Why Israel Went Into Captivity In Ezekiel 2:3,8,5 verses, Israel was called rebellious seven times. Ezek. 5:11 “Wherefore, [as] I live, saith the Lord GOD; Surely, because thou hast defiled my sanctuary with all thy detestable things, and with all thine abominations, therefore will I also diminish [thee]; neither shall mine eye spare, neither will I have any pity.”

Ezekiel 8:15,16 8:15 Then said he unto me, Hast thou seen [this], O son of man? turn thee yet again, [and] thou shalt see greater abominations than these. 8:16 And he brought me into the inner court of the LORD'S house, and, behold, at the door of the temple of the LORD, between the porch and the altar, [were] about five and twenty men, with their backs toward the temple of the LORD, and their faces toward the east; and they worshipped the sun toward the east. 8:16 And he brought me into the inner court of the LORD'S house, and, behold, at the door of the temple of the LORD, between the porch and the altar, [were] about five and twenty men, with their backs toward the temple of the LORD, and their faces toward the east; and they worshipped the sun toward the east. Worshipping the sun right at the Temple!

Ezekiel 8:14 Then he brought me to the door of the gate of the LORD'S house which [was] toward the north; and, behold, there sat women weeping for Tammuz. Then he brought me to the door of the gate of the LORD'S house which [was] toward the north; and, behold, there sat women weeping for Tammuz. Tammuz was the male Babylonian sex god. Ishtar, the sex goddess was his wife and sister. At Jerusalem they were incorporating this Babylonian sex worship and had many prostitutes at the Temple and sex was part of their worship. The prophet Hosea was told to go to the Temple and pick out a prostitute for a wife as he was to live out a pantomime for all Israel to know they were prostituting themselves with strange gods.

DANIEL Daniel was born about 622 B. C. Nebuchadnezzar made 3 trips to Jerusalem First time was 605 B.C. –Took many precious utensils from Temple in Jerusalem and placed them in the temple of Bel \ Merodach Jewish youth taken to Babylon, Royal and well to do families Daniel taken in first visit about the age of 16 Ezekiel taken in second visit in 597 B.C.

Rabbah Vs Jerusalem Eze. 21:18 The word of the LORD came unto me again, saying, 21:19 Also, thou son of man, appoint thee two ways, that the sword of the king of Babylon may come: both twain shall come forth out of one land: and choose thou a place, choose [it] at the head of the way to the city. 21:19 Also, thou son of man, appoint thee two ways, that the sword of the king of Babylon may come: both twain shall come forth out of one land: and choose thou a place, choose [it] at the head of the way to the city. 21:20 Appoint a way, that the sword may come to Rabbath of the Ammonites, and to Judah in Jerusalem the defenced. 21:20 Appoint a way, that the sword may come to Rabbath of the Ammonites, and to Judah in Jerusalem the defenced.

Ezekiel 21:22,23 21 For the king of Babylon stood at the parting of the way, at the head of the two ways, to use divination: he made [his] arrows bright, he consulted with images, he looked in the liver. 21:22 At his right hand was the divination for Jerusalem, to appoint captains, to open the mouth in the slaughter, to lift up the voice with shouting, to appoint [battering] rams against the gates, to cast a mount, [and] to build a fort. 21:22 At his right hand was the divination for Jerusalem, to appoint captains, to open the mouth in the slaughter, to lift up the voice with shouting, to appoint [battering] rams against the gates, to cast a mount, [and] to build a fort.

Nebuchadnezzar’s Third Trip 586 B. C. An extended siege to city Leveled the city to the ground Completely destroyed the Temple Only the poorest people are left –The gold is gone –The intellegencia is gone –The capital is gone –The Sanctuary is gone –No one to rebel is left

Strategy of Nebuchadnezzar 1. Taking as prisoners all the royal and middle class, the intellectual and trained men. Eze. 1:1 592 B.C. by Chebar river – Ezekiel among the captives, the holding pen for slaves 2. Left only poor uneducated people in Judah 3. Confiscated their gods, idols, and sacred objects. 4. Took all their gold, silver and brass 5. A scorched earth policy

Strategy of Cyrus 1.Allowed the captives to return to their own land. 2. Returned to them their gods and sacred relics. 3. Helped them to rebuild their cities 4. Peoples had different attitude towards their captives

Cyrus Divinely Called Daniel made known to Cyrus Daniel was Prime Minister for several years Daniel only person who was Prime Minister of two world Empires. During that time Daniel was put in the lion’s den, at about 85 years old. You are never too old to serve and never to old to be persecuted.

Daniel read Scripture to Cyrus written 150 years before birth of Cyrus Isa. 44:28 to 45:1 to 5 “That saith of Cyrus, [He is] my shepherd, and shall perform all my pleasure: even saying to Jerusalem, Thou shalt be built; and to the temple, Thy foundation shall be laid. “That saith of Cyrus, [He is] my shepherd, and shall perform all my pleasure: even saying to Jerusalem, Thou shalt be built; and to the temple, Thy foundation shall be laid. Chapter 45: 1 Thus saith the LORD to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have holden, to subdue nations before him; and I will loose the loins of kings, to open before him the two leaved gates; and the gates shall not be shut; Two events revealed to Cyrus: 1. Open to him the two leaved gates 2. Rebuild city and Temple

Daniel Read to Cyrus 45:2 I will go before thee, and make the crooked places straight: I will break in pieces the gates of brass, and cut in sunder the bars of iron: 45:3 And I will give thee the treasures of darkness, and hidden riches of secret places, that thou mayest know that I, the LORD, which call [thee] by thy name, [am] the God of Israel. 45:3 And I will give thee the treasures of darkness, and hidden riches of secret places, that thou mayest know that I, the LORD, which call [thee] by thy name, [am] the God of Israel. 45:4 For Jacob my servant's sake, and Israel mine elect, I have even called thee by thy name: I have surnamed thee, though thou hast not known me. 45:4 For Jacob my servant's sake, and Israel mine elect, I have even called thee by thy name: I have surnamed thee, though thou hast not known me. 45:5 I [am] the LORD, and [there is] none else, [there is] no God beside me: I girded thee, though thou hast not known me: 45:5 I [am] the LORD, and [there is] none else, [there is] no God beside me: I girded thee, though thou hast not known me:

This Prophecy written over 150 Years Before Cyrus Was Born Isaiah lived at 700 B.C. Cyrus took Babylon as a general under Darius at 538 B.C. Darius died three years later and Cyrus became leader of Media-Persian Empire in 535 B.C.

The Return of the Jews The seventy year prophecy Jer. 29:10 “For thus saith the LORD, That after seventy years be accomplished at Babylon I will visit you, and perform my good word toward you, in causing you to return to this place. Babylonian captivity 605 Babylonian captivity 605 Cyrus decreed Jews to return years 70 years

Daniel 9:2 “In the first year of his reign (Darius) I Daniel understood by books the number of the years, whereof the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah the prophet, that he would accomplish seventy years in the desolations of Jerusalem.” Dan. 9:2 “In the first year of his reign (Darius) I Daniel understood by books the number of the years, whereof the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah the prophet, that he would accomplish seventy years in the desolations of Jerusalem.” Dan. 9:2 Jeremiah was a prophet in Jerusalem in 605 B.C. when Daniel, as a youth, was taken captive to Babylon. Daniel didn’t understand the 70 year prophecy until the time had almost concluded. First year of Darius was 538. Daniel was studying the book of Jeremiah and found the 70 year prophecy at that time. Three years later,535, the 70 year prophecy was up.