KATHLEEN ANN D.

RUBIO
BSN-IV
Amos
His name means "bearer of burdens".
Amos, a Prophet of GOD's Righteous Demands
prophet Amos lived c. 750 BC
a shepherd from Tekoa, a town in Judea between Bethlehem and Hebron.
one of the twelve minor prophets
He was a man of humble birth, neither a "prophet nor a prophet's son," but "an
herdman and a dresser of sycomore trees
He began to prophesy two years before the earthquake, which some say took place
in the twenty-fifth year of the reign of Ozias, King of Judah, about the year 785 BC
His major themes of social justice, God's omnipotence, and divine judgment became
staples of prophecy.
Amos was a prophet of the southern kingdom of Judah with a prophetic message
that moreover included the northern kingdom of Israel.
He was active during the reigns of King Uzziah of Judah and King Jeroboam II of
Israel, around the same time as the prophets Isaiah and Hosea.
Amos was sent by God to warn them to repent before it was too late. They didn't
listen.
Amasias, the false priest of Bethel, brought about his death
Hosea
The prophets name means salvation, likely a reference to Hoseas position in
Israel as a beacon of hope to those who would repent and turn to God because of his
message.
the son of Beeri, meaning my well.
Hosea was a young preacher in the nation of Israel, the northern kingdom
he was a contemporary of the prophets Isaiah and Amos.
He began his prophetic ministry before the death of Jeroboam II.
He might have preached for 30-40 years.
Hosea identifies that enemy as Assyria
Hosea married Gomer, a bride God described as a wife of harlotry (Hosea 1:2)
God named the son, Jezreel. It means, God sows, but it represents the place where
much blood had been shed. Jezebel had Naboth murdered in Jezreel. Jehu slew
Joram and brought an end to the Omri dynasty in Jezreel. The Valley of Jezreel was
synonymous with bloodshed.
God used the names of Hoseas children, along with his wifes unfaithfulness, to send
specific messages to the people of Israel.
Micah
Micah its meaning in HebrewWho is like God?
his hometown, called Moresheth Gath, which sat near the border of Philistia and
Judah about twenty-five miles southwest of Jerusalem.
Micah lived outside the governmental centers of power in his nation, leading to his
strong concern for the lowly and less fortunate of societythe lame, the outcasts,
and the afflicted (Micah 4:6).
Micah directed much of his prophecy toward the powerful leaders of Samaria and
Jerusalem, the capital cities of Israel and Judah, respectively (1:1)
Micah provides one of the most significant prophecies of Jesus Christs birth in all
the Old Testament, pointing some seven hundred years before Christs birth to His
birthplace of Bethlehem and to His eternal nature (Micah 5:2).

Isaiah
the meaning of Isaiahs name salvation of Yahweh
Isaiah prophesied from roughly 740-700BCE.
He was married to a prophetess who bore him at least two sons (Isaiah 7:3; 8:3).
He prophesied under the reign of four Judean kingsUzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and
Hezekiah (1:1)
he likely met his death under a fifth, the evil King Manasseh.
Isaiah provides us with the most comprehensive prophetic picture of Jesus Christ in
the entire Old Testament. It includes the full scope of His life: the announcement of
His coming (Isaiah 40:35), His virgin birth (7:14), His proclamation of the good
news (61:1), His sacrificial death (52:1353:12), and His return to claim His own
(60:23).
Jeremiah
means, "the Lord founds," "the Lord exalts," or "the Lord throws down."
The son of a priest from the small town of Anathoth in Judah
the prophet Jeremiah dictated prophecies from the Lord to his secretary, Baruch.
His father was the priest, Hilkiah, but there is no evidence that Jeremiah was ever a
priest.
Jeremiah never married because God commanded him not to.
Jeremiah was nearly twenty years old when he began to prophesy and he continued
in that office for the rest of his adult life, some forty years or more
Jeremiahs prophecies reveal a substantial amount of emotional depthoften
sorrow over the plight of Gods people or his own troubles (Jeremiah 12:1
4; 15:10).
Jeremiah's ministry was a failure because he lived a very conflicted life and no one
listened to him. But others are quick to point out that it is because of Jeremiah that
people were able to see through the judgment of the exile and disintegration of their
nation to the promise of hope and restoration that lay ahead.
Ezekiel

The name Ezekiel means God strengthens.
Ezekiel prophesied from roughly 993-971BCE.
Ezekiel lived among the Jewish exiles in Babylon at a settlement along the river
Chebar called Tel-abib (Ezekiel 3:15), less than one hundred miles south of Babylon
Ezekiel was a priest and was probably the son of a priest, so he would have been
well versed in the religious traditions and regulations.
He was one of those who had been taken to Babylon in the deportation of 597BCE.
He experienced his prophetic call through a vision of God.
The number four (as in four living creatures, four wings, four faces) has special
significance for Ezekiel in that it suggests the idea of completeness.
The climax of his call vision was to see the glory of God (perhaps a brightness, cloud,
or fire suggesting his presence).

