Podcasts about Persians

! JOIN SHERI HORN HASAN FOR all the Astro News You Can Use @ https://www.karmicevolution.com/astrologically-speaking podcast!ANY WAY THE WIND BLOWS, EVERYTHING YOU DON'T KNOW TURNS INTO A REVELATIONThe Scorpio New Moon, which occurred at 28-degrees 12-minutes Scorpio at 10:47 p.m. PT November 19 & 1:47 a.m. ET November 20, opposed Uranus retrograde at 29-degrees 29-minutes of Taurus, known as the “Pleiades point” in Greek mythology. Found in the Taurus constellation, the seven weeping sisters represent “blindness”--sometimes literally, more often metaphorically.So, Mercury retrograde's reentrance into the 29th degree of Scorpio on November 18/early November 19--when Mercury then exact opposed Uranus Rx @ 29 Taurus seem now in hindsight to have represented a “once I was blind but now I can see” moment. .Astrologically speaking this Mercury/Uranus opposition aspect alone told us that something unusual, something sudden & potentially shocking was likely to happen as we approached this Scorpio New Moon. This was then confirmed as we waxed toward today's exact Sun/Uranus opposition on November 21.And, sure enough, it was as these aspects waxed in strength & as we approached the Scorpio New Moon that President Trump—who'd formerly insisted these Epstein documents were a “Democratic hoax”—announced his unexpected turnaround. Suddenly, after realizing that resistance was futile, he was all for passage of “The Epstein Files Transparency Act” & declared that he would sign the bill when it reached his desk.And so he did on November 19, just before the Scorpio New Moon arrived. Now this month's lunation directs us to plant seeds that allow us to gain a greater sense of self-empowerment—both individually & collectively—but that such empowerment will come with some surprising revelations as we face our hidden shadows. Shadows to which we've previously been blind, given this lunation's opposition to Uranus retrograde at the 29 Taurus Pleiades degree--as they emerge suddenly, & perhaps shockingly, into the light of day.For Donald Trump, who experienced this lunation in his Pluto/Scorpio-ruled 4th House of early psychological roots opposing transiting Uranus in his 10th House of reputation in the wider world & square to his Leo Ascendant (appearance to others) & fixed star Regulus, it the message now seems clear.His popularity waning, his strong-arm tactics shot down in courts, his inability to understand the definition of “affordability” in the economic realm, his thirst for revenge & warlike tactics both domestically & internationally, the question becomes whether this is the beginning of the end for him. He is, after all, now considered political a “lame duck”—one who's constitutionally prevented from running for president again, despite acting like the U.S. Constitution doesn't exist.YOU WATCH & YOU WAIT, & PRAY FOR THE DAY…With transiting Uranus retrograde now square Donald Trump's Leo Ascendant & fixed star Regulus—which at his birth conjoined his Ascendant in Leo—Trump is now facing what Regulus traditionally represents--which is king maker & (potentially) king breaker. Fixed star Regulus, considered one of the four royal stars by the ancient Persians, has a connotation with "Watcher of the North," & as such was seen as a guardian star, which brought honor and success. However, Regulus carried the warning that succumbing to vengeful impulses would diminish its blessings. In short, seeking & gaining power was in its purview, but that power would be lost if such a person resorted to revenge of his or her perceived enemies.Given that transiting Uranus first squared Trump's Leo Ascendant/Regulus on June 17, 2025, he's already taken the first hit. However, his second exact square occurred on November 7, the day he pardoned 70+ people who'd been instrumental in his “stop the steal” elector scheme leading to the U.S. Capitol insurrection on January 6, 2021. Next he's gone after his political opponents for doing their jobs, such as former FBI Director James Comey, NYS Attorney General Letitia James, & more, as he seeks revenge against those attempting to hold him legally accountable for his own wrongdoings.What's important to realize now is that Uranus, which remains retrograde in Taurus until February 3, 2026, will once again comes into orb of squaring his Leo Ascendant/Regulus between April 6-25, 2026. It's on April 26 of next year that Uranus direct reenters Gemini for the duration of its transit there.The point is that Trump is not done yet with his potential fall from grace, based on ancient archetypal astrological calculations which foretell a diminished future for him, to put it diplomatically. What that will look like exactly is hard to say, as he's always been extremely lucky despite his mafioso tendencies.Astrologer Rob Hand generally describes the Uranus square to one's Ascendant in his book “Planets In Transit” as one that “…is likely to have a very disruptive effect on your relationships. Influences may enter your life, either through your home or your profession, that will challenge the foundations upon which your life is built. This challenge will be reflected in surprising encounters with others that upset your way of living or in sudden separations from person who you thought would remain in your life for some time.” I'll leave it to you, gentle reader, to suss out the direction from which the who, what, where, how, & when of these challenges for Trump. All I ask is that you keep this particular transit in mind as we approach the early spring next year… YOU CAN'T ALWAYS GET WHAT YOU WANT, BUT IF YOU TRY SOMETIMES, YOU GET WHAT YOU NEEDNow, as we head into this month's Scorpio themed lunar cycle, we might be mindful that Mercury's still retrograde in Scorpio until it stations direct on November 29, Neptune's retrograde in Pisces until December 10, Uranus remains retrograde until February 3, 2026, & Jupiter's still retrograde in Cancer until March 10, 2026.While these retrogrades always ask us to review, Mercury Rx in Scorpio has clearly brought a lot of vitriolic language to the forefront. The point is that now we can recognize such language for what it is—the deeply violent not-so-shadow side of Donald Trump when he calls for the death of his political opponents by saying they should be hanged for telling the military not to follow illegal orders.Meanwhile, however, just before Mercury stations direct again on November 29, Saturn will station direct in Pisces November 27. We continue now to review our plans for the future (Mercury Rx), & strengthen our connection to what's real versus fantastical thinking (Neptune Rx.) In addition, we experience the shattering of “smug ideals which will not withstand true, objective clarity,” as Jungian astrologer Erin Sullivan puts it in her book “Retrograde Planets” (Uranus Rx.) And we continue to review what is our TRUE inner sense of morality, ethics, & integrity--versus that which society tells us is moral & just—& bring such inner knowing into greater consciousness (Jupiter Rx.)When Saturn stations direct at 29'09” Pisces, it will remain “within the same degree for almost six weeks on either side of the station,” according to Sullivan. “Upon its direction, one might feel as if moving in slow motion.” Despite this, something new will have “been born, but it will need a few months to become consciously manifest,” she notes.When Saturn direct reaches the degree at which it originally stationed, or 1'56” Aries, by March 2, 2026, we'll be able to see the completion of previous plans which seemed stalled during the retrograde, according to Sullivan. “Alternatively, a tentative plan or fantasy may come to reality in the last stages of the cycle,” Sullivan points out, adding “negatively, it will finish off any antiquated or non-productive relationship, projects, or activities,” as “outmoded & evening damaging values or relationships long past their productive stage do end,” she concludes.Given that the Sun entered Jupiter-ruled Sagittarius November 21, Jupiter's retrograde in Cancer has the Sadge archetype as its dispositor until the Sun moves on & into Capricorn December 21. However, since Jupiter's retrograde in Moon-ruled Cancer lasts until March 10, 2026, it's then we'll begin to realize how plans made prior to its station retrograde on November 11 have contracted rather than expanded. The point of Jupiter's retrograde period—if we are striving for greater consciousness in our lives—is that it's the period which leads us to better understand that we don't always get what we want, but that we will more often get what we need. It's knowledge--& acceptance—of the difference between these two that gives us the advantage as we navigate our lives.In terms of the U.S. Government's current administration, this bodes well, don't you think? The current administration's plans to shrink the government, eliminate diversity, equity, & inclusive policies, to hunt down & jail or deport immigrants here legally, to deny educational institutions federal funding, continue to promote misogyny, & to have the president continually profit financially from his foreign cryptocurrency deals--& so much more—is a WANT.But going after Donald Trump's political adversaries, & ignoring his own policy's negative economic effects with zero regard for his nation's citizens well-being might not be exactly what his soul actually needs, lol. Especially since he was born with a wounded Jupiter by virtue of its tight conjunction to Juno, the sign of partnership, & Chiron, the wounded healer in his 2nd House of values. If we take note of all these astrological happenings as they pertain to life here in the

