Ezekiel 19 The end of evil leaders and their followers

The sons of Josiah were Johanan, the firstborn, the second was Jehoiakim, the third, Zedekiah, and the fourth, Shallum. (1 Chronicles 3:15)

Before him (Josiah) there was no king like him who turned to the Lord with all his heart, all his soul, and all his might, in conformity to all the Law of Moses; nor did any like him arise after him. (2 Kings 23:25)

 Jehoahaz was twenty-three years old when he became king, and he reigned for three months in Jerusalem; and his mother’s name was Hamutal the daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah. He did evil in the sight of the Lord, in accordance with all that his forefathers had done. And Pharaoh Neco imprisoned him at Riblah in the land of Hamath, so that he would not reign in Jerusalem; and he imposed on the land a fine of a hundred talents of silver and a talent of gold.Then Pharaoh Neco made Eliakim the son of Josiah king in the place of his father Josiah, and he changed his name to Jehoiakim. But he took Jehoahaz and brought him to Egypt, and he died there. (2 Kings 23:31-34)

So Jehoiakim lay down with his fathers, and his son Jehoiachin became king in his place. Now the king of Egypt did not come out of his land again, because the king of Babylon had taken everything that belonged to the king of Egypt from the brook of Egypt to the river Euphrates. Jehoiachin was eighteen years old when he became king, and he reigned for three months in Jerusalem; and his mother’s name was Nehushta the daughter of Elnathan of Jerusalem. He did evil in the sight of the Lord, in accordance with all that his father had done.At that time the servants of Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon went up to Jerusalem, and the city came under siege. And Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon came to the city, while his servants were besieging it. Then Jehoiachin the king of Judah went out to the king of Babylon, he, his mother, his servants, his commanders, and his officials. And the king of Babylon took him prisoner in the eighth year of his reign.  (2 Kings 24:6-12)

I consider that Josiah resembles Christ more than king David. The great king Josiah had four sons. Among four sons, two are mentioned in Ezekiel 19. Two are identical and evil.

Little is known about the first son. It is believed that Shallum (Johoahaz), the fourth son, succeeded Josiah. But he did evil and was taken to Egypt by Neco. He was succeeded by his older brother, Jehoiakim. He also did evil and died in Jerusalem. His son Jehoiachin (Jeconiah) succeeded him. He also did evil, and Nebuchadnezzar took him to Babylon. He was succeeded by Zedekiah who was the third son of king Josiah. Zedekiah also did evil and was taken to Babylon and died there. Zedekiah refused to listen to the words of God spoken by the prophet Jeremiah. And his end was horrible.

The king of Babylon slaughtered Zedekiah’s sons as Zedekiah watched. He also slaughtered all the officials of Judah at Riblah. Then he blinded Zedekiah and put him in bronze shackles. The king of Babylon took him to Babylon and put him in a prison, where he stayed until he died. (Jeremiah 52:10-11)

But God showed mercy to Jehoiachin in Babylon because of His promise to king David. And Zerubbabel is a descendant of Jehoiachin. And their names are mentioned in the genealogy of Christ in Matthew 1 :12-13 and Luke 3:27.

The two lions in Ezekiel 19 are believed to be Johoahaz, who was taken to Egypt, and Jehoaichin, who was taken to Babylon. But I think the second lion indicates king Zedekiah. He was also taken to Babylon.

They put him in a wooden collar with hooks and brought him to the king of Babylon;
They brought him in hunting nets so that his voice would no longer be heard on the mountains of Israel.
(Ezekiel 19:9)

 Then he blinded the eyes of Zedekiah; and the king of Babylon bound him with bronze shackles and brought him to Babylon and put him in prison until the day of his death. (Jeremiah 52:11)

Although Jehoiachin is considered the last king of Judah by some, I consider Zedekiah was the last king of Judah. The Bible tell us the evilness of the last four kings of Judah. From a moral point of view, they may not much worse than other kings. But God had already decided to put an end to Judah before they became kings.

Neither before nor after Josiah was there a king like him who turned to the Lord as he did—with all his heart and with all his soul and with all his strength, in accordance with all the Law of Moses. Nevertheless, the Lord did not turn away from the heat of his fierce anger, which burned against Judah because of all that Manasseh had done to arouse his anger.So the Lord said, “I will remove Judah also from my presence as I removed Israel, and I will reject Jerusalem, the city I chose, and this temple, about which I said, ‘My Name shall be there.’ (2 Kings 23:25-27)

Jehoahaz was the last son of Josiah. And Zedekiah was the last king of Judah. Their end was full of shame and disgrace. The visible churches or the church systems have produced many evil leaders that kill and harm God’s true chosen people. I am not talking about their immoral deeds. By giving false hope and speaking lies about God just as the false prophets did in the OT, they mislead and kill people. The time will surely come when God judges all evil leaders in churches. Then God’s enemies will be put to shame.

All my enemies will be put to shame and greatly horrified; They shall turn back, they will suddenly be put to shame. (Psalm 6:10)

It is not that only evil leaders will be judged. Those who follow them will also be judged.

… they cried out with a loud voice, saying, “How long, O Lord, holy and true, will You refrain from judging and avenging our blood on those who live on the earth? (Revelation 6:10)