Who were considered prophets of hope?
Amos, Hosea, Micah, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel

Why were they called us such?
Amos was considered prophet of hope because even though nations will be punished for
specific offenses that they have committed against Israel or some other nation. Israel and
Judah, however, will be punished for having broken their covenant with GOD. Amos
forecasts the restoration of Israel (9:11-15).
Hosea was considered prophet of hope because at the last part of Hosea it shows how Gods
love once again restores His children as He forgets their misdeeds when they turn back to
Him with a repentant heart.
Micah was considered a prophet of hope because the book of Micah concludes with the
prophets call on the Lord as his only source of salvation and mercy (7:7), pointing the
people toward an everlasting hope in their everlasting God.
Isaiah was considered prophetsof hope because the book stands as a testament of hope in
the Lord, the One who saves His people from themselves.
Jeremiah was considered a prophet of hope because the book of Jeremiah also provides us
the clearest glimpse of the new covenant God intended to make with His people once Christ
came to earth. This new covenant would be the means of restoration for Gods people, as
He would put His law within them, writing it on hearts of flesh rather than on tablets of
stone. Rather than fostering our relationship with God through a fixed location like a
temple, He promised through Jeremiah that His people would know Him directly, a
knowledge that comes through the person of His Son, Jesus Christ (Jeremiah 31:3134; see
also Hebrews 8:6).
Ezekiel was considered a prophet of hope because Ezekiel pronounces judgment on both
Israel and surrounding nations, but it also provides a vision of the future millennial
kingdom that complements and adds to the vision of other Old and New Testament texts.
Not only does the book present a striking picture of the resurrection and restoration of
Gods people (Ezekiel 37), it also offers readers a picture of the reconstructed temple in
Jerusalem, complete with the return of Gods glory to His dwelling place (40:148:35). This
latter section of Ezekiels prophecy looks forward to the peoples worship after Christs
return in the end times, when He will rule Israel and the nations from His throne in
Jerusalem during His thousand year reign

What were their messages?
Message of amos:
The prophecy of Amos should simplify the choices in our lives. Instead of choosing between
prayer and service, the book of Amos teaches us that both are essential. God has called
Christians not only to be in relationship with Him but also to be in relationships with
others. For those Christians whose tendency has been to focus more on the invisible God
than on His visible creation, Amos pulls us back toward the center, where both the physical
and the spiritual needs of people matter in Gods scheme of justice.

