ARTAXERXES in EZRA 4 is CAMBYSES ARTAXERXES in EZRA 6 NEHEMIAH 13 is DARIUS HYSTASPES

For centuries, Bible prophecy aficionados have eisegetically pressed various texts into service for the purpose of buttressing their own preferred flavour of eschatological prognostications. This has led us to the situation today where we are assailed by every permutation of possible dates and durations for both real and imaginary Bible prophetic events, aggressively promoted and franchised into packages to suit every taste. You want a religion which allows you to indulge your lustful desire for more than one wife? Done. You seeking to nail a spiritual-sounding Biblical mandate upon your squeamish personal preference for a vegetarian diet? Done. You looking for a religion that denies the disconcerting prospect of an eternally-burning Lake of Fire in the unthinkably awful eventuality of your having somehow missed the mark? Done. You want a religion that rejects God's curse on Creation at the Fall, and promises you freedom from physical illness and death in this world? Done. You prefer a religion which teaches the truth obvious to you, that you must work your way up to the state of holiness, perfection and eternal life by your own fervent efforts? Done. All these pseudo-Christian cults, and more, had their genesis in 19 th-century America, the land touted by them all as particularly favoured by God for allowing religious freedom, although this is a concept abominated by the One True God, who has given us His Word to guide us to Him in truth. God commands us not to suffer false religions, but to mercilessly destroy them. Deuteronomy 12:3,4 You shall tear down their altars and dash in pieces their pillars and burn their Asherim with fire.

You shall chop down the carved images of their gods and destroy their name out of that place. You shall not worship the LORD your God in that way. In the 19th century, thousands of faithful born-again believers in the simple, saving gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, were selflessly obeying His command to evangelise every tribe, nation, people and tongue, often at the cost of their own lives, lands, families and comforts, as Jesus promised them. This was known as the missionary century, when the gospel spread out to almost all unreached peoples of the earth. It was the time of the church of Philadelphia, that is, brotherly love, of Revelation 3:7-13. Mark 16:15 And he said to them, "Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation. Mark 16:16 Whoever believes and is baptised will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. Contrarily, there were insular, small pockets of fanatical professors of the Christian faith, notably in the USA, who preferred to remain at home with all its worldly goods, comforts and opportunities for personal aggrandisement and commercial gain. They went about touting their extra-biblical printed materials and preaching different gospels which have no power to save, largely to local groups of the already-churched, rather than to the many millions of lost souls in unreached lands who had never had the opportunity to hear the name of Jesus Christ. The 19th century in America spawned fanaticism and extremes of religious interpretations. In those days where education was scanty, entertainment sparse and Sunday church-going ubiquitous, the general population was mostly familiar with the basics of the gospel, and ready to listen to anybody who had a new and exciting Bible-based message to preach. Into this prepared ground was sowed the seeds of dogmatic and extreme interpretations based on selected Bible passages. Curiously, every sect and cult contrives to prove its own unique anointing with the same passages as all the condemned apostates employ. They just tweak these same verses in their own peculiar way to support their own crucial doctrines of salvation, each thus proving their own exclusive handle on THE Truth. This is done apart from or in addition to, the Biblical method of believing on the name of the Saviour who shed His precious blood as the perfect sacrifice in full atonement for the sins of all who repent. Thus, they either take from or add to the simple truth of the gospel of God, both of which actions bring down the most dreadful curses on their own heads, and the heads of those who follow them. Proverbs 30:6 Do not add to his words, lest he rebuke you and you be found a liar.

Revelation 22:18 I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book, Revelation 22:19 and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book. One thing that most, if not all these spurious religions share, is their fascination with the prophetic books of Daniel and Revelation. Without a doubt, these books of prophecy are relevant to every soul on earth, whether or not they are aware of this. They teach us about righteousness and repentance, reward and punishment, the past and the future, the beginning and the ending of the divine plan for God's people. A blessing is pronounced on all who read and all who hear the message of Revelation. Eternal rewards are promised to those who live by the exhortations to godliness of Daniel. There are numerous other prophetic books and passages which can be linked to these two, creating a unified whole. Recent archaeological discoveries have bolstered the Bible's authority and popularity by confirming incidents and characters that Bible scoffers had long decried. Political events and scientific advancements often appear to fulfil Bible prophecy. Such reinforcement has great power to advance the cause of various sects whose edifices rest on the foundation of their particular interpretations of Bible prophecy. So it happened in 19th century America, that relatively recent events such as Napoleon's conquests, and skirmishes in Turkey, and local forest fires darkening the sky one day in parts of New England, and one year's especially bright appearance of the annual Leonid star showers, and reports of far-off earthquakes etc, convinced some impressionable souls that these were the ultimate fulfilments of the signs prophesied to immediately precede Jesus' Second Coming, and that therefore The End of the World was Nigh. A most intriguing element of the prophecies, is the numerical figures tied to end-time events. Even those who loathe arithmetic can become absorbed by these mathematical puzzles. Thus, many sects today have calculated to the n th, various dates which they claim are prophesied in the Bible, whose true interpretation is understood by their franchise exclusively . That so many sects should take the same few figures, the same Bible prophecies, and arrive at such disparate but dogmatic conclusions, is the greatest puzzle of all. If the Bible is THE Truth of God (and they all declare this to be so, no matter how many spurious writings they append to its pages), then surely, all genuine seekers for THE Truth, should arrive at the identical destination. Sadly, this is far from the case. How did this happen? At the bottom line, we can blame Satan the liar and the father of lies. Of all these many sects which claim

to uniquely have THE saving Truth, every one of them denies that any of the others can possibly have any Truth. Each of them is forceful in its claim that only by slavish subscription to its own doctrines, can the proselyte be saved. Hence at, for instance, an SDA evangelical campaign (directed particularly towards Christians who have not yet heard the SDA message), the altar call urges already-baptised believers to BE BAPTISED AND BECOME SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTISTS, which is a far cry from the gospel of Jesus. Did Jesus ever command us to add another legalistic ladder to salvation after we had believed on His name, and been baptised in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit? Likewise, those weak Christians studying with the Watchtower Society, are not called to forsake all and follow JESUS, nor to be HIS witnesses throughout the world, as Jesus commanded us but to renounce their previous 'apostate' baptism into the body of Christ, and become a baptised JEHOVAH's WITNESS instead. Those proselytised by Mormons are told that their simple faith in the Lord Jesus Christ of the Bible is insufficient but they must also accept Joseph Smith's additions to God's Word and become baptised members of the CHURCH of JESUS CHRIST of LATTER-DAY SAINTS. The various manifestations of the Church of God teach Christians that simply repenting, believing in Jesus Christ and obeying His supreme, New Covenant commandments to LOVE GOD and LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOUR as yourself and LOVE ONE ANOTHER AS JESUS LOVED US (which Jesus said are the greatest of all commandments), is insufficient for salvation; they must also subscribe to whichever of the Old Covenant's 613 laws that the COG prescribes. And so on. All have their own peculiar slant on the gospel, all of them deny and ignore great slabs of Scripture, all of them append weighty volumes of additional legalisms to the simple gospel of salvation by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Many groups attach critical salvific importance to understanding their version of the prophetic periods of the Bible 70 Weeks, 7 Weeks, 62 Weeks, 1 Week, a Week, 42 months, the Time, Times & half a Time, 1,260 days, 1,290 days, 1,335 days, 2,300 evenings & mornings, the Times of the Gentiles, the Time of Jacob's Trouble, the supposed Seven Times of Nebuchadnezzar, the fabled year-day principle, anything to which can be ascribed genuine or imaginary prophetic significance. This is in spite of the fact that it is perfectly possible to be a saved, believing child of God and live a whole lifetime as a faithful servant of Jesus Christ, without knowing anything of the many prophecies concerning the Second Coming. Certainly, understanding of the prophecies is promised to those who are wise and the study of eschatology is an absorbing and

valuable exercise but it is by no means essential for a saving faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. The 70 Weeks of Daniel 9:24-27 are often pivotal to any sect's outreach, and even fundamental to their existence. Who wouldn't want to know the truth about the coming of the Messiah and the eternal kingdom of righteousness? Who would choose to be destroyed at the Second Coming rather than miraculously translated to the Kingdom of God? For the purpose of enhancing their claim to have THE Truth, the sects all dogmatically announce that THEIR interpretation of the 70 Weeks is THE correct one, which is essential to eternal life. To be convincing, they must have the beginning and ending of these 70 Weeks, down to a T. Secular history provides a selection of absolute dates for the Babylonian, Persian and Greek kingdoms, which are married to Bible verses, to give a time-line that supports whatever doctrine each sect teaches. The books containing prophecies about the Messiah and the end of the Age, include these: Leviticus, Deuteronomy, 2 Kings, 2 Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, Haggai, Zechariah, the Gospels, 1 & 2 Thessalonians and Revelation. Some are more specific than others, but all are equally important in constructing a complete chronology of prophecy. Focussing only on Daniel and Revelation leads to unbalanced interpretation. The duration of Daniel's 70 Weeks (490 years)

Daniel's 70 Weeks is divided into 3 periods of 7 Weeks (49 years), 62 Weeks (434 years) and 1 Week (7
years). These are not necessarily consecutive years; otherwise, why is the 70 Weeks segmented into 3 periods? It begins at the DECREE, WORD or COMMAND to rebuild Jerusalem after the Babylonian Captivity. The first 7 Weeks (49 years) covers the rebuilding of the Temple and Jerusalem in a troubled time. The second period of 62 Weeks (434 years) ends at the COMING of the Messiah Prince. Some unspecified time AFTER the end of the 62 Weeks, the Messiah is cut off; Some unspecified time AFTER this, Jerusalem and the (rebuilt) Temple are again destroyed by the Romans.

