The principle dates, the Kings, and the chronological events of the Old Testament Prophets.
- For us to fully appreciate the book of Isaiah in its historical context and by contemporary prophets, this study is needed.
- The Old Testament concludes with 17 prophetic books by 16 prophets, containing 250 chapters or 21% of the Bible.
- Most Bible readers have little understanding of the historical context and relationship of these prophets to each other.
- They may know a few verses in Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Daniel and/or the books of Jonah and Malachi and little more.
- Prophet = divine messenger = revealer of God and His will = man of God = warning watchman = barking watchdog.
- The 17 prophetic books were divided by the Jews and thus the placement in your Bible into Major and Minor prophets.
- The five Major Prophets are Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel, and Daniel – five books written by four prophets.
- The twelve Minor Prophets are the last twelve books of the Old Testament – twelve books written by twelve prophets.
- The common, simple distinction of Major and Minor refers only to their size, not of inspiration or importance at all.
- The Major Prophets have 183 chapters, and the Minor Prophets have 67 chapters, totaling 250, close to the N.T. 260.
- The Jews set the prophets into two categories, and God preserved these groups, with each group in its own time order.
- Thus, the prophets Isaiah and Hosea are precise contemporaries (Is 1:1; Hos 1:1), though one Major and one Minor.
- The Holy Spirit by Zechariah identified former prophets based on Jerusalem’s capture (Zech 1:4; 7:7,12; II Chron 24:19-20; 36:15-16; Neh 9:26-38; Isaiah 30:8-14; Jer 6:9-19; 13:17-19; 25:1-11; 44:1-6; Matt 27:9 cp Zech 11:12-13).
- In the chronological table following, we trust the work of Martin Anstey (chronology published 1913) and Philip Mauro (1859-1952). To them we add J.A. Moorman (currently living) but not Floyd Nolen Jones (currently living).
- Most chronologers, study Bibles, and pastors trust the pagan astrologist Ptolemy over the inspired prophets Daniel and Isaiah, but some good men exposed Ptolemy’s errors e.g. Ernest L. Martin (1998) and Robert R. Newton (1977).
- Due to lack of records, six centuries after the Persian Empire Ptolemy estimated it to be 82 years longer than it was.
- Ptolemy’s error, extending Persia’s Empire, forces interpreters to reject Cyrus’s decree to start the 70-weeks prophecy, though John Calvin and Matthew Henry in their commentaries on the whole Bible knew the decree of Cyrus to be it.
- We reject with disdain any starting point other than Cyrus, any 69th week event other than our Lord’s baptism, and any mid-70th week event other than our Lord’s death. Of course, Dispensationalists flunk all three measures of integrity.
- Significant events prompted the first wave of prophets – Assyria (Nineveh) taking Israel – Assyria besieging Jerusalem and being destroyed by God’s angel – Assyria pounding all the nations around Judah – and the rise of mighty Babylon.
- Significant events prompted a second wave of prophets – fall of Assyria and destruction of Nineveh – Babylon taking captives and destroying Jerusalem – 70 years captivity of Daniel and others in Babylon – restored to the land by Cyrus.
- Significant events prompted a third wave of prophets – difficulties and enemies getting the city and temple rebuilt as recorded in Ezra and Nehemiah – national wickedness again rebuked by Malachi as the O.T. closes around 400 B.C.
Notes for Table Above
A.D. = dating for years by Dionysius Exiguus in 525 to replace AM; used by all after England’s Bede in 731; it is 4 or more years late for Jesus’ birth.
Ahaz = a terrible king of Judah; Hezekiah’s father; he closed the temple, built altars to idols, burned his children; Judah was judged by Israel and Syria.
Alexander = the great, of Greece; referred to in six Bible chapters (Dan 2,7,8,10,11; Ezek 26); ended Persian empire, merciful to Jews; taught 8/4/10.
Amos = prophet to Israel the ten tribes; early while Jeroboam II lived (Am 1:1); herdsman/ fruit-gatherer; foretold Acts 15 conversions; cursed Amaziah.
Augustus = Octavian, adopted by Julius Caesar, defeated the Greeks (Ptolemies) of Marc Antony and Cleopatra; first emperor of Rome; see Luke 2:1.
Bible Date = true B.C. dates by Philip Mauro and Martin Anstey correcting Ptolemy’s 82-year error that corrupts all other O.T. Bible dating systems.
Cyrus = of Persia took Babylon with Darius the Mede; Isaiah wrote of him by name 150+ years before his birth; he issued decree to rebuild Jerusalem.
Daniel = major prophet by size (357/197/211); first captives in Babylon; great prophecies of the world; Jesus pushed (Matt 24:15); taught 6/4/14, etc.
Darius = the Persian Empire had several; the one listed is Darius Hystaspes, who in the Bible is Darius the Persian, Ahasuerus (Esther), and Artaxerxes.
