Five Cycles of Discipline

The Five Cycles of Discipline are national judgment for disobedience to God’s Word. God’s justice must judge nations with punitive measures against apostasy, reversionism, and evil. Hosea 4:1-6.

“Listen to the word of the LORD, O sons of Israel, For the LORD has a case against the inhabitants of the land, Because there is no faithfulness or kindness Or knowledge of God in the land. There is swearing, deception, murder, stealing and adultery. They employ violence, so that bloodshed follows bloodshed. Therefore the land mourns, And everyone who lives in it languishes Along with the beasts of the field and the birds of the sky, And also the fish of the sea disappear. Yet let no one find fault, and let none offer reproof; For your people are like those who contend with the priest. So you will stumble by day, And the prophet also will stumble with you by night; And I will destroy your mother. My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you from being My priest. Since you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children.” (Hosea 4:1-6, NASB)

As the nation accumulates disobedience and rejects the Word, the judgment or divine discipline increases. This is illustrated by the ministries of Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Daniel. The nation of Israel brought discipline upon themselves through rejection of the Word concerning Divine Institution #4 - Nationalism. Lev. 26:14-16.

“'But if you do not obey Me and do not carry out all these commandments, if, instead, you reject My statutes, and if your soul abhors My ordinances so as not to carry out all My commandments, and so break My covenant, I, in turn, will do this to you: I will appoint over you a sudden terror, consumption and fever that will waste away the eyes and cause the soul to pine away; also, you will sow your seed uselessly, for your enemies will eat it up.” (Leviticus 26:14-16, NASB)

For a nation to survive, there must be morality. Immorality is evidenced by dishonesty. Two factors necessary to keep a nation together are salvation and morality. Morality is vitally necessary for the health of a nation, but will not, in itself, keep a nation from going down.

The Five Cycles of Discipline

The five cycles of discipline are described in Leviticus 26:14-46.

First Cycle of Discipline - Leviticus 26:14-17

“‘But if you do not obey Me and do not carry out all these commandments, if, instead, you reject My statutes, and if your soul abhors My ordinances so as not to carry out all My commandments, and so break My covenant, I, in turn, will do this to you: I will appoint over you a sudden terror, consumption and fever that will waste away the eyes and cause the soul to pine away; also, you will sow your seed uselessly, for your enemies will eat it up. ‘I will set My face against you so that you will be struck down before your enemies; and those who hate you will rule over you, and you will flee when no one is pursuing you.” (Leviticus 26:14-17, NASB)

In Leviticus 26:16, rulers will be “appointed” who do not care for the best interests of their people. There will be a loss of health in the nation. The more emphasis on health, the less health the nation enjoys. Hospitals will overflow with the sick. Mental disorders will become rampant with many admitted to hospitals having mental disorders. Note the terms “consumption and fever that will waste away the eyes and cause the soul to pine away.”

There will be terror, fear and death in combat. There will be a frantic search for security. There will be a big emphasis on life insurance, savings, welfare plans, etc. Terror or fear on the part of the people will cause many laws to be passed for the social betterment of the people. These laws will trap and suffocate them instead.

There will be a decline in agricultural prosperity or the national economy. “Sow your seed uselessly” refers to believers not having any impact upon the spiritual condition of their community. There will be loss of personal freedoms because believers are not walking in victory because they do not understand spirituality and are defeated spiritually.

Second Cycle of Discipline - Leviticus 26:18-20

“‘If also after these things you do not obey Me, then I will punish you seven times more for your sins. ‘I will also break down your pride of power; I will also make your sky like iron and your earth like bronze. ‘Your strength will be spent uselessly, for your land will not yield its produce and the trees of the land will not yield their fruit.” (Leviticus 26:18-20, NASB)

In the second cycle of divine discipline, there will be an increase in personal and national divine discipline intensity when compared to the first cycle. People will be characterized by pride and self-righteousness. Religion will predominate instead of Christianity. There will be lots of zeal, but not according to Bible doctrine. There will be economic recession and depression, disaster and famine.

Third Cycle of Discipline - Leviticus 26:21-22

“‘If then, you act with hostility against Me and are unwilling to obey Me, I will increase the plague on you seven times according to your sins. ‘I will let loose among you the beasts of the field, which will bereave you of your children and destroy your cattle and reduce your number so that your roads lie deserted.” (Leviticus 26:21-22, NASB)

In the third cycle of divine discipline, the forms of divine discipline to the nation from the previous discipline cycles will further intensify. There will be a breakdown of law and order. There will be increased internal violence. In Leviticus 26:22, the “beasts of the field” refers to violence in a nation. The Bible must be interpreted in the time in which it is written.

