05 Apr Is President Trump, like Cyrus, God’s Instrument for Our Time?

From a prophetic perspective, I believe, as do many prophetic voices in the body of Christ, that President Trump it a type of Cyrus for this hour. Even before he was elected, he was identified as such. Who was Cyrus? In a word, he was the founder and king of the Persian Empire, the largest domain in the ancient world.

Unlike his contemporaries, Cyrus was a wise ruler who did not follow the common policy of displacing entire populations of conquered territories. Hence, his edict in 538 BC, releasing the Hebrews who had been held captive in Babylon, to return to their own nation and rebuild the Temple:

Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and also put it in writing, saying, 

23 Thus says Cyrus king of Persia:

All the kingdoms of the earth the Lord God of heaven has given me. And He has commanded me to build Him a house at Jerusalem which is in Judah. Who is among you of all His people? May the Lord his God be with him, and let him go up! (Ezra 1:1-4 NKJV)

Out of his vast riches, he even provided funds to obtain cedars from Lebanon for the returning Israelites to restore the Temple.

In the book of Isaiah, God refers to Cyrus as His “shepherd” and His “anointed”:

Who says of Cyrus, ‘He is My shepherd,

And he shall perform all My pleasure,

Saying to Jerusalem, “You shall be built,”

And to the temple, “Your foundation shall be laid.”‘ 

45 “Thus says the Lord to His anointed,

To Cyrus, whose right hand I have held — 

To subdue nations before him

And loose the armor of kings,

To open before him the double doors,

So that the gates will not be shut… (Isa 44:28-45:1 NKJV)

STRIKING PARALLELS

Cyrus had some level of awareness of Israel’s God, just as many have speculated that Donald Trump had a passing knowledge of God before his election. Since then, several Christian leaders have testified that President Trump has become a born-again believer, and have continued to speak into his life with words of truth and life.

In the first year of Cyrus’ reign over Babylon, he released the Hebrews from the 70-year captivity as prophesied by Daniel. Similarly, in the first year of his presidency, Donald Trump not only officially recognized Jerusalem as the rightful capital of Israel, but also pledged to move the US Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Not-so-coincidentally, this year is Israel’s 70^th birthday as a nation.

We are told in Ezra 1, that King Cyrus “himself brought out the articles that King Nebuchadnezzar had taken from the Lord’s Temple in Jerusalem (see 2 Chron 36:18)…and present[ed] them to Sheshbazzar, the leader of the exiles returning to Judah…” 

This is an important detail in light of the events that had taken place during the reign of King Belshazzar (Daniel 5), Nebuchadnezzar’s grandson, because it parallels what our own President has worked toward in his first year. Let me explain.

THE HANDWRITING ON THE WALL

In October, 2016, 3 weeks before the Presidential election, I released a word concerning the significance of the year 2017. A portion that word came from Daniel 5 (to read the entire word, click: 2017 – A Pivotal Year). At the time, which coincidentally was during Yom Kippur, I felt the revelation had to do with Candidate Trump, and it has, in fact, proven to be true.

In Daniel chapter 5, we read the story of the “handwriting on the wall.” King Belshazzar was feasting with his nobles using the sacred cups and utensils that were stolen from the Temple by his grandfather. At the time of the feast, Jerusalem was being besieged by none other than Cyrus.

While King Belshazzar was feasting, handwriting appeared on the wall. The enchanters were unable to decipher it, and Daniel was called in to interpret it. He began by reminding Belshazzar of his grandfather’s sad end. Because Nebuchadnezzar had abused the power and glory God had given him and became lifted up in pride, he was “brought down from his throne, stripped of his glory, had the mind of a wild animal, ate grass…Until he learned that the Most High God rules over the kingdoms of the world and appoints anyone he desires to rule over them.” (Dan 5:20-21)

Daniel then confronted Belshazzar

“You knew all this, Belshazzar, and still you didn’t humble yourself, but defied the Lord of heaven by bringing these cups here and worshiping gods that ‘neither see, nor hear, nor know anything at all’”…(Dan 5:22-24)

Daniel’s interpretation of the handwriting had specific implications for where we were as a nation given the political atmosphere during the 2016 election cycle.

First there was the timing of the incident:  Belshazzar and his nation were under siege, yet he was feasting.

• America has been under siege by the radical Islamic agenda. The world is under siege by ISIS, Al Qaeda, and other groups. Yet we heard in speeches and political rallies at the time, that “America is already great. We’re doing just fine, no threat here.” The term radical Islam would not even be breathed by anyone but Trump.

Secondly, Belshazzar had defiled, or made common, the “holy vessels” from the Temple.

• The “king” and the former administration of leaders, had tried to defile, make common, and trample the “holy vessels” of this nation. Treasures such as:
  • The Constitution
  • The Bill of Rights
  • Religious liberty
  • Right to bear arms, to name a few
• As an example, Sharia law is ever-encroaching into our nation. Opposed to the values and principles of the US Constitution, it tramples on the rights of the individual, particularly women.

All the while worshipping the “god” of political correctness.

Briefly, the 3 words that appeared on the wall were a warning. (For the fuller significance of the words see: 2017 – A Pivotal Year.)

• Mene: God has numbered the days of your reign and brought it to an end. Through the November election, God did bring the liberal ‘reign’ to an end.
• Tekel: You have been weighed in the balance and have not measured up. The previous administration had not measured up.
• Parsin: Your kingdom has been divided and given to the Medes and Persians. Just as the Babylonian empire was dissolved, so, too, the liberal agenda was dealt a crucial blow in the election.

OUR RESPONSE

When I look back over President Trump’s first year in office with a prophetic lens, I can see the strong stand he has made to bring back our “treasures” and the values so many of us hold dear, upholding them with the power with which he has been entrusted. I know many Christians have issues with the President’s brashness, seeming arrogance, and endless Tweets that do not serve the cause of his Presidency. However, just as Cyrus was an imperfect King and was still chosen by God as His “shepherd,” His “anointed,” it is my conviction that President Donald Trump has been chosen by God to bring about a needed shift in the United States.

As a people, it is both a privilege and a biblical injunction to pray for our leaders, whether we are fond of their personalities or not.

1 Tim 2:1-3 (NLT)

 I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them. 2 Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity. 

– Diane Fink