Topical Bible: Idolatry: Prophecies Relating To

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Idolatry, the worship of idols or the elevation of anything above the one true God, is a recurring theme throughout the Bible. The prophets of the Old Testament frequently addressed the issue of idolatry, warning the people of Israel and surrounding nations of the dire consequences of turning away from God to serve false gods. These prophecies serve as both a call to repentance and a forewarning of judgment.

Prophecies Against Israel and Judah

The prophets consistently warned Israel and Judah about the dangers of idolatry. In the book of Isaiah, the prophet condemns the people for their idolatrous practices, declaring that their idols are powerless and will lead to their downfall. Isaiah 2:8-9 states, "Their land is full of idols; they bow down to the work of their hands, to what their fingers have made. So mankind is brought low, and man is humbled—do not forgive them!"

Jeremiah also speaks extensively against idolatry, highlighting the futility and deception of idol worship. In Jeremiah 10:14-15 , he proclaims, "Every man is senseless and devoid of knowledge; every goldsmith is put to shame by his idols. For his molten images are a fraud; there is no breath in them. They are worthless, a work to be mocked. In the time of their punishment, they will perish."

Ezekiel, another major prophet, vividly describes the idolatry of Israel and the resulting judgment. In Ezekiel 6:4-6 , God declares through the prophet, "Your altars will be demolished and your incense altars will be smashed; and I will cast down your slain before your idols. I will lay the corpses of the Israelites before their idols and scatter your bones around your altars. Wherever you live, the cities will be laid waste and the high places demolished, so that your altars will be laid waste and devastated, your idols smashed and obliterated, your incense altars cut down, and your works blotted out."

Prophecies Against the Nations

The prophets also pronounced judgments against the nations surrounding Israel for their idolatry. In Isaiah 46:1-2 , the prophet speaks against Babylon, saying, "Bel bows down, Nebo stoops low; their idols are borne by beasts of burden. The images that are carried about are burdensome, a burden for the weary. They stoop and bow down together; unable to rescue the burden, they themselves go off into captivity."

Similarly, Jeremiah prophesies against the idolatry of Moab in Jeremiah 48:7 : "Since you trust in your deeds and riches, you too will be captured, and Chemosh will go into exile, together with his priests and officials."

The Call to Repentance and Restoration

Despite the severe warnings, the prophets also offered hope for those who would turn from idolatry and return to the Lord. In Isaiah 44:22 , God promises forgiveness and redemption: "I have blotted out your transgressions like a cloud, and your sins like a mist. Return to Me, for I have redeemed you."

Hosea, known for his message of love and restoration, calls Israel to repentance in Hosea 14:1-2 : "Return, O Israel, to the LORD your God, for you have stumbled by your iniquity. Bring your confessions and return to the LORD. Say to Him: 'Forgive all our iniquity and accept what is good, so that we may repay You with the fruit of our lips.'"

The Ultimate Triumph Over Idolatry

The prophetic writings also look forward to a time when idolatry will be eradicated, and the true worship of God will be established. Zechariah 13:2 envisions this future: "And on that day, declares the LORD of Hosts, I will erase the names of the idols from the land, and they will no longer be remembered. I will also remove the prophets and the spirit of impurity from the land."

In the New Testament, the book of Revelation echoes this theme, depicting the ultimate defeat of all false worship and the establishment of God's eternal kingdom. Revelation 21:8 warns, "But to the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and sexually immoral and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, their place will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur. This is the second death."

These prophecies underscore the seriousness of idolatry and the steadfast call to worship the one true God, who alone is worthy of honor and praise.

