Introduction.

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God sent his Prophets, who continually prophesied the fall of that same Kingdom, yet always with an accompanying comfort based on the promises of God; just as Isaiah, in particular, proclaimed to Ahaz: Isaiah 7:14. Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and you shall call his name Immanuel. Isaiah was a 17th-century BCE prophet; Ahaz was a king of Judah who faced military threats. The name 'Immanuel' means 'God with us.' And also: For unto us a child is born, a son is given: It would be too long to recount all the abundant prophecies concerning the coming, life, suffering, death, and glory of the Messiah found in this Prophet. In the time of Jeremiah, when the Year 3354. city was besieged by Nebuchadnezzar The Babylonian king who destroyed Jerusalem in 586 BCE. and its fall stood at the door, the Prophet, constantly crying out about its destruction, comforted them in the midst of this distress with God's gracious promise: Jeremiah 33:14. Behold, the time is coming, 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 days, and at that time, I will cause a branch of righteousness to grow up for David, and he shall be a King who shall reign well, and execute judgment and righteousness on the earth. With this saying, he intended to signify that they should turn their minds away from that present kingdom and look toward the kingdom that God had provided for them. Soon after followed the destruction of the city, with the removal of the Sanctuary and all of Judah into Babylonia. Even there, God did not cease Ezekiel 34:15. to comfort His people through these promises; as much through the Prophet Ezekiel as through Daniel; which Prophet, endowed with 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) took great pride in his immense power and wealth, God instructed him through a dream how it would go with his kingdom and the kingdoms to follow