http://www.bible-history.com/people/roman_emperors/

http://www.bible-history.com/people/herod/

http://www.bible-history.com/ancient_rome/

http://www.bible-history.com/map_babylonian_captivity/index.html


Overview

In the Book of II Kings we read of the deportation of the Jews from their land to the land of Babylon, and then the Book ends 37 years later with the account of Jehoiachin who was blinded and in captivity in Babylon. After 30 years of imprisonment, Evil-merodach ascended the throne of Babylon and at the beginning of his rule he chose to honor the Judean prisoner Jehoiachin. The Jewish king was given appropriate garments and an income and made a member of the court of Babylon, with other deposed kings. This was no doubt a comforting sign to the Jewish captives who were still in the "land of bondage."



In all actuality it was the Lord who had given favor to Jehoiachin, and it was the Lord that had allowed the promised Seed (Messiah) to pass through the loins of Jehoiachin as Matthew states:



Мат 1:11-16

11 Иосия (Josiah) родил Иоакима (Jehoiachin) and his brothers about the time they were carried away to Babylon.

12 And after they were brought to Babylon, Jeconiah (Jehoiachin) begot Shealtiel, and Shealtiel begot Zerubbabel.

13 Zerubbabel begot Abiud, Abiud begot Eliakim, and Eliakim begot Azor.

14 Azor begot Zadok, Zadok begot Achim, and Achim begot Eliud.

15 Eliud begot Eleazar, Eleazar begot Matthan, and Matthan begot Jacob.

16 And Jacob begot Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus who is called Christ.



God was faithful to His promises that they would remain in the land of Babylon for seventy years, and the "Son of David" would still come to bring salvation to the world.



Even in bitter captivity there was hope for God’s people, the promises were being fulfilled and the Scriptures continued to be written:



Ps 137:1-6

1 By the rivers of Babylon, There we sat down, yea, we wept When we remembered Zion.

2 We hung our harps Upon the willows in the midst of it.

3 For there those who carried us away captive asked of us a song, And those who plundered us requested mirth, Saying, "Sing us one of the songs of Zion!"

4 How shall we sing the LORD's song In a foreign land?

5 If I forget you, O Jerusalem, Let my right hand forget its skill!

6 If I do not remember you, Let my tongue cling to the roof of my mouth -- If I do not exalt Jerusalem Above my chief joy.

http://www.bible-history.com/map_fall_of_judah/index.html

http://www.bible-history.com/assyrian-social-structure/

http://www.bible-history.com/assyria_archaeology/index.html

http://www.bible-history.com/assyria_and_bible_prophecy/index.html

http://www.bible-history.com/destruction_of_israel/index.html

http://www.bible-history.com/map_israel_judah/

http://www.bible-history.com/jewishtemple/

http://www.bible-history.com/messianicprophecy/index.html

http://www.bible-history.com/jerusalem/

http://www.bible-history.com/map_jesus/index.html

http://www.bible-history.com/gentile_court/

http://www.bible-history.com/Pauls_Second_Mission_Map/

http://www.bible-history.com/pauls_first_mission_map/index.html

http://www.bible-history.com/Samaritans/index.html

http://www.bible-history.com/Scribes/index.html

THE CHRISTIAN CHRONICLE
Minister wants to help church in fair — and not-so-happy — land of Moldova
By Erik Tryggestad | The Christian Chronicle
February 18, 2008


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Ken Goodmiller is packing his bags for the unhappiest place on earth.

The minister for the Covington, Va., church plans to travel to the nation of Moldova this month. Between Romania and Ukraine, the former Soviet republic is about the size of Maryland. It’s home to 4.5 million people.

It’s also the least happy country on the planet, according to a new book. Journalist Eric Weiner surveyed people around the globe about their levels of contentment and published his findings in
“The Geography of Bliss,” released Jan. 3.

Other studies of global happiness list Moldova among the world’s most miserable nations, alongside the Democratic Republic of Congo and Zimbabwe.

Moldova is the poorest nation in Europe. Envious of their more prosperous neighbors, Moldovans also have no “abiding faith or culture on which to rely,” Weiner wrote.

Goodmiller plans to visit what Weiner calls the happiest part of this unhappy land. The minister hopes to strengthen small Churches of Christ in the cities of Bendery and Tiraspol, near the Dniester River in eastern Moldova.

People in the region, called Trans-Dniester, have fought for independence from Moldova and have semi-autonomous status. The shared struggles in the region have created a greater sense of unity — and happiness, Weiner found.

John Crosslin, an elder of the Covington church, met a woman from Bendery while teaching Bible in Ukraine in the mid-1990s. Crosslin conducted a gospel campaign in Moldova and baptized about 35 people. He continued to make trips the country, and invited Goodmiller to join him about seven years ago.

The churches in Moldova have experienced baptisms in the past decade, but numerical growth is slow, Goodmiller said. The country’s economy is a contributing factor. Since Moldova became a nation, nearly one-third of its population has left, seeking employment in other parts of Europe.

That’s helped create a leadership challenge for Churches of Christ in Trans-Dniester, Goodmiller said. Few of the country’s church members are adult males. Most are older women. The majority of people in the region claim Russian Orthodox as their faith.

Goodmiller said he’s seen evidence of spiritual growth among the Moldovan church members. He plans to conduct a week-long gospel meeting during his visit and wants to launch programs for the congregations’ children.

Such efforts, combined with lots of prayer, can go a long way toward increasing Moldovans’ happiness, the minister said.



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source :
http://www.christianchronicle.org/article924~Minis...not-so-happy_—_land_of_Moldova