Ez. 40-44

[Trekson]

[SIZE=12pt]Many people believe that the temple described in Ez. 40-44 is a prophetic picture of a third temple to be built in Jerusalem at the beginning of the millennium. Let’s face it, God isn’t going to give them plans for a third temple before a second one was built. This is the design for their second temple. That is why it speaks of sacrifices. All they needed to do was to repent on a national level. They failed again. Thye 70 year captivity didn’t bring about the level of national repentance that God hoped it would. Of course, He knew this but these things occurred so that at some future date God can show Israel, “See, this is what could have been”. That is why the second temple wasn’t built to specs. God sent Cyrus and Darius as hindrances and Israel’s fear of them over their fear of God coupled with their unhappiness over the barren condition of the land where Jerusalem needed to be rebuilt, led them to build a “lesser” temple.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]Consider this: That Temple was to be an everlasting edifice, as the verse there states, “and I shall dwell among them forever.” Instead, when it came time to rebuild the second Temple, God commanded through his prophets Haggai, Zechariah and Malachi not to build it according to the specifications in Ezekiel[/SIZE].

When some Rabbis refer to the second Temple period, they say it was a partial redemption only. For not only were the Jews still under foreign rule, but the second Temple also lacked some key components—including the Holy Ark. However, even though the second Temple did not have the everlasting quality of the Temple of Ezekiel’s prophecy, the builders did incorporate certain parts of the prophecy into its construction. In commanding Ezekiel to describe the dimensions of the Temple to the Jewish people, God says, Ez. 43:10-11 – “Thou son of man, shew the house to the house of Israel, that they may be ashamed of their iniquities: and let them measure the pattern. 11 And if they be ashamed of all that they have done, shew them the form of the house, and the fashion thereof, and the goings out thereof, and the comings in thereof, and all the forms thereof, and all the ordinances thereof, and all the forms thereof, and all the laws thereof: and write it in their sight, that they may keep the whole form thereof, and all the ordinances thereof, and do them.”

[SIZE=12pt]God told them not to build to those specs for a reason, their lack of national repentance. Could at some point a third millennial temple be built to these specs? Absolutely, but this does explain the animal sacrifices and sin offerings described there as being for the second temple as they will have no place in the millennium. Zerubbabel was the high priest who was given the task of building this second temple.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]Zech. 4:9 – “The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house; his hands shall also finish it; and thou shalt know that the LORD of hosts hath sent me unto you.”[/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]Haggai 1:2 – “Thus speaketh the [/SIZE]Lord of hosts, saying, This people say, The time is not come, the time that the Lord's house should be built.”

[SIZE=12pt]Haggai 2:14 – “[/SIZE][SIZE=12pt]Then answered Haggai, and said, So is this people, and so is this nation before me, saith the [/SIZE][SIZE=12pt]Lord[/SIZE][SIZE=12pt]; and so is every work of their hands; and that which they offer there is unclean[/SIZE].”

 

[Retrobyter]

Shalom, Trekson.

[SIZE=12pt]Many people believe that the temple described in Ez. 40-44 is a prophetic picture of a third temple to be built in Jerusalem at the beginning of the millennium. Let’s face it, God isn’t going to give them plans for a third temple before a second one was built. This is the design for their second temple. That is why it speaks of sacrifices. All they needed to do was to repent on a national level. They failed again. Thye 70 year captivity didn’t bring about the level of national repentance that God hoped it would. Of course, He knew this but these things occurred so that at some future date God can show Israel, “See, this is what could have been”. That is why the second temple wasn’t built to specs. God sent Cyrus and Darius as hindrances and Israel’s fear of them over their fear of God coupled with their unhappiness over the barren condition of the land where Jerusalem needed to be rebuilt, led them to build a “lesser” temple.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]Consider this: That Temple was to be an everlasting edifice, as the verse there states, “and I shall dwell among them forever.” Instead, when it came time to rebuild the second Temple, God commanded through his prophets Haggai, Zechariah and Malachi not to build it according to the specifications in Ezekiel[/SIZE].

