Podcasts about Artaxerxes

Devocional do dia 08/05/2025 com o Tema: "Luta" Neemias era um judeu que trabalhava como copeiro do rei Artaxerxes, desenvolvendo uma função de confiança. Depois de receber a visita do seu irmão Hanani, toma ciência de que o seu povo, que havia retornado à terra natal, Jerusalém, estava vivendo um tempo de grande dificuldade numa cidade sem muros, nem portas, totalmente vulnerável aos inimigos. Leitura bíblica: Neemias 4.1-14 Versículo Chave: “Eles lutarão contra você, mas não o vencerão, pois eu estou com você e o protegerei”, diz o SENHOR (Jr 1.19).See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As God's prisoner what rights do I have and what praise am I do. All praise belongs ti Him. Bible in a Year: 1 Samuel 1-3 & Luke 8:26-56 The Marshalls 

Be willing in your sacrifice. Be careful in your spending. Deliver fully in your service. And teach others.

3/23/2025 Paul Bang   Nehemiah 5:14-19   English Standard Version     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. 15 The former governors who were before me laid heavy burdens on the people and took from them for their daily ration forty shekels of silver. Even their servants lorded it over the people. But I did not do so, because of the fear of God. 16 I also persevered in the work on this wall, and we acquired no land, and all my servants were gathered there for the work. 17 Moreover, there were at my table 150 men, Jews and officials, besides those who came to us from the nations that were around us. 18 Now what was prepared at my expense for each day was one ox and six choice sheep and birds, and every ten days all kinds of wine in abundance. Yet for all this I did not demand the food allowance of the governor, because the service was too heavy on this people. 19 Remember for my good, O my God, all that I have done for this people.

“Now listen and understand! Seven sets of seven plus sixty-two sets of seven will pass from the time the command is given to rebuild Jerusalem until a ruler—the Anointed One—comes. Jerusalem will be rebuilt with streets and strong defenses, despite the perilous times.” (Daniel 9:25 NLT) Daniel 9 begins with Daniel praying. This wasn’t unusual. Daniel prayed a lot. In Daniel 9, however, his prayer is especially urgent. Daniel had been in captivity in Babylon for about sixty-six years. Based on his understanding of the prophecies of Jeremiah, the captivity would end in less than four years. Daniel prayed for God to show mercy on His people, who were scattered throughout the land, and to restore the city of Jerusalem. Suddenly the angel Gabriel appeared to provide an answer (of sorts) to Daniel’s prayer. Gabriel revealed to Daniel a complex prophecy involving seventy sets of seven. There’s a lot of math involved, not to mention a conversion from the ancient calendar to the modern one, but here’s the basic gist of the prophecy. God’s people are given a timeframe of “seventy sets of seven.” Sixty-nine of those sets of seven will take place between the time the command is given to rebuild Jerusalem and the time a ruler—the Anointed One—enters the city. The final set of seven will take place when another ruler makes a treaty but then breaks it by defiling the temple. Each set of seven represents seventy years, for a total of 490 years. The prophecy then divides that period into three smaller ones—one of forty-nine years, one of 434 years, and one of seven years. This breakdown gives us a kind of clock for when the Messiah will return and what will be happening in the world when He does. But the timeline isn’t consecutive. It didn’t predict that Jesus would return in 490 years. There’s a break in it that makes it impossible to pin down. There are, however, some parts that lend themselves to specific interpretations. The first set of seven likely began on March 4, 444 BC. That’s the day Artaxerxes, the king of Persia, gave Nehemiah permission to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem (see Nehemiah 2:1–8). The construction process took 49 years. About 483 years later (in converted time), Jesus—the Messiah, the Anointed One—made His triumphal entry into Jerusalem. Within a week, He was crucified, fulfilling the prophecy of Daniel 9:26. Many people like to speculate on the final part of the prophecy, the final set of seven. They trade theories about the ruler who will emerge—the Antichrist—and how his evil reign will play out. But let’s not lose sight of the fact that Daniel was given a vision of Jesus—the Anointed One—and His saving work five hundred years before He was born. God’s timetable is perfect, from the rebuilding of Jerusalem’s walls to the coming of the Messiah to the final judgment and end of evil. We can trust Him to accomplish His will, in His way, in His time. And let’s not lose sight of our own responsibility. There are things we must be alert to as we live in the last days. As the apostle Paul wrote, “The night is almost gone; the day of salvation will soon be here. So remove your dark deeds like dirty clothes, and put on the shining armor of right living” (Romans 13:12 NLT). Your relationship with Jesus Christ needs constant maintenance and cultivation. The day that you stop growing spiritually is the day you will start to become weak and vulnerable to the devil’s attacks. The best way to not go backward is to keep moving forward. Reflection question: When have you seen God’s perfect timetable in your own life? Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship! — Listen to the Greg Laurie Podcast Become a Harvest PartnerSupport the show: https://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Psalm 137 is A song of lament, oath, & oracle.  This is a Psalm acknowledging situations where it is excruciating to sing. The psalmist is in exile but his heart is in Zion.  This is a song Nehemiah could sing as he wept in the courts of Artaxerxes' Persian controlled Babylon.  Nehemiah was a respected official who had the ear and the favor of an emperor, yet his affections called Jerusalem home (Neh 1:3-9). Nehemiah's contentment was tied to the fortunes of Zion: the status of covenant relations between God & God's people.  In his anguish our author lifts his appeal to The Great Judge of the nations.  The refrain spares no weight as the Psalmist finds consolation in the comprehensive judgements of a Holy God.

Scripture: Nehemiah 2:1-8Big Idea: Nehemiah courageously approaches the king, at risk of status and livelihood, BUT GOD moves through Artaxerxes. Despite the king's own selfish motives, GOD's purposes are accomplished for His own glory!Nehemiah exercises the practice of learning to wait.Nehemiah's prayer and passion meet a moment, and he takes a risk.God moves and opens doors through people we least expect.Sermon SlidesYoutube Link

The book of Nehemiah is a powerful narrative in the Old Testament that chronicles the restoration of Jerusalem's walls and the spiritual revival of the Jewish people after their exile. Nehemiah, a cupbearer to the Persian king Artaxerxes, is called by God to lead the rebuilding of the city's walls despite opposition from enemies and internal challenges. The book highlights themes of leadership, prayer, perseverance, and faith, showing how Nehemiah's reliance on God and strategic planning brought about both physical and spiritual renewal for the Israelites.In Nehemiah Chapter 1, Nehemiah, serving as the cupbearer to King Artaxerxes, learns of the dire state of Jerusalem—its walls are broken, and its gates are burned. Deeply grieved, he turns to God in prayer, confessing the sins of Israel, acknowledging God's covenant faithfulness, and pleading for favor before the king. This chapter sets the stage for Nehemiah's mission, showcasing his heartfelt intercession and reliance on God for guidance and strength.If you would like to purchase my book - Coming To Loving Yourself Paperback - https://sharisenjohnson-moorellc.hbportal.co/public/CTLYBookComing To Loving Yourself Ebook - https://a.co/d/7k2sus0If you would like to advertise your products or services on the podcast please click on the link for further details - https://sharisenjohnson-moorellc.hbportal.co/public/PodcastAds Contact Sharise Johnson-MooreEmail - snjm@sharisenjohnsonmoore.comWebsite - sharisenjohnsonmoore.com

In this video, we dive deep into the prophetic years, examining the decree of Artaxerxes and how it leads us to the exact day of Jesus' entry into Jerusalem, fulfilling the 483 years prophecy. By exploring 173,880 prophetic days, we reveal the timeline of Jesus' age in 32 AD and connect it to key moments like Palm Sunday. Using biblical numerology and Daniel's prophecy, we uncover a powerful connection to Jesus' ministry, his Passion Week, and how these events align with end times prophecy. This video is a must-watch for anyone interested in biblical prophecy, Jesus' timeline, and biblical calculations.

“Salt without prescribing how much.” — Ezra 7:22 Salt was used in every offering made by fire unto the Lord, and from its preserving and purifying properties it was the grateful emblem of divine grace in the soul. It is worthy of our attentive regard that, when Artaxerxes gave salt to Ezra the priest, he […]

Haman's wrath against Mordecai and the Jewish people has returned on his own head. On today's episode, Esther continues to represent her people before the king, turning a day of mourning into a day of rejoicing. As we finish Esther we'll be turning back to the historical narrative recorded in the book of Ezra in which we learn of a new Persian king named Artaxerxes. While historians differ, it is believed that Artaxerxes' father is the Ahaseurus from Esther, known more broadly as Xerxes. We are also introduced to the man for whom the book of Ezra is named as he is sent by Artaxerxes to Jerusalem.Esther 9 - 1:05 . Esther 10 - 8:11 . Ezra 7 - 9:06 . Proverbs 31 - 14:46 .  :::Christian Standard Bible translation.All music written and produced by John Burgess Ross.Co-produced by the Christian Standard Bible.facebook.com/commuterbibleinstagram.com/commuter_bibletwitter.com/CommuterPodpatreon.com/commuterbibleadmin@commuterbible.org

Send us a textThe Old Testament was compiled in Hebrew and later translated to Greek (Septuagint) around 300 BCDaniel's prophecy of 69 weeks (490 years) predicted the timing of the Messiah's arrival, and 70 weeks to the destruction of JerusalemSir Robert Anderson calculated 173,880 days between Artaxerxes's decree and Christ's triumphal entry, exactly 69 weeksHistorical evidence suggests the crucifixion occurred on Wednesday, not FridayDaniel's prophecy accurately predicted both the Messiah's execution and Jerusalem's destruction in 70 ADOur Website: https://idcpodcast.co/ Check out our new Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@AtlasApologia Check out our Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/atlas_apologia/Support the show

