Abounding Grace Church

Sermon - The Return of the Lord - Zechariah 1-2--Background info---605 - 597 BC - First - second groups of Jews exiled to Babylon--586 BC - Jerusalem and temple destroyed by the Babylonians. More exiles taken to Babylon.--539 BC - Persian king Cyrus conquers Babylon. --538 BC - Cyrus issued an edict allowing Jewish exiles to return to Jerusalem to rebuild the temple.--536 BC - Foundation of the temple is laid, but many difficulties caused rebuilding to stop. -Ezra 4---522 BC - Darius took control of Persian empire.--520 BC -6th month- - construction on temple resumes -Hag 1-14-15-.--520 BC -8th month- - Zechariah 1-1--General structure of Zechariah---- Chapters 1-6 - contain eight-night visions promising restoration-- Chapters 7-8 - contain a narrative section-- Chapters 9-14 - contain two prophetic oracles portraying the Lord's return-- --1- ------------- of God's Return - 1-2-6-- --2- ------------- of God's Return - 1-7-17-- --3- ------------- at God's Return - 1-18-21-- --4- ------------- to God's Return -