Ezra and NehemiahEzra and Nehemiah

586 BC – Fall of Jerusalem586 BC – Fall of Jerusalem 538 BC – Edict of Cyrus to return538 BC – Edict of Cyrus to return 520 BC – Haggai and Zechariah 520 BC – Haggai and Zechariah

Zerubbabel and Joshua Zerubbabel and Joshua 516 BC – Dedication of the sanctuary516 BC – Dedication of the sanctuary 480 BC – Esther480 BC – Esther 458 BC – Ezra arrives in Jerusalem458 BC – Ezra arrives in Jerusalem 445 BC – Nehemiah445 BC – Nehemiah

… …..Malachi..Malachi

““In the first year that Cyrus of Persia was In the first year that Cyrus of Persia was emperor, the LORD made what he had emperor, the LORD made what he had said through the prophet Jeremiah come said through the prophet Jeremiah come true. true. He moved the heart of CyrusHe moved the heart of Cyrus* to * to issue the following command and send it issue the following command and send it out in writing to be read aloud out in writing to be read aloud everywhere in his empire: ‘This is the everywhere in his empire: ‘This is the command of Cyrus, Emperor of Persia. command of Cyrus, Emperor of Persia. The LORD, the God of Heaven, has made The LORD, the God of Heaven, has made me ruler over the whole world and has me ruler over the whole world and has given me the responsibility of building a given me the responsibility of building a temple for him in Jerusalem in Judah. May temple for him in Jerusalem in Judah. May God be with all of you who are his God be with all of you who are his people. people.

*prompted, inspired, prodded, stirred up the spirit, *prompted, inspired, prodded, stirred up the spirit, stirred him upstirred him up

You are to go to Jerusalem and You are to go to Jerusalem and rebuild the Temple of the LORD, the rebuild the Temple of the LORD, the God of Israel, the God who is God of Israel, the God who is worshiped in Jerusalem...’ Then the worshiped in Jerusalem...’ Then the heads of the clans of the tribes of heads of the clans of the tribes of Judah and Benjamin, the priests and Judah and Benjamin, the priests and Levites, and everyone else whose Levites, and everyone else whose heart God had moved got ready to heart God had moved got ready to go and rebuild the LORD's Temple in go and rebuild the LORD's Temple in Jerusalem.” (Ezra 1:1-5 – GN)Jerusalem.” (Ezra 1:1-5 – GN)

““The total number of exiles who The total number of exiles who returned 42,360” (Ezra 2:64)returned 42,360” (Ezra 2:64)

““The enemies of the people of Judah and The enemies of the people of Judah and Benjamin heard that those who had Benjamin heard that those who had returned from exile were rebuilding the returned from exile were rebuilding the Temple of the Lord, the God of Israel…Temple of the Lord, the God of Israel… Then the people who had been living in Then the people who had been living in the land tried to discourage and frighten the land tried to discourage and frighten the Jews and keep them from building. the Jews and keep them from building. They also bribed Persian government They also bribed Persian government officials to work against them. They kept officials to work against them. They kept on doing this on doing this throughout the reign of throughout the reign of Emperor Cyrus Emperor Cyrus and into the reign of and into the reign of Emperor Darius” (Ezra 4:1,4,5 – GN).Emperor Darius” (Ezra 4:1,4,5 – GN).

““Now, if it please Your Majesty, have a Now, if it please Your Majesty, have a search made in the royal records in search made in the royal records in Babylon to find whether or not Emperor Babylon to find whether or not Emperor Cyrus gave orders for this Temple in Cyrus gave orders for this Temple in Jerusalem to be rebuilt... a scroll was Jerusalem to be rebuilt... a scroll was found, containing the following record: found, containing the following record: ‘In the first year of his reign Emperor ‘In the first year of his reign Emperor Cyrus commanded that the Temple in Cyrus commanded that the Temple in Jerusalem be rebuilt’” (Ezra 5:17, 6:2,3)Jerusalem be rebuilt’” (Ezra 5:17, 6:2,3)

““In the third year that Cyrus was In the third year that Cyrus was emperor of Persia…The angel said emperor of Persia…The angel said to me, ‘Daniel, God loves you.’ to me, ‘Daniel, God loves you.’ Stand up and listen…Daniel, don’t Stand up and listen…Daniel, don’t be afraid. God has heard your be afraid. God has heard your prayers ever since the first day prayers ever since the first day you decided to humble yourself in you decided to humble yourself in order to gain understanding. order to gain understanding. I I have come in answer to your have come in answer to your prayerprayer.” (Daniel 10:1,11-13) .” (Daniel 10:1,11-13)

