The Age of Manasseh and the Last Days

This passage tells of Manasseh, king of the southern kingdom of Judah, who over a long reign of 55 years made the nation stable and prosperous, yet whom God judged a ‘very wicked king’. By staying loyal to the great power of Assyria he brought political stability and material abundance, and the people probably regarded him as a fine king. But under his rule idolatry and sin spread, until the people no longer listened to God's word at all.

The world values success, influence, and stability, but God looks only at whether we obey. Today we are living in the last days, when deception is rampant because of advances in technology, fake news, and cult leaders. The world brainwashes people into believing they can live well without God, and leads each person to live by their own standards. In such surroundings, what matters most is that believers are not dazzled by the world's prosperity but keep a faith that obeys God's word.

When Manasseh humbly repented in a hopeless situation, God forgave and restored him. This shows that God's concern is not judgment but salvation. What Jesus looks for in the last days is not success or many accomplishments, but people who have kept the faith to the end. We must not let our hearts be carried off in a confused world, but be faithful to death and become people who obey God.