1. ACT 3 God Restores Israel to the Land for the Coming of the Messiah
Ezra, Nehemiah Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi

2. Why is Babylon called the Jewish miracle?4
Why is Babylon called the Jewish miracle?
It was in Babylon that the people were cured of Idolatry.

3. The Jews have been in Babylon for 70 years4
The Jews have been in Babylon for 70 years

4. Jeremiah had Prophesied Restoration Jeremiah 29:10-14
“For thus says the LORD: After seventy years are completed at Babylon,
I will visit you and perform My good word toward you, and cause you to return to this place.
For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.

5. Jeremiah Prophesied Restoration Jeremiah 29:10-14
Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. I will be found by you, says the LORD, and I will bring you back from your captivity;
I will gather you from all the nations and from all the places where I have driven you, says the LORD, and I will bring you to the place from which I caused you to be carried away captive.”

6. Daniel discovers the promise of the return. Daniel 9
In the first year of Darius…
I, Daniel, understood by the books the number of the years specified by the word of the LORD through Jeremiah the prophet, that He would accomplish seventy years in the desolations of Jerusalem.

7. What did Daniel do after reading Jeremiah? Daniel 9
Then I set my face toward the
Lord God to make request by prayer and supplications, with fasting, sackcloth, and ashes. And I prayed to the LORD my God, and made confession,

8. What did Daniel do after reading Jeremiah? Daniel 9
and said, "O Lord, great and awesome God, who keeps His covenant and mercy with those who love Him, and with those who keep His commandments, we have sinned and committed iniquity, we have done wickedly and rebelled, even by departing from Your precepts and Your judgments.
Neither have we heeded Your servants the prophets, who spoke in Your name to our kings and our princes, to our fathers and all the people of the land.”

9. Scene 1
God is ready to work!

10. We will begin with Cyrus…
Scene 1
The Temple and the City of Jerusalem are to be Rebuilt Ezra and Nehemiah
Where do Both books begin (Persia) and end (Jerusalem)
We will begin with Cyrus…
God told Cyrus, King of Persia, that he would rebuild the Temple (Ezra 1:1-4).
The prophets spoke clearly about this (Jeremiah 29:10-11; Isaiah 44:28. Isaiah 45:1)

11. End of the Babylonian Captivity Via a Persian Decree (Ezra 1:1-4)
“Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and also put it in writing, saying,
Thus says Cyrus king of Persia:

12. End of the Babylonian Captivity Via a Persian Decree (Ezra 1:1-4)
All the kingdoms of the earth the LORD God of heaven has given me. And He has commanded me to build Him a house at Jerusalem which is in Judah. Who is among you of all His people? May his God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem which is in Judah, and build the house of the LORD God of Israel (He is God), which is in Jerusalem.
And whoever is left in any place where he dwells, let the men of his place help him with silver and gold, with goods and livestock, besides the freewill offerings for the house of God which is in Jerusalem.”

13. God had predicted this event 200 yrs earlier Isaiah 44:28 – 45:1
Scene 1
God had predicted this event 200 yrs earlier Isaiah 44:28 – 45:1
It is I who says of Cyrus, “He is MY shepherd! And he will perform all MY desire.” And he declares of Jerusalem, She will be built. And of the temple, “Your foundation will be laid.”
Thus says the LORD to Cyrus His anointed, whom I have taken by the right hand, To subdue nations before him … I am the LORD; Besides ME there is no God.

14. 1
Isaiah 45 Continued
“I have even called you by your name; I have named you, though you have not known Me. I am the LORD, and there is no other; There is no God besides Me. I will gird you, though you have not known Me, That they may know from the rising of the sun to its setting, That there is none besides Me … I, the LORD, do all these things …

15. 1
Isaiah 45 Continued
'I have raised him up in righteousness, And I will direct all his ways; He shall build My city And let My exiles go free, Not for price nor reward,“ Says the LORD of hosts ...
Who has declared this from ancient time? Who has told it from that time? Have not I, the LORD? And there is no other God besides Me, A just God and a Savior; There is none besides Me. "Look to Me, and be saved, All you ends of the earth! For I am God, and there is no other.”

