Fulfillment Chiasm:
Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego A. 1. Introduction to Daniel and Friends: Daniel has good standing with the eunuchs. Daniel resists defilement by refraining from the King's meat and drink, He is given knowledge and wisdom and understanding/reason. Daniel and friends are ten times better than the other counselors. B. 2. Nebuchadnezzar's Dream: Statue of Kingdoms. Daniel interprets the vision. Earthly kingdoms fall to God's heavenly kingdom on earth. Daniel rewarded with rule and gifts. And so are Daniel's friends on his request. C. 3. Nebuchadnezzar wants others to worship him. Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego are saved from being inside the fiery furnace by God (Christ shows up, one who "looks like a Son of God" Contrast that with the "Son of Man" phrase later in Daniel 7 and Daniel 10). Nebuchadnezzar comes to praise the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. Daniel Before Three Separate Kings A. 4. Daniel can interpret better than the counselors and astrologers who could not interpret the dream. Nebuchadnezzar refrains from acknowledging God, defiling himself, which is further portrayed when the king transforms into something bestial , then gains his understanding/reason and honor and counselors and lords back. B. 5. Belshazzar's sees hand writing on the wall. Daniel interprets the vision, the Babylonian kingdom falls to the Medes and Persians. Daniel rewarded with power and gifts. C. 6. Darius wants others to worship him. Daniel is saved from being inside the lion's den by God. Darius comes to praise the God of Daniel. As: Resisting defilement, and gaining understanding/reason and loyalty of the king's court. Daniel's understanding of visions and dreams and commune with Nebuchadnezzar further fulfilled in this account. Daniel's non-defilement results in better appearance, while Nebuchadnezzar's defilement results in bestial appearance until his reason returns. Daniel's non-defilement is ultimately fulfilled and passed on to Nebuchadnezzar's non-defilement at the end of the account, when his reason returns and praise is fully given to the true God. Bs: Daniel interprets the visions of the kings, earthly kingdoms fall. He gains rule and gifts. Babylon's fall fulfilled here. Cs: The king wants other's to worship him, then when God's servants are saved from inside of certain death, he acknowledges the true God of those servants afterward. God is acknowledged by Babylonian ruler Nebuchadnezzar, and further fulfilled by a Medo-Persian ruler (Darius the Mede) over Babylon. Gabriel Comes A. 7. 4 Beastly Kingdoms and The Ancient of Days and the Son of Man. "One of them that stood by" in verse 16. It was confirmed to be Gabriel in chapter 9 vs 21. Gabriel interprets. B. 8. Vision of Ram (Persia) and Goat (Javan) and Javan's Division and Small Horn (the antichrist). Gabriel interprets the vision, and is described as the "appearance of a man" and calls Daniel greatly loved. C. 9. Daniel's prayer and the 70 7s. Abomination of desolation comes and the daily sacrifice taken away. Gabriel comes to give understanding. Daniel and The Man in Linen (Christ), Gabriel, and Michael A. 10. Vision of Christ in Glory, the man clothed in linen. There is another numinous being Daniel is confronted by, who appears to be Gabriel, the one who has fought against the prince of Persia. See verse 17. Described the same in chapter 8 as the "the appearance of man", and also refers to Daniel as greatly loved, the same description in chapter 9. Michael is mentioned here. B. 11. First person Gabriel speaks. 4 Persian Kings, Persia conquered by Javan, Divisions of Javan: the Kings of the North and South, and the antichrist (King of the North in latter times). C. 12. Time of the End and God's People. Abomination come, and the daily sacrifice is taken away. Michael and the Man clothed in Linen are both mentioned here. As: Bestial Kingdoms and princes of some of those kingdoms. Visions of Christ as a Son of Man fulfilled as Christ in Glory. Gabriel appears, but is unnamed both times. Bs: Persia conquered by Javan; the Small Horn fulfilled in the King of the North. Cs: Prayer and asking the meaning of what has been said. 70 7s (as a time frame) and Time, Times, and a Half and days. The abomination of desolation comes and the daily sacrifice is taken away. Inverse Chiasm: A. 1. Introduction to Daniel and Friends: Resisting Defilement, Given Knowledge and Wisdom. B. 2. Nebuchadnezzar's Dream: Statue of Kingdoms. C. 3. Nebuchadnezzar's (man's) image worshipped as a god. All are to fall prostrate in worship. D. 4. Nebuchadnezzar's dream of a tree, and its fulfillment after 7 times have passed. E. 5. Belshazzar as an antichrist figure, but one who could not interpret the riddle, and the Fall of Babylon. F. 6. Darius, Daniel, and the Lion's Den; Darius decrees men fear God, for His kingdom shall last, a reversal of his own decree exalting his own earthly kingdom. F. 7. Vision of Four Beastly Kingdoms; the earthly kingdom shall be destroyed, and the kingdom go to God's