When some Rabbis refer to the second Temple period, they say it was a partial redemption only. For not only were the Jews still under foreign rule, but the second Temple also lacked some key components—including the Holy Ark. However, even though the second Temple did not have the everlasting quality of the Temple of Ezekiel’s prophecy, the builders did incorporate certain parts of the prophecy into its construction. In commanding Ezekiel to describe the dimensions of the Temple to the Jewish people, God says, Ez. 43:10-11 – “Thou son of man, shew the house to the house of Israel, that they may be ashamed of their iniquities: and let them measure the pattern. 11 And if they be ashamed of all that they have done, shew them the form of the house, and the fashion thereof, and the goings out thereof, and the comings in thereof, and all the forms thereof, and all the ordinances thereof, and all the forms thereof, and all the laws thereof: and write it in their sight, that they may keep the whole form thereof, and all the ordinances thereof, and do them.”

[SIZE=12pt]God told them not to build to those specs for a reason, their lack of national repentance. Could at some point a third millennial temple be built to these specs? Absolutely, but this does explain the animal sacrifices and sin offerings described there as being for the second temple as they will have no place in the millennium. Zerubbabel was the high priest who was given the task of building this second temple.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]Zech. 4:9 – “The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house; his hands shall also finish it; and thou shalt know that the LORD of hosts hath sent me unto you.”[/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]Haggai 1:2 – “Thus speaketh the [/SIZE]Lord of hosts, saying, This people say, The time is not come, the time that the Lord's house should be built.”

[SIZE=12pt]Haggai 2:14 – “[/SIZE][SIZE=12pt]Then answered Haggai, and said, So is this people, and so is this nation before me, saith the [/SIZE][SIZE=12pt]Lord[/SIZE][SIZE=12pt]; and so is every work of their hands; and that which they offer there is unclean[/SIZE].”

You said, “Could at some point a third millennial temple be built to these specs? Absolutely, but this does explain the animal sacrifices and sin offerings described there as being for the second temple as they will have no place in the millennium. Zerubbabel was the high priest who was given the task of building this second temple."

Sorry, buddy. I must strongly disagree! In the first place, you DON’T know what “sacrifices” are for. That’s not unusual, because only someone who is a believer in Yeshua` being the Messiah of God who has been taught his Jewish roots would understand what these sacrifices are, but not every sacrifice is about “the forgiveness of sins!” In fact, most are NOT about the “forgiveness of sins!” I would strongly suggest that you study the website http://www.jewfaq.org/qorbanot.htm. You may find out a few things that you THOUGHT you already knew. The chief thing is that animal sacrifices were eaten by both the priests and the persons offering the sacrifice! It was a way to SUPPORT the priests as well as a time of fellowship and introspection! (And, yes, that “qorbanot” is the feminine plural of “qorban” which is called “corban” in the KJV of Mark 7:11. That same Greek word, korban, was translated as “treasury” in Matthew 27:6. The Hebrew word “qorban” is found 82 times in the Tanakh or the OT).

It’s a COOK-OUT! It’s a PARTY, just as the time of Sukkot is a CAMPING TRIP! It’s a time when all of Israel, including those Gentiles who will participate, builds a booth or hut (a “sukkah”) in the streets of Jerusalem!

Now, Yeshua`s ancestor, Zrubavel, was an AMAZING person!