Support Common Prayer Daily @ PatreonVisit our Website for more www.commonprayerdaily.com_______________Opening Words:“Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.”Psalm 19:14 (ESV) Confession:Let us humbly confess our sins unto Almighty God. Most merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done, and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We are truly sorry and we humbly repent. For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and forgive us; that we may delight in your will, and walk in your ways, to the glory of your Name. Amen. Almighty God have mercy on you, forgive you all your sins through our Lord Jesus Christ, strengthen you in all goodness, and by the power of the Holy Spirit keep you in eternal life. Amen. The InvitatoryLord, open our lips.And our mouth shall proclaim your praise.Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen. Venite (Psalm 95:1-7)Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness: Come let us adore him. Come, let us sing to the Lord; * let us shout for joy to the Rock of our salvation.Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving * and raise a loud shout to him with psalms.For the Lord is a great God, * and a great King above all gods.In his hand are the caverns of the earth, * and the heights of the hills are his also.The sea is his, for he made it, * and his hands have molded the dry land.Come, let us bow down, and bend the knee, * and kneel before the Lord our Maker.For he is our God, and we are the people of his pasture and the sheep of his hand. *Oh, that today you would hearken to his voice! Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness: Come let us adore him. The PsalterPsalm 70Deus, in adjutorium1Be pleased, O God, to deliver me; *O Lord, make haste to help me.2Let those who seek my life be ashamedand altogether dismayed; *let those who take pleasure in my misfortunedraw back and be disgraced.3Let those who say to me “Aha!” and gloat over me turn back, *because they are ashamed.4Let all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you; *let those who love your salvation say for ever,“Great is the Lord!”5But as for me, I am poor and needy; *come to me speedily, O God.6You are my helper and my deliverer; *O Lord, do not tarry.Psalm 71In te, Domine, speravi1In you, O Lord, have I taken refuge; *let me never be ashamed.2In your righteousness, deliver me and set me free; *incline your ear to me and save me.3Be my strong rock, a castle to keep me safe; *you are my crag and my stronghold.4Deliver me, my God, from the hand of the wicked, *from the clutches of the evildoer and the oppressor.5For you are my hope, O Lord God, *my confidence since I was young.6I have been sustained by you ever since I was born;from my mother's womb you have been my strength; *my praise shall be always of you.7I have become a portent to many; *but you are my refuge and my strength.8Let my mouth be full of your praise *and your glory all the day long.9Do not cast me off in my old age; *forsake me not when my strength fails.10For my enemies are talking against me, *and those who lie in wait for my life take counsel together.11They say, “God has forsaken him;go after him and seize him; *because there is none who will save.”12O God, be not far from me; *come quickly to help me, O my God.13Let those who set themselves against me be put to shame and be disgraced; *let those who seek to do me evil be covered with scorn and reproach.14But I shall always wait in patience, *and shall praise you more and more.15My mouth shall recount your mighty actsand saving deeds all day long; *though I cannot know the number of them.16I will begin with the mighty works of the Lord God *I will recall your righteousness, yours alone.17O God, you have taught me since I was young, *and to this day I tell of your wonderful works.18And now that I am old and gray-headed, O God, do not forsake me, *till I make known your strength to this generationand your power to all who are to come.19Your righteousness, O God, reaches to the heavens; *you have done great things;who is like you, O God?20You have showed me great troubles and adversities, *but you will restore my lifeand bring me up again from the deep places of the earth.21You strengthen me more and more; *you enfold and comfort me,22Therefore I will praise you upon the lyre for your faithfulness, O my God; *I will sing to you with the harp, O Holy One of Israel.23My lips will sing with joy when I play to you, *and so will my soul, which you have redeemed.24My tongue will proclaim your righteousness all day long, *for they are ashamed and disgraced who sought to do me harm. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: *as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen. LessonsEzra 7:11-26English Standard Version11 This is a copy of the letter that King Artaxerxes gave to Ezra the priest, the scribe, a man learned in matters of the commandments of the Lord and his statutes for Israel: 12 “Artaxerxes, king of kings, to Ezra the priest, the scribe of the Law of the God of heaven. Peace. And now 13 I make a decree that anyone of the people of Israel or their priests or Levites in my kingdom, who freely offers to go to Jerusalem, may go with you. 14 For you are sent by the king and his seven counselors to make inquiries about Judah and Jerusalem according to the Law of your God, which is in your hand, 15 and also to carry the silver and gold that the king and his counselors have freely offered to the God of Israel, whose dwelling is in Jerusalem, 16 with all the silver and gold that you shall find in the whole province of Babylonia, and with the freewill offerings of the people and the priests, vowed willingly for the house of their God that is in Jerusalem. 17 With this money, then, you shall with all diligence buy bulls, rams, and lambs, with their grain offerings and their drink offerings, and you shall offer them on the altar of the house of your God that is in Jerusalem. 18 Whatever seems good to you and your brothers to do with the rest of the silver and gold, you may do, according to the will of your God. 19 The vessels that have been given you for the service of the house of your God, you shall deliver before the God of Jerusalem. 20 And whatever else is required for the house of your God, which it falls to you to provide, you may provide it out of the king's treasury.21 “And I, Artaxerxes the king, make a decree to all the treasurers in the province Beyond the River: Whatever Ezra the priest, the scribe of the Law of the God of heaven, requires of you, let it be done with all diligence, 22 up to 100 talents of silver, 100 cors of wheat, 100 baths of wine, 100 baths of oil, and salt without prescribing how much. 23 Whatever is decreed by the God of heaven, let it be done in full for the house of the God of heaven, lest his wrath be against the realm of the king and his sons. 24 We also notify you that it shall not be lawful to impose tribute, custom, or toll on anyone of the priests, the Levites, the singers, the doorkeepers, the temple servants, or other servants of this house of God.25 “And you, Ezra, according to the wisdom of your God that is in your hand, appoint magistrates and judges who may judge all the people in the province Beyond the River, all such as know the laws of your God. And those who do not know them, you shall teach. 26 Whoever will not obey the law of your God and the law of the king, let judgment be strictly executed on him, whether for death or for banishment or for confiscation of his goods or for imprisonment.”Revelation 14:1-13English Standard Version14 Then I looked, and behold, on Mount Zion stood the Lamb, and with him 144,000 who had his name and his Father's name written on their foreheads. 2 And I heard a voice from heaven like the roar of many waters and like the sound of loud thunder. The voice I heard was like the sound of harpists playing on their harps, 3 and they were singing a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and before the elders. No one could learn that song except the 144,000 who had been redeemed from the earth. 4 It is these who have not defiled themselves with women, for they are virgins. It is these who follow the Lamb wherever he goes. These have been redeemed from mankind as firstfruits for God and the Lamb, 5 and in their mouth no lie was found, for they are blameless.6 Then I saw another angel flying directly overhead, with an eternal gospel to proclaim to those who dwell on earth, to every nation and tribe and language and people. 7 And he said with a loud voice, “Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has come, and worship him who made heaven and earth, the sea and the springs of water.”8 Another angel, a second, followed, saying, “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great, she who made all nations drink the wine of the passion of her sexual immorality.”9 And another angel, a third, followed them, saying with a loud voice, “If anyone worships the beast and its image and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand, 10 he also will drink the wine of God's wrath, poured full strength into the cup of his anger, and he will be tormented with fire and sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. 11 And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever, and they have no rest, day or night, these worshipers of the beast and its image, and whoever receives the mark of its name.”12 Here is a call for the endurance of the saints, those who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus.13 And I heard a voice from heaven saying, “Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.” “Blessed indeed,” says the Spirit, “that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow them!” The Word of the Lord.Thanks Be To God. Benedictus (The Song of Zechariah)Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel; * he has come to his people and set them free.He has raised up for us a mighty savior, * born of the house of his servant David.Through his holy prophets he promised of old, that he would save us from our enemies, * from the hands of all who hate us. He promised to show mercy to our fathers * and to remember his holy covenant. This was the oath he swore to our father Abraham, * to set us free from the hands of our enemies, Free to worship him without fear, * holy and righteous in his sight all the days of our life.You, my child, shall be called the prophet of the Most High, * for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way, To give his people knowledge of salvation * by the forgiveness of their sins.In the tender compassion of our God * the dawn from on high shall break upon us, To shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death, * and to guide our feet into the way of peace.Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen. The Apostles CreedI believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again to judge the living and the dead.I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen. The PrayersLord, have mercy.Christ, have mercyLord, have mercyOur Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen. The SuffragesO Lord, show your mercy upon us;And grant us your salvation.O Lord, guide those who govern usAnd lead us in the way of justice and truth.Clothe your ministers with righteousnessAnd let your people sing with joy.O Lord, save your peopleAnd bless your inheritance.Give peace in our time, O LordAnd defend us by your mighty power.Let not the needy, O Lord, be forgottenNor the hope of the poor be taken away.Create in us clean hearts, O GodAnd take not your Holy Spirit from us. Take a moment of silence at this time to reflect and pray for others. The CollectsProper 26Almighty and merciful God, it is only by your gift that your faithful people offer you true and laudable service: Grant that we may run without stumbling to obtain your heavenly promises; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. Daily Collects:A Collect for PeaceO God, the author of peace and lover of concord, to know you is eternal life and to serve you is perfect freedom: Defend us, your humble servants, in all assaults of our enemies; that we, surely trusting in your defense, may not fear the power of any adversaries, through the might of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.A Collect for GraceO Lord, our heavenly Father, almighty and everlasting God, you have brought us safely to the beginning of this day: Defend us by your mighty power, that we may not fall into sin nor run into any danger; and that, guided by your Spirit, we may do what is righteous in your sight; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.Collect of Saint BasilO Christ God, Who art worshipped and glorified at every place and time; Who art long-suffering, most merciful and compassionate; Who lovest the righteous and art merciful to sinners; Who callest all to salvation with the promise of good things to come: receive, Lord, the prayers we now offer, and direct our lives in the way of Thy commandments. Sanctify our souls, cleanse our bodies, correct our thoughts, purify our minds and deliver us from all affliction, evil and illness. Surround us with Thy holy angels, that guarded and instructed by their forces, we may reach unity of faith and the understanding of Thine unapproachable glory: for blessed art Thou unto ages of ages. Amen. General ThanksgivingAlmighty God, Father of all mercies, we your unworthy servants give you humble thanks for all your goodness and loving-kindness to us and to all whom you have made. We bless you for our creation, preservation, and all the blessings of this life; but above all for your immeasurable love in the redemption of the world by our Lord Jesus Christ; for the means of grace, and for the hope of glory. And, we pray, give us such an awareness of your mercies, that with truly thankful hearts we may show forth your praise, not only with our lips, but in our lives, by giving up our selves to your service, and by walking before you in holiness and righteousness all our days; Through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory throughout all ages. Amen. A Prayer of St. John ChrysostomAlmighty God, you have given us grace at this time, with one accord to make our common supplications to you; and you have promised through your well-beloved Son that when two or three are gathered together in his Name you will grant their requests: Fulfill now, O Lord, our desires and petitions as may be best for us; granting us in this world knowledge of your truth, and in the age to come life everlasting. Amen. DismissalLet us bless the LordThanks be to God!Alleluia, Alleluia! BenedictionThe grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with us all evermore. Amen

We continue our project of reading ALL of God's Word for our listeners. The post-exilic Book of Esther is set in the time between the prophecies of Haggai and Zechariah (520-518 BC) and that of Malachi (450-430? BC). The Jerusalem temple had already been rebuilt (c. 515 BC) some 35 years prior to the events narrated in Esther. However, neither Ezra nor Nehemiah had yet returned to Jerusalem. Ezra would lead the return of the second wave of exiles in about twenty years, and Nehemiah the third wave in another fifteen years after that. The historical timeline of Persia's King Xerxes is a perfect match to Esther's story. The events of chapter 1 would have been in the years of military planning leading up to Xerxes' famous attack on Greece. Queen Vashti was likely his queen Amestris, whom Xerxes married on his ascent to the Persian throne in 486 BC. It was in 480 that Xerxes and his army defeated the Greeks at Thermopylae and burned Athens, but then losing decisively in the naval battle of Salamis. Xerxes with the remainder of his fleet and much of his army, returned home, fearing that the military defeat at the hands of the Greeks would inspire rebellion within the empire. Thus, he would have been present at the palace in Susa, as it says in the second chapter of Esther, in the 7th year of his reign (479-8 BC) to choose Esther as queen in Vashti's place. It is important to remember this, as Queen Esther in the palace at Susa may be the queen mentioned in Nehemiah 2:6 as sitting beside Xerxes son, Artaxerxes (though it might also be Vashti/Amestris, mother of Artaxerxes, who was still alive at this time). It is possible that Queen Esther continued to influence Persian politics for quite some time. The historical accuracy of Esther is confirmed, as related here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yd_13K4O3EA   This BRILLIANT summary of the Book of Esther is highly recommended. I suggest watching it both before and after listening to/reading it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JydNSlufRIs   If you enjoy our content, consider donating through PayPal via https://ko-fi.com/thechristianatheist Take a moment to enjoy our weekly Photos of the Day videos here - short slideshows with relaxing music ...https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_9GPi4HTqoZ8xFgTldbBaA   https://www.youtube.com/c/TheChristianAtheist/featured https://www.facebook.com/JnJWiseWords https://wisewordsforyouroccasion.wordpress.com   #thechristianatheist #drjohndwise #drjohnwise #johnwise #christian #atheist #christianity #atheism #jesus #jesuschrist #god #bible #oldtestament #newtestament #nocompromise #rationality #faith #philosophy #philosopher #culture #society #hegelism #hegelianism #hegel #reason #incarnation #history#psychology #theology #literature #humanities #hardquestions #postmodernism #woke #wisdom #ethics #science #poetry #paradox #oxymoron

We continue our project of reading ALL of God's Word for our listeners. The post-exilic Book of Esther is set in the time between the prophecies of Haggai and Zechariah (520-518 BC) and that of Malachi (450-430? BC). The Jerusalem temple had already been rebuilt (c. 515 BC) some 35 years prior to the events narrated in Esther. However, neither Ezra nor Nehemiah had yet returned to Jerusalem. Ezra would lead the return of the second wave of exiles in about twenty years, and Nehemiah the third wave in another fifteen years after that. The historical timeline of Persia's King Xerxes is a perfect match to Esther's story. The events of chapter 1 would have been in the years of military planning leading up to Xerxes' famous attack on Greece. Queen Vashti was likely his queen Amestris, whom Xerxes married on his ascent to the Persian throne in 486 BC. It was in 480 that Xerxes and his army defeated the Greeks at Thermopylae and burned Athens, but then losing decisively in the naval battle of Salamis. Xerxes with the remainder of his fleet and much of his army, returned home, fearing that the military defeat at the hands of the Greeks would inspire rebellion within the empire. Thus, he would have been present at the palace in Susa, as it says in the second chapter of Esther, in the 7th year of his reign (479-8 BC) to choose Esther as queen in Vashti's place. It is important to remember this, as Queen Esther in the palace at Susa may be the queen mentioned in Nehemiah 2:6 as sitting beside Xerxes son, Artaxerxes (though it might also be Vashti/Amestris, mother of Artaxerxes, who was still alive at this time). It is possible that Queen Esther continued to influence Persian politics for quite some time. The historical accuracy of Esther is confirmed, as related here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yd_13K4O3EA   This BRILLIANT summary of the Book of Esther is highly recommended. I suggest watching it both before and after listening to/reading it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JydNSlufRIs   If you enjoy our content, consider donating through PayPal via https://ko-fi.com/thechristianatheist Take a moment to enjoy our weekly Photos of the Day videos here - short slideshows with relaxing music ...https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_9GPi4HTqoZ8xFgTldbBaA   https://www.youtube.com/c/TheChristianAtheist/featured https://www.facebook.com/JnJWiseWords https://wisewordsforyouroccasion.wordpress.com   #thechristianatheist #drjohndwise #drjohnwise #johnwise #christian #atheist #christianity #atheism #jesus #jesuschrist #god #bible #oldtestament #newtestament #nocompromise #rationality #faith #philosophy #philosopher #culture #society #hegelism #hegelianism #hegel #reason #incarnation #history#psychology #theology #literature #humanities #hardquestions #postmodernism #woke #wisdom #ethics #science #poetry #paradox #oxymoron

After the death of Darius, his son Artaxerxes continued in his father's benevolence to the Jews. He sent Ezra from Babylon to Jerusalem with the brief to establish judges and magistrates in Israel, Syria and Phoenicia, teaching all people the law of Moses. In aid of this, the king provided him with a vast amount of silver and gold to be used in temple worship.