 THEN comes a long period of continuous WAR and DESOLATIONS TO THE END. THEN comes the 70th Week, when the Roman ruler makes a STRONG COVENANT. Halfway through the 70th Week, the (rebuilt again) Temple sacrifice and offering will be cancelled by the
Abomination of Desolation, The 70th Week will culminate in the destruction of the Desolator.

Something that is ignored by Seventh-day Adventist doctrine in particular in their interpretation of this passage, is the obvious fact that the 70 Weeks continues until the END. This is proof that there must be at least one gap in the 70 Weeks period, which is strongly denied by SDA theology. The following inspired passage, read as given, accepted as chronologically correct, teaches us how the 70 Weeks is counted, and to whom it applies. This straightforward reading is rejected by the sects which seek to convince us of their claim to having THE Truth, as it conflicts with their calculations of the dates they have set for the Cross, the Second Coming, etc. A strictly literal reading also offends each cult's unshakeable conviction that they alone are the supremely-favoured, true Israel of God which they suppose, has supplanted the earthly Jews in the heart of God. At the end of 70 years of captivity in Babylon, Daniel was praying to the LORD for mercy and restoration for his people, as promised in the prophecies of Jeremiah and Ezekiel. What was Daniel's prayer about? Even though the Jews were not living in Jerusalem, and there was no Temple at that time, Daniel was faithfully praying for ~ HIS people the Jews; HIS city Jerusalem, and HIS Temple in Jerusalem. Daniel 9:17 Now therefore, O our God, listen to the prayer of your servant and to his pleas for mercy, and for your own sake, O Lord,

make your face to shine upon your sanctuary, which is desolate. Daniel 9:18 O my God, incline your ear and hear. Open your eyes and see our desolations, and the city that is called by your name. For we do not present our pleas before you because of our righteousness, but because of your great mercy. Daniel 9:19 O Lord, hear; O Lord, forgive. O Lord, pay attention and act. Delay not, for your own sake, O my God, because your city and your people are called by your name." Daniel 9:20 While I was speaking and praying, confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel, and presenting my plea before the LORD my God for the holy hill of my God, Daniel 9:21 while I was speaking in prayer, the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the first, came to me in swift flight at the time of the evening sacrifice. The angel Gabriel was sent to Daniel, to explain what would happen to ~

HIS people the Jews, HIS city Jerusalem, and HIS Temple in Jerusalem, between Daniel's time and the end of the age.

Daniel 9:24 "70 weeks are decreed about your people and your holy city, to finish the transgression, to put an end to sin, and to atone for iniquity,

to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal both vision and prophet, and to anoint a most holy place {qodesh qodashim = Holy of Holies}. Dan 9:25 Know therefore and discern, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the anointed one, the prince, shall be 7 weeks, and 62 weeks: it shall be built again, with street and moat, even in troublous times. Dan 9:26 And after the 62 weeks, an anointed one shall be cut off and shall have nothing. And the people of the prince who is to come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary. Its end shall come with a flood, and to the end there shall be war. Desolations are decreed. Dan 9:27 And he shall make a strong covenant with many for one week, and for half of the week he shall put an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abominations shall come one who makes desolate, until the decreed end is poured out on the desolator." Careful study of this passage, and accepting it strictly as written, unencumbered by manipulations of the order of the text or cultic interpretations of the content, reveal the truth in simplicity. Various dates are selected for the beginning of the 70 Weeks. Since these 483 years must reach to the coming of the Messiah, it is assumed that this start date cannot be more than 483 years earlier than the date selected for that. And Yes, there are multiple choices for the Coming of the Messiah. Some use Jesus' baptism; some use His reading of the passage from Isaiah in the synagogue at Nazareth; some use His birth or conception or another auspicious event. Beginning from the earliest possible choice of dates for the Coming of the Messiah at His birth (about 7 BC), gives an upper

limit of about 490 BC for the start date. Using the latest reasonable date for the Cross, say 33 AD, takes this 483 years backwards to a minimum of about 449 BC. Therefore a window of about 40 years from 490 450 BC, appears to be the time during which this Decree to rebuild Jerusalem was made. (That is, assuming there are no unquantified gaps between the various segments of time into which the 70 Weeks is divided 7 Weeks; 62 Weeks; a final Week divided into 2 equal halves of 3 years each.) This brings us to approximately the beginning of the reign of Persia's King Xerxes, which secular history tells us, began in about 484 BC. No record exists of Xerxes making any decree to rebuild Jerusalem, and this name is never mentioned in the Bible. Also, he reigned only 21 years, therefore he cannot be the Artaxerxes who reigned for at least 32 years, according to Nehemiah. So the student of prophecy looks further forward for likely candidates. Xerxes' son, Artaxerxes Longimanus, is next in line. His reign lasted for 41 years, from about 463 422 BC. This conveniently falls within the proposed window of opportunity, and the ears prick up. Next, it needs to be established that this Artaxerxes Longimanus actually did give a decree to rebuild Jerusalem. Handily for the compilers of various schemes, ARTAXERXES is mentioned in Scripture 15 times, in Ezra and Nehemiah. This serves to convince the student that indeed, sometime during the reign of Artaxerxes Longimanus, the 70 Weeks of Daniel began the countdown of 49 Weeks or 483 years, to the coming of the Messiah. In fact, so convincing is this idea, that the student happily overlooks many glaring impediments to this theory. 1. Isaiah prophesied that Cyrus, who was born about 150 years later, would be God's Shepherd who would fulfil ALL His purposes, who would set the Jews free from Babylon, command that the Temple foundations be laid, and that the city of Jerusalem would be rebuilt.

This conundrum is dispensed with, because year 1 Cyrus is calculated to be about 537 BC, well outside the 483year limit before the coming of the Messiah. So, even though the Bible faithfully records, and the cults agree, that Isaiah was correct in prophesying of a future king named CYRUS who would free the Jews from Babylon, and command their Temple be rebuilt, along with many other elements of the prophecy they refuse to accept that Cyrus could possibly have fulfilled God's prophecy about rebuilding Jerusalem.

2.

Xerxes is never named as such in Scripture.

It is widely believed that Ahasuerus in Esther is Xerxes. Since Ahasuerus is mentioned in Ezra 4:6, with
Artaxerxes mentioned in the next verse, and knowing that Xerxes was the father of Artaxerxes Longimanus ~ this explanation satisfies most. 3. However, Xerxes was the son of Darius, who reigned f0r 36 years. Xerxes then reigned for 21 years. Reading on down to the end of Ezra 4, we find this chronologically-arranged but anachronistic order of Persian kings: CYRUS AHASUERUS ARTAXERXES DARIUS HYSTASPES. This list omits any mention of CAMBYSES the son of CYRUS, who reigned for about 8 years. (After Cambyses came False Smerdis, a usurper who reigned for just a few months, definitely not deserving of the appellation Great King, and generally ignored.) Also, this list does not follow the actual sequence of kings, which is: CYRUS CAMBYSES DARIUS HYSTASPES XERXES ARTAXERXES LONGIMANUS. Obviously, the Artaxerxes who precedes Darius Hystaspes in Ezra 4, must be known by a different name!

PTOLEMY'S CANON of MEDO-PERSIAN KINGS PERSIAN KINGS CYRUS CAMBYSES DARIUS I HYSTASPES XERXES {AHASUERUS ?} ARTAXERXES I - LONGIMANUS DARIUS II - NOTHUS (Ochus) ARTAXERXES II - MNEMON ARTAXERXES III OCHUS ARTAXERXES IV AROGUS (Arsaces) DARIUS III - CODOMANUS ALEXANDER the GREAT Years REIGN 9 8 36 21 41 19 46 21 2 4 8 DATE BC 537 528 520 484 463 422 403 357 336 334 Circ. 330

In fact, Xerxes' reign began 53 years after year 1 Cyrus when he released the Jewish captives to return to Jerusalem. Then Xerxes' son Artaxerxes Longimanus took the throne, another 21 years later that is, 74 years after the captives returned to Jerusalem. This scenario glibly ignores at least 21 years between Ezra 4:6 & 7, where the names Ahasuerus and Artaxerxes appear consecutively. This is problematic because Cyrus in his first year (Ezra 1), not just once but 3 or 4 times instructed the Jews to rebuild their Temple; yet we are expected to believe that even after another 74 years, Artaxerxes Longimanus found it necessary to re-consider giving permission for the Jews to build that Temple (Ezra 4:24) which

had anyway, been completed 51 years earlier, in the reign of his grandfather Darius!

