Transcript Babylonian Empire - Strategic Christian Services

Joseph (Imhotep) in Egypt
• In 1890 Charles Wilbour discovered this
boulder on the island of Sahal at the Nile,
telling the story of Imhotep
Resources on Joseph and Daniel
• Dang, Katherine, Universal History, Volume I – re-print of out of print
sources on Ancient history, including information on Daniel – Philomath
Foundation – www.philomathfoundation.com
• Eidsmoe, John, Historical and Theological Foundations of Law; Volume I,
Ancient Wisdom, American Vision Press / Tolle Lege Press, 2011 –
www.plymrock.org
• Jehle, Paul, Universal History Course, Theme 3 (third thousand years)
powerpoint and audio files 19-25 and Theme 4 (fourth thousand years)
powerpoint and audio files 33-37 of classes as well as pdf notes, and
timeline charts, Plymouth Rock Foundation – www.plymrock.org
• Rushdoony, R. J., Christian Survey of World History – cd’s and notes,
Chalcedon Foundation - http://chalcedon.edu/store/item/christiansurvey-of-world-history-cd-set-a/
• See also www.arkdiscovery.com/joseph for more information on Joseph
in Egypt
National Geographic, January, 1995
“Perhaps most confident was Imhotep, the architect
who probably conceived of building Djoser's [pharaoh]
tomb completely from stone. Known as a sculptor, a
priest, and a healer, Imhotep is considered the
preeminent genius of the Old Kingdom. He assembled
one workforce to quarry limestone to ship the crude
blocks by boat to Saqqara, and yet another to haul the
stone to the site, where master carvers shaped each
block and put it in place.
"On a granite boulder above the Nile's First Cataract,
the formidable rapids at Aswan, a sculptor who lived
much later [thus the facts are not totally accurate]
chiseled out in hieroglyphs the story of how Imhotep
had even saved his country from famine.
The annual Nile flood, which inundated surrounding
fields every autumn before farmers sowed their seed,
failed seven years in a row. Djoser asked Imhotep
where the source of the river lay. The pharaoh intended
to travel there to interrogate the river gods and beg
them to show mercy on his people.
"But Imhotep replied that sacred [God] books had
given him the answer.... The floods returned, and the
famine was over....
"In about 1200 B.C., fully 1400 years after his death,
Imhotep, the genius architect of Djoser's reign, was
deified by the Egyptians, who built cult temples to
honor him.”
National Geographic, 1995
Evidence of Joseph in Egypt
• Inscriptions in Horemheb have evidence of the
Pharaoah inviting Jacob’s family to Egypt
• Abraham influenced the 1st Dynasty (Sarah)
• In the 3rd Dynasty – an inscription of Imhotep
as Chief under the King - Pharoah Djoser
Genesis 41:40-44
Joseph was Multi-talented
• A Stone Vase at Saqqara with Imhoteps
inscription – made by him…
• A statue in honor of Imhotep with a scroll
The Seven Year
Famine
• Inscription on the Boulder (arkdiscovery.com)
• 1. "I was in distress on the Great Throne..." Bible: “… in the
morning that his spirit was troubled" Ge. 41:8
• 2. "... I asked him who was the Chamberlain,...Imhotep, the
son of Ptah... `What is the birthplace of the Nile? Who is the
god there? Who is the god?'" Imhotep answers: "I need the
guidance of Him who presides over the fowling net,..." Bible:
“… Joseph answered Pharaoh, saying, It is not in me: God
shall give Pharaoh an answer of peace.“ (41:16)
• 3. In the inscription, Imhotep answers the pharaoh about the
god of the Nile and tells him where he lives. In the Bible,
Joseph interprets the pharaohs dream….
The Seven Year
Famine
• 3. …But, the next part of the inscription tells that when the
king slept, the Nile god Khnum, revealed himself to him in a
dream and promised the Nile would pour forth her waters and
the land would yield abundantly for seven years, after a seven
year drought. This passage reflects the fact of a dream by the
pharaoh of seven years of plenty and seven years of famine,
although reversed.
• 4. The inscription then goes on to record Djoser's promise to
the Nile god, Khnum, in which the people were to be taxed
1/10 of everything, except for the priests of the "house of the
god," who would be exempted. The Bible: "And Joseph made
it a law over the land of Egypt unto this day, that Pharaoh
should have the fifth part, except the land of the priests only,
which became not Pharaoh's." Genesis 47:26
The Name “Imhotep”
• An ancient Egyptian name meaning “the
voice (or mouth) of Im”
• There is no Egyptian god “Im”; and no
meaning for “hotep”
• Joseph’s name means, in Hebrew “the God
lives; the God speaks”
• Probably “Im” is shortened from “I Am”,
and hotep is simply Joseph’s name (the God
lives; the God speaks)!
