“He shall cause them that come of Jacob to take root: Israel shall blossom and bud, and fill the face of the world with fruit.” ( Isaiah 27:6).Since Israel became a nation for the second time on May 14, 1948, Israel has come from a barren desert to become one of the largest exporters of fruit in the world ! “Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.“ ( Isaiah 7:14). Immanuel means God with us. This amazing prophecy was fulfilled in Jesus Christ our Saviour, born of the virgin Mary, begotten by God Almighty himself. ” Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.” ( Matthew 1:23). “Fear ye not, neither be afraid: have not I told thee from that time, and have declared it? ye are even my witnesses. Is there a God beside me? yea, there is no God; I know not any.”( Isaiah 44:8).”That saith of Cyrus, He is my shepherd, and shall perform all my pleasure: even saying to Jerusalem, Thou shalt be built; and to the temple, Thy foundation shall be laid.”( Isaiah 44:28).“THUS SAITH the Lord to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have holden, to subdue nations before him; and I will loose the loins of kings, to open before him the two leaved gates; and the gates shall not be shut;” ( Isaiah 45:1). This prophecy was written by Isaiah the prophet who was sawed in half by his enemies. Isaiah prophesied from 745-695 B.C., Isaiah died 150 years before the days of King Cyrus of the Persian Empire. Cyrus reigned from 538-529 B.C. The leaved gates are referring to the Babylon Empire, which he conquered with the Medes. Isaiah spoke of Cyrus before he was even born, even naming him by his name, Cyrus. King Cyrus permitted the Jews to return to Jerusalem, and issued a decree authorizing and allowing the rebuilding of the Temple. The commandment to restore and build Jerusalem was later given by King Artaxerxes of Persia in 457 B.C. Fulfilling the beginning of the great prophecy of Daniel Chapter 9.( see our class on Daniel Chapter 9 for an in depth study of this amazing and important prophecy concerning Jesus.) “Now in the first year of Cyrus King of Persia,that the word of the Lord spoken by the mouth of Jeremiah might be accomplished, 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, Thus saith Cyrus King of Persia, All the kingdoms of the earth hath the Lord God of heaven given me; and he hath charged me to build him an house in Jerusalem, which is in Judah.”( II Chronicles 36:22,23a). This proclamation from Cyrus was concerning the second Temple after the first one was destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar King of Babylon in 586 B.C. The Jewish Temple has always been an important part of Bible Prophecy, especially in the end times. The second Temple which was finished during the time of King Herod of Jerusalem, was destroyed in 70 A.D. By the Romans, lead by General Titus of the Roman Empire. The third and final Temple is soon to be rebuilt, and the devil possessed anti-Christ will rule from there, proclaiming himself God. The Jews want to rebuild the Temple, where the Mosque of Omar now stands. Called the Dome of the Rock, which is built over the rock said to be the place where Abraham was going to offer Isaac upon, and where the Muslims believe that Mohammad ascended to heaven upon a horse. However recently some new information has been revealed which is being debated, that the Temple destroyed by the Romans was actually just South of the Dome of the Rock, in The City of David, near The Gihon Springs, and that where the Dome of The Rock now stands was part of The Fort Antonio that housed Roman soldiers. This means that the Temple could be rebuilt at any time with out removing the Dome of the Rock. The Orthodox Jews are strongly against this debate, we will see what happens. This area has been in the news a lot lately. Every serious, would be, Bible Scholar, and teacher needs to get all this information and dates down pat in their understanding to correctly instruct others. “And they that understand among the people shall instruct many:” (Daniel 11:33 a). “Thus saith the Lord, the Holy One of Israel, and his Maker, Ask me of things to come concerning my sons, and concerning the work of my hands command ye me.“ (Isaiah 45:11). This is the kind of faith that pleases God.

Say this prayer to be saved: Jesus, I want to know you, and to live forever in Heaven, I know I have made mistakes and done bad things- and I am sorry. Please forgive me. I know I don’t deserve it, but I accept your love and I accept you as my Saviour. I believe you died on the cross for my sins ,and rose from the dead. Please come into my heart and life and fill me with your Holy Spirit and give me peace. Amen.