““In the first year of his reign (539 BC) In the first year of his reign (539 BC) I was studying the sacred books and I was studying the sacred books and thinking about the seventy years that thinking about the seventy years that Jerusalem would be in ruins, Jerusalem would be in ruins, according to what the LORD had told according to what the LORD had told the prophet Jeremiah. And I prayed the prophet Jeremiah. And I prayed earnestly to the Lord God, pleading earnestly to the Lord God, pleading with him, fasting, wearing sackcloth, with him, fasting, wearing sackcloth, and sitting in ashes.” (Daniel 9:2-3)and sitting in ashes.” (Daniel 9:2-3)

586 BC – Fall of Jerusalem586 BC – Fall of Jerusalem 538 BC – Edict of Cyrus to return538 BC – Edict of Cyrus to return 520 BC – Haggai and Zechariah 520 BC – Haggai and Zechariah

Zerubbabel and Joshua Zerubbabel and Joshua 516 BC – Dedication of the sanctuary516 BC – Dedication of the sanctuary 480 BC – Esther480 BC – Esther 458 BC – Ezra arrives in Jerusalem458 BC – Ezra arrives in Jerusalem 445 BC – Nehemiah445 BC – Nehemiah

… …..Malachi..Malachi

““In the third year that Cyrus was In the third year that Cyrus was emperor of Persia…The angel said emperor of Persia…The angel said to me, ‘Daniel, God loves you.’ to me, ‘Daniel, God loves you.’ Stand up and listen…Daniel, don’t Stand up and listen…Daniel, don’t be afraid. God has heard your be afraid. God has heard your prayers ever since the first day prayers ever since the first day you decided to humble yourself in you decided to humble yourself in order to rain understanding. order to rain understanding. I I have come in answer to your have come in answer to your prayerprayer.” (Daniel 10:1,11-13) .” (Daniel 10:1,11-13)

““The angel prince of the kingdom of Persia* The angel prince of the kingdom of Persia* opposed me for twenty-one days. Then opposed me for twenty-one days. Then Michael, one of the chief angels, came to help Michael, one of the chief angels, came to help me… Now I have to go back and fight me… Now I have to go back and fight the the guardian angel of Persiaguardian angel of Persia. After that . After that the the guardian angel of Greece guardian angel of Greece will appear. There is will appear. There is no one to help me except Michael, Israel’s no one to help me except Michael, Israel’s guardian angel. He is responsible for helping guardian angel. He is responsible for helping and defending me” (Daniel 10:13,20; 11:1 – and defending me” (Daniel 10:13,20; 11:1 – GN).GN).

** ”spirit prince of the kingdom of Persia” ”spirit prince of the kingdom of Persia”

“…“…now the prince of this world will now the prince of this world will be driven out” (John 12:31, NIV) be driven out” (John 12:31, NIV)

“…“…the prince of this world is coming” the prince of this world is coming” (John 14:30, NIV) (John 14:30, NIV)

“…“…the prince of this world now the prince of this world now stands condemned” (John 16:11, NIV)stands condemned” (John 16:11, NIV)

MichaelMichael• “…“…Michael, one of the archangels” Michael, one of the archangels”

(Daniel 10:13 – NLT) (Daniel 10:13 – NLT) • “…“…the great angel Michael, who the great angel Michael, who

guards your people, will appear.” guards your people, will appear.” (Daniel 12:1 – GN) (Daniel 12:1 – GN)

• ““But even the archangel Michael, But even the archangel Michael, when he was disputing with the devil when he was disputing with the devil about the body of Moses, did not about the body of Moses, did not dare to bring a slanderous dare to bring a slanderous accusation against him, but said, accusation against him, but said, ‘The Lord rebuke you!’” (Jude 9 – ‘The Lord rebuke you!’” (Jude 9 – NIV)NIV)

““Michael and his angels fought Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, who fought against the dragon, who fought back with his angels; but the back with his angels; but the dragon was defeated, and he dragon was defeated, and he and his angels were not allowed and his angels were not allowed to stay in heaven any longer.” to stay in heaven any longer.” (Revelation 12:7 – GN)(Revelation 12:7 – GN)

• ““There will be the shout of command, the There will be the shout of command, the archangel’s voice, the sound of God’s archangel’s voice, the sound of God’s trumpet, and the Lord himself will come trumpet, and the Lord himself will come down from heaven. Those who have died down from heaven. Those who have died believing in Christ will rise to life first…” (1 believing in Christ will rise to life first…” (1 Thessalonians 4:16 – GN)Thessalonians 4:16 – GN)

• “…“…the great angel Michael, who guards the great angel Michael, who guards your people, will appear…many of those your people, will appear…many of those who have already died will live again…” who have already died will live again…” (Daniel 12:1,2 – GN) (Daniel 12:1,2 – GN)

