Old Testament: Ezekiel-Malachi, Test 3

1) Zerubbabel—temple rebuilt 2) Ezra—people revived 3) Nehemiah—walls rebuilt

3 exiles—returns led by

Babylonian king who saw the handwriting on the wall

Belshazzar

Type of antichrist, the historical little horn, defiled the temple.

Antiochus IV Epiphanes

Books which contain prophetic symbolism

Apocalyptic books are

The king who allowed the second and third returns and issued the decree to rebuild Jerusalem's walls. Stepson of Esther.

Artaxerxes

Revival

Malachi: Key word

Ezekiel

He records the departure & return of God's shekinah glory cloud

Over 100

How many fulfilled prophecies of Daniel 11:

Assyria

Northern kingdom of Israel was carried captive by:

Haggai was the practical prophet and Zechariah was the visionary. Zechariah and Daniel are the two old testament parallels to the New Testament book of Revelation. These three books, as well as Ezekiel, are the apocalyptic books of the Bible.

The dynamic duo

A memorial to commemorate the salvation of the Jews from the evil plot to exterminate them.

The feast of Purim

70 years, from 605 to 536 BC

The length of the exile

Daniel

What prophet served under Nebuchadnezzar, Belshazzar & Darius?

The beginning The Hebrew fathers The exodus The promised land The judges The kingdom The exile The restoration (The coming of Christ & The great commission)

8 OT Steps

The king of Babylon who was tricked into signing the decree that resulted in Daniell being thrown in the lions den.

Derrius the Mede

Providence

Esther: Key word

Esther is the story of Gods providential preservation of His people, the story of what happened to the Jews who did not with Zerubbabel.

Esther: Main content

Esther is the story ofGods providential preservation of Israel

Esther: Theme

After the 70 yr Babylonian captivity, the vast majority of the Jews did not return to their homeland after Cyrus' decree. The events of Esther took place between the 1st and 2nd of the 3 returns to Israel. Xerxes 1, also known as Ahasuerus, was on the throne of the Persian empire. This book tells of how God protected the Jews in the empire from a cruel anti-semitic plot to exterminate the Jewish race.

Esther: background

A Jewish Cinderella stops a Persian Hitler

Esther: subtitle

His vision of the dry bones

Ezekiel 37

The Russian/Iranian invasion of Israel

Ezekiel 38-39

The departation and restoration of Israel's glory.

Ezekiel's theme

After the 70 year Babylonian captivity in the first return under Zerubbabel , opposition extinguished the initial enthusiasm over rebuilding the temple and led to a 15 year halt in construction. The task of Haggai & Zechariah was to stir the peoples hearts back to work. Haggai is a rebuke against this spiritual indifference. The people must re-order their priorities and finish the temple before they can expect God's blessings.

Haggai: background

Haggai is a call to proper priorities; to put God's house first. Rebuilding the temple.

Haggai: main content

God's house comes first

Haggai: subtitle

The construction of Israel's second temple

Haggai: theme

Jew hating prime minister who plotted to exterminate the Jews

Haman

Celebrates the Jewish cleansing and rededication of the temple and the miracle of the temple candelabra burning eight days on one days supply of oil.

Hanukkah

The Hebrew word here may also be rendered "prince of Rosh" if understood as a proper name. Many scholars believe this is to be the root of the modern name Russia, and many evidences show we are speaking of the chief ruler of a Russian/Arab alliance.

Meaning of: the Chief Prince

Israel's guardian angel who will help deliver Israel through the tribulation.

Michael

Esters older as in who raised her as his own daughter

Mordecai

Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi

The 6 books of the restoration: step 8

There will be one week (seven years) from the rapture until the millennium. An approximately 2000 year gap apparently separates this last week, during which the entire church age takes place. At the beginning, on the first day of this final seven-year period, the antichrist (as the head of a revived Roman empire, united Europe) will confirm a seven year covenant or peace treaty with Israel. This event begins the seven year clock of the tribulation. The stage is already set. Israel came into existence as a nation in 1948. Europe began an economic union in 1948 as well 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 1993. In September 1999 another treaty was signed which was promoted as the precursor to the final status treaty.

