Page 137 - The Prophet-statesman a Drama of Daniel

Israel mine elect, I have even called thee by thy name: I have surnamed thee, though
thou hast not known me.’ You will note that twice our omniscient Jehovah inspired
Isaiah to call the name of this king who was not born till a century and a half later.

And Jehovah calls Cyrus ‘His shepherd’ and says ‘he will perform all His pleasure;
even saying to Jerusalem, Thou shalt be built, and to the temple, Thy foundation shall
be laid.’ When Isaiah wrote those words Jerusalem had not been destroyed and the
temple still stood in pristine splendor!”

As Daniel spoke these words the aged queen leaned forward in her chair, her black
eyes blazing with interest. “Go on, go on, Daniel! Tell me more! I have never been
more thrilled.”

“And now I believe the time is near at hand because of a line I read from the scroll
of Jeremiah the other day, in which he predicted, (the year after, as young men, we
were brought to Babylon) that Jerusalem would lie desolate for seventy years, and that
in seventy years the King of Babylon and the whole Babylonian Empire would be

punished. All this has already come to pass, and it simply remains for Jerusalem’s
desolation to be brought to an end.
“You know it is planned that in the next year or two Cyrus will himself come to
Babylon and transfer King Darius back to Ecbatana. I have the inescapable conviction

that the Lord, Jehovah, has preserved my life thus long that I may show to King Cyrus
from the prophecy of Isaiah, what He has purposed for him to nephew, good King
Darius, as faithfully as possible. I will not fear what any man can do unto me, for I
shall not die until I have performed my mission to King Cyrus. Then I shall be

gathered to my fathers and will shortly precede me to that Paradise of the redeemed or
will shortly follow me.”
“Praise be to Jehovah! I would be content and happy to go thither at this very
moment. Only these wonderful revelations what you have given me this day, have

given me a desire to remain until Cyrus fulfills the prophecy and commands the
restoration of the city of Jerusalem and the temple. I should also like to see my
nephew Darius, come to full faith in Jehovah. He has a kind heart and a ready mind,
but is afflicted with that same disease of vanity and pride that seems to come to nearly

all who attain earthly success and position. The shell is not nearly so thick as it was in
the case of my husband, but it must be broken and shattered nevertheless.”

Daniel has arisen from his seat as Rhea said these words, preparatory to taking his
departure. “I am sure it will come to pass, but perhaps it will require another cup of
suffering for you or me, Rhea, that Darius may be brought to a heart-recognition of
Jehovah. It has ever been thus. “Good-bye, Queen Rhea. Praise be to Jehovah that He
hath not left me in my old age without a kindred spirit!” She followed him to the door

and they bowed to one another as Daniel took his departure.