The biblical books of Joshua, Judges, 1 and 2 Samuel, and 1 and 2 Kings make up the former prophets. These books give a broad sweep of ancient Israel’s history, from Joshua going to the Promised Land all the way to the captivity of Israel and Judah. The name “former prophets” is deceptive—they are actually the earlier prophets, but still prophets with a prophetic message for us today. These books are not merely history.

God is determined that we understand the former prophets in this end time just before Jesus Christ returns. Christ is our chief cornerstone (Ephesians 2:20). What does He have to say about the former prophets?

“Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken” (Luke 24:25). Which prophets was Christ talking about? “And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself” (verse 27). Christ believed the Old Testament, beginning with the first five books written by Moses—called the Pentateuch—and continuing through the former prophets and all the rest! If we don’t believe the prophecy written for us in the former prophets, Christ calls us fools.

God says He reveals prophecy only to apostles and prophets—the two highest spiritual offices a man can hold (Ephesians 3:5). Prophets prophesy. If the former prophets are merely history, then why are they called the former prophets? That is illogical. Even the history of Israel within these books contains important prophecy for us.

Joshua

The book of Joshua is the first of the former prophets. He teaches wonderful lessons about faith—how you can trust God. “The book of the wars of the Lord” was a source document for Joshua (Numbers 21:14). Joshua was a warrior fighting wars for God. He learned to trust God implicitly.

Joshua understood that the battle is God’s, not ours (2 Chronicles 20:15). Timothy wrote in his second epistle that true Christians are soldiers in a spiritual war. God fights our battles for us when we trust Him. We are all too weak to follow God, but we must learn as Joshua did to let God do the fighting.

Joshua fought his way into the Promised Land—a type of the Kingdom of God. “And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force” (Matthew 11:12). God expects us to seize His Kingdom by force, just as the Israelites had to conquer all outsiders to obtain the Promised Land. This is a rewarding way of life because it brings victories and instills in us the very character and mind of God.

“And the Lord said unto Joshua, Stretch out the spear that is in thy hand toward Ai; for I will give it into thine hand. And Joshua stretched out the spear that he had in his hand toward the city” (Joshua 8:18). Joshua just had to trust God in battle, and God would give him the victory. We must use the power of God and the faith of Christ in us to overcome our weaknesses. We all have them. Satan is doing everything he can to destroy our spiritual lives. We must conquer him too.

It is possible to win our battles, but it is not easy. “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me,” the Apostle Paul wrote (Philippians 4:13). If we endure, God will give us a wonderful rest from war, just as the Israelites experienced after finally entering the Promised Land.

In his final sermon to the congregation of Israel, Joshua spoke about serving God. “And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom you will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord” (Joshua 24:15).

Joshua refused to compromise. He said, Look, I don’t care if the whole nation turns away! My family will serve God! We must choose whom we will serve today.

Judges

Joshua died at 110 years of age. Once he and the elders he trained were off the scene, Israel chose whom to serve. And they made the wrong choice. Israel fell apart and entered the lawless 450-year period recorded in the book of Judges. This is the bloodiest book in all the Bible.

Recorded in Judges is the story of Gideon. He was a coward, but God made him take charge of an army. Gideon started out with 32,000 men, but God sent home 22,000 soldiers who were afraid. God didn’t want Israel taking credit for the victories He would give them.

But that still wasn’t enough. “And the Lord said unto Gideon, The people are yet too many; bring them down unto the water, and I will try them for you there: and it shall be, that of whom I say unto thee, This shall go with thee, the same shall go with thee; and of whomsoever I say unto thee, This shall not go with thee, the same shall not go” (Judges 7:4).

God pared down Gideon’s army to just 300 men. Those who bent down to drink the water went home. Those who brought water to their mouth while keeping a watchful eye on their surroundings remained. God wants soldiers who are vigilant and eager to fight. He isn’t looking for a lot of soldiers—just an eager few.

Elsewhere in Judges, three times it talks about everybody doing “that which was right in his own eyes.” This applies directly to America, Britain and the Jewish nation in the Middle East today. They have a special history with God, but they have rejected Him in favor of their own ways. There is no longer any real leadership in our nations! We need a leader from God to turn us to Him—the ultimate leader!

Samuel

After the bloody time of the judges, Samuel came along and institutionalized prophecy. Samuel had a righteous mother, Hannah, who said this: “The Lord maketh poor, and maketh rich: he bringeth low, and lifteth up. He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth up the beggar from the dunghill, to set them among princes, and to make them inherit the throne of glory: for the pillars of the earth are the Lord’s, and he hath set the world upon them” (1 Samuel 2:7-8).

Hannah was a prophetess herself. It’s no wonder her son became such a success. What a vision! God says He will make His people pillars forever! ( Revelation 3:12). And that’s only history? Of course not. This reward awaits us for doing His work and delivering His message today! We are eager to battle for God, so He will give us real authority to rule the world very soon!

“And I will raise me up a faithful priest, that shall do according to that which is in mine heart and in my mind: and I will build him a sure house; and he shall walk before mine anointed for ever” (1 Samuel 2:35). God is raising up kings and priests today in embryo! He considers His people kings and priests already! (Revelation 1:6).

Here is a powerful lesson for our young people: “And the Lord came, and stood, and called as at other times, Samuel, Samuel. Then Samuel answered, Speak; for thy servant heareth” (1 Samuel 3:10). From a young age, probably 13, Samuel is recorded as having a wonderfully obedient attitude!

“And Samuel grew, and the Lord was with him, and did let none of his words fall to the ground” (verse 19). The attitude instilled in Samuel by his godly mother lasted his entire life. Samuel kept every single word of God, and he became probably the first man ever to start a college. Salvation is education—that is what Samuel taught.

Kings

So Israel went from Joshua’s leadership to a godless time of multiple judges to a royal priesthood, and, finally, to a kingly line. During the time of the kings, the prophets Elijah and Elisha each raised up three colleges.

We recently established a second college in Britain because salvation is about education! Our students receive a good liberal arts education, but we also bring God into the picture. That is the missing dimension in education today! And that’s why our nations are now facing so many terrible problems: we aren’t receiving help from God as we should.

“Samuel’s greatest claim to honor and the most permanent of his life’s achievements were the schools of the prophets which he founded,” the Soncino Commentary states. Samuel was a great educator.

The late Herbert W. Armstrong, the founder of the Worldwide Church of God, once said the development of the college in Pasadena made possible the growth of the whole gospel work. Like Elijah and Elisha, he also raised up three colleges. Many young people attended Ambassador College and wanted to help, saying, “Speak, Lord, for your servant hears!” The young people at Armstrong College today have the same attitude.

The former prophets are clearly for us in this end time. These are the days when we need to hear God! We are called sons of God! Never has an angel had this kind of opportunity—to be born into the Family of God! And that’s what the former prophets are all about: building God’s Family and His majestic ministry of kings and priests!