The 70th week of Daniel: the tribulation

However, we know well that no peace will occur for the middle east until the antichrist puts it in place. In the middle of the tribulation, exactly 3 1/2 years later, the antichrist will break this treaty and defile the temple with the "abomination of desolation". From this point on, the antichrist will launch an insane and intense war against the Jews and Christians who refused to worship him as God. Then at the end, exactly 7 years later, The true Christ will return and defeat the antichrist, then establishing His perfect millennial kingdom.

The 70th week of Daniel: the tribulation, continued

The prophet of the glory of God

The subtitle of Ezekiel:

The revelation of Israel's prophetic future.

The theme of Daniel

Daniel and Ezekiel

The two prophets of the exile were:

The restoration of Israel's temple & people

Theme of Ezra

Babylon

The southern kingdom of Judah was carried captive by:

The spiritual leader and I Praise of the first returned.

Joshua/Jeshua

Satan's Fall

Ezekiel 28

Ezra the priest. He led the second return from captivity. He led a great revival of the people and is credited with having actually saved both the Jewish nation in the Jewish religion from extinction. He organized the synagogue form of worship to teach the people the law. He authored first and second Chronicles, Ezra, Psalm 119, and many believe Nehemiah. He also arranged the book of Psalms. He collected, selected, and organized the books of the old testament. Thus, the canon was actually selected by in inspired author of scripture. He founded the order of scribes who meticulously hand copied the old testament manuscripts.

Author & accomplishments:

Daniel - "God is my judge" As a teenager, Daniel was one of those of royal blood taken captive by Nebuchadnezzar during the first Babylonian siege of Jerusalem in 605 BC. In captivity, Daniel served without compromise under the administration's of several kings, including Nebuchadnezzar, Belshazzer, and Darius. While skeptics often attack Daniels authorship of this book, Jesus himself declared that Daniel was the author.

Author:

Daniel was carried away captive at this time from Judah in 605 BC with Jerusalem and the temple destroyed in the third invasion in 586 BC. That captivity lasted 70 years.

Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar's first invasion

The book of Daniel spans the entire Babylonian exile with Daniel having been captured in the first of three invasions of Israel by Babylon in 605 BC. He ministers throughout the Babylonian empire and then even past it's fall to the Medo - Persian empire at the end of the 70 years.

Background:

Daniel in the 1st invasion in 605 Ezekiel in the 2nd invasion in 597 Jeremiah in the 3rd invasion in 586

Captured in the invasions, were

Ezekiel. He referred to Daniel three times as an example of righteousness and wisdom, comparing him with Noah and Job. In fact, 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.

Contemporary of Daniel:

Ezra— first two returns from captivity and rebuilding the temple Nehemiah— third return from captivity and rebuilding of the wall Esther— salvation of the Jews still in captivity Haggai & Zechariah— stirred the people to continue rebuilding the temple Malachi— reviving the people

Contents & books of step 8

The Persian king who conquered Babylon and signed the first return decree. He was predicted by name 170 years in advance.

Cyrus the great

"But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the kings meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself."

Daniel 1:8

Found in Daniel 9. The decree to rebuild Jerusalem begins the week. In this prophecy, a week means seven years. After the 69th week, Messiah was cut off and Jerusalem and the temple destroyed. This is followed by a time gap during which the church age occurs. The 70th week is the tribulation.

Daniels 70 weeks prophecy

Chapter 9: Daniels 70 weeks prophecy

Daniels Key chapter

The old testament book of revelation

Daniel—the subtitle

The king who allowed the temple work to continue

Darius the great

Daniel ministered through out the entire 70 year captivity.