There will be rebellious teenagers and a significant increase in crime with little or no respect for authority. Property will be vandalized. Cities will be made desolate because of mass demonstrations. “Your roads lie deserted” refers to the severe restrictions of travel that will be enforced.

Fourth Cycle of Discipline - Leviticus 26:23-26

“‘And if by these things you are not turned to Me, but act with hostility against Me, then I will act with hostility against you; and I, even I, will strike you seven times for your sins. ‘I will also bring upon you a sword which will execute vengeance for the covenant; and when you gather together into your cities, I will send pestilence among you, so that you shall be delivered into enemy hands. ‘When I break your staff of bread, ten women will bake your bread in one oven, and they will bring back your bread in rationed amounts, so that you will eat and not be satisfied.” (Leviticus 26:23-26, NASB)

“I will also bring upon you a sword” refers to not doing well in military battles. The nation will suffer military defeats. It can be invasion by the enemy or it can be not winning in some foreign area. “Vengeance for the covenant” refers to the unconditional covenants of grace to Israel, in particular the Abrahamic and Palestinic covenants. Israel had forgotten the grace of God.

“Gather together into your cities” refers to a nation that actually lives in its cities like the US presently with huge population centers that become areas of crime and immorality. The danger signal in the fourth cycle is economic recession and severe inflation.

“Pestilence” refers to epidemics of disease, malnutrition, and physical weakness due to lack of good food. “Delivered into enemy hands” refers to decisive military defeat with all the horrors that go with it. “Break your staff of bread” is an idiom for a broken economy with resultant loss of savings and economic stability. Inflation will be at dangerous levels. “Ten women will bake” refers to a surplus of women due to the number of men killed in battle.

“Bring back your bread in rationed amounts” refers to scarcity of food leading to food rationing. This also refers to one-tenth of the normal amount of food available. “You will eat and not be satisfied” refers to a hungry nation. An example of the administration of the fourth cycle of discipline in history is the ten tribes of the Northern Kingdom of Israel in 2 Kings 17:1-5.

“In the twelfth year of Ahaz king of Judah, Hoshea the son of Elah became king over Israel in Samaria, and reigned nine years. He did evil in the sight of the LORD, only not as the kings of Israel who were before him. Shalmaneser king of Assyria came up against him, and Hoshea became his servant and paid him tribute. But the king of Assyria found conspiracy in Hoshea, who had sent messengers to So king of Egypt and had offered no tribute to the king of Assyria, as he had done year by year; so the king of Assyria shut him up and bound him in prison. Then the king of Assyria invaded the whole land and went up to Samaria and besieged it three years.” (2 Kings 17:1-5, NASB)

Fifth Cycle of Discipline

Characteristics of the Fifth Cycle of Discipline involve the destruction of the nation because of widespread rejection of the Word of God. Lev. 26:27-46; Deut. 28:49-57.

"'Yet if in spite of this you do not obey Me, but act with hostility against Me, then I will act with wrathful hostility against you, and I, even I, will punish you seven times for your sins." (Leviticus 26:27-28, NASB)

"'Further, you will eat the flesh of your sons and the flesh of your daughters you will eat. 'I then will destroy your high places, and cut down your incense altars, and heap your remains on the remains of your idols, for My soul shall abhor you." (Leviticus 26:29-30, NASB)

"'I will lay waste your cities as well and will make your sanctuaries desolate, and I will not smell your soothing aromas. 'I will make the land desolate so that your enemies who settle in it will be appalled over it." (Leviticus 26:31-32, NASB)

"'But you will perish among the nations, and your enemies' land will consume you. 'So those of you who may be left will rot away because of their iniquity in the lands of your enemies; and also because of the iniquities of their forefathers they will rot away with them." (Leviticus 26:38-39, NASB)

"'Yet in spite of this, when they are in the land of their enemies, I will not reject them, nor will I so abhor them as to destroy them, breaking My covenant with them; for I am the LORD their God. 'But I will remember for them the covenant with their ancestors, whom I brought out of the land of Egypt in the sight of the nations, that I might be their God. I am the LORD.'" These are the statutes and ordinances and laws which the LORD established between Himself and the sons of Israel through Moses at Mount Sinai." (Leviticus 26:44-46, NASB)

This is described in Zechariah 7:4-14 for the nation of Israel. Other characteristics of the Fifth Cycle of Discipline for Israel involved rejection of the Sabbatical Year and the Egyptian Alliance that was formed against God's will.