16. The Book of Ezra (Overview)
First return of the Jews to the land: (538 BC) -Zerubabel.
Cyrus issues the decree to allow the Jews to return to the land.
50,000 Jews return.
The Temple is rebuilt.
Second return of the Jews to the land: (458 BC) –Ezra
Artaxerxes issues the decree.
Ezra encourages the people to continue the work in Jerusalem.
2,000 Jews return.

17. 1
First Return under Zerubabbel 50,000 people 700 miles of trackless desert Ezra 1:5-11
Then the heads of the fathers' houses of Judah and Benjamin, and the priests and the Levites, with all whose spirits God had moved, arose to go up and build the house of the LORD which is in Jerusalem.
King Cyrus also brought out the articles of the house of the LORD, which Nebuchadnezzar had taken from Jerusalem and put in the temple of his gods; and Cyrus king of Persia brought them out…
From this time they were called “Jews” because most were from the tribe of Judah.

18. The Rebuilding Of The Temple1
The Rebuilding Of The Temple
“Now in the second month of the second year of their coming to the house of God at Jerusalem, Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and the rest of their brethren the priests and the Levites, and all those who had come out of the captivity to Jerusalem, began work and appointed the Levites from twenty years old and above to oversee the work of the house of the LORD…

19. An Alter was the first thing built! Ezra 3:21
An Alter was the first thing built! Ezra 3:2
“…the people gathered together as one man to Jerusalem … and arose and built the altar of the God of Israel, to offer burnt offerings on it, as it is written in the Law of Moses the man of God … they set the altar on its bases; and they offered burnt offerings on it to the LORD, both the morning and evening burnt offerings.

20. 1
tabernacles Ezra 3
They also kept the Feast of Tabernacles, as it is written, and offered the daily burnt offerings in the number required by ordinance for each day … From the first day of the seventh month they began to offer burnt offerings to the LORD, although the foundation of the temple of the LORD had not been laid …

21. Zerubbabel Rebuilds the Temple Ezra 31
Zerubbabel Rebuilds the Temple Ezra 3
When the builders laid the foundation of the temple of the LORD…,
the priests stood in their apparel with trumpets, and the Levites, the sons of Asaph, with cymbals, to praise the LORD, according to the ordinance of David king of Israel.
And they sang responsively, praising and giving thanks to the LORD: "For He is good, For His mercy endures forever toward Israel.“ Then all the people shouted with a great shout, when they praised the LORD, because the foundation of the house of the LORD was laid.”

22. Mixed Reactions to the Temple Ezra 3:12-13
But many of the priests and Levites and heads of the fathers' houses, old men who had seen the first temple, wept with a loud voice when the foundation of this temple was laid before their eyes.
Yet many shouted aloud for joy, so that the people could not discern the noise of the shout of joy from the noise of the weeping of the people, for the people shouted with a loud shout, and the sound was heard afar off.

23. Expect hindrances to building even when it is God’s will Ezra 4:1-22
“Then the people of the land tried to discourage the people of Judah. They troubled them in building, and hired counselors against them to frustrate their purpose all the days of Cyrus king of Persia, even until the reign of Darius king of Persia …In the reign of Ahasuerus, in the beginning of his reign, they wrote an accusation against the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem…
“Let it be known to the king that the Jews who came up from you have come to us at Jerusalem, and are building the rebellious and evil city...”

24. Expect hindrances to building even when it is God’s will Ezra 4:1-22
you will find in the book of the records and know that this city is a rebellious city, harmful to kings and provinces, and that they have incited sedition within the city in former times, for which cause this city was destroyed…
King Artaxerxes sent an answer: command to make these men cease … Thus the work of the house of God which is at Jerusalem ceased, and it was discontinued until the second year of the reign of Darius king of Persia.”