““The dead will hear the voice of the The dead will hear the voice of the Son of GodSon of God, , and those who hear it will come to life…the and those who hear it will come to life…the time is coming when all the dead will hear his time is coming when all the dead will hear his voice and come out of their graves…” (John voice and come out of their graves…” (John 5:25,28,29 – GN)5:25,28,29 – GN)

““In the third year that Cyrus was In the third year that Cyrus was emperor of Persia…The angel said emperor of Persia…The angel said to me, ‘Daniel, God loves you.’ to me, ‘Daniel, God loves you.’ Stand up and listen…Daniel, don’t Stand up and listen…Daniel, don’t be afraid. God has heard your be afraid. God has heard your prayers ever since the first day prayers ever since the first day you decided to humble yourself in you decided to humble yourself in order to rain understanding. order to rain understanding. I I have come in answer to your have come in answer to your prayerprayer.” (Daniel 10:1,11-13) .” (Daniel 10:1,11-13)

““Put on all the armor that God gives Put on all the armor that God gives you, so that you will be able to stand you, so that you will be able to stand up against the Devil's evil tricks. For up against the Devil's evil tricks. For we are not fighting against human we are not fighting against human beings but against the wicked beings but against the wicked spiritual forces in the heavenly world, spiritual forces in the heavenly world, the rulers, authorities, and cosmic the rulers, authorities, and cosmic powers of this dark age.” (Ephesians powers of this dark age.” (Ephesians 6:11,12 – GN)6:11,12 – GN)

Cosmic conflict theologyCosmic conflict theology

““Noah had no faults and was the Noah had no faults and was the onlyonly good man of his time. He lived in good man of his time. He lived in fellowship with God, but fellowship with God, but everyone else everyone else was evil in God’s sight, and violence was evil in God’s sight, and violence had spread everywhere.” (Genesis had spread everywhere.” (Genesis 6:9-11 – GN)6:9-11 – GN)

““The LORD said to Noah, ‘Go into the The LORD said to Noah, ‘Go into the boat with your whole family; I have boat with your whole family; I have found that you are the found that you are the onlyonly one in all one in all the world who does what is right.” the world who does what is right.” (Genesis 7:1 – GN) (Genesis 7:1 – GN)

““The LORD said to him, ‘Your The LORD said to him, ‘Your descendants will be strangers in a descendants will be strangers in a foreign land; they will be slaves there foreign land; they will be slaves there and will be treated cruelly for four and will be treated cruelly for four hundred years…After four generations hundred years…After four generations your descendants will return.’” your descendants will return.’” (Genesis 15:13,16 – GN)(Genesis 15:13,16 – GN)• ““When you help the Hebrew women When you help the Hebrew women

give birth…kill the baby if it is a give birth…kill the baby if it is a boy…” (Exodus 1:16 – GN)boy…” (Exodus 1:16 – GN)

““I say to Cyrus, ‘You are the one who I say to Cyrus, ‘You are the one who will rule for me; you will do what I will rule for me; you will do what I want you to do: you will order that want you to do: you will order that Jerusalem be rebuilt and that the Jerusalem be rebuilt and that the foundations of the Temple be laid.’ foundations of the Temple be laid.’ The LORD has chosen Cyrus to be The LORD has chosen Cyrus to be king. He has appointed him to conquer king. He has appointed him to conquer nations; he sends him to strip kings of nations; he sends him to strip kings of their power; the LORD will open the their power; the LORD will open the gates of cities for him.” (Isaiah 44:28-gates of cities for him.” (Isaiah 44:28-45:1 – GN)45:1 – GN)

““Now listen and understand! Seven Now listen and understand! Seven sets of seven plus sixty-two sets of sets of seven plus sixty-two sets of seven will pass from the time the seven will pass from the time the command is given to rebuild command is given to rebuild Jerusalem until a ruler—the Anointed Jerusalem until a ruler—the Anointed One—comes…After this period of One—comes…After this period of sixty-two sets of seven, the Anointed sixty-two sets of seven, the Anointed One will be killed, appearing to have One will be killed, appearing to have accomplished nothing…” (Daniel 9:25-accomplished nothing…” (Daniel 9:25-26 – NLT)26 – NLT)

““[Herod] gave orders to kill all the [Herod] gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its boys in Bethlehem and its neighborhood who were two years neighborhood who were two years old and younger.” (Matthew 2:16)old and younger.” (Matthew 2:16)

God’s will, our freedom, a God’s will, our freedom, a cosmic conflictcosmic conflict

““In the same way, it is In the same way, it is notnot My heavenly My heavenly Father's will that even one of these Father's will that even one of these little ones should perish.” (Matthew little ones should perish.” (Matthew 18:14)18:14)

““The Lord isn't really being slow about The Lord isn't really being slow about His promise, as some people think. No, His promise, as some people think. No, He is being patient for your sake. He He is being patient for your sake. He does not want does not want anyoneanyone to be destroyed, to be destroyed, but wants but wants everyoneeveryone to repent.” (2Peter to repent.” (2Peter 3:9)3:9)

