Finished. Verse 13, Ezra 6, then Tat and I, governor on this side of the river, he was not a Jew. Shetharth of Bane and their companions, according to that which Darius the king had sent. So they did speedily. Darius sent them with this message for them to continue the work. And the elders of the Jews builded and they prospered through the prophesying of Haggai, the prophet and Zechariah, the son of Iddo, and they builded and finished it according to the commandment of the God of Israel, the cause of causes, and these second, third, and fourth causes, and according to the commandment of Cyrus and Darius and Artaxerxes, king of Persia, and this house was finished on the third day of the month Adar, which was the sixth year of the reign of Darius. Now go back to Chapter 5.

Now the building had stopped for some 15 or 16 years. And during that time, the prophets Haggai, the prophet Zechariah, the son of Iddo, prophesied unto the Jews that were in Judah and Jerusalem in the name of the God of Israel, even unto them, these people who were idols. Then rose up Zerubbabel, the son of Sheltiel, and Joshua, the son of Josedach, and began to build the house of God, which is in Jerusalem. And with them were the prophets of God helping them. The building again began after this 15 or 16 year time of inactivity." Well, problems begin immediately, verse three.

At the same time came to them Tatnai, governor on this side of the earth, and Shithar Bosnai and their companions and said to them, who's commanded you to build this house and to make up this wall? They were in disagreement with what they were saying. Then said we unto them after this manner, what are the names of the men that make this building? We want names so we can report these people.

But the eye of their God was upon the elders of the Jews. that they could not cause them to cease till the matter came to Darius. And they returned an answer by letter concerning this matter. Now, Darius, do you remember who he is? Who was the king during Daniel's time that some people made, trying to butter him up? They said, here's what you need to do. And this was because they were against Daniel. They couldn't find anything against Daniel. As a matter of fact, let's just go to Daniel 6. I'd rather read it than try to tell the story. I'm afraid I'll leave out something.

Now this had already taken place when Darius got this letter. It pleased Darius to send over the kingdom 120 princes which should be over the whole kingdom. This is Daniel chapter six. And over these three presidents of whom Daniel was first. He was the man in control. and the princes might give account unto them, and the king should have no damage. Then this Daniel was preferred above the presidents and the princes, because an excellent spirit was in him, and the king thought to set him over the whole realm. Then the presidents and princes sought to find occasion against Daniel concerning the kingdom.

They wanted to get him out of this position, but they could not find none occasion nor fault forasmuch as he was faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in him. Then said these men, we shall not find any occasion against this Daniel, except we find it against him concerning the law of his God.

Then these presidents and princes assembled together to the king and said unto the king, King Darius, live forever. All the presidents of the kingdom, the governors, the princes, the counselors, and the captains have consulted together to establish a royal statutes and to make a firm decree, one that could not be altered, that whosoever shall ask a petition of any god or man for 30 days, save of thee, O king, he shall be cast into a den of lions. Now King established the decree and signed the writing that it be not changed according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth not. Wherefore King Darius signed the writing and the decree." Now Daniel knew about this.

So what does he do when it's time to pray? Same thing he always did. He got up in front of the window, So everybody could see him. This was not some kind of pie show. He was letting him know, letting him know, I'm not going to submit to this. And he prayed to the Lord as he always did. And they saw it. And these 120 people come back to Darius and they said, Daniel's disobeying this law. And the king was devastated over this. He saw the vanity of what he'd done. And he was so regretful. And he tried to change things to make a way for Daniel to not be thrown into the den of lions. But remember, the laws of the Medes and Persians could not be altered. And the law of God cannot be altered. It must be honored. This is given to teach us something in this. Verse 18, he'd been trying to figure out a way to get out of this and to no avail. Verse 18, then the king went to his palace and passed the night fasting.

Neither were instruments of music brought before, and this is while Daniel had been thrown into the lion's den and the stone. Let's back back up to verse 16. Then the king commanded, and they brought Daniel and cast him into the den of lions. Now the king spake and said unto Daniel, Thy God, whom thou servest continually, he'll deliver thee.