This problem is snowed over with the claim that a great deal of time passed between the captives first returning to
Jerusalem, laying the Temple foundations in the second year, then laying the foundations for a second time much later. The fact that this anachronistically places Artaxerxes before Darius in Ezra 4, is ignored, apparently in the hope that nobody will notice. 4. Artaxerxes in Scripture is never identified as Longimanus. It is a fact that the term ARTAXERXES is a generic one (as also AHASUERUS), used in Persia to designate a Great King, rather than a personal name.

This objection is never given any consideration by the various cults. The history books say that Artaxerxes
Longimanus reigned at the time appropriate to their chronological calculations, therefore it is presumed that it MUST have been he who is referred to in the Bible. 5. The Artaxerxes in the Bible never gave anything resembling a DECREE or COMMAND to rebuild the destroyed city of Jerusalem. In Ezra 7, Artaxerxes decreed that any remaining Jews who wished, were permitted to return from Babylonia to Jerusalem; he provided silver, gold and vessels for the Temple worship; he decreed that all treasurers of surrounding countries were to financially assist the Jews with Temple sacrifices and offerings; he banned taxation of any Levites, priests or the Temple; he commanded that anyone who disobeyed the laws of the king or of God, be punished; he told Ezra to appoint magistrates and judges; but he never decreed that Jerusalem be rebuilt.

This difficulty is dealt with by sleight of hand: since the reign of Artaxerxes Longimanus fits into the 70-Week
time-frame; since Artaxerxes Longimanus' 7th year was apparently 457 BC; and since Ezra was sent by Artaxerxes from Babylon to Jerusalem in his 7th year, therefore anything that Artaxerxes said at this time, is deemed to somehow constitute the genuine fulfilment of Isaiah's and Daniel's prophecies about a command to rebuild Jerusalem.

6. Reading the book of Ezra from front to back, shows that Artaxerxes in chapter 4 cannot possibly be Artaxerxes Longimanus; for according to Ezra 4:24, this King Artaxerxes reigned BEFORE DARIUS HYSTASPES. Ezra 4:23 Then, when the copy of King Artaxerxes' letter was read before Rehum and Shimshai the scribe and their associates, they went in haste to the Jews at Jerusalem and by force and power made them cease. This Artaxerxes dealt with the rebuilding of BOTH the CITY and the TEMPLE in chapter 4, decreeing that the Jews be prevented from completing their building, which was already well advanced. The building work was then discouraged by him until year 2 DARIUS. Ezra 4:24 Then the work on the house of God that is in Jerusalem stopped, and it ceased until the second year of the reign of Darius king of Persia. The Temple was then completed in year 6 DARIUS. Now, as ARTAXERXES LONGIMANUS was the grandson of DARIUS, it is clear that it cannot possibly have been ARTAXERXES LONGIMANUS who prevented the Temple building until the 2nd year of the reign of Darius, in Ezra 4. Therefore, ARTAXERXES in Ezra 4 must precede DARIUS, and can only be CAMBYSES.

Logic is obviously not the strong suit of those who require Artaxerxes Longimanus' presence in the Bible to
substantiate their doctrinal stance and continued existence. The sect will dance around the facts, and assure us deceitfully, The book of Ezra is not arranged in chronological order. So chapter 4 must be placed after chapter 6. Since the narrative can be very confusing, the prospective convert is happy enough to have this decision made for him, and the problem taken out of his hands. He no longer needs to study the truth of the matter for himself, but is encouraged to place his faith in the circular reasoning of others. 7. Ezra gives us a clue that the Artaxerxes who forbade the rebuilding work was actually CAMBYSES. (It also confirms that it cannot have been False Smerdis, who was unrelated to the previous Persian kings.) Ezr 4:14 Now because we eat the salt of the palace and it is not fitting for us to witness the king's dishonour, therefore we send and inform the king,

Ezr 4:15 in order that search may be made in the book of the records of YOUR FATHERS. Obviously, since it was originally CYRUS who gave the Jews permission to rebuild their city and their Temple, it must be a direct descendant of his, to whom this passage refers. That leaves only one option CAMBYSES was the son of Cyrus, his royal heir; whereas DARIUS HYSTASPES was a Persian nobleman who was elected to the position of King of Persia after Cambyses' death. This tells us that the ARTAXERXES in Ezra 4:7-24, MUST be CAMBYSES. 8. According to multiple references, Ezra and Nehemiah both returned to Jerusalem with the first exiles in year 1 Cyrus, therefore it is impossible that they could have lived long enough to make further trips in years 7, 20 and 32 of Artaxerxes Longimanus. Ezra 2:2 They came with Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Seraiah, Reelaiah, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispar, Bigvai, Rehum, and Baanah. Nehemiah 12:1 These are the priests and the Levites who came up with Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua: Seraiah, Jeremiah, Ezra ... Nehemiah 7:7 They came with Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Azariah, Raamiah, Nahamani, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispereth, Bigvai, Nehum, Baanah. (n.b. Azariah is possibly a variant spelling of Ezra. Many other variant spellings are noted when comparing these lists.) This was as much as 106 years after year 1 Cyrus, which is absurd. Therefore, the Artaxerxes mentioned in the Bible, cannot possibly be Artaxerxes Longimanus, but must be another king who reigned for up to at least 32 years. This can only be DARIUS HYSTASPES. Darius' 32nd year was about 48 years after year 1 Cyrus. Therefore it is perfectly possible for Ezra to have first returned to Jerusalem in year 1 Cyrus, as well as officiate at the Wall Dedication ceremony in year 20 Darius, 36 years later. Also for Nehemiah to have officiated both in the first year of return, as well as during year 32 Darius, which is recorded in Scripture as year 32 Artaxerxes.

This fact is absolutely ignored by almost everybody. Anybody who does study the books of Ezra and Nehemiah to

the extent that they notice this, will almost invariably pronounce that the two men who came to Jerusalem in the first year of return, were ancestors of the later Ezra and Nehemiah; that they were known by the same family names. To allow any other interpretation immediately demolishes the fundamental premise for the existence of Seventh-day Adventism. 9. Seventh-day Adventist doctrine ties the Artaxerxes of Ezra 4 to Artaxerxes Longimanus, with this verse:

Ezra 6:14 And the elders of the Jews built and prospered through the prophesying of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo. They finished their building by decree of the God of Israel and by decree of Cyrus and Darius and Artaxerxes king of Persia ... This, they imagine, proves that Artaxerxes Longimanus gave the decree to rebuild Jerusalem. But they are wrong. This verse, indeed the entire narrative covered in Ezra chapters 4 6, deals with the rebuilding of the Temple. It has nothing to do with any decree to rebuild the city of Jerusalem, which was anyway already being rebuilt from the earliest opportunity. That is clear from reading the chapters consecutively and taking them literally. It is conclusively proven that this verse concerned only the rebuilding of the Temple, by reading on to the end of the sentence: Ezra 6:15 and this house was finished on the 3rd day of the month of Adar, in the 6th year of the reign of Darius the king. Since the Temple was completed in the 6th year of DARIUS, it is obvious that his unborn grandson Artaxerxes Longimanus had nothing to do with it! Since this sentence concerns only the rebuilding of the Temple, it is obvious that this Artaxerxes cannot possibly be Longimanus, whose reign began 51 years after the Temple was completed. Therefore, this verse cannot be used as endorsement for the decree to rebuild Jerusalem having been given by Artaxerxes Longimanus. That idea is ludicrously anachronistic. The Artaxerxes in this sentence can only be DARIUS HYSTASPES, and therefore the verse should be translated,

Ezra 6:14 ... They finished their building by decree of the God of Israel and by decree of Cyrus and Darius, that is; even; Artaxerxes king of Persia. This perfectly legitimate translation identifies the Biblical Artaxerxes who gave the decree, as none other than DARIUS HYSTASPES. The logical conclusions drawn from these facts are the following:

The names AHASUERUS and ARTAXERXES in Scripture are generic titles meaning GREAT KING. AHASUERUS in Esther is DARIUS HYSTASPES. AHASUERUS in Ezra 4:6 is CAMBYSES. ARTAXERXES in Ezra 4 is also CAMBYSES. ARTAXERXES in every other mention in Scripture, is DARIUS HYSTASPES. ARTAXERXES LONGIMANUS is never mentioned in the Bible.

