TOPIC: DESOLATION AND RESTORATION AS SIGN OF SECOND COMING OF JESUS - Part 1.:Holiness Revival Movement Worldwide.

BY PASTOR PAUL RIKA
(Int'l Director Holiness Revival Movement Worldwide)

DATE:
FRIDAY OCTOBER 25, 2019.

TEXT: 
2 Chronicles 36:15-20

KEY VERSE: Isaiah 44:28 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.

Jerusalem was destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar completely. He made three incursions in 605BC, 597BC and 586BC. In 586BC he leveled Jerusalem, took the people away, killed many, destroyed the wall of Jerusalem, burnt the palaces, destroyed the house of God, took the vessels in the house of God to Babylon, took Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego and many other Jews away as captives. 

However, for Jesus to come the first time, Jerusalem had to be restored. For this reason, God had to raise a man at the appointed time, called king Cyrus. He had mentioned the name of Cyrus 170 years before his birth. 

When Jerusalem was destroyed, Israel remained in captivity all through the reign of Nebuchadnezzar, through the reign of Evilmerodach, up to the reign of Belshazzar, Jerusalem remained trodden down by the gentiles. 

But because Jesus had to come the first time, God had to raise a powerful political figure in the person of king Cyrus, who conquered Babylon and pronounced liberty for Israel to go back home and rebuild Jerusalem.

2 Chronicles 36:21 “To fulfil the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah, until the land had enjoyed her Sabbaths: for as long as she lay desolate she kept Sabbath, to fulfil threescore and ten years.” 

Jesus had to come as a Jew, so for Him to come the Jews had to go back home. Jesus could not have been born to
Mary and Joseph in captivity. This prophecy is contained in Daniel 9:25 “Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in the troubulous times.” 

By divine plan, Jerusalem was restored to prepare for the coming of the Messiah. God does not miss His timing, hence 170 years ahead He mentioned the name of a person that was not yet born, Cyrus. He knew at that time it would be ripe for Israel to go back home. 

He knew that He had to raise somebody that is strong politically that would make a decree for the Jews to go back home. As we continue this message tomorrow, you will see the urgency of the second coming of the Messiah and why you need to begin to prepare for it.

Thought for the day: 
Jesus is coming back very soon. Are you prepared?

Song for the day: 
He's coming back again (2x). He went away and promised that …

Bible reading for the day: Jeremiah 14-16; 1 Timothy 5.