Is Donald Trump Like Cyrus From the Bible? BY MICHAEL BROWN , CP OP-ED CONTRIBUTOR March 12, 2016|8:45 am
U.S. Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump holds his Bible while speaking at the Iowa Faith and Freedom Coalition Forum in Des Moines, Iowa, September 19, 2015.
Ever since Donald Trump began to surge as a candidate last year, Christians have been pointing to the book of Isaiah and comparing Trump with the ancient Persian king Cyrus. Some have even claimed that God has revealed to them that He will use Trump for the good of America just as He used Cyrus for the good of the Jewish people, even though Cyrus was a "pagan" king.
Could this be true?
Let's first look at the biblical and ancient Near Eastern evidence.
Michael Brown holds a Ph.D. in Near Eastern Languages and Literatures from New York University and has served as a professor at a number of seminaries. He is the author of 25 books and hosts the nationally syndicated, daily talk radio show, the Line of Fire.
Cyrus (whose name was pronounced ko-resh in Hebrew) became king of Persia in 559 BC and conquered Babylon in 539 BC. He is mentioned in a majestic passage in Isaiah where the Lord says of Cyrus, "'He is my shepherd, and he shall fulfill all my purpose'; saying of Jerusalem, 'She shall be built,' and of the temple, 'Your foundation shall be laid.'" (Isa 44:28)
In other words, Cyrus would be the one who would cause Jerusalem to be rebuilt after it had been destroyed decades earlier by the Babylonians.
But there's more that Isaiah says about Cyrus as the prophecy continues into chapter 45: "Thus says the LORD to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have grasped, to subdue nations before him and to loose the belts of kings, to open doors before him that gates may not be closed: 'I will go before you and level the exalted places, I will break in pieces the doors of bronze and cut through the bars of iron, I will give you the treasures of darkness and the hoards in secret places, that you may know that it is I, the LORD, the God of Israel, who call you by your name. For the sake of my servant Jacob, and Israel my chosen, I call you by your name, I name you, though you do not know me.'" (Isa 45:1-4)
Notice the beginning and the end of this passage. First, Cyrus, a non-Israelite king, is called God's anointed, a term elsewhere only used for Israelite leaders. Second, Cyrus, although called by the God of Israel, doesn't actually know the God of Israel. Instead, like the vast majority of people in the ancient world, he worshiped different deities in the form of idols.
In fulfillment of this prophecy, the Scriptures record how Cyrus made this decree to the Jewish people living in Babylon, where they had been taken in exile: "Thus says Cyrus king of Persia, 'The LORD [meaning Yahweh], the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth, and he has charged me to build him a house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Whoever is among you of all his people, may the LORD [Yahweh] his God be with him. Let him go up.'" (2 Chr 36:23)
So, a pagan king encouraged the Jewish people to return to their homeland and rebuild their temple, also helping to finance the endeavor.
But Cyrus did not only do this for the people of Israel.
This became a standard Persian policy, allowing exiles to return to their homelands and rebuild their temples as subjects of the Persian empire.
We know this from the famous Cyrus Cylinder that was discovered in 1879. There, we read that Marduk, the chief god of the Babylonian pantheon and called "the king of the gods" in the text, "took the hand of Cyrus . . . and called him by his name, proclaiming him aloud for the kingship over all of everything."
We also read in the text that Cyrus restored the various idol temples in his empire, which gives further confirmation to the biblical account.
So, here, it is Marduk who is given credit for the reign of Cyrus. In the Bible, it is Yahweh, the God of Israel and the only true God, who takes the credit. Obviously, Cyrus did not know Him, just as Isaiah said.
Could Donald Trump, then, be a modern day Cyrus? Could it be that Trump, like Cyrus, clearly does not know the Lord in a real and personal way but could still be used by God to accomplish His purposes?
As the saying goes, let God be God, meaning, it's up to Him to do what He wants to do. Only He can answer this question for sure.
Or, from a more secular perspective, only time will tell.
What's clear, though, is that God did not raise up an idol-worshiping king to rule the nation of Israel. That would have been a curse rather than a blessing.