There was idolatry in Judah. Jer. 17:1-4.

“The sin of Judah is written down with an iron stylus; With a diamond point it is engraved upon the tablet of their heart And on the horns of their altars, As they remember their children, So they remember their altars and their Asherim By green trees on the high hills. O mountain of Mine in the countryside, I will give over your wealth and all your treasures for booty, Your high places for sin throughout your borders. And you will, even of yourself, let go of your inheritance That I gave you; And I will make you serve your enemies In the land which you do not know; For you have kindled a fire in My anger Which will burn forever.” (Jeremiah 17:1-4, NASB)

There was dependence on man instead of the Lord. Jer. 17:5-9.

“Thus says the LORD, "Cursed is the man who trusts in mankind And makes flesh his strength, And whose heart turns away from the LORD. "For he will be like a bush in the desert And will not see when prosperity comes, But will live in stony wastes in the wilderness, A land of salt without inhabitant. "Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD And whose trust is the LORD. "For he will be like a tree planted by the water, That extends its roots by a stream And will not fear when the heat comes; But its leaves will be green, And it will not be anxious in a year of drought Nor cease to yield fruit. "The heart is more deceitful than all else And is desperately sick; Who can understand it?” (Jeremiah 17:5-9, NASB)

There was emotionalism. Jer. 17:10.

“"I, the LORD, search the heart, I test the mind, Even to give to each man according to his ways, According to the results of his deeds.” (Jeremiah 17:10, NASB)

There was a false scale of values and forsaking the Lord. Jer. 17:13.

“O LORD, the hope of Israel, All who forsake You will be put to shame. Those who turn away on earth will be written down, Because they have forsaken the fountain of living water, even the LORD.” (Jeremiah 17:13, NASB)

There was cannibalism. Lev. 26:29.

“‘Further, you will eat the flesh of your sons and the flesh of your daughters you will eat.” (Leviticus 26:29, NASB)

There was horrible and wide-spread death of more than 1.9 million Jews during the complete destruction of Jerusalem by Rome in 70 AD. Lev. 26:30.

“'I then will destroy your high places, and cut down your incense altars, and heap your remains on the remains of your idols, for My soul shall abhor you.” (Leviticus 26:30, NASB)

There was complete destruction of Jerusalem and of the temple. Lev. 26:31.

“'I will lay waste your cities as well and will make your sanctuaries desolate, and I will not smell your soothing aromas.” (Leviticus 26:31, NASB)

There was utter desolation of the land of Israel. Lev. 26:32.

“'I will make the land desolate so that your enemies who settle in it will be appalled over it.” (Leviticus 26:32, NASB)

There was and continues to this day dispersion of the Jews among the Gentile nations. Lev. 26:33.

“'You, however, I will scatter among the nations and will draw out a sword after you, as your land becomes desolate and your cities become waste.” (Leviticus 26:33, NASB)

Israel and the Fifth Cycle of Discipline

The Northern Kingdom underwent the Fifth Cycle of Discipline in 721 BC by Assyria under Sargon II. This national divine discipline will last until the Second Advent of Jesus Christ. 2 Kings 17:6; 2 Kings 17:23.

“In the ninth year of Hoshea, the king of Assyria captured Samaria and carried Israel away into exile to Assyria, and settled them in Halah and Habor, on the river of Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes.” (2 Kings 17:6, NASB)

“until the LORD removed Israel from His sight, as He spoke through all His servants the prophets. So Israel was carried away into exile from their own land to Assyria until this day.” (2 Kings 17:23, NASB)

The Southern Kingdom of Judah underwent the first administration of the Fifth Cycle of Discipline in 586-516 BC by Nebuchadnezzar. This Babylonian captivity and slavery lasted for 70 years - from the fall of Jerusalem to the rebuilding of the temple led by Zerubbabel.

The Southern Kingdom of Judah underwent the second administration of the Fifth Cycle of Discipline from 63 to 70 AD with the complete destruction of Jerusalem by Rome first by Vespasian and then by his son Titus. The surviving Jews were scattered throughout the earth – the Diaspora. This dispersion continues today and will last until the Second Advent of Jesus Christ. The temple that will be built at Jerusalem in the Tribulation is not bonafide.

The Fifth Cycle of Discipline in Dispensations

Age of the Gentiles

The moral and spiritual breakdown of a nation leads to national divine discipline. This includes Internationalism with the construction of the Tower of Babel in Genesis 11:3-4.