Some years ago, we took a delegation of teenagers to a youth conference at the Jersey Shore, and one of our volunteers was one of the counselors. One evening she left the meeting early to check on one of the kids from our group. She started walking down the Boardwalk. Suddenly she hears this cry for help from the water down below. She realized that a girl was out there in that dark ocean about to drown. So she yelled for others to come, she pulled off her shoes and she jumped into the water. She knew this was a life-or-death situation, and she said, "I just had to do something." Pretty soon a couple of men jumped in to help her and together they were able to rescue that young woman. And you know what? Our friend realized the real reason she had been out on the Boardwalk that night. Much to her surprise, she had literally been placed there to save a life! I'm Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A Word With You today about "The Surprising Reason You Are Where You Are." Now our word for today from the Word of God comes from the amazing story of Esther, which is told in the book in the Bible that carries her name. Esther was a young Jewish woman who was in Persia as part of the Jews who had been brought there when the Persians conquered her people. But through an amazing series of events, she becomes the Queen of Persia, the wife of the most powerful man in the world, but no one knew she was a Jew. When a power-mad member of the king's court engineered this royal decree to have the Jews annihilated, the man who raised Esther sent her a message, challenging her to use her access to the king to save her people. To do so, she would literally have to risk her life because the law required that anyone who came to the king uninvited - even the queen - would be put to death unless the king extended his golden scepter to spare them, and Esther had not been summoned by the king for a month. The challenge Esther receives is in our word for today from the Word of God, Esther 4:14, and it may very well be the challenge that our Savior has for you at this point in your life. Here it is. "Who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?" In other words, God has placed you where you are, not just to enjoy the benefits of your position, but to save lives! Have you considered that maybe that's the same reason you've been positioned where you are? You work where you work, you live where you live, you go to school where you go to school, you do what you do because God has assigned you there to be those people's link to Jesus! Some years ago, my friend Gary was talking with a woman whose dad teaches at one of America's military academies. This woman was really spiritually burdened for her dad. Gary knows a lot of influential people and he offered to call the then-Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff to invite her dad to an upcoming adult outreach. Or, he said, "I'll even call a Christian cabinet member I know in this administration." But to my friend's surprise, this woman said, "No, that won't work." Gary asked her what would work - who could get through to her father. Her answer? "Another professor. Someone like him." That's probably how the people around you are going to be reached for Christ - through someone who does what they do, lives where they live, faces what they face. And for the people around you, that would be you. I don't know what you think of when I say the word "evangelist" - probably someone preaching on a crusade platform - but I hope you'll start to think of the man or woman in the mirror. Because all that is, is someone who carries the Good News of Jesus to people who need Him. Of all of the millions of God's children, you're the one He has positioned to rescue the people around you. And where you are is your stretch of the beach and you're His designated lifeguard. Like a young woman near the ocean that night, like that Jewish girl placed in a strategic spot, you've been placed where you are to save someone who is dying - eternally if they die without Christ. You're not there just to enjoy your spot. You are there to save lives!

Today we started to read the book of Nehemiah who was in exile in Susa, the capital of the empire of the Medes and  Persians. He is obviously a very special personality for he had become cupbearer to King Artaxerxes – a very responsible and trusted position to ensure the king was not poisoned.Nehemiah records that “… my brothers came … from Judah.  And I asked them … concerning Jerusalem.  And they said to me, ‘The remnant there in the province that survived the exile is in great trouble and shame.  The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates are destroyed …” [Ch. 1 v.2,3]  The Temple had been rebuilt, as we have just read in Ezra, but nothing else.In reacting to this news, “I sat down and mourned and wept for days …” [v.4].  He is then “praying before the God of heaven, the great and awesome God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments.” [v.4,5]    We prove we mean what we say, especially in loving God, by what we then do.The climax of his prayer is in v.11, “O Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of your servant, and to the prayers of your servants who delight to fear your name.”  Do we “delight” in fearing God?  By “name,” we primarily mean – his ‘reputation' toward those who love and therefore serve him truly.  We need to get our minds around this.Chapter 2 tells us that “in the month of Nisan” (4 months later) in serving the king as his cupbearer, but having continuing great sadness about the plight of Jerusalem that “the king said to me, ‘Why is your face sad, seeing you are not sick?  This is nothing but sadness of the heart.'  I was then very much afraid” [v.2]What should we do when we are “very much afraid”?   If we are truly godly, as Nehemiah was, we should instantly pray.  Nehemiah tells the king the cause of his sadness, saying, “Why should not my face be sad when the city, the place of my father's graves, lies in ruins …” [v.3]“Then the king said to me, ‘what are you requesting?' So I prayed to the God of heaven …” [v.4]  What instant and urgent prayer was involved here!   Imagine it!  Nehemiah then asks, “If it please the king, and if your servant has found favour in your sight, that you send me to Judah, to the city of my father's graves that I may rebuild it” [v.5]  The request is granted – because he responded in a godly way although in great fear –– there arose a challenging and wondrous opportunity.  The account that unfolds in this book from hereon is an inspiration to all who are fully committed to serve God at every opportunity.  Do you have that sense of commitment?How much will such be needed as life in this world becomes ever more uncertain – so let us all set our minds on developing that commitment more and more – and the foundation for this is to ‘feed' on God's word every day.

