AncientPath.net, Mason's Notes: O.T. Prophetic

The following is a basic outline and a series of graphics that aproximate the growth of Israel's conquering countries. The graphics show size, but only to demonstrate a countries dominance over time - the growth is not accurate. The dates are based on research from only a couple of resources and are, most likely, reasonably accurage.

The Overall objective is to show that God's plans don't just suddenly happen... He is at work, sometime over hundreds of years to bring together His master plan for the Nation of Israel.

Graphically only Assyria, Babylon, Medo-Persia, and Rome will be represented (Greece and Egypt will not).

1. We should remember that each of these governments willingly chose to follow God's leading against His people in order to chastise His people.

2. Each government will then be chastised because they willingly chose to do this.

The question then asked is, "How can God's judgment on those who defy Him be a source of comfort to believers?"...

II. The major governments involved:
The little red blob on the left is Rome.

3. Our joys and sorrows come about through the plan and program of God in a much larger story than our individual lifetimes.

As we change the graphics, be aware of the growth of the nations in various colors - Red/Rome; Blue/Persia; Green/Assyria; and Orange/Babylon. Jeremiah's story is mostly about Babylon, but the bigger story involves the plan and program of God over a much larger period of time. I hope these graphics will help you in your relationship with God in your life. The things that are our Joys and Sorrows come about through the plan and program of God in a much larger story than each of our individual lives.

III. Setting the stage for Assyria capturing Israel, and Babylon overtaking Assyria and then taking Judah and eventually Jerusalem.

885 bc - Assyria comes to power as an empire (All the other countries grow in power as well)

722 bc - Samaria falls to Assyria "Israel, the northern tribes go into captivity" (The Babylonian Empire is encroached by Assyria and the Assyrians react)

Off in the distance Rome (Red) is becoming an empire as are the Medo-Persians (blue)

Jer. 32:11-16 - Jeremiah buys a piece of land and puts Baruch in charge of handling all of the legal requirements regarding the deed. This was a prophetic act: RETURN

15 “The Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: Houses, fields and vineyards will again be bought in this land.”

This was a message of hope because the judgment would not last forever. Israel would be restored, and normal activities would resume. Once the words were written down, they needed to be read. Jeremiah was not allowed on the temple grounds due to previous altercations with the leadership, so he sent Baruch to read the message to all who would listen (Jeremiah 36:5–10.)

"Should you then seek great things for yourself? Do not seek them. For I will bring disaster on all people, declares the Lord, but wherever you go I will let you escape with your life."

Jer. 46:10 "For that day belongs to the Lord God of hosts (The Army), A day of vengeance, so as to avenge Himself on His foes".

(REDEMPTION). Babylon continued their conquering on to Egypt, but as the Persians began to overtake Babylon their efforts in Egypt failed.

Jer. 46:27 "But as for you, O Jacob My servant, do not fear, Nor be dismayed, O Israel! For, see, I am going to save you from afar."

Jer. 46:28 "O Jacob My servant, do not fear, declares the LORD, For I am with you."

5. Babylon is coming, they have enveloped most of Assyria and is now failing in power, Jerusalem is frightened... and God tells them two things: "Do not fear"... "For I am with you."

6. All the enemies of Israel & Judah will be chastised (Philistia, Moab, Ammon, Edom, Damascus, Hazor, Elam, Babylon).

JUDGMENT AGAINST THE ENEMIES OF ISRAEL & JUDAH
Jeremiah Ch. 47
Oracle Against Philistia - an enemy of Israel 1-7
Jeremiah Ch. 48
Oracle against Moab - an enemy of Israel 8-47
Jeremiah Ch. 49
Oracle against Ammon 1-6
Oracle against Edom 7-22
Oracle against Damascus 23-27
Oracle against Hazor 28-33
Oracle against Elam 34-39
Jeremiah Ch. 50
Oracle against Babylon 1-3
Babylon to be Destroyed 4-32 (RETURN/REDEMPTION)
God's People will turn back to Him 4-5

"In those days and at that time, declares the LORD, the sons of Israel will come, both they and the sons of Judah as well; they will go along weeping as they go, and it will be the Lord their God they will seek. They will ask for the way to Zion, turning their faces in its direction; they will come that they may join themselves to the Lord in an everlasting covenant that will not be forgotten."

V. Babylon has totally taken over the power of Assyria, but is being encroached by the Medo-Persians (Rome is not far behind)

PROPHECY - WILL TAKE PLACE 45 years later in 612 BC in the map you can see the Persian forces expanding as Babylon overtakes Judah but Jerusalem has yet to fall in 2 more years...

7. 45 years after Jeremiah's return prophecy in Ch-50 Judah and Israel will want to return to the Lord and Jerusalem.

11. Jerusalem will be taken in the 11^th year of king Zedekiah and the Temple will be robbed and burned.

VII. Babylon takes all of Israel except parts of Judah and the city of Jerusalem - A 2 year standoff.

Medo-Persia begins to envelope Babylon and her resources are moving to their north and eastern fronts.

"Behold, a people is coming from the north, and a great nation and many kings...." Persia & King Cyrus have come to power and will defeat Babylon.

Jeremiah 52 (JUDGMENT)
King Zedekiah's Reign (evil) 1-16
The king tossed the Babylonian leaders out of the city. In the 9^th year of the king... Babylon and her armies came and surrounded, and held hostage Jerusalem.
In the 11^th year in the city of Jerusalem there was terrible famine. The Babylonian army broke into the city, captured the King, his sons, the princes of the tribes, and slaughtered them and then... burned the Temple and took all the temple treasures.

       (JUDGMENT)
       52:26 Nebuz-ara-dan, captain of the guard, took the chief Priests to the King of Babylon, and "struck them down and put them to death."
The Deportation 28-34
       52:30 Nebuzaradan had taken 4600 persons from Jerusalem into exile in Babylon.

14. 539-536 bc - Persia overtakes Babylon and Captures and then Rescues Israel and Judah's people.

MEDO-PERSIA FIRST CAPTURES (536 BC) AND THEN "RESCUES ISRAEL/JUDAH'S PEOPLE 539 BC (THE BOOK OF DANIEL - 537)

The nation of Israel/Judah would remain in captivity for another 33 years before Persia would defeat Babylon and King Cyrus would begin the return of the Israelites to their homeland in three separate returns 536 bc, 458 bc, 446 bc.

15. 3 Releases from Persia back to Jerusalem and Israel-Judah 536 bc; 458 bc; 446 bc.

VIII. (Haggai - 520), (Ezra - 460), (Nehemiah - 445), (Malachi - 430) 400 years of God's silence to His people.

16. The Greeks 333-142 bc.

For about 200 years the Greeks would take over the eastern Mediterranean and control Israel 333 bc to 142 bc,

17. Rome 142 bc. - Thee hundred years later Rome has come to be a mighty empire and overtakes Medo-Persia, the Greeks, and Egypt and most all of the middle east

20. 30 AD Spring Crucified, died, buried, resurrected, ascended... 50 days later Pentecost and the start of the New Testament, and the Christian Church.

21. 330 AD Emperor Constantine embraces Christianity and the split of the Roman and Eastern churches.

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2023-08-29 UPDATE