SALVATIION HISTORY-STUDY NOTES

Prophet Isaiah – The Prophet of Hope and the Coming

Messiah
Isaiah is known as the Prophet of Hope and the Prophet of the Messiah. He proclaimed
messages of trust, warning, and salvation to the people of Judah during a time of moral and
political crisis.
Isaiah’s main message was to trust in God completely, not in foreign alliances or human
strength. He reminded the people that God alone could save them from their enemies.
He prophesied that the Messiah would be born of a virgin and would be called Immanuel,
meaning “God with us.” Isaiah also described the coming Messiah as both a suffering
servant and a glorious king, who would bring salvation not only to Israel but to all nations.
Isaiah teaches us an important lesson — to put our full trust in God, even when life seems
uncertain, because His promises are true and everlasting.
Prophet Jeremiah – The Weeping Prophet
Jeremiah is called the Weeping Prophet because he deeply mourned the sins and coming
destruction of his people. His heart was filled with compassion as he warned Judah about the
consequences of turning away from God.
His message was clear and urgent: Repent and return to God, or face destruction and exile.
Jeremiah constantly reminded the people that disobedience and idolatry would lead to their
downfall.
To illustrate God’s message, Jeremiah performed symbolic acts — one of which was
breaking a clay jar, symbolizing that Judah would be shattered because of their sin.
Jeremiah also spoke of a New Covenant — a promise from God that His law would no
longer be written on tablets of stone, but on the hearts of His people. This covenant foretold
a more personal and spiritual relationship with God.
He is also believed to have written the Book of Lamentations, expressing his grief over the
destruction of Jerusalem.
Jeremiah’s life and words teach us that true repentance brings forgiveness and renewal.
Even in judgment, God’s mercy remains available to those who turn back to Him sincerely.

Prophet Ezekiel – The Prophet of God’s Glory

Ezekiel was a prophet during the Babylonian exile, known for his dramatic and symbolic
acts that vividly portrayed God’s messages. His prophetic style was unique — he would
often act out his prophecies to capture the attention of the people.
One of his most famous actions was when he lay on his side for many days to symbolize
the years of Israel’s and Judah’s sins. Through his obedience, he demonstrated how sin
brings captivity, but repentance brings hope.
Ezekiel’s vision of the dry bones is one of the most powerful in Scripture. In this vision,
God showed him a valley filled with dry bones that came back to life, symbolizing the
restoration of Israel. It revealed that even when things seem hopeless, God can bring life
and hope again.
Ezekiel’s central message focused on God’s glory returning to His people. Though they
were in exile because of their sins, God promised to dwell among them again. His life
teaches us that God can restore us, no matter how broken or distant we may feel.

Prophet Habakkuk – The Questioning Prophet

Habakkuk is known as the prophet who questioned God. He struggled to understand why
God allowed evil and injustice to continue in the world.

Instead of condemning him, God answered Habakkuk’s honest questions with deep truth:
“The righteous shall live by faith.” This means that even when things don’t make sense, the
faithful must continue to trust in God’s justice and timing.

Habakkuk’s dialogue with God teaches us that faith is not the absence of questions — it is
the choice to trust God even when we don’t understand His ways.

Prophet Jonah – The Reluctant Missionary

Jonah was called by God to go to Nineveh, a wicked city, to preach repentance. But Jonah
disobeyed and ran away, boarding a ship in the opposite direction. Because of his
disobedience, a storm arose, and Jonah was thrown into the sea, where he was swallowed by
a large fish and stayed there for three days and three nights.
After Jonah prayed and repented, God commanded the fish to release him. Jonah then
obeyed God and preached to Nineveh, leading the entire city to repentance.
Later, God used a plant and a worm to teach Jonah an important lesson — that God’s
mercy extends to all people, not just to Israel. Jonah wanted punishment for Nineveh, but
God showed that His love is for everyone, even for sinners and enemies.
From Jonah, we learn that God’s mercy knows no limits and that obedience to God’s call
leads to healing, not harm.

The Babylonian Exile

The Babylonian exile was a time of great suffering for the people of Judah. They were taken
away from their homeland because of their idolatry and disobedience to God.
God expected them to worship Him faithfully, but they chose to trust in other gods and
foreign nations. As a result, Jerusalem was conquered and the Temple destroyed by King
Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon in 586 BC.
The last king of Judah, Zedekiah, was captured and blinded before being taken to Babylon.
The people were exiled from their land and forced to live among foreigners.
During the exile, however, the Israelites learned to value worship and Scripture more
deeply. Without the Temple, they focused on studying God’s word and preserving their faith.
When they eventually returned, it showed God’s faithfulness and mercy, proving that His
love never fails even after punishment.

The Return from Exile and the Persian Period

When Persia conquered Babylon, God used a new ruler, King Cyrus, to set His people free.
Cyrus issued a decree allowing the Jews to return to Jerusalem and rebuild what had been
destroyed.
Their first major task upon returning was to rebuild the Temple, the center of their
worship. Later, King Darius supported this rebuilding effort.
Leaders like Zerubbabel, Ezra, and Nehemiah guided the people through this restoration
period.
 Ezra, a priest and scribe, devoted himself to teaching the Law of God and
promoting religious purity.
 Nehemiah led the rebuilding of Jerusalem’s walls and reformed the community,
correcting injustices and encouraging obedience to God’s word.
Although they faced opposition from the Samaritans, their perseverance showed their
strong faith. The Persian rulers were generally tolerant, allowing conquered peoples to
worship freely.
This period reminded Israel that God’s promises are sure — He can turn captivity into
restoration when His people remain faithful.

The Greek Period and the Maccabean Revolt

After the Persians, the Greek Empire under Alexander the Great rose to power. Greek
culture, or Hellenism, spread rapidly across the ancient world.
Years later, a cruel Greek ruler named Antiochus IV Epiphanes desecrated the Temple in
Jerusalem by placing pagan idols inside it. This act led to a Jewish revolt led by Judas
Maccabeus and his family.
The Maccabees fought bravely to defend their faith and succeeded in rededicating the
Temple to God. This victory is celebrated in the Jewish feast of Hanukkah.
The Maccabean revolt became a symbol of faithfulness and freedom, showing that loyalty
to God is worth any sacrifice. However, Greek influence caused some Jews to adopt pagan
customs, which threatened their religious identity.
Through the courage of the Maccabees, the Jewish people learned the importance of
standing firm in faith even under persecution.

The Roman Empire and the Preparation for Christ

Eventually, the Roman Empire conquered the Greeks and ruled over Judea. During this
time, governors like Herod were appointed to rule the Jewish people.
When Jesus was born, Judea was under Roman rule. It was during this period that the Jews
eagerly awaited the coming of the Messiah, who they believed would restore the Kingdom
of David.
The Romans built roads and infrastructure that later helped spread Christianity throughout
the world. In God’s plan, Roman rule prepared the way for the coming of Christ by
uniting lands and languages under one empire.
Even under oppression, God was working behind the scenes to fulfill His promise — the
arrival of the Savior, Jesus Christ, who would bring salvation to all.