Ezra

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Ezra Nehemiah-Restoration Part II
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Ezra at a glance
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Ezra

• Just as the Israelites were taken into exile in
  three successive stages (605, 597 598 BCE), the
  returned in 3 stages. The first occurred under
  the leadership of Zerubbabel (538 BCE). After
  considerable delay, this return resulted in the
  rebuilding of the temple (520-516 BCE),
  encouraged by the prophets of Haggai and
  Zechariah, Ezra led the second return in the
  seventh year of Artaxerxes I (458 BCE). Nehemiah
  led the final return in the 20th year of
  Artaxerxes I (444 BCE). Chronologically, the
  events of the book of Esther occur during a
  ten-twelve year period (483-473 BCE) between the
  first and second returns.

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Ezra

• While Ezra deals with the religious restoration
  of Judah, Nehemiah is primarily concerned with
  Judahs political and geographical restoration.
• The 2 prophets during this time period were
  Haggai and Zechariah.

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Nehemiah at a glance
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Rabbi Jacters Halacha

• The Purpose of Ezra-Nechemiah
• When ever a person studies a Sefer of Tanach, he
  or she should seek to find the message of the
  Sefer. One should think about why the Sefer was
  written, because when the often unstated goal of
  the Sefer is identified, many difficulties in the
  text can be resolved.

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Rabbi Jacters Halacha

• In general, the purpose of the various books of
  the Tenach is not to teach history. Indeed,
  Chazal (Megilla 14a) teach that the Tanach only
  records lessons that are relevant for all
  generations.

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What are these Men of G-d saying to us today

• Ezra is a picture of spiritual restoration prior
  to returning to the land, and Nehemiah is a
  picture of the process of building the House of
  Israel.
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• God is preparing us first spiritually by calling
  us out of our Pagan ways. Just as Ezra brought
  about spiritual reforms, the Ruach HaKodesh is
  bringing about spiritual reforms today for those
  who have ears to hear.
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• Ezra and Nehemiah were a team that God used to
  bring his people out of exile and back into the
  land.
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• Just as the House of Judah l was tempted to take
  on Pagan ways while in exile, Ezra brought clean
  up and reform.
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• The House of Israel (Judah and Ephraim) is now
  going through that cleansing process. The
  Congregation of Messiah has strayed a long way
  from its 1st Century Hebrew Roots and during the
  past 1800 years has taken on many Pagan
  practices. Now He is calling us to purify
  ourselves and return to the walk of our Master
  and Come Out of Babylon and return to His Torah
  IN MESSIAH during this time of Restoration in
  these last days.

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Aish.com Crash Course In Jewish History

• The Jews who rebuild the Temple in Jerusalem
  were faced with many challenges and difficulties.
  Strong leadership would be essential for them to
  be able to both rebuilt the Temple and
  re-establish a strong community.
• Two individuals played a critical role in the
  re-establishment of the Jewish community in
  Israel. One was Ezra

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Aish.com Crash Course In Jewish History

• A scribe and scholar and a Jewish community
  leader in Persia, Ezra, a cohen, hears that the
  Jewish community in the Holy Land is floundering
  with neither King or prophet. So, he takes with
  him 1,498 well-chosen men with leadership
  abilities and comes to the rescue.

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Aish.com Crash Course In Jewish History

• Ezra is so well thought of in the Talmud that it
  is written of him that the Torah could have been
  given to Israel through Ezra, if not that Moses
  preceded him. (Sanhedrin 21b)
• This high praise goes to Ezra for the spiritual
  rebuilding of the Jewish people and his efforts
  to reinstate Torah law in the land.

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Aish.com Crash Course In Jewish History

• The other major personality of this period is
  Nechemiah, a leader of the Jewish community of
  Babylon and an official of the Emperor Darius II.
  While Ezra had succeeded in spiritually
  strengthening the returnees, Jerusalem remained
  un-walled and unprotected. Thirteen years after
  the arrival of Ezra, Nechemiah arrives, having
  been appointed govenor by Darius. After
  surveying Jerusalem he announces Come, let us
  build the walls of Jerusalem so that we will no
  longer be an object of scorn. (Nehemiah 217).
  Despite he efforts of the surrounding peoples to
  hinder its construction, the was is completed.
  Spiritually and physically fortified, Jerusalem
  will prosper and its population expand.

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Haggai And Zechariah

• These prophets pr0ceeded Ezra and Nehemiah by 70
  years to prepare the people for the return.
  Malachi was the last prophet of the Tenach. He
  proclaimed the glory of the 2nd Temple when the
  Messenger of The Covenant would one day come to
  the Temple-Malachi 31
• In the same way there will be 2 witnesses before
  the return of Messiah- Rev 1113
• We will look at the Words of these prophets and
  finish with Nehemiahs rebuilding of the walls.

