The Decree to Rebuild the Temple is a significant event in biblical history, marking the end of the Babylonian exile and the beginning of the restoration of Jerusalem and its sacred Temple. This decree is primarily associated with the Persian King Cyrus the Great, who played a pivotal role in the fulfillment of biblical prophecy and the restoration of the Jewish people to their homeland.

Historical Context

The Babylonian Empire, under King Nebuchadnezzar II, had destroyed Jerusalem and the First Temple in 586 BC, leading to the exile of the Jewish people. This period of exile lasted approximately 70 years, as prophesied by the prophet Jeremiah: "This whole land will become a desolate wasteland, and these nations will serve the king of Babylon for seventy years" (Jeremiah 25:11).

Cyrus the Great and the Decree

In 539 BC, Cyrus the Great conquered Babylon, establishing the Persian Empire. Shortly thereafter, he issued a decree allowing the Jewish exiles to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the Temple. This decree is recorded in the Book of Ezra: "In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, in order to fulfill the word of the LORD spoken by Jeremiah, the LORD stirred the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia to send a proclamation throughout his kingdom and to put it in writing" (Ezra 1:1).

Cyrus's decree is seen as a direct fulfillment of Isaiah's prophecy, which mentions Cyrus by name as the anointed one who would facilitate the rebuilding of Jerusalem and the Temple: "who says of Cyrus, ‘He is My shepherd, and he will fulfill all My pleasure,’ saying of Jerusalem, ‘She will be rebuilt,’ and of the temple, ‘Your foundation will be laid’" (Isaiah 44:28).

The Return and Rebuilding Efforts

Following the decree, a significant number of Jewish exiles, led by Zerubbabel and Jeshua the high priest, returned to Jerusalem. The Book of Ezra details the initial efforts to rebuild the altar and lay the foundation of the Second Temple: "Then Jeshua son of Jozadak and his fellow priests, along with Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and his associates, began to build the altar of the God of Israel to offer burnt offerings on it, as it is written in the Law of Moses the man of God" (Ezra 3:2).

Despite opposition from surrounding peoples and internal challenges, the rebuilding of the Temple continued under the encouragement of the prophets Haggai and Zechariah. The Temple was eventually completed in the sixth year of the reign of Darius the Great, as recorded in Ezra 6:15: "And this temple was completed on the third day of the month of Adar, in the sixth year of the reign of King Darius" .

Significance in Biblical Theology

The decree to rebuild the Temple is a testament to God's faithfulness in fulfilling His promises and His sovereignty over the nations. It underscores the theme of restoration and redemption that runs throughout the biblical narrative. The rebuilding of the Temple not only restored a central place of worship for the Jewish people but also symbolized the renewal of their covenant relationship with God.

The decree and subsequent events are also seen as a foreshadowing of the ultimate restoration and redemption brought about through Jesus Christ, who referred to His own body as the Temple: "Jesus answered, 'Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up'" (John 2:19). This connection highlights the continuity of God's redemptive plan from the Old Testament to the New Testament.