Acindynus, Pegasius and Anempodistus were courtiers to King Shapur II of Persia. When the king began a fierce persecution of Christians, the three withdrew from court to a private house and, fearless of their own safety, openly exhorted their fellow-Christians to stand firm in their faith. For this they were arrested and brought before their former lord, who subjected them to many cruel tortures, from which they emerged miraculously unscathed. Seeing this, one of the king's soldiers, named Aphthonius, embraced the Faith and was immediately beheaded. The former courtiers were then put to further tortures, but their only effect was to convince Elpidophorus, a distinguished nobleman, and seven thousand other Persians to faith in Christ. All were beheaded, but not before receiving holy Baptism. The trials of the three continued, but once again they were preserved, and even the king's mother was led to the true faith. Finally they were killed (the account does not say how), receiving the crown of martyrdom along with the king's mother and twenty-eight others.

Daniel in the Lion's Den (Sermon Series on Daniel) - Sunday, 2nd November 2025.[Episode 6 - Daniel Chapter 6 (KJV)]1 Daniel is appointed president.Daniel 6:1-3  It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom an hundred and twenty princes, which should be over the whole kingdom; And over these three presidents; of whom Daniel was first: that the princes might give accounts unto them, and the king should have no damage. Then this Daniel was preferred above the presidents and princes, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king thought to set him over the whole realm.2. Envy and Jealousy motivate a devious plot.Daniel 6:4-5  Then the presidents and princes sought to find occasion against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find none occasion nor fault; forasmuch as he was faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in him. Then said these men, We shall not find any occasion against this Daniel, except we find it against him concerning the law of his God.3. Knowing the danger Daniel continues to walk with God openly.Daniel 6:10  Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime.4. Daniel's enemies spring their trap.Daniel 6:11-14  Then these men assembled, and found Daniel praying and making supplication before his God. Then they came near, and spake before the king concerning the king's decree; Hast thou not signed a decree, that every man that shall ask a petition of any God or man within thirty days, save of thee, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions? The king answered and said, The thing is true, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth not. Then answered they and said before the king, That Daniel, which is of the children of the captivity of Judah, regardeth not thee, O king, nor the decree that thou hast signed, but maketh his petition three times a day. Then the king, when he heard these words, was sore displeased with himself, and set his heart on Daniel to deliver him: and he laboured till the going down of the sun to deliver him.5 Daniel is cast into the lions den.Daniel 6:16-18  Then the king commanded, and they brought Daniel, and cast him into the den of lions. Now the king spake and said unto Daniel, Thy God whom thou servest continually, he will deliver thee. And a stone was brought, and laid upon the mouth of the den; and the king sealed it with his own signet, and with the signet of his lords; that the purpose might not be changed concerning Daniel. Then the king went to his palace, and passed the night fasting: neither were instruments of musick brought before him: and his sleep went from him.6. God sends an angel to protect Daniel.Daniel 6:20-22  And when he came to the den, he cried with a lamentable voice unto Daniel: and the king spake and said to Daniel, O Daniel, servant of the living God, is thy God, whom thou servest continually, able to deliver thee from the lions? Then said Daniel unto the king, O king, live for ever. My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions' mouths, that they have not hurt me: forasmuch as before him innocency was found in me; and also before thee, O king, have I done no hurt.7. Daniel's enemies are executed.Daniel 6:24  And the king commanded, and they brought those men which had accused Daniel, and they cast them into the den of lions, them, their children, and their wives; and the lions had the mastery of them, and brake all their bones in pieces or ever they came at the bottom of the den.8. God is glorified throughout the empire again.Dan 6:25-28  Then king Darius wrote unto all people, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the

Send us a textSocrates taught his students contempt for the gods, how to defraud creditors, and useless trivialities about flea-jumping. Or at least, that's how Socrates appears in the comedy Clouds. If you want to understand something of the Athenian hostility to the great philosopher which eventually reached its climax in sentencing Socrates to death, it helps to see how he was lampooned in front of Athenian audiences by his contemporary, the comedian playwright Aristophanes. But Clouds is more than just (dirty) jokes. It is a profane and self-critical attack on educational innovation, and a call to return to the old ways, the ways which produced heroic men like Aeschylus, who with his fellows turned the Persians back at Marathon and saved Greece. The new form of education, in Aristophanes' view, threatens to reduce Athens to a pathetic bunch of weak and impious nerds. But even in his mockery of the new, Aristophanes seems well aware of the inner weakness of the old ways and the reason for their defeat. So it shouldn't be too surprising that his conclusion simply seems to be: Burn it all down.Aristophanes' Clouds trans. by Alan H. Sommerstein: https://amzn.to/4hEaykYAristophanes' Clouds trans. by Peter Meineck: https://amzn.to/4o7lr0RAristophanes' Clouds trans. by William James Hickie: https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.01.0241%3Acard%3D1Henri-Irénée Marrou's A History of Education in Antiquity: https://bookshop.org/a/25626/9780299088149Hesiod's Works and Days: https://bookshop.org/a/25626/9780674997202Herodotus' Histories: https://bookshop.org/a/25626/9781400031146Plato's Republic: https://bookshop.org/a/25626/9780465094080Leo Strauss's "The Problem of Socrates" (in The Rebirth of Classical Political Rationalism): https://bookshop.org/a/25626/9780226777153New Humanists is brought to you by the Ancient Language Institute: https://ancientlanguage.com/Links may have referral codes, which earn us a commission at no additional cost to you. We encourage you, when possible, to use Bookshop.org for your book purchases, an online bookstore which supports local bookstores.Music: Save Us Now by Shane Ivers - https://www.silvermansound.com