And a stone was brought and laid upon the mouth of the den, and the king sealed it with his own signet, and with the signet of his lords, that the purpose might not be changed concerning Daniel. Then the king went to his palace and passed the night fasting. Neither were instruments of music brought before him, and his sleep went from him. Then the king arose very early in the morning and went in haste unto the den of lions.

And when he came to the den, he cried with a lamentable voice unto Daniel, And the king spake and said to Daniel, O Daniel, servant of the living God, is thy God whom thou service continually able to deliver thee from the lions? Then said Daniel unto the king, O king," Oh, how he was amazed when he heard this voice from the lion's den. "'O king, live forever.' My God has sent his angel and shut the lions' mouths, and they've not hurt me. For as much as before him innocence he was found in me, and also before thee, O king, have I done no hurt. Then was the king exceeding glad for him and commanded that they should take Daniel up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no manner of hurt was found upon him, because he believed in his God.

And the king commanded, and they brought those men which had accused Daniel, and they cast them into the den of the lions, them, their children, their wives. And the lions had the mastery of them, and break all their bones in pieces. For ever they came to the bottom of the den. Then King Darius wrote unto all people, nations, and languages that dwell on all the earth, Peace be multiplied unto you.

I make a decree that in every dominion of my kingdom, men tremble in fear before the God of Daniel, for he is the living God. and steadfast forever, and his kingdom, that which shall not be destroyed, and his dominion shall be even unto the end. He delivers and rescues, he works signs and wonders in heaven and earth, who has delivered Daniel from the power of the lions." So this Daniel prospered in the reign of Darius, in the reign of Cyrus, the Persian. Obviously, Darius already knew something about the living God. And these men didn't know this, and they were going to try to get Darius to stop this building. They didn't know that Darius knew God.

Now let's go back to our text. Ezra chapter five. At the same time came verse three, After they started building again, at the same time came to them Tat and I, governor on this side of the river, and Sheeth or Both and I, and their companions, and said unto them, who hath commanded you to build this house and to make up this wall? Then said we unto them after this matter, what are the names of the men that make this building?

But the eye of their God was upon the elders of the Jews, and they could not cause them to cease, till the matter came to Darius. And then they returned to answer by letter concerning this matter, and here's the copy of the letter they sent to Darius. The copy of the letter that Tat and I, governor on this side of the river, and Sheath, boss, and his companions, the Aphorsachites, which were on this side of the river, sent to Darius the king. They sent a letter unto him wherein was written this, unto Darius the king, all peace.

Be it known unto the king, that we went into the province of Judea to the house of the great God, which is built with great stones and timbers laid on the walls, and this work goeth fast on and prospers in their hands. Then asked we those elders and said unto them, who commanded you to build this house and to make up these walls? We asked their names also to certify thee, that we might write the names of the men that were chief of them. And thus they returned unto us answer saying, we are the servants of the God of heaven and earth. I love that. This God we're serving is the only God. He's not a regional God, like your false gods. He's the God of heaven and earth. He's your God. He's in control of all this. I love the way they answer.

And we built this house that was built of these many years ago, which a great king of Israel built it and set up, talking about Solomon. But after that, our fathers had provoked the God of heaven under wrath. He gave them into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, the Chaldean, who destroyed this house and carried the people away into Babylon. But in the first year of Cyrus, king of Babylon, the same king Cyrus made a decree to build the house of God."

Now, you'll remember that God prophesied of Cyrus 200 years before he was born, in Isaiah 45, and said, Cyrus is my servant, and he's going to bring this to pass. And that's exactly what happened. Cyrus looked into Ezra 1. Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia that the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah be fulfilled.

The Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom and put it also in writing saying thus saith Cyrus king of Persia the Lord God of heaven hath delivered me all the kingdoms of the earth and he hath charged me to build him a house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Who is there among you of all his people? His God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judah, and build the house of the Lord God of Israel. He is the God."

Cyrus understood this. As a matter of fact, all these kings seem to have understood this. Nebuchadnezzar actually wrote scripture. Cyrus knew who he was. Artaxerxes knew who he was. Darius knew who he was. The Lord used this to reveal himself to many people at this time.

