Archive for Ezra

There Shall Be Seven Weeks: Re-establishing the Law

Posted in #PaulthePoke, Angels with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , on January 24, 2021 by paulthepoke

Daniel 9:25 Know therefore and understand that from the going out of the word to restore and build Jerusalem to the coming of an anointed one, a prince, there shall be seven weeks. Then for sixty-two weeks it shall be built again with squares and moat, but in a troubled time.

The angel Gabriel indicated to Daniel the time frame before the coming of the Messiah or the “anointed one” shall be a total of 69 weeks. The time period is separated.

seven weeks or (7 X 7) + sixty-two weeks or (62 X 7) = 483 years.

483 years X 360 days = 173,880 days.

The focus is the initial seven weeks or 49 years.

The initial 49 years of the time period are the events described in the book of Nehemiah after the rebuilding of the wall in Jerusalem.

With the construction of Jerusalem and the wall completed, Nehemiah focused on the re-establishment of God’s Law.

Nehemiah 8:2 So Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly, both men and women and all who could understand what they heard, on the first day of the seventh month.

Notice the time point.

…on the first day of the seventh month. This would be the beginning of the Fall Feasts. The day is Yom Teruah or the Feast of Trumpets. Today, we also know it as Rosh Hashanah.

For more information on the Feast of Trumpets, see the links below.

According to Mosaic Law, Yom Teruah is a call for the people to assemble. Ezra read the Law to the assembled people in Jerusalem.

While reading the Law to the people of Jerusalem, Israel learned of Sukkot, Tabernacles, or the Feast of Booths. This is the third and last holiday of the Fall Feasts. This festival is a week-long festival from Tishri 15 to 21 on a Hebrew calendar.

Israel would follow the instructions for “The Feast” as directed by the Mosaic Law. Jews communicated throughout the Promised Land about the occasion. They gathered the required materials and built their booths. The people responded with participation and celebration.

This would mark the first time in Israel’s history, the Jewish people would celebrate Sukkot as God had communicated to Moses in the Law in the land of Israel.

Nehemiah 8:17 And all the assembly of those who had returned from the captivity made booths and lived in the booths, for from the days of Joshua the son of Nun to that day the people of Israel had not done so. And there was very great rejoicing

Israel renewed their commitment to God. They gathered as a nation in Jerusalem. The people listened to the Law as read by Ezra. And they kept the Fall Feasts.

Nehemiah 8:18 And day by day, from the first day to the last day, he read from the Book of the Law of God. They kept the feast seven days, and on the eighth day there was a solemn assembly, according to the rule.

God waited patiently on His chosen people. 1,000 years after Moses delivered God’s Law, Israel repented. They returned to God.

Nehemiah, Resume

Posted in #PaulthePoke, Angels with tags , , , , , , on November 29, 2020 by paulthepoke

Nehemiah 1:1 The words of Nehemiah the son of Hacaliah. Now it happened in the month of Chislev, in the twentieth year, as I was in Susa the citadel…

Nehemiah means “Yah comforts”.

Of note, the books of Ezra and Nehemiah were originally one book. They were divided into two books by Jerome the Latin translator (Holman Illustrated Pocket Bible Handbook).

Nehemiah is one of three men who would lead the Israelites back to Jerusalem. The process would take close to 100 years to complete the return from exile to Jerusalem.

First, Zerubbabel lead a group of about 50,000 back to rebuild the Temple. Ezra followed about 80 years later and re-started the Temple worship service. Roughly 13 years later, Nehemiah made the request of King Artaxerxes to return and rebuild the city of Jerusalem.

Nehemiah 11:1b Now I was cupbearer to the king.

Nehemiah was a cupbearer or a mashqeh in the Hebrew. The word is also translated as butler. This is the position of one who serves the king wine. He would be a highly trusted individual and he would be paid well. A cupbearer was also be a high ranking official in the kingdom. This was a position of influence.

A cupbearer would also be the taste tester for the king. Historically, some of these folks were poisoned instead of the king. At times, a king would have requested the cupbearer drink and swallow wine before him. https://biblehub.com/topical/c/cupbearer.htm

Nehemiah served as a governor of Judah for King Artaxerxes for 12 years.

Nehemiah 5:14 Moreover, from the time that I was appointed to be their governor in the land of Judah, from the twentieth year to the thirty-second year of Artaxerxes the king, twelve years, neither I nor my brothers ate the food allowance of the governor.

Nehemiah was appointed governor of Judah a second time. The length of this term is unknown.

Nehemiah 13:6-7a While this was taking place, I was not in Jerusalem, for in the thirty-second year of Artaxerxes king of Babylon I went to the king. And after some time I asked leave of the king and came to Jerusalem…

It is clear from reading the remainder of Nehemiah 13, Nehemiah is in a position of authority and made multiple declarations and decrees. He returned vessels to the Temple. Nehemiah reinstituted the tithe on the people for the Levites. Elements of the sacrificial were re-started. Treasurers were appointed for the store houses. The Sabbath was enforced.

Socially, Nehemiah called on Jews to not intermarry and swear an oath of allegiance to God. Arguably, he was for one common language of the people.

In summary, this is what Nehemiah completed as governor of Judah.

