Ezra chapter 2. Ezra chapter 2. I'm just going to read one verse. Though really we'll mention some other verses in the chapter and right down to the end as well on verse 70. But just chapter 2 verse 1. Now these are the children of the providence that went up out of the captivity. of those which had been carried away whom Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, carried away unto Babylon, and came again unto Jerusalem, and Judah, every one unto his city. The book of Ezra falls into two sections. The first section includes chapters 1 through chapter 6 as we've been learning on recent Wednesday nights. And then the second section of the book is from chapter 7 through chapter 10. One detail that shows the division of this book is at the start of each section there is a name of a Persian king or a Persian emperor. For instance in chapter 1 verse 1 there is the name of Cyrus, king of Persia. And then in chapter 7 verse 1 there is a reference to Oedipus, the king of Persia. the King Cyrus of Persia, he conquered the Babylonian Empire, ushering in the rule of the Persian Empire that continued for the next 200 years. However, the king identified in chapter 7 verse 1 is Artaxerxes, who was a much later Persian ruler. We learn in chapter 7, verse 1, about the reign of Urtaxerxes. And during his reign, Ezra returned to Jerusalem. So chapters 1 to 6 really summarizes the first return, and then chapter 7 is the return with Ezra. Chapters 1 to 6, you have the man Cyrus, and then chapter 7 through 10, you have Urtaxerxes. The Book of Ezra gives the record of two different returns of God's people to Babylon, or from Babylon. The first was under Zerubbabel in 538 BC, and then the second under Ezra in 458 BC. And while there may be time differences as you read different commentaries or different things online, some of the dates or some of the years may be two or three years difference, but around 80 years, was then between the two returns, between Zerubbabel leading a group out in chapter one and then chapter seven where you have Ezra. Of course, later on when you come to Nehemiah and Nehemiah's book, you then have the third return where Nehemiah brought the third company to Jerusalem. And we've been learning this on recent Wednesday nights. They all had a part to play in the work of God. The whole point of the book of Ezra It's all about the reviving, the restoring of worship. The temple is being built. The place to come and offer sacrifice is being established again. Remember, the temple was destroyed 70 years previous. by the Babylonians. Well now God calls his people back to rebuild that temple, to have the altar rebuilt again, and the sacrifices offered because those sacrifices, they all pointed to the Lord Jesus Christ, the one who would come in the fullness of time as that one sacrifice for sin. As we learned this afternoon with the young people and the boys and girls, which taketh away the sin of the world. And so the temple was rebuilt, the altar was set up, the sacrifices, all the worship centered again upon the Lord Jesus Christ. Because when God gathers his people together, it is that their worship will be centered upon the Lamb, upon the Lord Jesus Christ. And then we learn when Nehemiah comes along, Nehemiah is all about rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem. Building that protection, that security around the city and around the temple. Because while you had the temple there, while it was rebuilt, yet there was no security around the area. And so the enemy could come in like a flood. the enemy could easily attack and so Nehemiah came to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem to have that protection and so God raised up his men for the work and so as we come to the book of Ezra Ezra is the penman of this book. Like all writers, he was a man moved by the Holy Ghost and he gave the word of God. As we come to Ezra chapter 2, there is the summary in relation to the first return of the Jews to Babylon in the year of Cyrus. And there is a registry recorded. The names, the details are all listed. You have the number, the names and the need of all the people recorded. The Lord was working, visiting his people, reviving his work, supplying the workers for the work, and going back. And we've already learned in chapter one how God not only raised up the people to go back, but also all the material, all the things to build the house off of the Lord. Because God is not the God of confusion, rather He is a God of order. 1 Corinthians 14 verse 33, God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints. Verse 40, let all things be done decently and in order. That was written to the church at Corinth, a church filled with chaos, a church filled with disorder of various kinds. The church at Corinth was called a troubled church. And so Paul made the point that God is not a God of chaos. He's a God of order, and his work will be done in order. God raises up certain rules for his work, certain areas of service in his work. God's work is not done by every man doing that which is right in his own eyes. Rather, Christ's church is marked by order. for the spiritual growth and benefit of the work of God. And therefore we must pray over the words of Ezra and pray that God would raise up the standard again and that our focus again will be centered always upon the preaching of the gospel, the preaching of Jesus Christ, that when we come to God's house it is to have our minds centered again on that one sacrifice for sin, the Lord Jesus Christ, Ezra, called the people together again. And we will learn through