We continue our project of reading ALL of God's Word for our listeners. The post-exilic Book of Esther is set in the time between the prophecies of Haggai and Zechariah (520-518 BC) and that of Malachi (450-430? BC). The Jerusalem temple had already been rebuilt (c. 515 BC) some 35 years prior to the events narrated in Esther. However, neither Ezra nor Nehemiah had yet returned to Jerusalem. Ezra would lead the return of the second wave of exiles in about twenty years, and Nehemiah the third wave in another fifteen years after that. The historical timeline of Persia's King Xerxes is a perfect match to Esther's story. The events of chapter 1 would have been in the years of military planning leading up to Xerxes' famous attack on Greece. Queen Vashti was likely his queen Amestris, whom Xerxes married on his ascent to the Persian throne in 486 BC. It was in 480 that Xerxes and his army defeated the Greeks at Thermopylae and burned Athens, but then losing decisively in the naval battle of Salamis. Xerxes with the remainder of his fleet and much of his army, returned home, fearing that the military defeat at the hands of the Greeks would inspire rebellion within the empire. Thus, he would have been present at the palace in Susa, as it says in the second chapter of Esther, in the 7th year of his reign (479-8 BC) to choose Esther as queen in Vashti's place. It is important to remember this, as Queen Esther in the palace at Susa may be the queen mentioned in Nehemiah 2:6 as sitting beside Xerxes son, Artaxerxes (though it might also be Vashti/Amestris, mother of Artaxerxes, who was still alive at this time). It is possible that Queen Esther continued to influence Persian politics for quite some time. The historical accuracy of Esther is confirmed, as related here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yd_13K4O3EA   This BRILLIANT summary of the Book of Esther is highly recommended. I suggest watching it both before and after listening to/reading it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JydNSlufRIs   If you enjoy our content, consider donating through PayPal via https://ko-fi.com/thechristianatheist Take a moment to enjoy our weekly Photos of the Day videos here - short slideshows with relaxing music ...https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_9GPi4HTqoZ8xFgTldbBaA   https://www.youtube.com/c/TheChristianAtheist/featured https://www.facebook.com/JnJWiseWords https://wisewordsforyouroccasion.wordpress.com   #thechristianatheist #drjohndwise #drjohnwise #johnwise #christian #atheist #christianity #atheism #jesus #jesuschrist #god #bible #oldtestament #newtestament #nocompromise #rationality #faith #philosophy #philosopher #culture #society #hegelism #hegelianism #hegel #reason #incarnation #history#psychology #theology #literature #humanities #hardquestions #postmodernism #woke #wisdom #ethics #science #poetry #paradox #oxymoron

0206 亞達薛西 Artaxerxes by 靈修廣播站

Join Pastor Shawn and the gang at Calvary Chapel Birmingham as they study the Bible verse by verse and chapter by chapter. In this episode, we continue our study in Nehemiah with chapter 7.

Nehemiah 13:6-9Nehemiah 13:15-22Context- The thirty-second year of Artaxerxes would have been around 433 BC and this is when Nehemiah returned to Persia and was there for some time before he requested he visit Jerusalem. His return visit was around 430 or 429 BC, and he tells us what he found in Jerusalem (vv 6-7).- Tobiah and Eliashib were somehow connected (perhaps related through a marriage). Tobiah was fiercely against the work of the wall (Neh 2:10).- Nehemiah reminded everyone the definition of not working included:  • treading wine • loading • transporting • selling grain, grapes, or figs • buying goods from foreigners.Big idea last week: We find freedom from conformity through our surrender to transformation.Big Idea: Surrender to transformation begins with divesting from the things that entangle us and resting in God.1. Divest from the things that entangle youHebrews 12:1-22. Rest in GodPsalm 91:1Psalm 37:7Matthew 11:28-30Response:• Clear out the things in your life that hinder you from fully surrendering to Jesus and becoming more like Him.• Find time daily to rest and spend time with God. DISCOVERY BIBLE STUDY► This week's passages: Psalm 2► Connection questions:1. What are you thankful for?2. What is a challenge you are facing?3. How did you do with last week's “I will” statement?► Have at least one member of the group restate the passage in their own words► Individual answers to five questions:1. What stands out to you?2. What does this passage tell us about people?3. What does this passage tell us about God?4. Based on the passage, what is one thing I could do differently starting now and what would happen if I did? (each person commits to their action for one week using an “I will…” statement)5. Who are you going to tell about what you discovered? (each person commits to having that conversation before the next meeting)

Nehemiah 13:6-9Nehemiah 13:15-22Context- The thirty-second year of Artaxerxes would have been around 433 BC and this is when Nehemiah returned to Persia and was there for some time before he requested he visit Jerusalem. His return visit was around 430 or 429 BC, and he tells us what he found in Jerusalem (vv 6-7).- Tobiah and Eliashib were somehow connected (perhaps related through a marriage). Tobiah was fiercely against the work of the wall (Neh 2:10).- Nehemiah reminded everyone the definition of not working included:  • treading wine • loading • transporting • selling grain, grapes, or figs • buying goods from foreigners.Big idea last week: We find freedom from conformity through our surrender to transformation.Big Idea: Surrender to transformation begins with divesting from the things that entangle us and resting in God.1. Divest from the things that entangle youHebrews 12:1-22. Rest in GodPsalm 91:1Psalm 37:7Matthew 11:28-30Response:• Clear out the things in your life that hinder you from fully surrendering to Jesus and becoming more like Him.• Find time daily to rest and spend time with God. DISCOVERY BIBLE STUDY► This week's passages: Psalm 2► Connection questions:1. What are you thankful for?2. What is a challenge you are facing?3. How did you do with last week's “I will” statement?► Have at least one member of the group restate the passage in their own words► Individual answers to five questions:1. What stands out to you?2. What does this passage tell us about people?3. What does this passage tell us about God?4. Based on the passage, what is one thing I could do differently starting now and what would happen if I did? (each person commits to their action for one week using an “I will…” statement)5. Who are you going to tell about what you discovered? (each person commits to having that conversation before the next meeting)

We continue our project of reading ALL of God's Word for our listeners. The post-exilic Book of Esther is set in the time between the prophecies of Haggai and Zechariah (520-518 BC) and that of Malachi (450-430? BC). The Jerusalem temple had already been rebuilt (c. 515 BC) some 35 years prior to the events narrated in Esther. However, neither Ezra nor Nehemiah had yet returned to Jerusalem. Ezra would lead the return of the second wave of exiles in about twenty years, and Nehemiah the third wave in another fifteen years after that. The historical timeline of Persia's King Xerxes is a perfect match to Esther's story. The events of chapter 1 would have been in the years of military planning leading up to Xerxes' famous attack on Greece. Queen Vashti was likely his queen Amestris, whom Xerxes married on his ascent to the Persian throne in 486 BC. It was in 480 that Xerxes and his army defeated the Greeks at Thermopylae and burned Athens, but then losing decisively in the naval battle of Salamis. Xerxes with the remainder of his fleet and much of his army, returned home, fearing that the military defeat at the hands of the Greeks would inspire rebellion within the empire. Thus, he would have been present at the palace in Susa, as it says in the second chapter of Esther, in the 7th year of his reign (479-8 BC) to choose Esther as queen in Vashti's place. It is important to remember this, as Queen Esther in the palace at Susa may be the queen mentioned in Nehemiah 2:6 as sitting beside Xerxes son, Artaxerxes (though it might also be Vashti/Amestris, mother of Artaxerxes, who was still alive at this time). It is possible that Queen Esther continued to influence Persian politics for quite some time. The historical accuracy of Esther is confirmed, as related here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yd_13K4O3EA   This BRILLIANT summary of the Book of Esther is highly recommended. I suggest watching it both before and after listening to/reading it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JydNSlufRIs   If you enjoy our content, consider donating through PayPal via https://ko-fi.com/thechristianatheist Take a moment to enjoy our weekly Photos of the Day videos here - short slideshows with relaxing music ...https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_9GPi4HTqoZ8xFgTldbBaA   https://www.youtube.com/c/TheChristianAtheist/featured https://www.facebook.com/JnJWiseWords https://wisewordsforyouroccasion.wordpress.com   #thechristianatheist #drjohndwise #drjohnwise #johnwise #christian #atheist #christianity #atheism #jesus #jesuschrist #god #bible #oldtestament #newtestament #nocompromise #rationality #faith #philosophy #philosopher #culture #society #hegelism #hegelianism #hegel #reason #incarnation #history#psychology #theology #literature #humanities #hardquestions #postmodernism #woke #wisdom #ethics #science #poetry #paradox #oxymoron

Ezra 7-10 Ezra Sent to Teach the People 7 Now after this, in the reign of Artaxerxes king of Persia, Ezra the son of Seraiah, son of Azariah, son of Hilkiah, 2 son of Shallum, son of Zadok, son of Ahitub, 3 son of Amariah, son of Azariah, son of Meraioth, 4 son of Zerahiah, son of Uzzi, son […]

We continue our project of reading ALL of God's Word for our listeners. The post-exilic Book of Esther is set in the time between the prophecies of Haggai and Zechariah (520-518 BC) and that of Malachi (450-430? BC). The Jerusalem temple had already been rebuilt (c. 515 BC) some 35 years prior to the events narrated in Esther. However, neither Ezra nor Nehemiah had yet returned to Jerusalem. Ezra would lead the return of the second wave of exiles in about twenty years, and Nehemiah the third wave in another fifteen years after that. The historical timeline of Persia's King Xerxes is a perfect match to Esther's story. The events of chapter 1 would have been in the years of military planning leading up to Xerxes' famous attack on Greece. Queen Vashti was likely his queen Amestris, whom Xerxes married on his ascent to the Persian throne in 486 BC. It was in 480 that Xerxes and his army defeated the Greeks at Thermopylae and burned Athens, but then losing decisively in the naval battle of Salamis. Xerxes with the remainder of his fleet and much of his army, returned home, fearing that the military defeat at the hands of the Greeks would inspire rebellion within the empire. Thus, he would have been present at the palace in Susa, as it says in the second chapter of Esther, in the 7th year of his reign (479-8 BC) to choose Esther as queen in Vashti's place. It is important to remember this, as Queen Esther in the palace at Susa may be the queen mentioned in Nehemiah 2:6 as sitting beside Xerxes son, Artaxerxes (though it might also be Vashti/Amestris, mother of Artaxerxes, who was still alive at this time). It is possible that Queen Esther continued to influence Persian politics for quite some time. The historical accuracy of Esther is confirmed, as related here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yd_13K4O3EA   This BRILLIANT summary of the Book of Esther is highly recommended. I suggest watching it both before and after listening to/reading it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JydNSlufRIs   If you enjoy our content, consider donating through PayPal via https://ko-fi.com/thechristianatheist Take a moment to enjoy our weekly Photos of the Day videos here - short slideshows with relaxing music ...https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_9GPi4HTqoZ8xFgTldbBaA   https://www.youtube.com/c/TheChristianAtheist/featured https://www.facebook.com/JnJWiseWords https://wisewordsforyouroccasion.wordpress.com   #thechristianatheist #drjohndwise #drjohnwise #johnwise #christian #atheist #christianity #atheism #jesus #jesuschrist #god #bible #oldtestament #newtestament #nocompromise #rationality #faith #philosophy #philosopher #culture #society #hegelism #hegelianism #hegel #reason #incarnation #history#psychology #theology #literature #humanities #hardquestions #postmodernism #woke #wisdom #ethics #science #poetry #paradox #oxymoron

Join Pastor Shawn and the gang at Calvary Chapel Birmingham as they study the Bible verse by verse and chapter by chapter. In this episode, we continue our study in Nehemiah with chapter 5.

