You can read part 1 at this link: https://www.raptureready.com/2021/06/27/satans-warfare-on-the-lineage-of-kings-part-1-by-gene-lawley/
The next major potential break in that ongoing legacy of kings is in the time of King Hezekiah (2 Kings 16:20). The record of Hezekiah’s reign is in 2 Kings, chapters 16-20 and 2 Chronicles, chapters 28-32. But Hezekiah had no sons to inherit his throne in Jerusalem. A unique action of God then took place, reported in 2 Kings 20:1-11, that of God telling Hezekiah, “Get your house in order, for you are going to die.” Hezekiah was in bed, sick, and this was fearful news that brought him to tears and caused him to pray for God’s healing. His repentance and appeal were heard by God, and the Lord gave him fifteen more years to his life.
Two years into that added time, Hezekiah fathered a son whom he named Manasseh, who reigned after him. Thus, we see how the disruption of the lineage from Abraham to Christ was again averted.
Was that of Satan’s doing? The sinfulness in lack of foresight and concern in Hezekiah’s life gave Satan all the opportunity he needed to try to sneak that by.
However, another issue was resolved at the same time, for the extension of fifteen years to Hezekiah’s life was promised with a sign from God that it would be done. The sun was stopped in its steady movement toward sundown by ten degrees on the measuring device. What did this do? It completed the halt of the sun for a full twenty-four hours, which was begun in the time of Joshua.
In Joshua 10:1-15 is the record of Joshua’s conquering of five kings led by the king of Jerusalem, following his victories over Jericho and Ai. God was overwhelming their enemies with hailstones from heaven, and Joshua appealed to God for His further help in this way:
“Then Joshua spoke to the Lord in the day when the Lord delivered up the Amorites before the children of Israel, and he said in the sight of Israel:
‘Sun, stand still over Gibeon; and Moon, in the Valley of Aijalon.’ So the sun stood still, and the moon stopped, till the people had revenge upon their enemies.
“Is this not written in the Book of Jasher? So the sun stood still in the midst of heaven, and did not hasten to go down for about a whole day. And there has been no day like that, before it or after it, that the Lord heeded the voice of a man; for the Lord fought for Israel” (Joshua 10:1-14).
[A full day of twenty-four hours would result in 360 degrees of time. This time, the better part of a whole day, no doubt amounted to 350 degrees, and with those ten degrees allowed for Hezekiah, a full day has been added to that Friday in Joshua’s time. It means that the twenty-four hours belonging to the Sabbath following Joshua’s battle were absorbed by that long Friday. It also means that the Sunday that was to follow that Sabbath has now become “the day of the Lord’s rest right where the original Sabbath rested. The Lord of the Sabbath is the Lord of the Resurrection, and the two events—the seventh day Sabbath and the day of His resurrection—are now on the same day!]
Getting back to the lineage of kings, we learn that while the added fifteen years to Hezekiah’s life allowed a son to be born with an age to take over the throne when Hezekiah died. Manasseh was an evil king, perhaps the worst of all, for most of his reign. Even so, God forgave him when he repented, and the legacy of kings remained intact.
After that vivid attempt to disrupt the continuity of the kingship in Hezekiah’s time, it seems to have been without any break in the linage. Even during the Babylonian overthrow of the nation and the quietness of prophets during the four hundred years until Christ came. Historical/secular records show that attempts to interject a false Messiah into the unfolding plan of God but were not successful.
Once the birth of Christ had happened, Satanic endeavors formed to eliminate Him, or sidetrack His plan to redeem mankind as the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. One of those times when Satan tried his tactic of warfare against God was recorded at Matthew 16:21-23, and Christ’s unwavering and direct rebuke of that evil one stands out vividly as how firmly fixed is God’s coming complete victory:
“From that time Jesus began to show to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day.
“Then Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, ‘Far be it from You, Lord; this shall not happen to You!’
“But He turned and said to Peter, ‘Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men.'”
The Scriptures detailing the events of the end times tell of the intent of the Antichrist, Satan’s man on earth and one in whom he indwells once he is cast out of heaven. That one will be in charge during those seven years of tribulation and will promote himself to take over the new temple, declare himself God, and demand all people to worship him as God. (See Daniel 9:27 and 2 Thessalonians 2:3-7.)
Revelation 12 tells the story of Satan’s continual warfare against “the woman and her son,” Israel and Christ, attempting to do away with them. Finally, Satan assumes the position of the “eighth head of the Beast” (Revelation 17), having overcome all opposition—except God—and then he is chained in the bottomless pit for a thousand years. After that, he is released for a short time, and one more battle, and is cast into the lake of fire to burn forever and ever. The legacy of the King of Kings remains intact also forever and ever.
What a wonderful certainty it is that “greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world!” (1 John 4:4). And further revealed in 1 John 5:4-5:
“For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world–our faith. Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?”
And finally, “Even so, come, Lord Jesus!” (Revelation 22:20b).
Contact email: andwegetmercy@gmail.com