25. Two men encouraged the people that the work was to continue.1
Two men encouraged the people that the work was to continue.
Haggai and Zechariah
The work had ceased for as much as 15 yrs.
When things look grim, remember who began the work.
It’s God’s work!

26. The word came through Haggai the prophet to continue building.
“Is it time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses while this house lies desolate? Now therefore, thus says the LORD of hosts, Consider your ways! Go up to the mountains, bring wood and rebuild the temple, that I may be pleased with it and be glorified, says the LORD.” (Hag 1:4,7,8)

27. I am with you, declares the LORD.
Haggai the prophet
I am with you, declares the LORD.
So the LORD stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel, and the sprit of Joshua the high priest, and the spirit of all the remnant of the people, and they came and worked on the house of the LORD of hosts, their God. (1:13,14)
The latter glory of this house will be greater than the former… I will make you (Zerubbabel) like a signet ring for I have chosen you, declares the LORD of hosts. (2:8,23)

28. The Prophet Zechariah “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel:
'Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,'
Says the Lord of hosts.
'Who are you, O great mountain?
Before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain!
And he shall bring forth the capstone
With shouts of "Grace, grace to it!" '

29. The Prophet Zechariah
Moreover the word of the Lord came to me, saying:
"The hands of Zerubbabel
Have laid the foundation of this temple;
His hands shall also finish it.
For who has despised the day of small things?
For these seven rejoice to see
The plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel.
They are the eyes of the Lord,
Which scan to and fro throughout the whole earth."

30. The Temple Was Finished1
The Temple Was Finished
Ezra 6
So the elders of the Jews built, and they prospered through the prophesying of Haggai and Zechariah the prophet.
And they built and finished it, according to the commandment of the God of Israel, and according to the command of Cyrus, Darius, and Artaxerxes king of Persia.
Now the temple was finished…Then the children of Israel, the priests and the Levites and the rest of the descendants of the captivity, celebrated the dedication of this house of God with joy.

31. 1 The Temple Was Finished
And they offered sacrifices at the dedication of this house of God.
They assigned the priests to their divisions and the Levites to their divisions, over the service of God in Jerusalem, as it is written in the Book of Moses.
And the descendants of the captivity kept the Passover on the fourteenth day of the first month.
Now the place where man could meet God was rebuilt.

32. The Second Return. 458BC. Ezra 7 – 10
Ezra returns with nearly 2,000 people with him.
Ezra comes to strengthen the people
Ezra 7:10 For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the Law of the Lord, and to do it, and to teach statutes and ordinances in Israel.
Ezra sets in order the issue of Israel’s intermarriage with their pagan neighbors.

33. Artaxerxes Finances Ezra’s Expedition Ezra 7:11 – 8:14
“I, even I, Artaxerxes the king, issue a decree to all the treasurers … that whatever Ezra the priest, the scribe of the Law of the God of heaven, may require of you, let it be done diligently, up to one hundred talents of silver, one hundred kors of wheat, one hundred baths of wine, one hundred baths of oil, and salt without prescribed limit. Whatever is commanded by the God of heaven, let it diligently be done for the house of the God of heaven ...

34. Artaxerxes Finances Ezra’s Expedition Ezra 7:11 – 8:14
Also we inform you that it shall not be lawful to impose tax, tribute, or custom on any of the priests, or servants of this house of God. And you, Ezra, according to your God-given wisdom, set magistrates and judges who may judge all the people who are in the region beyond the River, all such as know the laws of your God; and teach those who do not know them

35. Artaxerxes Finances Ezra’s Expedition Ezra 7:11 – 8:14
Whoever will not observe the law of your God and the law of the king, let judgment be executed speedily on him, whether it be death, or banishment, or confiscation of goods, or imprisonment.
Ezra said, “Blessed be the LORD God of our fathers, who has put such a thing as this in the king's heart, to beautify the house of the LORD which is in Jerusalem.

