Message: An exhortation to repent by Rev.Katherine Liu Bruce

 Message: An exhortation to repent

 By Rev.Katherine Liu Bruce

Christian Arts Ministries: Biblical precepts & Gospel music                                      

Date: September 25, 2025

 

            According to Leviticus 23:23-44 Three Festivals occurred in the seventh month   (Tishri, Sept.- Oct.) 1) Trumpet blasts, 2) Atonements, and 3)Tabernacles. The blowing of a trumpet (The shofar or ram's horn) on the first day signaled the beginning of the civil New Year- Rosh Hashanah (Num.29:1-16). On the tenth day of this seventh month is the Day of Atonement, on the fifteenth day of the seventh month the Lord's Feast of Tabernacles begins, it lasts for seven days.   

  Day of the Lord         

             Joel’s prophecy of future desolation in Joel 2:1-11, the locust army is regarded as a foretaste of an invading army in the Day of the Lord. “Blow the trumpet in Zion; sound the alarm on my holy hill. Let all who live in the land tremble, for the day of the Lord is coming.  It is close at hand, a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and blackness. Like dawn spreading across the mountains a large and mighty army comes, such as never was of old nor ever will be in ages to come…”(Joel 2: 1-2) in the tribulation period. The future reference may be to the demon-locusts described in Rev.9:1-12 or to the invasion of the king of the North (Ezek.38:15; Dan.11:40). Resembling the Garden of Eden before the invasion, the land of Palestine will be reduced to a wilderness afterward (v.3). The same disturbances described in verse 10 “Before them the earth shakes, the sky trembles, the sun and moon are darkened, and the starts no longer shine” are predicted in Rev.6:12-13;8:12. The Lord thunders at the head of His army; His forces are beyond number and mighty are those who obey His command. The Day of the Lord great; it is dreadful who can endure it?” (Joel 2:11).    

 Joel’s exhortation to repent

         Joel’s exhortation to repent, he calls to personal repentance that comes from the heart, and call to national repentance in a sacred assembly from which on one, not even babies or newlyweds, would be exempt (Deut.24:5). In Joel 2: 12-14 says,

             “Even now”, declares the Lord, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning.” Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the Lord your God, for He is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and He relents from sending calamity. Who knows? He may turn and have pity and leave behind a blessing –grain offerings and drink offerings for the Lord your God.” (Joel 2:12)

Blow the trumpet in Zion, declare a holy fast, call a sacred assembly. Gather the people; consecrate the assembly; bring together the elders, gather the children, those nursing at the breast. Let the bridegroom leave his room and the bride her chamber. Let the priests, who minister before the Lord, weep between the temple porch and the altar. Let them say, “Spare your people, O Lord. Do not make your inheritance an object of scorn, a byword among the nations. Why should they say among the peoples, “where is their God?” (Joel 2:15-17)

Zephaniah’s prophecy,

Zephaniah predicted the doom of heathen nations, both immediately (as Nineveh, which fell in 612) and in the future (3:8) the book closes with a glorious description of the future Millennium (also an aspect of the Day of the Lord.) Day of the Lord (Joel 2:1-11; Isa.13:6-13) the soon –coming captivity, in which Judah would be the sacrifice and the nations guests in Babylon, was but a preview of the much worse punishment of the still future Day of the Lord (Matt.6:24).

He said, “Be silent before the Sovereign Lord, for the day of the Lord is near. The Lord has prepared a sacrifice; he has consecrated those he has invited. On the day of the Lord’s sacrifice I will punish the princes and the king’s sons and all those clad in foreign clothes. On that day I will punish all who avoid stepping on the threshold, who fill the temple of their gods with violence and deceit.” (Zephaniah 1: 7-9)

        “At that time I will search Jerusalem with lamps and punish those who are complacent, who are like wine left on its dregs, who think, “The Lord will do nothing, either good or bad.” Their wealth will be plundered, their houses demolished. They will build houses but not live in them; they will plant vineyards but not drink the wine.” (Zephaniah 1:12-13) 

         The great day of the Lord is near- near and coming quickly. Listen! The cry on the day of the Lord will be bitter, the shouting of the warrior there.