Do you know WHY Zechariah 4:9 is really so amazing? It’s because of the history that we’ve been given in Ezra:
Ezra 1:1-4
1:1 In the first year of Koresh (Cyrus) king of Persia, in order for the word of Adonai prophesied by Yirmeyahu to be fulfilled, Adonai stirred up the spirit of Koresh king of Persia to make a proclamation throughout his whole kingdom, which he also put in writing, as follows:

2 “Here is what Koresh king of Persia says: Adonai, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms on earth; and he has charged me to build him a house in Yerushalayim, in Y’hudah. 3 Whoever there is among you of all his people, may his God be with him! He may go up to Yerushalayim, in Y’hudah, and build the house of Adonai the God of Isra’el, the God who is in Yerushalayim. 4 Let every survivor, no matter where he lives, be helped by his neighbors with silver, gold, goods and animals, in addition to the voluntary offering for the house of God in Yerushalayim.”
CJB

Ezra 3:8-6:17
8 In the second year after their arrival at the house of God in Yerushalayim, in the second month, Z’rubavel the son of Sh’alti’el, Yeshua the son of Yotzadak, the rest of their kinsmen the cohanim and L’vi’im, and all who had come out of exile to Yerushalayim began the project. They appointed the L’vi’im aged twenty and up to direct work in the house of Adonai. 9 Yeshua and his sons and brothers, Kadmi’el and his sons, and Y’hudah’s sons together directed the workers in the house of God; also the sons of Henadad, with their sons and their kinsmen the L’vi’im.
10 When the builders laid the foundation of the temple of Adonai, the cohanim in their robes, with trumpets, and the L’vi’im the sons of Asaf, with cymbals, took their places to praise Adonai, as David king of Isra’el had instructed. 11 They sang antiphonally, praising and giving “thanks to Adonai, for he is good, for his grace continues forever” toward Isra’el. All the people raised a great shout of praise to Adonai, because the foundation of the house of Adonai had been laid. 12 But many of the cohanim, L’vi’im and heads of fathers’ clans, the old men who had seen the first house standing on its foundation, wept out loud when they saw this house; while others shouted out loud for joy — 13 so that the people couldn’t distinguish the noise of the joyful shouting from the noise of the people’s weeping; for the people were shouting so loudly that the noise could be heard at a great distance.
4:1 When the enemies of Y’hudah and Binyamin heard that the people from the exile were building a temple to Adonai the God of Isra’el, 2 they approached Z’rubavel and the heads of fathers’ clans and said to them, “Let us build along with you; for we seek your God, just as you do; and we have been sacrificing to him since the time of Esar-Hadon king of Ashur, who brought us here.” 3 But Z’rubavel, Yeshua and the rest of the heads of fathers’ clans in Isra’el answered them, “You and we have nothing in common that you should join us in building a house for our God. We will build by ourselves for Adonai the God of Isra’el, as Koresh king of Persia ordered us to do.”
4 Then the people of the land began discouraging the people of Y’hudah, in order to make them afraid to build. 5 They also bribed officials to frustrate their plan throughout the lifetime of Koresh king of Persia and on into the reign of Daryavesh (Darius) king of Persia. 6 During the reign of Achashverosh (Ahasuerus, Esther’s husband, Xerxes I), at the beginning of his reign, they brought a charge in writing against the people living in Y’hudah and Yerushalayim. 7 Then, during the time of Artach’shashta (Artaxerxes), Bishlam, Mitr’dat, Tav’el and their other colleagues wrote Artach’shashta; the letter was written in Aramaic, using Aramaic script. 8 Rechum the district governor and Shimshai the secretary wrote a letter against Yerushalayim to Artach’shashta the king as follows:
9 “From Rechum the district governor, Shimshai the secretary, their other colleagues, the judges, the officials, the Dina’im, the Afarsat’khim, the Tarp’lim, the Afarsim, the Ark’vim, the Bavlim, the Shushan’kayim, the Dehayim, the ‘Elma’im, 10 the other nations whom the great and noble Asnapar deported and settled in Shomron, and the others who remain in the country beyond the [Euphrates] River.”
11 (This is the text of the letter they sent him.)
“To Artach’shashta the king from his servants the people beyond the River:
12 “Let the king know that the Judeans who left you to come to us in Yerushalayim are building this rebellious and wicked city. They have finished the walls and are now digging the foundations. 13 So let the king know that if this city is rebuilt and the walls are finished, they will refuse to pay tribute, tax or toll; and this will reduce the royal revenue. 14 Now, because we eat the king’s salt, and it is not right for us to see the king dishonored, we therefore are sending to inform the king, 15 so that a search can be made in the archives of your ancestors; in these archives you will find and ascertain that this city is indeed a rebellious city, the bane of kings and provinces, and that sedition has been fostered there since ancient times — which is why this city was destroyed. 16 We submit to the king that if this city is rebuilt and the walls are finished, you will soon lose possession of all territories beyond the River.”
17 The king sent this answer:

“To Rechum the district governor, Shimshai the secretary, their other colleagues living in Shomron, and the rest beyond the River:
“Shalom!
18 “The letter you sent us has now been translated for me. 19 I ordered a search made, and it was found that this city has a long history of revolt against kings, that rebellion and sedition have been fostered there; 20 also that there have been powerful kings over Yerushalayim who ruled all the territory beyond the River; and tribute, taxes and tolls were paid to them.
21 “So now, order that these men stop work and that this city not be rebuilt until I order it. 22 Take care not to neglect your duty; otherwise the harm may increase, to the damage of the king.”
23 When the text of King Artach’shashta’s letter was read before Rechum, Shimshai the secretary and their colleagues, they hurried to Yerushalayim to the Judeans and stopped their work by force of arms. 24 So the work on the house of God in Yerushalayim ceased; it remained at a standstill until the second year of the reign of Daryavesh (this is AFTER Artaxerxes!) king of Persia.
5:1 The prophets Hagai and Z’kharyah the son of ‘Iddo prophesied to the Judeans in Yerushalayim and Y’hudah; they prophesied to them in the name of the God of Isra’el. 2 Then Z’rubavel the son of Sh’alti’el and Yeshua the son of Yotzadak began rebuilding the house of God in Yerushalayim; with them were the prophets of God, helping them.
3 No sooner had they begun, when Tatnai the governor of the territory beyond the [Euphrates] River, Sh’tar-Boznai and their colleagues came and asked them, “Who gave you permission to rebuild this house and finish this wall? 4 What are the names of the men putting up this building?” 5 But the eye of their God was on the leaders of the Judeans, so they didn’t stop them until the matter could come before Daryavesh and a reply in writing be received.
6 Here is the text of the letter which Tatnai the governor of the territory beyond the River, Sh’tar-Boznai and their fellow officials beyond the River sent to Daryavesh the king; 7 they sent him a letter in which it was written:
“To Daryavesh the king,
“Complete shalom!”
8 “Let the king know that we went to the province of Y’hudah, to the house of the great God. It is being rebuilt with large stones, and timber is being set in the walls. This work is being done energetically, and it is making good progress under the direction 9 of their leaders. We asked them, ‘Who gave you permission to rebuild this house and finish this wall?’ 10 We also asked them their names, so that we could write you the names of the men in charge of them.
11 “They gave us this answer: ‘We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth. We are rebuilding the house that was built many years ago, built and finished by a great king of Isra’el. 12 But because our ancestors provoked the God of heaven, he handed them over to N’vukhadnetzar king of Bavel, the Kasdi; he destroyed this house and carried the people off to Bavel. 13 But in the first year of Koresh king of Bavel, Koresh the king gave authorization to rebuild this house of God. 14 Moreover, the gold and silver articles belonging to the house of God, which N’vukhadnetzar had removed from the temple in Yerushalayim and brought to the temple of Bavel, Koresh the king took out of the temple in Bavel; they were turned over to a man named Sheshbatzar, whom he had appointed governor. 15 He said to him, “Take these articles, go, put them in the temple in Yerushalayim, and let the house of God be rebuilt on its original site.” 16 So this same Sheshbatzar came and laid the foundations of the house of God in Yerushalayim; it has been under construction ever since, and it isn’t finished yet.