36. The Third Return 445BC Third return of the Jews to the land-Nehemiah.
Artaxerxes issues the decree.
Restore and rebuild Jerusalem.

37. The wall of Jerusalem is to be Rebuilt.
Scene 2
The Book of Nehemiah
The wall of Jerusalem is to be Rebuilt.

38. The wall of Jerusalem is Rebuilt.
Scene 2
The wall of Jerusalem is Rebuilt.
Nehemiah discovers that the wall of Jerusalem is still broken down.
And they said to me, "The survivors who are left from the captivity in the province are there in great distress and reproach. The wall of Jerusalem is also broken down, and its gates are burned with fire."
Nehemiah Intercedes with God.
Please let Your ear be attentive and Your eyes open, that You may hear the prayer of Your servant which I pray before You now…

39. Scene 2 Nehemiah intercedes with Artaxerxes
And it came to pass …when wine was before him, that I took the wine and gave it to the king. Therefore the king said to me, "Why is your face sad, since you are not sick? ...Why should my face not be sad, when the city, the place of my fathers' tombs, lies waste, and its gates are burned with fire?“

40. Scene 2
Then the king said to me, "What do you request?“ So I prayed to the God of heaven.
And I said to the king, "If it pleases the king… I ask that you send me to Judah…that I may rebuild it.” Then the king said to me, "How long will your journey be? And when will you return?"
So it pleased the king to send me; and I set him a time.” 445 BC

41. Scene 2 Nehemiah returns to Jerusalem and encourages the people.
Nehemiah said to them, "You see the distress that we are in, how Jerusalem lies waste, and its gates are burned with fire. Come and let us build the wall of Jerusalem, that we may no longer be a reproach.“
And I told them of the hand of my God which had been good upon me, and also of the king's words that he had spoken to me. So they said, "Let us rise up and build." Then they set their hands to this good work.

42. Scene 2 God is rebuilding!
Nehemiah and the people faced much opposition.
Sanballat & Tobiah.
Nevertheless the wall was finished.
So the wall was finished…in fifty-two days.
God is rebuilding!
Nehemiah organized Jerusalem.
Jerusalem seeks the Lord.

43. Jerusalem seeks the Lord.
Scene 2
Jerusalem seeks the Lord.
Now all the people gathered together as one man in the open square… So Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly of men and women and all who could hear with understanding… Then he read from it in the open square that was in front of the Water Gate from morning until midday.
So Ezra the scribe stood on a platform of wood which they had made for the purpose;
And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people, for he was standing above all the people; and when he opened it, all the people stood up.

44. Scene 2
And Ezra blessed the Lord, the great God. Then all the people answered, "Amen, Amen!" while lifting up their hands. And they bowed their heads and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground.
Also Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodijah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, and the Levites, helped the people to understand the Law; and the people stood in their place.
So they read distinctly from the book, in the Law of God; and they gave the sense, and helped them to understand the reading.
And Nehemiah, who was the governor, Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites said…This day is holy to the Lord your God…The joy of the Lord is your strength.

45. 400 years of silence followed.2
At the close of the days of…
Ezra
Nehemiah
Haggi, Zachariah, & Malachi.
400 years of silence followed.
Israel awaits their Promised Messiah !

46. They established the synagogue for a place to worship.
Scene 3
Note
Many of the Jews did not return to Jerusalem from Babylon, but remained in Persia.
They established the synagogue for a place to worship.

47. This is seen in the book Esther
Scene 3
Esther
God Providentially Preserves His People who did not return to the land but remained in Persia.
This is seen in the book Esther

48. ACT 3 God Restores Israel to the Land for… The Coming of the Messiah
Act 3 Ends with the four gospels
Matthew
Mark
luke
john

49. God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law.
Scene 3
Jesus Christ was born and ministered in the Old Testament era of Restored Israel.
God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law.
Galatians 4:4

50. Messiah Comes to The Nation of Israel!
Scene 4
Messiah Comes to The Nation of Israel!
He comes to Provide Salvation for the Whole World!

