Resurrection Life of Jesus Church

A RECOLLECTION
The Godhead paused the virtual time run after the slaughter of the Jews in Egypt. The last scene showed Lucifer hovering over Jerusalem with millions of fallen angels and the ground infested with demons dancing around the burned down buildings.

Lucifer thought that he won once and for all over the Godhead, halting their plan to bring a Redeemer to the earth. He boasted that Jerusalem was finally his and there was great jubilation among his minions.

The Godhead grieved over the millions of Israelites who died in their sins and went to hell. Nevertheless, they had corralled a remnant that were presently held in Babylon. They recalled how the project had progressed thus far:

1. The first phase had been to move Abraham to the land of Canaan.

2. Then Jacob and his family had been moved to Egypt.

3. The third phase involved moving the nation of Israel from Egypt under the leadership of Moses.

4. Phase four comprised settling the tribes of Israel into the Promised Land of Canaan.

5. The fifth phase encompassed ruling the Israelites through judges and this chapter ended when the people demanded a king.

6. Phase six involved the time of the kings which had come to an end.

7. The seventh phase entailed preserving the remnant in Babylon for 70 years until they returned to the Promised Land. Jeremiah 25:9-12; Daniel 9:1-2

To control the situation in Babylon, the Godhead would anoint prophets, teachers and lay people to rise up in Nebuchadnezzar’s political system and influence how the Babylonian government dealt with the Jews. At the conclusion of the 70 years, the Godhead would use a Persian king to topple the Babylonian Empire and allow the Jews to return to Jerusalem.

The Godhead looked with disgust at Lucifer and his minions. Satan had not learned his lesson when he was sentenced to the Lake of Fire and he was still foolish to think he could fight against God and win. Lucifer was merely an obstacle that would eventually be removed from the creation.

LIFE IN BABYLON
The Bible does not provide a lot of information on the living conditions of the Jewish people in Babylon. Someone wrote a psalm about the enormous grief people experienced in exile and their bitterness against the Babylonians. Psalm 137:1-9

It is important to recognize that the adults taken into captivity were old and the majority had died by the time the 70 years of exile came to an end. The few that returned to Jerusalem were born in Babylon.

God encouraged the Jews to build houses, plant gardens and enjoy the fruit of their labor. The young people were instructed to marry and have children to increase their numbers. They were instructed not to fight the Babylonians, but to seek peace.  Jeremiah 29:1-7

God also warned of false prophets that would be brought in by Lucifer. verses 8-9

Finally, God told them that He still loved them. Their time in Babylon would be 70 years. The Lord would respond to their prayers. verses 10-14

DANIEL AND HIS FRIENDS
Nebuchadnezzar understood the importance of education for his nation. The Godhead used this for their own purposes and impressed upon the king to utilize a number of young aristocratic men and from the household of the king of Judah to be educated and groomed for service in the civil government of Babylon.

This three-year program of intense learning was run by a eunuch named Ashpenaz. The assumption is that all the young men from Judah were castrated so that they would have no desire for women and wholly serve the government. Daniel 1:1-5

Four Judean men refused to give up their deeply held belief in the Torah (Five Books of Moses) and its dietary laws. Leviticus 11:1-47

In order to destroy their Jewish identity, they were renamed and given Babylonian names. Daniel 1:6-16

Upon graduation from the eunuch school, Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah were taken to the palace and interviewed by Nebuchadnezzar, who found them wiser than the Babylonian magicians and astrologers. As a result, they were given high positions within the Babylonian government. verses 17-21

THE MOVE OF THE GODHEAD
Daniel and his three friends were placed in government positions, but the Godhead wanted them to quickly advance to top management positions. This was done with a dream that none of Nebuchadnezzar’s advisors could explain because the king had forgotten it. Daniel 2:1-12

This was the time for the Godhead to elevate Daniel and provide him with the interpretation of the dream. verses 13-31

When Daniel accurately recalled the king’s dream, Nebuchadnezzar confessed that the God of the Judeans was superior to all other gods in the world. As a result, Daniel became ruler over the city of Babylon. Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah moved into management in the province of Babylon. Daniel became the “chief of staff” for the king and this is how God provided protection for the Jews in Babylon. verses 46-49

POLITICS
Lucifer was furious with the situation and wanted the Judean leaders killed. He ordered his minions to influence Nebuchadnezzar and cause him to forget the magnificent profession of faith after Daniel revealed the king’s dream.

Nebuchadnezzar’s bloated ego caused him to erect a 90-foot-tall golden statue and demand that everyone worship the image. When Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego refused to go along, Nebuchadnezzar had them thrown into a specially prepared fiery furnace.

Lucifer failed to take into account that Jesus could intervene and perform such a great miracle that Nebuchadnezzar would confess the superiority of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego’s God for a second time. Daniel 3:1-30

ANOTHER VISION
Nebuchadnezzar was given a second dream/vision that none of the soothsayers in Babylon could interpret. It was a warning to the king, and at the same time, the Godhead was revealing there are holy angels known as watchers who are in charge of earthly rulers. Nebuchadnezzar was told to humble himself, but over time he was awed by the greatness of his empire and boasted about it, failing to take into account that God had put him in power. The watchers struck the king so that he became mentally ill. God was merciful to Nebuchadnezzar, and after he had served his sentence, his mental capacity was returned unto him. When he was restored, he confessed the superiority of the most High for a third time. Daniel 4:1-37

Nebuchadnezzar had been king for 12 years when he conquered Jerusalem and brought Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah to Babylon. History reveals that Nebuchadnezzar died in 562 B.C. at the age of 80 and so Daniel would have served as his chief of staff for 32 years.

KING AMEL-MARDUK
When Nebuchadnezzar died, his son Amel-Marduk became the next king of Babylon, but he only reigned for two years from 562-560 B.C. before he was overthrown and murdered.

Evil-Merodach is the name used by the prophet Jeremiah for the king that released Jehoiachin – the second to last king of Judah – from prison during his first year after his father’s death.

Evil-Merodach is not mentioned in the Book of Daniel.

Jehoiachin was moved to the palace and treated well. There were other captured kings in Babylon who also held positions as advisors to Evil-Merodach and Jehoiachin was appointed to be his chief advisor. The hand of the Godhead is evident in making sure that Jews were placed in high government positions throughout Babylon for the protection of the Jewish people. Jeremiah 52:31-34

KING NERIGLISSAR
Neriglissar was a general in Nebuchadnezzar’s army who married the king’s daughter. He staged a coup against Amel-Marduk, and once he achieved control of Babylon, he ordered Amel-Marduk to be executed. His reign only lasted four years from 560-556

B.C. Neriglissar is also not mentioned in the Book of Daniel.

Neriglissar waged war in what was known as Anatolia (Turkey). It was a brutal campaign to subdue nations and add them to Babylonian Empire. He died shortly after returning to Babylon.

KING LABASHI-MARDUK
Labashi-Marduk was the son of Neriglissar, but his reign only lasted three months until he was overthrown and executed by Belshazzar, the son of Nabonidus. Labashi-Marduk is not mentioned in the Bible.