• “…I am that I am” – Exodus 3:14
The Fourth Thousand Years
“The Captivity of God’s People”
Assyrian Empire
Babylonian Empire
Persian Empire
Greek Empire
(power)
(pride)
(LAW of Medes &
Persians)
(pleasure)
Assyrian
captivity of Israel
Israel
Divided
722 BC
N (10)
Destruction
S (2)
of Nineveh
Nineveh
repents
Babylonian
captivity of
Judah
Daniel
stands
586 BC
Daniel
disciples
Cyrus
Alexander
the Great
336-323
Decree to
Return
Revival
&
Reform
Maccabees
and
Hannukah
(pleasure)
Solomon
950 BC
Jonah Nahum Josiah Jeremiah
760
625
609
605
Daniel
590-539
Malachi
538-444
164
Babylon in the Bible
Symbol of Pride, Rebellion and Witchcraft
“For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven… I
will sit also upon the mount of the congregation… I will be like
the most High.” – Isaiah 14:13-14
“For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as
iniquity and idolatry” - 1st Samuel 15:23
“Come hither; I will show unto thee the judgment of the great
whore… with whom the kings of the earth have committed
fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth have been made
drunk with the wine of her fornication…. And the woman was
arrayed in purple and scarlet color, and decked with gold and
precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full
of abominations and filthiness of her fornication: And upon her
forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE
GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND
ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.” – Revelation 17:1-5
The Fear of the Lord
Key to Humility and Honor
“Before destruction the heart of man is haughty,
and before honor is humility. – Proverbs 18:12
“….be clothed with humility: for God resists the
proud, and gives grace to the humble. Humble
yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of
God, that he may exalt you in due time”
1st Peter 5:5-6
The Fear of the Lord is giving God His priority
in both attitude and action – every area of life
Extent of the “New”
Babylonian Empire
Ruled the world 606-538
The New Babylonian Empire
A Revival of Pride and Rebellion
“New” Babylon rules the earth for 88 years – from 606-538
Nabopolassar was co-ruler with his son until 606
His son married Amyitis; daughter of a Median monarch
Nebuchadnezzar reigned for half the dynasty (44 years)
A “divine” monarch who built walls 87 by 350 feet
Erected hanging gardens for his wife like her homeland
Constructed canals and underground irrigation systems
Nebuchadnezzar removed his captives from their soil and
caused them to do slave labor in building Babylon
• Emulated the pride of Babylon; and when humbled by
God, his wife ruled in his place
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Images of the Hanging
Gardens of Babylon
Image of the Hanging
Gardens of Babylon
Image of the Hanging
Gardens of Babylon
ISHTAR GATE
Saddam Hussein’s Rebuilding of
Nebuchadnezzar’s Babylon
The Babylonian Empire
“An Empire of Pride”
The Babylonian Empire
Nabopolassar / NEBUCHADNEZZAR
Daniel taken
captive at 16
Josiah’s
609 BC
revival &
reforms Jeremiah
warns of
70 year
captivity
Josiah Jeremiah Daniel
636-609 609
605
Evil-Meroduch Neriglisser Laborosoardel Nabonedius Belshazzar
Daniel
interprets the
king’s dream
Daniel’s
friends
refuse
to bow
Daniel interprets
the Handwriting
on the wall
Nebuchadnezzar
judged for pride
Judah taken
captive
Ezekiel’s visions
595
586
570-563
Decree
of Cyrus
for Jews
to return
Daniel
in the
lion’s
den (82)
539
538 BC
Daniel’s Interpretation of
Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream
Future Kingdoms preceding Christ
(1) Head of Gold – Babylon
627-539
(2) Chest of Silver – Medo-
Persian 539-331
(3) Belly of Brass – Greek
Empire / Alexander 331-168
(4) Legs of Iron – Roman
Empire 168 BC – 467 AD
(5) Toes of Iron/Clay – It
will be divided…
The Babylonian Empire
Lesson 1 – Believers must embrace a Kingdom
understanding of their times
• Daniel was inspired by Jeremiah who was inspired
by Josiah – legacy of multi-generational continuity
• Daniel’s preparation (home & church) prepared him
to purpose to remain pure while in captivity (heart)
• A believer’s stand must be a lawful resistance to
tyranny, respecting those who persecute you and
creatively seeking ways to demonstrate loving
solutions that preserve the life of your captors
• Believers need to understand and embrace the
captivity of their times; knowing God’s purpose in it
for future generations
The Babylonian Empire
Lesson 2 – Believers must be willing to embrace a
philosophy of separation
• Daniel’s friends would not bow to the idolatry of the
day – statism (separate from music & trends)
• Faithfulness to go into the fire is true success –
separation unto God
• Covenant rests on a willingness to cut out that which
offends God – separate from sin
• True success is the ability to stand alone
The Babylonian Empire
Lesson 3 – Believers must learn to minister in
captivity through love and service
• 25 years of loving service elapse between Daniel
chapters 4 and 5; spanning two empires
• Not until the last ruler of Babylon, when Daniel is
probably 82, is he called forth by Nebuchadnezzar’s
wife to prophesy to the culture…
• He is promoted to rule only after he was separated,
his faith tested, and served faithfully
• Daniel rules Babylon for approximately one hour,
when Cyrus conquers during the idolatrous feast
The Babylonian Empire
Lesson 4 – Believers must embrace the cross
and not promote themselves
• Daniel became Prime Minister under Darius
• He instructed Cyrus on God’s providential work in
his life; preparing him for such an hour
• He benefited Persia by decentralizing power and
increasing self-government under law
• No one could find hypocrisy in his walk with God
• He looked for no short-cuts from God
• He boldly continued to pray, waiting for God’s
deliverance; the result of which is the decree of Cyrus
for the Jews to return to their homeland