17 “‘Now therefore, if it seems good to the king, let a search be made in the royal treasury there in Bavel to determine whether a decree was issued by Koresh the king to rebuild this house of God in Yerushalayim; and let the king send us his decision concerning this matter.’”
6:1 Daryavesh the king issued an order; and search was made in the archives building, where treasures were stored in Bavel; 2 and there was found at Achm’ta, in the palace which is in the province of Media, a scroll on which was written the following:
“Memorandum:
3 “In the first year of Koresh the king, Koresh the king issued this decree: ‘Concerning the house of God in Yerushalayim, let the house be rebuilt, the place where they offer sacrifices; and let its foundations be firmly laid. Its height is to be ninety feet and its breadth ninety feet, 4 with three rows of large stones and one row of new timber. The expenses are to be charged to the king’s treasury. 5 Also let the gold and silver articles belonging to the house of God, which N’vukhadnetzar removed from the temple at Yerushalayim and brought to Bavel, be restored and returned to the temple in Yerushalayim, each item to its place; and you are to put them in the house of God.’
6 “Therefore, Tatnai governor of the territory beyond the River, Sh’tar-Boznai and your colleagues the officials beyond the River, stay away from there! 7 Let the work of this house of God alone. Let the governor of the Judeans and the leaders of the Judeans rebuild this house of God on its site.
8 “Moreover, I herewith issue this order concerning how you are to assist these leaders of the Judeans in rebuilding this house of God: the expenses of these men are to be defrayed promptly from the royal funds, from the taxes collected beyond the River, so that the work can continue. 9 Whatever they need — young bulls, rams and lambs — for burnt offerings to the God of heaven, wheat, salt, wine and olive oil, according to what the cohanim in Yerushalayim say, is to be given them daily without fail; 10 so that they can offer sacrifices with a fragrant aroma to the God of heaven and pray for the life of the king and his sons.
11 “I also order that if anyone defies this order, a beam is to be pulled from his house; and he is to be lifted up and impaled on it. His house is to be reduced to rubble. 12 May the God who has caused his name to be there overthrow any king or people that tries to defy it and destroy this house of God in Yerushalayim.
“I, Daryavesh, have issued this order. Let it be carried out to the letter.”
13 Then Tatnai the governor of the territory beyond the [Euphrates] River, Sh’tar-Boznai and their colleagues obeyed strictly; because Daryavesh the king had given the order to do so.
14 The leaders of the Judeans made good progress with the rebuilding, thanks to the prophesying of Hagai the prophet and Z’kharyah the son of ‘Iddo. They kept building until they were finished, in keeping with the command of the God of Isra’el and in accordance with the order of Koresh, Daryavesh and Artach’shashta king of Persia. 15 This house was finished on the third day of the month Adar, in the sixth year of the reign of Daryavesh the king. 16 The people of Isra’el, the cohanim, the L’vi’im and the other people from the exile joyfully dedicated this house of God. 17 At the dedication of this house of God they offered 100 young bulls, 200 rams, 400 lambs, and, as a sin offering for all Isra’el, twelve male goats, corresponding to the number of the tribes of Isra’el.
CJB

