PORTRAITS FROM THE PAST

WHY SHOULD YOU CARE?

Consider this:  The Bible foretold (1) the 70-year exile of the Jews, (2) Cyrus's conquest of Babylon and key aspects of his strategy, and (3) the ultimate desolation of Babylon. Such advance knowledge could not come from mere men!  A more reasonable conclusion is this: "Prophecy was at not time brought by man's will, but men spoke from God." (2 Peter 1:21) Surely, the Bible merits our consideration. 

QUICK FACTS

* Cyrus it is believed, was born about 600 B.C.E.  He died in battle in about 530 B.C.E.

* Cyrus' tomb can still be seen in Pasargadae, a city of ancient Persia founded by Cyrus and now an archaeological site in Iran. 

* The Cyrus Cylinder, a nine-inch-long  (23cm) clay document, commemorates Cyrus' conquest of Babylon and the liberation of exiles, including Jews.  The cylinder has been called  "one of the most important discoveries in Biblical  archaeology.

*  The Persian people still hold Cyrus in high esteem.

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"THE HANDWRITING IS ON THE WALL"

On the night of Cyrus' surprise attack, Babylonian King Belshazzar was feasting with "a thousand of his grandees" when  a hand miraculously appeared. Before the eyes of all, the hand wrote "MENE, MENE, TEKEL, and PARSIN" on the plaster of the palace wall."  - DANIEL 5:1, 5, 25.

The prophet Daniel interpreted the riddle to terrified Belshazzar.  In brief, Daniel told the king that his kingdom was  "finished," that he had been weighed in the balances" and found wanting, and that Babylon had been given to the Medes and the Persians."  (Daniel 5:26-28) Every word came true.  Moreover, to this day in some languages, the saying "the handwriting on the wall" means that catastrophe, or failure. is imminent.

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Next time: Moses -Man or Myth?

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