20. Darius and the Completion of the Second Temple

The construction of the temple in Jerusalem was impeded by local opposition and a change of official policy in Persia. That changed, however, when Darius the Great took the Persian throne in 521 b.c. Under the inspiring preaching of Haggai and Zechariah, the people of God once again took to the task and the temple was completed and put back into operation in 516 b.c., exactly 70 years after its destruction under the Babylonians. For more free resources, please visit www.brucegore.com.

[@AllentheBeloved]

Yesssuhh, Not by might nor by power but by the Lord's spirit, Amen.

[@rebanelson607]

Thanks for this excellent lesson. We are NOT building God's Kingdom but we are part of it and we are being built into it as living stones.

[@annvogelpohl3502]

1) I love the connection between all of the measuring in Scripture representing items and places set aside for the Lord, being under His protection. 2) It is a wonderful thing to remind the older generation to encourage younger ones and notice what the Father is doing right now. Ecclesiastes 7:10 comes to mind: Do not say, “Why were the former days better than these?” For you do not inquire wisely concerning this.

[@swhip897]

I am enjoying the series. Thanks

[@allentlee1]

Bruce, thank you for your bible study, history lessons, and Sunday school

[@GoreBruce]

You are most welcome, and thank you for your interest.

[@marlonmorales8672]

We must not honor God with our leftovers rather He should the highest priority in our lives.

[@GoreBruce]

Amen dear sister.

[@Okieshowedem]

May Father YAHweh bless your understanding. Praise Father YAHweh

[@ruthwishart8645]

Your Sunday school lessons are wonderfully encouraging

[@ethanyoung5200]

Thank you so much Mr. Gore for these videos! I have been a student of the Word for many years and an amateur history buff. Having the Biblical account and history side-by-side is extremely interesting and relevant! God bless you, big brother!

[@GoreBruce]

Thank you!

[@AronowitzIORT]

I agree with your comment, the side by side account is fascinating. Mr Gore is a wonderful teacher and this series is a great contribution. Thanks so much Mr Gore!

[@Cyrus52]

Darius [ داریوش ] is a common first name in Iran; it is pronounced daar-yoosh, The first syllable rhymes with the word far. The second syllable rhymes with the name Ruth. The name Darius in Persian ends with the sound "sh" in contact with "s" in English.

[@GoreBruce]

Thank you!

[@assyriaaaaa]

I also want to give you some compliments:I was looking for a lecture about Martin Luther and John Calvin and I saw yours. I loved them. Your character, i.e. your voice, volume, jokes, outfit + glasses, gestures, etc. all are making you like the (almost) perfect teacher. I am now watching all of your clips because of that and enjoying it. Of course as an Assyrian Christian I also was really glad to see my own history (my evil ancestors the Assyrians) being taught and I learned from it. I'm glad that we became Christians later on. Thank you for all of this and may God bless you and your church! However now that I like you this much I don't want to see anything false come from you, therefore please clarify my thought below:

[@mightyyehuda]

Thank you this is great stuff

[@shuiqlazam]

Thanks again Bruce - Mathew 6:33 - enough said - praise be the lord Ja Rules. I do wish it was easier to see so clearly now as we see in the past... hindsight vs foresight.... but trust in Christ.

[@jcr4runner]

I participate on a Facebook group called postmillennalism -- The Eschatology of Hop. You've become a hero of several of us due to your preterist teachings. I plan to listen to all your videos. I am currently working on a book on Daniel from a preterist perspective and I find this incredibly helpful.

[@GoreBruce]

jcr4runner Thanks!

[@TK-qu1ht]

I'm certainly looking forward to the Minor Prophets series! The last few of these have been like or' douses!!

[@robertdarisjr4088]

Fire

[@anthonykariithi7319]

Hello I really love .. Your teachings ... I would love to see your teaching on the vision of the three headed eagle ... In the book of ezra

[@robertdarisjr4088]

Going to happen again if you don't start loveing one another again 🙏✡️☦️🔯☪️🕉️✝️💓

[@WalterRMattfeld]

Bruce Gore has some typo errors in his written introduction accompanying this video, _Darius and the Completion of the Second Temple_ (published May 3, 2015). He has Darius coming to the throne circa 621 BC, change that to 521 BC. Bruce has the Temple being built by circa 616 BC, change that to 516 BC.

[@GoreBruce]

Thank you. I have corrected the introductory remarks.

[@assyriaaaaa]

Bruce Gore, sir I have a question and comments about this lecture:How can you say that Jews (assuming you meant the authors of the Old Testament) might have copied the "angelology" from the Persians as a Christian who believes in OT? Did I misunderstand you, then please clarify, because now I'm thinking that on a second thought that not only God inspired OT but also the Persians from their false religion, and we do not believe this as Christians. I think I remember you defending the Bible version of the Flood against the Gilgamesh version, so that was awesome.

