A SPECTACULAR OVERVIEW OF THE HOLY SCRIPTURES Part Three: The Restoration History (Ezra, Esther, Nehemiah) and The Four Major Prophets (Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel) (2007) With Charles P. Schmitt, D. Min, D.D.
HISTORY OF THE RESTORATION OF JUDAH, EZRA, ESTHER & NEHEMIAH I. A CHRONOLOGY OF THE RESTORATION 606 B.C. 586 B.C. 536 B.C. First Siege of Jerusalem (Dan. 1:1) Fall of Jerusalem to Babylon (II Chron. 36 Return of 49,897 people from exile by order of Cyrus of Persia after 70 years, under Zerrubabel (political leader) and Joshua (spiritual leader). Temple rebuilding begins (Ezra 1,2,3) 532 B.C. Work hindered and stopped (Ezra 4) 519 B.C. Work resumed under the prophets Haggai and Zechariah (Ezra 5) in the reign of Darius Temple completed (Ezra 6) - after 20 years [57 years of silence from 515-458 BC: THE TIME OF ESTHER] 457 B.C. Ezra the Priest comes to Jerusalem (Ezra 7:7 - in the 7th year of Artazerxes) 455 B.C. Nehemiah the Governor comes to Jerusalem to rebuild the walls in the 20th year of Artazerxes (Neh. 13:6) 400 B.C. The Prophecy of Malachi, the last prophetic voice until John the Baptist II. A KEY TO INTERPRETATION: In the restoration of Judah from their captivity to Babylon, we see a foreshadow of the end-time restoration of the Body of Jesus Christ as it comes forth from the captivity of spiritual Babylon to become the Zion of God in all the earth! III. AN OVERVIEW OF THESE THREE CONCLUDING HISTORICAL BOOKS: EZRA 1. Chapters 1-6: 2. Chapters 7-10 THE RETURN OF THE 50,000 AND THE REBUILDING OF THE TEMPLE THE RETURN OF EZRA AND HIS ZEAL FOR GOD ESTHER 1. Chapters 1-2: 2. Chapter 3: 3. Chapters 4-8: 4. Chapters 9-10 ESTHER S EXALTATION IN THE PERSIAN COURT HAMAN S PLOT TO EXTERMINATE THE JEWS ESTHER S INTERVENTION THE TRIUMPH OF THE JEWS NEHEMIAH 1. Chapters 1-7: 2. Chapters 8-12: 3. Chapter 13: NEHEMIAH S RETURN AND REBUILDING OF THE WALL EZRA S ZEAL FOR THE TORAH NEHEMIAH S SECOND RETURN TO JERUSLAEM AND HIS REFORMS 32
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THE PROPHETS OF GOD The Priests had failed and the Kings had failed; the Prophets then seek to bring the people back to God. They, too, will fail, and after 400 years of silence heaven will finally send forth a Son a Prophet, a Priest and a King and He will bring mankind back to the Father! PROPHETS To The Gentiles BEFORE THE EXILE AFTER THE EXILE Jonah (to Assyria) Nahum (to Assyria) Habakkuk (to Babylon) Obadiah (to Edom) To Israel Amos Hosea Before the Fall of Israel To Assyria To Israel And Judah Micah (721 BC) To Judah DURING THE EXILE Joel Before the Fall Isaiah of Judah to Zephaniah Babylon Jeremiah (587 BC) EZEKIEL DANIEL 35 HAGGAI ZECHARIAH MALACHI The Times of EzraEstherNehemiah