In contrast, Christians are talking about God raising up Trump to lead America, which would be very different than Cyrus being used to help the exiles return to Jerusalem and rebuild it.
That doesn't mean, of course, that Trump could not be a Cyrus type of figure. It simply means that the parallel breaks down when applied.
But there's another possibility to consider.
There was another ancient king named Nebuchadnezzar, the Babylonian leader who, decades before Cyrus became king, led his armies to destroy Jerusalem, burn down the temple, and send the Jewish people into exile in 586 BC.
He too was an idol worshipper, yet shockingly, Yahweh called him "My servant," stating plainly, "behold, I will send for all the tribes of the north, declares the LORD, and for Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, my servant, and I will bring them against this land [meaning Judah] and its inhabitants, and against all these surrounding nations. I will devote them to destruction, and make them a horror, a hissing, and an everlasting desolation" (Jer 25:9; see also 27:6; 43:10).
So, Cyrus was anointed by God to restore the Jewish people from captivity and to rebuild Jerusalem after Nebuchadnezzar, as a vessel of divine judgment, was called by God to send the Jewish people into exile and to destroy Jerusalem.
Two pagan kings, one raised up to bring judgment and the other raised up to bring restoration.
Is Donald Trump a Cyrus or a Nebuchadnezzar, if either?
It's time for another at the top. Trump and many Americans with sight have realized that the US is losing its grip and control over the nations. That's why he's talking of making America great AGAIN. But Kingdoms rise and fall in their season.
The rise of America should not be observed strictly from their war of independence. They are a European power (with roots in the Roman empire) and rose with the expansion of European imperialism into new conquered territory.
Now the people whose lands and resources they took and used in their journey into greatness (the global South) have just began their own progress into greatness. There was a time when the US was feared, it's citizens untouchable. Well that time has ended, and any attempt to reenact the same as trump is suggesting will release a sequence of events that will obliterate it as a nation. The power has shifted. It's a new season and someone else has the favour.
Nope, they're called transgenders. No one calls them "tranny" because it's a slang, people who do this are constant with pornography. So in essence, you watch porn?!
Demmzy15: Nope, they're called transgenders. No one calls them "tranny" because it's a slang, people who do this are constant with pornography. So in essence, you watch porn?!
i knew you were up to something when you started asking the girl questions, you be badt guy
lexiconkabir: i knew you were up to something when you started asking the girl questions, you be badt guy
She has been making mouth since she read one silly book like that, many of them here are just pretenders. Just continue to see how they'll expose themselves!
Demmzy15: She has been making mouth since she read one silly book like that, many of them here are just pretenders. Just continue to see how they'll expose themselves!
yeah, wafa sultan's book, and the funny thing is when i refuted some of the claims she lifted from the book, she first accused me of copy and paste then said i lied, okay i asked her to prove that i lied, she could not, i tire for this people o.
lexiconkabir: yeah, wafa sultan's book, and the funny thing is when i refuted some of the claims she lifted from the book, she first accused me of copy and paste then said i lied, okay i asked her to prove that i lied, she could not, i tire for this people o.
It's time for another at the top. Trump and many Americans with sight have realized that the US is losing its grip and control over the nations. That's why he's talking of making America great AGAIN. But Kingdoms rise and fall in their season.
The rise of America should not be observed strictly from their war of independence. They are a European power (with roots in the Roman empire) and rose with the expansion of European imperialism into new conquered territory.
Now the people whose lands and resources they took and used in their journey into greatness (the global South) have just began their own progress into greatness. There was a time when the US was feared, it's citizens untouchable. Well that time has ended, and any attempt to reenact the same as trump is suggesting will release a sequence of events that will obliterate it as a nation. The power has shifted. It's a new season and someone else has the favour.
Obama could easily fit into the position of Nebuchadnezzar while Trump could be Cyrus.
Demmzy15: Nope, they're called transgenders. No one calls them "tranny" because it's a slang, people who do this are constant with pornography. So in essence, you watch porn?!