people, and it shall last. E. 8. Ram verses Goat (Fall of Persia), and the small horn who can interpret riddles. D. 9. Daniel's Prayer and the 70 7s. C. 10. Vision of a Deific Man (Christ). Daniel falls prostrate. B. 11. Kings of Persia, and Kings of the North and South. A. 12. Time of the end. "Many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased." "Many shall be purified... the wise shall understand." As: Daniel and friends (a select few without blemish) undefiled and given wisdom and knowledge ~to~ Many (more inclusive, the poor in spirit, etc) being purified or undefiled and given wisdom and knowledge. Bs: The Statue (a specific person, the antichrist?) and its 4 Macro Metal Kingdoms destroyed by the Rock (Christ) ~to~ More Micro Kingdoms, the initial Kings of Persia, and the Kings of the North and South, the antichrist king destroyed. Cs: A man's image propped up as a false deity of gold to be worshipped ~to~ Christ as both man and God, his presence described as brass and beryl and lightening and fire, and in the similitude of a son of man. Ds: 7 times fulfilled for Nebuchadnezzar (earthly kingdom) ~to~ 70 7s to be fulfilled for God's People and City (Heavenly Kingdom). Es: Antichrist figure (see Daniel's verbal chastisement, see also Isaiah's writing on the king of Babylon and his fall in chapter 14, an the comparison to Lucifer) who could not interpret riddles/Fall of Babylon ~to~ antichrist figure who can interpret riddles/Fall of Persia. Fs: Real Lions (Persecution of God's People)/Darius original decree glorifying his own kingdom changed to a decree for men to fear God and His lasting kingdom ~to~ Vision Beasts (that also include persecution of God's people)/earthly kingdom falls and God's kingdom lasts.
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Creation, Fall, and Brotherhood 1. Overview of all Creation. 2. Creation in more detail: Man and Woman, the crowning point of God's creation, created in His image, being given instructions by God. 3. Climax: The Fall. Removal from Eden. 4. Cain murders his brother Abel. "Am I my brother's keeper?" Cain's Unnumbered Genealogy. Seth is born, men call upon God. The rejection of the firstborn Cain and the spiritual blessings given to Seth foreshadows Jacob and Esau. 50. Fulfilled in chapter 50. Read on. Genealogy of Adam to Noah; the Flood; Aftermath of Flood 5. Numbered Genealogy from Adam/Seth to Noah. 6. Sons of God and daughters of men. Increasing wickedness, God threatens to destroy mankind. Noah instructed to build an ark. 7. Climax: The Flood. 8. Flood waters recede. 9. God's blessings and covenant. Curse on Canaan; Shem and Japheth blessed by Noah. Genealogy to Abram; Abram's Call; Lot 10. Genealogy of Nations: Noah's Three Sons. 11. Tower of Babel. Shem's Numbered Genealogy to Abram. 12. Climax: Abram called by God to be a great nation, and goes to Canaan. Foreshadowing the nation of Israel: Abram goes to Egypt due to famine (Jacob). Egypt is plagued due to Sarai, and pharaoh orders Abram to leave (Exodus). 13. Lot and Abram go separate ways. Lot lives by Sodom. Land of Canaan promised by God to Abram's seed (Seed singular; Paul says this is fulfilled in Christ; first fulfilled in Isaac). 14. Sodom and Gomorrah plundered, Lot kidnapped. Abram gets Lot and plunder back. Melchizedek blesses Abram and is tithed. Cutting a Covenant for Land; Confirming a Covenant for Descendants: Names Changed/Circumcision; Sodom and Gomorrah Destroyed 15. Lord promises that Eliezer will not be the heir but a future son, and descendants will be like stars. Abram's faith counted as righteousness Abram Sacrifices then Dreams: God cuts a covenant; 400 years of affliction in Egypt. 16. Sarai's gives her slave Hagar to Abram in order to have an heir; Ishmael is born. 17. Climax. God confirms covenant. Abram's name changed to Abraham. Males to be circumcised as a permanent reminder of the covenant. Sarai name changed to Sarah. Abraham laughs, asks Lord to pick choose Ishmael as heir. God the heir will be named Isaac. 18. Three men visit Abraham, two are angels, one is called God (Christ). Sarah uses 3 measures of meal for a feast (Christ's parable of Yeast). Son is promised. Sarah laughs like Abraham did. God promises to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah, Abraham intercedes. 19. Sodom and Gomorrah destroyed, Lot escapes. Daughters have incestual union with Lot: Moab and Ammon. In Land of Abimelech (Gerar) Isaac is born; Abraham's Sacrifice; Sarah's death/Isaac comforted 20. Abraham dwells in land of king Abimelech; people plagued with bareness due to Sarah, Abraham stays in land. 21. Isaac is born, Abimelech and Abraham make a pact. Ishmael is sent away. 22. Climax: Isaac to be sacrificed, but is swapped with Ram (Foreshadows Christ). Rebekah mentioned (Isaac's future wife). Abraham is blessed for his obedience. 23. Sarah dies and is buried. 24. Isaac gets Rebekah as a wife, comforted after Sarah's death. The Second Half of Genesis: Jacob (Israel) and Joseph Jacob and Esau introduced; Jacob is blessed; Jacob goes to find a wife 25. Abraham and Ishmael die; new narrative of Jacob begins. Esau sells birthright to Jacob. 