Bible_Study_3 Flashcards
The ark was __ Feet wide.
75
How long did it take to build the Ark?
120 years
What was the length of the flood?
371 days
Where did the Ark land?
Mount Ararat
What verse establishes the divine death penalty for murder?
Genesis 9:6
Archaeology silenced the skeptics when the ruins of this major city were excavated in the years 1922-1934.
Ur
Ur was: One of the chief cities of the ancient world and capital of the kingdom of the _______.♦Had a population of approximately ______ and was one of the world’s leading trade centers. ♦Was also a major center of the pagan religion that flowed out of Babel. ♦There was a massive ziggurat tower constructed after the design of the tower of Babel.♦Pagan temples in Ur honored ______ the Moon-god and his wife _____.
Sumerians, 300,000, Nannar, Ningal
This chapter has the first giving of the Abrahamic covenant in it.
Genesis 12
I will make thee a great nation (Gen 12:2a)♦Here God first promises to produce the ______ that will become Israel from the seed of Abraham
Nation
I will bless thee (Gen 12:2b)♦God promises _______ blessings to Abraham and he would indeed receive both earthly and heavenly riches. His ____ was also included in this blessing.
Personal, Seed
I will “make thy name great” (Gen 12:2c)♦Outside of the name of Jesus or God, no name has been more ______. Abraham is revered by the Arab World, the Muslims, the Jews and the Christians.
Honored
Thou shalt be a blessing (Gen 12:2d)♦This promise speaks first and foremost of Abraham and then of his physical seed, but it also extends to his _______ seed. The seed of Abraham has been the source of untold blessing to the world.
Spiritual
And I will bless them that bless thee (Gen 12:3a)♦God here promises blessing on all people and nations who ____ Abraham and his seed.
Bless
I will “curse him that curseth thee” (Gen 12:3b)♦Those who curse Israel place themselves under ___‘_ curse. No nation can stand against Israel and long stand.
God’s
And in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed (Gen 12:3c)♦This refers to Christ’s coming as the ultimate seed of Abraham to *bless all nations through* the _______ made available to the world.
Salvation
The Abrahamic covenant is♦1. ____________♦2._____________♦3. ___-_____________ and♦4.________.
Eternal, Unconditional, Non-transferable, Literal
The Abrahamic covenant is further expanded and affirmed to Abraham in Gen 15:18-21 and 17:1-21, to __________ in Gen 26:2-5, and to ______ in Gen 28:10-17
Isaac, Jacob
Why is the Abrahamic Covenant unconditional? Because it is based upon the ______ and the ______ of *Jehovah God, not* upon the actions or obedience of *Israel*
Promise, Character
This view claims that Israel has been permanently rejected by God, but that God is still keeping his promises to Israel, because these promises have now been transferred from the physical seed of Abraham to the spiritual seed of Abraham in the Church
Replacement Theology
If God made specific promises to Israel as a nation and never delivered what He promised these would be _______ promises even if He gave something else (spiritual blessings) to someone else (the Church)
Broken
Abraham asked God for Confirmation of His Covenant (Gen 15:7-8)♦ God tells Abram to assemble animals for the sealing of the covenant (Gen 15:9-11)♦ in Abram’s time, the 2 parties of a _____ ________ would slaughter and divide animals and then walk hand in hand together between the pieces, thus signifying that they would keep the covenant under the penalty of death♦ God then placed Abram into a deep sleep and passed through the midst of the animals alone, signifying that His covenant with Abram was unconditional (Gen 15:12,17)♦ God’s covenant with Israel is therefore not dependent upon anything that Abraham or his descendants would ever do. Thus Israel would _____ be God’s chosen people!
Blood Covenant, Always
Abram means:
exalted father
Abraham means:
father of a great multitude
Sarai means:
Contentious
Sarah means:
Princess
Isaac means:
laughter
In fear Lot hides in a cave where his carnality reaps its final wages, his two daughters get their father drunk and then lie with him to preserve his seed. (Gen 19:30-38)♦ The children born become the fathers of the these two long time foes of Israel:
Ammonites and Moabites
Abraham takes Keturah as his new wife. God blesses this couple with six sons. Among these sons was Midian, from whom descended this enemy of Israel: The __________.
Midianites
God tempts or_____ Abraham by telling him to offer his only son as a sacrifice.
Tests
Abraham’s faith is seen in the fact that he “rose up” early to obey God with no ____________, “accounting that God was able to raise him [Isaac] up, even from the dead.”
