3 Decrees Before the 1st Advent | 3 Angels’ Messages Before the 2nd Advent | “STUDY TO SHOW” Part 7

Saved To Serve || Prophesy Again Pastor Andrew Henriques www.prophesyagain.com 3 Decrees Before the First Advent | 3 Angels’ Messages Before the Second Advent | “STUDY TO SHOW…” Part 7 1. Note: This Bible study is part seven of our STUDY TO SHOW Bible series. 2.The objective of this Bible study is to focus on the 7 prophetic weeks of Daniel 9:25. 3. Let us read Daniel 9:24-27 and discover that the 70 prophetic weeks are divided into the following parts: 7 weeks; 62 weeks; 1 week. The 1 week is divided into two halves. 4. We discovered in our previous studies that the starting date for the 2300 prophetic days of Daniel 8:14 and the 70 prophetic weeks of Daniel 9:24 is the same. 5. The going forth of what event is the starting point for both the 2300 years and the 490 years? Daniel 9:25_________________________ 6. Note: During this Bible study series, we discovered that the king that gave the commandment, the decree, for the Jews to rebuild their temple in Jerusalem was Artaxerxes. 7. During what year of king Artaxerxes’ reign was the decree given? Ezra 7:7-13,21-27_________________________________________ 8. According to history king Artaxerxes began his reign in 464 B.C. 9. “In (Nehemiah 2:1) we have another Artaxerxes. We may safely identify him with Artaxerxes Macrocheir or Longimanus, the son of Xerxes, who reigned 464-425 B.C.” Smith’s Bible Dictionary http://biblehub.com/topical/a/artaxerxes.htm 10. Note: Count seven years in the future from 464 B.C. you will arrive at the date 457 B.C. 11. According to the commandment of which three kings, did the Jews build and finish the temple in Jerusalem? Ezra 6:14_____________ _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 12a. In what year did king Cyrus make a decree for the Jews to return to Jerusalem and rebuild their temple? Read the following statements._____________________________________________________________________________________________________ 12b. The Persian Empire was founded by Cyrus in 536 BC., after they succeeded the Babylonian Empire. The first king of the Persian Empire was Cyrus, who issued the famous decree for the Jews to return to their homeland to rebuild their Temple. http:// www.bible-history.com/maps/04-persian-empire.html http://biblehub.com/sermons/auth/macdonald/the_decree_of_cyrus.htm 12c. On the taking of Babylon, B.C. 538, Cyaxeres (who is called Darius in Dan.5:31), as civil ruler, took the throne. On his death, two years later, B.C. 536, he made Cyrus his successor, and the same year, Cambyses, the father of Cyrus dying, Cyrus was brought also to the Persian throne. The two were then united in one; and thus was founded the Medo-Persian empire, the ruling house being in the Persian line. {1878 UrS, TBI 50.1} 13a. In what year did king Darius make a decree for the Jews to return to Jerusalem and rebuild their temple? Read the following statements._____________________________________________________________________________________________________ 13b. The Prophets Haggai and Zechariah used these hopes as a stimulus to spur the people to resume the rebuilding of the Temple destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar in 587. Judah was one of many small political units within the fifth satrapy [‘ăbar-nahărā, beyond (i.e., west of) the (Euphrates) River]. Obstructionist elements within the satrapy forced the satrap Thathanai (Tattenai) to obtain proof of Darius's approval of the construction; in 519 B.C. Darius reaffirmed the earlier decree of Cyrus, encouraging the construction to continue (Ezra ch. 5–6). This, as well as other indications, show that Darius, although an ardent Zoroastrian [see zoroaster (zarathushtra)] continued the enlightened religious policies of Cyrus. https://www.encyclopedia.com/religion/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/darius-iking-persia 13c. The decree of Cyrus for the rebuilding of the house of God, B.C. 536. Ezra1:1-4. 2. The decree of Darius for the prosecution of that work, which had been hindered, B.C. 519. Ezra 6:6-12. 3. The decree of Artaxerxes Longimanus to Ezra, B.C. 457. Ezra 7. {1877 UrS, STTHD 67.2} 14. Is the word “commandment” in its singular form or plural form in Daniel 9:25 and Ezra 6:14__________________________________ 15. Note: The decree from the three kings comprise the fulfillment of the one “commandment” for the Jews to rebuild Jerusalem. 16. Why do we begin the 2300 prophetic days and the 70 prophetic weeks from the third king, namely Artaxerxes in 457 B.C., and not Cyrus in 536 B.C. and not Darius in 519 B.C.? Read the following.______________________________________________________ In the seventh chapter of Ezra the decree is found. Verses 12-26. In its completest form it was issued by Artaxerxes, king of Persia, 457 B.C. But in Ezra 6:14 the house of the Lord at Jerusalem is said to have been built "according to the commandment ["decree," margin] of Cyrus, and Darius, and Artaxerxes king of Persia." These three kings, in originating, reaffirming, and completing the decree, brought it to the perfection required by the prophecy to mark the beginning of the 2300 years. Taking 457 B.C., the time when the decree was completed, as the date of the commandment, every specification of the prophecy concerning the seventy weeks was seen to have been fulfilled. {GC 326.3} 17. What did the Jews encounter when they started to rebuild Jerusalem according to the decree of Cyrus? Ezra 4:3-5,24 _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 18. What did Darius do and proclaim? Ezra 6:1,3,7,11,12_________________________________________________________________ 19. Note: The restoration of Jerusalem was completed under the decree that was issued by king Artaxerxes in 457 B.C. Ezra 7: 7-28. 20. Note: We confirmed in previous lessons that Jesus was baptized in A.D. 27 Autumn and became the Messiah, which fulfilled Daniel 9:25. 21a. Calculate the following using 69 prophetic weeks or 483 years. 