The Babylonian Captivity!

It was certain that Judah will be taken into captive to the land of Babylon for 70 years as prophecy by the prophets because of their sins and rebellion against God. However, what was not certain was when will this occur? Babylon has always been there for many years, but Nebuchadnezzer never thought of taken Judah into captivity until they sin. It was their sin that brought God's judgement upon them. Judah's 70 years captivity was a turning point in their lives. Although, this captivity brought joy and gladness to an entire nation, to them God has kept his promise and covenant he made with them. More so, it was also symbolic to the entire human race because it span through the period in which Christ will be enthroned as king of the earth after the great tribulation.

Israel's Captivity!

The Jews were warned by God about a coming captivity. Israel and Judah had sinned and God had prophecy about a coming captivity and even their captors. He told them that it was His judgement and punishment for their rebellion and sin. In fact, God even described the nature and brutality of their captivity and the period at which this event will take place. In one of those instance in scriptures, He described Judah's captor, Babylon, "as a lion that has come out of its thicket". Meanwhile, Israel had been taken into captivity for more than 100years by the Assyrian army before Judah's captivity. This two event marked the end of Israel and Judah period as kingdom. Henceforth, Israel and Judah became prisoners, moving from one transition of captivity to another until Christ was born in a small city called Bethlehem.

Israel's Pre-captivity Era!

After the division of Israel, the two nations still maintained their bond of friendship and brotherhood. Yet, this was often compromised by the failure to recognize God as the creator and the Supreme Being and their urge for idolatry. Israel was yet to decide who to worship because Jeroboam had already introduced them to idolatry. Therefore, God sent his prophet to preach against it and to call them back to Himself. Prominent of these prophets were Elijah and Elisha. On the other hand, Judah was repenting but each time they backslide back to idolatry whenever a new king is enthroned. This was never the plan of the almighty God for Israel as a united kingdom. The judgement of God was imminent and the warning came through the mouth of the prophets: Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel and Daniel.

Israel's Divided Kingdom!

The United state of Israel seized from the day King Solomon departed from the Lord and decided to marry strange women and to worship other gods- these were idolatry and disobedience in the eyes of God. These gods were the gods of the nations God forbid them from associating with cause of their idolatrous worship. In fact, God has driven these nations away from His presence cause of their sins. These unfortunate incident made God to divide the kingdom. Though, this division took place in the time of King Solomon's son Rehoboam, nevertheless, it became a land mark event in the history of Israel. Despite the sins of King Solomon, God still decided to give one part of the tribes to King Rehoboam cause of the promise He made to King David that his son shall sit on the throne forever. The Lord has always shown to the sons of men that He is no respecter of person; and that He is of a purer eyes to behold iniquity. More importantly, that He is a covenant keeping God!

The Division of Israel's Kingdom!

The United state of Israel seized from the day King Solomon departed from the Lord and decided to marry strange women and to worship other gods- these sins were idolatry and disobedience in the eyes of God. These gods were the gods of the nations God forbid them from associating with cause of their idolatrous worship. In fact, God has driven these nations away from His presence cause of their sins. These unfortunate incident made God to divide the kingdom. Though, this division took place in the time of King Solomon's son Rehoboam, nevertheless, it became a land mark event in the history of the Jewish state. Despite the sins of King Solomon, God still decided to give one part of the tribes to King Rehoboam cause of the promise He made to King David that his son shall sit on the throne forever. The Lord has always shown to the sons of men that He is no respecter of person; and that He is of a purer eyes to behold iniquity. More importantly, that He is a covenant keeping God!

Israel's Kingship!

The Israelite has always been in controversy with God right from the time God chose them as a nation. From time immemorial, God has always called them to true worship. His worship was supposed to be a relationship between Himself (God) as the ultimate King, and Israel the ultimate-son. The Lord wanted to provide them a king in the future (Jesus Christ) after his own heart, unfortunately, they could not wait. The Israelite asked for a King because they wanted to be like other gentile nations and God was not happy about it. He gave them a king whom He later regret of making king. However, after the reign of Saul, He made David king after his own heart. David became king and a symbol of Jesus Christ, the King of kings.

The Judges!

The Israelite had return back to their land according to the words of Joseph. Their return was in confirmation with the word of the Lord in the old testament books of Exodus, Deuteronomy and Numbers. Their coming back to their land marked the end of an era and the beginning of a promised future. Which means, they were eager and desperate to forget their terrible ordeal in Egypt and also, to await their promised Messiah. Though they knew they had to wait till their Messiah comes, therefore the Lord provided them a Judge. This Judge was to be the head of the entire tribes and to move the nation forward in justice, equality, righteousness and godliness. The Israelite Judge was symbolic: pointing to the Messiah as the real judge over all sinners and sinful nations in His second coming; and as the judge in the millennial reign and also the final judge in the judgement seat of Christ (Great White Thrown Judgement).

Exodus: The Israelite Experience!

The Israelite spent 40years in the wilderness on their way to the promise land, Canaan. During this period, God was revealing himself to them and was testing their faith. On the contrary, the Israelite rebelled against their leader and failed to live up to the expectation of God; consequently invoking Gods anger upon them. The anger of God upon them was responsible for their wandering in the wilderness for 40years, subsequently leading to the death of all Israelite that murmured against God.

The Exodus!

The Israelite through Moses and Aaron, had engaged in open confrontation with the Egyptian Pharoah over the release of the Jews to serve their God in the land of promise (Israel). Pharoah had no choice but to give in due to the plagues and diseases the Lord has sent as a result of his refusal. The Israelite was now left with their journey to Canaan. Their greatest concern became the red sea and the coming Egyptian army led by Pharoah himself. In a dramatic twist, God intervened and they CROSSED their greatest Pharaoh. After crossing the red sea, they spent forty years in the wilderness until all the rebellious Jews died in the desert. Though, only Joshua and Caleb were worthy enough to survive among the adults, this single event shows that God is no respecter of person; because his judgement was served to the rebellious and unrepentant Jews.

