Cyrus The Great In The Bible

There is one story in the Bible that if I didn't know for a fact it was true, I would find to be dubious and unbelievable.

And that is the story of the first Persian king Shah Cyrus the Great.

Cyrus the Great is easily one of the most bizarre characters in history. His metaphysical system was Zoroastrianism, which means Zoroaster the Archmagus was his prophet. Zoroaster in Greek means undiluted stars. They worshipped Ahura Mazda and read the Avesta.

After Cyrus the Great conquered Babylon in 540 B.C., he decided for some strange reason to free the 40,000 enslaved Jews who had been captured by Nebuchadnezzar and held in Babylon.

And not only that, he decided to rebuild the Temple of God in Jerusalem.

"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, that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and put it also in writing, saying, Thus saith Cyrus king of Persia, The LORD God of heaven hath given me all the kingdoms of the earth; and he hath charged me to build him an house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah." -- Ezra 1:1-2

Does that make any sense whatsoever? No. Yet nevertheless, we know for a fact this actually happened.