             That day will be a day of wrath,

              A day of distress and anguish,

              A day of trouble and ruin,

              A day of darkness and gloom,

              A day of clouds and blackness,

              A day of trumpet and battle cry, against the fortified cities and against the corner towers.  I will bring distress on the people and they will walk like blind men, because they have sinned against the Lord. Their blood will be poured out like dust and their entrails like filth. Neither their silver nor their gold will be able to save them on the day of the Lord’s wrath. In the fire of His jealousy the whole world will be consumed, for He will make a sudden end of all who live on the earth.  (Zephaniah 1:14-18)

 Zephaniah’s exhortation to repent

        Zephaniah urges people to repent, and gather together,

             1)  Before the appointed time arrives and that day sweeps on like chaff,

               2) Before the fierce anger of the Lord comes upon you,

              3) Before the day of the Lord’s wrath comes upon you.

             4) Seek the Lord, all you humble of the land, you who do what he commands.

             5) Seek righteousness, seek humility, perhaps you will be sheltered on the day of the    Lord’s anger.   

                   Psalm 81 This psalm, associated with the Feast of Tabernacles (Lev.23:34-43) opens with a summons to praise (vv.1-5), continues with an exhortation to remember(vv.6-10), and concludes with a call to repent (vv.11-16). Verse 3 The New Moon. The beginning of the seventh month, when the trumpet was blown (Lev.23:24). When the moon is full. On the fifteenth day, when the Feast of Tabernacles began. Verse 5 the language they did not know is Egypt was the call to liberation from Egypt of verse 6.          

Psalm 81 :1-16

Sing for joy to God our strength, shout aloud to the God of Jacob! Begin the music, strike the tambourine, play the melodious harp and lyre. Sound the ram’s horn at the New Moon, and when the moon is full, on the day of our Feast; this is a decree for Israel, an ordinance of the God of Jacob. He established it as a statute for Joseph when he went out against Egypt, where we heard a language, we did not understand. (vv.1-5).        

He says, “I removed the burden from their shoulders; their hands were set free from the basket.” In your distress you called and I rescued you, I answered you out of a thundercloud; I tested you at the waters of Meribah. (vv.6-7).

Hear, O my people, and I will warn you --- if you would but listen to me, O Israel! You shall have no foreign god among you; you shall not down to an alien god. I am the Lord your God, who brought you up out of Egypt. Open wide your mouth and I will fill it. (vv.8-10).

But my people would not listen to me; Israel would not submit to me. So I gave them over to their stubborn hearts to follow their own devices. “ If my people would but listen to me, if Israel would follow my ways, how quickly would I subdue their enemies and turn my hand against their foes! (vv.11-14).

Those who hate the Lord would cringe before him, and their punishment would last forever. But you would be fed with the finest of wheat; with honey from the rock I would satisfy you.” (vv.15-16).

    During three Festivals in the seventh month (Tishri, Sept.- Oct.) Trumpets blasts, Atonements, and Tabernacles, it’s important for us to repent of the sins, pride, wickedness, arrogance, violence, haughty, deceitfulness, drunkenness and idolatry. Seek the Lord, seek righteousness, seek humility, and humble before the Lord, fear the Lord, perhaps we may be hid in the day of the Lord’s anger and wrath. His compassion, forgiveness, mercy may pour out to us and bless us.  Be ready for the Day of the Lord, means to repent your sins, be holy, be pure, be clean, be whole, be true, and be faithful and pursue righteousness. The Day of the Lord is near and coming quickly.  Be ready! 

Bibliography,

Ryrie, Charles C. The Ryrie study Bible (NIV). Chicago, IL: The Moody Bible Institute, 1986.