God Judged the Egyptians!

In a dramatic twist, God's judgement came upon the Egyptians. His judgement was swift and necessary because He wanted to show the Egyptians that He is the only true God. His judgement came upon them because of their years of wickedness and evil to the Jews. Nevertheless, the Egyptian was still unrepentant and stubborn until his last judgement came upon them- the killing of all the first born in the land of Egypt.

The Call of Moses!

The Lord through the mouth of Joseph had predict the day of visitation for the children of Israel. It was this prophecy that culminate in the call of Moses by God. Moses and his brother, Aaron, was sent to confront a Pharoah who never knew Joseph but was out to enslave the Jews. Though He rejected their proposal of letting Israel go, however, after many miracles and the omnipotence of Jehovah God, Israel was allowed to leave Egypt for Pharoah gave heed to their demands and allowed the Jews to go. For the Lord smite the Egyptians with various plagues and diseases before Pharaoh could accept.

Jacob Goes to Egypt!

Jacob sons had travelled to Egypt in search of food. Their decision was prompted by the famine in Israel. However, as fate will do it, they met Joseph their brother: the one they sold to the Amalekites some years back. This time as a king not as a slave- He was the seating prime minister of the great Egyptian empire. Through Joseph request they all came to Egypt until the famine was over. History records shows that the Israelites spent over 400 years in their new found homeland, Goshen.

The Twelve Tribes of Israel (2)

The almighty God called Abraham from the land of his fathers and promised to make him the father of many nations. After many years of this promise, Abraham had not conceived from his wife Sarah. Although, Abraham still had faith and believed God, however, his wife was impatient and compromised: he made Abraham to bore Ismael through her maid, Hagar. The consequence of this action has made the entire world to lost peace in the middle-east. "In Isaac shall thy seed be" these were the words of the almighty God (the Ancient of days) to Abraham. He was re-affirming his promise to Abraham that Isaac was the choosing one. After few years, Isaac was eventually born; Isaac got married to Rachel and conceived Jacob and Esau. It was Jacobs’s twelve sons that gave birth to the nation Israel. The twelve sons are the twelve tribes in which every Jews associate till this day.

The Twelve Tribes of Israel!

Abraham was called by God to establish a great nation; a nation that will fear, respect and honour Him. He was called out from his idolatrous kindred in the land of Ur of the Chaldees (Iraq). His call by God transcend to the birth of Isaac whom the bible regard as the child of promise. Eventually, Isaac bore twelve sons: these sons became the tribes that formed the united states of Israel. The Israeli nation happens to be God chosen people and place. Records can tell of various occasions in the bible and in history how God saved the Jews from annihilation. From the time of Pharoah, Senacherib, Nebuchadnezzar, Pharoah-necho, Attiochus, Herod the great, Hitler and so on: the Jews suffered much affliction during this period and are still been oppressed by its Arab neighbors.

The Call of Abraham!

After God destroyed the first world through flood; He had always searched for a faithful servant- a servant that will fulfil his plan of bringing Man back to fellowship with HIM. The post flood era saw great men like Enoch and Job: these men honestly and sincerely served God to the end. Eventually, God saw Abram and called him out of his Kindred. His call was to fulfil God's plan on earth and also, to be the father of Great nations. God was to recreate the earth through Abraham and bless the earth through his seed (Jesus Christ).

Noah's World: The First Apocalypse!

The earth has gone through three transitional phases: the first was the time before the flood; the second was the post flood era (Bible days); the third was the medieval age (Middle Ages); and at present, the advanced jet age. The destruction of the first world was because of man’s sin (Genesis 6). Before the destruction, God gave Man the opportunity of repentance by providing an arc of safety to save them from his judgment but they rebelled and rejected it. This simple act of rejection shows that man has always been rebellious and God has always made provision for man’s salvation. Nonetheless, the consequence of man’s action will be eternal condemnation and damnation in Hell.

The Fall of Man (2): Man Redemption Plan!

The sins of Adam and Eve gave God an opportunity to fashion way for Man redemption. This plan came to being after Adam and Eve fell into sin in the garden of Eden. Bible records in Genesis 3 v 15, that God pronounced judgement to the three parties involved: Adam, Eve and Satan. Man henceforth must face the penalty of physical death and Satan's head will be crushed by the Saviours death on the cross of Calvary. Christ sacrifice became an answer to Man's fall and to Satan's defeat. This redemptive plan consequently paved way for total freedom from sin, death and the troubles in man's life.

The Fall of Man!

Man originally was created by God to have total and complete dominion over the earth; this however became impossible when man fell into sin and became depraved. As a result, man became slave to sin consequently leading to God's rejection from his presence. The penalty for Man sins and transgression transpired not just from physical rejection but spiritual, emotional and psychologically rejection- Man therefore lost trust and confident in his abilities on earth. Man henceforth, must come to terms with Gods rejection and fashion a way for Gods acceptance.

God Creates Man!

The greatest privilege man ever had was to be created by God. The Bible record that in the beginning God created the heavens and the earth, and subsequently created man as the crown of His creation. Man was created in the image and likeness of God. The Almighty had predetermined man to inherit the earth and to show forth his praises, however, after few years something happened. Something that will eventually change the course of history for mankind. This event took place in the garden of Eden about six thousand years ago. That day started as a cool morning; it was cool as usual because the east wind sent forth its wind across the river Euphrates. Later that day, tragedy struck! Eve was beguile by the serpent (Satan) and man fell into depravity and lost the image of the creator.