The implications are crucial for Seventh-Day Adventism. That entire global organisation is predicated on their teaching that the 70 Weeks began in 457 BC with Artaxerxes Longimanus' decree to rebuild Jerusalem. If the SDA identification of Artaxerxes Longimanus in the Bible is false (as it clearly must be), and if this date of the Decree in 457 BC is false (which it demonstrably is), then the SDA date of 31 AD for the Cross, is also false. Their date of 27 AD for the end of the 69 Weeks (Jesus' baptism) is false, and their end date of 34 AD for the 70 Weeks (Stephen's martyrdom), is false. This is a false church, based on a false foundation, which has been perpetrating falsehood throughout the earth for 169 years, claiming that it is the true gospel of salvation. Not only that, but their complicated and unique doctrine about the 2,300 evenings and mornings, which they marry to the 70 Weeks doctrine with their discredited year-day principle, is utterly demolished. The 2,300 evenings & mornings is calculated to begin also in 457 BC, and to end at 1844 AD when, they suppose, Jesus Christ first moved from the first apartment into the Holy of Holies in heaven, and began to cleanse the sanctuary. Apart from the many chronological non-seqiturs which they avoid facing, Seventh-day Adventism also is blind to the fact that the heavenly throne-room of the holy God, the MOST HOLY PLACE, cannot by definition possibly contain any sin, nor be

defiled, and consequently, will never need cleansing. Therefore, not only their date, but also their ending event for the fabled 2,300 year-days is shattered to smithereens. CONFIRMATION from JOSEPHUS As further proof that the book of Ezra is truly in perfect chronological order as is, we can read what Josephus the Jewish priest and historian had to say about this era. Although Josephus' books are not inspired, and admittedly do contain various contradictions and numerical errors, they provide valuable confirmation of historical events and characters. Josephus is absolutely certain that the two kings referred to in Ezra 4, both Ahasuerus and Artaxerxes, are none other than the good king Cyrus' wicked son, CAMBYSES. Below is a table comparing the Bible's narrative of the rebuilding of the Temple and Jerusalem, with Josephus' account. They agree in every point, with the exception that Josephus reveals to us the true identities of both Ahasuerus and Artaxerxes. Also, Josephus confirms that it was CYRUS who gave the DECREE to REBUILD JERUSALEM.
BIBLE Ezr 3:1 When the 7 month came, and the children of Israel were in the towns, the people gathered as one man to Jerusalem. Ezr 3:2a Then arose Jeshua the son of Jozadak, with his fellow priests, and Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel with his kinsmen, Ezr 3:2b and they built the altar of the God of Israel, to offer burnt offerings on it, as it is written in the Law of Moses the man of God. Ezr 3:3 They set the altar in its place, for fear was on them because of the peoples of the lands, and they offered burnt offerings on it to the LORD, burnt offerings morning and evening.
th

ANTIQUITIES of the JEWS BOOK 11:4:1 1. NOW in the 7th month after they were departed out of Babylon, both Jeshua the high priest, and Zorobabel the governor, sent messengers every way round about, and gathered those that were in the country together to Jerusalem universally, who came very gladly thither. He then built the altar on the same place it had formerly been built, that they might offer the appointed sacrifices upon it to God, according to the laws of Moses. But while they did this, they did not please the neighbouring nations, who all of them bare an ill-will to them.

Ezr 3:4 And they kept the Feast of Booths, as it is written, and offered They also celebrated the feast of tabernacles at that time, as the the daily burnt offerings by number according to the rule, as each day legislator had ordained concerning it; and after they offered sacrifices, and

BIBLE required, Ezr 3:5 and after that the regular burnt offerings, the offerings at the new moon and at all the appointed feasts of the LORD, and the offerings of everyone who made a freewill offering to the LORD.

ANTIQUITIES of the JEWS what were called the daily sacrifices, and the oblations proper for the Sabbaths, and for all the holy festivals.

Ezr 3:6a From the 1st day of the 7th month they began to offer burnt Those also that had made vows performed them, and offered their offerings to the LORD. sacrifices from the 1st day of the 7th month. Ezr 3:6b But the foundation of the temple of the LORD was not yet laid. Ezr 3:7 So they gave money to the masons and the carpenters, and food, drink, and oil to the Sidonians and the Tyrians to bring cedar trees from Lebanon to the sea, to Joppa, according to the grant that they had from CYRUS king of Persia. Ezr 1:2 "Thus says CYRUS king of Persia: The LORD, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth, and he has charged me to build him a house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Ezr 1:3 Whoever is among you of all his people, may his God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judah, and rebuild the house of the LORD, the God of Israel he is the God who is in Jerusalem. Ezr 1:4 And let each survivor, in whatever place he sojourns, be assisted by the men of his place with silver and gold, with goods and with beasts, besides freewill offerings for the house of God that is in Jerusalem." Isa 44:24 Thus says the LORD, your Redeemer ... Isa 44:28 who says of Cyrus, 'He is my shepherd, and he shall fulfil all my purpose'; saying of Jerusalem, 'She shall be built,' and of the temple, 'Your foundation shall be laid.'" Isa 45:1 Thus says the LORD to his anointed, to Cyrus ... Isa 45:4 For the sake of my servant Jacob, and Israel my chosen, I call you by your name, I name you, though you do not know me. Ezra 1:5 Then rose up the heads of the fathers' houses of Judah and Benjamin, and the priests and the Levites, everyone whose spirit God had stirred to go up to rebuild the house of the LORD that is in Jerusalem. Ezra 1:6 And all who were about them aided them with vessels of silver, with gold, with goods, with beasts, and with costly wares, besides all that was freely offered. They also began to build the temple, and gave a great deal of money to the masons and to the carpenters, and what was necessary for the maintenance of the workmen. The Sidonians also were very willing and ready to bring the cedar trees from Libanus, to bind them together, and to make a united float of them, and to bring them to the port of Joppa, for that was what CYRUS had commanded at first ... ANTIQUITIES Book 11 Chapter 1 1. "Thus saith CYRUS the king: Since God Almighty hath appointed me to be king of the habitable earth, I believe that he is that God which the nation of the Israelites worship; for indeed he foretold my name by the prophets, and that I should build him a house at Jerusalem, in the country of Judea."

2. This was known to CYRUS by his reading the book which Isaiah left behind him of his prophecies; for this prophet said that God had spoken thus to him in a secret vision: "My will is, that CYRUS, whom I have appointed to be king over many and great nations, send back my people to their own land, and build my temple." This was foretold by Isaiah 140 years before the temple was demolished. Accordingly, when CYRUS read this, and admired the Divine power, an earnest desire and ambition seized upon him to fulfil what was so written; so he called for the most eminent Jews that were in Babylon, and said to them, that he gave them leave to go back to their own country, AND TO REBUILD THEIR CITY JERUSALEM,

BIBLE

ANTIQUITIES of the JEWS

Ezra 1:7 Cyrus the king also brought out the vessels of the house of the and the temple of God, LORD that Nebuchadnezzar had carried away from Jerusalem and placed in for that he would be their assistant, and that he would write to the rulers and the house of his gods. governors that were in the neighbourhood of their country of Judea, that they should contribute to them gold and silver for the building of the temple, and besides that, beasts for their sacrifices. Ezra 6:14 And the elders of the Jews built and prospered through the prophesying of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo. They finished their building by decree of the God of Israel and by decree of Cyrus and Darius, {even; that is,} Artaxerxes king of Persia. Ezr 3:8 Now in the 2nd year after their coming to the house of God at Jerusalem, in the 2nd month, Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel and Jeshua the son of Jozadak made a beginning, together with the rest of their kinsmen, the priests and the Levites and all who had come to Jerusalem from the captivity. They appointed the Levites, from 20 years old and upward, to supervise the work of the house of the LORD. ANTIQITIES BOOK 11:4:1 ... and what was now done at the command of DARIUS.

2. In the 2nd year of their coming to Jerusalem, as the Jews were there in the 2nd month, the building of the temple went on apace;

Ezr 3:10 And when the builders laid the foundation of the temple of and when they had laid its foundations on the 1st day of the 2nd the LORD, the priests in their vestments came forward with trumpets, and month of that 2nd year, the Levites, the sons of Asaph, with cymbals, to praise the LORD, according to the directions of David king of Israel. Ezr 3:9 And Jeshua with his sons and his brothers, and Kadmiel and his sons, the sons of Judah, together supervised the workmen in the house of God, along with the sons of Henadad and the Levites, their sons and brothers. Ezr 6:14 And the elders of the Jews built and prospered through the prophesying of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo. They finished their building by decree of the God of Israel and by decree of Cyrus and Darius and Artaxerxes king of Persia; Ezr 6:15 and this house was finished on the 3rd day of the month of Adar, in the 6th year of the reign of Darius the king. they set, as overseers of the work, such Levites as were full 20 years old; and Jeshua and his sons and brethren, and Codmiel the brother of Judas, the son of Aminadab, with his sons; and the temple, by the great diligence of those that had the care of it, was finished sooner than any one would have expected.