26. Famine, but told not to go to Egypt this time. Isaac like his father pretends wife is sister. Fighting over the wells. Treaty with Abimelech. 27. Climax: Jacob is blessed by old Isaac instead of Esau. Esau gets a less flattering future told. 28. Isaac now knows it was Jacob and summarizes the blessing again to Jacob. Jacob goes to look for a wife, not in Canaan, like his father before him. Jacob's Ladder Dream (Christ is the Ladder), promised to be a great nation. Jacob will tithe. 29. Jacob meets Rachel; he gets Leah instead, tricked by Laban (recalls his own trickery to acquire the blessing from Isaac). Jacob's Growing Family Leaves Laban; Jacob's name changed and receives blessing from God; Aftermath 30. Jacob's wives bear children. Jacob's flocks are greater than Laban's. 31. Jacob secretly leaves Laban who mistreated Jacob. Laban and Jacob make peace. 32. Jacob plans to meet Esau. Jacob wrestles with God (Christ). Jacob's name is changed to Israel, like Abraham's and Sarah's, and this time asks directly for the blessing without disguise, and is blessed directly by God. 33. Jacob meets safely with Esau. Jacob buys land in Canaan. 34. Jacob's daughter Dinah raped by a Canaanite. Sons murder for revenge. Jacob worried they will be suffer wrath from Canaanites. Descendants; Joseph: The Dreamer is Sold; Aftermath of Judah and Joseph 35. Jacob not pursued by Canaanites. God says Israel is Jacob's name again, and promises descendants. Rachel dies giving birth to Benjamin; she is buried on the way to Bethlehem. Migdal Eder is mentioned here; curiously, this tower, and Bethlehem, and labor pains are all mentioned in the prophecies of Micah 4:8-5:2. Jacob's sons are listed. Isaac dies. 36. Esau's descendants listed. The Edomites. 37. Climax: Joseph given coat of many layers. Has dreams that will come true in Egypt. Sold into slavery by brother, in particular Judah, for it was his idea (rejected by Jews from Judah's loins like Christ) in Egypt. Brothers trick Jacob into thinking Joseph is dead (Jacob tricked again). 38. Tamar tricks Judah, and gets twins like Rebekah (the should-have-been-first was beaten out by the other twin, Perez; Christ is a descendent of Perez). 39. Joseph is successful, but is mistreated by Potiphar's wife, and goes to prison, but is also successful there. Joseph Becomes Second in Egypt; Joseph's meets his brothers again; Getting Benjamin 40. Cupbearer and Baker dreams interpreted. Joseph asks cupbearer to remember him; he initially forgets. 41. Pharaoh's dreams about plenty and famine. Cupbearer remembers Joseph, who interprets the dream and becomes second to Pharaoh. 42. Climax: Famine hits, and Joseph's brothers go to Egypt to buy grain. They bow before him. Joseph's dream comes to fruition. 43. Brothers must go back to get Benjamin in order to buy food again in Egypt per Joseph's orders. They return and feast with Joseph. 44. Joseph frames Benjamin in order to make him stay while his brothers get Jacob; Judah offers to be a slave to Joseph instead, and informs him they cannot go back without Benjamin. Israel journeys to Egypt; Israel settles in Goshen; Jacob blesses 45. Joseph reveals himself to his brothers. Brothers return to Jacob and tell him Joseph is alive. 46. Jacob journeys with the whole family, 70 men total, to Egypt. The genealogy of the brothers and their children is listed. Jacob meets Joseph face to face. 47. Climax: Israel sojourns in the best land in Egypt (Goshen). Egypt is bought by Joseph for Pharaoh. 48. Jacob blesses Joseph's two sons, the youngest is blessed over the oldest, like Jacob over Esau. 49. Jacob blesses all his sons. 50. Jacob dies and is buried in Canaan. Joseph reassures his brothers he will not seek revenge after Jacob dies (recalls what Esau planned to do to Jacob after Isaac died). The brotherhood is restored; it started with murder (and also with the intension of murder), but ends with forgiveness in this macro narrative. Joseph mirrors Cain by saying "Fear not, am I in the place of God?" Cain played God by taking life, then arrogantly feigns ignorance and asks if he is his brother's keeper. Joseph responds to this initially unanswered question with a resounding yes, for he says "Do not be afraid, I will provide for you and your little children." The set up for the next book: Joseph wants his bones to be taken up to Canaan after they leave Egypt, and states God will surely visit Israel. The Basic Pattern explained further Every five chapters is a macro-chapter: A beginning couplet; climatic middle focal point; an ending couplet. Each macro chapter is fitted into a pattern of five as well: 1st Half: Getting to Abraham and Abraham 3. The Fall (Pre Abraham narrative) a. Adam and Eve disobeyed, which lead to death; "To dust you shall return." 