The Rise and Fall of the Divided Kingdom

1
The Rise and Fall of the Divided Kingdom

• Lesson 9 The Fall of Judah
• II Ch. 361-21 II Ki. 24-25 Ezekiel
• For whatever things were written before were
  written for our learning, that we through the
  patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have
  hope. (Romans 154)
• Now all these things happened to them as
  examples, and they were written for our
  admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have
  come. (I Corinthians 1011)

2
Introduction

• Judahs fall is a sad and sickening story of
  death, despair and destruction.
• Judah falls and everything identified as holy was
  destroyed (i.e. Jerusalem, temple, vessels,
  priesthood, people, etc.).
• King Zedekiah refused Jeremiahs advice to
  surrender to Babylon and save the city. Jeremiah
  is treated as a traitor and treated with contempt
  (II Ch. 3612).
• Three waves of deportations of captives 606
  B.C., 597 B.C., and 586 B.C.
• Daniel was a part of the first deportation, and
  Ezekiel was a part of the people exiled to
  Babylon in the second deportation.
• Ezekiahs is God's "watchman" for Israel and
  spoke of the future regarding Christ and the
  church.
• Main message Calamity had come upon Judah as
  punishment for sin. He was focused on doom
  (1-32) and gloom (33-48).
• Key Lesson God delivers the faithful through
  good and bad times (Re. 210). God offers hope
  in a glorious future!!!

3
Timeline
722 Fall of SamariaAssyrian exile            
        Manasseh -/ 55 yrs
               
          Amon -   2 yrs
640       Jeremiah Josiah 31 yrs 
        Huldah      
        Zephaniah      
        Nahum Jehoahaz -   3 mo
        Habakkuk Jehoiakim - 11 yrs
         (Obediah?) Jehoiakin -   3 mo
          Zedekiah - 11 yrs
586         Fall of Jerusalem    
          Babylonian Captivity   70 yrs
4
YEARS BC EVENT Prophets Jewish Leaders EMPERORSForeign Rulers
  Exile   Babylonians
605 1st deportationfrom Judah to Babylon Jeremiah     Nebuchandezzar
597 2nd deportation Ezekiel  
586 3rd deportationFall of Jerusalem Daniel  
          Belshazzar
      Medo-Persians
538  1st return  fromBabylon to Israel Zerubbabel     Cyrus
    Sheshbazzar  
    Haggai     Darius I
    Zechariah  
515 Temple Rebuilt    
485    Esther     Xerxes
          Artaxerxes I
458  2nd group return  Ezra  
432  3rd group return  Nehemiah  
    Malachi     Darius II 
5
Discussion Questions

• Describe the last four kings of Judah and their
  reigns (II Ch. 361-14)?
• Jehoahaz was deposed and paid tribute to Egypt
  Now the king of Egypt deposed him at Jerusalem
  and he imposed on the land a tribute of one
  hundred talents of silver and a talent of
  goldAnd Necho took Jehoahaz his brother and
  carried him off to Egypt (363-4).
• Johoiakim/Eliakim was bound and taken captive.
  Temple treasures were removed. Nebuchadnezzar
  king of Babylon came up against him, and bound
  him in bronze fetters to carry him off to
  Babylon. Nebuchadnezzar also carried off some of
  the articles from the house of the LORD to
  Babylon, and put them in his temple at Babylon
  (367).
• Jehoiachin was taken to Babylon. At the turn
  of the year King Nebuchadnezzar summoned him and
  took him to Babylon, with the costly articles
  from the house of the LORD, and made Zedekiah,
  Jehoiakims brother, king over Judah and
  Jerusalem (3610).

6
Discussion Questions

• Describe the last four kings of Judah and their
  reigns (II Ch. 361-14)?
• Zedekiah rebelled. He did evil in the sight of
  the LORD his God, and did not humble himself
  before Jeremiah the prophet, who spoke from the
  mouth of the LORD. And he also rebelled against
  King Nebuchadnezzar, who had made him swear an
  oath by God but he stiffened his neck and
  hardened his heart against turning to the LORD
  God of Israel (3612-13).
• The last four kings of Judah were evil along with
  all the leaders and people Moreover all the
  leaders of the priests and the people
  transgressed more and more, according to all the
  abominations of the nations, and defiled the
  house of the LORD which He had consecrated in
  Jerusalem (3614).