 

Message: Our condolence to Charlie Kirk and his family by Rev.Katherine Liu Bruce

 Message: Our condolence to Charlie Kirk and his family

 By Rev.Katherine Liu Bruce 

Christian Arts Ministries: Biblical Precepts & Gospel music              Date: September 13, 2025     

 

  Our condolence to Charlie Kirk and his family, it was a horrifying assassination on Wednesday, September 10, 2025. He was shot and killed by a valence young man Tyler Robinson during a campus event at Utah Valley University (UVU) in Orem. When we watched TBN program at 7:00pm, and heard the news, we were shocked and heartbroken by this tragic loss of Charlie Kirk who was only 31 years old, a passionate young brother, who expressed and defended the Word of God and debated for the conservative ideology and notion, he also hosted a TV program in TNB. We pray for Charlie Kirk’s soul to find rest and peace in the arms of God. And the Word of God and his faith in Jesus Christ will be the firm foundation of his salvation; Jesus will face to face meet him, and give him an answer why this tragic loss happened to him?   

In John 17:14 Jesus said, “I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them. I have given them your WORD and the WORLD has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world.”(John17:13-14).  Jesus Christ does not teach withdrawal from the world but that Christians should be in the world but not of it (vv.14-16). Jesus prayed, “My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world even as I am not of it. Sanctify them by the truth; your WORD is truth. As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world.” (John17:15-18).

            Jesus encourages His disciples and followers in Matthew 10:28-29; Luke10:18-20; Revelation 21:4, it states, “Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father.” (Matt.10:28-29).  “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy, nothing will harm you. However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you but rejoice that your names are written in heaven. (Luke 10:18-20).  He will wipe every tear from their eyes; there will be no more death or mourning, or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away. (Rev.21:4)

Darkness never overcomes the Light of Christ. The suspect in the Charlie Kirk murder has been identified as 22-year-old Tyler Robinson. Robinson is a Utah resident. President Trump announced that an arrest had been made in the manhunt for Charlie Kirk's murder. By the helper of Tyler Robinson’s father who recognized his photo and confronted him, Tyler Robinson confessed to his father about the killing, and his father encouraged him to turn himself in, and reached out to a youth pastor who knew someone who works in the U.S. Marshals service, the suspect was arrested on Friday. 

 When Jesus said, “I have told you these things so that in ME you may have peace, in this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world (John 16:33). There are three aspects of this consequence.

First, general trials that come simply because we live in a sinful world (Rom.8:35-36). But in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loves us. If God is for us, who can be against us? Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written “For your sake we face death all day long we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”

 Second, afflictions that God allows to come into our lives (2 Cor.12:7). There was given Apostle Paul a thorn in his flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment him. Three times he pleaded with the Lord to take it away from him. But the Lord said to him, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Paul views physical affliction, (Migraine headaches, eye trouble (ophthalmia), malaria and epilepsy have been seriously suggested (Gal.4:12-15)) as the work of Satan, permitted by God for a good purpose (keeping him humble) it could not be relieved through prayer.(2Cor.12:8).

 Third, Chastisement that comes more directly from God (Heb.12:6) because the Lord disciplines those He loves, and He punishes everyone He accepts as a son. As Esau (Gen25:33) though he may not have been immoral in the physical sense, Esau was immoral in the spiritual sense, being worldly and materialist

          Today, we take heart! For we know that Jesus has overcome the world. The intercession of the son of God- Jesus had prayed for us 2000 years ago, He prayed for our protection, sanctification, glorification, and unification.

         First, He said, " Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name- the name you gave me, so that they may be one as we are one, while I was with them, I protected them and kept them safe by that name you gave me."

        Second, “My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the EVIL ONE. They are not of the world even as I am not of it. Sanctify them by the truth; your WORD is TRUTH. As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified."

        Third, "My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.  I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one, I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.

           Christians in this generation, what is the most challenging lesson?  Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount about the characteristics of disciples in Luke 6:22-36 is the most difficult lesson, and challenges disciples to be the doers perfectly as Father is perfect in heaven. How many believers can be perfect to fulfill what Jesus commanded? You may answer “none of us”, for it is too hard to do that, especially when you get hurt. But the Holy Spirit is able to transform your inner being day by day, year after year. Your heart of attitude will be changed by His divine power; the matter is that you are willing to turn your hearts to Jesus Christ and surrender your hurts to the Lord; the Lord will heal you in His time. For by His stripes, you will be healed. 