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Zechariah

• The book of Zechariah, contains the words of the
  prophet Zechariah, who came to encourage the
  inhabitants of Jerusalem.  He along with Haggai
  urged the inhabitants to complete the Temple
  rebuilding project, which had been stalled
  because of charges made against the Jews. 
•             Zechariah proclaimed the future
  glories of Jerusalem, which now lay desolate,
  after the Babylonian destruction 66 years
  earlier. (Jeremiah 39) In the context of
  Jerusalems desolations, and its future glory,
  Zechariah reveals the coming of Jerusalems great
  king, the Messiah, who would rule the earth. 
• Second only to Isaiah, the book of Zechariah has
  the greatest number of prophecies regarding the
  coming of Messiah.  Zechariah pictures both the
  first and second comings of Messiah (Yeshua),
  Zechariah shows both the Suffering Messiah who
  rides into Jerusalem on a donkey, and King
  Messiah who rules the earth (Zechariah 99-10).
  The one who is pierced, comes to the aid of
  Jerusalem in the last days as the armies of the
  world surround the city (Zechariah 1210), king
  Messiah returns to rule and reign over His people
  during the Millennium 1(Zechariah 1416-21).

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The Call To Repentance

• The Call To Repentance Zech 11-8
• The opening words of Zechariah follow in the wake
  of Haggais message of encouragement at Succoth.
  Return to me (Tshuvah), Declares the Lord
  Almighty and I will return to you, says the Lord
  Almighty.
• Zech 13-6 Do not be like your forefathers, to
  whom the earlier prophets proclaimed. 2
  Chronicles 36 15-21
• Haggai 14-11 and Haggai 25-9
• Nehemiah 933-36

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The Night Visions of Zechariah

• Vision 1- The Man Among the Myrtle Trees
• Zechariah 17-117
• Some of these Visions refer to the Messianic Age
• Significance of Myrtle Trees- Isaiah 5513,
  Isaiah 4119
• The significance of these angles going through
  the entire earth is that of the Lords total
  control of events throughout time

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The Night Visions of Zechariah

• Vision 2- The Four Horns And the Four Craftsman
  (Angels) Zechariah 118-21
• These horns are not only responsible for Judahs
  captivity, but also for Israels. Daniel 7 -
  The 4 beasts representing Babylon, Persia, Greece
  and Rome

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The Night Visions of Zechariah

• Vision 3- The Vision Of The Man With The
  Measuring Line
• Zechariah 21-13
• Looking at this passage from a prophetic
  viewpoint, we are reading of the Jerusalem that
  will exist in the Messianic Age
• Zech 14 5-8, Isa 6019, Rev 225

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The Night Visions of Zechariah

• Vision 3 Continued
• Why are we leapfrogging through time?
• For Israel to put its hope in Gods universal
  redemptive work
• To instruct future generations of believers in
  G-ds plan of redemption
• Zech. 26-9 refers to Zechariahs time
• Zechariah 2 10-13 refers to the Messianic Age
• Isaiah 177-13, Isaiah 3317-24, Isaiah 528

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The Night Visions of Zechariah

• Vision 3 Continued
• Zechariah 211 Many nations will be joined
  with the Lord in that day and will become my
  people
• Micah 41-5, Isaiah 49 21-30, Isaiah 608-14
• Zechariah 312-13 The Lord will inherit Judah
  as his portion in the holy land and will again
  choose Jerusalem-
• Isaiah 402, Isaiah 321-3, Isaiah 6010, Isaiah
  617-11

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The Night Visions of Zechariah

• Vision 4- The Vision of Clean Garments For The
  High Priest
• Zech 31-7
• The angel of the Lord is Messiah- Mark 25, Luke
  512-15-We see Yeshua healing and forgiving sins
  and cleansing His people.
• Joshua is a type of Messiah
• Joshua is a symbol of THE BRANCH a descriptive
  title for Messiah- Jeremiah 235-6, 3315-18,
  Zech 612-13, Isaiah 42-6
• Zech 39- 7 Stones signifies G-ds perfection.
  Again Joshua represents the Messiah in the Future
• Isaiah 121-2

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The Night Visions of Zechariah

• Isa 121 On that day you will say "I thank you,
  Adonai, because, although you were angry at me,
  your anger is now turned away and you are
  comforting me.
• Isa 122 "See! God is my salvation. I am
  confident and unafraid for Yah Adonai is my
  strength and my song, and he has become my
  salvation!"
• Isa 123 Then you will joyfully draw water from
  the springs of salvation. (In Hebrew
  Yeshua-Salvation)

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The Night Visions of Zechariah

• References regarding G-d removing the sin from
  Israel and future Restoration
• Isaiah 118-27
• Ezekiel 3622-38
• Ezekiel 3715-28
• Zechariah 310- In that day
• 1 Kings 425- uses this quote as an expression of
  peace and prosperity
• Micah 43-4 The same quote is used to describe
  the tranquility existing during the Messianic Age