Ezr 6:16 And the people of Israel, the priests and the Levites, and the rest of And when the temple was finished, the priests, adorned with their the returned exiles, celebrated the dedication of this house of God with accustomed garments, stood with their trumpets, while the Levites, and the joy. sons of Asaph, stood and sang hymns to God, according as David first of all appointed them to bless God. Ezr 3:12 But many of the priests and Levites and heads of fathers' houses, old men who had seen the first house, wept with a loud Now the priests and Levites, and the elder part of the families, recollecting with themselves how much greater and more sumptuous the old

BIBLE voice when they saw the foundation of this house being laid, though many shouted aloud for joy, Ezr 3:13 so that the people could not distinguish the sound of the joyful shout from the sound of the people's weeping, for the people shouted with a great shout, and the sound was heard far away. Ezr 6:16 And the people of Israel, the priests and the Levites, and the rest of the returned exiles, celebrated the dedication of this house of God with joy. Ezr 6:17 They offered at the dedication of this house of God 100 bulls, 200 rams, 400 lambs, and as a sin offering for all Israel 12 male goats, according to the number of the tribes of Israel. Hag 2:1 In the 7th month, on the 21st day of the month, the word of the LORD came by the hand of Haggai the prophet, Hag 2:2 "Speak now to Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and to all the remnant of the people, and say, Hag 2:3 'Who is left among you who saw this house in its former glory? How do you see it now? Is it not as nothing in your eyes? Ezr 4:1 Now when the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin heard that the returned exiles were building a temple to the LORD, the God of Israel, Ezr 4:2a they approached Zerubbabel and the heads of fathers' houses and said to them,

ANTIQUITIES of the JEWS temple had been, seeing that now made how much inferior it was, on account of their poverty, to that which had been built of old, considered with themselves how much their happy state was sunk below what it had been of old, as well as their temple. Hereupon they were disconsolate, and not able to contain their grief, and proceeded so far as to lament and shed tears on those accounts; but the people in general were contented with their present condition; and because they were allowed to build them a temple, they desired no more, and neither regarded nor remembered, nor indeed at all tormented themselves with the comparison of that and the former temple, as if this were below their expectations;

but the wailing of the old men and of the priests, on account of the deficiency of this temple, in their opinion, if compared with that which had been demolished, overcame the sounds of the trumpets and the rejoicing of the people. 3. But when the Samaritans, who were still enemies to the tribes of Judah and Benjamin, heard the sound of the trumpets, they came running together, and desired to know what was the occasion of this tumult; and when they perceived that it was from the Jews, who had been carried captive to Babylon, and were rebuilding their temple, they came to Zorobabel and to Jeshua, and to the heads of the families, and desired that they would give them leave to build the temple with them, and to be partners with them in building it; for they said, "We worship their God, and especially pray to him, and are desirous of their religious settlement, and this ever since Shalmanezer, the king of Assyria, transplanted us out of Cuthah and Media to this place." When they said thus, Zorobabel and Jeshua the high priest, and the heads of the families of the Israelites, replied to them, that it was impossible for them to permit them to be their partners, whilst they [only] had been appointed to build that temple at first by CYRUS,

Ezr 4:2b "Let us build with you, for we worship your God as you do, and we have been sacrificing to him ever since the days of Esarhaddon king of Assyria who brought us here."

Ezr 4:3 But Zerubbabel, Jeshua, and the rest of the heads of fathers' houses in Israel said to them, "You have nothing to do with us in building a house to our God; but we alone will build to the LORD, the God of Israel, as KING CYRUS the king of Persia has commanded us." Ezr 4:4 Then the people of the land discouraged the people of Judah and

BIBLE made them afraid to build Ezr 4:5 and bribed counsellors against them to frustrate their purpose, all the days of CYRUS king of Persia, even until the reign of DARIUS KING OF PERSIA.

ANTIQUITIES of the JEWS

and now by DARIUS, although it was indeed lawful for them to come and worship there if they pleased, and that they could allow them nothing but that in common with them, which was common to them with all other men, to come to their temple and worship God there. 4. When the Cutheans heard this, for the Samaritans have that appellation, they had indignation at it, and persuaded the nations of Syria to desire of the governors, in the same manner as they had done formerly in the days of CYRUS,

Ezr 4:6 And in the reign of AHASUERUS, in the beginning of his reign, they wrote an accusation against the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem.

and again in the days of CAMBYSES afterwards, to put a stop to the building of the temple, and to endeavour to delay and protract the Jews in their zeal about it. ANTIQUITIES BOOK 11 Chapter 2 How upon the DEATH of CYRUS the JEWS WERE HINDERED in BUILDING of the TEMPLE by the Cutheans, and the neighbouring Governors; and how CAMBYSES entirely FORBADE the Jews to do any such thing. 1. WHEN the foundations of the temple were laying, and when the Jews were very zealous about building it, the neighbouring nations, and especially the Cutheans, whom Shalmanezer, king of Assyria, had brought out of Persia and Media, and had planted in Samaria, when he carried the people of Israel captives besought the governors, and those that had the care of such affairs, that they would interrupt the Jews, both in the rebuilding of their city, and in the building of their temple. Now as these men were corrupted by them with money, they sold the Cutheans their interest for rendering this building a slow and a careless work, for CYRUS, who was busy about other wars, knew nothing of all this; and it so happened, that when he had led his army against the Massagetae, he ended his life.

Ezr 4:7 In the days of ARTAXERXES, Bishlam and Mithredath and Tabeel and the rest of their associates

But when CAMBYSES, the son of CYRUS, had taken the kingdom, the governors in Syria, and Phoenicia, and in the countries of Ammon, and

BIBLE wrote to ARTAXERXES king of Persia. The letter was written in Aramaic and translated. Ezr 4:8 Rehum the commander and Shimshai the scribe wrote a letter against Jerusalem to ARTAXERXES the king as follows: Ezr 4:9 Rehum the commander, Shimshai the scribe, and the rest of their associates, the judges, the governors, the officials, the Persians, the men of Erech, the Babylonians, the men of Susa, that is, the Elamites, Ezr 4:10 and the rest of the nations whom the great and noble Osnappar deported and settled in the cities of Samaria and in the rest of the province Beyond the River. Ezr 4:11 (This is a copy of the letter that they sent.) "To ARTAXERXES the king: Your servants, the men of the province Beyond the River, send greeting. And now Ezr 4:12 be it known to the king that the Jews who came up from you to us have gone to Jerusalem. They are rebuilding that rebellious and wicked city. They are finishing the walls and repairing the foundations. Ezr 4:13 Now be it known to the king that if this city is rebuilt and the walls finished, they will not pay tribute, custom, or toll, and the royal revenue will be impaired. Ezr 4:14 Now because we eat the salt of the palace and it is not fitting for us to witness the king's dishonour, therefore we send and inform the king, Ezr 4:15 in order that search may be made in the book of the records of YOUR FATHERS. You will find in the book of the records and learn that this city is a rebellious city, hurtful to kings and provinces, and that sedition was stirred up in it from of old. That was why this city was laid waste. Ezr 4:16 We make known to the king that if this city is rebuilt and its walls finished, you will then have no possession in the province Beyond the River."

ANTIQUITIES of the JEWS Moab, and Samaria, wrote an epistle to CAMBYSES; whose contents were as follow:

"To our lord CAMBYSES. We thy servants, Rathumus the historiographer, and Semellius the scribe, and the rest that are thy judges in Syria and Phoenicia, send greeting. It is fit, O king, that thou shouldst know that those Jews which were carried to Babylon are come into our country, and are building that rebellious and wicked city, and its market-places, and setting up its walls, and raising up the temple; know therefore, that when these things are finished, they will not be willing to pay tribute, nor will they submit to thy commands, but will resist kings, and will choose rather to rule over others than be ruled over themselves. We therefore thought it proper to write to thee, O king, while the works about the temple are going on so fast, and not to overlook this matter, that thou mayst search into the books of THY FATHERS, for thou wilt find in them that the Jews have been rebels, and enemies to kings, as hath their city been also, which, for that reason, hath been till now laid waste.

We thought proper also to inform thee of this matter, because thou mayst otherwise perhaps be ignorant of it, that if this city be once inhabited and be entirely encompassed with walls, thou wilt be excluded from thy passage to Celesyria and Phoenicia." 2. When CAMBYSES had read the epistle, being naturally wicked, he was irritated at what they told him, and wrote back to them as follows:

BIBLE Ezr 4:17 The KING sent an answer: "To Rehum the commander and Shimshai the scribe and the rest of their associates who live in Samaria and in the rest of the province Beyond the River, greeting. And now Ezr 4:18 the letter you sent to us has been plainly read before me. Ezr 4:19 And I made a decree, and search has been made, and it has been found that this city from of old has risen against kings, and that rebellion and sedition have been made in it. Ezr 4:20 And mighty kings have been over Jerusalem, who ruled over the whole province Beyond the River, to whom tribute, custom, and toll were paid. Ezr 4:21 Therefore make a decree that these men be made to cease, and that this city be not rebuilt, until a decree is made by me. Ezr 4:22 And take care not to be slack in this matter. Why should damage grow to the hurt of the king?" Ezr 4:23 Then, when the copy of KING ARTAXERXES' LETTER was read before Rehum and Shimshai the scribe and their associates, they went in haste to the Jews at Jerusalem and by force and power made them cease. Ezr 4:24 Then the work on the house of God that is in Jerusalem stopped, and it ceased until the 2nd year of the reign of DARIUS king of Persia.

ANTIQUITIES of the JEWS CAMBYSES the king, to Rathumus the historiographer, to Beeltethmus, to Semellius the scribe, and the rest that are in commission, and dwelling in Samaria and Phoenicia, after this manner: I have read the epistle that was sent from you; and I gave order that the books of MY FOREFATHERS should be searched into, and it is there found that this city hath always been an enemy to kings, and its inhabitants have raised seditions and wars. We also are sensible that their kings have been powerful and tyrannical, and have exacted tribute of Celesyria and Phoenicia. Wherefore I gave order, that the Jews shall not be permitted to build that city, lest such mischief as they used to bring upon kings be greatly augmented."

