JESUS CHRIST IN I and II CHRONICLES - CYRUS
JESUS CHRIST IN I and II CHRONICLES – CYRUS
Tuesday Morning Bible Study
June 17, 2025
Pastor Carolyn Sissom
We are going to only give a synopsis of 1 and 2 Chronicles because of the repetitions from the books of the Kings. The books of Chronicles like the books of the Kings were originally one book.
The books of I and II Chronicles begin with Adam (literally the first word I Chronicles 1:1 Adam, Sheth, Enosh. II Chronicles concludes with the decree of Cyrus in 2 Chronicles 36:22,
The two books, I and II Chronicles are an extensive sweep of history from the beginning of the human race to the 5th century B.C. It parallels the historical account in the Old Testament given in Genesis through II Kings. Since we have covered those twelve books of the Bible this year (in 15 teachings), we can forego Chronicles and save that for another time as a separate study.
Last week, we ended II Kings with Israel being taken captive by the Assyrians (722 B.C.) II Chronicles ends with Judah conquered by the Babylonians in 606 B.C. Jerusalem was demolished in 586 B.C. by Nebuchadnezzar.
Like all the Holy writ, I and II Chronicles are a treasure of revelation. The history of Israel is ignored. Only that of Judah is in view. The view is from heaven and not of the earth.
We will cover much of this period when we study the Prophets who were sent to guide and correct the Kings.
Judah’s prophets were Joel, Micah, Isaiah, Obadiah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, and Jeremiah.
It is believed by most scholars; I and II Chronicles were written by Ezra to remind the exiles and reassure the people of their Divine selection and thus strengthen their national roots. Also. to remind the Jews the glories of their monarchy were the result of their recognition of the Presence of God and following His statutes, which is the glory of all nations.
The Chronicles further remind the Jews that the continued Presence of God was and is contingent upon their faithful maintenance of the worship and ministry which God has ordained according to His due order.
This is why a separate study of Chronicles is important for our nation today as well as all the nations of the earth.
There are three viewpoints of the Kingdom period:
1. The books of I and II Kings are written from the royal point of view, emphasizing the THRONE.
2. The books of I and II Chronicles are written from the Priestly point of view, emphasizing the TEMPLE.
3. The books of the Prophets are written from the PROPHETIC point of view, emphasizing the Divine relationship between the THRONE and the TEMPLE.
The Message of II Chronicles is as the book of ACTS in the Old Testament. God will be found of those that seek and serve Him, but He will forsake those who forsake Him. Nations must be governed by men who are governed by God.
Jesus Christ is seen as the Prophet, Priest, and King, the Cleanser of the Temple, the Heavenly Solomon (the greater than Solomon).
We will begin our story today in 2 Chronicles, 36: 11-21 (paraphrased)
The Kingdom of Judah Is Conquered:
Zedekiah was 21 when he began to rule and reign in Jerusalem for 11 years (597-586 B.C.) He was made king by Nebuchadnezzar, and later rebelled. This evil king was warned by the prophet Jeremiah.
2 Ch. 36:12-13: He did evil in the sight of the LORD his God, and did not humble himself before Jeremiah the prophet, who spoke from the mouth of the LORD. He also rebelled against King Nebuchadnezzar, who had made him swear an oath by God, but he stiffened his neck and hardened his heart against turning to the LORD GOD OF ISRAEL.
Zedekiah was hoping to receive help from Egypt and the surrounding nations. The King of Babylon besieged Jerusalem in 588 B.C. until it fell in 586 B.C. Zedekiah’s sons were slain before his eyes and then his eyes were put out. He was then carried in chains to Babylon, and put in prison until he died. Jerusalem was ransacked and the temple burned to the ground. The Kingdom of Judah had come to an end. The Babylonia captivity was the portion of Judah because of sin and idolatry.
This dramatic event is so momentous in the history of God’s people it is recounted four times in scripture (2 Kg. 25; 2 Chr. 36; Jer. 39-40; 52). With the fall of Jerusalem, prophecies made over the preceding forty years now come to pass. The eighteen-month siege (January 588-587 B.C.) takes its toll through famine and the Babylonians make a breach and the weakened defenders capitulate.
Jer. 39: 1-2: In the ninth year of Zedekiah, king of Judah, in the tenth month, Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon and all his army came against Jerusalem, and besieged it. In the eleventh year of Zedekiah, in the fourth month, on the ninth day of the month, the city was penetrated.
Zedekiah and his princes did the opposite of the word of the LORD. They fled by night to Jericho (about 15 miles). Having been told by the prophet that life or death was set before them, Zedekiah and his princes chose death (the King, however, was spared).
Jer. 39: 6-8: Then the king of Babylon killed the sons of Zedekiah before his eyes in Riblah; the king of Babylon also killed all the nobles of Judah. Moreover, he put out Zedekiah’s eyes, and bound him with bronze fetters to carry him off to Babylon. The Chaldeans burned the king’s house and the house of the people with fire and broke down the walls of Jerusalem.
All nobles, every person with leadership responsibility who called for the death of Jeremiah, plus all the rest of them, whether present at the meeting or not met death!