Hesitation
They reached Moriah after a three days journey and ♦Abraham tells his servants that he and Isaac would both ________.
Return
The land of Moriah was the part of Jerusalem where the ________ _________was later built.
Jewish Temple
Isaac asks,” where is the Lamb?” Abraham answers that “God will provide _______ a Lamb “ Abraham binds a _________ Isaac to the altar and raises his knife to slay his only son. God cries out “Abraham, Abraham!” and stops the sacrifice. Abraham had _________ the test.
himself, willing, passed
Who stopped Abraham from slaying Isaac, knowing that it was not Isaac who would be given by His Father as the sacrifice for sins.
Jesus
God shows Abraham a ram “in the stead of his son “Christ was offered in our _____. Abraham names the place Jehovah Jireh,” The LORD will _______”
stead, provide
In the marriage of Isaac and Rebekah who does each person picture ?♦1. Abraham (hint: Father of Israel)♦2. Eliezar (hint: he worked behind the scenes)♦3. Isaac (hint: Almost an innocent Sacrifice)♦4. Rebekah (hint: The wife of the Isaac)
God The Father,♦The Holy Spirit,♦Christ,♦The Church
Abraham’s wife
Sarah
Isaac’s wife
Rebekah
Jacob’s wives
Rachel and Leah
When was Abram/Abraham born? (approximately)
2166 BC
- Father of Abram and his two brothers Nahor, and Haran (the father of Lot), ♦2. a descendant of Shum
Terah
Abram is called by God to leave his father’s house to go to Canaan, but he took his father, “Terah”, and traveled only to Haran, the last major outpost of civilization along the trade routes. Abram’s father then dies and Abram quickly moves on. What is the meaning of “Terah”?
Delay
Nephew of Abraham
Lot
After the servants of Abram and Lot argue over grazing rights. Abram permits Lot to take his pick of the land. Lot chooses the well watered plains of Jordan and pitches his tent toward ______.
Sodom
We always move toward or near to sin before we move ____ sin.
into
First born twin of Rebekah and Isaac, red all over, Jacob born grasping his heel
Esau
Rebekah feels the twins (Esau and Jacob) struggle within her and inquiries of the Lord. God tells her that 2 nations struggle within her and that the elder will serve the stronger nation that will come from the younger.What were the 2 nations?
Israel, (Jacob) Edom (Esau)
Esau despises and sells his birthright to Jacob for a mess of _______. He counted instant gratification of his desires of more value than the ___________ blessings of the birthright.
Pottage, Future
Egyptian handmaiden (of Sarai) who gave birth to Ishmael.
Hagar
Hagar bears Ishmael when Abram is __ years of age.
86
Son of Abraham by Hagar the Egyptian servant. Becomes the father of many Arab nations.
Ishmael
King-Priest of Salem (Jerusalem),♦ He brings Abram bread and wine and blesses him (picture of the future offering of the body and blood of Christ on the Cross). ♦Abram gives him tithes of all.
Melchizedek
Abraham takes her as his new wife after Sarah dies . God blesses this couple with six sons, among these was Midian, from whom descended the Midianites, who became enemies of Israel.
Keturah
Jacob’s uncle (brother of Jacob’s mother Rebekah)
Laban
Rebekah arranges to send Jacob back to her father’s house to find a wife, En-route to Haran, Jacob stops at ______. He camps there for the night, resting upon a stone pillow. That night he dreams,” and behold a _______ set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven: and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it. God speaks from above the heavenly ladder and reconfirms His covenant with Jacob as the chosen _____ of Abraham.
Bethel, (house of God )Ladder, Seed
An officer of Pharoah’s and captain of the guard who purchased 17 year old Joseph as a slave
Potiphar
Land in Egypt where the Israelites settled.
Goshen
Jacob’s name was changed to:
Israel
Sodom and Gomorrah (Know which two chapters)
Genesis 18-19
Abraham offers Isaac (Know which chapter)
Genesis 22
Match reference to verse:♦And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness.
Genesis 15:6
Match reference to verse:♦For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth:♦And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God:
Job 19:25-26
Match reference to verse:♦Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.
Job 23:12
Match reference to verse:♦I made a covenant with mine eyes; why then should I think upon a maid?
Job 31:12
What is the main theme of Job?
The sovereignty of God
What is the secondary theme of Job?
The suffering of Job
Who are the 3 possible authors of Job?