21b. Cyrus’ decree 536 B.C — 483 years = 53 B.C. [Jesus was not baptized in 53 B.C.] 21c. Darius’ decree 519 B.C. — 483 years = 36 B.C. [Jesus was not baptized in 36 B.C.] 21d. Artaxerxes’ decree 457 B.C. — 483 years = 27 A.D. [Jesus was baptized in 27 A.D.] 22a. Note: There are two events and two corresponding prophetic dates in Daniel 9:25. Let us discover and confirm them. 22b. Firstly: Restore and rebuild Jerusalem within 7 prophetic weeks or 49 years from 457 B.C. 22c. Secondly: The Messiah the Prince would arrive 62 prophetic weeks or 434 years thereafter. 23. Calculate the following: Use 457 B.C. as the starting date to rebuild Jerusalem. Travel 49 years in the future. What is the correct year for the completion of the rebuilding of Jerusalem?______________________________________________________________________ 24. Calculate the following: Use 408 B.C. as the end for the 7 prophetic weeks or 49 years. Travel 62 prophetic weeks or 434 years in the future. What is the correct year for the coming of the Messiah, Jesus being baptized? _________________________________________ 25. The decree of how many kings comprised the fulfillment of the one “commandment” for the Jews to rebuild Jerusalem. Ezra 6:14 _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 26. Who would enter the temple several years after it was completed? Haggai 2:7,15,18_________________________________________ 27. How many decrees or messages must be proclaimed to usher in the second coming of Jesus? Revelation 14:6-16________________ 28. The street and the wall of Jerusalem were to be restored in what time? Daniel 9:25 _________________________________________ “Under the favor shown them by Cyrus, nearly fifty thousand of the children of the captivity had taken advantage of the decree permitting their return. These, however, in comparison with the hundreds of thousands scattered throughout the provinces of Medo-Persia, were but a mere remnant. The great majority of the Israelites had chosen to remain in the land of their exile rather than undergo the hardships of the return journey and the re-establishment of their desolated cities and homes. {PK 598.1} A score or more of years passed by, when a second decree, quite as favorable as the first, was issued by Darius Hystaspes, the monarch then ruling. Thus did God in mercy provide another opportunity for the Jews in the Medo-Persian realm to return to the land of their fathers. The Lord foresaw the troublous times that were to follow during the reign of Xerxes,--the Ahasuerus of the book of Esther,--and He not only wrought a change of feeling in the hearts of men in authority, but also inspired Zechariah to plead with the exiles to return. {PK 598.2} 29. Note: The following confirms that the crisis in the days of Esther, under Xerxes the great, or Ahasuerus, represents the crisis of the third angel’s message. “But it was not until several years later, in the seventh year of Artaxerxes I, the successor of Xerxes the Great, that any considerable number returned to Jerusalem, under Ezra. {PK 602.3} The trying experiences that came to God's people in the days of Esther were not peculiar to that age alone. The revelator, looking down the ages to the close of time, has declared, "The dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ." Revelation 12:17. Some who today are living on the earth will see these words fulfilled. The same spirit that in ages past led men to persecute the true church, will in the future lead to the pursuance of a similar course toward those who maintain their loyalty to God. Even now preparations are being made for this last great conflict. {PK 605.1} The decree that will finally go forth against the remnant people of God will be very similar to that issued by Ahasuerus against the Jews. Today the enemies of the true church see in the little company keeping the Sabbath commandment, a Mordecai at the gate. The reverence of God's people for His law is a constant rebuke to those who have cast off the fear of the Lord and are trampling on His Sabbath.” {PK 605.2} 30. Who was one of God’s primary messengers leading out in the rebuilding of Jerusalem under king Artaxerxes’ reign? What was said of Ezra? Ezra 7:1,5,6,10_____________________________________________________________________________________________ But he [Ezra] was not satisfied with his spiritual condition. He longed to be in full harmony with God; he longed for wisdom to carry out the divine will. And so he "prepared his heart to seek the law of the Lord, and to do it." Ezra 7:10. This led him to apply himself diligently to a study of the history of God's people, as recorded in the writings of prophets and kings. He searched the historical and poetical books of the Bible to learn why the Lord had permitted Jerusalem to be destroyed and His people carried captive into a heathen land. {PK 608.1} To the experiences of Israel from the time the promise was made to Abraham, Ezra gave special thought. He studied the instruction given at Mount Sinai and through the long period of wilderness wandering. As he learned more and still more concerning God's dealings with His children, and comprehended the sacredness of the law given at Sinai, Ezra's heart was stirred. He experienced a new and thorough conversion and determined to master the records of sacred history, that he might use this knowledge to bring blessing and light to his people. {PK 608.2} The efforts of Ezra to revive an interest in the study of the Scriptures were given permanency by his painstaking, lifelong work of preserving and multiplying the Sacred Writings. He gathered all the copies of the law that he could find and had these transcribed and distributed. The pure word, thus multiplied and placed in the hands of many people, gave knowledge that was of inestimable value. {PK 609.3} Wherever Ezra labored, there sprang up a revival in the study of the Holy Scriptures. Teachers were appointed to instruct the people; the law of the Lord was exalted and made honorable. The books of the prophets were searched, and the passages foretelling the coming of the Messiah brought hope and comfort to many a sad and weary heart. {PK 623.1}