Ezra’s account of how the 2nd temple was built in Jerusalem reveals several aspects of God’s character. The Lord worked specifically through three pagan kings to cause them to show favor toward the people of Israel to return to their homeland and rebuild the temple. He first stirred up Cyrus to decree that Yahweh was…
Posts Categorized: Israel
Ezra 5:3 – Who Gave You a Decree?
The enemy is insidious and extremely persistent. When he sees the people of God gaining ground that he thinks is his, he’ll do whatever is necessary “by any means possible” to take it back, no matter how underhanded. Satan is the prince of the earth and of the power of the air. He has claimed…
John 19:14 – The Day of Preparation
God’s plan and His timing are seen through the ages, if we only have eyes to see. The day that Jesus came before Pilate was significant in the Hebrew calendar. The Jews had gathered in Jerusalem for Passover, which had been initiated many years ago by God on the cusp of the Exodus. Of course,…
Awaken Bible Prophecy Update 6-9-21: 4th Turning Crises & Climax
In this Prophecy Update we discuss The Fourth Turning, a book and a secular look at history that shows its repetitive patterns. In this view, the Fourth Turning is extremely critical. As we look at the world around us, we see how accurate this perspective is and how the predictions made mirror the crises we…
2 Chronicles 32:7 – More With Us
Today, I’d like to make two points from our reading that are, perhaps, more related than they appear on the surface. The first has to do with King Hezekiah’s faith; the second deals with his son Manasseh and his relationship to God. Hezekiah is considered one of the most righteous kings of Judah with all…
2 Chronicles 29:5 – Filth in the Holy Place
The reforms that King Hezekiah instituted brought the favor of the Lord upon him and the people he ruled over. It always astounds me that in the Southern Kingdom of Judah, kings like Hezekiah arose when their fathers were ungodly and corrupt. That was the case with Hezekiah, whose father was Ahaz, described in 2…