Prophets and the Promise: From Elijah to John the Baptist and the Call to Repent (Ep. 225)

In this Sunday Bible Study edition, I invite you into a sweeping survey of the Old Testament prophets—from Elijah and Elisha to Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, Hosea, Jonah, Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi—and how their hard-edged messages of repentance, holiness, and separation apply to our times. We trace Israel’s decline, captivities under Assyria and Babylon, the 70-year judgment foretold by Jeremiah, the returns under Ezra and Nehemiah, and the prophetic panoramas of Daniel and Ezekiel that stretch across 2,500 years to the restoration of Israel and the end of the age. We also consider John the Baptist as the final Old Testament-style prophet, the distinction between the kingdom of heaven and the kingdom of God, and why repentance remains the doorway to both national restoration and personal new birth in Christ. I close with an invitation to be born again and a prayer for all listening, encouraging you to turn to the Lord Jesus Christ today.Along the way, I reflect on the character of the prophets—their courage, suffering, and unwavering proclamation of truth—and why their “negative preaching” was a mercy from God to a drifting people. If you’ve ever wondered how the prophetic books fit together historically and theologically, or what their themes mean for believers right now, this fast-paced survey will help you see Scripture’s big picture and God’s faithful call to repent, believe, and be made new. Watch Live 7PM CT Watch on Rumble: https://rumble.com/JoeRooz▶️ Watch on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@JoeRooz Website: https://joerooz.com Special thanks to:Executive Producer Wayne RankinExecutive Producer Rosanna RankinExecutive Producer Carolina JimenezExecutive Producer Angela WetuskiExecutive Producer John SeeleyWant to be a guest on The Joe Rooz Show?Send Joe a message on #PodMatch: https://www.podmatch.com/member/joeCheck out our partners:Podhome.fmCreative EdgeGet MasterPeace https://masterpeacebyhcs.com/767e544f93fd74ce(00:02:33) Live from Asylum Studios and show kickoff(00:03:36) Holiday break recap and prior guest mention(00:05:04) On Christmas, faith, and a troubled season(00:07:12) Tech hiccup, then setting today’s study(00:07:25) Old Testament prophets as tough truth tellers(00:09:50) Why America needs old fashioned negative preaching(00:10:16) Judah’s prophets and a burden for Jerusalem(00:11:25) Warning against religious integration and idolatry(00:11:54) Plan for tonight: two prophets to Israel(00:16:48) Focus on Elijah: the rough prophet(00:20:06) Tender society vs. straight preaching(00:20:53) Elisha, Hosea, Micah, Amos enter the scene(00:21:06) Hosea’s hard calling and God’s broken heart(00:22:42) Jeremiah’s call, suffering, and perseverance(00:26:52) Preaching under wicked Ahab and Jezebel(00:28:54) From ancient child sacrifice to modern parallels(00:30:57) Prophets as God’s clear voice in decline(00:32:07) Israel reprobate; rare bright spots in Judah(00:32:44) Jonah the reluctant prophet to the Gentiles(00:35:39) Ignored warnings and looming captivity(00:36:36) Assyrian captivity of Israel and dispersion(00:39:19) Judah’s Babylonian captivity and three deportations(00:40:36) Major and minor prophets explained(00:41:54) Daniel’s panorama of Gentile kingdoms(00:43:40) Ezekiel on Israel’s restoration and end times(00:45:50) God’s judgments foretold and fulfilled(00:46:43) Seventy years determined from sabbath rests(00:48:54) Return and rebuild: Ezra and Nehemiah(00:51:36) Rebuilding amid opposition and common sayings(00:52:37) Haggai and Zechariah during restoration(00:54:12) Longing for the promised kingdom(00:56:07) Seven traits of the prophets’ messages(00:57:42) Enter Malachi: abuses of temple worship(01:00:51) After Malachi: four hundred years of silence(01:01:46) John the Baptist, Elijah-like herald of repentance(01:04:48) Repentance required for the kingdom of heaven(01:06:12) Kingdom of heaven vs. kingdom of God(01:08:46) Repentance as the doorway to both kingdoms(01:10:35) Call to be born again and closing prayer(01:12:00) Wrap-up, announcements, and sign-off - Joe "Rooz" Russiello - Marisa Lee - Wayne Rankin - Rosanna Rankin - Angela Wetuski - Carolina Jimenezhttps://www.joerooz.com/supporthttps://www.joerooz.com