EZRA - CHAPTER 1
EZRA - Chapter 1
Tuesday Morning Bible Study
October 13, 2015, the Year of Our Lord
Pastor Carolyn Sissom
I am once again dive into the ancient prophecies of the Old Testament to discover the mysteries of the present. The principles of God are revealed in three dimensions or spheres. The Old Testament unfolds its truth in three dimensions. Everything that took place in the O.T. happened in the:
- Land
- City - The City is within the Land
- Temple - The Temple is within the City within the Land.
The Book of Revelation unfolds in three dimensions or spheres:
- Sea
- Earth
- Heaven
The purpose of the Book of Ezra shows the fulfillment of the Word of the Lord prophesied through Jeremiah and Isaiah concerning the fall of Babylon and the restoration of Judah to Jerusalem. (Jer. 25: 8-14; Isa. 44: 26-45). The Book of Ezra fasts forward 200 years from the time of Isaiah.
The exact fulfillment of these prophecies emphasizes to the church of the 21st century the absolute authority of the Holy Scriptures and accuracy concerning nations and the Lord’s sovereign authority over all nations and their leaders.
Not only were the prophecies of Jeremiah and Isaiah fulfilled, but are being fulfilled in our day. That this message was shouted by heralds in the empire of Cyrus reveals the principle of the ministry of the prophets (Amos 3: 6-7), and the principle of the Feast of Trumpets.
The restoration of Judah to the land and the rebuilding of the Temple was not only a fulfillment of the prophetic Word, but was designed to hold the Jews in the land until the birth of the Messiah according to the prophecy of Daniel 9: 24-27.
The message of Ezra declares that God stirs up heathen nations for His Sovereign purposes.
Ezekiel 38:23: “I will magnify Myself, and sanctify Myself; and I will be known in the eyes of many nations, and they shall know that I am the Lord.”
The book of Ezra reveals the sovereign might of God, as He presses men who do not know Him into service for Him. He reveals the eventual achievement of His purpose against all opposition. In 2015, the Remnant is being called to press in.
The whole scenario reveals the present dealings of the Lord in His preparation of the REMNANT. There is not only a “call” but a spiritual action for the “Elect” to arise from the confusion of worldly economies, governments, tradition, and apostasy. The Lord is building a corporate Body (Temple---in the Most Holy Place) for His habitation. In His habitation, He is equipping this REMNANT with the authority of His Voice. The Lord is building His Temple (in the saints), equipping His Church and the gates of hell are powerless. All is underwritten by His government and Kingdom of God!
Those who are being tested and proven will be given the authority of Daniel 7: 18 and 22: “The saints of the Most High shall take the kingdom, and possess the kingdom for ever, even for ever and ever…the horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them; until the Ancient of days came, and judgment was given to the saints of the Most High; and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom.”
The fourth beast is making war with the Saints. This is why the battle is so intense.
Dan. 7:25: The fourth beast “shall speak great words against the Most High, and shall wear out the saints of the Most High, and think to change times and laws…but the judgment shall sit, and they shall take away his dominion, to consume and to destroy it to the end. The kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey Him.”
Nothing shall prevent the completion of God’s Kingdom work, “for even the King’s heart is in His hand.” (Prov. 21:1)
The Books of Ezra and Nehemiah were originally one manuscript. Ezra confines himself mainly to the events connected with the Temple, while Nehemiah confines himself mainly to the events connected with the wall and the city.
There are two Greek words for “TEMPLE” in the New Testament:
- #2411 – “Hieron” – A sacred or holy place. This word is used in the Gospel and consistently in the Book of Acts to refer to the literal, natural, man-made building built by Herod the Great.
- #3485 - “Naos” - This word is used in the gospels to describe Jesus (Mt. 26:61; 27: 40; Mk. 14:58; 15:29; Jn. 2: 19-21). In the Book of Acts the reference is to God’s dwelling-place (7:48; 17:24). Except for 1 Cor. 9:13, “Naos” is used in the remainder of the N.T. It is obvious “Naos” speaks of the spiritual Temple, the Inner sanctuary, the Real House of God which we are.
We may conclude that the ‘TEMPLE” principle is that of the third dimension of the Most Holy Place, and reveals a Temple Company of People (a corporate Body of Christ). This is the overcomer, the man-child company of Rev. 12. These are the abode and mansion of God (Jn. 14: 1-23) filled with His fullness.
The Lord is always preparing a man-child company. A man-child company is coming forth now. There is yet a fuller dimension of being born of God. (No sin = no death). This is what we are pressing into in our Sunday evening class; to overcome stumbling blocks that we may walk and live in order that we may press into the present dispensation to which the church is being called.
Another principle which overlaps the TEMPLE principle is the principle of the GLORY of God. (For further discussion)
The greater part of the Book of Ezra, though it bears the name of Ezra, tells of the pioneers who came back from exile to Jerusalem a whole lifetime before him. We will not meet Ezra until chapter 7. By then, some 80 years of his predecessors settling into the land will have gone by, and Ezra will come as a consolidator and a reformer; not a Temple Builder like his forerunner Zerubbabel, nor a rebuilder of walls like his younger contemporary, Nehemiah.