True love gives others the freedom True love gives others the freedom not to give love in returnnot to give love in return

God does not interfere with our God does not interfere with our freewillfreewill

““The prayer of a good person has a The prayer of a good person has a powerful effect.” powerful effect.” (James 5:16) (James 5:16)

PrayerPrayer

““Our Father which art in heaven, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed by thy name.” (KJV)Hallowed by thy name.” (KJV)

““Our Father in heaven, may your Our Father in heaven, may your name be honored.” (NIV) name be honored.” (NIV)

““Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth, on earth, as it is in heavenas it is in heaven.”.”

““I will do whatever you ask for in my I will do whatever you ask for in my name…” (John 14:14)name…” (John 14:14)

OmnipresentOmnipresent• ““I have not yet ascended to my Father” (John I have not yet ascended to my Father” (John

20:17)20:17) OmniscientOmniscient

• ““No one knows about that day or hour, not No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.” (Matthew 24:36)only the Father.” (Matthew 24:36)

OmnipotentOmnipotent• ““The Son can do nothing by myself…” (John The Son can do nothing by myself…” (John

5:19)5:19)

““After sending the people away, he After sending the people away, he went up a hill by himself to pray.” went up a hill by himself to pray.” (Matthew 14:23)(Matthew 14:23)

““Jesus went up a hill to pray and Jesus went up a hill to pray and spent the whole night there praying spent the whole night there praying to God.” (Luke 6:12) to God.” (Luke 6:12)

““Sit here while I go over there and Sit here while I go over there and pray.” (Matthew 26:36) pray.” (Matthew 26:36)

““Simon, Simon! Listen! Satan has Simon, Simon! Listen! Satan has received permission to test all of you, received permission to test all of you, to separate the good from the bad, as to separate the good from the bad, as a farmer separates the wheat from a farmer separates the wheat from the chaff. But I have prayed for you, the chaff. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith will not fail. Simon, that your faith will not fail. And when you turn back to me, you And when you turn back to me, you must strengthen your brothers.” must strengthen your brothers.” (Luke 22:31,32)(Luke 22:31,32)

““God spoke: ‘Let us make human God spoke: ‘Let us make human beings in our image, make them beings in our image, make them reflecting our nature so they can be reflecting our nature so they can be responsible for the fish in the sea, responsible for the fish in the sea, the birds in the air, the cattle, and, the birds in the air, the cattle, and, yes, Earth itself, and every animal yes, Earth itself, and every animal that moves on the face of Earth.’ God that moves on the face of Earth.’ God created human beings; he created created human beings; he created them godlike, reflecting God’s them godlike, reflecting God’s nature. He created them male and nature. He created them male and female.” (Genesis 1:26-27)female.” (Genesis 1:26-27)

Click on these 2 links to watch the movie clips that were shown during the Bible study:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6et2ZSodS0g

http://www.youtube.com/watch?http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2rBYXLai1tsv=2rBYXLai1ts

““Listen now to my prayer and to the Listen now to my prayer and to the prayers of all your other servants prayers of all your other servants who who want to honor you. want to honor you. Give me success Give me success todaytoday and make the emperor merciful and make the emperor merciful to me.’ In those days I was the to me.’ In those days I was the emperor's wine steward. One day emperor's wine steward. One day four four months latermonths later, when Emperor , when Emperor Artaxerxes was dining, I took the wine Artaxerxes was dining, I took the wine to him. He had never seen me look sad to him. He had never seen me look sad before, so he asked, ‘Why are you before, so he asked, ‘Why are you looking so sad? You aren’t sick, so it looking so sad? You aren’t sick, so it must be that you're unhappy.’ I was must be that you're unhappy.’ I was startled and answered, ‘May Your startled and answered, ‘May Your Majesty live forever! Majesty live forever!

““How can I keep from looking sad when How can I keep from looking sad when the city where my ancestors are buried is the city where my ancestors are buried is in ruins and its gates have been in ruins and its gates have been destroyed by fire?’ The emperor asked, destroyed by fire?’ The emperor asked, ‘What is it that you want?’ I prayed to the ‘What is it that you want?’ I prayed to the God of Heaven, and then I said to the God of Heaven, and then I said to the emperor, ‘If Your Majesty is pleased with emperor, ‘If Your Majesty is pleased with me and is willing to grant my request, let me and is willing to grant my request, let me go to the land of Judah, to the city me go to the land of Judah, to the city where my ancestors are buried, so that I where my ancestors are buried, so that I can rebuild the city.’” (Nehemiah 1:11, can rebuild the city.’” (Nehemiah 1:11, 2:1-5 – GN)2:1-5 – GN)