The books of Ezra and Nehemiah are the stories of the restoration of God’s temple in Jerusalem and the city itself. It’s c. 538 BC, the Babylonians who captured the Jews and brought them to Babylon were gone. The Medes and Persians ruled by King Cyrus are in power. It’s time for God’s promise to the Jews of renewal and reconstruction to be fulfilled. Let’s dig in…
Ezra
- 1-3: God Sends the People to Reclaim, Restore, and Rebuild the Temple
- 4-6: Beware of Satan’s Strategies! Bad Company Corrupts a Good Life
- 7-8: Love God? Love, Study and Learn His Word, Know it in Your Heart
- 9-10: Compromise with the World is a Life Away from God
Nehemiah
Rebuilding. Because we live in a fallen world, things fall apart easily. It could be a career, home, relationship, town, you name it. Nehemiah is blessed as he has the ear of the King of Persia. When God puts a calling on his heart, he risks it all to obey. Would you? Let’s dig in…
- 1-2: Ask God for the Help You Need. He Answers Fervent Prayer
- 3-4: Beware! When Being Attacked, Pray and Give it to God
- 5-8: Don’t Be Sad! The Joy of the Lord is Your Strength!
- 9-13: Anything Defiled Can Be Purified and Made Right with God
Historically, after Ezra & Nehemiah come the “Minor” Old Testament Prophets: Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi, Obadiah, and Joel.
Then after Malachi, the last book of the Old Testament, there are 400 years when God was silent…
Between Malachi and Matthew: Part 1 and Part 2
As you can see, God did not and has not abandoned the Jews and Israel. Just as He had a plan for after the Babylonian Exile, He has a plan for Israel in End Times Prophecy. Furthermore, it all centers around the Rapture of Jesus’ Born-Again Believers, the Great Tribulation that follows, culminating with the 2nd coming of King Jesus.
Are YOU Ready for the End Times?
If you’re not sure if you’re saved or not, if you truly want to be born again and have the assurance of salvation, receive the Holy Spirit, feel His Shalom — a peace that surpasses all understanding, and get a 1-way, non-stop ticket to Heaven after you die, or that you won’t be left behind at the Rapture, which can happen at any moment, this is what you have to do…