Revolution in Iran

  • Christian Chat is a moderated online Christian community allowing Christians around the world to fellowship with each other in real time chat via webcam, voice, and text, with the Christian Chat app. You can also start or participate in a Bible-based discussion here in the Christian Chat Forums, where members can also share with each other their own videos, pictures, or favorite Christian music.

    If you are a Christian and need encouragement and fellowship, we're here for you! If you are not a Christian but interested in knowing more about Jesus our Lord, you're also welcome! Want to know what the Bible says, and how you can apply it to your life? Join us!

    To make new Christian friends now around the world, click here to join Christian Chat.
Evidently, @ChristRoseFromTheDead has chosen to try and delete Purim out of the annals of history.
This of course is quite impossible.
Lol well Esther and the timing of Purim was of course another example, but to be frank I thought it was too cliche and too easy, plus ZNP got to that angle days ago lol. With the recent talk about the nature of prophecy I figure Isaiah was more fitting, though it's easy to look at it all as one book, mindful there is like a roughly two century gap between Isaiah's lifetime and Cyrus even being born. This is a case of an extreme accurate and non-vague prophecy.

On top of this, then to the topical nature, Cyrus the Great founded the first Persian dynasty really the Achaemenids, and Cyrus legacy is even woven into the news in today's time such as Reza Pahlavi's Cyrus Accords idea for a transitional framework for Iran. Though yes indeed, the central Purim story and the fate of Haman hanging on his own gallows is pretty hard example to miss.
 
  • Like
Reactions: LTTexan and cv5
Cyrus didn't do anything except give the Judean exiles what the Babylonians had plundered from the temple along with some money to rebuild the temple, and allowed them to leave and go back to the land of Judea. That was it
Even if he didn't send troops, his word was certainly enough to cause some of Israel's adversaries to back off.

In any case in IS7 King Ahaz (Judah) is fearful of the Aram-Ephraim teaming up on him; but God said not to sweat it- and it was Sargon (assyria) that destroyed the enemies of God's people, not Judah's armies; God can certainly protect his people by whatever means he sees fit.

That certainly doesn't mean that I think the US needs to be playing this role all the time OR that the current nation-state is somehow beyond rebuke.
 
In any case in IS7 King Ahaz (Judah) is fearful of the Aram-Ephraim teaming up on him; but God said not to sweat it- and it was Sargon (assyria) that destroyed the enemies of God's people, not Judah's armies; God can certainly protect his people by whatever means he sees fit.

But he's not going to go against his word, and his revealed word states that he never used foreign powers to protect Israel, and in fact was adamantly opposed to such because it stole his glory.
 
By releasing them from captivity. That was the extent of it.
Cyrus, a Persian king, conquered Babylon and allowed the Jews to return and rebuild the Temple.
The Persian military defeated Babylon, enabling Israel’s restoration.
Cyrus is explicitly called God’s “anointed” (Messiah) in Isaiah 45:1, showing God “using” a Gentile king for Israel’s benefit.
This providence explicitly framed as God’s plan to restore His people.
 
Who is gaining weight on this operation? The West? The East? Russia?

No oil from the gulf, who’s benefiting from that?

Russia!

That good or bad?
 
  • Like
Reactions: SonJudgment
The fact is that Cyrus did not protect Israel even when they were being attacked by their enemies while they were rebuilding the temple.
Nonsense. In fact the decree of Cyrus is that which paved the way for the latter kings to finish the job.

1. Temple Rebuilding (Ezra 6)
King: Cyrus the Great initially authorized the rebuilding of the Temple after conquering Babylon (Ezra 1:1–4).
Protection: Later, Darius I confirmed Cyrus’s decree and provided support when enemies tried to stop the project (Ezra 6:1–12).
Outcome: The Temple was completed under God’s providence with Persian military authority preventing sabotage.

2. City Walls and Jerusalem (Nehemiah 2–6)
King: Artaxerxes I of Persia (Nehemiah 2:1–8)
Role: Granted Nehemiah permission to rebuild Jerusalem’s walls.
Provided letters to local governors to allow safe passage and protection of supplies.
Essentially ensured that local enemies could not easily interfere.
Providence: God used Artaxerxes as a Gentile protector of the city, enabling the completion of the walls despite opposition from neighboring peoples (Sanballat, Tobiah, and others).
 