We continue our project of reading ALL of God's Word for our listeners. The post-exilic Book of Esther is set in the time between the prophecies of Haggai and Zechariah (520-518 BC) and that of Malachi (450-430? BC). The Jerusalem temple had already been rebuilt (c. 515 BC) some 35 years prior to the events narrated in Esther. However, neither Ezra nor Nehemiah had yet returned to Jerusalem. Ezra would lead the return of the second wave of exiles in about twenty years, and Nehemiah the third wave in another fifteen years after that. The historical timeline of Persia's King Xerxes is a perfect match to Esther's story. The events of chapter 1 would have been in the years of military planning leading up to Xerxes' famous attack on Greece. Queen Vashti was likely his queen Amestris, whom Xerxes married on his ascent to the Persian throne in 486 BC. It was in 480 that Xerxes and his army defeated the Greeks at Thermopylae and burned Athens, but then losing decisively in the naval battle of Salamis. Xerxes with the remainder of his fleet and much of his army, returned home, fearing that the military defeat at the hands of the Greeks would inspire rebellion within the empire. Thus, he would have been present at the palace in Susa, as it says in the second chapter of Esther, in the 7th year of his reign (479-8 BC) to choose Esther as queen in Vashti's place. It is important to remember this, as Queen Esther in the palace at Susa may be the queen mentioned in Nehemiah 2:6 as sitting beside Xerxes son, Artaxerxes (though it might also be Vashti/Amestris, mother of Artaxerxes, who was still alive at this time). It is possible that Queen Esther continued to influence Persian politics for quite some time. The historical accuracy of Esther is confirmed, as related here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yd_13K4O3EA   This BRILLIANT summary of the Book of Esther is highly recommended. I suggest watching it both before and after listening to/reading it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JydNSlufRIs   If you enjoy our content, consider donating through PayPal via https://ko-fi.com/thechristianatheist Take a moment to enjoy our weekly Photos of the Day videos here - short slideshows with relaxing music ...https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_9GPi4HTqoZ8xFgTldbBaA   https://www.youtube.com/c/TheChristianAtheist/featured https://www.facebook.com/JnJWiseWords https://wisewordsforyouroccasion.wordpress.com   #thechristianatheist #drjohndwise #drjohnwise #johnwise #christian #atheist #christianity #atheism #jesus #jesuschrist #god #bible #oldtestament #newtestament #nocompromise #rationality #faith #philosophy #philosopher #culture #society #hegelism #hegelianism #hegel #reason #incarnation #history#psychology #theology #literature #humanities #hardquestions #postmodernism #woke #wisdom #ethics #science #poetry #paradox #oxymoron

We continue our project of reading ALL of God's Word for our listeners. The post-exilic Book of Esther is set in the time between the prophecies of Haggai and Zechariah (520-518 BC) and that of Malachi (450-430? BC). The Jerusalem temple had already been rebuilt (c. 515 BC) some 35 years prior to the events narrated in Esther. However, neither Ezra nor Nehemiah had yet returned to Jerusalem. Ezra would lead the return of the second wave of exiles in about twenty years, and Nehemiah the third wave in another fifteen years after that. The historical timeline of Persia's King Xerxes is a perfect match to Esther's story. The events of chapter 1 would have been in the years of military planning leading up to Xerxes' famous attack on Greece. Queen Vashti was likely his queen Amestris, whom Xerxes married on his ascent to the Persian throne in 486 BC. It was in 480 that Xerxes and his army defeated the Greeks at Thermopylae and burned Athens, but then losing decisively in the naval battle of Salamis. Xerxes with the remainder of his fleet and much of his army, returned home, fearing that the military defeat at the hands of the Greeks would inspire rebellion within the empire. Thus, he would have been present at the palace in Susa, as it says in the second chapter of Esther, in the 7th year of his reign (479-8 BC) to choose Esther as queen in Vashti's place. It is important to remember this, as Queen Esther in the palace at Susa may be the queen mentioned in Nehemiah 2:6 as sitting beside Xerxes son, Artaxerxes (though it might also be Vashti/Amestris, mother of Artaxerxes, who was still alive at this time). It is possible that Queen Esther continued to influence Persian politics for quite some time. The historical accuracy of Esther is confirmed, as related here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yd_13K4O3EA   This BRILLIANT summary of the Book of Esther is highly recommended. I suggest watching it both before and after listening to/reading it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JydNSlufRIs   If you enjoy our content, consider donating through PayPal via https://ko-fi.com/thechristianatheist Take a moment to enjoy our weekly Photos of the Day videos here - short slideshows with relaxing music ...https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_9GPi4HTqoZ8xFgTldbBaA   https://www.youtube.com/c/TheChristianAtheist/featured https://www.facebook.com/JnJWiseWords https://wisewordsforyouroccasion.wordpress.com   #thechristianatheist #drjohndwise #drjohnwise #johnwise #christian #atheist #christianity #atheism #jesus #jesuschrist #god #bible #oldtestament #newtestament #nocompromise #rationality #faith #philosophy #philosopher #culture #society #hegelism #hegelianism #hegel #reason #incarnation #history#psychology #theology #literature #humanities #hardquestions #postmodernism #woke #wisdom #ethics #science #poetry #paradox #oxymoron

Join Pastor Shawn and the gang at Calvary Chapel Birmingham as they study the Bible verse by verse and chapter by chapter. In this episode, we continue our study in Nehemiah with chapter 3.

We continue our project of reading ALL of God's Word for our listeners. The post-exilic Book of Esther is set in the time between the prophecies of Haggai and Zechariah (520-518 BC) and that of Malachi (450-430? BC). The Jerusalem temple had already been rebuilt (c. 515 BC) some 35 years prior to the events narrated in Esther. However, neither Ezra nor Nehemiah had yet returned to Jerusalem. Ezra would lead the return of the second wave of exiles in about twenty years, and Nehemiah the third wave in another fifteen years after that. The historical timeline of Persia's King Xerxes is a perfect match to Esther's story. The events of chapter 1 would have been in the years of military planning leading up to Xerxes' famous attack on Greece. Queen Vashti was likely his queen Amestris, whom Xerxes married on his ascent to the Persian throne in 486 BC. It was in 480 that Xerxes and his army defeated the Greeks at Thermopylae and burned Athens, but then losing decisively in the naval battle of Salamis. Xerxes with the remainder of his fleet and much of his army, returned home, fearing that the military defeat at the hands of the Greeks would inspire rebellion within the empire. Thus, he would have been present at the palace in Susa, as it says in the second chapter of Esther, in the 7th year of his reign (479-8 BC) to choose Esther as queen in Vashti's place. It is important to remember this, as Queen Esther in the palace at Susa may be the queen mentioned in Nehemiah 2:6 as sitting beside Xerxes son, Artaxerxes (though it might also be Vashti/Amestris, mother of Artaxerxes, who was still alive at this time). It is possible that Queen Esther continued to influence Persian politics for quite some time. The historical accuracy of Esther is confirmed, as related here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yd_13K4O3EA   This BRILLIANT summary of the Book of Esther is highly recommended. I suggest watching it both before and after listening to/reading it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JydNSlufRIs   If you enjoy our content, consider donating through PayPal via https://ko-fi.com/thechristianatheist Take a moment to enjoy our weekly Photos of the Day videos here - short slideshows with relaxing music ...https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_9GPi4HTqoZ8xFgTldbBaA   https://www.youtube.com/c/TheChristianAtheist/featured https://www.facebook.com/JnJWiseWords https://wisewordsforyouroccasion.wordpress.com   #thechristianatheist #drjohndwise #drjohnwise #johnwise #christian #atheist #christianity #atheism #jesus #jesuschrist #god #bible #oldtestament #newtestament #nocompromise #rationality #faith #philosophy #philosopher #culture #society #hegelism #hegelianism #hegel #reason #incarnation #history#psychology #theology #literature #humanities #hardquestions #postmodernism #woke #wisdom #ethics #science #poetry #paradox #oxymoron

Join Pastor Shawn and the gang at Calvary Chapel Birmingham as they study the Bible verse by verse and chapter by chapter. In this episode, we continue our study in Nehemiah with chapter 2.

We continue our project of reading ALL of God's Word for our listeners. The post-exilic Book of Esther is set in the time between the prophecies of Haggai and Zechariah (520-518 BC) and that of Malachi (450-430? BC). The Jerusalem temple had already been rebuilt (c. 515 BC) some 35 years prior to the events narrated in Esther. However, neither Ezra nor Nehemiah had yet returned to Jerusalem. Ezra would lead the return of the second wave of exiles in about twenty years, and Nehemiah the third wave in another fifteen years after that. The historical timeline of Persia's King Xerxes is a perfect match to Esther's story. The events of chapter 1 would have been in the years of military planning leading up to Xerxes' famous attack on Greece. Queen Vashti was likely his queen Amestris, whom Xerxes married on his ascent to the Persian throne in 486 BC. It was in 480 that Xerxes and his army defeated the Greeks at Thermopylae and burned Athens, but then losing decisively in the naval battle of Salamis. Xerxes with the remainder of his fleet and much of his army, returned home, fearing that the military defeat at the hands of the Greeks would inspire rebellion within the empire. Thus, he would have been present at the palace in Susa, as it says in the second chapter of Esther, in the 7th year of his reign (479-8 BC) to choose Esther as queen in Vashti's place. It is important to remember this, as Queen Esther in the palace at Susa may be the queen mentioned in Nehemiah 2:6 as sitting beside Xerxes son, Artaxerxes (though it might also be Vashti/Amestris, mother of Artaxerxes, who was still alive at this time). It is possible that Queen Esther continued to influence Persian politics for quite some time. The historical accuracy of Esther is confirmed, as related here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yd_13K4O3EA   This BRILLIANT summary of the Book of Esther is highly recommended. I suggest watching it both before and after listening to/reading it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JydNSlufRIs   If you enjoy our content, consider donating through PayPal via https://ko-fi.com/thechristianatheist Take a moment to enjoy our weekly Photos of the Day videos here - short slideshows with relaxing music ...https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_9GPi4HTqoZ8xFgTldbBaA   https://www.youtube.com/c/TheChristianAtheist/featured https://www.facebook.com/JnJWiseWords https://wisewordsforyouroccasion.wordpress.com   #thechristianatheist #drjohndwise #drjohnwise #johnwise #christian #atheist #christianity #atheism #jesus #jesuschrist #god #bible #oldtestament #newtestament #nocompromise #rationality #faith #philosophy #philosopher #culture #society #hegelism #hegelianism #hegel #reason #incarnation #history#psychology #theology #literature #humanities #hardquestions #postmodernism #woke #wisdom #ethics #science #poetry #paradox #oxymoron

Join Pastor Shawn and the gang at Calvary Chapel Birmingham as they study the Bible verse by verse and chapter by chapter. In this episode, we begin our study in Nehemiah with chapter 1.