         This is the great Sermon of Jesus,

         “Blessed are you when men hate you, when they exclude you and insult you and reject your name as evil, because of the Son of Man. Rejoice in that day and lead for joy, because great is your reward in heaven. For that is how their fathers treated the prophets.” (Luke 6:22-23) 

        “Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to the other also. If someone takes your cloak, do not stop him from taking your tunic. Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. Do to others as you would have them do to you.” (Luke 6:27-31)

         If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners’ do that. And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, expecting to be repaid in full. But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because He is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. (Luke 6:32-36). 

 

 

Message: The Commander of the Lord’s Army by Rev.Katherine Liu Bruce

 Message: The Commander of the Lord’s Army                                 Date: June 20,2025

by Rev.Katherine Liu Bruce

Christian Arts Ministries: Biblical Precepts & Gospel music   

 

 According to Biblical history in the book of Joshua during 1400-1370 B.C. the Lord sent the commander of the Lord’s army to help Joshua, and gained the victory at Jericho. When Joshua was near Jericho, he look up and saw a man standing in front of him with a drawn sword in his hand. Joshua went up to him and asked, “Are you for us or for our enemies?” “Neither,” he replied, “but as commander of the army of the Lord I have now come.” then Joshua fell facedown to the ground in reverence, and asked him, “What message does my Lord have for his servant?” the commander of the Lord’s army replied,  “ Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy.” And Joshua did so. (Joshua 5:13-15)

Then the Lord said to Joshua “see, I have delivered Jericho into your hands, along with its king and its fighting men. March around the city once with all the armed men. Do this for six days. Have seven priests carry trumpets of ram’s horns in front of the ark. On the seventh day, march around the city seven times, with the priests blowing the trumpets. When you hear them sound a long blast on the trumpets, have all the people give a loud shout; then the wall of the city will collapse and the people will go up, every man straight in.” (Joshua 6:2-5)

So Joshua followed the instruction, and commanded the people, “Do not give a war cry, do not raise your voices, do not say a word until the day I tell you to shout, than shout!” So he had the ark of the Lord carried around the city, circling it once. Then the people returned to camp and spent the night there. (vv.10-11). they did this for six day. On the seventh day, they got up at daybreak and marched around the city seven times in the same manner, except that on that day they circled the city seven times. The seventh time around, when the priests sounded the trumpet blast, Joshua commanded the people, “Shout! For the Lord has given you the city!” the city and all that is in it are to be devoted to the Lord. Only Rehad the prostitute and all who are with her in her house shall be spared, because she hid the spies we sent. (Joshua 6: 15-17).

The battle belong to the Lord, the Lord helped Joshua to conquer the land of Canaan. The Lord also gave the Amorites over to Israel. The Lord said to Joshua, “Do not be afraid of them I have given them into your hand, not one of them will be able to withstand you.”(Joshua 11:8). The Lord threw the enemies into confusion before Israel and the Lord hurled large hailstones down on them from the sky and more of them died from the hailstones than were killed by the swords of the Israelites. (Joshua11:10-11).

The Lord fight the battle for Joshua and Lord was with Joshua all the days of his life as His promise, “No one will be able to stand up against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses so I will be with you, I will never leave you nor forsake you.” (Joshua 1:5). 
Be strong, and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their forefathers to give them. Be strong and courageous, be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. Do not let this Book of Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. Have I not commanded you! Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:6-9).

  Therefore, Joshua reminded Israel, “Not one of all the Lord’s good promises to the house of Israel failed, everyone was fulfilled.”(Joshua 21:45). “ Now I am about to go the way of all the earth, you know with all your heart and soul that not one of all the good promises the Lord your God gave you has failed, every promise has been fulfilled; not one has failed.”Now fear the Lord and serve him with all faithfulness” (Joshua 23:14). and Joshua declared, “As for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.” (Joshua24:15).  