the book of Ezra, during those services, there was families, men, women, even young children gathered together. Here in Ezra chapter 2, we learn the registry is recorded of all those whose spirit God had raised up to go to build the house of the lord which is in jerusalem and for this message today i want to focus on the first two points and it is the registry that is recorded here in chapter two records the number and the names of the lord's people who returned to jerusalem and then in another message we will consider the need of the lord's people because the need shows that there were priests who returned There were those who had different areas in the work who returned. There were those who were the porters who opened the house of God. Everyone had a work to do for God. That was the need. But today we want to look at the number and the names of the Lord's people that is recorded and make application. Notice first of all the registry recorded the number of the Lord's people. It's interesting to note that the register, or the registry that is recorded here in Ezra chapter 2, that's what really you have from verse 2 right down to near enough verse, if you like, 61. It is the whole register. You have there basically a whole history, a whole list of all who returned in the first return. It's interesting to learn that this first return under Surubbabel in Ezra chapter 2 is also recorded in Nehemiah chapter 7 verse 5. Ezra is pointing out that the first group that would leave with Surubbabel And then also years later, when Nehemiah led the third group, they're all recorded. And so from the first group who left with Zerubbabel, then 80 years later, the second group left with Ezra. And then about 13 years after that, the third group was led by Nehemiah. And so from the time from the first group to the third group, from Zerubbabel to Ezra to Nehemiah is roughly about 90 to 93 years. Now again, as I said, depends on what particular source you use with dates and figures. As I said, some may just be out by a few years. But Ezra here has recorded the first return. And then Nehemiah, when he comes back on the third return, because so many people are in Jerusalem by that stage, he wants to go back to the original list and find out the recording and so we learn in Nehemiah chapter 7 verse 5 and God put into my heart to gather the nobles and the rulers of the people that they might be reckoned by genealogy and I found a register of the genealogy of them which came up at the first that is Ezra and found written therein And through the book of Nehemiah, not only chapter 7, but also chapter 11, Nehemiah makes these different registers as the people kept coming to Jerusalem. More and more people were coming. But the point is, in Ezra chapter 2, when you have recorded this first list, this first register, of the people coming back from Babylon to Jerusalem, that same list is given in Nehemiah chapter 7. It comprises the whole company who returned. And the number is 42,360. That is found in Ezra chapter 2, verse 64, and Nehemiah chapter 7, verse 68. the whole congregation together was 42 40 and 2303 score and so these details are important because the lord has seen fit in his word to record the number of the people that was brought back to the land the land promised to them you have it here recorded and remember god's word is given by There's nothing here by chance or by boredom or just to fill pages. God has put this here in his word for a lesson, because those who left Babylon to return to Jerusalem, the number of them, they're all recorded. And Nehemiah finds that register, and he's able to look at that number, and it all compares together. And so what lessons can we learn from these words about the register, about the number of people recorded who left Babylon, the place of idolatry, the place of paganism, and came back to Jerusalem, the promised land, the place where God had his people? Because remember, we learned in chapter 1, they came back by the word of God and by the will of God to do the work of God. What lessons can we learn? What application can we draw to our own hearts? And it is simply this, the Lord knows the number of his people. The Lord knows the number of his own redeemed. 2nd Timothy chapter 2 verse 19, the Lord knoweth them that are his. The Lord Jesus in prayer to his heavenly father in John chapter 17 mentions many times the phrase, them which thou hast given me. And so there is this number whom the Father has given to the Son. And that helps answer the question, how many people will be registered in the Lamb's Book of Life? What makes up the number of those in the Lamb's Book of Life? When the roll is called up yonder, how many will be there? and it is all whom the father hath given to the son not one will be lost not one will be left behind again john 17 verse 2 he should give christ should give eternal life to as many as thou has given him verse 24 father I will, that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am, that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me." The Lord Jesus Christ said, of all whom the Father had given him, John chapter 10 verse 16 other sheep have I which they're off this fold them also I must bring they shall hear my voice and there shall be one fold one shepherd and that one fold is made up consists of all whom the father hath given to the son he knows the number who have been given to him again john chapter 10 Verse 27 to 29. And I was struck. I've memorized these verses many, many times. And I've looked at these words many, many times. But again, as you keep reading over God's