This book was originally a series of studies published in Signs of the Times periodical, in 1902. They were, as far as I know, never reprinted.
Jones starts this book with these words:
“There is hardly any portion of the Bible story that receives less attention than that relating to the period of the restoration of Israel to their own land, from the captivity to Babylon.”
“And yet there is hardly any portion of the Bible story that is more full of the very life and movement of God in human affairs; hardly any portion more full of valuable lessons. Indeed, there is no portion of the Bible story so full as is this of striking illustrations of how promptly and how triumphantly, God can interpose with kings and powers in behalf of His cause and His people in the earth.”
“For this reason, we want to look at that interesting and important part of the Bible story. The books of the Bible especially embraced in this are, Daniel, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi. The period of the world covered in the narrative is about from B.C. 536 to the crucifixion.”
The importance of studying the period of the restoration, when the Jews returned from Babylon to rebuild Jerusalem and the temple, is that it has a strong parallel to our time. They came out of Babylon, we are called out of spiritual Babylon; they rebuilt God’s true worship, we are called to be “repairers of the breach, restorers of paths to dwell in” (Isaiah 58:12); they rebuilt the temple and established the true worship, we are to point people to the ministry of the heavenly sanctuary and Christ’s work there, and to participate in that closing work. 135p
Updated Nov 2022: New formatting rules applied.
Contents
- Causes of the Captivity
- The Release from Captivity
- Troublous Times
- The Success of the Samaritans
- The Work of Haggai and Zechariah
- The Samaritans Compelled to Help
- Satan’s Master-Stroke
- The Hand upon the Throne of the Lord
- The Second Return
- The Third Return
- The Fear of God against Unbrotherliness
- The Wall Finished, the Temple Service Restored
- The Wall of Jerusalem Dedicated; the Rival Worship of Samaria Established
- Backsliding to Confirmed Apostasy
- From Religious to Political
- The Scepter Departs from Judah
- Appendix: The Samaritans
