Why Israel Went Into CaptivityWhy Israel Went Into Captivity

In Ezekiel 2:3,8,5 verses, Israel was called In Ezekiel 2:3,8,5 verses, Israel was called rebellious seven times.rebellious seven times.Ezek. 5:11 “Ezek. 5:11 “Wherefore, [as] I live, saith Wherefore, [as] I live, saith the Lord GOD; Surely, because the Lord GOD; Surely, because thou thou hast defiled my sanctuaryhast defiled my sanctuary with all thy with all thy detestable things, and with all thine detestable things, and with all thine abominations, therefore will I also abominations, therefore will I also diminish [thee]; neither shall mine eye diminish [thee]; neither shall mine eye spare, neither will I have any pity.”spare, neither will I have any pity.”

Ezekiel 8:15,16Ezekiel 8:15,16

8:15 Then said he unto me, Hast thou seen [this], O 8:15 Then said he unto me, Hast thou seen [this], O son of man? turn thee yet again, [and] thou shalt see son of man? turn thee yet again, [and] thou shalt see greater abominations than these. greater abominations than these.

8:16 And he brought me into the inner court of the 8:16 And he brought me into the inner court of the LORD'S house, and, behold, at the door of the temple of LORD'S house, and, behold, at the door of the temple of the LORD, between the porch and the altar, [were] about the LORD, between the porch and the altar, [were] about five and twenty men, with their backs toward the temple five and twenty men, with their backs toward the temple of the LORD, and their faces toward the east; and of the LORD, and their faces toward the east; and they they

worshipped the sunworshipped the sun toward the east. toward the east.

Worshipping the sun right at the Temple!Worshipping the sun right at the Temple!

Ezekiel 8:14Ezekiel 8:14

Then he brought me to the door of the gate of the Then he brought me to the door of the gate of the LORD'S house which [was] toward the north; and, LORD'S house which [was] toward the north; and, behold, behold, there sat women weeping for Tammuz.there sat women weeping for Tammuz.Tammuz was the male Babylonian sex god. Ishtar, the Tammuz was the male Babylonian sex god. Ishtar, the sex goddess was his wife and sister.sex goddess was his wife and sister.At Jerusalem they were incorporating this Babylonian At Jerusalem they were incorporating this Babylonian sex worship and had many prostitutes at the Temple and sex worship and had many prostitutes at the Temple and sex was part of their worship.sex was part of their worship.The prophet Hosea was told to go to the Temple and The prophet Hosea was told to go to the Temple and pick out a prostitute for a wife as he was to live out a pick out a prostitute for a wife as he was to live out a pantomime for all Israel to know they were prostituting pantomime for all Israel to know they were prostituting themselves with strange gods.themselves with strange gods.

DANIELDANIEL

Daniel was born about 622 B. C.Daniel was born about 622 B. C.

Nebuchadnezzar made 3 trips to JerusalemNebuchadnezzar made 3 trips to Jerusalem

First time was 605 B.C.First time was 605 B.C.– Took many precious utensils from Temple in Took many precious utensils from Temple in

Jerusalem and placed them in the temple of Bel \ Jerusalem and placed them in the temple of Bel \ MerodachMerodach

Jewish youth taken to Babylon, Royal and well to do Jewish youth taken to Babylon, Royal and well to do familiesfamilies

Daniel taken in first visit about the age of 16Daniel taken in first visit about the age of 16

Ezekiel taken in second visit in 597 B.C.Ezekiel taken in second visit in 597 B.C.

Rabbah Vs JerusalemRabbah Vs Jerusalem

Eze. 21:18 The word of the LORD came unto Eze. 21:18 The word of the LORD came unto me again, saying, me again, saying, 21:19 Also, thou son of man, appoint thee two 21:19 Also, thou son of man, appoint thee two ways, that the sword of the king of Babylon may ways, that the sword of the king of Babylon may come: both twain shall come forth out of one come: both twain shall come forth out of one land: and choose thou a place, choose [it] at the land: and choose thou a place, choose [it] at the head of the way to the city. head of the way to the city. 21:20 Appoint a way, that the sword may 21:20 Appoint a way, that the sword may come to Rabbath of the Ammonites, and to come to Rabbath of the Ammonites, and to Judah in Jerusalem the defenced. Judah in Jerusalem the defenced.

Ezekiel 21:22,23Ezekiel 21:22,23

21 For the king of Babylon stood at the parting of 21 For the king of Babylon stood at the parting of the way, at the head of the two ways, to use the way, at the head of the two ways, to use divination: he made [his] arrows bright, he divination: he made [his] arrows bright, he consulted with images, consulted with images, he looked in the liver.he looked in the liver.

21:22 21:22 At his right hand was the divination At his right hand was the divination for Jerusalem,for Jerusalem, to appoint captains, to open the to appoint captains, to open the mouth in the slaughter, to lift up the voice with mouth in the slaughter, to lift up the voice with shouting, to appoint [battering] rams against the shouting, to appoint [battering] rams against the gates, to cast a mount, [and] to build a fort. gates, to cast a mount, [and] to build a fort.