ISAIAH THE GREATEST OLD TESTAMENT PROPHET WITH A MESSAGE FOR TODAY PART ONE: CHAPTERS 1 THRU 39 UNDER THE SHADOW OF THE ASSYRIAN THREAT SECTION I: SECTION II: SECTION III: SECTION IV: SECTION V: SECTION VI: SECTION VII: SECTION VIII: IN THE DAYS OF UZZIAH, THE LEPER KING (Chs. 1-5) IN THE DAYS OF JOTHAM, THE SON OF UZZIAH (Ch. 6) IN THE DAYS OF AHAZ, THE SON OF JOTHAM (Chs. 7-9) IN THE DAYS OF HEZEKIAH, THE SON OF AHAZ (Chs. 10-12) THE BURDEN CHAPTERS (Chs. 13-23) ISAIAH S APOCALYPSE (Chs. 24-27) THE SIX WOES (Chs. 28-33:1 THE DAY OF VENGEANCE FOR THE CAUSE OF ZION (Chs. 33-35) [ISAIAH S HISTORICAL BOOKLET Chs. 36-39] Hezekiah spawned a son, Manasseh, who caused the final downward spiral of Judah into judgment (II Kings 21:10-15). Hezekiah also opened the door to Babylon, which would then become that future instrument in judging Judah, less than a century away. In Chs. 40-66 Isaiah writes as an old man, matured in the Spirit. He prophetically sees the future 70 years of Babylonian captivity under the shadow of Babylon s gods, Bel and Nebo. The prophecies of Chapters 40-66 were a great faith-encouragement to the captives as they, like Daniel, believed for the promised deliverance under Cyrus, King of Persia. As with most all immediate prophecies these also become a prophetic springboard into this final generation and the coming of Christ. PART TWO: CHAPTERS 40 THRU 66 UNDER THE SHADOW OF THE BABYLONIAN INVASION (THE BOOK OF COMFORT) INTRODUCTION SECTION I: Part 1: Part 2: Part 3: Part 4: (CH. 40) JEHOVAH S SOON COMING! (vss. 1:11); JEHOVAH S INCOMPARABLE GREATNESS! (vss. 12-26); JEHOVAH S IMPARTED STRENGTH! (vss. 27-31) JEHOVAH CONVENES A UNIVERSAL COURT (Chs. 41-48) WHY? THE PRIMARY WITNESSES ASSEMBLED (Ch. 41) THE FIRST SERVANT SONG (42:1-9); A SONG OF PRAISE (41:10-25) ISRAEL TAKES THE STAND (Ch. 43) ISRAEL S CONTINUED TESTIMONY (44:1-8); THE UTTER 36
Part 5: Part 6: Part 7: Part 8: FOOLISHNESS OF IDOLATRY (44:9-13) JEHOVAH S PRINCIPAL EVIDENCE (44:24-45:13); SUMMARY OF THE TESTIMONY (45:14-25) JEHOVAH S CONTINUING DEFENSE (Ch. 46) [BABYLON S IDOLS HAVE UTTERLY FAILED THEM (46:1-7); JEHOVAH ALONE SPEAKS THE PROPHETIC FUTURE (46:8-13).] JEHOVAH S CONTINUING DEFENSE. BABYLON HAS UTTERLY COLLAPSED (Ch. 47) JEHOVAH S CONCLUDING ARGUMENTS (Ch. 48) [48:22 END OF THE FIRST SECTION, THE UNIVERSAL COURTROOM] SECTION II: Part 1: Part 2: Part 3: Part 4: Part 5: Part 6: Part 7: Part 8: SECTION III: Part 1: Part 2: Part 3: Part 4: Part 5: Part 6: Part 7: Part 8: CONCLUSION: JEHOVAH, THE GOD OF RESTORATION (Chs. 49-57) THE SECOND SERVANT SONG (49:1-7); THE RESTORATION OF ISRAEL (49:8-26) THE THIRD SERVANT SONG (Ch. 50) THE CALL TO LISTEN (51:1-8); THE CALL TO AWAKEN (51:9-52:12) THE FOURTH, AND GREATEST SERVANT SONG (52:13 53:12) A SHOUT OF JOY FOR ZION S RESTORATION (Ch. 54) THE GOSPEL INVITATION (Ch. 55) THE HARVEST INGATHERING (Ch. 56:1-8) THE OVERTHROW OF THE WICKED (56:9 Ch. 57) [57:21 END OF THE SECOND SESSION] JEHOVAH, TRUMPET CALL TO REPENTANCE & RESTORATION (Chs. 58-66) THE CHOSEN FAST (Ch. 58) THE CALL TO JUSTICE (Ch. 59) THE GLORY OF GOD (Ch. 60) THE FIFTH, AND FINAL, SONG OF THE CHRIST (Ch. 61:1-3); ZION S RESTORATION (Ch. 61:4-11) THE RESTORATION OF ZION IN ANSWER TO PRAYER (Ch. 62) THE ANGER OF GOD (63:1-6); THE CRY FOR RESTORATION (Ch. 63:7-19) THE INTERCESSION FOR GOD S INTERVENTION (Ch. 64) THE JUDGMENTS OF GOD (65:1-16) AND HIS GLORIOUS REDEMPTION (Ch. 65:17-25) (Ch. 66): God s Final Call and encouragement and warning and promise. THE DAY OF ETERNITY! -- ALL MANKIND SHALL BOTH SEE THE DEVASTATION OF THE WICKED AND SHALL COME AND BOW DOWN BEFORE JEHOVAH, KING OF THE UNIVERSE! HALLELUJAH! 37