Your Daily Prayer

We continue our project of reading ALL of God's Word for our listeners. The post-exilic Book of Esther is set in the time between the prophecies of Haggai and Zechariah (520-518 BC) and that of Malachi (450-430? BC). The Jerusalem temple had already been rebuilt (c. 515 BC) some 35 years prior to the events narrated in Esther. However, neither Ezra nor Nehemiah had yet returned to Jerusalem. Ezra would lead the return of the second wave of exiles in about twenty years, and Nehemiah the third wave in another fifteen years after that. The historical timeline of Persia's King Xerxes is a perfect match to Esther's story. The events of chapter 1 would have been in the years of military planning leading up to Xerxes' famous attack on Greece. Queen Vashti was likely his queen Amestris, whom Xerxes married on his ascent to the Persian throne in 486 BC. It was in 480 that Xerxes and his army defeated the Greeks at Thermopylae and burned Athens, but then losing decisively in the naval battle of Salamis. Xerxes with the remainder of his fleet and much of his army, returned home, fearing that the military defeat at the hands of the Greeks would inspire rebellion within the empire. Thus, he would have been present at the palace in Susa, as it says in the second chapter of Esther, in the 7th year of his reign (479-8 BC) to choose Esther as queen in Vashti's place. It is important to remember this, as Queen Esther in the palace at Susa may be the queen mentioned in Nehemiah 2:6 as sitting beside Xerxes son, Artaxerxes (though it might also be Vashti/Amestris, mother of Artaxerxes, who was still alive at this time). It is possible that Queen Esther continued to influence Persian politics for quite some time. The historical accuracy of Esther is confirmed, as related here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yd_13K4O3EA   This BRILLIANT summary of the Book of Esther is highly recommended. I suggest watching it both before and after listening to/reading it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JydNSlufRIs   If you enjoy our content, consider donating through PayPal via https://ko-fi.com/thechristianatheist Take a moment to enjoy our weekly Photos of the Day videos here - short slideshows with relaxing music ...https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_9GPi4HTqoZ8xFgTldbBaA   https://www.youtube.com/c/TheChristianAtheist/featured https://www.facebook.com/JnJWiseWords https://wisewordsforyouroccasion.wordpress.com   #thechristianatheist #drjohndwise #drjohnwise #johnwise #christian #atheist #christianity #atheism #jesus #jesuschrist #god #bible #oldtestament #newtestament #nocompromise #rationality #faith #philosophy #philosopher #culture #society #hegelism #hegelianism #hegel #reason #incarnation #history#psychology #theology #literature #humanities #hardquestions #postmodernism #woke #wisdom #ethics #science #poetry #paradox #oxymoron

Matthew 24:15 (ESV)Daniel 10:14 (ESV)Daniel 11:2 (ESV)1. Ahasuerus, Artaxerxes, or Xerxes (Esther's Husband)Ezra 4:6 (ESV)AlexanderDaniel 11:3-4 (ESV)The 4 windsMacedon and Greece went to CassanderThrace and Asia Minor went to LysimachusSyria and Babylon went to SeleucusJudah and Egypt went to PtolemyThe City of TyreEzekiel 26:1-7 (ESV)Antiochus III the Great: takes the throne at 18Daniel 11:10-12 (ESV)Daniel 11:13-14 (ESV)Daniel 11:17 (ESV)Daniel 11:18-20 (ESV)4. Antiochus EphiphiniesDaniel 11:21-27 (ESV)Daniel 11:28-30 (ESV)5. Anti-ChristDaniel 11:35-45 (ESV)Daniel 12:1 (ESV)Holy SpiritPsalm 2:1-5 (ESV)GodPsalm 2:6 (ESV)JesusPsalm 2:7 (ESV)GodPsalm 2:8 (ESV)Holy SpiritPsalm 2:10-12 (ESV)