word and memorizing again God's word, there's always a wee phrase that always jumps out there. And you come and say, who put that in my Bible? But it's always been there. But it's just, as you read it, it just pops out again. And again, it says, my sheep. hear my voice i know them and they follow me and i give on to them eternal life and they shall never perish neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand now here it is my father which give them me my father which gave them to me so all the people who will be in heaven redeemed by precious blood are all whom the father has given the son how many people that's the great question people always ask will there be more people in heaven or will there be more people in hell it's a big debate It's a big conversation. It was even asked in our Bible college. Who do you think? Will there be more people in heaven or there'll be more people in hell? And everybody has different opinions. But I tell you this here, And, well, I can give you what I think. I agree with what Dr. Kearns said one day. He said he believed there'd be more people in heaven because, in all things, the Father will have the preeminence. But you take the point in this. In heaven, all who will be there, will be everyone whom the Father hath given the Son." So when you're asked, will there be more people in heaven, or will there be more people in hell? When you get into this big debate, which is really pointless, the truth of the matter is, you can just answer them, well, do you know what? I believe the Bible says this, all whom the Father hath given the Son, they will be there, and not one of them will be lost. And so that's a theological answer, that's a biblical answer. That's an amen, amen. That's right, you can shout that louder and you can say hallelujah as well because it is true. And one day, oh let me finish the verse by the way. My father is greater than all. And now notice, it all ties together. And no man is able to pluck them out of my father's hand. So think about that. No man can pluck you out of the Father's hand. That word pluck means to take by force. And I've always used this illustration before. In Dominican Republic, when we were there years ago, visiting our family there, back then when they got the turkeys, and maybe in Ghana and other countries, I don't know what you do when you get live chickens. Here, obviously, you go to the shop and it's already done for you. Over there, you have to do it yourself. And you get the turkey, whatever the chicken, you put it in the water, the hot water and all these different things out of the process, I can't remember it all, but this head's flapping around and all the hair there. And what they have to do, whenever they've done whatever they need to do, I'll just cut all the details out, they have to then take the feathers out. And what they do, her auntie was plucking all the feathers out, like this here, by force. And I'm sitting there watching the whole thing, going, well, they'll hear stuff. And that's what that word means. It means to pluck by force. And when she was doing it, she was getting that thing, plucking all those feathers out. And that's what that word means. That's what the illustration means. It means to pluck out by force. And so the whole point is this. All whom the Father has given the Son, No man will be able to pluck them from him by force, not even the devil. No one can take anyone out of heaven in that sense. You're safe and secure. And so how many people will be in heaven? all whom the Father has given the Son, because none will be able to pluck them out of my Father's hand." That is your eternal security. That's why if you're a believer, you are assured of heaven. You are assured of eternal life, because you have been given by the Father to the Son, and no man can pluck you from the Father. No man can pluck you from heaven. Even the Lord said, um in the first in john chapter six all that the father giveth me again there's it again shall come to me and him that cometh to me i will in no wise cast out and the word cast out means to expel so why will you never be in hell if you're a christian Because you can never be expelled from heaven. You can never be kicked out from heaven. That is your eternal security. You've come to Christ. He will never expel you. He will never cast you off. No man can pluck you. Why? Because you've been given by the Father to Christ. And therefore, what a wonderful blessed assurance, what hope there is for the people of God. Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine. Believer, you will enter into heaven saved by Jesus' blood. And so we're making application. Remember the people were in Babylon, in pagan bondage, but God had decreed after 70 years they will come to Jerusalem, the place where I have appointed my people to be. And after 70 years God's word is now fulfilled, that first group that's been recorded here, leaves under Zerubbabel and they leave Babylon, they go back to Jerusalem where God has put his name to bless. and every one of them their names and the number is recorded and what a blessing that is for us we have been brought out of pagan bondage out of our sin and given to the father again by the father to christ And we've now entered in the spiritual blessings in the Lord Jesus Christ. So the registry recorded the number of all the people. There's not one believer, Christian, who will ever be lost. And again, taking the whole scene, when they all reach Babylon, all that company arrive in Babylon. And so you, as the people of God, will all enter into your heavenly Jerusalem. Not