Chronology of Events

This morning I wanted to at least post this small listing of countries names that are found in some Old Testament Books that are or are not the same today, so that if or when you come across them, they might make a little more sense as to what country they are talking about. This might be just for information at this time, but I thought it would be okay to post them.

Cush = Ethiopia
Elam = Iran
Shinar = Iraq (also where the Tower of Babel was built - Babylon)
Hamath = Middle Syria
Islands of the Sea = Mediterranean Coastlands

These are in reference to Isaiah 11, and I got them out of a book I am reading.

In the Book of Ezekiel and Daniel, the countries listed are:

Sheba = Saudi Arabia
Dedan = Persian Gulf
Persia = Iran (Iran is also called Elam in Dan.8)
Gog = Russia

If your Bible gives some info on these places, maybe you could share them with me too! These sure can be confusing :-)

Also, here is the list I have as a chronology of events - a brief outline from Genesis til now:

Abraham
Isaac
Jacob - 12 sons which become the 12 Tribes of Israel (Jacobs name was changed to "Israel")
Joseph
Moses
Joshua brought Israel into Promised Land
Judges ruled Israel
Samuel - last of the Judges - appoints the first King of Israel
Saul - first king
David - appointed king in place of Saul
Solomon - David's son and successor as King - built the 1st Temple
Rehoboam - Solomon's son and successor as King - He was a bad King so the people rebelled
Israel splits into 2 Kingdoms - (the Books of Kings and Chronicles records the many kings of both the Southern and Northern Kingdoms)
Southern Kingdom = Tribes of Judah and Benjamin
Northern Kingdom = Remaining 10 Tribes

These 2 Kingdoms fought each other until the Assyrians conquered the Northern Tribes in 721 B.C. and brought foreigners in to resettle the land (the Samaritans)

The following events are prophecied in the Book of Daniel and in the Prophets as well as they warned the Israelites of the coming destruction of Jerusalem and their captivity because of their unfaithfulness to God and breaking their covenant with Him:

The Babylonians (under Neuchadnezzer) conquer Assyria (Daniel 1)
Then the Babylonians capture Judah and destroy the Temple and Jerusalem (586 B.C.)

The Medo-Persian Empire arises and conquers Babylon (under Cyrus - 589 B.C.)

Cyrus decrees that the Temple should be rebuilt in Jerusalem (Ezra 1:1,2)538 B.C.

Greeks arise (under Alexander the Great) and conquer the Persians, Syria and Judah (333 B.C.)
Antiochus Epiphanes rules Syria and Judea (175-164 B.C.)

The Maccabeans lead a revolt against Antiochus Epiphanes and establish Jewish Independence in Jerusalem and the surrounding area.

Greek Kingdom under Alexander the Great splits into 4 parts:
1. Macedonia, Greece, Epirus (under Cassander)
2. Thrace, Bithynia (under Lysimachus)
3. Egypt, Libya, Arabia, Coelosyria, Palestine (under Ptolemy)
4. Syria (under Seleucus)

The Roman Empire conquered the Greeks in the 8th year of the reign of Antiochus Epiphanes.
Romans (under Pompey) defeat Syria and Jerusalem 63 B.C.

Jesus is born

Romans (under Titus) destryoy Jerusalem and Temple (70 A.D.)

110-160 A.D. Marcion of Sinope (a follower of Plato and believer in "gnosticism") wanted to separate Christianity from any connection to Judaism. (Gnosticism was spreading in the Church even during the time of the Apostles, and many of the Epistles refer to it and write to the Church to stand firm against its false beliefs.)

100-165 A.D. Justin Martyr claimed God's covenant with Israel was no longer valid and was replaced by the Gentiles.

Jewish persecution of the followers of Jesus was common. There was even a Jewish "blessing" which invoked a curse on the followers of Jesus called "Birkat HaMinim". Any Jew unwilling to recite it was excommunicated. During the Roman/Jewish War in 132-135 B.C., Simon Bar Kokhba (who was regarded as the Messiah) led a revolt. Jewish followers of Jesus would not support the claim of Bar Kokhba that he was the Messiah. Because of this, there came an even greater divide between Rabbinical Judaism and the Early Jewish Church. More and more Gentiles came to believe in Jesus and the Jewish Roots became less and less pronounced. Gentile Christian teachers were influenced by the Greek Philosophy and advocated cutting ties to the historic roots of Christianity. The Gentile Church became a distinct entity.

In 135 A.D. the Romans (under Hadrian) completely destroy Jerusalem and sends the Jews into exile. Hadrian renames the land of Judea to "Palestine" after the historic enemy of the Jews, the Philistines. This is known as the Great Jewish Diasporia (dispersion) They were exiled into all nations, where they remain today except those that have returned to Israel and are rebuilding their country.

Early Gentile Church Leaders:
160 - 220 A.D. Tertullian blamed Jews for Jesus' death, is known as the father of Latin theology.

263-339 A.D. Origen taught that the Scriptures were allegories. He was heavily influenced by Gnosticsm. He was known as the father of "Systematic theology."

306-434. A.D. the Councils of the Roman Church rejected Jewish influences by forbidding intermarriage of Jews and Gentiles, observances of Passover and worship on the Sabbath.

344-407 A. D. John Chrysotom denounced the Jews. He was the patriarch of Constantinople.

347-420 A.D. Jerome produced the Latin Vulgate (Latin Bible) and said the the Jews were uncapable of understanding the Scriptures.

354-430 A.D. Augustine spiritualized the Kingdom of God - maintained that the Jews deserved death and said that they were destined to wander the earth to witness the "Church's" victory over the synagogue. He was the father of Western Orthodox Theology.

637 A.D. Muslims conquer Jerusalem

701 A.D. Muslims complete building the Al-Aqsa Mosque on the site of the southern portion of the early Temple in Jerusalem.

1099-1118 A.D. Crusaders capture Jerusalem and make the Al-Aqsa Mosque into the headquarters for the Order of the Knights Templar.

1187 A.D. Muslims recapture Jerusalem and take back the Al-Aqsa Mosque

In the 1800's, the "Zionist" movement begins under Theodore Herzl, a Jewish journalist from Austria who called for the creation of a Jewish Nation to be established. A wave of immigration of Jews back to the Homeland begins.

During World War I Britain defeats the Turks (the Ottoman Empire) and governs "Palestine".
Britain gives the Jews permission to resettle in their homeland through the "Balfour Declaration".

After WWII and Hitler's Holocaust, world support grows for the Jews to estalish a homeland.

In 1948 the Jews declare independence for Israel and the Nation is reborn (2900 years since Solomon's Temple).

Within hours, the Arab Nations attack the new state of Israel and Israel conquers more land.
In 1967 Israel takes control of Jerusalem in the Six-Day War.

As you probably know, there has been fighting back and forth between the Muslims and Jews to this day!

This outline is as I understand it now, which I will update if I find new info. But for now hopefully is gives somewhat of a timeline of how we got here without getting too much into details. I also hope to post an outline of how the different denominations came to be and their timelines too. It is kind of good to have an idea of how things have evolved to where they are now.