51. Scene 4
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
John 3:16

52. 4 Works of God Accomplished In Christ Jesus.
The Incarnation.
The Life Lived.
The Sacrificial Death.
The Resurrection From The Dead.

53. The Incarnation God’s Timing Was Perfect.
Galatians 4:4
When the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son,
born of a woman,
born under the law.

54. The Incarnation… God became a Man.
Luke 1:35 And the angel answered and said to her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God.
John 1:14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.
Philip. 2:5-8 … Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man…
1Tim. 3:16 Without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifested in the flesh,

55. The Life Lived!

56. The Life Lived. He came to His own, He Came to the Nation as Promised.
John 1:11
He came to His own,
and His own did not receive Him.

57. The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me
The Life Lived.
Luke 4:18-19
The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me
To preach the gospel to the poor;
He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,
To proclaim liberty to the captives
And recovery of sight to the blind,
To set at liberty those who are oppressed;
To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.
God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.
Acts 10:38

58. Sacrificial Death!

59. The Sacrificial Death. Three Accomplishments of Christ on the cross. 1
The Sacrificial Death. Three Accomplishments of Christ on the cross. 1. Propitiation 2. Redemption 3. Reconciliation
1. Propitiation.
Jesus took our place on the cross and suffered our judgment for sin.
God treated Jesus as if He had committed our sin.
God’s wrath was poured out on Him.
Rom. 3:25 whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood.
1Jn. 2:2 He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.
1Jn. 4:10 In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

60. The Sacrificial Death Cont.
2. Redemption (To buy back)
Jesus paid our debt for sin.
Jesus purchased us with His own blood.
1Pet. 1:18-19 knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct… but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.
Gal. 3:13 Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us

61. The Sacrificial Death Cont.
3. Reconciliation (To restore a relationship)
Jesus has restored our relationship to God.
Jesus has brought us back into a right relationship with God which had been lost because of sin.
2Cor. 5:18 Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ.
Col. 1:21 And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled.
1Cor. 1:9 God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
1Jn 1:3-4 that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. And these things we write to you that your joy may be full.

62. The Resurrection!

63. The Resurrection From The Dead.
Acts 2:24 whom God raised up, having loosed the pains of death, because it was not possible that He should be held by it.
Acts 5:30 The God of our fathers raised up Jesus whom you murdered by hanging on a tree.
Acts 10:40 Him God raised up on the third day, and showed Him openly.
Acts 13:37 but He whom God raised up saw no corruption.
Romans 6:9 knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no longer has dominion over Him.
2 Cor. 4:14 knowing that He who raised up the Lord Jesus will also raise us up with Jesus, and will present us with you.

64. The Resurrection Cont.
Ephes. 1:19-22 and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come. And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church,

65. The Resurrection Cont.
Romans 1:4 and declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead.
2Tim. 2:8 Remember that Jesus Christ, of the seed of David, was raised from the dead according to my gospel.
1Peter 1:21 who through Him believe in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.

66. The Purpose for the Gospels4
The Purpose for the Gospels
First, the Gospels are a faithful record of God’s work and words through Jesus Christ.
Secondly, The four Gospels reveal to us the ultimate reason for God making the nation of Israel…
to bring His Son into the world through it.
That through the Messiah He might provide salvation for the whole world

67. The Closing Scene of ACT III is “Good News” (The Gospel)4
The Closing Scene of ACT III is “Good News” (The Gospel)
Now we are ready to go to the nations We have something to tell: man can be reconciled to God.
The Gospel message:
1 Corinthians 15:1-4
Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures.

68. A review of ACT I, II, III ...found in Matthew 1:17
Act I: “So all the generations from Abraham to David were fourteen generations…”
Act II: “…and from David until the captivity in Babylon are fourteen generations.”
Act III: “…and from the Babylon deportation to Christ are fourteen generations.”