) because it has the timelines in it that help put it all together. Who was ruling, who the prophets were, when they lived. I use the NASV because it is the closest to the original in translation but not as discordant as Young’s (which I do use for reference) and it also gives other definitions along the side.

Lamentations was written after they were invaded by the Babylonians (was in the land we now call Iraq). God’s working of history through governments is not the same as with the individual because we are judged eternally individually but a nation is not eternal.

I wrote the study out as a warning against abortion, not as a simple study of judgment against nations, but I really should do that. Having a little time this weekend I will try. I haven’t been able to write a paper since my son went to Afghanistan 2 years ago. Get all the info but can’t put it together. Maybe taking one apart will be easier.

One thing I learned about God’s view of justice is really hard to grasp and explain. It has to do with corporate sin. If a group of people murder a prophet at one point and then many years later another generation of those people murder the next prophet, God’s vengeance against even a third group who have murdered their prophet will not be satisfied until the Messiah returns or comes (depending on your point of view). The verse that explains this is in Revelation 18:24. (I always read things in context, sometimes a couple of chapters)

21 Then a strong angel took up a stone like a great millstone and threw it into the sea, saying, “So will Babylon, the great city, be thrown down with violence, and will not be found any longer. 22 And the sound of harpists and musicians and flute-players and trumpeters will not be heard in you any longer; and no craftsman of any craft will be found in you any longer; and the sound of a mill will not be heard in you any longer; 23 and the light of a lamp will not shine in you any longer; and the voice of the bridegroom and bride will not be heard in you any longer; for your merchants were the great men of the earth, because all the nations were deceived by your sorcery. 24 And in her was found the blood of prophets and of saints and of all who have been slain on the earth.”

This last verse, #24, is one major example of how God views time and sin and how He will avenge the deaths of prophets, saints and those murdered. The reason this is applicable is because in time/history those who commit those murders and have NOT repented are part of the corporation of sinners who follow Satan.

Those who stand before the throne and ask God how long it will be before their deaths are avenged know that God’s final outpouring of wrath against Babylon of Revelation will bring about an end to the murder of the Children of God. Which is why we go to court most of the time, so an evil act is not ever done again.

I will work on what I call the Manasseh Judgment and post it for you. God’s judgment for child sacrifice could be delayed, also, but not for long.