Remember God created man with a obsession for Freedom, something that is actually impossible to have, total freedom that is.

We can never be free unless we become the servant of God, freedom comes with a price, thus the Kingdom Era, God's people and their ups and downs.

If a righteous king ruled they prospered.

But David is anointed, although not perfect is righteous and they prosper, however Solomon falters and the kingdom erupts into civil war, never again to be restored eventually leading once again to captivity.

The Silence Era is personified by the age old story of the king of the jungle, the lion, who travel about asking who the king was, being swelled with pride as they all proclaimed him until the elephant picked him up with his trunk and swung him about battering him on the ground, sitting upon him and dumping him on the lake, where the lion said promptly, "You don't have to get so mad, just because you don't know the answer."

If you want to know more, read on.

Understanding the Bible, Part Five

Robbie L. Rogers

Remember to study the bible to know more of God, making Jesus our personal Savior.

The Exile Era is personified by the man who jumped from the tallest building asking for forgiveness however things set in motion eventually happen such is the consequences of SIN!  Israel had to pay the debt which was exile.

God's people chose the culture they were forced into rather than God's way.

The Return Era: after seventy years in Babylonian captivity God's confused people returned to Israel trying to refocus their worship to Jehovah, the God of creation. Remember Daniel encouraged them prior to Israel being led into captivity, something the scripture does before we sin, doesn't it?  The warning doesn't negate the discipline, it only spells out the consequences.

This era breaks down into: Disrepair; Temple; People; and Walls.

Disrepair: Describing destruction and neglect, or ruin of Jerusalem, Nehemiah 1:1-3.

The Temple: After considerable opposition from the gentiles, but at the urging of Haggai and Zechariah the temple restoration is completed. Ezra 1-6.

The People segment signifies a direct parallel toward the spiritual rebuilding of God's people after seventy years. Most had not heard of the Law of Moses needing to reeducation as to how to practice and teach God's statues. Ezra 7-10.

The Walls, security of Jerusalem, the home of God's temple, is rebuilt under the guidance of Nehemiah, authorized by Persia.

The religious leaders of Israel pretended to have such power, becoming absorbed with their own importance causing a pattern of religious hypocrisy leading once again to more disappointing self-destruction of Israel.

The period breaks into: Changing Guard; Political Sects; religious Sects; and Messianic Hope.

The Changing of Guard, or march of nations, Alexandria the Great defeated Persia in 333B.C. establishing the Greek cultural influence to Israel. The eventual march proceeds from Persia to Greece to Rome, creating the militant Political Sects, Jews, Zealots, or Maccabeans who rebel against foreign rule making Jerusalem and Judah semi-independent.

The Religious Sects or Pharisees and Sadducees offered little spiritual guidance, mainly being caught up in promoting religious legalism or external adherence to rules. The Pharisees were conservative, while the aristocratic Sadducees were liberal sort of democrat and republican all over again. The Sanhedrin, a ruling board, was made up of both groups with little in common except their desire for religious freedom (which we know is not possible unless attuned to God) and later the antagonism of Jesus.

The Messianic Hope or expectation of the savior brings together the hope of all Israel that the Messiah will come either in political or spiritual salvation. For four hundred years they hoped during the silent years. The world as they knew it was comprised of: 1) a common language and culture; 2) a common government, relative peace with extensive roads and sea travel; 3) Jews suffer from religious persecution and humiliation; all foster Messianic hope and expectation that a savior exists, making the coming of Jesus of Nazareth an event capturing the entire Jewish world.

NEXT: The Poetical and Prophetical Books