Blessings Follow Sanctification (6)  (audio)  David Eells (7/7/24)  We've been studying sanctification and its resulting blessing, and we've seen that the Church and the Bride are coming to such great maturity in their sanctification that they are as (Isa.62:1) … as a lamp that burneth. All of the true Church is going to grow 30-, 60- and 100-fold in the fruit of Jesus Christ, and the Bride gloriously comes into His image, as we studied in Isaiah 62. But Isaiah 63 is a different story because it tells you about those who are not sanctified.   I'd like to back up a little bit first and review what I shared about last time. (Isa.63:1) Who is this that cometh from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah? this that is glorious in his apparel, marching in the greatness of his strength? I that speak in righteousness, mighty to save. (2) Wherefore art thou red in thine apparel, and thy garments like him that treadeth in the winevat? (3) I have trodden the winepress alone; and of the peoples there was no man with me: yea, I trod them in mine anger, and trampled them in my wrath; and their lifeblood is sprinkled upon my garments, and I have stained all my raiment. We noticed in Revelation 19 that the Lord does come back with a garment that is sprinkled with blood and it is the blood of His enemies.   The enemy that He is speaking about in this chapter is Edom. He is coming from Bozrah of Edom and bozrah means “sheepfold.” We saw in our previous study that the Lord Jesus came to the sheepfold in a time when the Old Testament Church was very apostate and He called His sheep by name and led them out of the sheepfold. Shortly after that, those people who refused to come out of their apostate sheepfold were hardened and rejected, and then the Beast came and devoured the Harlot. We know that same history is going to repeat in our day and this is who Isaiah 63 is talking about; it's talking about the Harlot. We also learned that Edom, or the seed of Esau, represents the opposite of Jacob. (Gen.25:29) And Jacob boiled pottage: and Esau came in from the field, and he was faint:   (30) and Esau said to Jacob, Feed me, I pray thee, with that same red [pottage]; for I am faint: therefore was his name called Edom. (31) And Jacob said, Sell me first thy birthright. (32) And Esau said, Behold, I am about to die: and what profit shall the birthright do to me? (33) And Jacob said, Swear to me first; and he sware unto him: and he sold his birthright unto Jacob. (34) And Jacob gave Esau bread and pottage of lentils; and he did eat and drink, and rose up, and went his way: so Esau despised his birthright. At the time when Esau decided to sell his birthright, he was called “Edom,” which means “red,” and “red” is the color of sin. As it says in (Isa.1:18) Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.   Remember what it says in Hebrews. (Heb.12:14) Follow after peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no man shall see the Lord (When Jacob was sanctified, or separated, from Esau, he bore so much fruit that it shocked his brother.): (Heb.12:15) looking carefully lest [there be] any man that falleth short of the grace of God (Many people fall short of the grace of God for the same reason that Esau fell short of the grace of God.); lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble [you,] and thereby the many be defiled.... A root of bitterness will defile many people because a person who has it will export it and Esau certainly did. If nothing else, he exported it to all of his seed because the sins of the parents are passed on to the children to the third and fourth generation (Deuteronomy 5:9).   When a person sins by allowing a demonic spirit of bitterness, or criticism, or unforgiveness toward their brother, which was Esau's problem, then that sin is passed on to their seed. The sin of Esau is the sin of the Edomites, whom the Lord says He will destroy, He will trample (Isaiah 63:3). “The many be defiled” is what happened from Esau's sin and even today there are Esaus, so Paul warns us that we need to make sure that no one falls after that same example of disobedience. Esau was the brother of Jacob and he was a son of Abraham, and he represented a son of God, but still he sold his birthright because of this root of bitterness. (Heb.12:16) Lest [there be] any fornicator, or profane person (We discovered that “profane” here means “permitted to be trodden.” In other words, this is someone who was “trampled underfoot,” someone who was conquered by his spiritual enemies.), as Esau, who for one mess of meat (I liken that to “flesh” because I don't think it was an accident that they used the word “meat” there.) sold his own birthright.   Because he walked after the flesh, because he submitted to these spirits of criticism, anger and bitterness against his brother, Esau sold his own birthright. (Heb.12:17) For ye know that even when he afterward desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected; for he found no place for a change of mind [in his father] (Literally, it doesn't say “in his father,” but “found no place for a change of mind.” The phrase “change of mind” is the Greek word metanoia and it means “repentance.” Esau could not repent and we saw in 2 Peter 2 that unrepentant people can't cease from sin.), though he sought it diligently with tears.   He found no forgiveness in himself, he found no repentance in his life and he could not cease from sinning because he was bitter. He was turned over to the tormentors and the tormentors made him what he was. Jesus told us in, (Mat.18:32) Then his lord called him unto him, and saith to him, Thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou besoughtest me: (33) shouldest not thou also have had mercy on thy fellow-servant, even as I had mercy on thee? (34) And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due. (35) So shall also my heavenly Father do unto you, if ye forgive not every one his brother from your hearts.   When we see that the people whom the Lord is judging here is Edom, we are not seeing the whole story. Edom specifically represents those who are brothers of Jacob and sons of Abraham, whether physical or spiritual, but who sell their birthright through walking after the flesh and go on to persecute their brother. In the case of Edom, they sell their birthright because of bitterness. The whole story is found in Revelation 19, where He is judging all of the nations at the time of the wrath of God. (Rev.19:11) And I saw the heaven opened; and behold, a white horse, and he that sat thereon called Faithful and True; and in righteous he doth judge and make war. (12) And his eyes [are] a flame of fire, and upon his head [are] many diadems; and he hath a name written which no one knoweth but he himself. (13) And he is arrayed in a garment sprinkled with blood: and his name is called The Word of God.   (14) And the armies which are in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white [and] pure. (15) And out of his mouth proceedeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness of the wrath of God, the Almighty. (16) And he hath on his garment and on his thigh a name written, KINGS OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS. Also, notice how He uses the same language in Isaiah. (Isa.63:3) I have trodden the winepress alone; and of the peoples there was no man with me: yea, I trod them in mine anger, and trampled them in my wrath; and their lifeblood is sprinkled upon my garments, and I have stained all my raiment. (4) For the day of vengeance was in my heart, and the year of my redeemed is come.   What is this “day of vengeance”? What is this “day of wrath”? And what is the “year of my redeemed”? Well, the “day of vengeance” and the “day of wrath” are the same day. They are a day that we're told is a year; they are the “year of my redeemed,” when God is judging all those who have persecuted His people. (Isa.34:8) For the Lord hath a day of vengeance, a year of recompense for the cause of Zion. (9) And the streams of [Edom] shall be turned into pitch, and the dust thereof into brimstone, and the land thereof shall become burning pitch. In the days of Noah, God brought His wrath upon the earth and this “day of wrath” was the year in which the flood waters were upon the earth to destroy lost mankind (Genesis 6-8).   God told Noah, (Gen.7:4) For yet seven days, and I will cause it to rain upon the earth forty days and forty nights; and every living thing that I have made will I destroy from off the face of the ground. So after seven days the flood waters came. In type, the flood represents the “great and terrible day of the Lord” (Joel 2:31 KJV) that comes after seven years of the Tribulation. And we can see this again in Daniel's 70th week where each day is a year. (Dan.9:27) And he shall make a firm covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease; and upon the wing of abominations [shall come] one that maketh desolate; and even unto the full end, and that determined, shall [wrath] be poured out upon the desolate.   There was a continual wrath from the Edomites against Israel and here we see in Isaiah 63 that God is judging this. The spiritual Edomites today cannot stand holiness, they cannot stand purity, they cannot stand truth and they are just like Esau, who continually persecuted his brother. A great persecution is coming from the religious Harlot against the true Church and the Lord is going to deal with that in the “day of vengeance” or “day of wrath.” It will be the “great and terrible day of the Lord” (Jeremiah 46:10; Joel 2:11,31; Acts 2:20; 1 Thessalonians 5:2; 2 Peter 3:10).   Another thing that's going to happen before this “day of vengeance” is that there's going to be a great “falling way” (John 16:1; 2 Thessalonians 2:3; Hebrews 3:12) and, as a matter of fact, in Revelation 6 it is very plain. (Rev.6:12) And I saw when he opened the sixth seal, and there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the whole moon became as blood. We know that the sun shall be turned into darkness and the moon into blood before the “great and terrible day of the Lord,” which is a year, as we've seen in Isaiah 34:8.   The Bible also says that the sun shall be turned into darkness and the moon into blood after the Tribulation period. (Mat.24:29) But immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken. (Act.2:20) The sun shall be turned into darkness, And the moon into blood, Before the day of the Lord come, That great and notable [day]. In other words, after the seven days, which is exactly what God told Noah, there would be another year. Between the seventh and eighth year, the sun is turned into darkness and the moon into blood, but at the beginning of the eighth year is when the ark lifted off and the floods came down and judged the world.   So when the sun and the moon are darkened, which is the beginning of the great and terrible Day of the Lord, what happens? (Rev.6:13) And the stars of the heaven fell unto the earth, as a fig tree casteth her unripe figs when she is shaken of a great wind. That's when the “stars” of heaven fall to the earth and we're told Abraham's seed are as the stars of heaven. (Gen.15:5) And he brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and number the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be. And Scripture also likens God's people to a fig tree (Jeremiah 29:17; Matthew 24:1-10; Isaiah 28:4; Nahum 3:12; etc.)   Also in (Hos.9:10) I found Israel like grapes in the wilderness; I saw your fathers as the first ripe in the fig-tree at its first season: but they came to Baal-peor, and consecrated themselves unto the shameful thing, and became abominable like that which they loved. So then, who is this who's falling away? As a type and shadow, these are the Edomites. Even though they are as the stars in heaven, they still will fall away. (Rev.6:13) And the stars of the heaven fell unto the earth, as a fig tree casteth her unripe figs when she is shaken of a great wind. You see, we have only a certain amount of time to become mature, to bear fruit, to be ripe figs.   What is it that's going to cause this great falling away? We read in (Rev.6:13) And the stars of the heaven fell unto the earth, as a fig tree casteth her unripe figs when she is shaken of a great wind. God said that He would “shake” the heavens and the earth. (Heb.12:26) Whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more will I make to tremble not the earth only, but also the heaven. This shaking is the one that is coming and it both causes the falling away and brings in the Kingdom. (Rev.6:14) And the heaven was removed as a scroll when it is rolled up; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places.   (15) And the kings of the earth, and the princes, and the chief captains, and the rich, and the strong, and every bondman and freeman, hid themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains; (16) and they say to the mountains and to the rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: (17) for the great day of their wrath is come; and who is able to stand? So, again, when the sun and moon are darkened, we know that this is before the great and terrible Day of the Lord. (Mat.24:29) But immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken.   Then the Lord sends forth His angels and gathers together His elect as it says in, (Mat.13:24) Another parable set he before them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man that sowed good seed in his field: (25) but while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares also among the wheat, and went away. (26) But when the blade sprang up and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also. (27) And the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst thou not sow good seed in thy field? whence then hath it tares? (28) And he said unto them, An enemy hath done this. And the servants say unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up? (29) But he saith, Nay; lest haply while ye gather up the tares, ye root up the wheat with them.   (30) Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of the harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather up first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them; but gather the wheat into my barn. (36) Then he left the multitudes, and went into the house: and his disciples came unto him, saying, Explain unto us the parable of the tares of the field. (37) And he answered and said, He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man; (38) and the field is the world; and the good seed, these are the sons of the kingdom; and the tares are the sons of the evil [one]; (39) and the enemy that sowed them is the devil: and the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are angels.   (40) As therefore the tares are gathered up and burned with fire; so shall it be in the end of the world. (41) The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that cause stumbling, and them that do iniquity, (42) and shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be the weeping and the gnashing of teeth. (43) Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He that hath ears, let him hear. The Lord sends forth His angels and gathers together His elect, just like with Noah. Noah lifted off at the beginning of the “great and terrible day of the Lord,” which was the year when the water came down and put to death the wicked.   Obadiah has something to say about this Day of the Lord concerning the Edomites, but first I want to point out that he is talking about the time of the Day of the Lord. (Oba.15) For the day of the Lord is near upon all the nations: as thou hast done, it shall be done unto thee; thy dealing shall return upon thine own head. The Lord Jesus said when He came back, He was going to render to every man according to his works. (Mat.16:27) For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then shall he render unto every man according to his deeds. He said, “every man”! Some people think, “Well, that's not necessarily speaking about God's children,” but the Edomites sold their birthright as sons of God. I'm talking more specifically about the spiritual Edomites, those who are speaking against their brothers, those who are persecuting them as the Harlot persecutes the true Church.   And when the Lord comes back, He is going to render to those Edomites according to their works. (Oba.8) Shall I not in that day, saith the Lord, destroy the wise men out of Edom, and understanding out of the mount of Esau? The mount of Esau is Mount Seir, just as Mount Zion is the Mount of Israel, and it represents a kingdom, the kingdom of Esau. (Oba.9) And thy mighty men, O Teman, shall be dismayed, to the end that every one may be cut off from the mount of Esau by slaughter. Everyone! How is it possible that every Edomite could be cut off? It's possible when we understand that these Edomites are a type and shadow. (1Co.10:11) Now these things happened unto them by way of example (The Greek word for “example” here is “type” or “figure.”); and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages are come.   “To the end that every one may be cut off from the mount of Esau by slaughter” is a type or figure; it's a parable. It was in the “letter” according to natural Israel, but is to be understood in the Spirit according to spiritual New Testament Israel. We also have our brothers who are persecuting, critical, unforgiving, bitter, railing against the truth and fighting against those who walk in holiness and sanctification. God is going to deal with them when He is through using them to bring His people to their cross and this is what He is talking about when He says He's going to cut off every one of them. If you're saying, “That will be a real slaughter against an awful lot of humans,” that's true, naturally speaking. Of course, that slaughter is coming in the great and terrible Day of the Lord, too. It's coming in the “flood” of judgment that is going to destroy multitudes of people. And that flood is also going to destroy these spiritual Edomites, those who have persecuted their brothers.   Going on in (Oba.10) For the violence done to thy brother Jacob, shame shall cover thee, and thou shalt be cut off forever. (11) In the day that thou stoodest on the other side, in the day that strangers carried away his substance, and foreigners entered into his gates, and cast lots upon Jerusalem, even thou wast as one of them. In other words, the Edomites sided with the Beast kingdoms that came against Israel; this is a historic fact. They did this constantly. Herod was an Edomite who was put there by the Romans to rule over Israel and they called it “Palestine” to insult the Israelites because there wasn't really a Palestine; the land belonged to Israel. “Palestine” is the Latin version of the name “Philistine.”   Once again, in our day, brethren from our midst will side with the Beast kingdom against us, just as Judas did from the midst of the disciples. He sided with the Beast and betrayed the body of Christ. (Oba.12) But look not thou on the day of thy brother in the day of his disaster, and rejoice not over the children of Judah in the day of their destruction; neither speak proudly in the day of distress. (13) Enter not into the gate of my people in the day of their calamity; yea, look not thou on their affliction in the day of their calamity, neither lay ye hands on their substance in the day of their calamity. (14) And stand thou not in the crossway, to cut off those of his that escape; and deliver not up those of his that remain in the day of distress. That's exactly what Judas did; he delivered up Christ to the Beast.   In the previous teaching, I shared a dream concerning soldiers dressed in red uniforms, who parachuted down from heaven and were trying to block God's people from escaping into the wilderness. It was very interesting and that is actually what Obadiah is saying here. Those soldiers dressed in red are Edomites because, as we saw, “Edom” means “red.” And they were parachuting down because they were like those figs being cast down when a fig tree is shaken of a great wind and like the stars of heaven falling to the earth. This is a great falling away about which the Bible speaks and it will come through deception and delusion. And who can fall away, except a people who have known the Lord? Here was Esau, a son of Abraham, a son of God, who was in the position of the firstborn and yet he fell away.   We see this again in Ezekiel concerning the Edomites being betrayers of their brethren and it also appears very much like the destruction of the Harlot. Let's read that in (Eze.35:1) Moreover the word of the Lord came unto me, saying, (2) Son of man, set thy face against mount Seir (Again, that represents Esau's kingdom.), and prophesy against it, (3) and say unto it, Thus saith the Lord God: Behold, I am against thee, O mount Seir, and I will stretch out my hand against thee, and I will make thee a desolation and an astonishment. (4) I will lay thy cities waste, and thou shalt be desolate; and thou shalt know that I am the Lord. (5) Because thou hast had a perpetual enmity, and hast given over the children of Israel (who was Jacob, his brother) to the power of the sword in the time of their calamity, in the time of the iniquity of the end....    We know that at the end of the Roman Beast kingdom, the Edomites sided with the Romans against their brother Jacob and they are going to do it in these days, too. America, the “great eagle” at the very top of the image of the Beast (Daniel 3), is ultimately going to side with the Edomites against Israel. We know that from Jeremiah, where he speaks about Babylon, the great eagle, conquering all of the nations. First, all the nations drank of the cup of wrath that came from Babylon and then, ultimately, at the end, Babylon itself drank of the cup of wrath (Jeremiah 25:1-33). So the Lord said, “Those of you who side with the world against your brothers in the day of their calamity, you are going to be judged in the time of the iniquity of the end.”  Going on in (Eze.35:6) Therefore, as I live, saith the Lord God, I will prepare thee unto blood, and blood shall pursue thee: since thou hast not hated blood, therefore blood shall pursue thee. (7) Thus will I make mount Seir an astonishment and a desolation; and I will cut off from it him that passeth through and him that returneth. (8) And I will fill its mountains with its slain: in thy hills and in thy valleys and in all thy watercourses shall they fall that are slain with the sword. (9) I will make thee a perpetual desolation, and thy cities shall not be inhabited; and ye shall know that I am the Lord. This is the iniquity of the end! (Eze.35:10) Because thou hast said, These two nations and these two countries shall be mine, and we will possess it (Even today, the natural Edomites are claiming those two nations and yet the land doesn't belong to them.); whereas the Lord was there:   (Eze.35:11) therefore, as I live, saith the Lord God, I will do according to thine anger, and according to thine envy which thou hast showed out of thy hatred against them; and I will make myself known among them, when I shall judge thee. (12) And thou shalt know that I, the Lord, have heard all thy revilings which thou hast spoken against the mountains of Israel, saying, They are laid desolate, they are given us to devour. This is what's going to happen to natural Israel and, of course, the Church. The Church, being spiritual Jacob or spiritual Israel, is going to become desolate. War is going to be made against the saints and the Church, as we have known it, a prosperous, somewhat respected entity in the world, is going to go by the wayside.   The whole world is going to be against the Church and the Harlot, the Edomites, are going to side with the world. The Edomites will do this for the sake of advantage and because of their hatred of their brother. (Eze.35:13) And ye have magnified yourselves against me with your mouth, and have multiplied your words against me: I have heard it. (14) Thus saith the Lord God: When the whole earth rejoiceth, I will make thee desolate.   