7. The Flood (Pre Abraham narrative) a. Noah obeyed which led to salvation: "Noah did according to all the Lord commanded him"; Everything living on earth died except Noah and his family 12. Climax of Climax: Call of Abram (Abraham narrative begins). This chapter explains the beginning ethnogenesis of the Israelites, And why Canaan is the promise land. 17. Covenant for heir and descendants/ Name changes/Sign of covenant (Abraham narrative) 22. Abraham tested: Isaac the heir switched with Ram (Abraham narrative) Second Half: Jacob and Joseph 27. Isaac blesses Jacob (Jacob narrative). a. Jacob lies and states his name is Esau to get the blessing. b. Jacob plans to run away from Esau. 32. Jacob wrestles with God, Name Changed (Jacob narrative) b. Jacob plans to meet Esau. a. Jacob tells the truth when asked his name, and asks for a blessing. 37. Climax of Climax: Joseph introduced, sold to slavery in Egypt (Joseph narrative begins). This chapter explains why Israel is in Egypt, and why it was only to be a temporary dwelling. It builds off of chapter 17, explaining that Canaan is really their home. This narrative is necessary to drive home the point of the Exodus, setting up that story in this next book. 42. Brother meet Joseph in Egypt (Joseph narrative) a. Brothers accused of being spies, but if proven true, may traffic (trade) in the land b. The money taken from brothers in exchange for food secretly returned c. Jacob states if something happened to Benjamin his grey head (body part) would be brought down in sorrow to the grave. 47. Israel settles in Egypt (Joseph narrative) a. Brothers explain they are shepherds to Pharaoh, and wish to sojourn (stay for a while) in the land b. The money taken from the Egyptians in exchange for corn given to Pharaoh's house c. Jacob is close to dying, and requests his body be carried out of Egypt to the burial place (grave) of his fathers. The Inverse Climax Pattern A. 3. Adam and Eve cursed and driven from Eden by God. B. 7. Terrible Flood across the earth. Noah saved. C. 12. Abram called to Canaan. (also goes to Egypt due to famine; a foreshadowing) D. 17. Abram promised many descendants. Abram's (exalted father) and Sarai's names change to Abraham (father of a multitude) and Sarah. E. 22. Abraham blessed with many descendants due to faith. E. 27. Jacob blessed with richness of land and rule over others due to his supplanting. D. 32. Jacob remembers the promise of many decedents. Jacob's name (supplanter) changed to Israel (Contends with God?). C. 37. Joseph called to Egypt. B. 42. Terrible Famine across the earth. Israel saved. A.47. Israel's blessing is being fulfilled upon settling in Egypt (Goshen). It is an inverse, or mirror pattern: As: Cursed and Driven away ~to~ Blessing being fulfilled and Settled. Bs: Too much Water ~to~ Too little Water/Humanity saved ~to~ Israel saved (humanity is spiritually saved through Israel; nations are blessed). Cs: The climatic climaxes. Calling to move to Canaan ~to~ Calling to move to Egypt (which of course in Exodus leads to a calling back to Canaan from Egypt, a wonderful summary of how where Israel came from and how they got to Egypt in the first place before the story of the Exodus can be told). Ds: Promise given ~to~ Promise remembered. Partial Name Change (from one to many of one) ~to~ Full Name Change (the entire relationship of the name is changed: from one-upping a fellow man, to contending with God and being victorious). Es: Blessings of many decedents ~to~ Blessings of land and rule. Blessings given by God due to faith ~to~ Blessings given by Isaac due to trickery. Reversal Patterns (Evil for Good) in Genesis: A. Tamar denied an heir for her 1st husband when Judah falsely promised to give his third son to her. B. Tamar conceals her identity to Judah and requests his signet, staff, and bracelets; she is impregnated by Judah. B. Tamar now pregnant reveals her true identity to Judah by returning his signet, staff and bracelets. A. Tamar produces heirs (twins) for her 1st husband by Judah; Perez supplants the would-be first born Zerah, and becomes an ancestor of Christ. The reversal: deceiving to revealing; no heir to heir A. Joseph's brothers deceive Jacob by telling him Joseph is dead. B. Joseph deceives his brothers by not revealing his identity immediately. B. Joseph reveals his identity to his brothers. A. Joseph's brothers reveal to Jacob that Joseph is alive. The reversal: deceiving to revealing; dead to alive. A. Jacob uses trickery to take his brother's birthright. B. Jacob uses trickery to steal the blessing by using a false name to his father. B. Jacob forthrightly claims and earns a blessing by physically not letting go until he is blessed, and by giving his real name to his Heavenly Father (who wrestled him). A. Jacob forthrightly gives a blessing by physically laying his hand on Ephraim's head again after instructing Joseph (who physically removed Jacob's hand) that Ephraim will increase more greatly than his firstborn brother. The reversal: using trickery/deception to being forthright/ assertive; stealing/usurping to earning/giving Fulfillment Pattern of Abraham: Foreshadowing A. Egypt gets plagues, Abraham directed by pharaoh to leave. B. Continually promised son, Isaac, is born. C. The almost sacrifice of Isaac. Fulfilling A. Egypt gets the ten plagues; pharaoh relents to Israel leaving. B. The continually promised Messiah is born. C. Christ sacrificed on the cross for our sin. Matthew 24: 32: Parable of the Fig Tree
