The Babylonian captivity fulfilled Jeremiah's 70-year prophecy and emptied the land, while the rebuilding of the temple under Cyrus's decree restored Israel's worship and set the stage for Daniel's 490-year prophetic timetable that leads to Christ.
Les Feldick dates the captivity to 606 B.C., when Nebuchadnezzar took Daniel and the Jews to Babylon, and notes that Jeremiah had prophesied the captivity would last 70 years (Clip 1). After that period, Cyrus king of Persia decreed that the Jews could return and rebuild the temple, reestablishing temple worship (Clip 3). Later, Nehemiah's decree to rebuild the city wall marks the starting point of Daniel's 490-year prophecy, with 483 of those years running to Christ's crucifixion (Clips 2, 5, 6).
Jeremiah 25:11 — Records the 70-year Babylonian servitude that the captivity fulfilled.
Ezra 1:1 — Shows Cyrus's decree to rebuild the temple was a fulfillment of Jeremiah's prophecy.
Daniel 9:24 — Gives the 490-year prophetic timetable that begins after the captivity and temple rebuilding.
Daniel 9:25 — States the 483 years from the decree to build Jerusalem to Messiah the Prince.
The Bible records the captivity beforehand: "And this whole land shall be a desolation, and an astonishment; and these nations shall serve the king of Babylon seventy years" (Jeremiah 25:11). In Ezra 1:1, the LORD stirred up Cyrus king of Persia to make a proclamation "that the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled." Second Chronicles 36:18 and 20 describe how Nebuchadnezzar took the vessels of the house of God to Babylon and carried those who escaped the sword away "where they were servants to him and his sons until the reign of the kingdom of Persia." Daniel 9:24 announces that "seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city," and Daniel 9:25 specifies that from the commandment to restore and build Jerusalem unto Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks and threescore and two weeks, that is, 69 weeks or 483 years.
Les Feldick dates the Babylonian captivity from 606 B.C., when Nebuchadnezzar came from Babylon and took Daniel and the Jews captive, and he notes that Jeremiah had prophesied the nation of Israel would be in captivity 70 years (Clip 1). At the end of that period, Cyrus, king of Persia, issued a decree that the Jews could return to Jerusalem and rebuild the temple, reestablishing temple worship and their national entity under his sovereignty; Les points to this as the fulfillment of Jeremiah's word (Clip 3). Only 42,360 Jews took up the offer and returned to rebuild the temple (Clip 4). Les then distinguishes the two building projects: Ezra returned to rebuild the temple, but about 90 years later Nehemiah received a decree to rebuild the city wall and gates—the main line of defense in ancient times (Clips 5, 6). Les emphasizes this distinction because Daniel 9's 490-year prophecy is based on the decree Nehemiah received to rebuild the wall, not the day Ezra rebuilt the temple (Clip 6). He places that decree around April 14, 445 B.C., and shows that from that decree to the crucifixion was 483 years, within the 490-year frame (Clips 2, 5, 6).
Les Feldick places the beginning of the Babylonian captivity in 606 B.C., when Nebuchadnezzar came over and took Daniel and all the Jews captive back to Babylon (Clip 1). Jeremiah had prophesied that the nation of Israel would go into a captivity for 70 years (Clip 1; Jeremiah 25:11). At the end of the 70 years, Cyrus, king of Persia, made a decree that the Jews could go back to Jerusalem and rebuild the temple (Clip 3).
Cyrus, king of Persia, issued the decree that the Jews could return to Jerusalem to rebuild the temple and reestablish temple worship and their national entity under his sovereignty (Clip 3; Ezra 1:1). Les notes that the whole congregation that took up the offer to go back out of Babylon was 42,360, and he observes that this was not very many (Clip 4). This return happened about 535 to 536 B.C., 70 years after Nebuchadnezzar's first invasion (Clip 4).
Les emphasizes that the temple was rebuilt under Ezra after the return from Babylon (Clips 1, 6). About 90 years later, Nehemiah went back to Jerusalem not to rebuild the temple, because that had already been done, but to rebuild the city wall and the gates, which in antiquities were the people's main line of defense and safety (Clip 5). Les stresses this difference because Daniel 9's prophecy is based on the day Nehemiah came back to rebuild the wall, not on the day Ezra returned (Clip 6).