VISIONS OF JESUS IN ISAIAH THE PROPHET I. JESUS PRESENT in Isaiah 6:1-3 Isaiah said this [quoting from Isaiah 6] because he saw Jesus glory and spoke about Him John 12:41 III. JESUS PROMISED in Isaiah 7:14 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel which means, God with us. -- Matthew 1:22-23 III. JESUS PROMISED in Isaiah 9:6-7 Four Great Messianic Titles -1. 2. 3. 4. IV. Wonderful Counselor Mighty God (see Isaiah 10:20-21) Everlasting Father (see Hebrews 2:13 from Isaiah 8:18) Prince of Peace JESUS PROMISED in Isaiah 11:1-3, 10 (drawn from 4:2) The Root of David has triumphed (Revelation 5:5) V. 1. JESUS PROMISED in THE FIVE SERVANT SONGS FIRST SERVANT SONG: Isaiah 42:1-4 This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah: Here is my servant whom I have chosen --Matthew 12:15-21 2. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. SECOND SERVANT SONG: Isaiah 49:1-7 JESUS Birth and Call v. 1 JESUS Hidden Years v. 2 JESUS Commission v. 3 JESUS Despair v. 4 JESUS Exaltation vss. 5-7 3. THIRD SERVANT SONG: Isaiah 50: 4-9 38
4. FOURTH SERVANT SONG: Isaiah 52:13-53:12 53:1: This was to fulfill the word of Isaiah the Prophet: Lord who has believed our message and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? 53:4: This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah: He took up our infirmities and carried our diseases. (Matthew 8:17) 53:5: By His wounds you have been healed. (1 Peter 2:24) 53:7: Christ suffered for you He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in His mouth. (1 Peter 2:21-22) 53:7-8: Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture [Isa. 53:7-8] and told him the good news about Jesus. (Acts 8:32-35) 53:12: It is written: And He was numbered with the transgressors, and I tell you that this must be fulfilled in Me (Luke 22:37) 5. FIFTH SERVANT SONG: Isaiah 61:1-4 VI. Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing. (Luke 4:17-21) JESUS PROMISED in Isaiah 63:1-6) He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and His name is the WORD OF GOD. (Revelation 19:13) CONCLUDING NOTE: THE ABOVE REFERENCES ARE ISAIAH S MAJOR MESSIANIC PROMISES. But over 60 passages from the Prophet Isaiah are quoted or referred to, some 85 times in the New Testament! Dr. D. James Kennedy of Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church recently noted that there were over 300 Old Testament predictions which were fulfilled in our Lord Jesus! These are the footprints of Jesus in the Old Testament! 39