Christ is talking about the end times, and His return. He said to learn this: The Fig Tree is a symbol for Israel. We see it get cursed by Christ in Matthew 21:19 when it does not bear fruit, the fruit being a metaphor for the good works done in Christ that follow our faith. The curse comes when God's covenant with Israel is broken (see Zechariah 11:10), But Israel will be saved and be called God's People again (Zechariah 13:9 and Hosea 2:23). When we start seeing the signs of the fig tree getting ready to bloom, When Israel begins to accept their Messiah and is ready to bear good fruit, Then Christ will return. Then Christ says His return is not happening until this generation passes away. Who or what is this generation? Put your calculators away. It is unbelieving Israel, O Jerusalem, that has refused their Messiah. Unbelieving Israel is referred to as "this generation" many times in the gospels. Matthew 23:39 Jesus says you, the unbelieving generation, will not see me again until you say "Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord." Luke 13:6 records a parable concerning the fig tree not bearing fruit after 3 years, perhaps mirroring Christ's ~3 year ministry before His crucifixion. God says to the dresser (Christ) to cut the fig tree down; the dresser intervenes and requests more time, and states that if it still does not bear fruit, it should be cut down. The apostles testified to all of Israel concerning Christ, but Israel as a nation did not have ears to hear the truth. Israel did not receive their Messiah, and they were scattered (the Diaspora) further, and their capital and temple was destroyed in 70 AD, and Jerusalem was rebuilt as a Roman city and renamed Aeolia Capitolina in 135 AD. But Christ will return, and Israel will be saved in those days, and all nations will be called upon to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles with Israel: Christ will tabernacle here on earth, and the nations will be delivered from their former bondage to sin. (Zechariah 14:16-21). King Ahaz reigns 16 years in the Bible, and if one counts all the king's years of reign backward from 586 BC, we can determine his reign was from 742-726 BC, see 2 Kings 15:38 – 16:20, and 2 Chronicles 27:9-28:27. In Isaiah chapter 7, we read a little about the Syro-Ephraimite War against Judah. This war is dated somewhere around 736-732 BC between the allied nations of Syria and Northern Israel (referred to as Ephraim because that was the chief tribe of the region) and the Kingdom of Judah. Judah is told by the prophet these nations will not prevail and that Ephraim will no longer be a people. What happens after 65 years? Tiglath-Pileser III and his successors Shalmaneser/Sargon II have already deported and scattered most of Ephraim within this 65 year span, so what event is this referring to? Well, not everyone can be scattered so easily, and there were undoubtedly still some Israelites left behind, or that managed to return later. But around 65 years from the war, a new Assyrian King rises; his name is Esarhaddon, and he is one of the more prominent and powerful kings of Neo Assyria. In Ezra 4:2 and Isaiah 7:18-20 we get our answer. This Assyrian king repopulated Samaria, the capital of Northern Israel, with people from Egypt and Assyria (Babylonia). These mixed people groups were the ancestors of the Samaritans, and even right after the exile Zerubbabel recognizes that these people, though claiming to worship the same God, are not God's covenant people, and do not intend good for the Jews that returned from exile. The end of the 65 years is a prophecy concerning the repopulation of the land of Northern Israel, which is the final nail in the coffin for the Ephramitic identity. Curiously, we do not find his name mentioned in the list of tribes found in Revelation 7, instead it is replaced with Joseph, Ephraim's father. But curiouser still, we do find his name in Zechariah 9:13, an event in time that takes place later. If one adds all the years of the kings of Judah together as recorded in the books of Kings and Chronicles, the total would be approximately 393 years and 6 months from the end of Solomon's reign/the division of the kingdom of Israel to the destruction of Jerusalem in 586 BC. Interesting to note as well in Rehoboam's fifth year something happens that may foreshadow Nebuchadnezzar's destruction of the temple: the temple is raided by a pharaoh named Shishak (1 Kings 14:25), and he takes away all the treasures and the ceremonial golden shields, which are then replaced by bronze ones that can actually be used in battle: the age of the peaceful, golden, united kingdom is replaced by a lesser age of divided bronze kingdoms that are at continual war with themselves and their neighbors. See Isaiah 60:17 for more dispensational metal symbolism, as well as the statue in Nebuchadnezzar's dream as recorded in Daniel.