7
Discussion Questions

• What happened during the reigns of Jehoiakin and
  Jehoiachin (II Ki. 241-12)?
• Bands of raiders sent by GodWhy? In his days
  Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came up, and
  Jehoiakim became his vassal for three years. Then
  he turned and rebelled against him. And the LORD
  sent against him raiding bands of Chaldeans,
  bands of Syrians, bands of Moabites, and bands of
  the people of Ammon He sent them against Judah
  to destroy it, according to the word of the LORD
  which He had spoken by His servants the prophets.
  Surely at the commandment of the LORD this came
  upon Judah, to remove them from His sight because
  of the sins of Manasseh, according to all that he
  had done, and also because of the innocent blood
  that he had shed for he had filled Jerusalem
  with innocent blood, which the LORD would not
  pardon (241-4).
• Babylon conquers Egypt And the king of Egypt
  did not come out of his land anymore, for the
  king of Babylon had taken all that belonged to
  the king of Egypt from the Brook of Egypt to the
  River Euphrates (247)

8
Discussion Questions

• What happened during the reigns of Jehoiakin and
  Jehoiachin (II Ki. 241-12)?
• Jehoiachin and his family are taken captive and
  Jerusalem is seiged At that time the servants
  of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came up against
  Jerusalem, and the city was besieged. And
  Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came against the
  city, as his servants were besieging it. Then
  Jehoiachin king of Judah, his mother, his
  servants, his princes, and his officers went out
  to the king of Babylon and the king of Babylon,
  in the eighth year of his reign, took him
  prisoner (2410-12).

9
Discussion Questions

• How did Judah treat God's messengers (II Ch.
  3615-16)?
• Gods compassion was despised. His prophets
  received mocking, and scoffing. And the LORD
  God of their fathers sent warnings to them by His
  messengers, rising up early and sending them,
  because He had compassion on His people and on
  His dwelling place. But they mocked the
  messengers of God, despised His words, and
  scoffed at His prophets, until the wrath of the
  LORD arose against His people, till there was no
  remedy (3615-16). Remember Jeremiahs
  suffering, Isaiah perhaps sawn in two, etc.
• Key points Gods love and compassion can turn
  into wrath with no remedy, and Judah was given
  every chance repent during Gods longsuffering.

10
Discussion Questions

• Describe the first deportation of captives (II
  Ki. 2411-12). 606 B.C.
• King Johoiakim is deported to Babylon and some
  temple treasures were removed Nebuchadnezzar
  king of Babylon came up against him, and bound
  him in bronze fetters to carry him off to
  Babylon. Nebuchadnezzar also carried off some of
  the articles from the house of the LORD to
  Babylon, and put them in his temple at Babylon
  (II Ch. 366-7).
• Daniel is taken in this deportation In the
  third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of
  Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to
  Jerusalem and besieged it. And the Lord gave
  Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, with some
  of the articles of the house of God, which he
  carried into the land of Shinar to the house of
  his god and he brought the articles into the
  treasure house of his god (Dan. 11-2).

11
Discussion Questions

• Describe the second deportation of captives (II
  Ch. 369-10 II Ki. 248-16). 597 B.C.
• King, princes, mother, servants and officiers
  deported Then Jehoiachin king of Judah, his
  mother, his servants, his princes, and his
  officers went out to the king of Babylon and the
  king of Babylon, in the eighth year of his reign,
  took him prisoner (2412).
• Temples treasures removed And he carried out
  from there all the treasures of the house of the
  LORD and the treasures of the kings house, and
  he cut in pieces all the articles of gold which
  Solomon king of Israel had made in the temple of
  the LORD, as the LORD had said (2413).
• Intellectuals, craftsman, etc., were deported
  Also he carried into captivity all Jerusalem
  all the captains and all the mighty men of valor,
  ten thousand captives, and all the craftsmen and
  smiths. None remained except the poorest people
  of the land (2414).

12
Discussion Questions

• Describe the destruction of Jerusalem (II Ki.
  25 II Ch. 3617-21)? After the third
  deportation of captives, what was left in
  Jerusalem? How long was Judah in Babylonian
  captivity?
• Zedekiah rebelled and Jerusalem was completely
  destroyed.
• Nebuchadnezzer seiges Jerusalem for almost 3
  years Now it came to pass in the ninth year of
  his reign, in the tenth month, on the tenth day
  of the month, that Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon
  and all his army came against Jerusalem and
  encamped against it and they built a siege wall
  against it all around. So the city was besieged
  until the eleventh year of King Zedekiah
  (251-2).
• Severe famine (no food) By the ninth day of
  the fourth month the famine had become so severe
  in the city that there was no food for the people
  of the land (253).
• Military escapees fled Then the city wall was
  broken through, and all the men of war fled at
  night (254).

13
Discussion Questions

• Describe the destruction of Jerusalem (II Ki.
  25 II Ch. 3617-21)? After the third
  deportation of captives, what was left in
  Jerusalem? How long was Judah in Babylonian
  captivity?
• King was captured and bound But the army of
  the Chaldeans pursued the king, and they overtook
  him in the plains of Jericho. All his army was
  scattered from him. So they took the king and
  brought him up to the king of Babylon at Riblah,
  and they pronounced judgment on him. Then they
  killed the sons of Zedekiah before his eyes, put
  out the eyes of Zedekiah, bound him with bronze
  fetters, and took him to Babylon (255-7).
• Temple is burned and walls destroyed He burned
  the house of the LORD and the kings house all
  the houses of Jerusalem, that is, all the houses
  of the great, he burned with fire. And all the
  army of the Chaldeans who were with the captain
  of the guard broke down the walls of Jerusalem
  all around (259-10).
• 586 B.C. - A third deportation Then
  Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard carried away
  captive the rest of the people who remained in
  the city and the defectors who had deserted to
  the king of Babylon, with the rest of the
  multitude (2511).

14
Discussion Questions

• Describe the destruction of Jerusalem (II Ki.
  25 II Ch. 3617-21)? After the third
  deportation of captives, what was left in
  Jerusalem? How long was Judah in Babylonian
  captivity?
• Weak and poor are left But the captain of the
  guard left some of the poor of the land as
  vinedressers and farmers (2512).
• Valuable temple materials and items removed (i.e.
  pillars, utensils, carts, etc. (2513-17).
• Officers, chief priest, military leaders, kings
  associates, etc., were executed (2518-21).
• Judah was in captivity for 70 years Thus
  Judah was carried away captive from its own
  land. (2521).

15
Discussion Questions

• What did Jeremiah say to the captives (Jer.
  291-23)?
• Jeremiah sends a letter to the captives Now
  these are the words of the letter that Jeremiah
  the prophet sent from Jerusalem to the remainder
  of the elders who were carried away captiveto
  the priests, the prophets, and all the people
  whom Nebuchadnezzar had carried away captive from
  Jerusalem to Babylon (1).
• Live your life Build houses and dwell in them
  plant gardens and eat their fruit (6).
• A promised return after 70 years For thus says
  the LORD After seventy years are completed at
  Babylon, I will visit you and perform My good
  word toward you, and cause you to return to this
  place (10).

16
Discussion Questions

• What did Jeremiah say to the captives (Jer.
  291-23)?
• Beware of false prophets For they prophesy
  falsely to you in My name I have not sent them,
  says the LORD (8-9).
• False prophets will be punished And because of
  them a curse shall be taken up by all the
  captivity of Judah who are in Babylon, saying,
  The LORD make you like Zedekiah and Ahab, whom
  the king of Babylon roasted in the fire because
  they have done disgraceful things in Israel, have
  committed adultery with their neighbors wives,
  and have spoken lying words in My name, which I
  have not commanded them. Indeed I know, and am a
  witness, says the LORD (22-23).