When this epistle was read, Rathumus, and Semellius the scribe, and their associates, got suddenly on horseback, and made haste to Jerusalem; they also brought a great company with them, and forbade the Jews to build the city and the temple. Accordingly, these works were hindered from going on till the 2nd year of the reign of DARIUS, for 9 years more;

for CAMBYSES reigned 6 years, and within that time overthrew Egypt, and when he was come back, he died at Damascus. Ezr 5:2 Then Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel and Jeshua the son of Jozadak arose and began to rebuild the house of God that is in Jerusalem, and the prophets of God were with them, supporting them. Ezr 5:3 At the same time Tattenai the governor of the province Beyond the River and Shethar-bozenai and their associates came to them and spoke to them thus, "Who gave you a decree to build this house and to finish this structure?" Ezr 5:4 They also asked them this: "What are the names of the men who are Now at this time Sisinnes, the governor of Syria and Phoenicia, and Sathrabuzanes, with certain others, came up to Jerusalem, and asked the rulers of the Jews, by whose grant it was that they built the temple in this manner, since it was more like to a citadel than a temple? And for what reason it was that they built cloisters and walls, and those strong ones too, about the city?

BIBLE building this building?" Ezr 5:5 But the eye of their God was on the elders of the Jews, and they did not stop them until the report should reach DARIUS and then an answer be returned by letter concerning it. Ezr 5:6 This is a copy of the letter that Tattenai the governor of the province Beyond the River and Shethar-bozenai and his associates the governors who were in the province Beyond the River sent to Darius the king. Ezr 5:7 They sent him a report, in which was written as follows: "To DARIUS the king, all peace. Ezr 5:8 Be it known to the king that we went to the province of Judah, to the house of the great God. It is being built with huge stones, and timber is laid in the walls. This work goes on diligently and prospers in their hands. Ezr 5:9 Then we asked those elders and spoke to them thus, 'Who gave you a decree to build this house and to finish this structure?' Ezr 5:10 We also asked them their names, for your information, that we might write down the names of their leaders. Ezr 5:11 And this was their reply to us: 'We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth, and we are rebuilding the house that was built many years ago, which a great king of Israel built and finished. Ezr 5:12 But because our fathers had angered the God of heaven, he gave them into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, the Chaldean, who destroyed this house and carried away the people to Babylonia.

ANTIQUITIES of the JEWS

To which Zorobabel and Jeshua the high priest replied, that they were the servants of God Almighty; that this temple was built for him by a king of theirs, that lived in great prosperity, and one that exceeded all men in virtue; and that it continued a long time, but that because of their fathers' impiety towards God, Nebuchadnezzar, king of the Babylonians and of the Chaldeans, took their city by force, and destroyed it, and pillaged the temple, and burnt it down, and transplanted the people whom he had made captives, and removed them to Babylon; that CYRUS, who, after him, was king of Babylonia and Persia, wrote to them to build the temple, and committed the gifts and vessels, and whatsoever Nebuchadnezzar had carried out of it, to Zorobabel, and Mithridates the treasurer; and gave order to have them carried to Jerusalem, and to have them restored to their own temple, when it was built; for he had sent to them to have that done speedily, and commanded Sanabassar to go up to Jerusalem, and to take care of the building of the temple; who, upon receiving that epistle from CYRUS, came, and immediately laid its foundations;

Ezr 5:13 However, in the 1st year of CYRUS king of Babylon, Cyrus the king made a decree that this house of God should be rebuilt. Ezr 5:14 And the gold and silver vessels of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar had taken out of the temple that was in Jerusalem and brought into the temple of Babylon, these CYRUS the king took out of the temple of Babylon, and they were delivered to one whose name was Sheshbazzar, whom he had made governor; Ezr 5:15 and he said to him, "Take these vessels, go and put them in the temple that is in Jerusalem, and let the house of God be rebuilt on its site."

BIBLE Ezr 5:16 Then this Sheshbazzar came and laid the foundations of the house of God that is in Jerusalem, and from that time until now it has been in building, and it is not yet finished.' Ezr 5:17a Therefore, if it seems good to the king, Ezr 5:17b let search be made IN THE ROYAL ARCHIVES there in Babylon, to see whether a decree was issued by CYRUS the king for the rebuilding of this house of God in Jerusalem. And let the king send us his pleasure in this matter."

ANTIQUITIES of the JEWS And although it hath been in building from that time to this, it hath not yet been finished, by reason of the malignity of our enemies. If therefore you have a mind, and think it proper, write this account to DARIUS, that when he hath consulted THE RECORDS OF THE KINGS, he may find that we have told you nothing that is false about this matter." 5. When Zorobabel and the high priest had made this answer, Sisinnes, and those that were with him, did not resolve to hinder the building, until they had informed King DARIUS of all this. So they immediately wrote to him about these affairs;

Ezra 5:1 Now the prophets, Haggai and Zechariah the son of Iddo, prophesied to the Jews who were in Judah and Jerusalem, in the name of the God of Israel who was over them. Ezra 6:14a And the elders of the Jews built and prospered through the prophesying of HAGGAI the prophet and ZECHARIAH the son of Iddo.

but as the Jews were now under terror, and afraid lest the king should change his resolutions as to the building of Jerusalem and of the temple, there were two prophets at that time among them, HAGGAI and ZECHARIAH, who encouraged them, and bid them be of good cheer, and to suspect no discouragement from the Persians, for that God foretold this to them.

Ezra 6:14b They finished their building by decree of the God of Israel and by So, in dependence on those prophets, they applied themselves earnestly decree of Cyrus and Darius and Artaxerxes king of Persia; to building, and did not intermit one day. 6. Now DARIUS, when the Samaritans had written to him, and in their epistle had accused the Jews, how they fortified the city, and built the temple more like to a citadel than to a temple; and said, that their doings were not expedient for the king's affairs; Ezr 4:17 The king sent an answer: "To Rehum the commander and and besides, they showed the epistle of CAMBYSES, wherein HE Shimshai the scribe and the rest of their associates who live in Samaria and FORBADE THEM TO BUILD THE TEMPLE: in the rest of the province Beyond the River, greeting. And now Ezr 4:18 the letter that you sent to us has been plainly read before me. Ezr 4:19 And I made a decree, and search has been made, and it has been found that this city from of old has risen against kings, and that rebellion and sedition have been made in it. Ezr 4:20 And mighty kings have been over Jerusalem, who ruled over the whole province Beyond the River, to whom tribute, custom, and toll were

BIBLE paid. Ezr 4:21 Therefore MAKE A DECREE THAT THESE MEN BE MADE TO CEASE, and that this city be not rebuilt, until a decree is made by me. Ezr 4:22 And take care not to be slack in this matter. Why should damage grow to the hurt of the king?" Ezr 4:23 Then, when the copy of KING ARTAXERXES' LETTER was read before Rehum and Shimshai the scribe and their associates, they went in haste to the Jews at Jerusalem and by force and power made them cease. Ezr 6:1 Then DARIUS the king made a decree, and search was made in Babylonia, in the house of the archives where the documents were stored.

ANTIQUITIES of the JEWS

and when DARIUS thereby understood that the restoration of Jerusalem was not expedient for his affairs, and when he had read the epistle that was brought him from Sisinnes, and those that were with him, he gave order that what concerned these matters should be sought for among the royal records. Whereupon a book was found at Ecbatana, in the tower that was in Media, wherein was written as follows: "CYRUS the king, in the first year of his reign, commanded that the temple should be built in Jerusalem; and the altar in height threescore cubits, and its breadth of the same, with 3 edifices of polished stone, and 1 edifice of stone of their own country; and he ordained that the expenses of it should be paid out of the king's revenue. He also commanded that the vessels which Nebuchadnezzar had pillaged [out of the temple], and had carried to Babylon, should be restored to the people of Jerusalem; and that the care of these things should belong to Sanabassar, the governor and president of Syria and Phoenicia, and his associates, that they may not meddle with that place, but may permit the servants of God, the Jews and their rulers, to build the temple. He also ordained that they should assist them in the work; and that they should pay to the Jews, out of the tribute of the country where they were governors,

Ezr 6:2 And in Ecbatana, the capital that is in the province of Media, a scroll was found on which this was written: "A record. Ezr 6:3 In the first year of CYRUS the king, CYRUS the king issued a decree: Concerning the house of God at Jerusalem, let the house be rebuilt, the place where sacrifices were offered, and let its foundations be retained. Its height shall be 60 cubits and its breadth 60 cubits, Ezr 6:4a with 3 layers of great stones and 1 layer of timber. Ezr 6:4b Let the cost be paid from the royal treasury. Ezr 6:5 And also let the gold and silver vessels of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar took out of the temple that is in Jerusalem and brought to Babylon, be restored and brought back to the temple that is in Jerusalem, each to its place. You shall put them in the house of God. Ezr 6:6 "Now therefore, Tattenai, governor of the province Beyond the River, Shethar-bozenai, and your associates the governors who are in the province Beyond the River, keep away. Ezr 6:7 Let the work on this house of God alone. Let the governor of the Jews and the elders of the Jews rebuild this house of God on its site. Ezr 6:8 Moreover, I make a decree regarding what you shall do for these elders of the Jews for the rebuilding of this house of God. The cost is to be

BIBLE paid to these men in full and without delay from the royal revenue, the tribute of the province from Beyond the River. Ezr 6:9 And whatever is needed bulls, rams, or sheep for burnt offerings to the God of heaven, wheat, salt, wine, or oil, as the priests at Jerusalem require--let that be given to them day by day without fail, Ezr 6:10 that they may offer pleasing sacrifices to the God of heaven and pray for the life of the king and his sons. Ezr 6:11 Also I make a decree that if anyone alters this edict, a beam shall be pulled out of his house, and he shall be impaled on it, and his house shall be made a dunghill. Ezr 6:12 May the God who has caused his name to dwell there overthrow any king or people who shall put out a hand to alter this, or to destroy this house of God that is in Jerusalem.