Ezekiel = major prophet in Babylon; prophesied before Daniel, thus his position (Ezek 1:1-2; Dan 7:1, etc.); graphic spiritual adultery; last ten obscure.
Earthquake = was referenced by Amos in his opening (Amos 1:1), which made it early in the reign of Uzziah while Jeroboam II lived (Zech 14:5).
Foreign King = the Bible names a few kings of foreign nations; those included are well known; they are Assyrian, Babylonian, Persian, Greek, Roman.
Habakkuk = prophet before fall of Jerusalem (Hab 1:5-11; Zep 1:1); exchange with God about His sovereign power; ends gloriously; taught 6/17/07.
Haggai = prophet of third wave to rebuild (Ezra 4:24; 5:1-2; 6:14-15); Darius the Persian is Ahasuerus; practical lessons; glory of Jesus; taught 7/15/15.
Hezekiah = a great king; at 25 started revival; greatly blessed; faced Sennacherib; fatal illness; failed with ambassadors; son Manasseh; taught 4/4/18.
Hosea = prophet to Israel – the ten tribes (Hos 1:4-5; 14:1-8). He may have been first to prophesy. He married an adulteress to illustrate Israel’s sins.
Interregnum = interval without successor to throne; notice one for 22 years between Jeroboam II and Zachariah; common in nations and in the Bible.
Isaiah = major prophet to Judah and Jerusalem; in N.T. Esaias. Little known, but his ministry was under Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah (Is 1:1).
Israel King = the kings of the ten tribes after Rehoboam caused a civil war; Jeroboam I son of Nebat gave them two golden calves for religious identity.
Jeroboam II = the second Jeroboam ruling Israel; this one was son of Joash king of Israel; the other Jeroboam was son of Nebat, Rehoboam’s nemesis.
Jeremiah = major prophet of second wave (Jer 1:1-3); more verses than Isaiah; historical about Judah and Babylon; political intrigue; 70-year prophecy.
Joel = prophet to Judah (Joel 1:9,13-14); before Amos; ravaging locusts, repentance for mercy, foretold Pentecost, 70 A.D., and vengeance on enemies.
Jonah = prophet to Nineveh; early (II Kgs 14:25); rebellious, hateful prophet; practical mercy only; God destroyed city later. Taught 9/9/18 & 3/25/12.
Jotham = a good king, but not great, for 16 years; the record states he did not sin like his father Uzziah to presume on the priests; people were corrupt.
Judah King = the Davidic ruler after the nation split due to Rehoboam’s folly, only Benjamin stayed with Judah; the other ten tribes are called Israel.
Major Prophet = a distinction started by the Jewish scribes and kept in our English Bibles – the five largest prophets are put first among the prophets.
Malachi = last of third wave, then 400 years silence; recovered Jews sinned again; compare Nehemiah 13; foretold John, Jesus, 70 A.D.; taught 2/9/14.
Micah = prophet of the latter part of Isaiah and Hosea’s ministries (Mic 1:1); last of first wave; to both Israel and Judah; named Bethlehem for Jesus.
Minor Prophet = a distinction started by Jewish scribes and kept in our English Bibles – the twelve smallest prophets are put last among the prophets.
Lamentations = major prophet; epilogue to Jeremiah, after fall of Jerusalem (Lam 1:1-8); he detailed the horror due to Judah’s sins and God’s rights.
Nahum = prophet foretold detailed fall of Nineveh (Nah 1:1; 2:8; 3:7); first chapter glorious terms; ruins of Nineveh found about 1850; taught 7/15/07.
Obadiah = prophet against Edom; shortest O.T. book; early by position/content (Is 34:5-8; 63:1-6; Joel 3:19; Amos 1:11; II Chr 28:17); taught 3/13/05.
Uzziah = a good king, but not great one, for 52 years; prospered by God’s blessings, but he proudly presumed on the office of priest; he died a leper.
Zechariah = prophet of third wave to rebuild (Ezra 4:24; 5:1-2; 6:14-15); Darius the Persian is Ahasuerus; obscure visions; many prophecies of N.T.
Zephaniah = prophet about 25 years before fall of Jerusalem (Zep 1:1); great-great-grandson of Hezekiah; he foretold ruin of neighbors; taught 1/22/06.
For Further Study
Heathen Astrologer or Hebrew Prophet … by Paul Crosby (2013) … https://www.letgodbetrue.com/bible/prophecy/cyrus-decree-to-rebuild.php.
The Wonders of Bible Chronology by Philip Mauro … https://www.amazon.com/Wonders-Bible-Chronology-Complete-Original/dp/1546325379.
Bible Chronology: The Two Great Divides by J.A. Moorman … http://www.bethelbaptistlondon.com/Bible%20Chronology.pdf.
Chronology of the Old Testament (Volume 1) by Martin Anstey … https://www.letgodbetrue.com/reference/anstey/anstey1.pdf.