In Daniel chapter 5, King Belshazzar holds a lavish feast using the sacred vessels from the Jerusalem temple, mocking God. A hand appears and writes mysterious words on the wall: Mene, Mene, Tekel, Upharsin. Daniel interprets the writing as God's judgment—Belshazzar's reign has been weighed, found wanting, and will end. That very night, Babylon falls to the Medes and Persians, fulfilling divine prophecy.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/lets-talk-scripture/donations

2 Chronicles 28 tells of Ahaz' evil reign. That wicked king sacrifices his firstborn son to Molech and disfigures his younger son, Hezekiah, by passing him through the fire. Pekah, the son of Remaliah, kills 120,000 men of Judah and takes 200,000 captives to Samaria. The prophet Oded remonstrates with Israel and demands that the captives be fed, clothed, placed on asses and sent home to Jerusalem. The account is the basis of the parable of the Good Samaritan in Luke 9. Because of the idolatry of Ahaz, the Philistines ransack Judah. Ahaz pays tribute to the Syrian king. That wicked king of Judah copies the Syrian altar in Damascus and worships the Syrian gods. Altars are made in every corner of Jerusalem. When Ahaz dies his son Hezekiah comes to the throne. Ahaz is not buried among the kings of Judah The events of Daniel 8 occur in the third year of Belshazzar. Daniel sees two beasts battling for ascendancy - the Persian Ram and the Grecian He goat. The Golden Fleece of the ram is legendary in Persian folklore. The goat is Alexander, who was known to the Greeks as 'the goat'. Philip of Macedon had united the Greek tribes. Alexander seeking revenge for the Persian ravages of two centuries earlier and urged on by his tutor (Aristotle) defeats a massive Persian army of over two million men at the Battle of Granicus in BC334. With the Persians in retreat, he smashes a similar sized army at the Battle of Isus. Verses 13-14 prophesy of a period of 2,300 day/years until the liberation of Jerusalem during the six-day war of June 1967. From verses 15-27 we have the vision interpreted and Persia and Greece as the named antagonists. Curiously we are told that this little-horn power would stand against, and be destroyed by, Messiah. We noted from the beasts of chapter 7 that elements of the third beast were incorporated into the Roman beast. Rome's first territory in the goat territory was the bequest in the will of Atallus of the territory of Pergamon, which becomes known as 'the little horn of the goat'. Alexander dies heirless and his Empire is divided among his four generals. Since the "king of fierce countenance" is to be destroyed by Messiah. Aspects of the second half of this chapter seem to indicate that this prophecy relates to events which we are witnessing and which will find their fulfilment in the near future. Surely we are witnessing the unfolding of these events in these last days with the rise of a "king of fierce countenance" in the north. Acts 8 records that Saul accented to Stephen's stoning and sets out on a course of destruction like an enraged bull. The objects of his persecution are the faithful believers in Christ. However, the greater the persecution, the faster the gospel spreads. Philip preaches Christ in Samaria and his testimony is supported by miracles. The city of Samaria had been bewitched by Simon the Sorcerer. However, Simon recognises the difference between his tricks and the powerful workings of the Holy Spirit. The record tells us that baptism only took place for believing adult subjects. Verse 12 provides us with a definition of the gospel - "the things concerning the kingdom of God and the things concerning the name of Jesus Christ". Although Philip could perform miracles he could not bestow the gifts - that only occurred through the laying on of the Apostles' hands. Simon seeks to buy the gifts from Peter and John and is grievously condemned for attempting this. Philip is next told to join the chariot of an Ethiopian eunuch of great authority under Candace their Queen. This eunuch was a proselyte and was reading Isaiah 53. The eunuch tells Philip that he fails to understand what the prophet spoke of. Philip commences with that chapter and explains Christ to the eunuch. No doubt Philip's preaching included the blessings from God on the eunuchs who choose the ways of God (Isaiah 56). Philip and the eunuch come to sufficient water for immersion. Philip explains to the eunuch that providing he has a wholehearted belief in Christ he may be baptised. Note how the record says that they both went down into the water and came up out of it together. The eunuch continues on his way rejoicing; but Philip is immediately snatched away to Azotus some 40 kilometres distant - the Lord having further work for Philip to do there. Thanks for joining us - we pray you found these comments helpful in your appreciation of God's words, join again tomorrow 