When the whole world comes against natural and spiritual Israel, and think that they have finally done away with their voice when the Two Witnesses are killed, the Bible says they will be rejoicing. As it says in (Rev.11:7) And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that cometh up out of the abyss shall make war with them, and overcome them, and kill them. (8) And their dead bodies lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also their Lord was crucified. (9) And from among the peoples and tribes and tongues and nations do men look upon their dead bodies three days and a half, and suffer not their dead bodies to be laid in a tomb. (10) And they that dwell on the earth rejoice over them, and make merry; and they shall send gifts one to another; because these two prophets tormented them that dwell on the earth.   And yet God says at that time, “I will make thee desolate,” because that is what the great and terrible Day of the Lord is; it is the time for Him to render the “day of vengeance.” (Eze.35:15) As thou didst rejoice over the inheritance of the house of Israel, because it was desolate, so will I do unto thee: thou shalt be desolate, O mount Seir, and all Edom, even all of it; and they shall know that I am the Lord. All of it! All of Mount Seir! How is that possible, except that God is almighty and He will do according to His Own will? (Dan.4:35) And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing; and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth; and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?   Nothing can restrain His hand and one thing He has determined is to destroy the Edomites, both the spiritual and the physical Edomites. Back in (Oba.15) For the day of the Lord is near upon all the nations: as thou hast done, it shall be done unto thee (He will render to every man according to his works.); thy dealing shall return upon thine own head. (Oba.16) For as ye have drunk upon my holy mountain, so shall all the nations drink continually; yea, they shall drink, and swallow down, and shall be as though they had not been. This is speaking about the Jeremiah 25 scenario, where God offered this cup of wrath to all the nations and made them drink it.   The last one to drink it was Babylon, the “great eagle,” which was God's vessel to bring this judgment to those nations, and yet it is all going to be turned around in the end. (Oba.17) But in mount Zion there shall be those that escape.... Again, we're seeing that there are going to be certain people who are going to escape. And in the dream that I shared last time, the brother saw that I and the others with me had all escaped. (Oba.17) But in mount Zion there shall be those that escape, and it shall be holy.... Notice this. The reason that people are going to escape is because they are holy; they don't need any more sanctification and they don't need any more crucifixion. Crucifixion is for the purpose of putting to death the old man to bring forth a people who will walk holy before the Lord.   In other words, crucifixion is so they will sanctify themselves from the world and repent of their sins, and turn to God. This is the place of safety and the people who will do this are the people who will escape. (Oba.17) But in mount Zion there shall be those that escape, and it shall be holy; and the house of Jacob shall possess their possessions. Yes! God's New Testament spiritual Jacob, or Israel, the true born-again Church, and especially the Bride who has been sanctified and is holy, will “possess their possessions.” We have been without our possessions for a long time now and the Lord has promised through Joel to restore everything that has been taken from us. He says, Joe 2:25 And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the canker-worm, and the caterpillar, and the palmer-worm, my great army which I sent among you. Praise be to God for that!   (Oba.18) And the house of Jacob shall be a fire, and the house of Joseph a flame, and the house of Esau for stubble.... God's people are going to have something to do with the destruction of Esau, or the Edomites, in the great and terrible Day of the Lord. Remember that for the first 40 days the ark set on the earth in that Day of the Lord, which was a year. Then, after 40 days, it lifted off. That represents the Lord coming for His people and He isn't coming back alone. At that time, when He returns to gather the saints and to bring judgment upon the earth, He has the armies of Heaven behind Him. (Rev.19:15) And the armies which are in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and pure.   This is when He tramples the “winepress of the wrath of God.” In (Rev.14:18) And another angel came out from the altar, he that hath power over fire; and he called with a great voice to him that had the sharp sickle, saying, Send forth thy sharp sickle, and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth; for her grapes are fully ripe. (19) And the angel cast his sickle into the earth, and gathered the vintage of the earth, and cast it into the winepress, the great [winepress], of the wrath of God. (20) And the winepress was trodden without the city, and there came out blood from the winepress, even unto the bridles of the horses, as far as a thousand and six hundred furlongs. The Lord and the armies of Heaven with Him are bringing judgment to destroy the flesh of men.   (Rev.19:17) And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the birds that fly in mid heaven, Come and be gathered together unto the great supper of God; (18) that ye may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses and of them that sit thereon, and the flesh of all men, both free and bond, and small and great. One group in that list of the unregenerate nations is the Edomites, who had the birthright but sold it and they should not have been there in the first place.   Do you remember what the Lord said about the lukewarm? (Rev.3:16) So because thou art lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spew thee out of my mouth. When does that happen? Here in (Rev.12:3) And there was seen another sign in heaven: and behold, a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his heads seven diadems. (4) And his tail draweth the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon standeth before the woman that is about to be delivered, that when she is delivered he may devour her child. The lukewarm are spewed out when the stars fall from heaven.   Some people think that the “stars” are angels, but, (Isa.9:15) The elder and the honorable man, he is the head; and the prophet that teacheth lies, he is the tail. (16) For they that lead this people cause them to err; and they that are led of them are destroyed. “The prophet that teacheth lies ... is the tail.” And the Bible also says that the “stars” of heaven are Abraham's seed (Genesis 15:5). So one-third of the “stars” of heaven are going to fall away. The dragon Beast is going to deceive and conquer them, and the spewing-out from the body of Christ of the lukewarm is that falling away.  Back to (Oba.18) And the house of Jacob shall be a fire, and the house of Joseph a flame, and the house of Esau for stubble, and they shall burn among them, and devour them; and there shall not be any remaining to the house of Esau; for the Lord hath spoken it. Some people have the idea that this is all natural. They don't understand that it's a parable because they don't see anything in the spirit, but those who go up in the great and terrible Day of the Lord are not a physical people anymore. God is giving them the power to destroy the Harlot, the Edomites, but they are no longer in the flesh.   I am not saying that natural Israel won't be upon this earth fighting against the nations that are brought against her. I believe that is absolutely true and Zechariah 12-14 speak of that. (Zec.12:6) In that day will I make the chieftains of Judah like a pan of fire among wood, and like a flaming torch among sheaves; and they shall devour all the peoples round about, on the right hand and on the left; and they of Jerusalem shall yet again dwell in their own place, even in Jerusalem. This has both a spiritual and natural meaning. When the Lord returns with all of His saints at the end of the great and terrible Day of the Lord, it will be to defend and preserve a remnant of natural Israel, and destroy the nations that come against it, including Edomites.   (Zec.14:5) And ye shall flee by the valley of my mountains; for the valley of the mountains shall reach unto Azel; yea, ye shall flee, like as ye fled from before the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah; and the Lord my God shall come, and all the holy ones with thee. Notice it says “all the holy (or ‘sanctified') ones with thee.” Obviously, the unsanctified are on the earth and going through the great and terrible Day of the Lord. (Zec.14:12) And this shall be the plague wherewith the Lord will smite all the peoples that have warred against Jerusalem: their flesh shall consume away while they stand upon their feet, and their eyes shall consume away in their sockets, and their tongue shall consume away in their mouth. I know that in the natural this could be speaking about nuclear weapons, but also it's like the “pan of fire” (Zechariah 12:6).   It's like the fire that is coming out of the mouth of the Lord and out of the mouth of the saints to destroy the wicked. (Zec.14:13) And it shall come to pass in that day, that a great tumult from the Lord shall be among them; and they shall lay hold every one on the hand of his neighbor, and his hand shall rise up against the hand of his neighbor. (14) And Judah also shall fight at Jerusalem; and the wealth of all the nations round about shall be gathered together, gold, and silver, and apparel, in great abundance. The Lord is going to bring an end to the Edomites joining with the Beast entity to fight against their brothers, who are God's true people.   Let's go back to Obadiah and read a little bit more of this. (Oba.18) And the house of Jacob shall be a fire, and the house of Joseph a flame, and the house of Esau for stubble, and they shall burn among them, and devour them; and there shall not be any remaining to the house of Esau; for the Lord hath spoken it. (19) And they of the South shall possess the mount of Esau, and they of the lowland the Philistines; and they shall possess the field of Ephraim, and the field of Samaria; and Benjamin [shall possess] Gilead. (20) And the captives of this host of the children of Israel, that are [among] the Canaanites, [shall possess] even unto Zarephath; and the captives of Jerusalem, that are in Sepharad, shall possess the cities of the South. (21) And saviors shall come up on mount Zion to judge the mount of Esau; and the kingdom shall be the Lord's. This is the time when the kingdom of this world has become the Kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ.   God's people are going to be on Mount Zion; they are going to be in Heavenly Jerusalem and they are going to bring judgment against the wicked. Revelation tells us when the Kingdom is the Lord's: (Rev.11:15) And the seventh angel sounded (or, the “last trump”); and there followed great voices in heaven (speaking that the ark has lifted off), and they said, The kingdom of the world is become the kingdom of our Lord, and of his Christ: and he shall reign for ever and ever. So we do not have to guess about the timing that he is talking about here when he says, (Oba.21) And saviors shall come up on mount Zion.... God's people will totally overcome!   They will come to their Heavenly city, just as Paul spoke about them coming to their city back in his day. (Heb.12:22) But ye are come unto mount Zion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable hosts of angels, (23) to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, (24) and to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaketh better than [that of] Abel.   And so we read, (Oba.21) Saviors shall come up on mount Zion to judge the mount of Esau and the kingdom shall be the Lord's. Praise be to God! Are these “saviors” doing this judging in their new bodies? Yes, that is exactly right! As we saw earlier, they are no longer a physical people and they, with the Lord, are bringing this judgment. By the way, in the Book of Daniel, God gives credit to the saints for destroying this kingdom of the Beast. (Dan.7:23) Thus he said, The fourth beast shall be a fourth kingdom upon earth, which shall be diverse from all the kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces. (24) And as for the ten horns, out of this kingdom shall ten kings arise: and another shall arise after them; and he shall be diverse from the former, and he shall put down three kings.   (25) And he shall speak words against the Most High, and shall wear out the saints of the Most High; and he shall think to change the times and the law; and they (the saints) shall be given into his hand until a time and times and half a time. (26) But the judgment shall be set, and they (the saints) shall take away his dominion, to consume and to destroy it unto the end. (27) And the kingdom and the dominion, and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High: his kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him. So the “saints,” meaning the “sanctified ones,” have returned with the Lord to bring this judgment upon the earth. God has given it unto them to do this and the Lord on His white horse is guiding His people. Praise be to God!   Back in (Oba.19) And they of the South shall possess the mount of Esau, and they of the lowland the Philistines; and they shall possess the field of Ephraim (This is speaking of the northern 10 tribes; that was the name that was used for them at one time.), and the field of Samaria.... In the time of Jesus, the Samaritans were not considered by the Jews to be true believers because they were not of the seed of the Jews. After the Assyrian Empire had conquered Samaria, they carried away the 10 tribes and replaced them with other conquered tribes from various pagan nations, who eventually ended up with the religion of the Jews, along with their own religions.   This is a kind of parallel with the Edomite situation and Ezra has something to say about it. In (Ezr.4:1) Now when the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin heard that the children of the captivity (These were the people who were returning from captivity in order to rebuild the Temple, which is what is happening today.) were building a temple unto the Lord, the God of Israel; (2) then they drew near to Zerubbabel (His name means “born from Babylon” and he represents the Man-child here.), and to the heads of fathers' houses, and said unto them, Let us build with you; for we seek your God, as ye do; and we sacrifice unto him since the days of Esar-haddon king of Assyria, who brought us up hither. They're talking about having been relocated from other nations to Samaria after Samaria was conquered by the Assyrians.   (Ezr.4:3) But Zerubbabel, and Jeshua, and the rest of the heads of fathers' houses of Israel, said unto them, Ye have nothing to do with us in building a house unto our God (The Edomites, just like these Samaritans who represent false Christians, have nothing to do with building this house of God. Only the true holy people are the ones who are building the house of God and I'm going to explain that a little bit better further on.); but we ourselves together will build unto the Lord, the God of Israel, as king Cyrus the king of Persia hath commanded us. (Ezr.4:4) Then the people of the land weakened the hands of the people of Judah, and troubled them in building. So these people wanted to join with the true holy people of God, but Jacob only bore fruit when he separated from Esau. And today, the Edomites want to join the true people of God, as though they are Christians, but they're not because they are defiled with that root of bitterness.   (Ezr.4:5) And hired counsellors against them, to frustrate their purpose, all the days of Cyrus king of Persia, even until the reign of Darius king of Persia. The Edomites sided with the Beast every time, as did these Samaritans. (Ezr.4:6) And in the reign of Ahasuerus, in the beginning of his reign, wrote they an accusation against the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem. Throughout history, the Harlot has always accused God's people and the Edomites are always accusing God's people.   (Ezr.4:7) And in the days of Artaxerxes wrote Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabeel, and the rest of his companions, unto Artaxerxes king of Persia; and the writing of the letter was written in the Syrian character, and set forth in the Syrian tongue. (12) Be it known unto the king, that the Jews that came up from thee are come to us unto Jerusalem; they are building the rebellious and the bad city, and have finished the walls, and repaired the foundations. (13) Be it known now unto the king, that, if this city be builded, and the walls finished, they will not pay tribute, custom, or toll, and in the end it will be hurtful unto the kings. This is what the Samaritans threatened, which caused the king to order a stop to the building of the Temple.   Let me go back to who these people actually were and look at who the Samaritans are in our day. In (2Ki.17:24) And the king of Assyria brought men from Babylon, and from Cuthah, and from Avva, and from Hamath and Sepharvaim, and placed them in the cities of Samaria instead of the children of Israel; and they possessed Samaria, and dwelt in the cities thereof. (25) And so it was, at the beginning of their dwelling there, that they feared not the Lord: therefore the Lord sent lions among them, which killed some of them.   (26) Wherefore they spake to the king of Assyria, saying, The nations which thou hast carried away, and placed in the cities of Samaria, know not the law of the god of the land: therefore he hath sent lions among them, and, behold, they slay them, because they know not the law of the god of the land. Well, they were living in Samaria, but they were not Israelites, were they? They called themselves Samaritans, but these were pagans who were brought in to take the place of the true Samaritans and it was the Beast that did this. The Beast entity, which is the world, which is the flesh, which is all those who don't walk according to the Spirit of God, has infiltrated the Church. These are people who talk like Christians but they don't fear God. If they feared God, they would be convicted with the Word of God to change their ways, but they just want to play “country club” religion.   Continuing in (2Ki.17:27) Then the king of Assyria commanded, saying, Carry thither one of the priests whom ye brought from thence; and let them go and dwell there, and let him teach them the law of the god of the land. You can teach a pagan all about Christianity and you can send them to Sunday School, but they will still be a pagan. That's the problem. (2Ki.17:28) So one of the priests whom they had carried away from Samaria came and dwelt in Beth-el (“Beth-el” means “the house of God.” Who are they teaching in this house of God? They're teaching people who are not Israelites; they're not Christians but they like going to church.), and taught them how they should fear the Lord. (2Ki.17:29) Howbeit every nation made gods of their own, and put them in the houses of the high places which the Samaritans had made, every nation in their cities wherein they dwelt. So they studied the God of the land, they studied the Lord, but they worshipped their own gods and, of course, it's that way in much of Christianity today.   People have a “Jesus” of their own making who's not the Jesus of the Bible. (2Ki.17:30) And the men of Babylon made Succoth-benoth, and the men of Cuth made Nergal, and the men of Hamath made Ashima, (31) and the Avvites made Nibhaz and Tartak; and the Sepharvites burnt their children in the fire to Adrammelech and Anammelech, the gods of Sepharvaim. These were the actual “gods” these people worshipped. (1Co.10:20) But [I say], that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to demons, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have communion with demons. According to Apostle Paul, these are demons impersonating God. Is it the same today? Yes! It's the same today; there are demons who impersonate the true God. There are people who claim to be God's people, but they are merely studying God and not really fearing Him. They're not really submitting to Him. These people are not Christians and will never be converted.   Continuing in (2Ki.17:32) So they feared the Lord, and made unto them from among themselves priests of the high places, who sacrificed for them in the houses of the high places. Notice that these are not ordained priests; they are not Levites. These priests came from among their pagan people. (2Ki.17:33) They feared the Lord, and served their own gods, after the manner of the nations from among whom they had been carried away. They called Him “Lord,” but it was really their own god that they were serving. (2Ki.17:34) Unto this day they do after the former manner: they fear not the Lord, neither do they after their statutes, or after their ordinances, or after the law or after the commandment which the Lord commanded the children of Jacob, whom he named Israel. This is the problem: dispersed among the people of God are people who don't walk as Christians.   The Lord said He would judge every man according to his own works, yet people think that God is going to judge them as to whether or not they have had the Christian experience of a new spirit. But that is not what the Word tells us. Paul writes in (Rom.2:5) But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up for thyself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God; (6) who will render to every man according to his works: (7) to them that by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and incorruption, eternal life: (8) but unto them that are factious, and obey not the truth, but obey unrighteousness, [shall be] wrath and indignation, (9) tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that worketh evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Greek;   (10) but glory and honor and peace to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Greek: (11) for there is no respect of persons with God. The Lord says it will be according to your works. Your nature is what proves who you really are. If you walk after the regenerate spirit that God gave you, you will become regenerate. Your soul, which is your mind, will and emotions, will be renewed, but if you walk after the flesh, you must die. (Rom.8:12) So then, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh: (13) for if ye live after the flesh, ye must die; but if by the Spirit ye put to death the deeds of the body, ye shall live. (14) For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. It all has to do with your works. God will judge these Judases who are among His people and who mistreat their brethren.  Back to (2Ki.17:35) With whom the Lord had made a covenant (this is speaking of Israel), and charged them, saying, Ye shall not fear other gods, nor bow yourselves to them, nor serve them, nor sacrifice to them: (41) So these nations feared the Lord, and served their graven images; their children likewise, and their children's children, as did their fathers, so do they unto this day. And I might say, “So do they unto this day.” This is still going on because this is all a type and shadow of God separating the wheat from the tares. The tares are sown among the wheat but they do not bear fruit. These are people who claim to be Christians. They have invaded the Church just to do their own will.   They submit to their false gods, who are actually demons, and their works are going to prove who they are. They are not sanctified, therefore they don't take part in the Bride's blessing, but instead they take part in the great and terrible Day of the Lord. Everyone who is not sanctified will go through the great and terrible Day of the Lord, the day of God's wrath upon the wicked, the day of God's judgment upon the Harlot. God will use the Beast to devour the Harlot with fire. And it will be God's people who are exercising the authority of God's judgment. It will be God's people who are the fire in the midst of the Judases.   God bless you to follow the God of the Bible.