one will be left out. Not one will be left behind. Not one will be lost. Notice secondly, The registry recorded not only the number of the people, but also the names of the people, the names of the Lord's people. Again, chapter 2, verse 1 begins, now these are the children of the province. that went up out of the captivity of those which had been carried away whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away onto Babylon and came again onto Jerusalem and Judah every one onto his city. Now, the returning exiles are described here as the children of province, meaning of the Persian province of Judea. They came back to their own land, but they were still within the boundaries of the emperor and subject to the rule of the law of the land. But from verses two through verse 61, maybe 62, you will see there are many names recorded. And these names all record the various families and I encourage you certainly you can read on down the list of all those names. For instance, verse 8 until verse 62, you read the repeated expression, the children of, the children of. the children of. And then each time it is followed by a certain name. Now obviously we cannot go through every single name that is in the list. But remember, as we've said before, names in the Bible and places in the Bible have particular meaning. They give particular insight to that person or a particular worker, some sort of characteristic that there's a lesson there to be taught. And while we must not stretch the meaning, yet there are spiritual lessons to learn. And just taking a few, notice verse three, the children of Parosh. Now the name Parosh means fleeing or to flee. And that's very significant because he's mentioned first in this company and what were they doing? They were fleeing out of Babylon. And so the believer is on the flight from the world to the land of promise. This world is not our final home. We are fleeing onto a better land. We seek a city whose builder and maker is God. This world is not our final home. We are just passing through. Verse four, there is the name Sheb Atah. that means Jehovah is judge. And then verse 5, Ara, that means traveler or warfaring. And so the whole congregation who were led out of captivity led out of Babylon by Sir Rubble. Remember when we looked at Sir Rubble on a number of Wednesday nights ago, there was three names that were given to him. His name means the seed of Babylon, born in Babylon, or a stranger in Babylon. He's called Sir Rubble. That's the three meanings of the name of Shavuot. Then we learn he is called Shaspasar here in chapter 1. And the name Shaspasar means joy in tribulation. He is also called the Prince of Judah because he came from the royal line of Judah. And you know later Christ came from the line of Judah. And so when you put all this together, the company fleeing, traveling out of Babylon, are led by one who is royal. One who at the same time was a stranger in Babylon. One who led the people out of bondage to give joy and tribulation. bringing them to a better land, a land of promise. And so we see Christ in all this because God's people are travellers. We are brought out of spiritual darkness, out of the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of light. We leave our spiritual Babylon, our spiritual bondage, our spiritual captivity behind. and we are led out, we are set free, we are brought out by one who himself is royal, one who was a stranger to others, having left heaven to come to a world full of sin, one who came to give joy in our tribulation, to lead a people to a better land, a heavenly kingdom, and one day we will enter into heaven guaranteed because our saviour has gone before us servable this royal ruler he led the people forward back to jerusalem and so our saviour our king our redeemer leads his people onward to a better land so we have not only the the number that is recorded. But here as you read on down this chapter, you have all the names recorded. And every name is precious. Every name tells a story. Every name is important. And you can personalize it, believer, as we make application. When it comes to our names in a register, the Lamb's Book of Life, your name is personally recorded and your name is precious to the lord jesus christ again john 14 verse 10 i am the good shepherd the lord says Notice, I know my sheep. He knows his sheep. Again, link the two together. He knows you by name and he knows the whole number. He knows all, his own redeemed, his own fold, but individually. He knows you all by name. And of course we know He makes intercession. That's why the minister, I can say truthfully in this congregation, I pray for you individually every single day. I know there's a whole band of people, but I know individually as well, your name is precious to me. And I, offer up prayer for you individually, every day, because we're taught that. Because Christ's people is precious to Him. The names in the list are precious. And so your name is precious even to me. He knows His people because He has saved them. He has brought them into everlasting union. And Revelation chapter 21 verse 27 says, These are written in the Lamb's book of life. Just think about that. Just as the people here in Ezra, chapter 2, they are recorded. Their names are written down in a register, in a rule book. It's there. It's kept. It's secure. So everyone who is saved, your name is written in the lamb's book of life and on that basis john chapter 10 verse 3 he calleth his own sheep by name and leadeth them out and that is amazing even now in heaven he lives to pray for his people he continues