2 Chronicles 25 tells of Amaziah's accession to his father's throne. Amaziah put to death his father's murderers, as the Law of Moses required. Judah's new king musters an army of 300,000 and spends 100 talents to hire 100,000 Ephraimites. A prophet insists that Amaziah avoid mingling with Ephraim i.e. Israel. Amaziah is given a great victory against Edom; but the disgruntled Israelites smote 3,000 from Judah and carried away much spoil, while they are enraged. Sadly, Amaziah worships the idols of the defeated Edomites. Amaziah, being lifted up in pride seeks a confrontation with Israel and is soundly defeated. Many from Judah are taken captive and shamefully dragged as under captives, clothed in rags and taken to Samaria Israel's capital. The parallel record in 2 Kings 14 and is the basis for Jesus' parable of the Good Samaritan: in Luke 9. In Daniel 6 we have the administrative structure for the 120 provinces of the realm of king Darius the Median - with Daniel as the chief of these princes. The lesser rulers become envious of Daniel and set about to trap him. They knew that his faithfulness to his God was his sole Achilles' heel. They petitioned king Darius to make it a capital offence to pray to any god, other than the king for 30 days. Daniel is found to be breaking the law as he continues to pray openly three times each day. The king realises that their scheme is to destroy Daniel but Darius according to the law of the Medes and Persians is bound by his own laws. Daniel is cast into the lions' den. Yahweh protects him throughout the night by closing the mouths and calming the savage and starving lions. The king hastens in hope to the lions' den and desperately calls to Daniel - read aloud verses 20-24 - pause and ponder. The malicious Persian princes are torn to pieces by the hungry lions. Again, read aloud verses 25 and 26. Darius is the only non-Jewish person to speak of "the living God"; and he was convinced that "the living God" was real because He had a servant that served Him continuously. 1 Timothy 3:15-16 is based on Daniel 6. Acts 4 spoke of Barnabas' generous act in selling land and donating the proceeds to the ecclesial common cause. Barnabas may well have been the rich young ruler of Matthew 19. In Acts 5 couple named: Ananias and Sapphira, want the ecclesia's acclaim without giving all of the proceeds of their sale of land. It was their right to do with their money as they pleased. Their sin lay in lying - attempting to deceive God and other believers. It cost them their lives and was a great wake-up call to the ecclesia. We are told from verse 12 of the mighty signs that support the Apostles' preaching The chapter says that Peter and John are arrested and put in the public prison overnight. The angel of the Lord comes and releases those 2 Apostles and tells them to continue to proclaim "the words of life". At daybreak Peter and John were enthusiastically preaching in the temple. The Apostles are rearrested by the officers, but this time quietly for fear of the people and once more the Jewish Council forbids them to preach full stop. The Apostles' answer in verse 29 is a message to believers for all time, "We must obey God rather than men". Their bold testimony was an evidence that they were Jesus' disciples. Gamaliel counsels his peers to desist from opposing, or harming, the Apostles, since historical evidence - Gamaliel asserts - always showed that what was not from God was doomed to fail. In chapter 6 we have a complaint from the Hellenistic believers that their widows were not being treated fairly in the daily distribution of help. Seven faithful believers of Grecian background were chosen to rectify the matter. One of the seven, Stephen, was seized by the Jewish rulers and falsely accused of speaking words against Moses and the temple. False witnesses are secured and tell lies against Stephen. Those members of the Council behold Stephen's angelic appearance and demeanour. Thanks for joining us - we pray you found these comments helpful in your appreciation of God's words, join again tomorrow 

Daniel chapter 8 takes us on a wild journey through apocalyptic visions that seem confusing at first—rams with horns, goats moving at lightning speed, and kingdoms rising and falling. But beneath these strange symbols lies a profound truth we desperately need today: no matter how crazy the world gets, no matter how evil leaders become, God wins. This passage shows us Daniel receiving detailed prophecies about empires that wouldn't exist for hundreds of years—the Medes and Persians, Alexander the Great's Greek empire, and the horrifying reign of Antiochus IV Epiphanes who would desecrate the temple. What's remarkable is that God doesn't leave Daniel confused; He sends the angel Gabriel to explain everything. The message is clear: even when wickedness seems unstoppable, even when it feels like darkness will last forever, God has already determined its end. The vision specifically mentions 2,300 evenings and mornings—exactly the time Antiochus would defile the temple before being overthrown. But here's where it gets personal for us: before we knew Christ, we all had an 'Antiochus' living inside us—that rebellious, anti-God nature that wanted to do things our way. The beautiful news is that Jesus, the true Horn of Salvation, crushes every kingdom and king through His death and resurrection. We're called to remain faithful even when the world feels insane, because we know the ending. Jesus has already won.ChaptersChapter 1: Understanding Apocalyptic Literature0:00 - 7:00We explore the challenges of reading apocalyptic literature and how it uses symbols and pictures to communicate God's truth about future events.Chapter 2: The Vision of the Ram and the Goat7:00 - 14:00We examine Daniel's vision of the ram with two horns and the goat with one horn, learning how these symbols represent the Medo-Persian and Greek empires.Chapter 3: Gabriel's Interpretation and Antiochus Epiphanes14:00 - 22:00We receive the interpretation through the angel Gabriel, learning about the ruthless king Antiochus Epiphanes who would defile the temple and persecute God's people.Chapter 4: Jesus the True Horn of Salvation22:00 - 28:00We discover that all these lesser 'horns' of earthly power pale in comparison to Jesus Christ, the true horn of salvation who conquers through sacrificial love.Keywords#Daniel#ApocalypticLiterature#PropheticVision#Gabriel#AntiochusEpiphanes#AlexanderTheGreat#MedesAndPersians#GreekEmpire#HornOfSalvation#JesusWins#RemainingFaithful#EndTimes#BiblicalProphecy#Exile#GodsSovereignty#Redemption#HopeInChrist#SpiritualWarfare#Antichrist#Resurrection#Salvation#Forgiveness#Conversion#BodyOfChrist#KingOfKings#PrinceOfPeace