“They said to one another, "Come, let us make bricks and burn them thoroughly." And they used brick for stone, and they used tar for mortar. They said, "Come, let us build for ourselves a city, and a tower whose top will reach into heaven, and let us make for ourselves a name, otherwise we will be scattered abroad over the face of the whole earth."” (Genesis 11:3-4, NASB)

Idealism in defiance of God also leads to national divine discipline. They conceived a better society, more secure, more compatible, more idealistic. Volitional defiance of God leads to national divine discipline. They started at the “grass roots” level. “They said one to another” means they discussed what they should do and agreed to go this route.

Governmental defiance of God leads to national divine discipline. These nations united in an effort to organize their society under agreed principles. Physical defiance of God leads to national divine discipline. This involved dissatisfaction with the type of human living existing in their time. The whole ecology bit is anti-nature in reverse.

Spiritual defiance of God leads to national divine discipline. This was complete disregard for God. There was no communication between God and man. God didn’t seem to be interested in trying to get a reversal of their opinion and ideals. This was human good vs. divine good. Personal defiance of God leads to national divine discipline. This is a structural revolt against God. They refused the divine mandate of going throughout the world and multiplying.

Age of the Jews

In the Age of the Jews, they rejected the Bible doctrine being communicated. They would not listen and would not obey. Characteristics of a nation rejecting Bible doctrine and building for the five cycles of divine discipline can be found in Hosea 4:1-9 and Leviticus 26:14. In Hosea 4:1, “no faithfulness or kindness” means there was no application of grace.

“'But if you do not obey Me and do not carry out all these commandments,” (Leviticus 26:14, NASB)

In Hosea 4:2, “swearing” refers to false business practices. In Hosea 4:3, “languishes” means they were in a miserable state.

“There is swearing, deception, murder, stealing and adultery. They employ violence, so that bloodshed follows bloodshed.” (Hosea 4:2, NASB)

“Therefore the land mourns, And everyone who lives in it languishes Along with the beasts of the field and the birds of the sky, And also the fish of the sea disappear.” (Hosea 4:3, NASB)

In Hosea 4:7, “The more they multiplied” refers to a false prosperity. In Hosea 4:9, “like people, like priest” means the people will follow their religious leaders to destruction.

“The more they multiplied, the more they sinned against Me; I will change their glory into shame.” (Hosea 4:7, NASB)

“And it will be, like people, like priest; So I will punish them for their ways And repay them for their deeds.” (Hosea 4:9, NASB)

They rejected God's statutes and would not obey His commandments. They refused to obey written revelation. Lev. 26:15; Deut. 28:15; Deut. 28:58.

“if, instead, you reject My statutes, and if your soul abhors My ordinances so as not to carry out all My commandments, and so break My covenant,” (Leviticus 26:15, NASB)

“"But it shall come about, if you do not obey the LORD your God, to observe to do all His commandments and His statutes with which I charge you today, that all these curses will come upon you and overtake you:” (Deuteronomy 28:15, NASB)

“"If you are not careful to observe all the words of this law which are written in this book, to fear this honored and awesome name, the LORD your God,” (Deuteronomy 28:58, NASB)

The reasons for divine discipline to the nation of Israel can be found in Isaiah 2. In the entire book of Isaiah, Israel had rejected the authority of God. Drunkenness was evident. Isaiah 28:7-8.

“And these also reel with wine and stagger from strong drink: The priest and the prophet reel with strong drink, They are confused by wine, they stagger from strong drink; They reel while having visions, They totter when rendering judgment. For all the tables are full of filthy vomit, without a single clean place.” (Isaiah 28:7-8, NASB)

They became religious and worshipped other gods. 1 Kings; 2 Kings 17:7; 2 Kings 22:15-16.

“Now this came about because the sons of Israel had sinned against the LORD their God, who had brought them up from the land of Egypt from under the hand of Pharaoh, king of Egypt, and they had feared other gods” (2 Kings 17:7, NASB)

“She said to them, "Thus says the LORD God of Israel, 'Tell the man who sent you to me, thus says the LORD, "Behold, I bring evil on this place and on its inhabitants, even all the words of the book which the king of Judah has read.” (2 Kings 22:15-16, NASB)

Age of the Church

The cycles of divine discipline are administered to a nation because they become a religious nation as well as other factors. Refusal to preserve and follow the four divine institutions and the laws of divine establishment brings national decline and divine discipline.

In the Church Age, Israel will remain under the fifth cycle of discipline. Rom. 11:7-8; Rom. 11:25; 2 Cor. 3:13-14.