Joshua worshiped the commander of the army of the Lord as God (6:2), acknowledging that this was His war and that the Israelites were but a part of the Lord’s hosts (which also included angels and the forces of nature).  The commander of the Lord’s army communicated to Joshua about taking Jericho. The divine plan to march around Jericho for seven days would test Israel’s faith and would accentuate the fear already present in the people of Jericho (2:9). Jericho was completely destroyed and devoted to God as the first fruits of Canaan and no booty was to be taken by the people (vv.18-19).[1]

             Today, Israel is facing nuclear threats from Iran’s leaders who explicitly stated, “Death to Israel” and “Death to America”, “Israel is a little Satan, and America is great Satan”. Israel face genocide and nuclear both threats in this prophetical time, Iran’s leader stated, “Iranian nation will never surrender to anyone” while U.S. President Trump urged Iran’s leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei to “surrender unconditionally”. After 60 days waiting, Iran’s leader refused to make deals. On June 12, 2025 in the U.S. Eastern time at 10pm, Israel struck Iran’s nuclear facility; the target goal is to demolish nuclear infrastructures, not Iran civilian. Iran’s leaders struck back to Israel and target at civilian building, apartments and hospital. Both side mutual strike back and force to each other.                                    

            We pray that God’s divine intervention, the divine plan and His will be done for Israel and Iran both side countries. The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob arise to cease the nuclear threats. According to Biblical history events first, in the book of Joshua during 1400-1370 B.C. the Lord sent the commander of the Lord’s army to help Joshua, and gained the victory at Jericho (Joshua 5:13-15; 6:1-27). After the victory, Joshua urged Israel to remember, “Not one of all the Lord’s good promises to the house of Israel failed, everyone was fulfilled.”(Joshua 21:45). “Not one of all the good promises the Lord you God gave you has failed, every promise has been fulfilled; not one has failed.” Now, fear the Lord and serve him with all faithfulness.” (Joshua 23:14).

              Second, according to the Prophet Zechariah’s second oracle, it indicates that the Lord cares for Jerusalem and Jerusalem will be immovable. Zechariah’s prophecies as follows,

 “On that day, when all the nations of the earth are gathered against her, I will make Jerusalem as immovable rock for all the nations. All who try to move it will injure themselves. On that day I will strike every horse with panic and its rider with madness, declares the Lord.  “I will keep a watchful eye over the house of Judah, but I will blind all the horses of the nations. Then leaders of Judah will say in their hearts, “The people of Jerusalem are strong, because the Lord Almighty is their God.” (Zechariah 12: 3-5)

  “On that day I will make the leaders of Judah like a firepot in a woodpile, like a flaming torch among sheaves. They will consume right and left all the surrounding peoples, but Jerusalem will remain intact in her place. The Lord will save the dwelling of Judah first, so that the honor of the house of David and of Jerusalem’s inhabitants may not be greater than that of Judah. On that day the Lord will shield those who live in Jerusalem, so that the feeblest among them will be like David, and the house of David will be like God, like the Angel of the Lord going before them. On that day I will set out to destroy all the nations that attack Jerusalem. (Zechariah 12: 6-9).

  And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and supplication. They will look on me, the one they have pierced, and they will mourn for him as one mourns for an only child, and grieve bitterly for him as one grieves for a firstborn son. On that day the weeping in Jerusalem will be great, like the weeping of Hadad Rimmon in the plain of Megiddo. The land will mourn, each clan by itself, with their wives by themselves: the clan of the house of David and their wives, the clan of the house of Nathan and their wives, the clan of the house of Levi and their wives, the clan of Shimei and their wives, and all the rest of the clans and their wives.  (Zechariah 12:10-12)   

 Zechariah’s prophecy will be fulfilled during the campaign of Armageddon. Supernatural confusion and panic will overtake the armies attacking Jerusalem. The leaders of Judah will be like a firepot on which their enemies are consumed. At the second coming of Christ, Israel will recognize Jesus as her Messiah, acknowledging with deep contrition that He was the One whom their forefathers pierced. All both high and low, shall mourn individually when they see the rejected Messiah. Nathan, son of David, illustrates prominent families, whereas Shimei represents all ordinary families (Num.3:18). May God of Israel send the commander of the Lord’s army to help Israel! May the Lord’s promises and the covenant of peace with His children regard less Jews or Gentiles will be abided forever. May peace of Jerusalem and may peace on earth!