Moses, (view of traditional Jewish tradition) Elihu, Job
The book of Job is possibly the _______ book of the Bible. It’s events occur during the time of the Patriarchs, just before or after ____________’s time.
Oldest, Abraham
What is the purpose and message of Job:
Why the righteous suffer
God will never allow things to happen to you that he doesn’t intend to be for:♦1. Your____,♦2. Others’ _________, or♦3. His _____.
Good, Blessings, Glory
God will never allow anything to happen to his children which is _____ than they can bear with His _____.
More, Grace
How many children did Job lose?
10
What was Job’s righteous response to his loss.♦He _______.♦He ________ God.♦He focused on what God ____, not what God took away.
Mourned, Worshiped, Gave
Job’s friend who based his arguments on mystical visions and personal experiences and declares that Job should repent, because all his suffering are the result of sin.
Eliphaz
Job’s friend who based his arguments on tradition and declares that Job should repent, because all his suffering are the result of his sin.
Bildad
Job’s friend who based his arguments on Personal opinion and declares that Job should repent, because all his suffering are the result of his sin.
Zophar
Job’s friend who remains silent until the end, (because of his youth and out of respect for his elders) then finally declares that all four of them are wrong.
Elihu
Elihu did not accuse Job of ___________ for his sin as the other three speakers, but does condemn Job for ____________ God. He exhorts Job to humility before God.
Suffering, Accusing
Elihu comes closer to the truth in his speech than the others. Did God ever condemn Elihu as He does the previous three speakers?
No
Elihu is angry or upset with the three friends because that had “_____ __ _______” yet they still condemned Job.
Found No Answer
Elihu is upset with Job because he “justified _______ rather than God “ In other words: his self righteousness and prideful defense had finally brought him to the point of accusing God.
Himself
Elihu defends God’s righteousness in suffering by saying:♦God has the right to remain ____________ and still be just and ____________; and says that to understand suffering, we must see God’s _________.
Silent, Sovereign, Glory
Elihu points out that there are _____ reasons for suffering other than personal sin. Elihu prepares the way for _______ appearance as God Himself actually continues with some of Elihu’s themes.
Other, God’s
Summary: The basic message of God to Job:♦Job can you understand even the simplest things of the ways of my creation? (no)♦Job look upon me. Can you understand Me or My ways?(no)♦Job can’t you understand that you ___‘_ _________ all of my ways?♦Now Job, behold My Wisdom, My Glory & My love and ask yourself the question, Even though you can’t understand, can you _____ Me? (yes)
Can’t Understand, Trust
Ok, I couldn’t turn these into questions, so, just read them, and give the Answer: I Studied This♦1. All suffering is ultimately the result of the entrance of sin into this world at the fall (we live in cursed bodies in a cursed world ).♦2. Some suffering is the result of personal sin.♦3. Some suffering is the result of the sins of others .♦4. Some suffering is for God’s glory, that He might demonstrate His Grace, power, comfort and deliverance . ♦5. Some suffering is to purify and strengthen us to make us more usable for God’s service and more like Christ.♦6. Some suffering is to accomplish a greater good. (such as the suffering of Joseph in Egypt or the death of Christ on the cross)
I Studied This
All suffering is not the result of personal sin. The law of ________ in Hinduism teaches this, but the Bible does not.
Karma
A perfect world, demands ______ _____ . God wanted us to love Him because we _____ choose to do so not because we were forced.
Free Will, Freely
Reasons for Job’s victory in his suffering:♦He focused on the fact that God has given us ___ we have.♦He was ________ in God’s word before the suffering in his life.♦He was _____. Personal guilt intensifies suffering.♦He turned to ___ in his suffering.
All, Rooted, Pure, God
What is the first thing we should do at times of suffering in our life but is often the last we do?
Turn to God
Job repeatedly asked “Why?”, was he rebuked by God for this?
No (Even Jesus asked God “Why” once)
When God chose not tell him, Job demanded an answer and concluded God was unjust if He did not give one. Job was __________ for this.
Rebuked
It is the right of God to answer the “Why?” question or not to. He uses the lack of understanding to stretch and strengthen our ______.
Faith
Another clear message of Job is that the understanding of suffering is often far beyond our ability to ___________ and therefore God ____________ explain all suffering to us.
Comprehend, Cannot
These 2 chapters describe two dinosaurs in great detail.
Job 41-42
What are two of the names used for dinosaurs in Job?