Pulpit commentary: "And Jeroboam arose, and fled int o Egypt [cf. verse 17, and Matthew 2:13. It was the natural place of refuge], unto Shishak, king of Egypt [Shishak is beyond doubt the Sheshonk I. of the monuments, and is the first of the Pharaohs who can be identified with certainty (see Dict. Bib. 3, p. 1288). The date of his accession appears to be somewhere between 988 and 980 B.C. As to his invasion of Palestine, see on 1 Kings 14:25. His reception of Jeroboam almost proves that there has been a change of dynasty, and that the new Pharaoh was no friend to Solomon], and was in Egypt until the death of Solomon. [Compare again Matthew 2:15.] 1 Kings 11:40." So it is a distinct possibility that Israel was divided close to the year 976 BC, 390 years before 586 BC when Nebuchadnezzar destroys Jerusalem; the Bible mentions the sin of Jeroboam (idolatry) being the downfall of the kings that ruled Israel after him, and in 1 Kings 14:16 we read that God gave up Israel because of Jeroboam's sin, adding further that he caused Israel to sin. We also read in Micah that the transgression of Jacob is Samaria. So, onto the 390 and 40 year prophecy in Ezekiel. Ezekiel is instructed to lay on one side for 390 days (a day for a year) for the house of Israel, the whole house, not just the Northern Tribes. It is 390 years, around the time of the "Jacob's transgression" to 586 BC. During this act of laying on one side, a mock siege was also going on, signifying that the end of this 1st destructive siege in 586 BC coincides with the completion of the 390 years. It is noteworthy that after this exile the northern tribes appear to be completely lost... until they return according to prophecy. But there is one more significant siege against Jerusalem that ends in complete destruction of both the city and temple. Spoilers: It is Rome in 70 AD. Then Ezekiel lays on his other side for 40 days (a day for a year) for the house of Judah. After the Babylonian exile, only the house of Judah remains. God's people hereafter are referred to as Jews. It is exactly 40 years from Christ's death on the cross to the destruction of Jerusalem by Rome in 70 AD. One siege is for the whole house of Israel by Nebuchadnezzar in 586 BC. From 976 to 586 BC. The second siege is for only the house of Judah by Titus of Rome in 70 AD. From 30 to 70 AD. Curiously, if 390 and 40 are added together, you get 430 years, the time Israel is said to have sojourned in Egypt before the Exodus. Perhaps these years of iniquity are symbolically equated with the hardships of Egypt, with distant hearts from God. The four winds of heaven, The power of heaven on earth, blow From the four cardinals directions To move the waters of the Mediterranean, the many peoples and kingdoms of the earth, carving out of the sea a singular space in time for each of the four beasts: The first is like a lion with eagles wings The apex of Mesopotamian kingdoms, The golden head of the ancient near east. With its wings it flies and carries off in a singular direction the children of Israel, along with any other nation it devours. His name is Nebuchadnezzar And his kingdom is New Babel. He too is devoured, the once mighty wings Are ripped from the torso, and he is transformed into a new man, a new nationality, for the Chaldean lies in bones. The second is like a bear Resting on its previously dominant side, The kingdom of Medai, And chewing the ribs at the heart of fallen Assyria: Arbela, Assur, Nineveh. With his dominant side propped up, The kingdom of Persia, commanded by Cyrus and by Heaven to devour The nations that lay before him like an unfolded scroll before him, foretold in Isaiah. He does not fly or scatter. The third is like a leopard with four wings to scatter the children of the Lord in all four cardinal directions of the globe. The Beast's name is Javan, Father of the coastland people's his pride, and his greatest heir Alexander, the Conqueror King of the coastlands and of the East. He spreads his wings out in territorial gains, In sync with his four heads, the now broken kingdoms Once ruled from Alexandria, Antioch, Macedon, and Kittim's heir Shipped round the whole of the Mediterranean Coast... .