Join Pastor Shawn and the gang at Calvary Chapel Birmingham as they study the Bible verse by verse and chapter by chapter. In this episode, we continue our study in Ezra with chapter 4.

Nehemiah spends three months in prayer and preparation for the LORD gives him an opportunity to present his request to Artaxerxes. When the moment arrives, Nehemiah utters yet another brief prayer and asks Artaxerxes to send him to Jerusalem. God answers Nehemiah's prayer as Artaxerxes agrees. When Nehemiah returns to Jerusalem, he discreetly inspects the walls of Jerusalem before exercising prudent, godly leadership to implore the people to help accomplish the rebuilding project. As always happens throughout history, opposition begins to arise against the work that God has given His people to do, but Nehemiah keeps his trust in the LORD. Rev. Dr. Ryan Tinetti, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Arcadia, MI, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Nehemiah 2:1-20. "God Brings His People Home” is a series on Sharper Iron that goes through the books of Ezra and Nehemiah. After 70 years in exile, the LORD began to fulfill His promise to bring His people back to the Promised Land. In the years that followed, faithful clergy and dedicated laity worked together to rebuild Jerusalem physically and restore the people of God spiritually. Through it all, God was at work to keep His promise of bringing the Savior into the world in the fullness of time.

The book of Ezra jumps forward in history over fifty years to the time of Ezra himself. During the reign of Artaxerxes of Persia, Ezra the priest goes up from Babylon to Jerusalem, bringing with him many of the workers needed for the services of the temple. Ezra is described as a scribe, one whose heart was set to study, do, and teach the Law of the Lord. Aided by a decree from Artaxerxes for his journey and task, Ezra blessed God as he gathers together the people to go back to Jerusalem with him. Rev. Andy Wright, pastor at St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church in Topeka, KS, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Ezra 7:1-28. "God Brings His People Home” is a series on Sharper Iron that goes through the books of Ezra and Nehemiah. After 70 years in exile, the LORD began to fulfill His promise to bring His people back to the Promised Land. In the years that followed, faithful clergy and dedicated laity worked together to rebuild Jerusalem physically and restore the people of God spiritually. Through it all, God was at work to keep His promise of bringing the Savior into the world in the fullness of time.

Nothing whatever whether great or small can happen to a Christian without God's ordering permission. Bible in a Year:  1Kings 12-13, Luke 22:1-20.  

Nehemiah played a pivotal role in the restoration of Jerusalem's walls. Ray, E.Z., Mark, and Oscar dive into Nehemiah's story when Nehemiah, a trusted cupbearer to the Persian king Artaxerxes, receives distressing news about the state of Jerusalem. His immediate reaction was to mourn deeply. In a world often characterized by apathy or complaining, Nehemiah's response stands out as a model of godly sorrow. For Nehemiah, the condition of Jerusalem's walls was not merely a physical concern. The city walls symbolized not only the strength and security of the inhabitants but also the honor and glory of the God they served. Nehemiah's distress over the walls mirrored his concern for the spiritual well-being of his people. In recognizing the correlation between the physical decay and spiritual decline, Nehemiah demonstrated humility by acknowledging his own sin in the collective sin of his people.Amidst his distress, Nehemiah turned to prayer. His prayer was an active engagement with the Lord. Nehemiah approached God with humility, seeking not just personal deliverance but the restoration of Jerusalem for the glory of God's kingdom. His prayer exemplifies selflessness, reflecting a genuine concern for the welfare of others. Nehemiah's story is not merely a historical account of leadership but a profound testimony to God's faithfulness and the unfolding of His redemptive plan. Nehemiah's ultimate allegiance was to God and His kingdom. His commitment to rebuilding Jerusalem's walls was not just a civic duty but a spiritual calling—an expression of his desire to see God's kingdom established on earth.Throughout the narrative, prayer remains a constant thread. In the face of adversity, Nehemiah did not waver in his faith or determination. His example challenges believers to persevere in prayer and action amidst opposition and uncertainty. Moreover, Nehemiah's response to threats serves as a reminder of the importance of vigilance and preparedness in spiritual warfare. While trusting in God's protection, Nehemiah and his companions also took practical measures to defend themselves against potential attacks. Their readiness to defend the work of God's kingdom illustrates the necessity of combining faith with action in the face of adversity.Nehemiah's story offers timeless lessons on repentance, prayer, perseverance, and trust in God's sovereignty. His example challenges believers to respond with godly sorrow to the brokenness of the world around them, to pray fervently for the advancement of God's kingdom, and to persevere in faith and action despite opposition.  Thanks for listening! If you've been helped by this podcast, we'd be grateful if you'd consider subscribing, sharing, and leaving us a comment and 5-star rating! Visit the Living Waters website to learn more and to access helpful resources!You can find helpful counseling resources at biblicalcounseling.com.Check out The Evidence Study Bible and the Basic Training Course.You can connect with us at podcast@livingwaters.com. We're thankful for your input!Learn more about the hosts of this podcast.Ray ComfortEmeal (“E.Z.”) ZwayneMark SpenceOscar Navarro

Question: I understand that you believe that Jesus died on the cross on Thursday, not Good Friday. Why do you say that, and does it matter?Response: Scripture reveals the answer. Through the writings of Jeremiah, Daniel learned that the Babylonian captivity would last 70 years (Dn 9:2). God had commanded that each seven years the Hebrew slaves should be set free, debtors forgiven, and the land given a one-year sabbath of rest (Ex 21:2; Lv 25:2-4; Dt 15:1,2,12). For 490 years Israel had disobeyed this precept. In judgment, the Jews became slaves of Babylon while their land rested for 70 years of sabbaths.Daniel confessed this sin, pondering and praying, and was given the revelation that another period of 490 years (70 weeks of years) lay ahead for his people and for Jerusalem (9:24). Then all of Israel's sins would be purged, all prophecy fulfilled and ended, and the Messiah would reign on David's throne in Jerusalem. These 70 weeks of years were to be counted “from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem” (v. 25). That crucial date is given to us in Scripture.Nehemiah tells us: “in the month Nisan, in the twentieth year of Artaxerxes the king” (2:1), he received the authorization to rebuild Jerusalem. When the day of the month was not given, the first day was intended. There were several Artaxerxes, but only one, Longimanus, who ruled more than 20 years—from 465-425 BC. Thus we have the key date from which this incredible prophecy was to be calculated: Nisan 1, 445 BC.

Nehemiah 2:7-9 Thanks to everyone who supports TMBH at patreon.com/thetmbhpodcast You're the reason we can all do this together! Discuss the episode here Music by Jeff Foote

Nehemiah 2:4-6 Thanks to everyone who supports TMBH at patreon.com/thetmbhpodcast You're the reason we can all do this together! Discuss the episode here Music by Jeff Foote

Nehemiah 2:1-4 Thanks to everyone who supports TMBH at patreon.com/thetmbhpodcast You're the reason we can all do this together! Discuss the episode here Music by Jeff Foote

Nehemiah 1:1 Music by Jeff Foote aka Rooktown The Clamour and the Crash - Rooktown The Coward (EP) - Rooktown Sea of Tranquility - Jeff Foote Thanks to everyone who supports TMBH at patreon.com/thetmbhpodcast You're the reason we can all do this together! Discuss the episode here  

Ezra 7:11-28 Thanks to everyone who supports TMBH at patreon.com/thetmbhpodcast You're the reason we can all do this together! Discuss the episode here Music by Jeff Foote

Ezra 7:11-28 Thanks to everyone who supports TMBH at patreon.com/thetmbhpodcast You're the reason we can all do this together! Discuss the episode here Music by Jeff Foote

How can our modern-day challenges and experiences relate to the ancient struggles and triumphs of the Israelites, as they navigated their return from captivity and the rebuilding of their spiritual and cultural identity?In this episode, host Tiffany Coker and Pastor Jeff Cranston discuss the Old Testament book of Ezra. They offer context on the era the book was written and share key figures featured in it, including King Cyrus, Zerubbabel, Haggai, Zechariah, and Artaxerxes. They address Israel's return from captivity and the rebuilding of the temple. They also tackle the theological themes portrayed in Ezra, such as God's providential hand and the theme of separation. [00:00 - 05:47] Introduction and WelcomePastor Jeff asks Tiffany and the listeners what they wanted to be when they were young, leading to a conversation about childhood dreams.Pastor Jeff reflects on how irrespective of what one wanted to be as a child, God can use anyone in significant ways, using Ezra as an example.Pastor Jeff also discusses Ezra's possible authorship of the first and second Chronicles and how these writings have a strong priestly tone.[05:47 - 10:26] The Importance of Ezra in Israel's HistoryThe Book of Ezra is a continuation of the First and Second Chronicles beginning with the proclamation of the Persian king Cyrus.The book covers the return of Jewish people to Jerusalem over a 100-year period, focusing on their resettlement and the rebuilding of the temple.Pastor Jeff introduces key characters in the Book of Ezra besides the titular Ezra: King Cyrus, Zerubbabel, Haggai, Zechariah, Darius, and Artaxerxes I.[10:26 - 21:59] Historical Contexts and Theological Themes of the Book of EzraPastor Jeff explains that the Book of Ezra is divided into two sections, each representing different time periods following the 70 years of Babylonian captivity.The Book of Ezra is a historical link for the Israeli people, describing their regathering, struggles, and renewal of the covenant with God.Another theme explored is the concept of separation, with Zerubbabel and Ezra ensuring that Jewish identity remains pure and separate from pagan influences.Quotes: "The Book of Ezra... delves into the struggles [the Israelites] faced in coming out of being in exile for 70 years and the lessons they learned... concerning disobedience to God and the consequences of sin." - Pastor Jeff Cranston "Both Ezra and Nehemiah claim that 'the hand of God' was upon them directing their missions... We're seeing God's providential grace, sustaining them through their captivity." - Pastor Jeff CranstonBible Verses and References:2nd Corinthians 6:16-18Ezra chapters 7 and 8Join the ConversationWe love your feedback! If you enjoyed this episode, leave us a review. If you have any questions or comments on today's episode, email me at pastorjeff@lowcountrycc.org.Visit my website https://www.jeffcranston.com and subscribe to my newsletter. Join me on Sunday mornings at LowCountry Community Church. Check-in with us on Facebook or Instagram @pastorjeffcranstonRemember, the real power of theology is not only knowing it but applying it. Thanks for listening!

Thanks to everyone who supports TMBH at patreon.com/thetmbhpodcast You're the reason we can all do this together! Discuss the episode here Opening song, "Spooklight" from the album, "The Clamour and the Crash" by Jeff Foote