The very next action the Scripture points out are the actions of Nebuchadnezzar’s chief military officer, who carried out and decreed the prophetic word of Jeremiah to the letter.
Jer. 39: 9-10: Nebuzaradan, the captain of the guard, carried away captive to Babylon the remnant of the people who remained in the city and those who defected to him, with the rest of the people who remained. He left in the land of Judah the poor people, who had nothing, and gave them vineyards and fields at the same time.
Nebuchadnezzar personally ordered the release and care of Jeremiah. Knowing of Jeremiah’s life-long admonition to Jerusalem to submit to him, now offered to confer upon the prophet any honor that he would accept, even a worthy place in the Babylonian court! (39:2; 41:1).
Jer. 39: 11-14: Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, gave charge concerning Jeremiah to Nebuzaradan, captain of the guard, saying, “Take him and look after him, and cause him no harm; but do to him just as he says to you. Nebuzaradan, the captain of the guard sent all the king of Babylon’s chief officers to take Jeremiah from the court of the prison. They committed him to Gedaliah, son of Ahikam, son of Shaphan, that he should take him home. So, he dwelt among the people.
Jeremiah was committed to the home of one whose house was not burned and who was of the priestly line. Second, Jeremiah got to dwell among the poor people who now owned all the vineyards and lands.
Gedaliah was appointed by Nebuchadnezzar to be ruler (Governor) over the remnant in the land. Four captains and their men came to Gedaliah in Mizpah, “Fear not to be the servants of the Chaldees.” (II Ki. 25:24). But Ishmael, came in the 7th month (with 10 men) and smote Gedaliah and the Jews and Chaldees at Mizpah! For fear, everyone fled to Egypt, taking Jeremiah also (II Ki. 25:26). (Tradition reports he was stoned to death in Egypt).
2 Ch. 36:20-21: Those who escaped from the sword he carried away to Babylon, where they became servants to him and his sons until the rule of the kingdom of Persia, to fulfill the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah, until the land had enjoyed her Sabbaths. As long as she lay desolate, she kept Sabbath, to fulfill seventy years.
KING CYRUS
II Chronicles fasts-forward Seventy years. The break in the historical narrative during this period is filled in by three prophets: Jeremiah (in Lamentations), Ezekiel and Daniel. The period of Babylonian captivity ended after the fall of Babylon to the Medo-Persians in 539 B. C., when King Cyrus made the proclamation that permitted the remnant of Israel to return.
2 Ch. 36:22-23: 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, so that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and also put it in writing, saying, “Thus says Cyrus, king of Persia: All the kingdoms of the earth, the LORD GOD OF HEAVEN, has given to me. And He has commanded me to build Him a house at Jerusalem which is in Judah. Who is among you of all His people? May the LORD his GOD be with him and let him go.
King Cyrus, conqueror of Babylon, the “anointed of the Lord” (Isa. 45: 1-5). Made proclamation:
1. Released the Jews from Captivity.
2. Ordered the temple to be rebuilt.
3. Encouraged material assistance.
This was remarkable in 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 SPIRTI OF GOD reveals the fact of the GOVERNMENT (Kingdom) of God over the affairs of the nations!
The last two verses of II Chronicles 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). The prophecies of Isaiah, who 200 years before had called Cyrus by name and predicted that under him the Jews would return and rebuild the city of Jerusalem (Isa. 44:26-28; 45:1;13).
Jeremiah prophesied 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.
2. And perform my good WORD unto you.
3. In causing you to return to this place. (Jer. 29:10).
Isaiah prophesied the simultaneous rebuilding of Jerusalem and downfall of Babylon (44:26-27). Jerusalem would be inhabited, and built, and the decayed places would be raised up. But to the deep (depths of the sea, abyss”- the Euphrates, upon which Babylon was built) he said, “Be dry”, the loss of the anointing). “I will dry up your rivers.” (Isa. 44:27).
Isaiah describes Cyrus 44: 28-45;13):
1. He is my shepherd.
2. And shall perform all my pleasure.
3. Saying to Jerusalem, “You shall be built,”
4. And to the temple, “your foundation shall be laid.”
5. His anointed.
6. Whose right hand, I have holden.
7. Subdue nations before him.
8. Loose the loins of kings.
9. Open before him the two leaved gates of Babylon.
10. I will go before you.
11. Make the crooked places straight.
12. Break in pieces the gates of brass.
13. Cut asunder the bars of iron.
14. Give you the treasures of darkness.
15. The hidden riches of secret places.
16. Called thee by thy name.
17. I have surnamed thee.
18. I girded thee.
19. I will direct all his ways.
20. He shall build my city and shall let my captives go.
Cyrus conquered Babylon and the King Nabonidus and son Belshazzar. He presented himself as a gracious liberator and benefactor to the priests and people. “not for price or reward.” Josephus, the Jewish historian, says that Cyrus discovered Isaiah’s scroll, and when Cyrus read this, and admired the Divine power, and earnest desire and ambition seized upon him to fulfill what was written (Ant. XI, 1, 2).
Next week, Jesus Christ in the Book of Ezra.
Carolyn Sissom, Pastor
Eastgate Ministries Church, 1015 West Hidden Lakes Lane, Richmond, TX.