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Medo-Persia--A Christian Nation

In contrast to Babylon's absolute monarchy, Persia was a constitutional monarchy. In other words, the king was bound by his own law, once it had been established and decreed.

Darius the Mede conquered Babylon in 537 B.C., as I showed in Secrets of Time. He ruled for three years until Cyrus the Persian was able to come and rule, at which time Darius went back to rule his home country of Media. Thus, 534 B.C. is the first year of Cyrus in the biblical sense.

During the three years of Darius' rule, he re-organized the new Empire into 120 provinces, or "satraps" (Dan. 6:1), putting three governors over them, of which Daniel was the chief. Darius had no doubt heard Daniel's interpretation of the handwriting on the wall, which had caused King Belshazzar such fear that he soiled his royal garb (Dan. 5:6).

In the kingdoms of men, there are always ambitious and jealous men who are attracted to the king's court. So it was also in the days of Darius. Some were jealous of Daniel's position, and so they plotted against him. They could not find any intrigue, theft, or injustice by which they might accuse him, and so they decided to accuse him "with regard to the law of his God" (Dan. 6:5).

They flattered the king into making a decree that no man could petition "any god or man besides you, O king, for thirty days" (6:7). The king was flattered and made the decree. Verses 8 and 9 say,

" (8) Now, O king, establish the injunction and sign the document so that it may not be changed, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which may not be revoked. (9) Therefore King Darius signed the document, that is, the injunction."

Daniel, of course, continued his daily practice of praying to God three times a day. The conspirators thus found occasion against Daniel. When they approached the king with the accusation against Daniel, King Darius suddenly discovered their real motives. Darius did not want to execute Daniel, and tried everything until sunset to bypass the decree. But they reminded him that the King himself had to abide by his own law, for that was their type of government.

As Daniel was thrown into the den of lions, Darius told him in verse 16, "Your God whom you constantly serve will Himself deliver you." Even so, the king could not sleep that night.

The next morning, they went to the lion's den and found Daniel alive, for an angel had "shut the lions' mouths." Apparently, the angel had also prevented them from tearing him with their claws!

The king then made another decree that Daniel's accusers were to be likewise cast into the den of lions. They did not suffer long. But the main point of our discussion here is to give you the next decree from King Darius, beginning in verse 25,

" (25) Then Darius the Mede wrote to all the peoples, nations, and men of every language who were living in all the land:

"May your peace abound! (26) I make a decree that in all the dominion of my kingdom men are to fear and tremble before the God of Daniel; for He is the living God and enduring forever, and His kingdom is one which will not be destroyed, and His dominion will be forever. (27) He delivers and rescues and performs signs and wonders in heaven and on earth, who has also delivered Daniel from the power of the lions."

This decree was issued according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which could not be changed or abolished. This was what the conspirators said to King Darius in verse 15: "Recognize, O king, that it is a law of the Medes and Persians that no injunction or statute which the king establishes may be changed."

The fact that Daniel could not avoid the lions' den--even though the king sought every way to change the decree--proves how binding was that decree. And by the same strong bond, the king issued his second decree, recognizing the God of Daniel--the God of the Bible--and commanding all citizens within the Medo-Persian Empire to "fear and tremble before the God of Daniel."

Ancient Persia is now modern Iran. The Iranians do not realize it but their country has been established as a Christian Nation. By "Christian," I do not mean subservient to men of any denomination called Christian. The God of Daniel was Yahweh, who, when born in Bethlehem, "became my Yeshua" (Exodus 15:2; Isaiah 12:2).

Thus, we have a double witness, prophesying that "Babylon" will become the Kingdom of God and of Christ (Rev. 11:15). "Babylon" itself was the head of gold, but there was a whole succession of empires that formed the long-term captivity to the present day. Each nation was given authority in the earth--particularly authority over Israel and Judah--in order to make them responsible to bring forth the fruits of the Kingdom. When they did not do so, they were replaced by the next Empire.

The old Persian Empire was overthrown a long time ago, but the Word of God endures forever. That which Darius the Mede decreed is still in effect. The monarchs who came later, and the religions that did not recognize the God of Daniel, were all usurpers. The day will come when Persia (modern Iran) will re-establish the decree of Darius and his counterpart, Cyrus. Iran will yet be a Christian Nation.

When God revealed this to me about 20 years ago, it was in connection with a prophetic dream that He gave me. Some have many dreams; but for me, a prophetic dream is very unusual. The dream told me that I had a calling to the Muslim world. I was to intercede for Iran in particular, and this intercession would be based upon the word of the Lord that was spoken through Darius and tested by Daniel, who paid the price to obtain this original decree.

The Shah of Iran--who claimed to be a direct descendant of King Cyrus, the Persian--was overthrown in 1979, and Khomeini started a whole new type of government in Iran. Since that time, America has been moving toward a confrontation with Iran.

Yet because America is under the dominion of Mystery Babylon, we should be warned that no amount of military might will change the fact that Persia overthrew Babylon. It set the pattern for modern events. God has raised up Iran as His primary weapon to overthrow Mystery Babylon.

We are now approaching this final showdown. Even if we were to bomb Iran back to the Stone Age, as they have threatened, the victory would be hollow, because we would find ourselves overthrown in the process. I do not know how it will happen, but I do believe that one way or another, Iran has a divine calling in the earth. Iran's president has some idea of his divine calling, but his view is Islamic, not biblical. Therefore, the end is hidden from him. The result of this conflict will not be a great victory for Islam, nor for the Israelis, nor for Christian Zionists, but for the Kingdom of the God of Daniel.

As for the Americans and Israelis, most of them do not know the underlying source of their fear of Iran. Iran overthrew Babylon, and today both America and the Israeli state are Babylonian nations. I suspect that the Israelis know this, but I think President Bush does not understand it.

Regardless, the world is moving toward a climax of history, not knowing the divine plan for the nations. But you of Gideon's Army should know this, so that you pray with knowledge and understanding, and that you know that we are on the winning side. Look up, for your redemption draweth nigh.