Someone used the term on Facebook not long ago, I didnt know what meant, I asked and I was told what I told you. I don't watch porn, I never knew it's consistent with pornography. I can't Stand porn. It embarrasses me. Aside from being a christian, personality, I feel it's stupid for me to sit and watch people do that. It's shameful.
Someone used the term on Facebook not long ago, I didnt know what meant, I asked and I was told what I told you. I don't watch porn, I never knew it's consistent with pornography. I can't Stand porn. It embarrasses me. Aside from being a christian, personality, I feel it's stupid for me to sit and watch people do that. It's shameful.
Hahaha!!! So porn disgusts you but you prefer to use their terminologies?! That's very funny, it's just like calling a woman who sleeps around "a hole" or "bitch" instead of a fornicatress. This is how you guys would continue to expose yourself, the plain truth is that you watch it, better seek God's forgiveness!
As a Christian, it's not bad to watch because your bible actually supports it, so don't even try and play that card with me!
Someone used the term on Facebook not long ago, I didnt know what meant, I asked and I was told what I told you. I don't watch porn, I never knew it's consistent with pornography. I can't Stand porn. It embarrasses me. Aside from being a christian, personality, I feel it's stupid for me to sit and watch people do that. It's shameful.
Hahaha!!! So porn disgusts you but you prefer to use their terminologies?! That's very funny, it's just like calling a woman who sleeps around "a hole" or "bit'ch" instead of a fornicatress. This is how you guys would continue to expose yourself, the plain truth is that you watch it, better seek God's forgiveness!
As a Christian, it's not bad to watch because your bible actually supports it, so don't even try and play that card with me!
Obama is the worst president America has produced. First off, his wife is a Tranny.
The POTUS may actually be a form of judgment on America see what the late Joan Rivers said about Michelle in the video clip below, could she be on to something?
Demmzy15: Hahaha!!! So porn disgusts you but you prefer to use their terminologies?! That's very funny, it's just like calling a woman who sleeps around "a hole" or "bit'ch" instead of a fornicatress. This is how you guys would continue to expose yourself, the plain truth is that you watch it, better seek God's forgiveness!
As a Christian, it's not bad to watch because your bible actually supports it, so don't even try and play that card with me!
I didn't even know it's associated with porn. U just want to scorn? My Bible supports porn? Lol, maybe you show me where. Lol, Demmzy15, I don't owe you, I don't explain what I do to my Dad or Pastor. Am an adult I decide what I want to do. Am not a Muslim, I don't pretend. If I sin, I sin to my God, not to you or my pastor. This is who I am. If I watch porn, I will say it. You can't do me a shit. I see you want to scorn, go ahead, not your type.
I didn't even know it's associated with porn. U just want to scorn? My Bible supports porn? Lol, maybe you show me where. Lol, Demmzy15, I don't owe you, I don't explain what I do to my Dad or Pastor. Am an adult I decide what I want to do. Am not a Muslim, I don't pretend. If I sin, I sin to my God, not to you or my pastor. This is who I am. If I watch porn, I will say it. You can't do me a shit. I see you want to scorn, go ahead, not your type.
*whispers,remember THE SAPPING, they are using it on u*
I didn't even know it's associated with porn. U just want to scorn? My Bible supports porn? Lol, maybe you show me where. Lol, Demmzy15, I don't owe you, I don't explain what I do to my Dad or Pastor. Am an adult I decide what I want to do. Am not a Muslim, I don't pretend. If I sin, I sin to my God, not to you or my pastor. This is who I am. If I watch porn, I will say it. You can't do me a shit. I see you want to scorn, go ahead, not your type.
No one would ever admit to watching porn, so you lamenting doesn't change anything. For you to use a terminology they use speaks a lot about you. You being an adult doesn't strengthen your position, the final note is you watch pornography.... Shikena, I'm happy you've opened yourself for the world to see!
Demmzy15: Nope, they're called transgenders. No one calls them "tranny" because it's a slang, people who do this are constant with pornography. So in essence, you watch porn?!
You argue like a kid. Someone explain a common term used for transgender (especially in the US) and she is now a consumer of pornography, how does islamic brain works? Still thinking.
No way.