ANTIQUITIES of the JEWS

on account of the sacrifices, bulls, and rams, and lambs, and kids of the goats, and fine flour, and oil, and wine, and all other things that the priests should suggest to them; and that they should pray for the preservation of the king, and of the Persians; and that for such as transgressed any of these orders thus sent to them, he commanded that they should be caught, and hung upon a cross, and their substance confiscated to the king's use. He also prayed to God against them, that if any one attempted to hinder the building of the temple, God would strike him dead, and thereby restrain his wickedness." 7. When DARIUS had found this book among the records of Cyrus, he wrote an answer to Sisinnes and his associates, whose contents were these:

Ezr 6:12b I DARIUS make a decree; let it be done with all diligence."

"King DARIUS to Sisinnes the governor, and to Sathrabuzanes, sendeth greeting. Having found a copy of this epistle among the records of CYRUS, I have sent it you; and I will that all things be done as is therein written. Fare ye well." So when Sisinnes, and those that were with him, understood the intention of the king, they resolved to follow his directions entirely for the time to come. So they forwarded the sacred works, and assisted the elders of the Jews, and the princes of the Sanhedrim; and the structure of the temple was with great diligence brought to a conclusion, by the prophecies of Haggai and Zechariah, according to God's commands,

Ezr 6:13 THEN, according to the word sent by DARIUS the king, Tattenai, the governor of the province Beyond the River, Shethar-bozenai, and their associates did with all diligence what Darius the king had ordered. Ezr 6:14a And the elders of the Jews built and prospered through the prophesying of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo. They finished their building by decree of the God of Israel

Ezr 6:14b and by decree of CYRUS and DARIUS and {even; that is;} and by the injunctions of CYRUS and DARIUS the kings. ARTAXERXES king of Persia; Ezr 6:15 and this house was finished on the 3rd day of the month of Adar, in the 6th year of the reign of DARIUS the king. Now the temple was built in 7 years' time. And in the 9th year of the reign of DARIUS, on the 23rd day of the 12th month, which is by us called Adar, but by the Macedonians Dystrus,

Ezr 6:16 And the people of Israel, the priests and the Levites, and the rest of the priests, and Levites, and the other multitude of the Israelites, offered the returned exiles, celebrated the dedication of this house of God with joy. sacrifices, as the renovation of their former prosperity after their captivity,

BIBLE Ezr 6:17 They offered at the dedication of this house of God 100 bulls, 200 rams, 400 lambs, and as a sin offering for all Israel 12 male goats, according to the number of the tribes of Israel. Ezr 6:18 And they set the priests in their divisions and the Levites in their divisions, for the service of God at Jerusalem, as it is written in the Book of Moses. Ezr 6:19 On the 14th day of the 1st month, the returned exiles kept the Passover. Ezr 6:20 For the priests and the Levites had purified themselves together; all of them were clean. So they slaughtered the Passover lamb for all the returned exiles, for their fellow priests, and for themselves. Ezr 6:21 It was eaten by the people of Israel who had returned from exile, and also by everyone who had joined them and separated himself from the uncleanness of the peoples of the land to worship the LORD, the God of Israel. Ezr 6:22 And they kept the Feast of Unleavened Bread seven days with joy, for the LORD had made them joyful and had turned the heart of the king of Assyria to them, so that he aided them in the work of the house of God, the God of Israel.

ANTIQUITIES of the JEWS and because they had now the temple rebuilt, 100 bulls, 200 rams, 400 lambs, and 12 kids of the goats, according to the number of their tribes, (for so many are the tribes of the Israelites,) and this last for the sins of every tribe. The priests also and the Levites set the porters at every gate, according to the laws of Moses. The Jews also built the cloisters of the inner temple that were round about the temple itself. 8. And as the feast of unleavened bread was at hand, in the 1st month, which, according to the Macedonians, is called Xanthicus, but according to us Nisan, all the people ran together out of the villages to the city, and celebrated the festival, having purified themselves, with their wives and children, according to the law of their country; and they offered the sacrifice which was called the Passover, on the 14th day of the same month, and feasted 7 days, and spared for no cost, but offered whole burnt-offerings to God, and performed sacrifices of thanksgiving, because God had led them again to the land of their fathers, and to the laws thereto belonging, and had rendered the mind of the king of Persia favourable to them.

So these men offered the largest sacrifices on these accounts, and used great magnificence in the worship of God, and dwelt in Jerusalem, and made use of a form of government that was aristocratical, but mixed with an oligarchy, for the high priests were at the head of their affairs, until the posterity of the Asamoneans set up kingly government; for before their captivity, and the dissolution of their polity, they at first had kingly government from Saul and David for 532 years, 6 months, and 10 days; but before those kings, such rulers governed them as were called judges and monarchs. Under this form of government they continued for more than 500 years after the death of Moses, and of Joshua their commander. And this is the account I had to give of the Jews who had been carried into captivity, but were delivered from it in the times of CYRUS and DARIUS. 9. But the Samaritans, being evil and enviously disposed to the Jews, wrought them many mischiefs, by reliance on their riches, and by their pretence that they were allied to the Persians, on account that thence they came; and whatsoever it was that they were enjoined to pay the

BIBLE

ANTIQUITIES of the JEWS Jews by the king's order out of their tributes for the sacrifices, they would not pay it. They had also the governors favourable to them, and assisting them for that purpose; nor did they spare to hurt them, either by themselves or by others, as far as they were able. So the Jews determined to send an embassage to king DARIUS, in favour of the people of Jerusalem, and in order to accuse the Samaritans. The ambassadors were Zorobabel, and four others of the rulers; and as soon as the king knew from the ambassadors the accusations and complaints they brought against the Samaritans, he gave them an epistle to be carried to the governors and council of Samaria; the contents of which epistle were these: "KING DARIUS to Tanganas and Sanababas, the governors of the Samaritans, to Sadraces and Bobelo, and the rest of their fellow servants that are in Samaria: Zorobabel, Ananias, and Mordecai, the ambassadors of the Jews, complain of you, that you obstruct them in the building of the temple, and do not supply them with the expenses which I commanded you to do for the offering their sacrifices. My will therefore is this, That upon the reading of this epistle, you supply them with whatsoever they want for their sacrifices, and that out of the royal treasury, of the tributes of Samaria, as the priest shall desire, that they may not leave off offering their daily sacrifices, nor praying to God for me and the Persians." And these were the contents of that epistle.

The close synchronism of the writings of Josephus with the Bible account of Ezra, is enlightening. In every mention of the kings Ahasuerus and Artaxerxes in Ezra chapter 4, Josephus identifies these men as : EITHER CAMBYSES the naturally wicked king and genetic descendant of CYRUS, who forbade the building of the Temple and Jerusalem; OR

DARIUS HYSTASPES the good king, who encouraged and assisted the Jews in their building.

It must be noted that, in both the Bible's and Josephus' accounts,

the rebuilding of Jerusalem continued throughout, despite it being a troubled time; the TEMPLE rebuilding is the focus of the letters from Artaxerxes; the Temple was COMPLETED early in the reign of DARIUS; it is the TEMPLE building which was by decree of Cyrus AND Darius, that is, ARTAXERXES; therefore, it is IMPOSSIBLE that Artaxerxes Longimanus, who began to reign 51 years after the Temple was completed, could have given a decree to rebuild either the Temple, or Jerusalem.

MORE ANACHRONISMS and FLAWED ARITHMETIC DEMOLISH SDA DOCTRINE In year 7 Artaxerxes, Ezra was sent to Jerusalem by this king, bearing gifts to adorn the new Temple, and escorting more Jews, plus priests, Levites, singers and gatekeepers for service in the Temple. Ezra 7:6 Ezra went up from Babylonia. He was a scribe skilled in the Law of Moses that the LORD the God of Israel had given, and the king granted him all that he asked, for the hand of the LORD his God was on him. Ezra 7:7 And there went up also to Jerusalem, in the 7th year of Artaxerxes the king, some of the people of Israel, and some of the priests and Levites, the singers and gatekeepers, and the temple servants. Ezra 7:8 And he came to Jerusalem in the 5th month, which was in the 7th year of the king. Ezr 7:9 For on the 1st day of the 1st month he began to go up from Babylonia, and on the 1st day of the 5th month he came to Jerusalem, for the good hand of his God was on him.

Seventh-day Adventist doctrine is built upon the 2,300 day-years of Daniel's prophecy, beginning at the decree of Artaxerxes Longimanus in 457 BC, and ending at the Hebrew Day of Atonement in 1844. Their own calculation for this date, supposedly 10 Tisri on the calendar of the Karaite Jews, is 22 October, 1844. They are dogmatic about the absolute exactness of the calculation of 2,300 years spanning 457 BC 1844 AD. They insist that the period MUST end on the Day of Atonement, 10 Tisri in the Hebrew year, according to the Karaite method of dating. This date was inflexibly declared to be 22 October, 1844. Not a minute later or earlier. Here then, even if it were possible that it had been Artaxerxes Longimanus who had given the decree to rebuild Jerusalem, they have several insurmountable problems.