Date:

1) The departure of Judah from the glory of God. (a)The vision: The prophet goes to the northern gate of the temple. Here he sees Jewish women weeping for Tammuz, their false God. Satan's church officially began at the Tower of Babel in Genesis. The purpose of this tower was to reach to heaven, not just physically, but spiritually, for the purpose of worshiping the heavens, sun, moon, and stars. (b) The first full-time minister of Satan was Nimrod, head of the Babel project. (c) secular history and tradition tells us that Nimrod married a woman who was as evil as himself. Her name was Semerimus. Knowing God's promise of a future savior, she brazenly claimed that Tammuz, her first son, fulfilled this prophecy. She also claimed he was conceived by a sunbeam and was the reincarnation of Nimrod. He came to be worshiped as the sun God. (d) 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 Samarian's. — Baal and Ashtaroth- Phoenicians — Diana - Ephesus — many many others could be included, perhaps the most important of which is Allah, who was originally worshipped as the moon god of Arab gods.

Ezekiels extended temple vision

During the first year of Cyrus' reign, he issued the decree which permitted to Jews to return to Jerusalem and rebuild their temple. Isaiah had actually called Cyrus by name around 170 years earlier and said that he would issue the decree to return and rebuild the temple.

Ezra: background

As real as written to the first two waves of returnees from the 70 year Babylonian captivity to encourage them to true worship and covenantal obedience because of God's mercy.

Ezra: recipients

Ezra tells of the first two of three major returns of Jews to Jerusalem from the Babylonian captivity, of the rebuilding of the Jewish temple, and of the perils of the early settlers. It's a continuation of the history of first and second Chronicles which is then continued on in the history of the Nehemiah. The theme of the book is the restoration of Israel's temple and people.

Ezra—content

Israel's second exodus, the hostages set free

Ezra—subtitles

He lead the Jewish revolt in refusing to worship Jupiter

Judas the Maccabee

These invaders come from the uttermost parts of the north. A quick glance northward from Israel on any map reveals that only Russia fits this description.

Geographic proof

The dynamic duo of the old testament. As contemporaries of Zerubbabel and Joshua and part of the first return, they were the spiritual cheerleaders for the rebuilding of the temple.

Haggai & Zechariah are known as:

Daniel is the most prophetic book of the old testament and, along with Zachariah, is the old testament parallel to the New Testament book of Revelation. The prophecies of Daniel are so astounding that skeptics have attacked this book more fiercely than almost any other Bible book. If Daniels prophecies are accepted as authentic, they provide irrefutable proof of the inspiration of Scripture. Chapter 11 alone has over 100 specific historical prophecies which have already been literally fulfilled. They are so accurate that the only attack skeptics can raise against them is to claim that they must have been written after their fulfillment took place and they only claim to be prophecies. This blasphemous charge 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. Copies of Daniel have been discovered which are older than many of the fulfillments in the book. Some of Daniel's prophecy's are even fulfilled in the life of Jesus after he quoted from the book.

Importance and distinctives:

Ezekiel was the most dramatic, flamboyant and theatrical of all the prophets. He 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. He is also called the first apocalyptic prophet. These were prophets who recorded future events in symbolic visions, such as the familiar style of the books of Daniel and Revelation. He is one of the three biblical books which describes the fall of Satan. He describes in amazing detail the final biblical temple, the great temple of the millennium. It also contains the amazing prophecies of World War III.

Importance and distinctives:

The book of Daniel is the key and foundation to understanding both gods prophetic plan for the last days in the book of Revelation. While the bulk of the old testament is written in the Hebrew language, Daniel it's partially written in the Aramaic language. Danielle is one of the apocalyptic books of the Bible. The others are Ezekiel, Zachariah, and Revelation. Apocalyptic books are those which contain visions of prophetic symbolism.

Importance and distinctives: cont

Son of Japheth, son of Noah. This tribe migrated north into modern Russia. Josephus stated that the Scythians, who are credited with populating this region, were known by the Greeks as Magog or Magogites.

Meaning of: Magog

Moscow (capital of Western Russia).

Meaning of: Meshech

Tobolsk (the modern capital of Eastern Russia).

Meaning of: Tubal

Before the fall of Jerusalem Ezekiel warned Judah of the coming judgment. After the fall of Jerusalem, Ezekiel encouraged the captives concerning their future restoration. Ezekiel was the prophet to the people of the exile as 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.

