Return and Messianic Expectation

God restores His people and stirs up the hope of the Messiah

This stage presents the return of the exiles after the exile in Babylon. God opens a way of return, permits the rebuilding of the temple, and leads the people to reorganize their religious and community life. The return to the land is a real sign of God's faithfulness to His promises.

Yet the return does not yet accomplish the awaited fullness. Israel returns weakened, under foreign rule, and with an incomplete restoration. And so the messianic expectation grows: the people await a definitive intervention of God, a just and humble king, the purification of the temple, the fulfillment of the covenant, and the saving visitation of the Lord.

You will learn to

Understand the return as a sign of God's faithfulness.

Recognize the rebuilding of the temple after the exile.

Identify Ezra and Nehemiah in the restoration of the people.

Understand the centrality of the Law in the restored community.

Recognize that the return does not exhaust the promises of God.

Identify the messianic expectation after the exile.

Understand the meaning of the faithful remnant.

Situate Israel in immediate preparation for the coming of Christ.

Discover Jesus as the fulfillment of the messianic hope.

How this stage is organized

Main narrative

Ezra · Nehemiah · Haggai · Zechariah · Malachi

You will come to know the decree of Cyrus, the return of the exiles, the rebuilding of the altar and of the temple, the mission of Haggai, the rebuilding of the walls with Nehemiah, the solemn reading of the Law by Ezra, and the prophetic announcements of Zechariah and Malachi.

Doctrinal understanding

Return · Restoration · Law · Hope

You will grasp that God keeps His promise and offers a true restoration. The temple, the Law, and the community once more take a central place. At the same time, this restoration remains open to a greater hope: the coming of the Messiah and the definitive presence of God in the midst of His people.

Scripture in depth

Prophets of the return · Psalms · Wisdom of Israel

Other biblical texts help us contemplate the joy and the incompleteness of the return. Psalm 126 expresses the joy of returning and the plea for a full restoration. Isaiah announces light for Jerusalem and good news for the poor. Zechariah announces a humble king, and Malachi speaks of the messenger who will prepare the way of the Lord.

Fulfilled in Christ

Gospels · John the Baptist · Annunciation

The New Testament presents Jesus as the fulfillment of the expectation after the exile. John the Baptist appears as the messenger who prepares the way. Jesus is the humble king announced by Zechariah, the good news proclaimed in Isaiah, and the saving visitation of God to His people. In Him the awaited restoration reaches a fullness that surpasses the rebuilt temple and the material return to the land.

Choose a mode

Path mode

Move step by step, in the recommended order.

Review mode

Shuffled questions to review and gauge your progress.

Group mode

A moderated session, reserved for catechists and teachers.