Unhappily for them, the Karaite Jews categorically state, with documented historical evidence, that the SDAs chose the
wrong date. In 1844, both the Rabbinic Jews and the Karaite Jews, everywhere in the world, celebrated the Day of Atonement, Tisri 10, on September 23. Even if the Day of Atonement in 1844 had fallen in October, according to the phases of the moon which can be computed with 100% accuracy, the 10th day of that lunar month would have been October 23rd, not 22nd. Exactly 2,300 Jewish years prior to the Day of Atonement in 1844 AD, is the Day of Atonement, 10 Tisri, 457 BC This is the 10th day of the 7th Hebrew month. This identical date must necessarily be used also as the beginning of the 70 Weeks, from 457 BC 34 AD. Otherwise, the SDA insistence on the absolute accuracy of the exact dates of the Crucifixion in 31 AD, and of the Day of Atonement in 1844, as fulfilling the Scriptural types, is meaningless. Jesus' baptism is claimed to be the terminus of the 69 Weeks, in 27 AD. Therefore, the baptism should also have occurred on the Day of Atonement. However, this was the holiest day of the year for Jews, and in fact, it is the only one of God's Appointed Feast days, which is referred to as a SABBATH. Lev 23:32 It shall be to you a Sabbath of solemn rest, and you shall afflict yourselves. On the 9th day of the month beginning at evening, from evening to evening shall you keep your Sabbath." Therefore, it is impossible that John could have been baptising on this day, or that the multitudes could have been following John at this time, or that Jesus could have been baptised on this date. All good Jewish men were required to be in Jerusalem already, to attend the Appointed Feasts at this time.

The Crucifixion is dated by SDA theology at 14 Nisan, 31 AD, the midst of the 70 th Week. Stephen's martyrdom is claimed in SDA theology as the end of the 70 th Week, in 34 AD. The Day of Atonement in 457 BC was 29 September, the 10th day of the Hebrew 7th month. Ezra left Babylonia on 1 Nisan, 27 March, the 1st month, year 7 Artaxerxes. Ezra arrived in Jerusalem on 1 Av, 23 July, the 5th Hebrew month, in year 7 Artaxerxes. As Seventh-day Adventist doctrine is so dogmatic about their dates being correct down to the precise day, 2,300 years prior to the Day of Atonement in 1844 AD should be exactly 10 Tisri, year 7 Artaxerxes. However ... according to SDA doctrine, the 70 Weeks and the 2,300 years began more than 6 months after Ezra left Babylon in response to the king's decree. The 70 Weeks extends FROM the GOING OUT of the word to restore and build Jerusalem to the coming of an anointed one, Daniel 9:25. Ezra could only have left Babylonia after the king gave this decree. Ezra left Babylonia 6 months BEFORE the SDA beginning date of 10 Tisri. Ezra left Babylon on the 1st day of the 1st month of the 7th year. Therefore, Artaxerxes must have GIVEN the decree, in his 6 th year, not his 7th year. Ezra arrived in Jerusalem 2 months BEFORE the beginning date of 10 Tisri. The Decree could not have gone out 6 months AFTER Ezra was sent by the going out of the king's decree.

SDA theology glosses over this death-blow to their credibility and entire existence, by changing the wording of the Bible prophecy. Apparently, doing this does not conflict with their strident claims to have The Present Truth, and to use the most precise calculations. So, they say that the 70 Weeks is to be counted from the time that the decree WENT INTO EFFECT in the fall of 1844. Apparently also, it does not faze them that there is NO DECREE from Artaxerxes to rebuild Jerusalem; that even if there was, and even if the going forth of the word could possibly be construed to mean to go into effect, there is no way to ascertain the precise date when this decree went into effect. The SDAs do use this dated passage as the date when the non-existent decree went into effect, supposing that this was the beginning of Ezra's reconstitution of the Hebrew self-government, which they claim is the rebuilding of Jerusalem within a few months after he arrived back from Babylonia:

Ezra 10:9 Then all the men of Judah and Benjamin assembled at Jerusalem within the 3 days; it was the 9th month, on the 20th day of the month. And all the people sat in the open square before the house of God, trembling because of this matter and because of the heavy rain. The 20th of the 9th month of course, is invalid as the starting point for 2,300 years which end on the 10th day of the 7th month. There is 2 months and 10 days discrepancy. It is also invalid as the starting point for 486 years which terminate at the 14th day of the 1st month. Here, there is a shortfall of 2 months and 6 days. In fact, if 14 Nisan is the precise terminus of the 486 years, then this also invalidates 10 Tisri as the terminus of the 2,300 years, when both begin on the same date. There is 4 days unaccounted for between the 14 th and the 10th. Doubtless, there is somewhere amongst the 100,000 pages of Ellen White's writings, an inspired statement to rationalise this anti-scriptural conundrum. This was the usual procedure when there was a conflict between God's Word and the Millerites' words Ellen White would conveniently produce a vision to clear up the discrepancy, invariably in favour of the Millerite view. I have read many such excuses for discrepancies in Ellen White's works, but never have I read a single admission of error, an apology, nor any repentance over a false date or doctrine, on the part of Ellen White. Ellen White was always correct, even if she had to go to the extreme of blaming GOD for covering up mistakes in the Millerite theology, in her writings or her visions. Even when her statements contradicted each other, or contradicted God's Word, Ellen White was deemed inerrant. So the problem confronting Seventh-day Adventism, is this. IF the 70 Weeks began at the going forth of the decree to rebuild Jerusalem, AND ended at 10 Tisri 1844 AD, THEN this = 490 years plus MORE THAN 6 months from the date that Artaxerxes gave the decree to Ezra. A prominent modern-day Seventh-day Adventist theologian, Clifford Goldstein, dismisses this huge error with the glib

statement, anyway, the difference is only 6 months, which is absurd. Try persuading Adventists to alter the date of the Cross by 6 months to place it at the Feast of Tabernacles rather than Unleavened Bread. Or else to place the Day of Atonement in 1844 on Nisan 10, the first month of the Hebrew year, instead of the seventh month. But this is what they need to do, to redeem their fatally fractured doctrine of the 70 Weeks and the 2300 years.

The HISTORICAL RESEARCH COMMITTEE REPORT In 1938, the SDA church formed a Research Committee to investigate these topics, and answer to criticisms about the validity of their chronology. Even though their Reports contain many errors (obvious to everybody except themselves), they stridently claimed to have absolutely vindicated their own doctrines and dates. The early Adventist leaders take their stand irrevocably upon the postulate that the 70 Weeks constitute the first part of the 2300 prophetic days, consistently maintaining that if this connection between the 70 Weeks of Daniel 9 and the 2300 days of Daniel 8 does not exist, their whole system of exposition is shaken to its very foundation. LeRoy E. Froom, Research Committee Report # 4, 1939, Grace Amadon Collection. The fact that it was not even Artaxerxes Longimanus who sent Ezra back to Jerusalem in the 7 th year of his reign, is one which has escaped all the theologians who can be mustered by Seventh-day Adventism. If Artaxerxes Longimanus' 7th year was 457 BC, but Artaxerxes Longimanus was never mentioned in the Bible, then Artaxerxes Longimanus cannot have given any decree to rebuild Jerusalem, therefore nothing that may have occurred in 457 BC, has anything whatsoever to do with the 70 Weeks or the 2300 year-days. This fact alone, severs any connection between their interpretation of the 70 Weeks and the 2300 days of Daniel. Add to that fact, the fact that SDA chronology of the 70 Weeks gives not 490 years, but 490 years and something over 6 months, from the going forth of the decree.

This annihilates the existence of the connection between the 70 Weeks and the 2300 days, and thereby shakes the whole system of exposition to its very foundation. The entire SDA fabrication of chronology and prophetic interpretation with its confirmation by the Spirit of Prophecy is exposed as a sham, a monumental hoax, a cesspit of lies and deception unworthy of any assembly which claims the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Mat 12:33 "Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its fruit bad, for the tree is known by its fruit. Mat 12:34 You brood of vipers! How can you speak good, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. Mat 12:35 The good person out of his good treasure brings forth good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure brings forth evil. Mat 12:36 I tell you, on the day of judgement people will give account for every careless word they speak, Mat 12:37 for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned." Luk 6:39 He also told them a parable: "Can a blind man lead a blind man? Will they not both fall into a pit? Luk 6:43 "For no good tree bears bad fruit, nor again does a bad tree bear good fruit, Luk 6:44 for each tree is known by its own fruit. For figs are not gathered from thornbushes, nor are grapes picked from a bramble bush. Luk 6:45 The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.

Gal 1:6 I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel Gal 1:7 not that there is another one,

but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. Gal 1:8 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. Gal 1:9 As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed.
1Ti 4:1 Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons, 1Ti 4:2 through the insincerity of liars whose consciences are seared, 1Ti 4:3 who forbid marriage and require abstinence from foods that God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. 1Ti 4:4 For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, 1Ti 4:5 for it is made holy by the word of God and prayer. Rev 21:8 But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulphur, which is the second death."