Main content

Daniel contains the history of the world written in advance. Through images and beasts, through dreams and visions, Daniel outlines the course of history from his time until the end time for the Gentile nations. He also outlines Gods prophetic timetable for his dealings with Israel. Daniel is the story of a young teenage captive who became prophet and prime minister.

Main content

Malachi, meaning "my messenger". Jewish tradition tells us he was a member of the great synagogue with Ezra and Zachariah which compiled the Old Testament canon.

Malachi: Author

Malachi is the final voice of God for the Old Testament. After his message, there was silence from Heaven for 400 yrs.

Malachi: Importance and distinctives

Malachi is a message of revival. The prophet challenges a complacent populations sin with the message that while they may be satisfied with their relationship with God, God is not. Malachi, a prophet in the days of Nehemiah, directs his message of judgement to a people plagued with corrupt priests, wicked practices, and a false sense of security in their privileged relationship with God. Using the question and answer method, Malachi probes deeply into the problems of hypocrisy, infidelity, mixed marriages, divorce, false worship, and arrogance. So sinful has the nation become that God's words to the people no longer have any impact.

Malachi: Main content

The final old testament voice of revival

Malachi: Subtitle

The preparation of Israel for her Messiah. Israel must prepare herself spiritually through repentance and revival for the coming Messiah.

Malachi: theme

A Jewish priest of the house of Hasman who refused to worship Jupiter and who slew the Kings Representative.

Mattathias

End time ruler

Meaning of: Gog

Nehemiah was the cupbearer to the Persian king Artaxerxes (step son of Esther) so was his most trusted advisor. His concern for his homeland prompted him to leave a life of luxury to labor & lead his people to rebuild Jerusalem's walls, a task completed in only 52 days. However, the reviving of the people required years of his leadership. Nehemiah was not a priest or prophet, but a layman who had his priorities in the right order.

Nehemiah: Author

Chronologically, Nehemiah is the last in the line of the historical books of the old testament, with only one prophetic book occurring later.

Nehemiah: Importance and distinctives

The walls of Jerusalem

Nehemiah: Key word

Nehemiah records the 3rd return from captivity and the rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem.

Nehemiah: Main content

The call to the wall

Nehemiah: Subtitle

The books of Ezra and Nehemiah are so linked that, for centuries, the Jews combined them as one book, Nehemiah picking up the historical flow of Ezra.

Nehemiah: comparison

The reconstruction of the walls of Jerusalem.

Nehemiah: theme

Zerubbabel— the political leader of the first return and grandson of king Jehoiachin. Joshua— 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.

Other than Ezra, the two most important people in big book our:

One of Alexander's four generals, who took Egypt, the southern part of the kingdom.

Ptolemy

Daniel is written to the Jewish captives and returnees as well as to the Gentiles of the Persian empire.

Recipients:

Persia (modern Iran), portions of Iraq, Ethiopia (Cush, allied itself with Russia in 1974), Libya (Put, His descendants settled west of Egypt. Libya first allied with Russia in 1969.) Gomer. This refers to a unified Germany. Notice the words "Gomer, and all his bands", indicating that all of this nation will be involved. The reunification of eastern and western Germany took place October 3, 1990. The germanic tribes have never been united from the time of Ezekiel's prophecy until the brief period from 1871 to 1945. Togarmah. The name literally means the house of Togarmah of the north quarters, and all his bands. It has been variously understood as encompassing the following: Southern Russia, the Cossacks, and the Armenians, including former Russian republics such Kazakstan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, Turkey and perhaps also Syria. Daniel informs us that Egypt will also be involved in attack on Israel with the king of the north.

Russia's allies

The enemies of Nehemiah's building project.

Sanballat, Tobiah, Geshem

One of Alexander's four generals, who took Syria, the eastern part of the kingdom.

Seleucus

Daniels friends who would not bow to Nebuchadnezzar's image and were delivered by God in the fiery furnace.

Shadrach, Meshach & Abednego

Cyrus, Darius, Xerxes, Artaxerxes

Six kings of the Persian empire influenced Israel during the restoration to their land and temple. Who were four?