2 Chronicles 24 tells us that Joash was 7 years old when he begins to reign and that he rules for 40 years. Jehoiadah chose two wives for Joash and the king then produces sons and daughters. Joash decides to repair the temple and urges the unresponsive Levites to collect funds in the cities of Judah. The Levites had been impoverished by the ravages of Athaliah. A chest is made and the redemption tax of the Law of Moses is reinstated. The tax was collected in a specially made and dedicated chest. When the chest was full it was emptied and craftsmen who were employed to repair the temple and refurnish its utensils were paid from this box. No account was required of the tradesmen who dealt faithfully. At 130 years of age the faithful Jehoiadah dies and is buried and honoured in Jerusalem. Tragically, after the high priest's death the princes abandon their God and again turn to serve idols. Jehoiadah's son Zechariah condemns this evil and was stoned in the Temple court by Joash's command (this may be the incident referred to by our Lord Jesus Christ in Matthew 23 verses 34-36). At the end of the year the Syrian army comes against Judah and at that time Joash's servants slay him as recompense for the evil done to Zechariah. The people of Judah replaced Joash with Amaziah Joash's son. Daniel 5 occurs in BC537 - the night Babylon fell to the Medo-Persians, Babylon is ruled by Belshazzar the son of Nabonidus who is on an expedition and is absent from his city. Babylon is suffering under the dissolute rule of Belshazzar. The Babylonians believed their city to be impregnable. However, the mode of its capture and the name of the victorious general were all told in the prophecy of Isaiah 44 verses 26-45:2 - read aloud, pause and ponder. Belshazzar, Babylon's deputy ruler in the absence of his father Nabonidus seeks to desecrate the vessels that had been taken from Yahweh's temple in Jerusalem. Whilst in the process of a drunken feast honouring the Chaldean gods a mysterious hand comes and writes upon the wall. The hand covers the writing. Belshazzar becomes incontinent due to fear. When the king's wise men cannot read the writing the queen mother asks for Daniel, who was known as Belteshazzar. Daniel castigates king Belshazzar and spells out the lessons that the Almighty had taught to Nebuchadnezzar, Belshazzar's grandfather. The hand is removed and Daniel reads the Aramaic text and interprets the writing: "Mene, Mene, Tekel, Parsin" ESV Read the meaning of those words in verses 26-28. The Aramaic gematria (assigning numerical values to letters and words) of the expression above is 2,520. Interestingly this is the time period which had been prophesied to Nebuchadnezzar for the kingdom of men in Daniel 4:16, 23-25. Daniel is promoted as promised by Belshazzar and king Belshazzar slain by the Persians. The Babylonian Empire was overthrown by Cyrus in the year BC 537 as Isaiah the prophet had prophesied in chapter 45 verses 1-6. In Acts 3 we have the healing of the crippled man, who was lame from birth and more than 40 years old (4:22). This healing has many parallels with the testy of the crippled man at the pool of Bethesda in John 5. The crippled man represents Israel and their inability to walk before their God. Peter commands the lame man to fix his gaze on them, which he does expecting alms. The crippled man receives far greater -he receives healing and discipleship. And walking, and leaping, and praising God he enters the templewith Peter and John. Remarkable words of witness follow with the testimony of Peter that there is noother name given under heaven by which salvation can come than our Lord Jesus Christ. Buddhism, Hinduism and all other isms cannot save. Our Lord was the stone rejected by men, but chosen and precious to God (Psalm 118:22). Peter outlines in verses 19-26 what they must do. The rulers sendofficers in chapter 4 to arrest Peter and John. Note that the number of disciples had now reached 5,000. They were examined by the Counsel and commanded to refrain from preaching Christ Jesus. TheApostles' response is that: "We cannot cease from doing what the Almighty has commanded us". Peter and John are threatened and released. Upon joining their fellow believers, the two Apostles together withtheir assembled brothers praise the LORD and in prayer speak of what had just happened as being a fulfilment of Psalm 2. Their Sovereign's response to their prayer is a shaking of the house they were in. God is further demonstrating His power in support of their testimony. This was given as yet another endorsement by their God of His guarantee to support his ecclesia's faithful testimony. The spirit of unity and community is spoken of in verses 32-37. Oh, for such a spirit among believers today! Thanks for joining us - we pray you found these comments helpful in your appreciation of God's words, join again tomorrow 

For many people, God is bad news, and religion is the cause of all the problems in the world. But Christianity is not about religion. It's about the reality of God as a person who is awesome and incomparable. He has no equal. There is no one like Him. God is able to help you, your family, our culture and our world because He is far above any and every human problem we may face. His greatness is beyond human comprehension.    Today many of us may be busy, discouraged and depressed. Looking at ourselves, looking down, comparing ourselves to others. Busy with our to do lists, our work, the piles of laundry, or discouraged by the state of the nation and of society. But everything changes when we get a new perspective of the greatness of God. What is so big to us is so small to Him. What has impressed, impacted and impeded our lives so far is as nothing to Him.    We've seen in Isaiah 40:1-5 that God is a God of consolation who wants to comfort us. He's a God of preparation – He wants to get us ready and shape us up for the best lives. And He wants us to have a revelation of His glory to come. But the rest of this opening chapter of the second part of Isaiah lays the foundation of who God really is. We see: 1. Far above natural creation (Isaiah 40:12,22,25-28) 2. Far above all idols (Isaiah 40:18-20; Romans 1:25; Genesis 1:31) 3. Far above human understanding (Isaiah 40:13-14,27; 1 Corinthians 1:27) 4. Far above the nations (Isaiah 40:15-17) 5. Far above human rulers (Isaiah 40:23-24,28; Daniel 7:14; Isaiah 6-11) Apply  1. Far above natural creation (Isaiah 40:12,22,25-28). We are told to ‘lift your eyes and look to the heavens…' The more we know about our world and its relationship to entities beyond our world makes us realise how much we don't know. Even though we can travel quickly around our world there is no disguising that the oceans and deserts and continents of our world are simply vast. Even bigger is the universe. So how much greater is the God who made them? The Bible is clear that there is a God and that He is the Creator of all we know. (See: Bill Bryson ‘A short History of nearly everything'; Olivier Bonnaissies and Michel-Yves Bolloré ‘God: Science, the Evidence'; Lee Strobel ‘The Case For A Creator'). If you want to study the arguments in more depth, you can read the books, but basically their conclusions are very much in line with the vision of the prophet Isaiah who gives us a picture of the almighty creator of a vast creation.  2. Far above all idols (Isaiah 40:18-20). Almost half of Isaiah chapters 40 to 55 talk about rival gods and the idol of the people had turned to worship. Here Isaiah compares how ridiculous it is for someone to worship a lump of wood with some gold or silver attached to it over the greatness of the one true God. The apostle Paul also highlighted this (Romans 1:25). Of course God ‘saw all that he had made, and it was very good' (Genesis 1:31) but that does not mean we should exchange our worship of God to worship things created by Him or for His glory – such as looking to the stars for guidance through horoscopes, instead of looking to God who created the stars. Idols can topple. And when we put anything in place of our God, those things will eventually fall. Only our God endures forever. 3. Far above human understanding (Isaiah 40:13-14, 27). The mind of God is far beyond the intelligence of any human cleverness (1 Corinthians 1:27). No-one can understand the mind of the Lord, except the Lord reveals a portion of His thinking to us through His word the Bible.  The most qualified academic, or the most convinced rationalist, the most so-called ‘enlightened' spiritualist, may be publicly celebrated for the brilliance of their intellect. But compared to God they are nothing.  4. Far above the nations (Isaiah 40:15-17). Nations are nothing that will make a difference in the big picture. This gives us a good perspective! Through history nations and empires have arisen in great power. The Babylonians, Persians, Greeks and Romans etc. Yet walk around the Acropolis or the Coliseum today and they are ruins. The Romans thought they could persecute Jesus and Paul and the early Christians in such violent ways as they saw fit, but pagan Rome is gone and Christianity survives today. Even the British Empire ‘where the sun never set' seemed impossible to change, yet now look at what humbled and humiliated state our nation is in. Look at the nations today and it's still the same – India and its 1.46 billion people, China and its more than 1.4 billion people,… it might sound big to us, but to God it's all just a drop.  5. Far above human rulers (Isaiah 40:23-24). So many rulers of this world have been so proud and arrogant. Alexander the Great, Napolean, Stalin, Hitler who boasted of a 1000 year Reich that lasted little more than a decade. Hitler committed suicide in a bunker. Mussolini was strung up by his own countrymen. Ceausescu of Romania seemed an all-powerful dictator but saw his rule collapse in days. Everybody, even the great Queen Elizabeth II, has a limited reign. Only God is eternal (Isaiah 40:28). Daniel had a great vision of the God whose rule was eternal (Daniel 7:14). So do not be so impressed with the powers of this world. They will all pass away.  Our God is far above natural creation, all idols, and all human understanding, He is far above the nations and above human rulers. But what does this mean for us? Well Isaiah says to the people that this God is your God. He is bigger than your sad history of captivity. He is bigger than your sadness and depression. He is bigger than your worries. He is bigger than your debt. This is why God is good news (Isaiah 40:6-11). God is with you, God is for you. This great and almighty God gently wants to lead you and keep you close to His heart. So decide to put your confidence is this great God today and every day.  