Zechariah Chapters 1-6: 8 Visions in Inverted Chiasmus Short Outline of the Visions A. 4 horses, 3 exiles B. 4 horns scattering, 4 craftsmen rebuilding C. Measured height and width of Jerusalem-- construction of city/blessings D. High Priest Joshua anointed and crowned D. Temple completed by an anointed Zerubbabel C. 20 L x 10 W of scroll with Curses/destruction of houses B. Wind (which scatters) in the wings of two women, house building A. 4 horses, 3 returns As: Three Exiles of Zion ~to~ Three Returns of Zion Bs: Scattering Zion and Rebuilding Zion ~to~ Scattering the Wicked and Building a House for them Cs: Construction of Jerusalem and blessings ~to~ Destruction of the house of the wicked and curses Ds: Joshua the High Priest crowned, Christ's first coming symbolically (Christ is a high priest forever due to his own perfect sacrifice) ~to~ Zerubbabel completing the work of the temple and defeating a great mountain kingdom, Christ's second coming. A. Jeremiah (52:28-30): Three exiles Rider on Red horse, the Angel of Yahweh. Called a man as well. More to come on this. Myrtle trees as a symbol of prosperity (Isaiah 55:13). Very important to note that this goes into the thematic structure of the 8 visions, which is also something most of the prophets emphasized...From something bad like briers to something good like myrtle trees, From exile to return, From sin/punishment/curses to obedience/blessings, etc. A. Red. 2nd exile. Destruction of Jerusalem and Temple. B. Sorrel. 3rd exile. Governor Gedeliah overthrown by some rebels. Jeremiah 41:2. C. White. 1st exile. Best citizens, cream of the crop, taken to integrate with their foreign captors (Babylonians). 2 Kings 24:14. B. 4 Horns: Horn is a symbol of a specific king/kingdom strength/authority, see Daniel 8:5-9, Psalm 89:24/132:17 (David), carried on in Revelation 17:12. 4 kings that cause the most scattering, are likely the following Northern Israel: 1a Tiglath-Pileser III 2b Shalmaneser V (Sargon II possibly finished the siege). 2 Kings 17:4-8. Judah: 3a Sennacherib. Isaiah 36:1. Takes all of Judah, except Jerusalem. Or Esarhaddon? 4b Nebuchadnezzar. Takes Jerusalem. As begin, Bs complete. 4 Craftsmen: 4 Kings that decree rebuilding: 1a God Himself decrees first, see Jeremiah 33:7 and Ezra 6:14. 2b Cyrus the Great. Decrees work to begin on the temple. 3a Darius the Great. Allows work to restart on the temple from the decree of Cyrus Temple completed. 4b Artaxerxes I. Walls rebuilt against enemies. Focus is more on Judah because Northern Israel is basically lost… though not forever. There are many Bible prophecies about the return of Israel, see Jeremiah, see Micah. Also see Zechariah 14 concerning end times. C. Man with a measuring line (a pre-incarnate Christ, I believe, see also Ezekiel 40:3, Daniel 10:5-6, Rev 1:15) for rebuilding Jerusalem, to see what its width and length are. The altar and many temple furnishings were brass, see 2 Kings 25:13-17. Christ is compared to the temple. Future blessings: multitudes, and no wall but God's protection. Something more Messianic, as opposed to physical walls being built by Nehemiah. Eye is mentioned again: apple of my eye. Zechariah 2:8 D. The high priest Joshua is forgiven by the Angel of Yahweh (pre-incarnate Christ… Consider also Judges 13:20, Exodus 3:2-4). Notice: there is a forgiveness of sins pictured here, and then a messianic symbol is up next in Joshua. Then Joshua is crowned, which foreshadows Christ the Branch/Stone coming as high priest for all through His perfect sacrifice. Hebrews 4:14. Then a future messianic kingdom is mentioned in Zech 3:10; see Micah 4:3-7, particularly v 4. Pause in the cycle; the prophet falls asleep after the first four visions and is wakened again for the next four. Zechariah 4:1 D. Lampstand and Olive trees: The Temple, Joshua and Zerubbabel. Zerubbabel foundation and completion. Zechariah 4:8-9. Zerubbabel as a messianic figure-- Christ's return, specifically. Christ is Corner stone in Ephesians 2:20-21 (this verse appears to be referring to a capstone) and Capstone, “head of the corner”, in 1 Peter 2:7. Christ is the stumbling stone (foundation stone) and the stone that falls to crush in judgment (capstone). See Matthew 21:44. C. Flying scroll, measured 20 L x10 W, which is the size of the Holy Place of the tabernacle and of the Porch of Solomon in the temple. And the Brazen (brass) Altar. Curse against the households those who:
B. Woman in the Ephah. Hearkens back to Micah 6:10-11 which mentions the same words for wickedness, ephah and weight. These Jews will have a house in Babylon, and continue to do business there as an established community, unlike the scattering of the lost tribes. The eye symbol is likely a greedy one. Samuel 2:29, Proverbs 23:6, Ecclesiastes 4:7. Wings and wind and scattering: Zechariah 2:6 The talent of lead over the basket may also recall Jeremiah 6:29; the crude lead (Judah) is melted, but the impurities remain. Notice how this parallels with the 4 horns and craftsmen: Scattering is happening (wind in the stork (unclean/foreign) wings) and building is happening here. A house is to be built for this part of Israel being moved to Shinar). A. Two bronze mountains: Mt. Moriah (palace) and Mt. Zion (temple). Again, priest and king theme. Red Chariot: Possibly denoting Cyrus the Great (though Darius currently reigns). Messianic connections. See Isaiah 44:28 through Isaiah 45:1-5. (FYI, this is often why people assume there are two different Isaiah’s. There are not). A. Black: North (Babylon). 2nd wave of return: Ezra. Separation from foreigners (Ezra 9 and 10). B. White: also North (Babylon), and follows Black. 3rd wave of return: Nehemiah, following close behind Ezra. Governor Nehemiah instated. C. Dappled: South. 1st wave of return: Zerubbabel and Joshua, moving further south from Jerusalem into all Judea, or the south country is south of the North Country (Babylon). Rebuilding of Jerusalem and Temple. Note: The horses make up their own chiasm, too. Exile: 1. Angel of Yahweh (Red Horse) A. Red. 2nd exile. Red denoting greater bloodshed, war. Destruction of Temple. B. Sorrel. 3rd exile. Governor deposed. C. White. 1st exile. Took the best Israelites to integrate. Return: 1. Cyrus the Great (Red Horse) (directions not mentioned, but in consideration of the 4 winds of direction in verse 5, North and South have been taken, leaving East and West, which makes sense considering Cyrus is from the East, and moves westward to conquer the ancient near east). C. Black: North (Babylon). 2nd wave of return: Ezra. Message to not integrate with foreign women. B. White: 3rd wave of return: Nehemiah, following close behind Ezra. Governor instated. A. Dappled: South country, Judah. 1st wave of return. Rebuilding of Temple. 4 Categories of Horses in Zechariah: A. Exile B. Return A. War B. Peace (Holiness unto the Lord, see Exodus 28:36). More simplified: A1. A man, the Angel of the Lord, sitting on a red horse, which is standing among the myrtle trees 2. A. Red 3. B. Bay/Speckled/Brown. Governor deposed. 1. C. White A2. Cyrus chariot of red horses 2. C. Black. North. 3. B. White. Follows Black. Governor instated. 1. A. Grisled. South. Reversal Pattern: A1A2 is Judgment of exile to Mercy of return. It could be seen as a completion pattern, too. As: Destruction of city and temple to rebuilding city and temple Bs: Governor deposed to Governor Nehemiah instated Cs: Integration with Babylon to Separation from Canaanites Completion: 1s: First exile to First return (Zerubbabel and Joshua). The majority exiled and returned. 2s: Second exile to Second return (Ezra). Second largest numbers. 3s: Third exile to Third return (Nehemiah). Smallest numbers Daniel 9:24:
70 7 s Prophecy concerning: Jerusalem, Daniel's People (Israelites), the Messiah Sin: A. End rebellion (in particular the perpetual national rebellion of Israel) B. Seal sin (reserved for judgment/bring an end to sin) C. Atone for iniquity (Christ Come to Atone for Sins) Righteousness: A. Usher in everlasting righteousness B. Seal up vision and prophecy C. Anoint the Most Holy (Christ Returned to Reign as King) A. Ending to Bringing in B. Seal sin to Seal prophecy C. Atoning to Anointing It is also worth noting that each of these items can easily be coupled: End of rebellion and Sealing of sin Atoning for iniquity and Ushering in righteousness Sealing up the vision/prophecy and Anointing the Holy-Holy. The Exile and Return of Zion: A Macro 7 Part 1: Babylon as God’s Instrument of Punishment for Israel A. Neo-Babylon in power after the fall of Neo-Assyria at Haran 609 BC (70 years of Babylon in power begins here. Jeremiah 25:11-12, 29:10) B. Command to restore given by God to Jeremiah 587 BC (While under seige. Jeremiah 33:7) C. Destruction of 1st temple and walls by Nebuchadnezzar in 586 BC (70 Sabbath years for the temple begin. 2 Chronicles 36:21; Leviticus 26:27-43) Part 2: The Restoration of Israel A. Cyrus conquers Babylon in 539 BC (Ending the 70 years of Babylonian reign) B. Zerubbabel returns to Zion in 538 BC (49 years or 7 7s after the command to restore is given: A Jubilee, which also entails a return to property. And a travel to Jerusalem later. Leviticus 25:13) C. The Second Temple is completed in 516 BC (21 years from the foundation of the temple in 537 BC. Ezra 6:15) (70 Sabbath years are completed) D. Nehemiah begins rebuilding the walls in 446 BC, the 20th year of Artaxerxes reign (Nehemiah 2:1), completing the Macro 7, which starts with Babylon coming to power and Nebuchadnezzar being used as a servant of God to do His will, and ending with the walls rebuilt. This event comes 70 years after the temple is completed. Note: The structure of this Macro 7 is incredibly unusual but brilliant. Two 70s basically overlap exactly where there is a length of time that would pass before Jubilee, the 7 7s. In other words, the 7 7s are directly in the middle of this time-structure. The fiftieth year, the year of Jubilee, would technically be on 537 BC, the 2nd year of return when everyone meets in Jerusalem and the foundation of the temple is poured. Ezra 3:8-13. Lest anyone think the chiastic structure observed in the Bible is merely literary, God does this stuff in real time! |
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