Nathan Shaw: Iran - Legacy and Destiny

 

Legacy prophesies, and the nation of Iran—formerly also known as Persia—has a profound legacy. Four Persian kings play a prominent role in Biblical history.

Cyrus the Great

Isaiah prophesied that God would personally summon and anoint a man called Cyrus to be both a shepherd and a deliverer for Israel (Isaiah 44:28–45:13). What's most remarkable is that this prophecy was given before Cyrus was even born. Cyrus was the founder of the Persian Empire. He became prominent in Biblical history when he conquered Babylon in 539 B.C.

God not only foresees rulers, He also determines periods of time. Jeremiah prophesied that Israel would return to their homeland after seventy years of exile in Babylon (Jeremiah 29:10). Cyrus was the vessel used to fulfill Jeremiah's prophecy. In 538 B.C., he released a decree enabling the Jews to return to Judea (Ezra 1:1–4). When you put all these details together they are hard to ignore: two prophets from the past, two predictions, a future king, and a set time.

In the third year after Cyrus defeated Babylon, Daniel had a profound encounter with a glorious "man clothed in linen" (Daniel 10:1, 5). The glorious "man clothed in linen" revealed many things to Daniel about future geopolitical conflicts that would have a direct impact on the nation of Israel. But something that had already happened was also revealed to Daniel: when Cyrus defeated Babylon, the "man clothed in linen" was assisted by Michael, the angelic prince appointed to protect Israel (Daniel 10:12–13, 11:1). Now we can add another dimension to Cyrus' story: two prophets from the past, two predictions, a future king, a set time, a contemporary prophet, and divine assistance from a "man clothed in linen." (Photo via Unsplash)

Cyrus stood at a phenomenal juncture in Biblical history: he defeated Babylon, he released the Jewish captives to return to Judea, he decreed the rebuilding of the temple in Jerusalem, he provided generously for the project, and he granted protection for the Jews as they went about the work (Ezra 6:3–12).

Darius the Great

Darius the Great ruled Persia from 522 to 486 B.C. It was Cyrus who opened the way for the rebuilding of the temple in Jerusalem, but only the foundations had been laid before the work halted. The Israelites were small in number for such an enormous task, and their every attempt was met with opposition from the surrounding nations. In the second year of Darius's reign, God challenged Israel through the prophets Haggai and Zechariah (Haggai 1:1; Zechariah 1:1). The prophetic message was clear: it was time to rebuild the temple.

Darius affirmed Cyrus's original decree and ordered the work to resume (Ezra 4:24, 6:1–11). Even with the full support, provision, and protection from Darius, it was an overwhelming task. Zechariah encouraged Zerubbabel, the governor of Judea, with these well-known words: "'Not by strength and not by power, but by My Spirit,' says the Lord who rules over all" (Zechariah 4:6 NET Bible). With divine help, the temple was completed in the sixth year of Darius's reign (Ezra 6:15).

Xerxes

Xerxes ruled Persia from 486 to 465 B.C. Through a unique set of circumstances, a young Jewish girl named Esther became queen. Haman, one of Xerxes' highest officials, orchestrated a plot to have all the Jews throughout the entire empire exterminated. The plot was sealed through an irrevocable decree signed by Xerxes himself. At this point, Esther's Jewish identity remained unknown. Esther, at the risk of her own life, approached the king and exposed the plot. Xerxes was furious with Haman. Haman was hanged on the very gallows he had built to hang Esther's uncle, Mordecai.

Xerxes reversed Haman's evil plot by authorizing the Jews to kill all their enemies on the very same day that Haman had set for the extermination of the Jews. Xerxes' actions put an end to the insidious tide of hatred, replacing it with great favor. The annual Jewish feast of Purim still celebrates this hugely significant deliverance (see Esther 1–10). (Photo via Picryl)

Artaxerxes

Artaxerxes ruled Persia from 465 to 424 B.C. The Jews didn't return from the Babylonian exile all at once. There were, in fact, three returns. The first happened under Cyrus in 538 B.C., but the second and third happened under Artaxerxes in 458 and 445 B.C. (Ezra 7:1–28; Nehemiah 1:1–2:8). The main figure in the first return was Zerubbabel. Under Zerubbabel, the temple was rebuilt. The main figure in the second return was Ezra. Ezra was a priest and teacher and helped to restore the ways of God to the fledgling community (Ezra 7). The main figure in the third return was Nehemiah. Nehemiah was a trusted cupbearer to Artaxerxes. He obtained permission to travel to Jerusalem to rebuild the city's walls. Zerubbabel, Ezra, and Nehemiah all returned to Jerusalem with the favor, resources, and support of a Persian king!

Daniel and the Church in Iran

God showed me two parallels between Daniel and the church in Iran.

During Israel's long captivity, Daniel prayed continually to God (Daniel 6:10). In the first year of Cyrus, Michael stood with the "man clothed in linen," and the captivity ended. During Iran's long captivity, the church in Iran has prayed for the fulfillment of God's purposes for the Iranian people. The glorious "man clothed in linen" is also standing with angelic princes to bring about God's purposes for today.

In the third year of Cyrus, Daniel sought God earnestly for twenty-one days (Daniel 10:2–3). At the end of this time, the "man clothed in linen" revealed many things about Israel's future destiny. The Iranian church has sought God earnestly. God is about to reveal many things to them about the future destiny of the Iranian people.

Under Persian kings, Jews were liberated from captivity. Modern Israel is being used to help liberate the descendants of Persia from captivity.

The Iranian church will continue to experience great revival. This will have an increasing impact in Iran and even spill over into other nations. Iranians will play a strategic role in the spiritual liberation of Israel by provoking the Jews to jealousy (Romans 11:11–14). Iran has a phenomenal prophetic legacy and a phenomenal still-to-be-fully-realized prophetic destiny.

 

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Nathan Shaw
Heart of David Ministries
Email: heartofdavid777@protonmail.com
Website: www.heartofdavidministries.org

Nathan Shaw helps bring individuals and churches into dynamic encounters with God's indescribable love. Over the last twenty years he has been instrumental in ushering in significant moves of the Spirit in over ten different nations. Many have experienced life-changing prophetic encounters and dramatic visitations from God. Nathan is the author of two books: Passion and Fire and Unto the Least of These. Nathan is senior pastor at Fire and Destiny Centre, Dunedin and Celebration Church, Mosgiel.

 

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