Les explains that in Daniel 9, God gave His timetable with the nation of Israel: 490 years from the decree to rebuild the city wall until Christ would finally end His dealing with Israel (Clip 2). The temple had already been rebuilt by Ezra, but the prophecy begins from the decree for Nehemiah to rebuild the city wall and gates (Clip 6). From that decree—which Les places around April 14, 445 B.C.—to the crucifixion was 483 years, within the 490-year time frame (Clips 5, 6; Daniel 9:24-25).
What Does It Mean to Be "All Things to All Men"? — 1 Corinthians 9
Jerry has just done a fantastic job and won't take a dime of compensation for it all. So Jerry, we appreciate you so much. Okay, I guess that's enough for introduction. And as I said, we've got new listeners coming in every day. And then it dawned on me, I think just the other night, that it's been a long time since I put our timeline on the board and sort of reviewed it.
The Captivity Begins: 606 B.C.
Les dates the Babylonian captivity from 606 B.C., when Nebuchadnezzar took Daniel and the Jews captive, and notes Jeremiah's prophecy of 70 years and Ezra's later return to rebuild the temple.
Daniel's 490 Years Begin with Nehemiah's Decree
Les shows that Daniel 9 gives a 490-year timetable for Israel from the decree to rebuild the city wall until Christ ends His dealings with Israel.
Cyrus's Decree to Rebuild the Temple
Les explains that Cyrus king of Persia decreed that the Jews could return to Jerusalem to rebuild the temple and reestablish temple worship, in fulfillment of Jeremiah's prophecy.
Only 42,360 Return from Babylon
Les notes that only 42,360 people took up Cyrus's offer to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the temple around 535-536 B.C.
Nehemiah's Decree and the 483 Years
Les stresses that about 90 years after Ezra, Nehemiah received a decree to rebuild the city wall and gates, and that from that decree to the crucifixion was 483 of the 490 years.
Temple vs. Wall in Daniel's Prophecy
Les emphasizes that Ezra rebuilt the temple while Nehemiah rebuilt the wall, and that Daniel's prophecy is based on the later decree for the wall, dated around April 14, 445 B.C.
Temple Vessels Taken to Babylon
Les reads from 2 Chronicles that Nebuchadnezzar took the temple's vessels and treasures to Babylon and carried the escaped remnant into servitude until the kingdom of Persia.
Jeremiah 25:11: And this whole land shall be a desolation, and an astonishment; and these nations shall serve the king of Babylon seventy years.
This verse is the prophetic promise of the 70-year Babylonian captivity that Les references when explaining the timeline.
Ezra 1:1: 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 also in writing, saying,
This verse shows the LORD moving Cyrus to issue the decree that allowed the Jews to return and rebuild the temple.
2 Chronicles 36:18: And all the vessels of the house of God, great and small, and the treasures of the house of the LORD, and the treasures of the king, and of his princes; all these he brought to Babylon.
This verse describes how the temple's treasures were taken to Babylon during the captivity.
2 Chronicles 36:20: And them that had escaped from the sword carried he away to Babylon; where they were servants to him and his sons until the reign of the kingdom of Persia:
This verse records that the escaping remnant was carried to Babylon until Persia conquered Babylon, which Les connects to the return.
Daniel 9:24: Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy.
This verse announces the 490-year timetable for Israel that Les ties to Nehemiah's wall decree.
Daniel 9:25: Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times.
This verse gives the 483-year span from the decree to restore and build Jerusalem to Messiah the Prince.
Les Feldick places the beginning of the Babylonian captivity in 606 B.C., when Nebuchadnezzar came over and took Daniel and the Jews captive back to Babylon (Clip 1). This was the event Jeremiah had prophesied and that eventually led to the 70-year captivity.
It lasted 70 years, as Jeremiah had prophesied (Clip 1; Jeremiah 25:11). At the end of the 70 years, Cyrus king of Persia issued a decree allowing the Jews to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the temple (Clip 3).
Cyrus, king of Persia, made the decree that the Jews could go back to Jerusalem and rebuild the temple and reestablish temple worship (Clip 3). Les points out that this fulfilled the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah (Clip 3; Ezra 1:1).
Les emphasizes that Daniel's 490-year prophecy is based on the decree for Nehemiah to rebuild the city wall, not on the earlier decree for Ezra to rebuild the temple (Clip 6). From that wall-building decree to the crucifixion was 483 years (Clips 5, 6).
Watch the Teaching: What Does It Mean to Be "All Things to All Men"? — 1 Corinthians 9