[@GoreBruce]

+assyriaaaaa Thanks for your interest! My comment was not about the Old Testament, but about the rather elaborate notions that had been developed in some forms of the Jewish religion as reflected in certain non-canonical Jewish apocalyptic literature that was current in the first century. If the lecture did not make that point clearly enough, I apologize.

[@assyriaaaaa]

+Bruce Gore Okey very well then, now I know, thank you sir! Hope you saw my other post below! :)

[@GoreBruce]

+assyriaaaaa I surely did, and am most grateful for your kind and encouraging words. Blessings to you and yours my friend!

[@shuiqlazam]

He touches on a key point which you called out - some people thought regions had their own god(s)... Egypt had multiple ideas - Akhenaten - monotheistic- Ptah - Sekhmet and Neferton - the Triad of Memphis (father mother and son). I have often wondered if Angels were active per Gods work in the religions that developed and therefore Angelic religions arise. Angels are a very unique - almost like Demi-Gods driving towards GODs plan... i.e. maybe Markduk, Tiamat, Jupiter, Apollo, etc. was an angel of God leading some people in a path that leads to Gods Goal - very intriguing...

[@Stepthatway6]

assyriaaaaa That’s not what he said

[@salvatoretan1]

Hi Bruce, Is this the same Darius that was tricked to throw Daniel into the lion den? And the father of Xerxes and the grandfather of Artaxerxes whom Nehemiah served? Regards Stephen

[@GoreBruce]

This is not the Darius referred to in Daniel in connection with the Lion's Den. ('Darius' also functioned as a 'throne name.' He is the father of Xerxes (of the Second Persian War) and the grandfather of Artaxerxes (whom Nehemiah served). Thanks for the question!

[@salvatoretan1]

Thanks Bruce for the clarification!

[@danielhopkins296]

Dear Bruce, thanks for the reply. It appears very likely that they are the same name because, besides their theology being identical, it was a Persian who came before Psamtek III in Amasis ( Ah-moses) . I believe Herodotus says he was from the MARAPHII( murphy) tribe aligned with the MASABA tribe who were probably those from NISIBIS Syria/ Turkey who were known as the NICCHAVI/LICCHAVI of Buddhist Viharas ( Behar/ Parsee)

[@GoreBruce]

Fair enough. Thanks!

[@milankoirala1539]

@@GoreBruce sir I have asked one question which is confusing me a lot...my name is Milan and I have written my question in comments with my email address please sir read my message and reply on it

[@Sentinel517]

Would you consider putting your book on Logos? Thank for all of your teachings.

[@GoreBruce]

Please contact me at [e-mail]

[@Drakemiser]

Not to question this man’s research; these are in-depth and great! But I thought ‘magi’ were priests from zorastrian religions. Or maybe magianism is a part of Zoroastrian?

[@GoreBruce]

There are multiple theories as to the precise religious identity of the Magi. Thanks for the kind feedback.

[@giuseppe1430]

The question is: why would a follower of Ahura Mazda let people who spend 70 years in Babylon go back and build a temple for a God that killed the first Born Sons in egypt? Yaweh for a zoroastrian must have been Angra Maynu. God does not kill, God Creates.

[@nimblehorse]

@Bruce Gore i am finding your lectures fascinating...talking about 'jews' what do you make of this quote ? "A brief History of the Terms for Jew" in the 1980 Jewish Almanac is the following: "STRICTLY SPEAKING IT IS INCORRECT TO CALL AN ANCIENT ISRAELITE A ‘ JEW' OR TO CALL A CONTEMPORARY JEW AN ISRAELITE OR A HEBREW." (1980 Jewish Almanac, p. 3).

[@GoreBruce]

That may certainly be correct, but language is a fluid thing, and strict precision is rarely achievable. Thanks for the feedback!

[@nimblehorse]

that's a sensible answer. I am finding your history lessons useful for understanding bible context...Historicity Thank you

[@stephanievegter5438]

🇿🇦♥️

[@danielhopkins296]

This man leaves out a lot. He says that the Pharisees supported the Persians ( PAR'SEE) . They have the same name.

[@GoreBruce]

The word 'pharisee' derives from the Greek word meaning 'separate.' I'm not aware of any connection to the word for Persian, unless it slipped in through the writings of Herodotus.

[@xerxes8191]

Darius ruled Russia too

[@jamesjones6166]

The Spartans were not at Marathon.

[@GoreBruce]

You are quite correct. I apologize if I misspoke.