Behemoth, Leviathan
The Sea stands for
The Gentile Nations
The Smiting Stone (Dan 2) of Neb.’s Dream stood for
Jesus
The first full-time Minister of Satan was
Nimrod, Noah’s wicked and apostate great grandson and the head of the Babel project.
Eight O.T. Steps through the Bible in Order
Step 1: The Beginning - The Need for a Savior (Genesis 1-11)♦Step 2: The Hebrew Fathers - The Family of the Savior (Genesis 12-50 and Job)♦Step 3: The Exodus - Freedom from Egypt♦Step 4: The Promised Land♦ Step 5: The Judges♦Step 6: The Kingdom♦Step 7: The Exile♦Step 8: The Restoration
The 2 Prophets of the Exile Step
Daniel & Ezekiel
Length of the Exile
70 years
Taken captive in the 1st Invasion
Daniel
Taken captive in the 2nd Invasion
Ezekiel
Taken captive in the 3rd Invasion:
Jeremiah
The first Key Event of the Exile
The Ministry of Ezekiel to the Captives and Daniel to the crown.
Closing Events of the Exile
- Three returns to Jerusalem from Babylon♦2. Beginning with the Decrees of Cyrus to Rebuild the Temple and Jerusalem
The Northern Kingdom of Israel was carried captive by
Assyria
The Southern Kingdom of Judah was carried captive by
Babylon
Subtitle of Ezekiel
The Prophet of the Glory of God
Author of Ezekiel
Ezekiel
Recipients of Ezekiel
The Jewish Captives in Babylon.
Before the fall of Jerusalem, Ezekiel warned Judah of
the coming judgement.
After the fall of Jerusalem, Ezekiel encouraged
the Captives concerning their future restoration.
Ezekiel was the prophet to the people
of the Exile
Jeremiah was the prophet
before the Exile.
Ezekiel’s message was to remind the Captives of
why they were in Babylon and then to predict the ultimate judgment of the Gentile Nations and restoration of the Jewish Nation.
Ezekiel was a
priest, as were the prophets Jeremiah and Zechariah.
Ezekiel was 18
at the time of the 1st invasion in 605 BC.
Ezekiel probably heard
Jeremiah’s preaching before his capture and was greatly influenced by him. He has been called “the prolongation of the voice of Jeremiah.”
Ezekiel received his Call at
age 30, which was 5 years after his capture.
Ezekiel ministered among the
captives, by the River Chebar, a canal off the Euphrates River near Babylon. He was the prophet to the common man.
Ezekiel had been called the
Father of Judaism, since it was primarily his ministry that brought the Jews back to God and away from idolatry during the Captivity.
Theme of Ezekiel
The Departation and Restoration of Israel’s Glory
Ezekiel was
the most dramatic, flamboyant and theatrical of all the prophets, acting out his messages in amazing ways.
Ezekiel is called the
Prophet of the Glory of God because of his amazing vision of the glory of God and his many visions throughout the book. He also records both the Removal and the Return of God’s Shekinah Glory Cloud.
Ezekiel is also called the
first of the apocalyptic prophets. These were prophets who recorded future events in symbolic visions, such as the familiar style of the books of Daniel and Revelation.
Ezekiel is one of the first of
three Biblical books which describes the Fall of Satan.
Ezekiel contains the amazing prophecies of
World War 3.
Ezekiel 28
Satan’s Fall
Ezekiel 37
Vision of Dry Bones
Ezekiel 38
Russian/Iranian Invasion of Israel
The History of the religion of Tammuz:
Satan’s church officially began at the tower of Babel in Genesis 11:1-9. The purpose of this Tower was to “reach to heaven”, not so much just physically, but rather spiritually, for the purpose of worshiping the heavens, the sun, moon, and stars.
Secular history and tradition tell us that Nimrod married a woman who was as evil and demonic as himself. This vial woman’s name was Semerimus.
- Knowing God’s promise of a future savior, Semerimus brazenly claimed that Tammuz, her first son fulfilled this prophecy.♦2. She also claimed that he was conceived by a sunbeam and was in fact, the reincarnation of Nimrod. He thus came to be worshipped as the sun god.
Semerimus instituted a religious system in which she made herself and her son
the objects of divine worship. Thus began the mother-child fertility cult that later spread over the world when the people were scattered from Babel.
Venus and Cupid -
Rome, Venus and Jupiter in Old Rome and with the Sumarians,
Baal and Ashtaroth -
Phonecians.
