Ancient Persian Empire

   The first dynasty of the Persian Archemenid Empire was established by Cyrus the Great in 550 BC with the conquest of the Median, Lydian, and Babylonian empires. The Persian Empire covered much of the then-known Ancient world from India to Egypt and north to Greece. The Archemenid Empire lasted about 220 years, from 550-330 BC. The Persians allowed their subjects to maintain their own customs and religions. Freedom of religion was a new concept and worked in their favor. 

   Persepolis was the ceremonial capital of the Empire, located 37 miles northeast of the present-day city of Shiraz in Fars Province, Iran.The earliest remains of Persepolis date back to 515 BC. It is believed Cyrus chose the site of Persepolis, but Darius I built the terrace and the palaces. Inscriptions on these buildings support the belief that they were constructed by Darius I.  He ordered the construction of the Apadana and the Council Hall, as well as the main imperial Treasury and its surroundings. These were completed during the reign of his son, Xerxes I.

   Bible scholars will recognize the names of Cyrus, Darius, and Xerxes I. Cyrus allowed the Jews to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the temple. He sent with them the things the Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar had taken from the temple. Darius put Daniel in the lion's den. Xerxes I was the son of Darius. He is also called Ahasauerus in the book of Esther.

   Trouble was brewing during the reign of Xerxes I. He led a successful invasion of Greece and temporarily crushed their revolt. But the Greeks were not finished. They considered the Persians soft, feminine, and decadent for their love of luxury and feasting. Greeks valued philosophy and knowledge. The four virtues of Greek Stoicism are courage, temperance, justice, and wisdom.

   In 330 BC, Alexander the Great sent the main force of his Greek army to Persepolis and allowed his troops to loot and burn Persepolis. The Persian Archemenid Empire  was destroyed and the Greeks became the new world leaders. The great, magnificent Persepolis lay buried in ashes until the 1930s when a French archaeologist began to uncover the ruins.

   What can we learn from the Persian Archemenid Empire? Several things.

1. It is God who sets up and takes down kings to fulfill His purposes. The prophet Isaiah had written hundreds of years before Cyrus was born that he would serve God by allowing the Jews to return to Israel and rebuild the temple (Isaiah 44:28). He fulfilled that prophecy the year he became king. Also, it was God who led the Persian king to choose the Jewish Esther as his wife.

2. A nation whose priority is luxury and feasting will weaken and eventually be overtaken or crumble from within. Ezekiel 16:49 lists the causes for the sins of Sodom which led to it's destruction--pride, fullness of bread, abundance of idleness, and lack of compassion for the poor and needy.  

   The sins of Sodom are alive and well in our nation today. The things that have happened this year are a reminder that God is ultimately in control of men and nations. The enemy that destroyed our economy was too small to be seen but brought America down. May all American take this warning seriously and turn back to God.