Verse four, and whosoever remaineth any place where he sojourneth, let the men of his place help him with silver and with gold and with goods and with beasts, besides the freewill offerings for the house of God that is in Jerusalem. So this was decreed by God 200 years before it took place, and it actually happened, and Cyrus put it into writing. And remember this, when something went into writing, it could not be altered. it was there for good. Now back to Ezra chapter 5 verse 13, but in the first year of Cyrus the king of Babylon, the same king Cyrus made a decree to build this house of God and the vessels also of gold and silver of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar took out of the temple that was in Jerusalem, he brought them into the temple of Babylon, Those did Cyrus the king take out of the temple of Babylon that were delivered unto him, whose name was Shesh-bizar, whom he had made governor. And he said, take these vessels, go carry them into the temple that's in Jerusalem and let the house of God be built in this place. Now, isn't this amazing? All these gold, silver vessels. I would have thought they would have melted them down and made them new idols, but no, they were preserved perfectly.

As a matter of fact, turn back to Daniel, Daniel chapter five. Now, Belshazzar is Nebuchadnezzar's son. Daniel chapter five, verse one. Belshazzar the king made a great feast to a thousand of his lords and drank wine before the thousand. Belshazzar, while he tasted the wine, commanded to bring the gold and silver vessels which his father Nebuchadnezzar had taken out of the temple which was in Jerusalem, that the king and his princes, his wives, and his concubines might drink thereof. Then they brought the golden vessels that were taken out of the temple of the house of God which was at Jerusalem. And the king and his princes, his wives, and his concubines drank in them. They drank wine and praised the gods of gold and of silver and of brass, of iron, of wood, and of stone.

In the same hour came forth fingers of a man's hand and rode over against the candlestick under the plaster of the wall of the king's palace. And the king saw the part of the hand that wrote, and the king's countenance was changed. He went from having a good time to terrified. And his thoughts troubled him so that the joints of his loins were loose, and his knees smote one against another. And the king cried aloud to bring in the astrologers and all the wise men of Persia. Tell me what this writing means. None of them could do it. Then the king's wife told him about Daniel. He's one who could interpret dreams.

So, verse 10, now the queen, by reason of the words of the king and his lords, came into the banquet house, and the queen spake and said, O king, live forever. Let not thy thoughts trouble thee, nor let thy countenance be changed. There's a man in thy kingdom in whom is the spirit of the holy gods, and in the days of thy father, light and understanding and wisdom, like the wisdom of the gods was found in him. whom the king Nebuchadnezzar, thy father, the king, I say, thy father made master of the magicians, astrologers of the Chaldeans and soothsayers. For as much as an excellent spirit and knowledge and understanding, interpreting of dreams and showing of hard sins and dissolving in doubts, were found in the same Daniel, whom the king named Belshazzar. Now let Daniel be called, and he'll show thee the interpretation.' Then was Daniel brought in before the king, and the king spake and said unto Daniel, Art thou that Daniel which art of the children of the captivity of Judah? whom the king, my father, brought out of Jewry.

I have even heard of thee, that the Spirit of the gods is in thee, and that light and understanding and excellent wisdom is found in thee. And now the wise men, the astrologers, have been brought in before me, that they should read this writing and make known unto the interpretation thereof, but they could not show the interpretation of the thing. And I have heard of thee, that thou canst make interpretations and dissolve doubts. Now thou canst read the writing and make known to me the interpretation thereof, thou shalt be clothed with scarlet, and have a chain of gold about thy neck, and thou shalt be the third ruler in the kingdom.

Then Daniel answered and said before the king, let thy gifts be to thyself, and give thy rewards to another. I don't want them. Yet I'll read the writing unto thee, and make known to him the interpretation. O thou king, the most high God, gave nebuchadnezzar, thy father, a kingdom, and majesty, and honor, and glory.

And for the majesty that he gave him, all the people, nations, and languages trembled. and feared before him. Whom he would, he slew. Whom he would, he kept alive. And whom he would, he set up. And whom he would, he set down." Think of the power of this man.