Nebuchadnezzar’s Third TripNebuchadnezzar’s Third Trip

586 B. C.586 B. C. An extended siege to city An extended siege to cityLeveled the city to the groundLeveled the city to the groundCompletely destroyed the TempleCompletely destroyed the TempleOnly the poorest people are leftOnly the poorest people are left– The gold is goneThe gold is gone– The intellegencia is goneThe intellegencia is gone– The capital is goneThe capital is gone– The Sanctuary is goneThe Sanctuary is gone– No one to rebel is leftNo one to rebel is left

Strategy of NebuchadnezzarStrategy of Nebuchadnezzar

1. Taking as prisoners all the royal and middle 1. Taking as prisoners all the royal and middle class, the intellectual and trained men.class, the intellectual and trained men.

Eze. 1:1 Eze. 1:1 592 B.C.592 B.C. by Chebar river – Ezekiel by Chebar river – Ezekiel among the captives, the holding pen for slavesamong the captives, the holding pen for slaves

2. Left only poor uneducated people in Judah2. Left only poor uneducated people in Judah

3. Confiscated their gods, idols, and sacred 3. Confiscated their gods, idols, and sacred objects.objects.

4. Took all their gold, silver and brass4. Took all their gold, silver and brass

5. A scorched earth policy5. A scorched earth policy

Strategy of CyrusStrategy of Cyrus

1.Allowed the captives to return to their 1.Allowed the captives to return to their own land.own land.

2. Returned to them their gods and sacred 2. Returned to them their gods and sacred relics.relics.

3. Helped them to rebuild their cities3. Helped them to rebuild their cities

4. Peoples had different attitude towards 4. Peoples had different attitude towards their captivestheir captives

Cyrus Divinely CalledCyrus Divinely Called

Daniel made known to CyrusDaniel made known to CyrusDaniel was Prime Minister for several Daniel was Prime Minister for several yearsyearsDaniel only person who was Prime Daniel only person who was Prime Minister of two world Empires.Minister of two world Empires.During that time Daniel was put in the During that time Daniel was put in the lion’s den, at about 85 years old.lion’s den, at about 85 years old.You are never too old to serve and never You are never too old to serve and never to old to be persecuted. to old to be persecuted.

Daniel read Scripture to CyrusDaniel read Scripture to Cyruswritten 150 years before birth of Cyruswritten 150 years before birth of Cyrus

Isa. 44:28 to 45:1 to 5 Isa. 44:28 to 45:1 to 5 “ “That saith of Cyrus, [He is] my shepherd, and shall perform all my That saith of Cyrus, [He is] my shepherd, and shall perform all my pleasure: even saying to Jerusalem, Thou shalt be built; and to the pleasure: even saying to Jerusalem, Thou shalt be built; and to the temple, Thy foundation shall be laid. temple, Thy foundation shall be laid.

Chapter 45: 1 Thus saith the LORD to his anointed, to Cyrus, Chapter 45: 1 Thus saith the LORD to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have holden, to subdue nations before him; and I whose right hand I have holden, to subdue nations before him; and I will loose the loins of kings, to open before him the two leaved will loose the loins of kings, to open before him the two leaved gates; and the gates shall not be shut;gates; and the gates shall not be shut;

Two events revealed to Cyrus:Two events revealed to Cyrus:

1. Open to him the two leaved gates1. Open to him the two leaved gates2. Rebuild city and Temple2. Rebuild city and Temple

Daniel Read to CyrusDaniel Read to Cyrus

45:2 I will go before thee, and make the crooked places 45:2 I will go before thee, and make the crooked places straight: I will break in pieces the gates of brass, and cut straight: I will break in pieces the gates of brass, and cut in sunder the bars of iron: in sunder the bars of iron: 45:3 And I will give thee the treasures of darkness, 45:3 And I will give thee the treasures of darkness, and hidden riches of secret places, and hidden riches of secret places, that thou mayest that thou mayest know that I, the LORD, which call [thee] by thy name, know that I, the LORD, which call [thee] by thy name, [am] the God of Israel. [am] the God of Israel. 45:4 For Jacob my servant's sake, and Israel mine 45:4 For Jacob my servant's sake, and Israel mine elect, I have even called thee by thy name: I have elect, I have even called thee by thy name: I have surnamed thee, though thou hast not known me. surnamed thee, though thou hast not known me. 45:5 I [am] the LORD, and [there is] none else, [there 45:5 I [am] the LORD, and [there is] none else, [there is] no God beside me: I girded thee, though thou hast not is] no God beside me: I girded thee, though thou hast not known me: known me:

This Prophecy written over 150 This Prophecy written over 150 Years Before Cyrus Was BornYears Before Cyrus Was Born

Isaiah lived at 700 B.C. Isaiah lived at 700 B.C.

Cyrus took Babylon as a general under Cyrus took Babylon as a general under Darius at 538 B.C.Darius at 538 B.C.

Darius died three years later and Cyrus Darius died three years later and Cyrus became leader of Media-Persian Empire in became leader of Media-Persian Empire in 535 B.C. 535 B.C.

The Return of the JewsThe Return of the Jews

The seventy year prophecyThe seventy year prophecy

Jer. 29:10 “For thus saith the LORD, Jer. 29:10 “For thus saith the LORD, That after That after seventy yearsseventy years be accomplished at Babylon be accomplished at Babylon I will visit you, and perform my good word toward I will visit you, and perform my good word toward

you, you, in causing you to return to this place.in causing you to return to this place.

Babylonian captivity 605Babylonian captivity 605

Cyrus decreed Jews to return Cyrus decreed Jews to return 535535

70 years70 years