For many people, God is bad news, and religion is the cause of all the problems in the world. But Christianity is not about religion. It's about the reality of God as a person who is awesome and incomparable. He has no equal. There is no one like Him. God is able to help you, your family, our culture and our world because He is far above any and every human problem we may face. His greatness is beyond human comprehension.    Today many of us may be busy, discouraged and depressed. Looking at ourselves, looking down, comparing ourselves to others. Busy with our to do lists, our work, the piles of laundry, or discouraged by the state of the nation and of society. But everything changes when we get a new perspective of the greatness of God. What is so big to us is so small to Him. What has impressed, impacted and impeded our lives so far is as nothing to Him.    We've seen in Isaiah 40:1-5 that God is a God of consolation who wants to comfort us. He's a God of preparation – He wants to get us ready and shape us up for the best lives. And He wants us to have a revelation of His glory to come. But the rest of this opening chapter of the second part of Isaiah lays the foundation of who God really is. We see: 1. Far above natural creation (Isaiah 40:12,22,25-28) 2. Far above all idols (Isaiah 40:18-20; Romans 1:25; Genesis 1:31) 3. Far above human understanding (Isaiah 40:13-14,27; 1 Corinthians 1:27) 4. Far above the nations (Isaiah 40:15-17) 5. Far above human rulers (Isaiah 40:23-24,28; Daniel 7:14; Isaiah 6-11) Apply  1. Far above natural creation (Isaiah 40:12,22,25-28). We are told to ‘lift your eyes and look to the heavens…' The more we know about our world and its relationship to entities beyond our world makes us realise how much we don't know. Even though we can travel quickly around our world there is no disguising that the oceans and deserts and continents of our world are simply vast. Even bigger is the universe. So how much greater is the God who made them? The Bible is clear that there is a God and that He is the Creator of all we know. (See: Bill Bryson ‘A short History of nearly everything'; Olivier Bonnaissies and Michel-Yves Bolloré ‘God: Science, the Evidence'; Lee Strobel ‘The Case For A Creator'). If you want to study the arguments in more depth, you can read the books, but basically their conclusions are very much in line with the vision of the prophet Isaiah who gives us a picture of the almighty creator of a vast creation.  2. Far above all idols (Isaiah 40:18-20). Almost half of Isaiah chapters 40 to 55 talk about rival gods and the idol of the people had turned to worship. Here Isaiah compares how ridiculous it is for someone to worship a lump of wood with some gold or silver attached to it over the greatness of the one true God. The apostle Paul also highlighted this (Romans 1:25). Of course God ‘saw all that he had made, and it was very good' (Genesis 1:31) but that does not mean we should exchange our worship of God to worship things created by Him or for His glory – such as looking to the stars for guidance through horoscopes, instead of looking to God who created the stars. Idols can topple. And when we put anything in place of our God, those things will eventually fall. Only our God endures forever. 3. Far above human understanding (Isaiah 40:13-14, 27). The mind of God is far beyond the intelligence of any human cleverness (1 Corinthians 1:27). No-one can understand the mind of the Lord, except the Lord reveals a portion of His thinking to us through His word the Bible.  The most qualified academic, or the most convinced rationalist, the most so-called ‘enlightened' spiritualist, may be publicly celebrated for the brilliance of their intellect. But compared to God they are nothing.  4. Far above the nations (Isaiah 40:15-17). Nations are nothing that will make a difference in the big picture. This gives us a good perspective! Through history nations and empires have arisen in great power. The Babylonians, Persians, Greeks and Romans etc. Yet walk around the Acropolis or the Coliseum today and they are ruins. The Romans thought they could persecute Jesus and Paul and the early Christians in such violent ways as they saw fit, but pagan Rome is gone and Christianity survives today. Even the British Empire ‘where the sun never set' seemed impossible to change, yet now look at what humbled and humiliated state our nation is in. Look at the nations today and it's still the same – India and its 1.46 billion people, China and its more than 1.4 billion people,… it might sound big to us, but to God it's all just a drop.  5. Far above human rulers (Isaiah 40:23-24). So many rulers of this world have been so proud and arrogant. Alexander the Great, Napolean, Stalin, Hitler who boasted of a 1000 year Reich that lasted little more than a decade. Hitler committed suicide in a bunker. Mussolini was strung up by his own countrymen. Ceausescu of Romania seemed an all-powerful dictator but saw his rule collapse in days. Everybody, even the great Queen Elizabeth II, has a limited reign. Only God is eternal (Isaiah 40:28). Daniel had a great vision of the God whose rule was eternal (Daniel 7:14). So do not be so impressed with the powers of this world. They will all pass away.  Our God is far above natural creation, all idols, and all human understanding, He is far above the nations and above human rulers. But what does this mean for us? Well Isaiah says to the people that this God is your God. He is bigger than your sad history of captivity. He is bigger than your sadness and depression. He is bigger than your worries. He is bigger than your debt. This is why God is good news (Isaiah 40:6-11). God is with you, God is for you. This great and almighty God gently wants to lead you and keep you close to His heart. So decide to put your confidence is this great God today and every day.  

