Old Testament Prophets
Theme: expectation for Christ
Major Prophets
Isaiah:
Picture of Christ: prince of peace
Written in Jerusalem
Key title: “holy one of Israel” used 12 times in first half of the book and 14 times in the second half. (argument for the unity of Isaiah)
King Uzziah dies in 740 BC
Prophetic condemnation
a. Prophecies vs. Judah and Jerusalem: Coming of Immanuel (his miraculous birth, magnificent land, and millennial reign)
b. Predictions of the Great Tribulation and Millennial Kingdom (Little Apocalypse)
Virgin Birth Prophecy: Almah (young woman of marital age who is a virgin. Not the most common word for virgin) Bethulah (twice used of a young widow. More common word for virgin)
Servant of the Lord Prophesy: Servant used many times for the name of Jesus.
Jeremiah and Lamentations
Picture of Christ: Righteous Branch
Jerusalem fell to Nebuchadnezzar one last time in 568 BC.
Prophesy about righteous branch: God will use the righteous branch (Jesus) to save everyone (Jeremiah 33:15-16)
Ezekiel
Picture of Christ: Glory of God
Preparation for God’s glory
Daniel
Picture of Christ: the messiah/the anointed one
605-535 BC during the Babylonian captivity
Nebuchadnezzar, son of Nabopolassar invaded Judah in august 605 BC. Daniel was taken captive. Temple was pillaged in 605 BC and 595 BC and destroyed in 586 BC.
Personal History
a. Four Hebrews (Taken away from their family, friends , and home. No one will know if they sin)
Daniel: “God is my Judge” changed to Beltesshazzar “Bel is my judge/protector”
Hananiah: “mercy of the Lord” to Shadrach “mercy of Marduk”
Mishael: “who is like God” to Meschach “who is like Marduk”
Azariah: “servant of Yahweh” to Abendego “servant of Nebo”
b. Three year training
c. Defilement: wine=intoxicating. Meat=unclean (not kosher)
Fall of Babylon
a. Family line: Nabodims is the son in law of Nebuchadnezzar. Belshazzar was Nebuchadnezzar’s grandson (coregent with his father Nabonidus)
b. Nabonidus Chronicle: proves that Nabonidus names Belshazzar as coregent with him
Cyrus Cylinder: Babylon fell to Persia and Meads on Oct 12, 539 BC
Identity of Darius the Mede: probably Gubaru, governor of Babylon
Prophetic Ministry
a. Vision of Four Beasts: parallels the 4 creatures of the statue
Lion: Babylon (destroyed first temple)
Bear: Media-Persia (allowed Jews to rebuild the second temple)
Leopard: Greece (desecrated the second temple and closed it
Monster: Rome
b. The four heads on the Leopard represent the four generals
c. Little Horn: antichrist (tells us that it will come from Europe)
Vision of the 70 sevens
a. 70 weeks=”weeks” of years (490 total years)
Term shavuah, “sevens”
b. Israel under the gentiles
c. 70th Seven= 7 years of Tribulation
Messiah “cut off” (crucified) on April 5 AD 30
d. Views of Eschatology
e. Views of Tribulation period
Vision of Last Days (last hope
a. Glory revealed
b. Rise and fall of Syria and Egypt
c. Coming of the Antichrist: time of trouble =tribulation period
d. Future resurrection (seal up the book)
Minor Prophets
Arranged thematically
Introduction: Hebrew title “the twelve”
Hosea
Author: Hosea (salvation)
Written in the Northern Kingdom
Theme: underlying love
Personal Problem: unfaithful wife (wife of whoredom)
a. solution: he buys her back from slavery for 15 pieces of silver
Key promise: Hosea 3:4-5 “For the Israelites will live many days without king or prince, without sacrifice or sacred stones, without ephod or household gods. 5 Afterward the Israelites will return and seek the Lord their God and David their king. They will come trembling to the Lord and to his blessings in the last days.”
Joel
Author: Joel
Written in the Southern Kingdom
Theme: Coming day of the Lord
Present Judgment: imminent
Future Judgment: Ultimate
Key promise: Joel 2:28-32 ““And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy,