Introduction.

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God [sent] His Prophets, who continuously prophesied the fall of that same Kingdom, yet always with an accompanying consolation based on the promises of God; Just as Isaiah especially proclaimed to Ahaz: Ahaz was a King of Judah who faced military threats; the prophet Isaiah was sent to him with a sign of hope. Isaiah 7:14. Behold, a Virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and you shall call his name Immanuel. And also: To us a child is born, a Son is given to us: It would be too long to recount all those abundant prophecies regarding the coming, life, suffering, death, and glory of the Messiah found in this Prophet.

In the time of Jeremiah, when the city was besieged by Nebuchadnezzar and its fall stood at the very door, the Prophet, while constantly crying out about its destruction, comforted them in the midst of this distress with God's gracious promise: Year 3354. Jeremiah 33:14. Behold, the time comes, says the Lord, that I will fulfill that gracious word which I have spoken to the house of Israel and to the house of Judah: In those same days, and at that same time, I will cause a branch of righteousness to grow up for David, and he shall be a King who shall reign well, and establish justice and righteousness on the earth. original: "vrucht der gerechtigheyt," literally "fruit of righteousness," but traditionally translated in English Bibles as "Branch of righteousness." With this saying, he intended to make known that they should turn their minds away from that present Kingdom and look toward the kingdom that God had provided for them.

Thereupon soon followed the destruction of the city, with the carrying away of the Sanctuary and all of Judah into Babylonia. There, God also did not cease to comfort His people through these promises, both through the Prophet Ezekiel as well as through Daniel. Ezekiel 34:15. This Prophet [Daniel], endowed with a high wisdom, turned himself not only to the captive Jews but also to the ruling Heathens. For when the great King Nebuchadnezzar (who was the head of the Babylonian Monarchy) boasted greatly of his vast power and wealth, God instructed him through a dream regarding how it would go with his kingdom and the kingdoms that would follow ...