Now, here’s the list of the kings of Persia and the times of their reigns (according to Wikipedia at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_kings_of_Persia#Median_Empire_.28674.E2.80.93652_BC.29):


Achaemenid Empire (550-330 BC)
Cyrus (Koresh) II the Great (559-530 BC)
Cambyses (530-522 BC)
Bardiya (522 BC)
Darius (Daryavesh) I (522-486 BC)
Xerxes I (Ahasuerus) (485-465 BC)
Artaxerxes I (465-424 BC)
Xerxes II (424 BC)
? (Sogdianus) (424-423 BC)
Darius II (424-404 BC)
Artaxerxes II (404-358 BC)
Artaxerxes III (358-338 BC)
Artaxerxes IV (338-336 BC)
Darius III (336-330 BC)
Artaxerxes V (330-329 BC)

So, while many believe that the “Darius” of chapter 6 is Darius the First, Ezra specifically mentioned an Ahasuerus - Xerxes I - and an Artaxerxes between Cyrus and Darius! This means the “Darius” of chapter 6 is Darius II, not Darius the First!

Thus, despite the history books, according to the order of rulers in Ezra 1-6 and their names, Ezra said that they started the building soon after the edict in 559 B.C. and the work continued WITH OPPOSITION until 465 B.C. or so, a total of 94 years! Then, the work was stopped and remained stopped for 42 years. When they made the mistake of writing to Darius II shortly after he began his reign, he restarted the work in about 423 B.C., and the work was completed in his sixth year, about 418 B.C. Thus, the Temple was built from 559 B.C. (or soon thereafter) until 418 B.C! That’s a total of 142 years!

That means that Zrubavel, who had to be at least 20 years old when he laid the foundation, was at least 162 years old when the work was finished, and he had a hand in the final measurements, as well! That’s a pretty long life, and it was GOD’S power that kept him alive so long to see the finished work!

This also pushes back the times of Z’kharyahu's (Zechariah’s) and Haggai’s writing (Ezra 6:14) to between 423 and 418 B.C!

 

[Trekson]

Hi Retro:
I said, “Could at some point a third millennial temple be built to these specs? Absolutely, but this does explain the animal sacrifices and sin offerings described there as being for the second temple as they will have no place in the millennium. Zerubbabel was the high priest who was given the task of building this second temple."

You said: “Sorry, buddy. I must strongly disagree! In the first place, you DON’T know what “sacrifices” are for. That’s not unusual, because only someone who is a believer in Yeshua` being the Messiah of God who has been taught his Jewish roots would understand what these sacrifices are, but not every sacrifice is about “the forgiveness of sins!” In fact, most are NOT about the “forgiveness of sins!” You may find out a few things that you THOUGHT you already knew. The chief thing is that animal sacrifices were eaten by both the priests and the persons offering the sacrifice! It was a way to SUPPORT the priests as well as a time of fellowship and introspection! It’s a COOK-OUT!”

Well, I don’t think a huge Bar-B-Q is the picture described in Ez. 43. The altar described in vss. 13-17 are for “burnt” offerings and according to the page you sent me to: “The Hebrew word for burnt offering is olah…An olah is completely burnt on the outer altar; no part of it is eaten by anyone. Because the offering represents complete submission to G-d's will, the entire offering is given to G-d (i.e., it cannot be used after it is burnt). It expresses a desire to commune with G-d, and expiates sins incidentally in the process (because how can you commune with G-d if you are tainted with sins?). An olah could be made from cattle, sheep, goats, or even birds, depending on the offerer's means.”

Vss. 18-27 is describing “burnt” offerings. Only in vs. 27 is an additional “peace” offering mentioned. I was aware of the other uses for “offerings” but they aren’t pictured here. Now let’s talk history. My resources vary somewhat from what Wikipedia says and your assumptions about the history. I have no personal knowledge so this is resource vs. resource but Wikipedia is not really known for its standards of excellence.

Your words: "Do you know WHY Zechariah 4:9 is really so amazing? It’s because of the history that we’ve been given in Ezra:"

Where our resources differ will be in red.
Achaemenid Empire (550-330 BC)

Cyrus (Koresh) II the Great (559-530 BC)
Cambyses (530-522 BC)
Bardiya (522 BC) Smerdis – 522
Darius (Daryavesh) I (522-486 BC) 521-486
Xerxes I (Ahasuerus) (485-465 BC) 486-464
Artaxerxes I (465-424 BC) 464-423
Xerxes II (424 BC) no mention
? (Sogdianus) (424-423 BC) no mention
Darius II (424-404 BC) 423-404

Artaxerxes II (404-358 BC) Artaxerxes III (358-338 BC) Artaxerxes IV (338-336 BC) Darius III (336-330 BC) Artaxerxes V (330-329 BC) For our discussion, these don’t matter.

