Iran belongs to Jesus Christ
In the past two decades, Iran has had the fastest-growing church in the world even though the Bible is illegal! The Lord is on the move in the hearts and minds of countless people questioning their Islamic faith. Every day Loveworld Persia provides opportunities for more Persians to receive Jesus Christ as their savior.
Iran Has a Rich Biblical Heritage
It was King Cyrus who obeyed God’s command to return the Jewish people to their homes in Judah 70 years after their exile under the Babylonian King, Nebuchadnezzar. Ezra 1 tells us it was the Lord Himself that moved his heart to do this. Cyrus put in motion his Edict of Restoration in 538 BC (2 Chronicles 36:22), which was a fulfillment of an earlier prophecy by the Prophet Jeremiah. He even helped the Jewish people to rebuild their temple in Jerusalem (Ezra 1:4).
Cyrus II of Persia, known as “The Great”, was a Persian emperor who managed to influence some of the most important cultures in history and be recognized even today as an example of a charismatic and fair leader. Even though he was not a Jew, he heard from the God of Israel. In Ezra 1:2 it is recorded that King Cyrus declared, “The LORD, the GOD of the 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”.
Shush (Susa): The Homeland of The Jews in Exile During The Babylonian Captivity
According to the Bible, Daniel was taken into captivity by Nebuchadnezzar II of Babylon around 600 BCE after the destruction of the First Temple (2 Kings 20:14–18; Daniel 6:13), serving the king and his successors with loyalty and ability until the time of the Persian conqueror Cyrus, all the while remaining true to the God of Israel. Daniel survived this overthrow and lived to serve the new king, Cyrus. King Cyrus eventually made Daniel the ruler over a portion of his kingdom. In fact, King Cyrus had determined to put Daniel over the whole nation as the prime minister! (Daniel 2:48).
Though the Bible mentions that Daniel lived in Babylon (present-day Iraq) at one point and may have lived in Shush, the exact burial site of Daniel is unknown, as the Bible does not specify where it is. But many experts believe he was laid to rest in Susa. Shush, formerly known as Susa is approximately 250 miles southwest of Tehran, close to the border of Iraq. Shush was one of the cities that served as the capital of Persia in ancient times. The books of Esther, Ezra, Daniel, and Nehemiah mention Susa.
The Story of Esther Took Place In Iran
As the capital of the world’s largest empire, Susa was also the city where Esther married the Persian King Ahasuerus, also known as Xerxes I. According to the book of Esther, she was a beautiful young Jewish woman who caught the eye of the Persian king (Esther 2: 16-18), became queen, and with the assistance of her cousin Mordecai, persuaded the king to retract an order for the general annihilation of Jews throughout the empire, and saved her Hebrew people throughout the Persian Empire from annihilation (Esther 7: 2-3).
Hamadan, known in ancient times as Ecbatana, is in the Kurdish region of Iran. Mount Alvand, which overlooks the city proper, was the location of the summer palace of Persian royalty of the Achaemenid Empire. It was during this period that this story took place, the beginning of the Jewish Festival of Purim. Purim marks the deliverance of the Jews from a royal death decree in the 5th century. BCE. It is widely believed that Queen Esther and Mordecai, after spending their final years at the royal residence, were buried in the city, next to one another, with a shrine constructed over their graves.
Pray For Iran
Pray for Iranian women, girls, Christians, and all who are protesting Iran’s oppressive government and restrictive religious policies. Ask God to give them protection, wisdom, and supernatural favor. Pray for Christians who have converted from Islam, that they will be safe from authorities and others who may wish them harm. Pray for Christians who are imprisoned for their faith, that they will remain strong physically, mentally, and spiritually, and will be released soon. Pray for secret home churches to grow in spite of the threat of discovery. Pray for pastors to lead their flocks with courage and conviction. Pray for the Gospel to have free course in Iran and for multitudes to hear, believe, receive, and become a witness for the saving, healing, and life-changing Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.