of Jerusalem, is evident from the fact that in the
twentieth year of Artaxerxes, Nehemiah, who was then in the Persian court,
received information that 'the remnant who were left of the captivity, then in the
province, were in great affliction and reproach; the wall of Jerusalem was broken
down, and the gates thereof burned with fire.' See Nehemiah 1:1-3. The fact is,
that Ezra and his associates met with continued opposition from the Samaritans,
so that during the whole of the seven weeks, or forty-nine years, from the time
that Ezra went up, to
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the last act of Nehemiah in obliging the Jews to put away their strange wives, the
prediction of the prophet was verified - 'the street shall be built again, and the
wall, even in troublous times.' After Nehemiah reached Jerusalem, he examined
the city by night. The result of his examination is thus stated, Nehemiah2:13:
'And I went out by night, by the gate of the valley, even before the dragon-well,
and to the dung-port, and viewed the walls of Jerusalem, which were broken
down, and the gates thereof were consumed with fire.' It is evident that 'the walls
and gates' which had been destroyed, were the works of Ezra. The impropriety of
referring the language of Nehemiah to the destruction of the city by
Nebuchadnezzar will be seen at once, if we recollect that he reduced it to ruins
on the capture of Zedekiah, B.C. 588, one hundred and forty-four years previous
to the time when Nehemiah went up to Jerusalem." - Advent Shield, No. 1,
Article, Prophetic Chronology, pages 105-6.
That Ezra understood that power was conferred upon himself, and upon the
people of Israel, to rebuild the street of Jerusalem and the wall, is certain from his
own testimony recorded in chapter 9:9. 2. The second point in the evidence
which the Herald has adduced, is this: the seventh year of Artaxerxes, from
which the decree is dated, is fixed beyond dispute in B.C. 457. 3. The
commencement of Christ's ministry in A.D. 27, is clearly established, being just
69 weeks, or 483 prophetic days from the decree in B.C. 457. 4. The crucifixion
in the midst of the week is proved to have occurred in the spring of A.D. 31, just
three and a half years from the commencement of Christ's ministry. 5. And it
further demonstrates that the remaining three and a half years of the sevent