But when his heart was lifted up and his mind hardened in pride, he was deposed from his kingly throne and they took his glory from him. And he was driven from the sons of men, and his heart was made like beasts, and his dwelling was with the wild asses. And they fed him with grass like oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, till he knew that the Most High, God, ruled in the kingdom of men, and that he appointeth over it whomsoever he will. And thou, his son, O Belshazzar, hast not humbled thine heart, though thou knewest all this.

But thou hast lifted up thyself against the Lord of heaven, and they brought the vessels of the house before thee, and thou and thy lords, thy wives, and thy concubines have drunk wine in them. And silver and gold, and brass and iron, and wood and stone, which see not, nor hear not, nor know, and the God in whose hand thy breath is, and whom are all thy ways, thou hast not glorified.

Then was the part of the hand sent from him, and this writing was written, and this is the writing that was written. Mene, Mene, Tekel, Upharsin. This is the interpretation of the thing. Mene, God hath numbered thy kingdom and finished it. Tekel, thou art weighed in the balances and art found wanting.

Perez, thy kingdom is divided and given to the Medes and the Persians. Then commanded Belshazzar, and they clothed Daniel with scarlet and put a chain of gold about his neck and made a proclamation concerning him that he should be the third ruler in the kingdom in that night. Those Belshers are the king of the Chaldeans slain. And that's when Darius took over.

So we see the care that was given to these vessels during this Babylonian captivity. You know, they were having this party, God left them alone. When they start bringing in the temples, the vessels from the temple, that's when the hand of God's judgment comes in. And back to Ezra chapter five, verse 14, the vessels also of gold and silver of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar took out of the temple that was in Jerusalem, and brought them into the temple of Babylon. These did Cyrus the king take out of the temple of Babylon, and they were delivered unto one whose name was Shesh-bizar, whom he had made governor, and said unto him, Take these vessels, go, carry them into the temple that's in Jerusalem, and let the house of God be built in his place. Then came the same Shesh-bizar, and laid the foundation of the house of God which is in Jerusalem, And since then, the time, even until now, hath it been in building, and yet it's not finished.

Now therefore, if it be good to the king, let there be search made in the king's treasure house, which is there at Babylon, whether it be so that a decree was made of Cyrus the king to build the house of God at Jerusalem. And let the king send his pleasure to us concerning this matter." Now, they say Cyrus made a decree about this. If he did, it'll be in writing. You go and find it in writing, and then you tell us what to do, whether you want us to stop this building. Now, remember, Darius knew the living God. He'd already had this experience with Daniel.

Then Darius the king made a decree, and search was made in the house of the Rolls, where the treasures were laid up in Babylon, and there was found at Akmetha, in the palace that's in the province of the Medes, a Roll, and therein a record was thus written.

In the first year of Cyrus, the king, the same Cyrus, the king made a decree concerning the house of God of Jerusalem. Let the house be builded, the palace, or the place where they offered sacrifices, and let the foundations thereof be strongly laid. The height thereof threescore cubits, and the breadth thereof threescore cubits, exactly like Solomon had the temple made, with three great rows of great stones and a row of new timber, and let the expenses be given out of the king's house. Cyrus said, I'm going to pay for this. And also let the gold and silver vessels of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar took forth out of the temple, which is in Jerusalem, and brought into Babylon be restored, and brought again into the temple, which is in Jerusalem, every one to his place, and the place with the house of God.

Now, therefore, Tadnai, governor beyond the river, Shetharbisnai, and your companions, the Arphashites, which are beyond the river, be far from this. Let the work of this house of God alone. Don't try stopping it. Let it alone. Let the governor of the Jews and the elders of the Jews build this house of God in this place. Moreover, I make a decree. what ye should do to the elders of these Jews for the building of this house of God, that of the king's goods, even of the tribute beyond the river, forthwith expenses be given to these men, that they be not hindered. And what they have need of, both young bullocks and rams and lambs for the burnt offerings of the God of heaven, wheat, salt, wine, oil, according to the appointment of the priests which are at Jerusalem, let it be given them day by day without fail, that they may offer sacrifice of sweet savors unto the God of heaven. and pray for the life of the king and his sons. He knew the value of the sacrifice, what it pointed to, that sweet savor to God that the offering of Christ would be. And he said, I want him praying for me. I realize my life is in his hands. My son's lives are in his hands. And I want you to do this so he'll pray for me. He knew the living God.