Message of Hosea:
The book of Hosea illustrates that no one is beyond the offer of our forgiveness because no
one sits outside Gods offer of forgiveness. Certainly, God brings judgment on those who
turn from Him, but Hoseas powerful act of restoration within his own marriage set the bar
high for those of us seeking godliness in our lives.
Message of Micah:
Micahs impassioned plea for Gods chosen people to repent will cut many of us to the
quick. Most of us dont decide daily to cut people down or find ways to carry out injustice.
Instead, we do it out of habit. Lets allow the words of Micah to break us out of our apathy
about extending justice and kindness to others and press on toward a world that better
resembles the harmonious millennial kingdom to come. Lets determine to live as God
desiresto do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with our God (Micah 6:8).
Message of Isaiah:
Isaiah contains one of the clearest expressions of the gospel in all the Old Testament. Even
from the first chapter, it is clear that the people have turned away from God and failed in
their responsibilities as His children (Isaiah 1:217). Yet God miraculously holds out hope
to this unrepentant people, offering cleansing of sins and the blessing that comes with faith
and obedience in Him (1:1820). Salvation lies only in Godthe only question is whether
or not we will accept His offer. Isaiahs message is also a call for believers to come back to
purity in our love for God and for our neighbors (Luke 10:2628
Message of Jeremiah:
Seeing Gods patience with His people in the Old Testament reminds us that God has always
been and continues to be merciful. That His chosen people routinely ignored the covenant
they made with Him for the better part of a millennia without immediate death and
destruction should give us hope in our own struggles with living well for God. Though we
fail Him, He is patient with us, working in us to bring about the best for our lives.
But the book of Jeremiah also reminds us that an end will certainly come, a truth that
should spur us to follow after God wholeheartedly.
Message of Ezekiel :
We sometimes find ourselves in that predicament as well, asking Why, Lord? and waiting
in silence for the answer. The exiles had to wait five years for God to send Ezekiel, and
when God did, His prophet had a message that the people likely didnt want to hear: God is
the Lord of heaven and earth, and the judgment the people were experiencing was a result
of their own sin.
The book of Ezekiel reminds us to seek out the Lord in those dark times when we feel lost,
to examine our own lives, and to align ourselves with the one true God.
Describe the destruction of Jerusalem and Israels captivity in Babylon.
Upon the death of Solomon in 931 B.C. the united kingdom of Israel was spit with ten
northern tribes pulling away and forming their own nation using the name Israel. The
two remaining tribes in the south continued under the name of Judah.
During the next 209 years the northern kingdom of Israel continued its worship of
idolatry until in 722 B.C. God used the Assyrians as His hammer of judgment. The
southern kingdom of Judah continued on for another 134 years after Israels fall only
to be judged for its spiritual adultery by the Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar (2
Chron. 36:17-20).
FALL OF JERUSALEM (586 B.C.)
The Northern Kingdom of Israel fell captive to the Assyrians in 722 B.C. The reason
was because of their idolatry. Shalmaneser besieged Israel for three years and his
successor, Sargon, finished the task and carried the people into captivity. The king of
Assyria brought people from other captured countries and settled them in Samaria,
who married the poorer people who remained in the country. The upper class people
were carried away to Assyria who then inner-married with Assyrians. As a result the
religion of Samaria became even more mixed with paganism. The resulting mixed
marriages were the Samaritans who were later despised by the pure Jews who
returned from Babylon to reclaim the land.
The ten tribes of the Northern Kingdom of Israel were carried to Assyria never to
come back to their homeland. Please keep in mind that many imaginary and
untrustworthy accounts have been given seeking to identify these Lost Tribes with
later peoples
Samaritans were a mixed race resulting from the intermarriages of the poorer residents of
the Northern Kingdom who were left in the land after the Assyrian captivity. Assyria brought
in settlers from other regions along the Tigris and Euphrates River who intermarried with
these local people. The Jews in Judea hated the Samaritans who worshipped a corrupted
Judaism based on the Pentateuch.
The Southern Kingdom of Judah survived for another 134 years and fell to the Babylonians
in 586 B.C.
During the last 25 years the prophet Jeremiah, realizing the nations decay of moral and
spiritual values had reaped its harvest, remained faithful urging the people of Judah to accept
Gods punishment upon the nation.
Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, spoiled Jerusalem and took treasures from Solomons
Temple. Ten thousand of the leading men of Judah were taken into captivity to Babylon. The
national leadership in Jerusalem continued to follow their wicked ways until
Nebuchadnezzar laid siege of the city and a breach was made into the city wall. King
Zedekiah (Mattaniah, 597-586 B.C.) attempted to escape, but was captured and taken to
Babylon in chains. The Babylonians killed his sons in his sight and then blinded him. The
walls of Jerusalem were destroyed and the temple burned to the ground. All of the citys
treasurers were taken to Babylon. The remaining leaders of Judah were killed and the rest of
the people were carried into captivity to Babylon. Only the very poorest people remained in
Judah in the hills who later fled to Egypt (2 Kings 25:23-30).
It has been estimated by scholars that about 50,000 people were marched into captivity in
Babylon. The important thing to note is that the Babylonians did not replace the people of
Judah with other captives as the Assyrians had done in the Northern Kingdom in 722 B.C.
The land of Judah and Jerusalem remained vacant for seventy years until the Lord brought a
remnant of His people back to the Promised Land.
The Chronicler tells us in vivid terms the reason for the exile (2 Chron. 36:14-16). They
mocked the messengers of God, and despised His words, and misused His prophets, until the
wrath of the Lord arose against His people until there was no remedy. But even this
captivity was a part of Gods plan.