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Discussion Questions

• Lesson To Learn Scripture taken out of context
  can be twisted or distorted and lead to
  destruction. (II Pt. 316-18 II Tm. 217-18 II
  Jh. 9-11).
• Scriptures can be twisted as also in all his
  epistles, speaking in them of these things, in
  which are some things hard to understand, which
  untaught and unstable people twist to their own
  destruction, as they do also the rest of the
  Scriptures. You therefore, beloved, since you
  know this beforehand, beware lest you also fall
  from your own steadfastness, being led away with
  the error of the wicked but grow in the grace
  and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus
  Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever.
  Amen (II Pt. 316-18).
• Some say keep the Old Testament Law You have
  become estranged from Christ, you who attempt to
  be justified by law you have fallen from grace
  (Ga. 54).

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Discussion Questions

• Lesson To Learn Scripture taken out of context
  can be twisted or distorted and lead to
  destruction. (II Pt. 316-18 II Tm. 217-18 II
  Jh. 9-11).
• Some say the resurrection is past And their
  message will spread like cancer. Hymenaeus and
  Philetus are of this sort, who have strayed
  concerning the truth, saying that the
  resurrection is already past and they overthrow
  the faith of some (II Tm. 316-18).
• Sadducees and Pharisees had very different
  positions on the resurrection. I Corithians 15
  addresses false teaching about he resurrection.
• Gnostic doctrine of separation of flesh and
  spirit. Whoever transgresses and does not
  abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have
  God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has
  both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to
  you and does not bring this doctrine, do not
  receive him into your house nor greet him for he
  who greets him shares in his evil deeds (II John
  9-11).

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Discussion Questions

• Lesson To Learn Scripture taken out of context
  can be twisted or distorted and lead to
  destruction. (II Pt. 316-18 II Tm. 217-18 II
  Jh. 9-11).
• Doctrines of demons in latter times some will
  depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving
  spirits and doctrines of demons, speaking lies in
  hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared
  with a hot iron, forbidding to marry, and
  commanding to abstain from foods which God
  created to be received with thanksgiving by those
  who believe and know the truth (I Tm. 41-5).
• Sectarianism Now I plead with you, brethren,
  by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you
  all speak the same thing, and that there be no
  divisions among you, but that you be perfectly
  joined together in the same mind and in the same
  judgment. For it has been declared to me
  concerning you, my brethren, by those of Chloes
  household, that there are contentions among you.
  Now I say this, that each of you says, I am of
  Paul, or I am of Apollos, or I am of Cephas,
  or I am of Christ (I Co. 110-12).

20
Discussion Questions

• Lesson To Learn Learn from the 4,000 years of
  inspired history of nations. God does not
  tolerate injustice, idolatry and indifference
  toward His Word, His worship and His work. (I
  Co. 101-12 Col. 35 Jh. 424 Ge. 6 19
  Dan. 2 Rev. 2 - 3).
• Godless nations like Assyria, Babylon, Persian,
  Greek and Roman empires have been destroyed.
• Religious nations like Israel, Judah, and
  churches in Asia (Rev. 2-3) failed to remain
  faithful and were destroyed.
• Sodom and world-wide destruction provides
  evidence of Gods power in that it rained fire
  and brimstone from heaven and God destroyed the
  earth with water (Ge. 6, 19).
• Idolatrous people will be destroyed. Remember
  covetousness which is idolatry (Col. 35).
  Dont worship things other than God.
• Failing to worship in spirit and truth is vain
  worship (Jh. 424).

21
History of Nations

• In 1787, Alexander Tyler, a Scottish history
  professor at the University of Edinburgh, had
  this to say about the fall of the Athenian
  Republic some 2,000 years earlier
• 'A democracy is always temporary in nature it
  simply cannot exist as a permanent form of
  government.'
• 'A democracy will continue to exist up until the
  time that voters discover they can vote
  themselves generous gifts from the public
  treasury.'
• 'From that moment on, the majority always vote
  for the candidates who promise the most benefits
  from the public treasury, with the result that
  every democracy will finally collapse due to
  loose fiscal policy, which is always followed by
  a dictatorship.'

