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the "seventh from Adam" (Jude 14), for there was also a son of Cain who bore the same
name.
Uzziah also is a type of Antichrist, for although at first all seemed well, we read later:
"He was marvelously helped till he was strong. But when he was strong, his heart was
lifted up to his destruction; for he transgressed against the Lord his God, and went into
the temple of the Lord to burn incense upon the altar of incense' (II Chron. 26: 15, 16).
Uzziah was stricken with leprosy and remained a leper to the day of his death, a
dreadful picture of the Usurper and his doom.
Of Jotham it is said that he followed his father in so far as he had done right in the
sight of the Lord, but he "entered not into the Temple".
The fourth king Ahaz completes the evil triad. We read that he walked in the ways of
the kings of Israel and made molten images to Baalim. "Moreover he burnt incense in
the valley of the son of Hinnom, and burnt his children in the fire, after the abominations
of the heathen". In the same chapter we read that a hundred and twenty thousand men of
Judah were slain in one day, "because they had forsaken the Lord God of their fathers"
(II Chron. 28: 6), while Israel "carried away captive of their brethren two hundred
thousand women, sons, and daughters, and took also away much spoil".
"And in the time of his distress did he trespass yet more against the Lord; THIS IS
THAT KING AHAZ" (II Chron. 28: 22).
Ahaz seems to be specially marked as a transgressor, as were Cain and Dathan before
him. He stands out in strong contrast to Hezekiah, who is singled out for his good deeds
(II Chron. 32: 12, 30).
It is impossible in these articles to enter into fuller detail, and we can but hope that the
reader will accept the suggestion that he should take the key provided and use it in his
own personal studies.
We would also remind the reader that the Lord Jesus Himself associated the failure of
Israel with the Temple in Matt. 23::
"O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets and stonest them that are sent
unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth
her chickens under her wings, and ye would not! BEHOLD YOUR HOUSE IS LEFT
UNTO YOU DESOLATE. For I say unto you, Ye shall not see Me henceforth, till ye
shall say, Blessed is He that cometh in the name of the Lord" (Matt. 23: 37-39).