Diana -
Ephesus
Subtitle of Daniel
The Old Testament Book of Revelation
Content of Daniel
•Contains the history of the world written in advance. Through images and beasts, dreams and visions, the author outlines the course of history from his time until the end of time for the Gentile Nations. He also outlines God’s prophetic timetable for His dealings with Israel.♦•Daniel is the story of a young teenage captive who because prophet and prime minister.
Recipients of Daniel
Written to the Jewish Captives and Returnees as well as to the Gentiles of the Persian Empire.
Dates of Daniel
605-536 BC. He ministered throughout the entire 70 year captivity.
Key Chapter of Daniel
Daniel 9: Daniel’s 70 weeks prophecy
The book of Daniel spans the entire
Babylonian Exile with Daniel having been captured in the first of 3 invasions of Israel by Babylon.
Daniel ministers throughout the
Babylonian Empire and then even past its fall to the Medo-Persian Empire at the end of the 70 years.
Author of the book of Daniel
Daniel
As a teenager, Daniel was one of those of royal blood taken captive
by Nebuchadnezzar during the 1st Babylonian siege of Jerusalem in 605 BC.
In Captivity, Daniel served without compromise under the
administrations of several kings, including Nebuchadnezzar, Belshazzar, and Darius.
As a contemporary of Daniel,
Ezekiel referred to Daniel 3 times as an example of righteousness and wisdom, comparing him with Noah and Job.
Daniel is one of the few well known Bible Characters
about whom nothing Negative is ever written.
While Ezekiel was the prophet to the Common Jewish man among the captives,
Daniel was the prophet to the Gentile Crown reigning above the captives.
Theme of Daniel
The Revelation of Israel’s Prophetic Future
Daniel’s prophecies are so astounding that skeptics have attacked this book more fiercely than almost any other Bible book.
The reason for this is simple. If his prophecies are accepted as authentic, they provide irrefutable proof of the Inspiration of Scripture.
Daniel Chapter 11 alone has over
100 specific historical prophecies which have already been literally fulfilled.
The prophecies in Daniel are so accurate that the only attack skeptics can raise after them is to claim that
they must have been written after their fulfillments took place and that they only claim to be prophecies.
The blasphemous charge that the prophecies in Daniel were written after they happened is ludicrous in light of the fact
that many of the prophecies of Daniel were fulfilled after Daniel had been accepted into the Old Testament canon and even translated into the Greek translation of the Old Testament called the Septuagint. In fact, copies of Daniel have been discovered which are older than many of the fulfillments in the book.
Some of Daniel’s prophecies are even fulfilled in the life of Jesus
after He quoted from the book!
The book of Daniel is the key and foundation to
understanding both God’s prophetic plan for the last days and the book of Revelation.
While the bulk of the Old Testament is written in the Hebrew language,
Daniel 2:4-7:28 is written in Aramaic.
Daniel, Ezekiel, Zechariah, and Revelation are
the Apocalyptic books of the Bible. Apocalyptic books are those which contain visions of prophetic symbolism.
Daniel was carried captive in
Babylonian King Nebuchadnezzar’s 1st invasion of Judah in 605BC with Jerusalem.
The Temple was destroyed in the
3rd invasion in 586 BC.
The Captivity lasted
70 years.
Daniel’s 70 weeks prophecy is found in
Daniel 9.
The Decree to rebuild Jerusalem
started the 70 weeks.
A “Week” means
7 years.
After the 69th week,
the Messiah cut off and Jerusalem and the Temple are destroyed.
After the 69th week, there is a time gap
during which the Church age occurs.
The 70th week
The Tribulataion
The 70 weeks are divided into three parts.
The third division of the 70 weeks is the Tribulation.
There will be one week (seven years from the Rapture)
until the Millennium.
Beginning: On the first day of this final seven year period the Antichrist (as the head of the revisited Roman empire, A United Europe)
will confirm a 7 year covenant or Peace Treaty with Israel. This event begins the 7 year clock of the Tribulation!
Israel came into existence as a nation in
1948
Europe began an economic union in 1948
and achieved political union on January 1, 1993.
Peace negotiations with Israel and her Arab neighbors (with European representatives involved)
began after the Gulf War and saw an initial treaty signed in September of 1993.
Captivity was 70 years to allow the land to rest for the 490 years that
Israel had failed to keep the 7th year Sabbaths
Daniel Chapter 11 has over
100 fulfilled prophecies.