22
History of Nations

• 'The average age of the world's greatest
  civilizations from the beginning of history, has
  been about 200 years.
• 'During those 200 years, those nations always
  progressed through the following sequence
• From bondage to spiritual faith
• From spiritual faith to great courage
• From courage to liberty
• From liberty to abundance
• From abundance to complacency
• From complacency to apathy
• From apathy to dependence
• From dependence back into bondage.'
• Where are we in the sequence?
• Trust in God, not a nation

23
Discussion Questions

• Describe Ezekiels background (Ez. 11-3 401
  315 II Ki. 2414). Even though Ezekiel was
  righteous, what happened to him?
• During the 2nd deportation (597 B.C.), Ezekial
  was about 25 years old when he was deported and
  30 years old when he became a prophet. Also he
  carried into captivity all Jerusalem all the
  captains and all the mighty men of valor, ten
  thousand captives, and all the craftsmen and
  smiths. None remained except the poorest people
  of the land (2 Ki. 2414).
• May have been from priestly decent and concerns
  the word of the LORD came expressly to Ezekiel
  the priest, the son of Buzi, in the land of the
  Chaldeans by the River Chebar and the hand of
  the LORD was upon him thereIn the twenty-fifth
  year of our captivity, at the beginning of the
  year, on the tenth day of the month, in the
  fourteenth year after the city was captured
  (13 401).

24
Discussion Questions

• Describe Ezekiels background (Ez. 11-3 401
  315 II Ki. 2414). Even though Ezekiel was
  righteous, what happened to him?
• He prophesied for about 20 years and lived among
  the common people in Babylon in a colony on the
  river Chebar in Tel Abib Then I came to the
  captives at Tel Abib, who dwelt by the River
  Chebar and I sat where they sat, and remained
  there astonished among them seven days (315).
• The righteous prophet was in captivity and
  hardship.

25
Discussion Questions

• What was Ezekiels purpose and calling (Ez.
  11-327 41-17 55-17)? What was his message?
• A vision of the Lords glory leads to his calling
  and purpose This was the appearance of the
  likeness of the glory of the LORD. So when I saw
  it, I fell on my face, and I heard a voice of One
  speaking.  And He said to me, Son of man, stand
  on your feet, and I will speak to you. Then the
  Spirit entered me when He spoke to me, and set me
  on my feet and I heard Him who spoke to me. And
  He said to me Son of man, I am sending you to
  the children of Israel, to a rebellious nation
  that has rebelled against Me they and their
  fathers have transgressed against Me to this very
  day. For they are impudent and stubborn children.
  I am sending you to them, and you shall say to
  them, Thus says the Lord GOD. As for them,
  whether they hear or whether they refusefor they
  are a rebellious houseyet they will know that a
  prophet has been among them. (128-25).

26
Discussion Questions

• What was Ezekiels purpose and calling (Ez.
  11-327 41-17 55-17)? What was his message?
• Do not fear. do not be afraid of their words
  or dismayed by their looks, though they are a
  rebellious house. You shall speak My words to
  them, whether they hear or whether they refuse,
  for they are rebellious (26-7).
• Ezekiel is a watchman based upon key principles.
  Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the
  house of Israel therefore hear a word from My
  mouth, and give them warning from Me When I say
  to the wicked, You shall surely die, and you
  give him no warning, nor speak to warn the wicked
  from his wicked way, to save his life, that same
  wicked man shall die in his iniquity but his
  blood I will require at your hand. Yet, if you
  warn the wicked, and he does not turn from his
  wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die
  in his iniquity but you have delivered your
  soul. (317-19).