In chapters 1-6, we read of what awaited the earliest company of home-comers (the principle of first-fruits – (Rev. 14: 1-5).
(1) They attempted to carry out the commission to build a New Temple.
(2) They ran into local opposition and gave up the attempt for nearly 20 years.
(3) They rallied at last and complete it against a background of threats and political maneuvers. The threats were defied. The maneuvers were self-defeating, and chapter 6 ends on a high note of rejoicing.
Ezra 6:22: The children of Israel “kept the feast of unleavened bread seven days with joy; for the Lord had made them joyful, and turned the heart of the king of Assyria to them, to strengthen their hands in the work of the house of God, the God of Israel.”
The Lord turned the heart of the king of Assyria. We must believe the Lord is still turning the hearts of kings.
More than a half a century was to separate that first climax from the events of chapter 7. The Jews continued to be bitterly resented by their neighbors.
Within the first six chapters of Ezra there are many truths of the TEMPLE COMPANY, those forerunners of the Most Holy Place, the first-fruits unto God and the Lamb, the 42nd generation of Matthew 1, the seed of the Woman that bruises the Serpent’s head!
Ezra 1: 1-4: “Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and put it in writing, saying, Thus says Cyrus, king of Persia, The Lord God of heaven has given me all the kingdoms of the earth; and He has charged me to build Him a house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Who is there among you of all His people? His God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judah, and build the house of the Lord God of Israel, (He is the God,) which is in Jerusalem. Whosoever remains in any place where he sojourns, let the men of his place help him with silver, and with gold, and with goods, and with beasts, beside the freewill offering for the house of God that is in Jerusalem.”
Cyrus, King of Persia and conqueror of Babylon, the “anointed of the Lord” (Isa. 45: 1-5), made proclamation and thus:
1. Released the Jews from Captivity. The POWER
2. Ordered the Temple to be rebuilt. The PURPOSE
3. Encouraged material assistance. The PROVISION
This was a miracle of God that this proclamation was made by a heathen king who recognized the Sovereignty of God, claimed Divine commission, and who recognized a single supreme God. This activity of the HOLY SPIRIT OF GOD reveals the fact of the GOVERNMENT (KINGDOM) of God over the affairs of the nations!
“Return to Jerusalem and rebuild” is not the original idea of Cyrus, for this decree began in the Mind of God and was spoken through the mouths of His prophets. (Isa. 44:28; Jer. 25: 11-12; Dan. 9:2)
The last two verses of 11 Chronicles 36: 22-23 are the same as Ezra 1: 1-2. This proclamation was issued shortly after Daniel had read the handwriting on the wall, in which it was declared that Babylon would fall to Persia, and which came to pass the same night. (Dan. 5: 25-31). Perhaps Daniel showed to Cyrus the prophecies that were thus fulfilled.
(The United States surrendered Syria to Russia in one day.)
Jer. 25: 11-12: “The whole land shall be desolation, and astonishment; and these nations shall serve the king of Babylon seventy years. It shall come to pass, when seventy years are accomplished, that I will punish the king of Babylon, and that nation, says the Lord, for their iniquity, and the land of the Chaldeans, and will make it perpetual desolations.” 29:10: “Thus says 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.”
As we studied in Isaiah, 200 years before, the prophet called Cyrus by name and predicted that under him the Jews would return and rebuild the city of Jerusalem.
Jeremiah predicted that 70 years would be accomplished. This word means “to be or become full; to fill, to make full.” Then God promised three acts of His sovereign grace:
1. “I will visit you” - (Outer Court)
2. “And perform my good word unto you.” (Holy Place )
3. “In causing you to return to this place.” (Most Holy Place)
Isaiah predicted the simultaneous rebuilding of Jerusalem and downfall of Babylon. Compare Revelation 17-22. Jerusalem would be inhabited and built, and the decayed places; would be raised up. (Isa. 44:26)
The decayed places indicate the realm of the soul – desolation, drought, destruction waste. This is part of the ministry of the Sons of God to raise people up from the decayed places of the soul into the realm of the Spirit. Many Christians are in pain and bondage of the soul. The present purpose of our Sunday evening study group is to deliver people from the bondage of the soul that they may live and have their being in the realm of the Spirit.
Isa. 44:26b-27: “You shall be built, and I will raise up the decayed places thereof; that says to the deep, be dry, and I will dry up your rivers.”
The anointed ministries have left Babylon. To be dry metaphorically describes the loss of the anointing of the river of life.
A notable feature of the Persian empire was its integration of a great diversity of people into a single administrative system.
The mouth of Jeremiah (Ezra 1:1) corresponds to the mouth of “All” of God’s prophets in respect to this day. Acts 3:18: ‘Those things, which God before had shown by the mouth of all His prophets that Christ should suffer, He has so fulfilled.”
Cyrus (and Jesus) were given “all the kingdoms of the earth” and were charged to build Jehovah a house in Jerusalem, which is in Judah (“praise). Jesus head over the House of God and the nations of the earth is giving us marching orders now!