Ezekiel. He was a priest, as were the prophet Jeremiah and Zachariah. He was carried to Babylon during the second Babylonian invasion in 597 BC, when he was 25 years old, along with king Jehoiachin. He was 18 at the time of the first invasion in 605 BC. He 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." He received his call at age 30, which was five years after his capture. He ministered among the captives near Babylon. He was the prophet to the common man. Ezekiel has 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.

The author

The captivity was 70 years to allow the land to rest for the 490 years that Israel failed to keep the seventh year sabbaths.

The captivity:

Three returns to Jerusalem from Babylon beginning with the decrees of Cyrus to rebuild the temple and Jerusalem.

The closing events:

(1)The ministry of Ezekiel to the captives and Daniel to the crown. (2)The deliverance of Daniel and his three friends. (3)Prophecies of the Gentile world powers through the end times. (4) A preview of Israel's future. (5) The fall of Babylon.

The first key events were:

Ezekiel

The prolongation of the voice of Jeremiah

ISRAEL. Obviously this prophecy could not have been fulfilled until the nation of Israel came into existence in 1948. SHEBA and DEDAN- Saudi Arabia, and perhaps some of the small surrounding Arab states. TARSHISH- representing England or Spain. Either way, this brings about the involvement of the EU of the antichrist. THE YOUNG LIONS OF TARSHISH- if Tarshish, as England, is correct, then the young lions or cubs (colonies) of this nation would include the United States. Daniel 11 indicates that the unified Europe (the 10 nation revised Roman empire of the antichrist) are also involved.

The opponents of the invasion

To allow the land to rest for the 490 years that Israel failed to keep the seventh year sabbaths.

The purpose of the 70 years of captivity

The Jewish captives in Babylon

The recipients

1) Head— gold, representing Babylon, the lion with eagles wings. 2) Breast and arms— silver, representing Persia, the bear raised on one side with three ribs in it's mouth. 3) Belly and thighs— brass, representing Greece, the swift leopard with four wings and four heads. 4) Legs and feet— iron and clay, representing Rome, the terrible beast, dreadful and strong with great iron teeth and 10 horns.

The sections of Nebuchadnezzar's image

Daniel and Zechariah

Which 2 OT books are parallel to Revelation?

Daniel

Which book is the key and foundation to understanding both gods prophetic plan for the last days in the book of Revelation

Ezra & Nehemiah

Which books are so linked the Hews originally combined them as one book?

The capital city of the Phoenician empire destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar and Alexander the great over a 250 year period exactly as prophesied by Ezekiel.

Tyre

Persian queen deposed for refusing to display herself and was replaced by Esther.

Vashti

Daniel, Ezekiel, Zechariah & Revelation

What are the apocalyptic books of the Bible?

1 & 2 Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah

What books did Ezra write in continuum?

Ezra

Who is credited with saving both the Jewish people and their religion?

Ezekiel. It was him who brought the Jews back to God from idolatry while they were in captivity.

Who is known as the father of Judaism & why?

2 horned ram: Darius of Persia 1 horned goat: Alexander the Great of Greece

Who is pictured by the 2 horned ram and the one horned goat of Daniel 8

Christ

Who is pictured by the smiting stone of Daniel 2

Ezekiel. One who uses prophetic symbolism.

Who is the first apocalyptic prophet & what does it mean?

King also known as Ahasuerus who made Esther his queen.

Xerxes the first

After the 70 year captivity, Israel returned and began to rebuild the temple. It was then delayed 15 years without completing the work.

Zechariah: Background

Zechariah, meaning "Jehovah remembers", was of priestly descent. He was also part of the great synagogue that, along with Ezra and Malachi, established the old testament canon.

Zechariah: author

Written to encourage people to continue with the rebuilding of their temple. He uses 10 visions, four messages and two burdens 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 and blessings of the temple.

Zechariah: main content

The old testament book of Revelation 2

Zechariah: the subtitle

The preparation for Israel's second temple

Zechariah: theme