27
Discussion Questions

• What was Ezekiels purpose and calling (Ez.
  11-327 41-17 55-17)? What was his message?
• Calamity was due to sins When I send against
  them the terrible arrows of famine which shall be
  for destructionSo I will send against you famine
  and wild beasts, and they will bereave you.
  Pestilence and blood shall pass through you, and
  I will bring the sword against you. I, the LORD,
  have spoken (516-17).
• Jerusalems siege was because of sins that
  they may lack bread and water, and be dismayed
  with one another, and waste away because of their
  iniquity (417).
• Message Doom and gloom of a future glory.

28
Discussion Questions

• Lesson To Learn Salvation is a personal
  decision for each of us. We are responsible for
  our own personal choices. (Ez. 18 Jh. 839
  1248 Mt. 37-10 II Co. 510 Mt. 2514-46 Hb.
  1123-27)
• Ezekiels message of personal accountability
  The soul who sins shall die. The son shall not
  bear the guilt of the father, nor the father bear
  the guilt of the son. The righteousness of the
  righteous shall be upon himself, and the
  wickedness of the wicked shall be upon himself
  (Ez. 1820).
• He who rejects Me, and does not receive My
  words, has that which judges himthe word that I
  have spoken will judge him in the last day (Jh.
  1248 cf. Mt. 2514-46).

29
Discussion Questions

• Lesson To Learn Salvation is a personal
  decision for each of us. We are responsible for
  our own personal choices. (Ez. 18 Jh. 839
  1248 Mt. 37-10 II Co. 510 Mt. 2514-46 Hb.
  1123-27)
• God requires evidence of repentance Therefore
  bear fruits worthy of repentance (Mt. 38).
• Israels choice versus Moses choice By faith
  Moses, when he became of age, refused to be
  called the son of Pharaohs daughter, choosing
  rather to suffer affliction with the people of
  God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin,
  esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches
  than the treasures in Egypt for he looked to the
  reward. By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing
  the wrath of the king for he endured as seeing
  Him who is invisible (Hb. 1123-27).

30
Discussion Questions

• How wicked was Judah (Ez. 1412-20)? What does
  Ezekiel say about other nations (Ez. 261-2819
  251-17 2820-26 291-3232)?
• Only a few righteous ones would be delivered.
  even though Noah, Daniel, and Job were in it, as
  I live, says the Lord GOD, they would deliver
  neither son nor daughter they would deliver only
  themselves by their righteousness (1420).
• Unfaithfulness lead to no food Son of man,
  when a land sins against Me by persistent
  unfaithfulness, I will stretch out My hand
  against it I will cut off its supply of bread,
  send famine on it, and cut off man and beast from
  it (1413 READ 221-16).
• Nations condemned include Ammon, Moab, Edom,
  Philistia, Tyre, Sidon, and Egypt. Therefore
  thus says the Lord GOD Behold, I am against
  you, O Tyre, and will cause many nations to come
  up against you, as the sea causes its waves to
  come up. And they shall destroy the walls of Tyre
  and break down her towers I will also scrape her
  dust from her, and make her like the top of a
  rock. It shall be a place for spreading nets in
  the midst of the sea, for I have spoken, says
  the Lord GOD it shall become plunder for the
  nations (263-5)

31
Discussion Questions

• Describe the predictions Ezekiel made regarding
  Christ and His kingdom (Ez. 3423-28 3925-29).
• Spiritual restoration of Israel Now I will
  bring back the captives of Jacob, and have mercy
  on the whole house of Israel and I will be
  jealous for My holy name then they shall know
  that I am the LORD their God, who sent them into
  captivity among the nations, but also brought
  them back to their land, and left none of them
  captive any longer (3926, 28).
• One Shepherd (David) is Jesus I will establish
  one shepherd over them, and he shall feed themMy
  servant David. He shall feed them and be their
  shepherd. And I, the LORD, will be their God, and
  My servant David a prince among them I, the
  LORD, have spoken (3423-24).

32
Discussion Questions

• Describe the predictions Ezekiel made regarding
  Christ and His kingdom (Ez. 3423-28 3925-29).
• Enemies of the church may be strong, but they
  will not overthrow the kingdom. And I also say
  to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I
  will build My church, and the gates of Hades
  shall not prevail against itTherefore, since we
  are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken,
  let us have grace, by which we may serve God
  acceptably with reverence and godly fear (Mt.
  1618 cf. Hb. 1228).