Chronology of the Old Testament (Volume 2) by Martin Anstey … https://www.letgodbetrue.com/reference/anstey/anstey2.pdf.
Chronological Falsehoods by Ernest L. Martin (1998) … http://www.askelm.com/prophecy/p980304.htm.
The Strange Case of Claudius Ptolemy by Robert R. Newton … https://www.jhuapl.edu/techdigest/views/pdfs/V16_N2_1977/V16_N2_1977_Newton.pdf.
The Crime of Claudius Ptolemy by Robert R. Newton (1977) … https://www.amazon.com/Claudius-Ptolemy-Professor-Robert-Newton/dp/0801819903.
The Seventy Weeks of Daniel by Philip Mauro … https://www.preteristarchive.com/Books/1921_mauro_seventy-weeks.html.
Great Prophecies of the Bible by Ralph Woodrow … https://www.letgodbetrue.com/bible/prophecy/great-prophecies-of-the-bible.php.
The Prophets of God … a sermon series about prophets in general … https://www.letgodbetrue.com/pdf/prophets-of-god.pdf.
Rude Preachers … a sermon documenting the harsh manner of God’s preachers … https://www.letgodbetrue.com/pdf/rude-preachers.pdf.
Instant Preaching … a sermon documenting the intense efforts to persuade by prophets … https://www.letgodbetrue.com/pdf/instant-preaching.pdf.
Hosea … expository survey of this minor prophet contemporary to Isaiah … https://www.letgodbetrue.com/pdf/Hosea.pdf.
Obadiah … expository preaching of this minor prophet foretelling Edom’s destruction … https://www.letgodbetrue.com/pdf/obadiah.pdf.
Jonah … PPT slides of this early minor prophet about Nineveh and Assyria … https://www.letgodbetrue.com/pdf/jonah-slides.pdf.
Jonah … expository preaching of this early minor prophet about Nineveh and Assyria … https://www.letgodbetrue.com/pdf/gleanings-from-jonah.pdf.
Nahum … expository preaching of this minor prophet foretelling Nineveh’s overthrow … https://www.letgodbetrue.com/sermons/exposition/nahum/sermon.php.
Habakkuk … expository preaching of this minor prophet about chastening … https://www.letgodbetrue.com/sermons/exposition/habakkuk/sermon.php.
Zephaniah … expository preaching of this minor prophet warning Judah before Nebuchadnezzar … https://www.letgodbetrue.com/pdf/zephaniah.pdf.
Daniel … expository outlines of whole book, especially the prophetic chapters of 7-12 … https://www.letgodbetrue.com/bible/prophecy/daniel.php.
Daniel 9 … PPT slides to show the prophecy of 70 weeks in detail … https://www.letgodbetrue.com/pdf/daniel-9.pdf.
Haggai … PPT slides of this minor prophet’s 12 lessons after return from Babylon … https://www.letgodbetrue.com/pdf/haggai.pdf.
Malachi 1 … expository outline of this minor prophet’s first chapter before intertestamental period … https://www.letgodbetrue.com/pdf/malachi-1.pdf.
Malachi 2 … expository outline of this minor prophet’s first chapter before intertestamental period … https://www.letgodbetrue.com/pdf/malachi-2.pdf.
Malachi 3 … expository outline of this minor prophet’s first chapter before intertestamental period … https://www.letgodbetrue.com/pdf/malachi-1.pdf.
Malachi 4 … expository outline of this minor prophet’s first chapter before intertestamental period … https://www.letgodbetrue.com/pdf/malachi-1.pdf.
Nehemiah Housecleaning … summary of reforms pressed in Nehemiah 13 … https://www.letgodbetrue.com/pdf/housecleaning-nehemiah-13.pdf.
An Offended Virgin … PPT slides of God’s judgment against Sennacherib and Assyria … https://www.letgodbetrue.com/pdf/virgin-daughter-of-zion.pdf.
Alexander the Great … PPT slides for the six Bible passages mentioning him … https://www.letgodbetrue.com/bible/prophecy/alexander.php.
The Maccabees … PPT slides introducing these famous Jewish and Bible heroes … https://www.letgodbetrue.com/pdf/maccabees.pdf.
What About the 2300 Days? … simply summary of terrible errors in Bible chronology … https://www.letgodbetrue.com/pdf/what-about-the-2300-days.pdf.
B.C. and A.D. Dating … Wikipedia … https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anno_Domini.
B.C. and A.D. Dating … Dionysius Exiguus … https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dionysius_Exiguus.
Witness of 70 A.D. … detailed expository sermons about destruction of Jerusalem … https://www.letgodbetrue.com/sermons/prophecy/70ad/sermon.php.
Glory of Fulfilled Prophecy … sermons of God confirming His word … https://www.letgodbetrue.com/sermons/prophecy/glory-of-fulfilled-prophecy/sermon.php.