The Breast & Arms of Silver of Neb.’s Dream stood for
Persia 539-331 BC
The Head of Gold of Neb.’s Dream stood for
Babylon 606-539 BC
The Belly & Thighs of Brass of Neb.’s Dream stood for
Greece 331-323 BC
The Legs & Feet of Iron & Clay of Neb.’s Dream stood for
Rome 322 BC- AD 476 and future
A Lion with Eagle’s Wings (Four Beasts of Daniel 7) stood for
Babylon & Nebuchadnezzar (the golden head)♦The Lion (the king of the beasts) and the Eagle (king of the birds of air) were both symbols of Babylon).
A The Bear raised on one side with 3 ribs in its mouth (Four Beasts of Daniel 7) stood for
Persia and Cyrus (the silver breast and arms)♦This bear raised itself up on one side, referring to the stronger Persian part of the Median and Persian alliance.
The Terrible Beast, dreadful and strong with great iron teeth and 10 horns (the Iron and Clay legs, feet and toes) (Four Beasts of Daniel 7) stood for
Historic Rome and the Caesars
The swift Leopard with 4 wings and 4 heads (Four Beasts of Daniel 7) stood for
Greece and Alexander the Great (the brass belly and thighs)
The 2 horned ram of Neb.’s Dream stood for
Darius of Persia
The 1 horned Goat of Daniel 8
Alexander the Great of Greece
6 books of the Restoration (step 8) are
Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi.
Return #1 Led by Zerubbabel
The Temple Rebuilt
Return #2 Led by Ezra
The People Revived
Return #3 Led by Nehemiah
The Walls Rebuilt
The book of Ezra contains
First 2 returns from captivity and rebuilding of the temple
The book of Nehemiah contains
Third return from captivity and rebuilding of the wall
The book of Esther contains
Salvation of the Jews still in captivity
The books of Haggai & Zechariah contain
Salvation of the Jews still in captivity♦This dynamic duo stirred the people to continue rebuilding the temple
The book of Malachi contains
Reviving the people
Subtitle of Ezra
Israel’s Second Exodus or “The Hostages Set Free!”
Ezra tells of the
first 2 of 3 major returns of the Jews to Jerusalem from the Babylonian Captivity, the rebuilding of the Jewish temple, and the perils of the early settlers.
Ezra is a continuation of the history of
1 & 2 Chronicles - which is then continued on in the history of Nehemiah.
Author of Ezra
Ezra
Ezra led the
2nd return from captivity
Ezra led the great revival of the people,
so great that he is credited with having actually saved both the Jewish nation and the Jewish religion from extinction.
Ezra organized the synagogue form of
worship to teach the people the law.
Ezra also authored
1 & 2 Chronicles and arranged the book of Psalms.
Ezra collected, selected, and organized the books of the Old Testament.
Thus, the canon was actually selected by an inspired author of Scripture.
Ezra founded the order of scribes who
meticulously hand copied the Old Testament manuscripts with a precision unbelievable to us today.
The Recipients of Ezra
The first 2 waves of Returnees from the 70 year Babylonian Captivity to encourage them to true worship and covenantal obedience because of God’s Mercy.
(Ezra) During the first year of Cyrus’ reign, he issued the decree which permitted
the Jews to return to Jerusalem and rebuild their temple.
(Ezra) Isaiah had actually called Cyrus by name some
170 years earlier and said he would issue to decree to return and build the temple!
(Ezra) Darius the Great (520-486 BC) ordered that construction of the Jerusalem Temple be resumed.
Darius restored order in the Persian Empire after it fell into chaos after the death of Cambyses. (Darius the Great should not be confused with Darius the Mede).
(Ezra) Xerxes I (486-465 BC) or Ahasuerus
made Esther his Queen.
(Ezra) Artaxerxes (465-424 BC)
allowed Ezra and Nehemiah to return.
Theme of Ezra
The Restoration of Israel’s Temple and People.
The Hebrew Bible combines the books of_______________ & ____________ as one book.
Ezra and Nehemiah It is important to remember that Ezra includes the first and second return from captivity. Nehemiah includes the third return. These 2 books provide the historical background and structure of the Return Stage just as Samuel, Kings and Chronicles do for Psalms through Zephaniah.