JEREMIAH THE WEEPING YOUNG PROPHET THE HISTORIAL BACKDROP 792 B.C. UZZIAH 52 years; a good king (II Chron. 26) -- Isaiah, Hosea, Amos speak 750 B.C. JOTHAM 16 years; a good king (II Chron 27) -- Micah speaks 735 B.C. AHAZ 16 years; an evil king (II Chron.28) 715 B.C. HEZEKIAH 29 years; A Great Revival (II Chron. 29-32) 697 B.C. MANASSEH 55 years; an evil king (II Chron. 33:1-20) 642 B.C. AMON 2 years; an evil king (II Chron. 33:21-24) 640 B.C. JOSIAH 31 years; A Great Revival (II Chron. 34-35) -- Jeremiah, Zephaniah speaks =============================== JOSIAH S HISTORY st 1 yr. reign Josiah becomes king (8 yrs. old; 34:1-2) 8th yr. reign He began to seek God (16 yrs. old; 34:3) 12th yr. reign He began to purge Judah and Jerusalem (20 yrs. old; 34:3) 18th yr. reign He sent to repair the temple (26 yrs. old; II Chron. 34:8, 14, 22, 31-33; 35:1, 18) 31st yr. reign Slain in battle (39 yrs. old); Jeremiah laments (35:23-27; Jeremiah age 39) I. JEREMIAH S FIRST 18 YEARS OF REVIVAL MINISTRY (age 20-38) JEREMIAH 1:2 The Word of the Lord came to [Jeremiah] in the thirteenth year of Josiah, son of Amon kind of Judah [Jeremiah was 20 years old] down to the eleventh year of Zedekiah [final king] son of Josiah Jeremiah s Message helped bring about this great revival -- three young men standing for revival (Josiah, Jeremiah and Zephaniah) Jeremiah s Message exposed the weaknesses of this great revival -- the burning issues: Jer. 2:1-2, 13, 19, 32; 3:6-10; 4:1, 3-4 -- To seek the fulfillment of ourselves in God that is, to seek only the blessings and refreshment of God, but not SEEK GOD FOR HIMSELF this type of spirituality is the enemy of the cross of Christ. -- St. John of the Cross Jeremiah s Message provided God s remedy: Jer. 31:31-34 40
II. JEREMIAH S 23 YEARS OF DISMAL MINISTRY (age 39-62) During the Reigns of: -609 B.C. JEHOAHAZ (son of Josiah; 3 mos.); an evil king (II Chron. 36:1-4 609 B.C. JEHOIAKIM (son of Josiah; 11 yrs.); an evil king (II Chron. 36:5-8) See Jer. 25:1; 26:1; 36:1 598 B.C. JEHOIACHIN (son of Jehoiakim; 3 mos.); an evil king (II Chron 36:9-10) See Jer. 24:1 597 B.C. ZEDEKIAH (Son of Josiah; 11 yrs.) (See Jer. 24:1); an evil king (II Chron. 36:11-23) See Jer. 21:1; 27:1;28:1; 32:1; 37:1 586 B.C.-- JERUSALEM DESTROYED; JUDAH EXILED [SEE THE LAMENTATIONS OF JEREMIAH] III. JEREMIAH S FINAL DAYS OF MINISTRY: Tradition tells us that Jeremiah was taken to Egypt along with some fleeing exiles and that he was stoned to death at Tahpanhes (See Heb. 11:37; he would be in his mid to late 60 s). The Jews say, the spirit of Jeremiah dwelt afterwards in Zechariah (See Matt. 27:9-10) and they expected his reappearing as the forerunner of Messiah (See Matt. 16:14) TRULY A GREAT MAN OF GOD. IN HIS DAY HE WAS UNQUESTIONABLY THE GREATEST SPIRITUAL PERSONALITY IN ISRAEL! 41
EZEKIEL A PROPHET & PRIEST IN EXILE (1:1-3) A man with a heart for the Glory of the Lord OUTLINE: Introduction: Chapters 1-3 I. PROPHECIES BEFORE THE SIEGE OF JERUSALEM (593 B.C. 589 B.C.) (CONCERNING THE DEPARTING GLORY (CHS. 4-24) II. PROPHECIES DURING THE SIEGE OF JERUSLAEM (CHS. 25-32) (AGAINST 7 GENTILE NATIONS) III. PROPHECIES AFTER THE FALL OF JESUSALEM (587 B.C.-573 B.C.) (CONCERNING THE RETURNING GLORY CHS. 33-48) 42
DANIEL THE LAYMAN S PROPHET The Triumph Of God s Kingdom OUTLINE: I. PROPHETIC VISION (Chs. 1,2) II. PROPHETIC HISTORY (Chs. 3-6) III. PROPHETIC VISION (Chs. 7-12) (NOTE: From 2:4 through 7:28 the text is written in Aramaic, the tongue of Babylon. The balance is in Hebrew). 43
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