Bible Discussion Thread

Who is Cyrus in Isa.44:28? is this a formof Christ?

Hello Vera. Cyrus is a Persian King, whom the LORD God had chosen & appointed to release His people from captivity. You might remember, that Judah went into Babylonian captivity, while Israel went into Assyrian captivity. The prophet Isaiah who prophesied during the reign of Judah's Kings Hezekiah & Manasseh, some 150 years earlier, clearly proclaimed that a future Persian king called Cyrus would be instrumental in releasing God's people. Under the Babylonian kings, Judah found no respite, but God had planned that Cyrus would overthrow Babylon & eventually release the people.

Isaiah 44:28 refers to Cyrus as God's shepherd. Though 'shepherd' is used to denote one who leads & guides a flock, here for Cyrus, God uses this name as Cyrus would be the one to not only release the people but would ensure that they made it home. And as God's chosen, Cyrus would be specially raised to not only destroy the city & the kingdom of Babylon, but also in delivering the Jewish captives & rebuilding Jerusalem & the Temple.

Is then Cyrus "a form of Christ?" As far as a saviour (one who saves) goes, yes, because he was God's instrument to save His people from captivity. But could Cyrus ever accomplish what Jesus Christ has done for us? Clearly, No. Because Jesus not only rescued us out of the clutches of our enemy Satan, but secured God's forgiveness for us & giving us a new Spirit & a new life; Cyrus could never do all that for he was just a man, a heathen sinner at that. But Cyrus was merely a shadow & a revelation of the Power of God in the lives of the God-fearing & godless. God can choose whomever He wishes to accomplish His Plans, but only Jesus could fulfil that great Plan for the saving of mankind's wretched soul.