Darkest Hour    

     Before we move to the next wave of miracles, we must set the stage, as provided by prophets Jeremiah, Ezekiel and Daniel. Miracles mean little unless we know the purpose.  

     This generation followed in the ways of their ancestors. People are people. Assyrians had swallowed up the separated Northern Kingdom.

     605 B.C. Babylonians take the best and brightest youth of Judah off to Babylon. Daniel is among them. 

     The darkest hour in Old Testament history has begun. 

     But God is light. He can perform miracles and inspire prophets in foreign Babylon. Nothing is impossible with God. 

     Eight years later, Nebuchadnezzar takes captive another 10,000 people, including Ezekiel. In time, Ezekiel begins to write the "book" that bears his name. 

     His message is judgment of Judah and of seven foreign nations. Another purpose is to sustain the remnant of exiles. And to emphasize personal responsibility of each individual before God. 

     586 B.C. Babylonians destroy Jerusalem and the temple. Most survivors are taken to Babylon. 

     Jeremiah, the "weeping prophet," witnesses the tragedy. He writes Lamentations, describing sin and rebellion, intense sorrow and emotional pain. 

     Then Jeremiah begins writing his "book," to record God's judgment. He demonstrates the authenticity and authority of the prophetic word. Many of his prophecies were fulfilled in his lifetime; others came to pass later, and some have yet to take place. 

     He said captivity would last 70 years (Jer. 25:11) which it did. 

     536 B.C. Daniel, now elderly, begins to write his "apocalyptic book" of the Old Testament, a preview of the future book of Revelation. 

     Daniel was possibly a descendant of King Hezekiah. In any case, he was from an educated family in Jerusalem. 

     His name meant, "God is my Judge." He wrote partly in Hebrew and partly in Aramaic. 

     Israel will rise, but never again be self governing ... until 1948.

Tomorrow: Daniel in the darkest hour