Your words: “So, while many believe that the “Darius” of chapter 6 is Darius the First, Ezra specifically mentioned an Ahasuerus - Xerxes I - and an Artaxerxes between Cyrus and Darius! This means the “Darius” of chapter 6 is Darius II, not Darius the First!”

This and the following statement are assumptions not based on historical fact.

Your words: “Thus, despite the history books, according to the order of rulers in Ezra 1-6 and their names, Ezra said that they started the building soon after the edict in 559 B.C. and the work continued WITH OPPOSITION until 465 B.C. or so, a total of 94 years! Then, the work was stopped and remained stopped for 42 years. When they made the mistake of writing to Darius II shortly after he began his reign, he restarted the work in about 423 B.C., and the work was completed in his sixth year, about 418 B.C. Thus, the Temple was built from 559 B.C. (or soon thereafter) until 418 B.C! That’s a total of 142 years!

That means that Zrubavel, who had to be at least 20 years old when he laid the foundation, was at least 162 years old when the work was finished, and he had a hand in the final measurements, as well! That’s a pretty long life, and it was GOD’S power that kept him alive so long to see the finished work!”

The only thing I can do is to show you how my resource differs from yours.

*First, there are two returns spoken of. The first led by Zerubbabel (Ezra 1-6) and the second led by Ezra (7-10). Between these two are a gap of nearly six decades, during which we have the story of Esther. In the Latin Bible, Ezra is called First Ezra and Nehemiah is called Second Ezra, as he is believed to be the author of both as well as 1 & 2 Chronicles, so Ezra begins where 2 Chron. leaves off. The book is assumed to be written between 457 BC – 444 BC, the time of Nehemiah’s arrival in Jerusalem.

As an interesting side note, during the period covered in Ezra, there were other historical figures making their mark as well. Buddha in India (560-480 BC), Confucius in China (551-479 BC) and Socrates in Greece ((470-399 BC).

The seventy year captivity was from the first deportation in 606 BC to 536 BC when the temple foundation is begun. Cyrus first issued his decree in 538 BC. The building of the temple is discontinued after just two years in 534 BC and is resumed again in 520 BC and completed in 515 BC. Total construction time 21 years, actual construction time was seven years, which is a far cry from the 142 years your resource and assumptions led to.

Here’s why. The first thing you need to realize is that Ezra 1-6 (also considered “the restoration of the temple”) is a history book. Ezra is telling a story that happened approx. 80 years before he wrote it. So 1-6 is the time of the first return and of Zerubbabel and of the completion of the temple (538-515 BC). Ezra 7-10 (also considered “the reformation of the people”) is about the second return (457-444 BC) and is the time of Nehemiah. I assume that’s where the confusion of Darius 1 and Darius 2 arises. Haggai and Zechariah minister around 520 BC and following years.
There were three stages of deportation into captivity, 606 BC, 597 BC and 586 BC. There were also three stages of return. Zerubbabel 538 BC, Ezra 457 BC and Nehemiah 444 BC. Ezra 5 is contemporary with Hag. 1:1 and Zech. 1:1

It took some study but here, imo, is where the confusion lies as found in Ezra 4.

There are two different stories in this chapter, which is about the various times of opposition regarding both the city and the temple. Vs. 1-5 tells us a tale from Cyrus and Darius 1. Then Ezra skips forward to the time of Nehemiah where there is opposition to building the walls ( See vss. 12, 13) (not the temple) of Jerusalem and that is the time of Ahasuerus (486-464 BC) (really, the only thing recorded about Ahasuerus is that he received a letter of opposition) and Artaxerxes (464-423). Vs. 16 is referencing the city as it can’t be a city without the security of its walls. Now in Ezra 4:24 it goes back to Darius 1 and the two year cessation of building the temple.

