20150802 Sunday, August 2 2015
Isaiah 45: When Iran Had A Christian King

by Wayne Blank
See also 1 Year Holy Bible Reading Plan

"Thus saith Cyrus king of Persia, All the kingdoms of the Earth hath the LORD God of heaven given me; and He hath charged me to build Him an house in Jerusalem"

"Iran" is an English-language rendering of the Iranian term, pronounced Aryanam, that means land of the Aryans. Since the 1930s, "Iran" has been the political term for the very-ancient nation of Persia (see also The Medes And Chaldees Prophecies).

While Iran today is a Muslim nation (officially known as "Islamic Republic of Iran"), the Islamic religion has only existed since the 6th century AD, after the lifetime of its inventor, Muhammad (570-632). Ancient Persia never knew the Muhammadanism that controls Iran today.

Many regard Cyrus (reigned 559-530 BC) as the greatest king of Persia - and rightfully so. He's called "Cyrus the Great" for a very good reason. Cyrus was an obedient follower of the LORD - Who was born as Jesus Christ (see The Identity Of The LORD God and The LORD God Our Saviour). It was Cyrus who liberated the people of Judah from their Babylonian captivity and facilitated their return to, and rebuilding of, Jerusalem (see Zerubbabel's Return, Ezra's Journey From Babylon and The Arrival Of Nehemiah's Cavalry).

"36:22 Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the LORD spoken by the mouth of Jeremiah might be accomplished, the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and put it also in writing, saying,

36:23 Thus saith Cyrus king of Persia, All the kingdoms of the earth hath the LORD God of heaven given me; and he hath charged me to build him an house in Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Who is there among you of all his people? The LORD his God be with him, and let him go up." (2 Chronicles 36:22-23 KJV)

The prophet Daniel (see The Prophet Daniel: A Child Of The Exile) continued his royal service to the Persians after the LORD-declared fall of Babylon to Persia (see The Prophet Daniel: Nebuchadnezzar's Image and The Prophet Daniel: The Hand Writing On The Wall). Notice that another Persian King, Darius (see The Decree Of Darius), also became a Christian: "I make a decree, That in every dominion of my kingdom men tremble and fear before the God of Daniel: for he is the living God."

"1:18 Now at the end of the days that the king had said he should bring them in, then the prince of the eunuchs brought them in before Nebuchadnezzar. 1:19 And the king communed with them; and among them all was found none like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah: therefore stood they before the king. 1:20 And in all matters of wisdom and understanding, that the king enquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers that were in all his realm. 1:21 And Daniel continued even unto the first year of king Cyrus." (Daniel 1:18-21 KJV)

"6:25 Then king Darius wrote unto all people, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth; Peace be multiplied unto you. 6:26 I make a decree, That in every dominion of my kingdom men tremble and fear before the God of Daniel: for he is the living God, and stedfast for ever, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed, and his dominion shall be even unto the end. 6:27 He delivereth and rescueth, and he worketh signs and wonders in heaven and in earth, who hath delivered Daniel from the power of the lions. 6:28 So this Daniel prospered in the reign of Darius, and in the reign of Cyrus the Persian." (Daniel 6:25-28 KJV)

"10:1 In the third year of Cyrus king of Persia a thing was revealed unto Daniel, whose name was called Belteshazzar; and the thing was true, but the time appointed was long: and he understood the thing, and had understanding of the vision. 10:2 In those days I Daniel was mourning three full weeks. 10:3 I ate no pleasant bread, neither came flesh nor wine in my mouth, neither did I anoint myself at all, till three whole weeks were fulfilled. 10:4 And in the four and twentieth day of the first month, as I was by the side of the great river, which is Hiddekel;" (Daniel 10:1-4 KJV)

Daniel knew Cyrus personally because Daniel lived at the same time as Cyrus. The prophet Isaiah also knew Cyrus, by name, and what he would do - before Cyrus was even born. Isaiah lived many years before Cyrus, but the LORD gave Isaiah the prophetic knowledge that he recorded for all to read. Notice the LORD's statement that He named and chose Cyrus before Cyrus knew the LORD (i.e. before Cyrus was even born): "I have even called thee by thy name: I have surnamed thee, though thou hast not known me."

