Bible Chronology (37): From the Temple to Artaxerxes (12)

Understanding that there were 2 Assyrian invasions in Hezekiah's time resolves a number of difficulties. The 1st invasion was in his 14th year (712 BC) a few months after his dramatic healing and sign in the heavens (2Kings 18:13-16), which signified God was rewinding his clock, so he could have another 15 years, which started after an interval of 2 days. His first 15 years ended with him in unbelief, but God was giving him a 2nd chance. He started this rerun of 15 years in unbelief as shown by his submission to Assyria in the 1st invasion, rather than trusting in God. However, before the end of the final 15 years he repented and trusted God, so when Assyria invaded a 2nd time in 701 BC (2Kings 18:17-35), this time he didn't submit to the enemy, but trusted in God, calling upon Him for deliverance, and He delivered Jerusalem by the Angel of the Lord. In Isaiah 22, which is set after the 1st Invasion, God rebukes Israel for her unbelief and warns them that judgment was still looming, even though Assyria had left them for now. Isaiah predicts that Shebna will be replaced by Eliakim as Hezekiah's chief of staff (holding the Key of David), which explains why we see Eliakim in that top position during the 2nd invasion, with Shebna under him (2Kings 18:18,26,37). *King Hezekiah is a type of Israel. *Just as Hezekiah's first 15 years ended with him in unbelief, so the 70th Week (AD 26-33) ended with Israel in unbelief. *Just as God rewound Hezekiah's clock, so that his 15 years could run again after an interval of 2 days, so God rewound Israel's clock, so that the 7 years of her 70th Week could run again after an interval of 2 DAYS (2000 years). *Just as the rerun of Hezekiah's 15 years started with him still in unbelief, as shown by his submission to Assyria at the first invasion, so the rerun of Israel's 70th Week will start with her still in unbelief, as shown by her submission to the antichrist, by making a covenant with him (Daniel 9:27). *Just as Hezekiah increasingly turned back to God during his 15-year rerun, so that when Assyria invaded a 2nd time, near its end, he was now in faith, calling on God to deliver Israel from the enemy, so Israel will increasingly turn back to God during the Tribulation (the rerun of the 70th Week), so that when antichrist invades her at Armageddon, near its end, she will be in faith, and will call upon the Lord to deliver her from her enemies. *Just as Christ (the Angel of the Lord) saved Israel from Assyria by destroying her army, in response to Hezekiah's prayer of faith, so Christ will return and save Israel from the antichrist by destroying him and his armies at His 2nd Coming, in response to Israel's prayer of faith.