To me, this seems more reasonable than your conclusions, but hey, it was an interesting study anyways.

* KJV of The Open Bible by Nelson Publishers, intro to the Book of Ezra.

 

[ezekiel]

It should have not been so that we should kill another for our sins even from the beginning it was not so but they did not hear Gods voice. God has let them with the devices the wanted.

Jeremiah 7 v 22
For I spake not unto your fathers, nor commanded them in the day that I brought them out of the land of Egypt, concerning burnt offerings or sacrifices:

It was satan that kept them from hearing Gods voice as today you also that adultery is done then they sacrifice the baby. His temple is a house of prayer not a killing zone.

Matt 21 v 13
And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.

Ezekiel's Temple are the New Heaven and Earth.

 

[Retrobyter]

Shalom, ezekiel.

It should have not been so that we should kill another for our sins even from the beginning it was not so but they did not hear Gods voice. God has let them with the devices the wanted.

Jeremiah 7 v 22
For I spake not unto your fathers, nor commanded them in the day that I brought them out of the land of Egypt, concerning burnt offerings or sacrifices:

It was satan that kept them from hearing Gods voice as today you also that adultery is done then they sacrifice the baby. His temple is a house of prayer not a killing zone.

Matt 21 v 13
And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.

Ezekiel's Temple are the New Heaven and Earth.

Sorry, bro’, but you don’t know what you’re talking about. Sacrifices have been necessary since God made the first coats of skin for Adam and Chavah (Eve)! Adam sacrificed to God as did Hevel (Abel) and Shet (Seth) all the way down the family tree to Noach (Noah) LONG before there was even a Tabernacle, let alone a Temple!

Sacrifices were simply a PICTURE of what Yeshua` would suffer on the cross on our behalf! HE was sacrificed for our sins; that’s why He is identified as the "Lamb of God!"

And, no, Ezekiel’s Temple is NOT the “New Heaven and Earth!” In the New Earth with its New Sky; there IS NO MORE TEMPLE then! Ezekiel’s Temple will exist during the Millennium, a thousand years in the future that will happen PRIOR to the New Earth and its New Sky.

 

[Marcus O'Reillius]

The Temple also exists in the one 'seven.'

Where are the measurements John was told to take?

Rev 11:1 Then there was given me a measuring rod like a staff; and someone said, "Get up and measure the temple of God and the altar, and those who worship in it. 2 Leave out the court which is outside the temple and do not measure it, for it has been given to the nations; and they will tread under foot the holy city for forty- two months.

I put it to you that the man Ezekiel saw was John.

And in Revelation, God reveals that this Temple also exists in one half of the one 'seven.'

I put it to you again that this is the first half of the one 'seven' and furthermore, this Temple is required to fulfill NT prophecy:

Mt 24:15 "Therefore when you see the abomination of desolation which was spoken of through Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place..."

and

2Th 2:3b ...and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, 4 who opposes and exalts himself above every so- called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, displaying himself as being God.

The Holy Place as Jesus said, is inside the Temple, in front of the curtain.
This is also what Paul said.
And we can find out exactly what kind of abomination this is that Daniel spoke of in Revelation as well; the false prophet does it - and being of the "land" is Jewish, just as the Sanhedrin seek to build the Temple today and are also consulted by the military as to the actions it should take on behalf of Israel (I have a news article proving this point):

Rev 13:14b ...to make an image to the beast who *had the wound of the sword and has come to life. 15 And it was given to him to give breath to the image of the beast, so that the image of the beast would even speak and cause as many as do not worship the image of the beast to be killed.

A talking image will be set up in the Temple at the midpoint of the one 'seven' marking a distinct change between its halves. This abomination will trigger the Great Tribulation and it elicits a direct response from God: the Two Witnesses, which are also mentioned one-two in chapter 11 with the measuring of the Temple, and these two advance guard Marines from the Lord come before the Day of the Lord.