"44:24 Thus saith the LORD, thy redeemer, and he that formed thee from the womb, I am the LORD that maketh all things; that stretcheth forth the heavens alone; that spreadeth abroad the earth by myself; 44:25 That frustrateth the tokens of the liars, and maketh diviners mad; that turneth wise men backward, and maketh their knowledge foolish; 44:26 That confirmeth the word of his servant, and performeth the counsel of his messengers; that saith to Jerusalem, Thou shalt be inhabited; and to the cities of Judah, Ye shall be built, and I will raise up the decayed places thereof: 44:27 That saith to the deep, Be dry, and I will dry up thy rivers: 44:28 That saith of Cyrus, He is my shepherd, and shall perform all my pleasure: even saying to Jerusalem, Thou shalt be built; and to the temple, Thy foundation shall be laid." (Isaiah 44:24-28 KJV)

"45:1 Thus saith the LORD to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have holden, to subdue nations before him; and I will loose the loins of kings, to open before him the two leaved gates; and the gates shall not be shut; 45:2 I will go before thee, and make the crooked places straight: I will break in pieces the gates of brass, and cut in sunder the bars of iron: 45:3 And I will give thee the treasures of darkness, and hidden riches of secret places, that thou mayest know that I, the LORD, which call thee by thy name, am the God of Israel. 45:4 For Jacob my servant's sake, and Israel mine elect, I have even called thee by thy name: I have surnamed thee, though thou hast not known me." (Isaiah 45:1-4 KJV)

The full context of the prophecy above is quoted below - the restoration of the people of Judah for the sake of the coming Saviour (see also The Time-Telescope View of Cyrus of Persia).

"45:1 Thus saith the LORD to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have holden, to subdue nations before him; and I will loose the loins of kings, to open before him the two leaved gates; and the gates shall not be shut; 45:2 I will go before thee, and make the crooked places straight: I will break in pieces the gates of brass, and cut in sunder the bars of iron: 45:3 And I will give thee the treasures of darkness, and hidden riches of secret places, that thou mayest know that I, the LORD, which call thee by thy name, am the God of Israel. 45:4 For Jacob my servant's sake, and Israel mine elect, I have even called thee by thy name: I have surnamed thee, though thou hast not known me. 45:5 I am the LORD, and there is none else, there is no God beside me: I girded thee, though thou hast not known me: 45:6 That they may know from the rising of the sun, and from the west, that there is none beside me. I am the LORD, and there is none else. 45:7 I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things.

45:8 Drop down, ye heavens, from above, and let the skies pour down righteousness: let the earth open, and let them bring forth salvation, and let righteousness spring up together; I the LORD have created it.

45:9 Woe unto him that striveth with his Maker! Let the potsherd strive with the potsherds of the earth. Shall the clay say to him that fashioneth it, What makest thou? or thy work, He hath no hands? 45:10 Woe unto him that saith unto his father, What begettest thou? or to the woman, What hast thou brought forth?

45:11 Thus saith the LORD, the Holy One of Israel, and his Maker, Ask me of things to come concerning my sons, and concerning the work of my hands command ye me. 45:12 I have made the earth, and created man upon it: I, even my hands, have stretched out the heavens, and all their host have I commanded. 45:13 I have raised him up in righteousness, and I will direct all his ways: he shall build my city, and he shall let go my captives, not for price nor reward, saith the LORD of hosts.

45:14 Thus saith the LORD,

The labour of Egypt, and merchandise of Ethiopia and of the Sabeans, men of stature, shall come over unto thee, and they shall be thine: they shall come after thee; in chains they shall come over, and they shall fall down unto thee, they shall make supplication unto thee, saying, Surely God is in thee; and there is none else, there is no God.

45:15 Verily thou art a God that hidest thyself, O God of Israel, the Saviour. 45:16 They shall be ashamed, and also confounded, all of them: they shall go to confusion together that are makers of idols. 45:17 But Israel shall be saved in the LORD with an everlasting salvation: ye shall not be ashamed nor confounded world without end.

45:18 For thus saith the LORD that created the heavens; God himself that formed the earth and made it; he hath established it, he created it not in vain, he formed it to be inhabited: I am the LORD; and there is none else. 45:19 I have not spoken in secret, in a dark place of the earth: I said not unto the seed of Jacob, Seek ye me in vain: I the LORD speak righteousness, I declare things that are right.

45:20 Assemble yourselves and come; draw near together, ye that are escaped of the nations: they have no knowledge that set up the wood of their graven image, and pray unto a god that cannot save. 45:21 Tell ye, and bring them near; yea, let them take counsel together: who hath declared this from ancient time? who hath told it from that time? have not I the LORD? and there is no God else beside me; a just God and a Saviour; there is none beside me.

45:22 Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else. 45:23 I have sworn by myself, the word is gone out of my mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, That unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear. 45:24 Surely, shall one say, in the LORD have I righteousness and strength: even to him shall men come; and all that are incensed against him shall be ashamed. 45:25 In the LORD shall all the seed of Israel be justified, and shall glory." (Isaiah 45:1-25 KJV)

Fact Finder: When did Iran have a Jewish Queen (i.e. Esther) and Prime Minister (i.e. Mordecai)?
See How Hadassah Of Benjamin Became The Queen Of Persia and What Did Joseph, Daniel and Mordecai Do?