Wangsa Ukay Gospel Hall

Organisation of the synopsis   "In spiritual departure from God and the Lord Jesus Christ, Satan will work out his program in gradual steps. Typically, he will imbue thoughts that certain portions of the scriptures are not important. Those that follow the scriptures are deemed to be ‘legalists’ or 'conservatives'. Sadly, the final outcome of the satanic program will be a departure from the faith."   The Writer   In verse 1 of this book, it was recorded that Hosea ministered during the reign of King Jeroboam 2 in the northern kingdom and Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah in Judah.  We can therefore infer that Hosea’s ministry is quite long. The fall of the northern kingdom happened in 722 BC, and it is likely Hosea witnessed it.  Hosea (the meaning of his name is salvation) is a contemporary of Isaiah, Amos and Micah.    Key Verse   Hosea 2:16 And it shall be at that day, saith the Lord, that thou shalt call me Ishi; and shalt call me no more Baali...

  Organisation of the synopsis The Writer  The post-exile prophets were Haggai, Zechariah and Malachi. Malachi was the last and probably ministered a century after the earlier post-exile prophets. He ministered after the temple was rebuilt.  The priests and people in Israel during his ministry had backslidden in their worship of Jehovah. After Malachi, God did not speak to His people for 400 years and the Jews only heard God speaking again when John the Baptist started his ministry. Malachi’s name means “My messenger” and no personal information about him was recorded.  Key Verse  Malachi 1:2  I have loved you, saith the LORD.  The message of Malachi was a stern rebuke to the nation of Israel. The faithless state of Christendom today has much to learn from God’s message to the Jews. The key verse is a good reminder that God loves those that He reprimands.   Heb 12:6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he recei...

Organisation of the synopsis The Writer  The prophet is contemporary with Haggai and he encourages the Jews to complete the rebuilding of the temple. His ministry was also recorded in Ezra 6:14. The name Zechariah, the son of Berechiah, the son of Iddo is instructive for our understanding of this book. Zechariah means “Jehovah remembers”, Berechiah means “Jehovah to bless”, and Iddo means “the appointed time”. We can therefore memorize it as” Jehovah remembers to bless at the appointed time!”  Key verse  Zechariah 9:9  Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass.  If the Jews had carefully studied the coming of the Messiah in the above verse, they would not have made the mistake to expect the Messiah to appear immediately as a deliverer from the Roman’s yoke.  There are two advents in the coming of t...

Organisation of the synopsis The Writer  Haggai ministers to the Jews and encourages them in the rebuilding of the temple. The first return of the Jews to their land was during the decree of Cyrus in 537 BC and the temple reconstruction was only finished in 516 BC. The temple rebuilding process was stopped for 14 years when the Jews’s enemies petitioned the King to stop the work of rebuilding the city. When King Artaxerxes gave the decree to stop the construction works (Ezra 4:21; 24) the Jews interpreted the decree as not only to stop the rebuilding of the city and its walls but also the work in the temple. However, the King does not mention any order to stop the temple building work.  Meanwhile the Jews concentrated on building their own houses during the interval of 14 years. Haggai was mentioned in Ezra 5:1 when he encourages the Jews to continue with the reconstruction of the temple.  Key Verse  Haggai 1:4 Is it time for you, O ye, to dwell in your cieled houses...

Organisation of the synopsis The writer    The prophet traced his lineage to King Hezekiah. His name means ‘Jehovah hides or hidden’. The meaning of his name is instructive as the day of the Lord (an event of great significance and very much emphasised in this book) is hidden from the majority of the people. If this coming event is taken seriously, many more people will be blessed.   Zephaniah’s ministry was in the days of King Josiah (BC 640-609) who was a good king in Judah. But the influence of Josiah’s predecessors Manasseh and Amon had led the people astray from the worship of Jehovah for about 50 years and its idolatrous effects continued to be felt during Zephaniah’s time.  Key verse  Zephaniah 1:8 And it shall come to pass in the day of the LORD'S sacrifice, that I will punish the princes, and the king's children, and all such as are clothed with strange apparel.   The day of the Lord is repeatedly mentioned in this book. It is the dreadful day...

Organisation of the synopsis The writer  Micah’s name means ‘who is like Jehovah’. The period of his ministry is probably between 735 to 700 BC. In 722 BC the northern kingdom was conquered by the Assyrians. His ministry covered the reign of King Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah.  Key verse  Micah 6:8  He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?   In an earlier verse, Micah 6:2, God declared that He had a controversy with His people Israel. A controversy is the opposite of a communion. God was not pleased with His people because of their spiritual apostasy and the oppression of the people by the leaders in Israel (Micah 3:1-3).  The key verse summarises what God requires: to be just in our dealings, merciful towards the less fortunate and submit to the word of God.   Humility means our will or preferences should be suppressed and God’s words should be g...