But he's not going to go against his word, and his revealed word states that he never used foreign powers to protect Israel, and in fact was adamantly opposed to such because it stole his glory.
Well, the Kingdom of Judah was "israel" at the time. The rest of Israel was backslidden and an enemy- and Assyria was how he stopped their enemies from destroying Judah. I don't think that stole his glory.

It's true that the alliance with Egypt was bad, because they put their trust in Egypt instead of God; and I DO think that is what the current nation-state is doing right now... that's why I said this isn't our business forever to protect them. I have no interest in protecting an Israel that allows idolatry to prevail in their land- except for the Christians there; which we should certainly protect in some way, even if it means evacuating them.

At the same time; I have no interest in the survival of a regime that will kill people for converting to Christianity from Islam; and by doctrine, do other crazy jihadi things. Islam is useful to the extent that it serves as a foil to the hedonistic heathen west; but, beyond that, it is pretty much malignant, especially when it captures civil authority, as in the case with the IRGC. It very well might just be their time to fall. I cannot say with certainty.
 
Cyrus, a Persian king, conquered Babylon and allowed the Jews to return and rebuild the Temple.
The Persian military defeated Babylon, enabling Israel’s restoration.
Cyrus is explicitly called God’s “anointed” (Messiah) in Isaiah 45:1, showing God “using” a Gentile king for Israel’s benefit.
This providence explicitly framed as God’s plan to restore His people.

No one's doubting it was God's providence, but that providence didn't extend to Persia protecting them; they simply set them free.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Charlesiii
Cyrus, a Persian king, conquered Babylon and allowed the Jews to return and rebuild the Temple.
The Persian military defeated Babylon, enabling Israel’s restoration.
Cyrus is explicitly called God’s “anointed” (Messiah) in Isaiah 45:1, showing God “using” a Gentile king for Israel’s benefit.
This providence explicitly framed as God’s plan to restore His people.

But nothing was done for them after they were restored to the land, except for an edict or two and funneling some tax money to them to help in rebuilding the temple.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Charlesiii
But nothing was done for them after they were restored to the land, except for an edict or two and funneling some tax money to them to help in rebuilding the temple.
Nonsense. The returning Israelites were provided with EVERYTHING they needed.....and more.
Gold silver bronze vessels and implements, animals (for sacrifices) grain wine oil and military protection and tons of other support.

Here’s a detailed table summarizing everything the Persian kings provided to the returning Israelites during Ezra and Nehemiah’s missions, based on the biblical records:
CategorySpecificsBiblical Reference
Precious metals & temple vesselsGold, silver, bronze, and vessels formerly belonging to Solomon’s TempleEzra 1:4-7; 6:3-5
Animals for sacrificesBulls, rams, lambs, male goats for sin, burnt, and thanksgiving offeringsEzra 6:17; Nehemiah 10:33
Food suppliesGrain, wine, oil for priests, Levites, and offeringsEzra 6:9-10; Nehemiah 13:5
Timber & construction materialsTimber from Lebanon for the Temple, gates, and wallsEzra 3:7
Military protectionOfficial letters granting safe passage and security from local enemiesEzra 7:21-23; Nehemiah 2:7-9
Tax & labor exemptionsExemption from taxes, tribute, and forced labor for the Temple and its personnelEzra 7:24; Nehemiah 5:13
Administrative/judicial authorityEzra authorized as priest and scribe to interpret the Law, appoint magistrates, and judge the peopleEzra 7:25-26
Financial support for officials & workersMoney, silver, and goods for local governors, priests, and LevitesEzra 6:8-10
Letters of authorizationDocuments ordering local rulers to help the exiles, restore property, and not interfereEzra 7:12-20; Nehemiah 2:7-9
Personal gifts for encouragementGifts to individuals such as Ezra, including silver, gold, and provisions for travelEzra 7:15-17

Summary: The kings didn’t just give money or animals—they created a full support system: legal authority, military protection, tax exemptions, building materials, administrative power, and daily provisions. This shows how seriously the Persian empire backed the return and restoration.