Building a House for God s Name Part 1: Consider your Ways Reading: Ezra 1
Ezra (536-513 BC) Chapters 1-6 Decree of Cyrus1:1 Leaders 1:5 People 49,897; 2:64-65 Prophecies of Haggai & Zechariah Arrive at Jerusalem 3:1 Sacred vessels & gifts 1:4, 5:14-15; 6:5 Temple built 3:10; 6:15 Chapters 7-10 Decree of Artaxerxes (Darius) 7:21 Leaders 8:1, 15 People 1,754; 8:8-20 Prophecy of Ezra Arrive at Jerusalem 8:32 Sacred vessels & gifts 8:28-33 Temple built 10:9-14
Cyrus 2 Chor 36:22-23 & Ezra 1:1-2 Cyrus: Yahweh God of Heaven hath given me Isaiah 44:28 That saith of Cyrus, He is my shepherd, and shall perform all my pleasure: even saying to Jerusalem, Thou shalt be built; and to the temple, Thy foundation shall be laid. Isaiah 41:2 Who raised up the righteous man of the east gave the nations before him and him rule over kings? He gave them as dust to his sword Isaiah 45:1 Thus Saith the LORD to his anointed [Messiah], to Cyrus, whose right hand I have holden, to subdue nations before him
Cyrus Cylinder & Restoration of Jerusalem
Wealthy or Poor? 49,897 736 245 435 49,897 / 8136 = 6.132 1 Beast of Burden per 6 people 6720
Exod 20:24 Arrival as one man at An altar of earth thou shalt make unto me, and shalt sacrifice thereon thy burnt offerings, and thy peace offerings, thy sheep, and thine oxen: in all places where I record my name I will come unto thee, and I will bless thee. Jerusalem
Respective Size of Temples Ezra 6:3 & 2 Chronicles 3:3 60 60 20
Kingdom of David & Solomon
Herod s Temple
Ezra 4: Others come to help? They feared Yahweh and served their own gods 2 Kings 17:33 Kings: Cyrus, Cabyses, Gautama (Pseudo Bardiya), Darius 1 (Hystaspes) Ahasuerus (the Mighty) - Cambyses, Artaxerxes (Great King) - Gautama, Darius (the Restrainer)
Darius Rock Relief at Bisitun
Time of Testing Ezra 4:23-24 Now when the copy of king Artaxerxes letter was read before Rehum, and Shimshai the scribe, and their companions, they went up in haste to Jerusalem unto the Jews, and made them to cease by force and power. Then ceased the work of the house of God which is at Jerusalem. So it ceased unto the second year of the reign of Darius king of Persia.
Building a House for God s Name Part 2: I will fill this House with Glory
Prophecies (520 BC) 1 st Day, 6 month, 2 nd year Darius - Haggai 1:1-11 24 th Day, 6 month, 2 nd year Darius - Haggai 1:14-15 21 st Day, 7 month, 2 nd year Darius - Haggai 2:1-9?? Day, 8 Month, 2 nd year Darius - Zechariah 1:1-6 24 th Day, 9 Month, 2 nd year Darius - Haggai 2:10-19 24 th Day, 9 Month, 2 nd year Darius - Haggai 2:20-23
Worldly Distractions Haggai 1 v1 by the hand v2 Yahweh of Hosts - He Who Will be Armies. Zech 3 Joshua and Satan v4 Cieled/Panneled Houses v9 Own houses not the House of God Why Inactivity?
Timeline 606 BC Nebuchadnezzar invades Judah for the fist time (Jehoiachin 2 Kings 24) 586/7 BC Fall of Jerusalem 536 BC Temple Started 516 BC Temple Finished Jeremiah 25 & 29
Two different 70 years 70 Years Captivity Jer 29:10 For thus saith the LORD, That after seventy years be accomplished at Babylon I will visit you, and perform my good word toward you, in causing you to return to this place. 70 Years Desolation Jer 25:11 And this whole land shall be a desolation, and an astonishment; and these nations shall serve the king of Babylon seventy years.
Timeline 606 BC Nebuchadnezzar invalids Judah for the fist time (Jehoiachin 2 Kings 24) 586/7 BC Fall of Jerusalem 536 BC Temple Started 516 BC Temple Finished Jeremiah 25 & 29 70 years Captivity & 70 years Desolation 606 to 536 586 to 516
Salvation is come to the Samaritans Samaritans: came deceiving to undermine Nehemiah 13:28 John 4:4 must needs go to Samaria Needed to also learn that the place is not important Forget Manasseh's teaching Jesus is the light and his words are living water Many believed Salvation is come to all who come unto Him
Salvation is come to the Gentiles Jos 9:27 Gibeonites: came deceiving because of fear And Joshua made them that day hewers of wood and drawers of water for the congregation, and for the altar of the LORD, even unto this day, in the place which he should choose. Ezra 8:20 In service of the Levities and Temple.
Haggai Chapter 2 Literal and Spiritual House Former and Latter Glory - Ezekiel 9:3; 10:14-18 & Ezekiel 43:1-4 Zech 4:7-10 The spiritual house complete Our Labour will not be in vain in Yahweh
The Glory of the Latter House Isaiah 2:2 And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the LORD s house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it.
END Isaiah 51v11 Therefore the redeemed of Yahweh shall return, and come with singing unto Zion; and everlasting joy shall be on their head: they shall obtain gladness and joy; sorrow and mourning shall flee away