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Exodus 12:12
For I will pass through the land of Egypt this night, and will smite all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the LORD.
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Numbers 33:4
For the Egyptians buried all their firstborn, which the LORD had smitten among them: on their gods also the LORD executed judgments.
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Isaiah 2:18,20
And the idols he shall utterly abolish.
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Isaiah 17:7,8
At that day shall a man look to his Maker, and his eyes shall have respect to the Holy One of Israel.
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Isaiah 19:1
The burden of Egypt. Behold, the LORD rides on a swift cloud, and shall come into Egypt: and the idols of Egypt shall be moved at his presence, and the heart of Egypt shall melt in the middle of it.
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Isaiah 21:9
And, behold, here comes a chariot of men, with a couple of horsemen. And he answered and said, Babylon is fallen, is fallen; and all the graven images of her gods he has broken to the ground.
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Isaiah 27:9
By this therefore shall the iniquity of Jacob be purged; and this is all the fruit to take away his sin; when he makes all the stones of the altar as chalkstones that are beaten in sunder, the groves and images shall not stand up.
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Isaiah 31:7
For in that day every man shall cast away his idols of silver, and his idols of gold, which your own hands have made to you for a sin.
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Jeremiah 10:11,15
Thus shall you say to them, The gods that have not made the heavens and the earth, even they shall perish from the earth, and from under these heavens.
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Jeremiah 51:44,47,52
And I will punish Bel in Babylon, and I will bring forth out of his mouth that which he has swallowed up: and the nations shall not flow together any more to him: yes, the wall of Babylon shall fall.
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Ezekiel 43:7-9
And he said to me, Son of man, the place of my throne, and the place of the soles of my feet, where I will dwell in the middle of the children of Israel for ever, and my holy name, shall the house of Israel no more defile, neither they, nor their kings, by their prostitution, nor by the carcasses of their kings in their high places.
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Hosea 10:2
Their heart is divided; now shall they be found faulty: he shall break down their altars, he shall spoil their images.
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Micah 5:13
Your graven images also will I cut off, and your standing images out of the middle of you; and you shall no more worship the work of your hands.
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Zephaniah 2:11
The LORD will be terrible to them: for he will famish all the gods of the earth; and men shall worship him, every one from his place, even all the isles of the heathen.
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Zechariah 13:2
And it shall come to pass in that day, said the LORD of hosts, that I will cut off the names of the idols out of the land, and they shall no more be remembered: and also I will cause the prophets and the unclean spirit to pass out of the land.
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Library

It is a Ground for Thanksgiving that During the Last Three or Four ...
... To ascertain the sequence of the prophecies relating to the ... is so frequently the
case in the prophecies of Isaiah ... wealth; that she will be given up to idolatry. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/pink/the antichrist/it is a ground for.htm

The Great Controversy
... Stillingfleet, Defense of the Discourse Concerning the Idolatry Practiced in the ...
A Systematic Arrangement of Several Scripture Prophecies Relating to Antichrist ...
//christianbookshelf.org/white/the great controversy/the great controversy.htm

Book 8 Footnotes
... 20, and had been derived from the idolatry and superstition ... Nebuchadnezzar, according
to the numerous Scripture prophecies thereto relating, Isaiah 23 ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/book 8 footnotes.htm

The Greater Prophets.
... The prophecies that follow naturally fall into two ... of heathen monarchs for their
pride, idolatry, and profanation ... follow some special details relating to the ...
/.../barrows/companion to the bible/chapter xxii the greater prophets.htm

The Twelve Minor Prophets.
... thus making unfaithfulness to God, and especially idolatry and idolatrous ... to the
general analogy of Scripture, prophecies like this, relating to one ...
/.../barrows/companion to the bible/chapter xxiii the twelve minor.htm

Additional Evidences of Christianity, and Reflections on the Whole ...
... circumstances, there were several others relating to him ... ten kingdoms, the usurpation,
persecutions, and idolatry, of the ... of some of its other prophecies may be ...
/.../the evidences of christianity/additional evidences of christianity and.htm

Proofs of Jesus Christ
... common centre and object: Moses in relating the promises ... deny Him, they have fulfilled
the prophecies (Is.60 ... men and these sages, and remove idolatry from all ...
//christianbookshelf.org/pascal/pensees/section xii proofs of jesus.htm

Index of Subjects.
... etc.; prophecies of, [124]196 etc.; plain prophecies of, [125 ... Idolatry, the result
of apostacy, [411]261; did the ... 556]79 etc.; absurd tenets of, relating to God ...
/.../writings in connection with the donatist controversy /index of subjects.htm

Scriptural Predictions of an Apostasy.
... of revelry, banqueting, money getting, lewdness, and idolatry, as we ... There are many
prophecies in Daniel and other chapters of Revelation relating to the ...
/.../orr/the gospel day /chapter ii scriptural predictions of.htm

That Whereas the City of Jerusalem had Been Five Times Taken ...
... if they became obstinate in their idolatry and wickedness ... in the Gospels thereto
relating, as compared ... in my Literal Accomplishment of Scripture Prophecies. ...
/.../chapter 10 that whereas the.htm