And I've made a decree, verse 11, that whosoever shall after this word let shall alter this word, let timber be pulled down from his house, and being set up, let him be hanged thereon, and let his house be made a dunghill for this. And the God that hath caused all his name to dwell there, destroy all kings, and people that shall put to their hand, to alter and to destroy the house of God which is in Jerusalem, I Darius have made a decree, let it be done with speed.

And that was not the answer they were expecting. They were going to get this stopped, but It's not going to stop. Then Tantani, governor on this side of the river, Shethar, Besnai, and their companions, according to that which Darius the king had sent, so they did speedily, perhaps in fear for their lives, if they didn't.

They got this going. And the elders of the Jews built it, and they prospered through the prophesying of Haggai, the prophet, and Zechariah, the son of Ido. And they built it and finished it according to the commandment of the God of Israel. That's why it happened. And he used these means. He used these kings as his puppet to perform his will. Cyrus, Darius, and Artaxerxes, king of Persia, and this house was finished. On the third day of the month of Adar, which was in the sixth year of the reign of Darius the king, this house was finished.

Now, the temple represents Christ crucified. That's all the temple represents. And this house was finished, brought to an end. There's a finality to that word. This house, this temple was finished. Christ is the end of the law for righteousness. The finishing of the temple is analogous to Christ's words right before he said, Father, into thy hands, I commend my spirit, and he gave up the ghost. What were those words that he cried so loudly that when the Roman centurion heard them, he said, surely this was the Son of God. It is finished.

What I came to do, I've done. Some 24 hours before this, when he was praying his great high priestly prayer for his people, he said in John chapter 17, verse four, in this prayer to his father, and we're allowed to listen in. Oh, what a blessed privilege that we're allowed to listen in to his words to his father. He said, I have glorified thee on the earth. I have finished the work thou gavest me to do. Early in his earthly ministry, he said in John chapter four, my meat and drink is to do the will of him that sent me and to finish his work.

And when he bowed his mighty head and said, it is finished, my salvation was finished. Completed. Nothing left undone. Finished. Now, I love the way the writer to the Hebrews informs us in Hebrews chapter four, verse three, that all the works were finished. from the foundation of the world. All the works, God's eternal. He's not bound the way you and I are by space and time. He's eternal. Everything is the eternal now with Him. All the works of salvation were finished before time began. So supreme is God's will that when He wills something, it's past tense before it's taken place. That's how supreme His will is. His will is like our will. We desire things, but we can't make them come to pass. Whatever He wills, He brings to pass.

And the reason the earth was created is because Christ is a lamb slain from the foundation of the world. He's going to have to come in time and do what the Father sent Him to do. Think of these descriptions of different aspects of salvation. We read of eternal judgment. Now, eternal means never had a beginning. never has an ending. We read of eternal redemption. We read of the eternal covenant. We read of the blood of the eternal covenant. We read of eternal inheritance.

And even when the Lord is describing Judgment Day, He's going to say to His people, come ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you, from the foundation of the world before time began." Everything God does is eternal. Now, we're introduced to this heavenly concept of something being finished in Genesis 2, if you'll turn with me there. Let's look at the last verse of chapter one.

And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day, thus the heavens and the earth were what? Finished. Finished. and all the host of them. And on the seventh day God ended his work which he made and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made and God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made." Now here we have the first concept of something being finished and brought to an end. God created the heavens and the earth. I know people think, well, do we take those six days literally? Well, he says the morning and evening is the sixth day. Well, how could God use six days to create the earth?

I don't know. But whatever he does is right, glorious. However he does things, that's it. I've told you this before. I remember one time somebody from the Creation Museum came to visit me and he said, do you believe in the six little days of creation? At the time I said, well, if that's what it means I do.

I'm not real sure what it means. I do believe six literal days now, just because he says the morning and the evening, the six days. But I didn't know if it might represent some period of time. I don't know. But the guy said, do you believe that the heavens and the earth were created in six calendar days?