his ministry as our great high priest in heaven as he did on earth remember those times on earth when he came to peter and told him that satan was soon to attack but i have prayed for thee or even as joshua the high priest in the sakurai chapter three there was that great Picture of Christ advocating for his people. And so even in heaven, he knows you by name, and he prays for you. Believer, your work is not in vain in the Lord. He knows every effort you give, every sacrifice you make for his glory, and they that honor him, he will honor. By naming the individual families in this list, and I said, you can read this list when you go home. Ezra reminds us, as Nehemiah, when he picks up this list, many, many, many, many, many years later, everyone who came back to Jerusalem to do the work, they were all important. They all were special. They were all a part of the congregation serving God in his work. And it's amazing, as we think about the Lamb's Book of Life, there are places people can write their name, but there's a book that no man can put their name. Only one who can write the name, and that is God. You can write your name on a bit of paper anywhere on earth, but you yourself cannot write your name in heaven. Only the Lord can do that. Why? Because salvation is off the Lord. He is the one who must record your name. And he knows the names of his people, all who are saved by his blood. Revelation 21, 27, they which are written in the Lamb's book of life. That's the only book that counts. You can have your name, in a baptismal book or roll, church dedication, church, a registry of each week of this congregation, who attends each week of this congregation. You can have your name on so many things, but they are only temporal and they will perish. You must have your name in the Lamb's book of life, for that is eternal. That is everlasting. That is the only place, and I don't mean this ignorantly, but that is the only place where your name is worth having. The Lamb's Book of Life. Anywhere else it will fail, it will perish, but the Lamb's Book of Life is everlasting. Revelation chapter 20 verse 15, And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. Just think about that. Those whose names are not written in the Lamb's book of life, whenever they stand before God, they will be cast into the lake of fire, into everlasting torment, everlasting judgment, because they rejected Christ, because they never put their faith in Christ, because their names are not written in the Lamb's Book of Life. Revelation 20, verse 10, and the devil that deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night forever and ever. That is you if you are not saved. If you are not a Christian, your name is not in the Lamb's book of life. Your name may be many other places. And it may be appreciated, maybe all the young people in school. You may, on your last day of college, your last day of school, got your shirt and everybody wrote their name on your shirt. I know that still happens, and I know in our day it did. Everybody wrote your name and all that. Great, I have people's name on my shirt and I have my name on their shirt. And they walk around that. You can have your name on so many things. But if your name is not written in heaven, you will perish for all eternity. That's the only book, the only place worth having your name. And let me ask you seriously, because no man is promised tomorrow. We know not what a day may bring forth. I'm not here to try and scare you in the salvation, but I'm here to be honest and be serious. Now, every time you hear the gospel, that has God in grace given you an opportunity to be saved. Is your name in the Lamb's Book of Life? Can you say to me, preacher, it is? Then praise the Lord. If it is, it's because you realized I was a lost sinner. I was going to hell, but I asked the Lord to save me. In that moment, He got your name and wrote it in the Lamb's Book of Life. But if you can say, preacher, you know what? In all honesty, for all the times I've come to this church and sat under great men, godly men, Reverend Gordon Ferguson, Reverend Patrick Baker, even sat under your own ministry, and you know what? I'm not saved. People think I'm saved. I've got by, you know, and all the rest. but I'm not a Christian. My name is not written in the Lamb's Book of Life. And do you know what, preacher? If I died today or next week, I would go to hell. I urge you, come this day. Come right now and ask Jesus Christ to save you. Don't even think, well, do you know what? If I do this, my mum thinks I'm saved or my dad thinks I'm saved. If I do this here, it'll be a whole disappointment. No, it will not. it will be a joy to actually know it's well with your soul. You may say, but what about you, preacher? I've sung here with the youth group and I've done things for the church. And if I come and tell you I want to get saved, you may say to me, shame on you, heathen. I say, no, I say, praise the Lord. I'm just glad you know that when you die, you will go to heaven. This is something you cannot play with. This is about your eternal destination. Job said, man dieth, he wasteth away. Where is he? And you know what, that question is always asked when someone dies. Where is he? Where is she? Are they in heaven? Are they in hell? Is your name written? in the Lamb's Book of Life. Ezra chapter 2, those who left Babylon, the Lord has in his word, the whole number is recorded, not one were lost, they all safely arrived and every name was recorded as well. Next time, God willing, we will look how the registry recorded the need of God's people.