Nehemiah 13:30-31 Thus I cleansed them from everything foreign, and I established the duties of the priests and Levites, each in his work; and I provided for the wood offering at appointed times, and for the firstfruits.

Remember me, O my God, for good.

Restore and Rebuild Jerusalem

Posted in #PaulthePoke, Angels with tags , , , , , , on November 22, 2020 by paulthepoke

Daniel 9:25 So you are to know and discern that from the issuing of a decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until Messiah the Prince there will be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks; it will be built again, with plaza and moat, even in times of distress.

Who issued the decree to rebuild Jerusalem?

When reviewing the Biblical texts, it is important to read carefully. As documented by J. Dwight Pentecost in Things to Come, there are instances where decrees are made regarding the rebuilding of the Temple.

Cyrus made a decree to rebuild the Temple in 2 Chronicles 36:22-23. Darius supported Cyrus’ decree of the building of the Temple in Ezra 6:3-8. And Artaxerxes went to Jerusalem to support the idea of a rebuilt Temple in Ezra 7:7.

Photo: Wikipedia

There is only one decree made for the rebuilding of Jerusalem. This occurred when Nehemiah went before King Artaxerxes of Persia.

Nehemiah 2:1-8 In the month of Nisan, in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, when wine was before him, I took up the wine and gave it to the king. Now I had not been sad in his presence. And the king said to me, “Why is your face sad, seeing you are not sick? This is nothing but sadness of the heart.” Then I was very much afraid. I said to the king, “Let the king live forever! Why should not my face be sad, when the city, the place of my fathers’ graves, lies in ruins, and its gates have been destroyed by fire?” Then the king said to me, “What are you requesting?” So I prayed to the God of heaven. And I said to the king, “If it pleases the king, and if your servant has found favor in your sight, that you send me to Judah, to the city of my fathers’ graves, that I may rebuild it.” And the king said to me (the queen sitting beside him), “How long will you be gone, and when will you return?” So it pleased the king to send me when I had given him a time. And I said to the king, “If it pleases the king, let letters be given me to the governors of the province Beyond the River, that they may let me pass through until I come to Judah, and a letter to Asaph, the keeper of the king’s forest, that he may give me timber to make beams for the gates of the fortress of the temple, and for the wall of the city, and for the house that I shall occupy.” And the king granted me what I asked, for the good hand of my God was upon me.

Trend Update: Can God Manage President Trump? November 2016

Posted in Prophecy, Trend Update with tags , , , , , , , on November 15, 2016 by paulthepoke

Daniel 2:21a It is He who changes the times and the epochs; He removes kings and establishes kings…

Romans 13:1 Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.

Proverbs 8:15 By Me kings reign, and rulers decree what is just…

Many people out there are scratching their heads. Donald Trump has been elected president. This does not make sense. Why would God allow this? Christians and many others say Trump is a moral reprobate. He says crazy, stupid stuff. He is obnoxiously wealthy and flaunts it. And look at his hair…What does God want with Donald Trump? One would think He would at least pick a Christian or a Jew. He could have chosen Ben Carson, Mike Huckabee, Ted Cruz, Marco Rubio, or even Bernie Sanders. What gives…Donald Trump??? CHINA!

Did God allow Donald Trump to be elected President of the United States? Scripture from Proverbs to prophets in the Old Testament to the Apostle Paul in the New Testament says…YES! He removes kings and establishes kings…

God is in control of history. That said, many are questioning God’s sovereign decision.

God has a history of taking foreign kings to achieve His will and purpose. Examples include Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon and Tiglath-Pileser of the Assyrian Empire. One particular example comes to mind, King Cyrus of Persia.

The coming of King Cyrus was promised by the prophet Isaiah. God had multiple purposes for Cyrus even though he did not know God (Isaiah 45:4b). God has no problem choosing a person who does not know Him or believe in Him. These are not obstacles to God.

Why would God choose a foreign king who does not know him? A couple of reasons for choosing Cyrus were to rebuild Jerusalem and the Temple.

Isaiah 44:28 “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.'” –God

God chose a Persian King Cyrus to corral and protect His people, Israel.

Isaiah 45:4 For the sake of my servant Jacob, and Israel my chosen, I call you by your name, I name you, though you do not know me.

Scholars estimate Isaiah wrote this prophecy approximately 150-160 years before King Cyrus. Fast forward in time to the book of Ezra.

Ezra 1:1 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:

The remainder of the book of Ezra is the fulfillment of this promise in Isaiah 44:28.

God wasted no time. He inspired Cyrus in the first year of his leadership.

Many Christians and Christian leaders see Donald Trump as a type or pattern of King Cyrus. Even the Jewish Sanhedrin is calling on President elect Trump to act as a modern day Cyrus to help rebuild the Temple. Time will tell…

In the future, God will use a leader from what many believe to be Russia or Biblical Magog. In Ezekiel 38-39 God will use the leader of Magog, Gog, like a pawn to achieve His purpose. Ezekiel 39:7 And my holy name I will make known in the midst of my people Israel, and I will not let my holy name be profaned anymore. And the nations shall know that I am the LORD, the Holy One in Israel.

God is tired of people talking trash about Him.

Take comfort and be calm. Frankly, get a bigger box. God can handle a Trump presidency.

Isaiah 55:9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts. -God

 

 

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