 

Bibliography,

Ryrie, Charles C. The Ryrie study Bible (NIV). Chicago, IL: The Moody Bible Institute, 1986.        

 

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[1] Ryrie, Charles C. Chicago, IL: The Moody Bible Institute, 1986. 295.

 

Message: God’s way to restore Israel according to His sovereign will and time By Rev. Katherine Liu Bruce

 Message: God’s way to restore Israel according to His sovereign will and time 

By Rev. Katherine Liu Bruce    Christian Arts Ministries                            Date: June 15, 2025

 Ø  In 538 B.C. God’s way to restore Israel to her homelands 

In the first year that king of Persia, Cyrus was ruler of the conquered Babylonian Empire (538, though he had been king of Persia since 559).  2 Chronicles 36:22 -23 identical to Ezra 1:1-2 lead the reader directly to the continuing historical account in the book of Ezra. 

In the book of Ezra records the fulfillment of God’s promise to restore Israel to her land after the seventy years of captivity in Babylon (Jer.25:11) This was accomplished through the help of three Persian kings (Cyrus, Darius, and Artaxerxes) as well as Jewish leaders such as Zerubbabel, Joshua, Haggai, Zechariah, and Ezra. Cyrus overthrew Babylon in October 539, and in accord with his policy of encouraging subject people to return to their homelands, he issued a decree in 538 allowing the Jews to do the same. About fifty thousand did return under the leadership of Zerubbabel, and the foundation of the Temple was laid, though it was not completed until 515 in the reign of Darius. Ezra charge 1-6 describes these events.

Ø  The decree of Cyrus, king of Persia as follows,

“In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, in order to fulfill the word of the Lord spoken by Jeremiah, the Lord moved the heart of Cyrus king of Persia to make a proclamation throughout his realm and to put it in writing: “This is what Cyrus king of Persia says, “The Lord, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth and he has appointed me to build a temple for Him at Jerusalem in Judah. Anyone of His people among you may the Lord his God be with him and let him go up.” (2 Chronicles 36:22-23)

 “In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, in order to fulfill the word of the Lord spoken by Jeremiah, the Lord moved the heart of Cyrus king of Persia to make a proclamation throughout his realm and to put it in writing: “This is what Cyrus king of Persia says, “The Lord, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth and he has appointed me to build a temple for him at Jerusalem in Judah. Anyone of his people among you may his God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem in Judah and build the temple of the Lord, the God of Israel, the God who is in Jerusalem. And the people of any place where survivors may now be living are to provide him with silver and gold, with goods and livestock, and with freewill offerings for the temple of God in Jerusalem.” (Ezra1:1-4).

Ø  Isaiah’s prophecies about Cyrus

According to Isaiah 44:28 says, “Who says of Cyrus, He is my shepherd and will accomplish all that I please; he will say of Jerusalem, “Let it be rebuilt,” and of the temple, “Let its foundations be laid.” (Isa. 44:28) And Isaiah 45:1 says, “This is what the Lord says to His anointed to Cyrus, whose right hand I take hold of,  to subdue nations before him and to strip kings of their armor, to open doors before him so that gates will not be shut.” (Isa.45:1). It indicates Cyrus’ designation as shepherd. Cyrus, as a temporal deliver of God’s people, serves as an illustration of Jesus Christ, the eternal Redeemer: and because vassal rulers were anointed. Open doors. on the night the Persians captured Babylon some of the men entered on the dry river bed and opened the gates to their armies from the inside. By their superior rulers, Cyrus, as one who carried out God’s purposes, could properly be said to be an anointed vassal.

Ø  Jeremiah’s prophecies concerning Elam-

Elam is located E. of Babylonia. The Elamites had had a long and eventful history but, by Jeremiah’s time, had largely been absorbed by the Persians (the modern Iran).