[@harryallen457]

παίζεις τρομπέτα;

[@studywithmefolks5809]

I hate pointing out errors in this dude's teaching, but at 0:52, he claims Cambyses is referred to as Xerxes in Ezra 4:6, but this is not the case. Ezra 4:6 mentions the name Ahasuerus, and this is considered to be Xerxes, not Cambyses. Always check the claims a teacher makes. Don't just take their word for it. I have pointed out a few errors on these lectures he has given as a result of his teaching being wrong. I still enjoy listening to him because all teachers get stuff wrong and shouldn't be pushed aside as a result. Just check the facts people state. Ezra 4:6 KJV - And in the reign of Ahasuerus, in the beginning of his reign, wrote they unto him an accusation against the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem.

[@GoreBruce]

Thanks for the feedback. 'Xerxes' is the Greek for the Hebrew 'Ahasuerus,' and the word is commonly used as a title rather than a proper name. For comprehensive discussion of the point, see Yamauchi (Persia and the Bible). www.amazon.com/Persia-Bible-Edwin-M-Yamauchi/dp/0801021081/ref=sr_1_22?crid=2K041W9P46YA8&keywords=yamauchi&qid=1692454256&sprefix=yamauchi%2Caps%2C108&sr=8-22

[@studywithmefolks5809]

@@GoreBruce I was wrong because I didn't date it right. I understand why the kings had to be Cambyses and Smerdis/Bardiya. I was applying the names to the later kings, which could not be right, given the dates.

[@GoreBruce]

I have found very few who will admit an error in this setting. It says good things about your character. Stay in touch!

[@WalterRMattfeld]

Jeremiah has God saying that after 70 years of exile in Babylon, with that city's demise, his people will be restored to their land: "He took into exile in Babylon those who escaped from the sword and they became servants to him and his sons until the establishment of the kingdom of Persia, to fulfil the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah, until the land had enjoyed its sabbaths. All the days that it lay desolate it kept sabbath, to fulfil seventy years. Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah might be accomplished, the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia...thus says Cyrus, king of Persia, the Lord, the God of heaven has given me all the kingdoms of the earth, and he has charged me to build him a house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Whoever is among you of all his people, may the Lord his God be with him. Let him go up." (2 Chr. 36:20-23). The Jewish historian Flavius Josephus (circa 70 AD) understood year one of Cyrus (circa 539 BC, and the capture of Babylon) was the 70th year of the Exile predicted by Jeremiah. The Temple was destroyed circa 587 BC, subtract 70 years and the restoration of the nation should be 517 BC not 539 BC. Cyrus' actual proclamation exists on a clay tablet called the Cyrus Cylinder. On this cylinder he gives credit for his becoming "king of the world" to Marduk, the supreme god of Babylon, not the Jewish god Yahweh-Elohim. Cyrus sets free all the peoples kept in exile by Babylon, not just Jews. He returns to all peoples their gods kept as hostages by the Babylonians. He allows all peoples to return to their lands and rebuild their temples to rehouse their gods. The writers of the Bible have put a Jewish spin on Cyrus' actions, claiming their God is responsible for Cyrus proclamations, not the Babylonian god Marduk (biblical Merodach). Cyrus does make the claim he is King of the world, which is reflected in the Bible as the Lord giving him all the kingdoms of the earth (2 Chr. 36:23). The temple was rebuilt by circa 516 BC by Zerub'babel, the Persian Governor of Judah, of the house of David. Haggai and Zechariah understood that Zerub'babel was to be the post-exilic Messiah that would rebuild the temple and rule on the throne of David, AFTER God destroyed the Persian empire, in war, at Jerusalem. The event never happened, proving Haggai and Zechariah to be false prophets. This failure of God to destroy the Persian empire circa 516 BC, would cause Judaism to embrace the notion that the Messiah would be of a later age, allowing a false messiah to arise circa 33 AD known as Jesus of Nazareth. But Jesus was too late to be Jeremiah's messiah appearing at the conclusion of 70 year Babylonian exile.

[@albertrexhepaj8330]

HELLENIKH=HILLINIKH MEANING OF THE NAME, ALBANIAN HILLINIKH=HYLLI NJESH, INGLISH HILLINIKH=STAR ONE, GREK HILLINIKH=ASTERI ENA, HILLINIKH IS WORD OF ALBANIAN LANGUAGE.

[@robertdarisjr4088]

Soul eater 3 wise man and Jesus the cycle continuous

[@albertrexhepaj8330]

ALEXANDROY MEANING OF THE NAME, ALBANIAN ALEXANDROY=ALE XAN TROY, INGLISH ALEXANDROY=GREAT CONQUEROR, GREK ALEXANDROY=MEGALO KATAKTITIS, ALEXANDROY IS WORD OF ALBANIAN LANGUAGE.

[@MadKingOfMadaya]

*_This dude knows absolutely nothing of what he's is priveleged to talk about_*

[@GoreBruce]

Thank you for your warm, generous, and very constructive feedback. God's richest blessings to you and yours!

[@rebanelson607]

Kindly cite 2 or 3 examples and please include citations and time stamps. "Absolutely nothing" is a BIG claim that requires supporting evidence.