And I said, well, if that's what it means, I do. But, you know, I'm not sure it could represent something else. He said, you're compromising the gospel. And when he said that, that just irritated me. And I said, Tell me, do you believe that God elected the people before time began and Christ died for the elect and accomplished their salvation? He said, Well, we don't make an issue of things like that. I said, Oh, tell me who's compromising the gospel. The point is, God finished his work, whether six, I believe in six days, he finished it. was very good.

There was nothing left to do and he rested. He rested in a finished work. It couldn't be improved on. God didn't rest the way we would because we're tired. He rests because there was nothing left to do. The work was completed, completed. Hebrews 4 says, there remaineth a rest for the people of God, for he that's entered into his rest. Why did God rest? Because there wasn't anything left to do. Completed.

He that's entered into his rest hath ceased from his own works as God did from his. You rest in Christ when you cease from your own works. Throw them all away, they're all worthless. Look to His work alone, His finished work. There's nothing left to do. It is finished.

Now turn to John chapter 19. Verse 28, after this, Jesus knowing all things were now accomplished, even while he was in the physical agony of being nailed to a cross and having all the pain that you and I would have if we were nailed to a cross. Yet, he knows. After this, Jesus, knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scriptures might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst. Now there was said a vessel full of vinegar, and they filled a sponge with vinegar and put it upon a hyssop and put it to his mouth, When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, it is finished.

I know you know that doesn't mean that he's saying my part is done, now you must do your part. In the very first chapter of the New Testament, in Matthew chapter one, verse 21, When Gabriel came to Mary, he had already been to Mary. Now he comes to Joseph. He tells Joseph that that one in her is conceived of the Holy Ghost.

And he says, thou shalt call his name Jesus, for he shall save his people. from their sins. Now, I want to say this as reverently as I can. This was the mission statement of the Son of Man. This is why He came. Yes, He came to glorify His Father, and His Father is glorified in this, saving His people from their sins. And when he said, it is finished, y'all notice in Matthew 1 21 says he shall save his people from their sins. That's what he's going to do.

When he says it is finished, every one of his people were saved from their sins. I'm not going to be punished for my sins. He was. I'm not going to be under the lordship of sin. Sin shall not have lordship over you. Sin shall not have dominion over you. He gave me a nature that can now do what I could not do.

I can believe now. I do believe. I do look to Christ. I do see his beauty. I'm gonna be saved from the very presence of sin. I'm not gonna even know what, I'm not gonna remember what it's like to be a sinner. I'm gonna be perfectly conformed to the image of Christ. All that was accomplished when he said, it is finished. What do these words say about God? It's God being God. He's incapable of failure. He can't intend to do something and not be done.

If Jesus Christ died for you, you must be saved. The very law of God demands your salvation. The very character of God demands your salvation. You're not going to come in in the back door trying to put your head down. No, we just heard that song, Bolshoi stand in that great day. This is God saving the way God saves. This is God being God, it is finished.

Well, what does this say to the self-righteous? Who are the self-righteous? Well, everybody that doesn't believe the gospel. And we still have self-righteousness in us, I realize that. I wish I didn't, but I'm full of it because I still have my old man. But what does this say to that self-righteous person who does not believe the gospel? You're hoping in the wrong thing and your hope's no good.

Your only hope is in the finished accomplishment of the Lord Jesus Christ. It is finished. I want to tell everybody that's not trusting in Christ, you're trusting the wrong thing. It's finished. There's nothing for you to do. You're rebelling against the very best news that ever was, the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. It is finished. What does this say to the believer? It's finished. There is nothing for you to do. Do you hear that? There is nothing for you to do. It's already been done. It is finished. Enjoy the complete rest that the Savior accomplished for you. It is finished.

Let's pray. Lord, we stand in awe of your word. Lord, we stand in awe of the complete accomplishment Christ made in our behalf to glorify you and to save us. And we give thanks. And Lord, as we lay our head on our pillows tonight, may this be the last thing we think of. It is finished. We thank you for that. In Christ's name we pray, amen.