 “This is what the Lord Almighty says, “See, I will break the bow of Elam, the mainstay of their might. I will bring against Elam the four winds from the four quarters of the heavens; I will scatter them to the four winds, and there will not be a nation where Elam’s exiles do not go. I will shatter Elam before their foes, before those who seek their lives; I will bring disaster upon them, even my fierce anger,” declares the Lord. “I will pursue them with the sword until I have made in Elam and destroy her king and officials,” declares the Lord. “Yet I will restore the fortunes of Elam in days to come,” declares the Lord.”(Jeremiah 49:35-39)

Ø  Ezekiel’s prophecies about Persia (the modern Iran) in 38:1-6 as follows,

 The Word of the Lord came to me: “ Son of man, set your face against Gog, of the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal; prophesy against him and say: “This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I am against you, O Gog, chief prince of Meshech and Tubal. I will turn you around, put hooks in your jaws and bring you out with your whole army your horses, your horsemen fully armed, and a great horde with large and small shields, all of them brandishing their swords.  Persia, Cush and Put will be with them, all with shields and helmets also Gomer with all its troops and Beth Togarmah from the far north with all its troops the many nations with you.” (Ezekiel 38:1-6)

Ezekiel predicted (chapter 38) that after the Jewish people return to Israel they will be attacked by an alliance from Russia, Iran and Libya. No doubt these allies will be motivated by fierce anti-Semitism. Their hostile efforts will not succeed, however, and will result in their humiliation and defeat. The winds of this hostility are blowing in the Middle East today. Anti-Israel sentiment is not typical of many peace loving Muslims, but it is a smoldering fire that is being fueled by anti-Zionist propaganda. A Zionist is a person that believes that the Jewish people have a right to the land that was promised them by God forever. Today’s anti-Zionism is no different than the anti-Semitism that swept through central Europe during the 1930’s and 1940’s and which has manifested repeatedly against the Jewish people. But to Abraham, God said, “I will bless those who bless you, and him who curses you I will curse; and by you all the families of the earth will bless themselves.”(Gen.12:3).

Ø  Biblical insight of Cyrus

         The reason the Lord raised up Persians in order to capture Babylon in 539 B.C. and allowed the Jews to return, which was  the fulfillment of God’s promise to restore Israel to her homeland after the seventy years of captivity in Babylon (Jer.25:11). God changed Cyrus’s heart and used him to free the Israel by a decree, As Cyrus wrote “The Lord, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth and he has appointed me to build a temple for him at Jerusalem in Judah. Anyone of his people among you may his God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem in Judah and build the temple of the Lord, the God of Israel, the God who is in Jerusalem.” Cyrus’ designation as shepherd, Cyrus, as a temporal deliver of God’s people, serves as an illustration of Jesus Christ, the eternal Redeemer.

God’s resolution to free the captivity of Israel according to His sovereign will, and in His way and in His time, ultimately, God rebirth of Israel, all living Israelites will be saved at the second coming of Christ, and the Lord will execute judgment upon all men, and many will be those slain by the Lord. According to Isaiah’s prophecies 66: 10-16 a vivid picture of the judgments at the return of Christ, it says,

 “Rejoice with Jerusalem and be glad for her, all you who love her; rejoice greatly with her, all you who mourn over her…For this is what the Lord says, “I will extend peace to her like a river, and the wealth of nations like a flooding stream; you will nurse and be carried on her arm and dandled on her knees. As a mother comforts her child, so will I comfort you; and you will be comforted over Jerusalem.” When you see this, your heart will rejoice and you will flourish like grass; the hand of the Lord will be made known to his servants, but his fury will be shown to his foes. See, the Lord is coming with fire, and his chariots are like a whirlwind; he will bring down his anger with fury, and his rebuke with flames of fire. For with fire and with his sword the Lord will execute judgment upon all men, and many will be those slain by the Lord.” (Isaiah 66:10-16).  

The hopes of Christians and Jewish people throughout the world are merging in a common hope for the coming of the messiah. In present time the war between Israel and Iran, we pray that God’s sovereign will be done.  It is the Lord come with fire and with his sword to execute judgment upon the earth. We are in the prophetical timeline, be alert, be watchful and be ready for bridegroom Christ comes again. 

 

Bibliography,

 

Ryrie, Charles C. The Ryrie study Bible (NIV). Chicago, IL: The Moody Bible Institute, 1986.