33
Discussion Questions

• Lesson To Learn The wicked will not be spared
  by the presence of a few good people among them.
  The innocent will not have to bear the guilt of
  the wicked --- though they may suffer some evil
  consequences from the wickedness of others. Ex.
  1820 1414 316-21 94 Ge. 6 19 Ac. 84
  Mt. 2437-39)
• Reflect on righteous Lot in wicked Sodom And
  it came to pass, when God destroyed the cities of
  the plain, that God remembered Abraham, and sent
  Lot out of the midst of the overthrow, when He
  overthrew the cities in which Lot had dwelt (Ge.
  1929).
• Reflect on Noah in a wicked world (Ge. 6) Then
  the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great
  in the earth, and that every intent of the
  thoughts of his heart was only evil continually
  But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD
  (5, 8).

34
Discussion Questions

• Lesson To Learn The wicked will not be spared
  by the presence of a few good people among them.
  The innocent will not have to bear the guilt of
  the wicked --- though they may suffer some evil
  consequences from the wickedness of others. Ex.
  1820 1414 316-21 94 Ge. 6 19 Ac. 84
  Mt. 2437-39)
• Israel in wicked Egypt. Good happened even in
  bondage. And I will give this people favor in
  the sight of the Egyptians and it shall be, when
  you go, that you shall not go empty-handedAnd
  the LORD will make a difference between the
  livestock of Israel and the livestock of Egypt.
  So nothing shall die of all that belongs to the
  children of Israel (321 94).
• Christians persecuted in a wicked and perverse
  generation Therefore those who were scattered
  went everywhere preaching the word (Ac. 84).
• The end of time will be like the days of Noah
  But as the days of Noah were, so also will the
  coming of the Son of Man be. For as in the days
  before the flood, they were eating and drinking,
  marrying and giving in marriage, until the day
  that Noah entered the ark, and did not know until
  the flood came and took them all away, so also
  will the coming of the Son of Man be (Mt.
  2437-39).

35
Discussion Questions Final Thoughts

• Lesson To Learn We are "watchmen" for God
  today. (Mt. 2641 715-20 II Co. 104-5 Hb.
  312 21-4 Ga. 61 Jm. 519-20 Jude 20-23
  Re. 315 I Co. 31-3)
• Fight arguments of men casting down arguments
  and every high thing that exalts itself against
  the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into
  captivity to the obedience of Christ (II Co.
  105).
• Beware of wolves in sheeps clothing (Mt.
  715-20).
• Beware of unbelief (Hb. 312)
• Beware of neglect, compromise and drifting.
  we must give the more earnest heed to the
  things we have heard, lest we drift away (Hb.
  21-4).
• Be a watchman Watch and pray, lest you enter
  into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing,
  but the flesh is weak (Mt. 2641).

36
Discussion Questions Final Thoughts

• Lesson To Learn We are "watchmen" for God
  today. (Mt. 2641 715-20 II Co. 104-5 Hb.
  312 21-4 Ga. 61 Jm. 519-20 Jude 20-23
  Re. 315 I Co. 31-3)
• Watch for the weak Brethren, if a man is
  overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual
  restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness,
  considering yourself lest you also be tempted
  (Ga. 61).
• Watch for the erring Brethren, if anyone among
  you wanders from the truth, and someone turns him
  back, let him know that he who turns a sinner
  from the error of his way will save a soul from
  death and cover a multitude of sins (Jm.
  519-20).
• Watch for lost souls keep yourselves in the
  love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord
  Jesus Christ unto eternal life. And on some have
  compassion, making a distinction but others save
  with fear, pulling them out of the fire, hating
  even the garment defiled by the flesh (Jude
  20-23).
• Watch for indifference I know your works, that
  you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you
  were cold or hot. So then, because you are
  lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit
  you out of My mouth (Re. 315-16).