Israels captivity in Babylon
The Babylonian captivity or exile refers to the time period in Israels history when Jews
were taken captive by King Nebuchadnezzar II of Babylon. It is an important period of
biblical history because both the captivity/exile and the return and restoration of the
Jewish nation were fulfilments of Old Testament prophecies.

God used Babylon as His agent of judgment against Israel for their sins of idolatry and
rebellion against Him. There were actually several different times during this period (607-
586 B.C.) when the Jews were taken captive by Babylon. With each successive rebellion
against Babylonian rule, Nebuchadnezzar would lead his armies against Judah until they
laid siege to Jerusalem for over a year, killing many people and destroying the Jewish
temple, taking captive many thousands of Jews, and leaving Jerusalem in ruins.

As prophesied in Scripture, the Jewish people would be allowed to return to Jerusalem after
70 years of exile. That prophecy was fulfilled in 537 B.C., and the Jews were allowed by
King Cyrus of Persia to return to Israel and begin rebuilding the city and temple. The return
under the direction of Ezra led to a revival among the Jewish people and the rebuilding of
the temple.

Under the reign of King Nebuchadnezzar II, the Babylonian Empire spread throughout the
Middle East, and around 607 B.C., King Jehoiakim of Judah was forced into submission,
becoming a vassal to Nebuchadnezzar (2 Kings 24:1). It was during this time that
Nebuchadnezzar took many of the finest and brightest young men from each city in Judah
captive, including Daniel, Hananiah (Shadrach), Mishael (Meshach) and Azariah
(Abednego). After three years of serving Nebuchadnezzar, Jehoiakim of Judah rebelled
against Babylonian rule and once again turned to Egypt for support. After sending his army
to deal with Judahs revolt, Nebuchadnezzar himself left Babylon in 598 B.C. to deal with
the problem. Arriving in Jerusalem around March of 597 B.C., Nebuchadnezzar laid siege to
Jerusalem, taking control of the area, looting it, and taking captive with him Jehoikims son,
Jehoiachin, his family, and almost all of the population of Judah, leaving only the poorest
people of the land (2 Kings 24:8-16).

At that time Nebuchadnezzar appointed King Zedekiah to rule as his representative over
Judah, but after nine years and still not having learned their lesson, Zedekiah led Judah in
rebellion against Babylon one final time (2 Kings 2425). Influenced by false prophets and
ignoring Jeremiahs warnings, Zedekiah decided to join a coalition that was being formed
by Edom, Moab, Ammon and Phoenicia in rebellion against Nebuchadnezzar (Jeremiah
27:1-3). This resulted in Nebuchadnezzar again laying siege to Jerusalem. Jerusalem fell in
July 586 B.C., and Zedekiah was taken captive to Babylon after seeing his sons killed before
him and then having his eyes plucked out (2 Kings 25). At this time Jerusalem was laid to
waste, the temple destroyed and all the houses burned. The majority of the Jewish people
were taken captive, but, again, Nebuchadnezzar left a remnant of poor people to serve as
farmers and vinedressers (2 Kings 25:12).

The books of 2 Chronicles and 2 Kings deal with much of the time leading up to fall of both
the Northern Kingdom and Judah. They also cover the destruction of Jerusalem by
Nebuchadnezzar and the beginning of the Babylonian captivity. Jeremiah was one of the
prophets during the time leading up to the fall of Jerusalem and the exile, and Ezekiel and
Daniel were written while the Jews were in exile. Ezra deals with the return of the Jews as
promised over 70 years before by God through the prophets Jeremiah and Isaiah. The book
of Nehemiah also covers the return and rebuilding of Jerusalem after the exile was over.

The Babylonian captivity had one very significant impact on the nation of Israel when it
returned to the landit would never again be corrupted by the idolatry and false gods of
the surrounding nations. A revival among Jews took place after the return of the Jews to
Israel and the rebuilding of the temple. We see those accounts in Ezra and Nehemiah as the
nation would once again return to the God who had delivered them from their enemies.

Just as God had promised through the prophet Jeremiah, God judged the Babylonians for
their sins, and the Babylonian Empire fell to the armies of Persia in 539 B.C., once again
proving Gods promises to be true.

The seventy-year period of the Babylonian captivity is an important part of Israels history,
and Christians should be familiar with it. Like many other Old Testament events, this
historical account demonstrates Gods faithfulness to His people, His judgment of sin, and
the surety of His promises.