From Babylon to Bethlehem: God’s Saving Purpose | Jonathan Edwards

Deep Dive into A History of the Work of Redemption by Jonathan Edwards - From Babylonish Captivity to the Coming of ChristThe period from the Babylonish captivity to the birth of Christ represents the final stage of preparation for the work of redemption. This era is distinguished by a transition where inspired history was largely replaced by scripture prophecy and authentic profane records. The work of redemption was carried on through massive providential revolutions, specifically the rise and fall of the Babylonian, Persian, Grecian, and Roman monarchies. These four "overturnings" of the world served to demonstrate the vanity of earthly power and to prepare a way for Christ's eternal kingdom.The Babylonish captivity was a pivotal dispensation that finally cured the Jewish nation of idolatry. It also systematically diminished the external glory of the Jewish church—removing the Davidic crown and temple wonders like the Ark and the Urim and Thummim—to make way for the spiritual glory of Jesus Christ. During this time, the dispersion of the Jews throughout the known world spread the knowledge of the Old Testament and created a global expectation for the Messiah.Cultural shifts furthered this preparation. The Grecian empire established Greek as a common language, facilitating the later writing of the New Testament and the preaching of the apostles. The translation of the Hebrew Scriptures into the Septuagint made divine revelation accessible to Gentiles for the first time. Additionally, the Roman empire provided a unified government and infrastructure that allowed the Gospel to spread with ease across various nations.In the realm of intellect, the height of heathen philosophy proved the insufficiency of human wisdom, highlighting the necessity of a divine teacher. Finally, under Augustus Caesar, the world was brought into a state of universal peace. With all earthly power at its peak and the nations finally quieted from centuries of war, the stage was perfectly set for the incarnation of the Prince of Peace.Reformed Theologian GPT: https://chat.openai.com/g/g-XXwzX1gnv-reformed-theologianhttps://buymeacoffee.com/edi2730