Jerusalem is in Judah (the city is in the land).
The house is in Jerusalem (the temple is within the city).
This is the call and invitation that is now going forth, everyone (all the tribes in the Body of Christ) is in the captivity of confusion. Who will come forth and return? (Lk. 15:18).
There is here an echo of the Exodus and the Passover of Israel in Egypt with the giving of silver, gold, goods, beasts, and other voluntary gifts. There were also to be payments and releases from the royal treasury, specified in a separate written document to be placed in the royal archives. Jesus the King has released the provisions needed (natural and spiritual) for us to return and partake of the Most Holy Place and PASS OVER into a new realm or dimension. The wealth of the nations has been loosed for those whose spirit God is raising up.
Ezra 1:5: ‘Then rose up the chief of the fathers of Judah and Benjamin, and the priests, and the Levites, with all them whose spirit God had raised, to go up to build the house of the Lord which is in Jerusalem.”
Ezra took with him 1754 males, 100 talents of gold, and 750 talents of silver.
The Judah Company and the Benjamin Company is also the first fruits Company. This is the praise Company and the Son of the Right Hand Company. As with verse 1, this takes place in the realm of the Spirit. The Chief of the Fathers is the principle of the apostles. Note two out the twelve tribes. We can compare this to Caleb and Joshua. The spirits of the priests (Heb. 7) and the Levites (servant principle) were also “raised” (to awake out of sleep, excite, call forth, and stir”).
They “rose up” according to the enabling of the Lord (“whose spirit God raised”). This is the principle of the third day of Hos. 6: 1-3 as we are being raised up into the Most Holy Place and the Throne of God. We are being caught up into action.
Ezra 1:6 “All they that were about them strengthened their hands with vessels of silver, with gold, with goods, and with beasts, and with precious things, beside all that was willingly offered.”
This is the principle of Haggai 2:7. Those who returned were strengthened with silver (redemption), gold (Divine nature), Goods (natural provisions), Beasts (the principle of burden-bearing or intercession), and also precious things (“costly and delicious productions of the earth such as fruits, metals, gems, etc.)’ These five things (principle of grace) were brought back from Babylonian captivity and restored to the people of God! This verse also show that the phrase “beside all that was willingly offered” refers to offerings and gifts for the Temple, the rest being evidently meant for the pilgrims!
THIS IS THE PROMISE OF PROSPERITY TO THOSE WHO ARE THE REMNANT OF THE REMNANT.
While many have become out of balance with the faith and prosperity principle, it remains a valid promise for the children of God. Prosperity means “always having enough!” Note this promise is conditional. You must leave Babylon.
Ezra 1:7-11: “Also Cyrus the King brought forth the vessels of the house of the Lord, which Nebuchadnezzar had brought forth out of Jerusalem, and had put them in the house of his gods; Even those did Cyrus king of Persia bring forth by the hand of Mithredath the treasurer, and numbered them to Shesh-bazzar, the prince of Judah. This is the number of them: thirty chargers of gold, a thousand chargers of silver, twenty-nine knives, thirty basins of gold, 410 basins of a second sort, and other vessels a thousand. All the vessels of gold and of silver were 5400. All these did Sheshbazzar bring up with them of the captivity that were brought up from Babylon to Jerusalem.”
This principle of the vessels is vast and varied. It reveals the truth in the positive and negative. Every life is in one house or the other (Mt. 6:24). These vessels were numbered unto Sheshbazzar, the prince (ruler, governor) of Judah, who was Zerubbabel.
Zerubbabel was a Babylonian Jew who returned to Palestine (Ezra 2:2) after the exile and functioned as the governor of Jerusalem. He was the active political leader in Jerusalem with Joshua the high priest who served as the principle religious figure. Thus a King-priest ministry builds the house. The governor and priest were hand picked and chosen by the Lord God.
Sheshbazzar means “fire worshipper, joyous vintager, joy of the vintage, unassailable joy, joy in tribulation, and fine linen in tribulation.”
The thirty basins of gold = Most Holy place (100 fold) = Thirty is the number of maturity.
Silver = Holy Place (60 fold) = redemption.
Other = Outer Court (30 fold) =
Again we see the restorative purposes of God in three dimensions.
Four is the number of creation
Ten is the number of testing and responsibility.
God is anointing responsible sons for the purpose of bringing deliverance and redemption to His creation.
The numbers of the vessels reduce as their values increase--- Again this is the principle of the Remnant.
The 29 knives reveal a final redemption
All the vessels of gold and of silver were five thousand and four hundred. All these did Sheshbazzar bring up with them from the captivity. These closing words mark one of the turning points of history---Out of Egypt--- through the wilderness--- into the land---then from Babylon--- to Zion.
We have been circumcised. We are being circumcised and we shall be circumcised. We have been birthed. We are being birthed. We shall be birthed.
Next week Ezra chapter 2
Carolyn Sissom, Pastor
Eastgate Ministries Church
Scripture from K.J.V. – I entered into the labors of Principles of Present Truth of Ezra by Kelly Varner. Comments and conclusions are my own and not meant to reflect the views of Rev. Varner.