The warnings – God warned Israel and Judah many times to return unto the Lord. But because Israel refused to hear the prophets and return to the Lord, they were turned over to their enemies. Israel was scattered among the nations and Judah was taken captive in Babylon.

 

Judah's seventy years of captivity – The prophet Jeremiah prophesied that Judah would go into captivity for seventy years. Jeremiah 25:11-12. This prophecy came true: Judah spent 70 years in Babylon under King Nebuchadnezzar, as Jeremiah had said. The book of Ezekiel was written during the captivity, and the book of Daniel was written while He was in Babylon during the captivity. But God also promised that their seed would continue in Jerusalem and that they would be a free people again after the captivity ended. Jeremiah 29:11; Ezekiel 36:23-28

 

Note: In captivity, Daniel, the prophet, prophesied that the people of God would continue to disobey Him. After their captivity ended, he said that the saints would be given to desolation because of their abominations. But he also showed us that God would not let it end there. He then prophesied the destruction of the antichrist and the downfall of the kingdom of darkness. The saints of God would rise and rule the kingdom of God forever, never to enter bondage and captivity again (These prophecies are only fulfilled in the Spirit in Jesus Christ).

 

Judah's captivity ends – After 70 years of imprisonment, a Persian king named Cyrus came to rule after capturing Babylon. God put it in his heart to release His people and to begin to send them back to Jerusalem so that they could rebuild the city and the temple of God that was destroyed when they were captured. 2 Chronicles 36:22-23; Ezra 1

 

The first group returns home – According to the command of King Cyrus, the people of God began to exit Babylon. They were led out of Babylon at three different times to return to Jerusalem. The first group was led by Zerubbabel, who led about 50,000. Ezra 2      (Ezra led the second group, and Nehemiah led the third group).

 

Jerusalem rebuilt – Upon the return of the first group, the construction of the city of God began. (Ezra 1-6; Haggai; Zechariah.) They began by rebuilding the altar so that sacrifices to God could resume. Then the foundation of the temple was laid, but enemies arrived and halted the rebuilding for about 15 years. It was the prophets Haggai and Zechariah who encouraged the people to resume work on the temple. (Ezra 5) The temple was finished 70 years after it was captured and destroyed by King Nebuchadnezzar.

 

Ezra leads the second group home – after returning to Jerusalem, Ezra turns the people of God to rebuilding their spiritual lives by teaching God's law, and dealing with intermarriage with other heathen nations. He seeks to restore obedience to the people of God and help them return to serving the Lord as they once did. They repented of their sins, and God's law was restored. Ezra 7-10

 

Nehemiah rebuilds the walls of Jerusalem – Nehemiah was an Israelite and the cupbearer to King Artaxerxes. When he heard that the walls of Jerusalem were in ruins, he wept and mourned and prayed to the God of heaven for help. After that, his king allowed him to leave and help rebuild the city's walls. It was Nehemiah who led the third group of people back to Jerusalem. As he inspected the wall and spoke with the people, they immediately got encouraged and said, "Let us rise up and build." Nehemiah 2:18 The walls were built in 52 days. Nehemiah helps restore security to the city. Nehemiah 1-7

 

 Jerusalem is restored to its covenant with God – Ezra and Nehemiah lead the people in reading the law, and a great outpouring of repentance occurs among the people of Jerusalem. The covenant of God is renewed, and the people agree to follow the Lord and learn His laws. Ezra 8-13, Malachi

 

Ester saves the Jews – Queen Ester sabotages Haman's plan to destroy the Jews who are in exile. Book of Ester

 

Over time, the city of God was restored, both in the flesh and in the Spirit. With faithful men like Zerubbabel, first as governor (Haggai 1:1), and then Nehemiah, order was restored to Jerusalem. Then there were Haggai and Zechariah, prophets (Ezra 5:1), who restored the vision of God to the people. Also, Joshua was a high priest during the time of the restoration (Haggai 1:1; Zechariah 3). With these men in place, God issued His commandments to the people, calling them to remember His promises and to look for a savior who would come and rule God's Kingdom forever. 

 

However, it wasn't long before the people of God grew slothful in their obedience to the Lord. It was Malachi who wrote to remind them again to be faithful to God and prophesied the coming of John the Baptist and the Messiah, Jesus Christ. Malachi 3:1, Matthew 11:10; Malachi 4:5-6; Matthew 11:14, 17:10-13