“What then? What Israel is seeking, it has not obtained, but those who were chosen obtained it, and the rest were hardened; just as it is written, "GOD GAVE THEM A SPIRIT OF STUPOR, EYES TO SEE NOT AND EARS TO HEAR NOT, DOWN TO THIS VERY DAY."” (Romans 11:7-8, NASB)

“For I do not want you, brethren, to be uninformed of this mystery—so that you will not be wise in your own estimation—that a partial hardening has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in;” (Romans 11:25, NASB)

“and are not like Moses, who used to put a veil over his face so that the sons of Israel would not look intently at the end of what was fading away. But their minds were hardened; for until this very day at the reading of the old covenant the same veil remains unlifted, because it is removed in Christ.” (2 Corinthians 3:13-14, NASB)

Age of the Kingdom

At the end of the Millennial Kingdom of Jesus Christ, Satan will be released and he will unite all unbelievers against Jesus Christ in the Gog and Magog Revolution. This will be Satan’s last stand with a united military front against our Lord and His saints. Rev. 20:7-9.

“When the thousand years are completed, Satan will be released from his prison, and will come out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together for the war; the number of them is like the sand of the seashore. And they came up on the broad plain of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city, and fire came down from heaven and devoured them.” (Revelation 20:7-9, NASB)

God’s National Discipline Expressed

God expressed His judgment on the Tower of Babel and Internationalism in Genesis 11. He also expressed His divine discipline in the conquest of Canaan in Joshua. He brought divine discipline on Egypt in the Exodus. Gen. 15; Isaiah 20. He brought severe divine discipline on Assyria in 2 Kings 19:35 and 2 Chronicles 32:21.

“Then it happened that night that the angel of the LORD went out and struck 185,000 in the camp of the Assyrians; and when men rose early in the morning, behold, all of them were dead.” (2 Kings 19:35, NASB)

“And the LORD sent an angel who destroyed every mighty warrior, commander and officer in the camp of the king of Assyria. So he returned in shame to his own land. And when he had entered the temple of his god, some of his own children killed him there with the sword.” (2 Chronicles 32:21, NASB)

He brought divine discipline on Babylon in Daniel 5 and Daniel 2:35.

“"Then the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver and the gold were crushed all at the same time and became like chaff from the summer threshing floors; and the wind carried them away so that not a trace of them was found. But the stone that struck the statue became a great mountain and filled the whole earth.” (Daniel 2:35, NASB)

God’s discipline was meted out to Edom in Obadiah 1:1-9.

“"The arrogance of your heart has deceived you, You who live in the clefts of the rock, In the loftiness of your dwelling place, Who say in your heart, 'Who will bring me down to earth?' "Though you build high like the eagle, Though you set your nest among the stars, From there I will bring you down," declares the LORD.” (Obadiah 1:3-4, NASB)

“"Then your mighty men will be dismayed, O Teman, So that everyone may be cut off from the mountain of Esau by slaughter.” (Obadiah 1:9, NASB)

National discipline is a part of the prophetic plan of God. Zeph. 3:8.

“"Therefore wait for Me," declares the LORD, "For the day when I rise up as a witness. Indeed, My decision is to gather nations, To assemble kingdoms, To pour out on them My indignation, All My burning anger; For all the earth will be devoured By the fire of My zeal.” (Zephaniah 3:8, NASB)

Divine Discipline to Cities

Divine discipline is not just related to nations, but also to cities such as Sodom and Gomorrah in Genesis 18:20, Jericho in Joshua 6, Jerusalem in Luke 21:24 and Jeremiah 5:1, Damascus in Isaiah 17:1, Nineveh in Nahum 3:5-8, Babylon in Isaiah 13:19-21, Tyre in Ezra 26, Ezra 27, and Isaiah 23:1, Rome in Revelation 17:11 and Revelation 18:1ff, Chorazin and Bethsaida in Matthew 11:21, and Sidon in Ezra 28:20-22.

“And the LORD said, "The outcry of Sodom and Gomorrah is indeed great, and their sin is exceedingly grave.” (Genesis 18:20, NASB)

“The oracle concerning Damascus. "Behold, Damascus is about to be removed from being a city And will become a fallen ruin.” (Isaiah 17:1, NASB)

“The oracle concerning Tyre. Wail, O ships of Tarshish, For Tyre is destroyed, without house or harbor; It is reported to them from the land of Cyprus.” (Isaiah 23:1, NASB)

“"Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles had occurred in Tyre and Sidon which occurred in you, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.” (Matthew 11:21, NASB)