Captivity Era Overview

An excerpt from “The 14 Eras” Booklet by Iva May:

The Captivity Era

Lamentations; Ezekiel; Daniel (70 years)

In 586 BC, the king of Babylon invaded Jerusalem, the capital of the kingdom of Judah for the third and final time, and took many of the Jews captive to his capitol city of Babylon. In the midst of this turmoil, God raised up and spoke by prophets to lead His people. Among the captives of Babylon, Ezekiel prophesied about God’s

return to His people. In the royal courts of Babylon, Daniel prophesied about the Son of Man who would rule in Heaven. In Judah, Jeremiah prophesied about God’s promise to return his people to their land after 70 years. He called the people to trust God and not to run away back to Egypt. Jeremiah told the people that God had plans of peace for them rather than calamity, to give them a future and a hope (Jer. 29:11).

What does the Captivity Era reveal about God?

God Speaks

• God promises to bless those who surrender to the Babylonians and to bring them back to Judah after seventy years.

God Acts

• God raises up prophets who faithfully warn Israel of imminent judgment.

• God raises up a fierce nation to besiege and destroy Jerusalem and to take her people into captivity.

God Reveals

• God keeps His promises of judgment.

• God shows mercy to His people even in the midst of judgment.

• God does not forget His people; rather, He sends prophets to speak to them and give them comfort.

• Out of the darkest days of Israel’s history come some of the brightest promises of redemption.