Other than Ezra, the 2 most important people in the book are:
Zerubbabel & Joshua (Jeshua):
Zerubbabel
The political leader of the first return and the grandson of King Jehoiachin
Joshua (Jeshua)
The spiritual leader of the first return. As grandson of Israel’s last High Priest before the captivity, he became Israel’s first High Priest after the return.
Subtitle of Haggai
God’s House Comes First
Background of Haggai: After the 70 year Babylonian Captivity and the 1st return under Zerubbabel,
opposition extinguished the initial enthusiasm over rebuilding the Temple and led to a 15 year halt in construction.
Background of Haggai: The task of Haggai and Zechariah was
to stir the people’s hearts back to the work.
Background of Haggai: Haggai is a rebuke against this spiritual indifference.
The people must reorder their priorities, (“Seek ye first the kingdom of God” and finish the Temple before they can expect God’s blessings.
Theme of Haggai:
The construction of Israel’s Second Temple.
Comparison of Haggai
Haggai and Zechariah were the Dynamic Duo of the Old Testament. As contemporaries of Zerubbabel (the political leader) and Joshua (the High Priest) and part of the first return, they were the spiritual cheerleaders for the rebuilding of the Temple. They are mentioned in Ezra 5:1 and 6:14.♦Cinderella Stops a Persian Hitler”
Subtitle of Zechariah
The Old Testament Book of Revelation II
Zechariah was written
to encourage the people to continue with the rebuilding of their temple.
Zechariah
uses 10 visions (1-6), 4 Messages (7-8), 2 Burdens 9-14 to show that God remembers His Covenant and will send His Messiah. Rather than rebuking them for not completing the Temple (as Haggai had), Zechariah encourages them by reminding them of the future importance of the blessings of the Temple.
Author of Zechariah
Zechariah (Jehovah remembers). He was of priestly descent (as were Jeremiah and Ezekiel).
Zechariah was also part of the
Great Synagogue that, along with Ezra and Malachi, established the Old Testament Canon.
Background of Zechariah
After the return from the 70- year captivity, Israel began to rebuild the Temple, but then delayed 15 years without completing the work. God then called Haggai and the younger Zechariah to stir the people back to the work and back to God.
Theme of Zechariah
The preparation for Israel’s second Temple.
(Comparison of Zechariah) Haggai and Zechariah were the
Dynamic Duo of the Old Testament, calling the people of God back to the work of the Temple of God. Haggai was the Practical prophet and Zechariah was the Visionary
(Comparison of Zechariah) Zechariah and Daniel are the 2 Old Testament Parallels to
the New Testament book of Revelation. These 3 books, as well as Ezekiel, are the apocalyptic books (books of visions or revelations) of the Bible.
Subtitle of Esther
A Jewish Cinderella Stops a Persian Hitler
Esther is the story of
God’s Providential Preservation of His People
Esther tells the story of what happened to
the Jews who did not return with Zerubbabel. It is the story of a Banished Bride, a Mighty Monarch, a Quiet Queen, a Faithful Father Figure, and a Prideful Prime Minister.
Key Word of Esther
Providence
(Esther) After the 70 year Babylonian Captivity,
the vast majority of the Jews did not return to their homeland after Cyrus’ decree.
(Esther) The events took place
between the 1st and 2nd of the 3 returns to Israel
(Esther) Xerxes I, is also known as Ahasuerus,
(481-465 BC) was on the throne of the Persian Empire.
(Esther) This book tells of how God
protected the Jews In the Empire from a cruel anti-Semitic plot to exterminate the Jewish Race.
Theme of Esther
The Providential Preservation of Israel
Malachi is a message of
revival. The Prophet challenges a complacent population’s sin with the message that while they may be satisfied with their relationship with God, God is not satisfied.
Key Word of Malachi
Revival
Author of Malachi
Malachi
Theme of Malachi
The Preparation of Israel for her Messiah. Israel must prepare herself spiritually through repentance and revival for the coming Messiah.
Malachi is the final voice of God for the Old Testament.
After his message, there was a silence from Heaven for 400 years.
Malachi means
My messenger. Jewish tradition tells us he was a member of the Great Great Synagogue (with Ezra and Zechariah) which compiled the Old Testament Canon.)
Daniel 1:8
But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.
Belshazzar
Babylonian king who saw the handwriting on the wall.
Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego
Daniel’s friends who would not bow to Nebuchadnezzar’s image and were delivered by God in the fiery furnace.
Cyrus the Great
Persian king who Conquered Babylon and signed the first return decree (predicted by name 170- years in advance).