Empires can lose in stages—and the moments in between can matter most. We dive into the chain that turned Xerxes' massive gamble into Greek momentum: the trap at Salamis, the phalanx at Plataea, and the “forgotten victory” at Mycale that shifted the war from survival to liberation. Step by step, a divided world of city-states learned to think as one, using geography, coalition discipline, and psychological pressure to unmake Persian dominance of the Aegean.We start with the strategic stakes of 480–479 BCE, when Athens and Sparta put rivalry on hold to exploit narrow seas and favourable ground. Salamis shows how triremes, tight channels, and local knowledge shattered a larger fleet and denied Persia the supply lines that kept its army viable. Plataea follows with a land reckoning: Pausanias' coalition absorbed missile fire, closed ranks, and broke Mardonius' force, clearing central Greece and puncturing the myth of Persian inevitability.Then comes Mycale on the Ionian coast, where the meaning of victory changes. Persian ships beached, Ionian units peeled away, and Greek hoplites stormed fortified positions—liberating cities that had long lived under satrapal rule. Near-simultaneous success at Plataea and Mycale delivered a morale shock the Persians couldn't absorb and gave the Greeks ports, partners, and purpose. The result: a transition from defence to projection, the seeds of the Delian League, and a lasting story about unity, freedom, and the power of coordinated land–sea strategy.Support the show

Move of God | RebuildingSunday, October 19, 2025Peter Smith Ezra 1:1-11After the Persians defeated the Babylonians, King Cyrus allowed and encouraged the people of God to return back to their homeland in order to rebuild their lives and the house of their God. He provided them with resources in order to accomplish this task. God used this leader to give all that was needed for the physical project to happen. This helps us see that what was torn down in the past does not mean that it can not be rebuilt in the future.

Some say that the Persians had their own Messiah, and some even say that this is where Israel got the idea. Cyrus the Great, founder of the Achaemenid Persian Empire, once ruled much of the ancient world. But was he God's anointed?

Augusto from Argentina asks: “How reliable is Polyaenus' account of the Persians using cats—or images of cats—against the Egyptians at Pelusium? Is there any truth to the story, or is it just legend?” Murray Dahm explores the evidence behind this curious tale.   Join us on Patreon patreon.com/ancientwarfarepodcast  

The acclaimed spy thriller author and ex-CIA analyst talks about his new novel, “The Persians,” set in the clandestine war between Israel and Iran. DAVID MCCLOSKEY Follow Jeff Stein on Twitter:https://twitter.com/SpyTalkerFollow Michael Isikoff on Twitter:https://twitter.com/isikoff Follow SpyTalk on Twitter:https://twitter.com/talk_spySubscribe to SpyTalk on Substackhttps://www.spytalk.co/Take our listener survey where you can give us feedback.http://survey.podtrac.com/start-survey.aspx?pubid=BffJOlI7qQcF&ver=short Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

David writes pretty specifically about a person whose hands and feet are pierced and is dehydrated, dislocated, and exhausted.  Sounds like a crucifixion in every way.  Here's the kicker: Crucifixion wasn't invented when he wrote this psalm in about 1000BC.  He didn't know about crucifixion. Nobody did for another 480 years until the Persians invented it. We see here a specific prophesy fulfilled by Jesus another 500 years later. The Bible is reliable. https://youtu.be/Z929k0-HtaQ

When Shakespeare wrote Othello, he set his Moorish general against the “general enemy Ottoman.” Elsewhere in his plays, he invoked “Turks,” “Saracens,” and “infidels”—terms that reveal just how present the Islamic world was in the English imagination. From Elizabeth I's diplomatic exchanges with Persia to the cultural impact of the Ottoman Empire, the Islamic world loomed large in the politics, religion, and drama of Shakespeare's England.This week, we're joined by Dr. Chloe Houston (University of Reading), a leading authority on Persia in early modern drama, and Dr. Mark Hutchings (University of Valladolid), whose research explores England's engagement with Islam on the Renaissance stage. Together, they unpack how Elizabethans understood the Ottomans, Persians, and North Africans, and how those encounters shaped both history and Shakespeare's works.Discover how global trade, diplomacy, stereotypes, and real-life ambassadors influenced depictions of Moors, Persians, and “Turks” onstage, and why Shakespeare's audiences would have found these references powerful, familiar, and sometimes unsettling.Listen now and explore the fascinating world of Elizabethan encounters with Islam in Shakespeare's plays. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What happens when a mighty nation forgets who placed them in power? Ezekiel's lament for Egypt reveals the sobering answer. This powerful examination of Ezekiel chapters 30 and 31 unpacks how God pronounced judgment on one of history's greatest empires—and why.For over 2,500 years, Egypt had stood as a cultural and military colossus, wielding immense influence across the ancient world. Yet God declared its downfall with precise detail through His prophet Ezekiel. The specificity is remarkable: Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon would attack in 568 BC, followed by the Persians in 525 BC who would completely end the dynastic line of Pharaohs that had ruled continuously for millennia.The heart of Egypt's downfall? Pride. "Its heart is haughty in its loftiness," God declares. Through vivid imagery, Ezekiel portrays Egypt as a mighty tree whose branches once sheltered many nations but would become a place where only scavengers feed after judgment. This transformation from protector to prey illustrates the totality of divine judgment—a pattern that repeats throughout history.This message remains profoundly relevant today. God still raises up and brings down nations according to His sovereign purposes. Leaders who believe their countries exist autonomously, without accountability to divine standards, misunderstand the lessons of history. Yet there's hope in this warning—God always sends messengers before judgment, giving opportunity for repentance. The question for nations today is whether they will heed these warnings before experiencing the day of the Lord.Support the showThank you for listening!! Please give us a five-star rating to help your podcast provider's algorithm spread RTTB among their listeners. You can find free study and leader resources at the following link - Resource Page - Reasoning Through the Bible Please prayerfully consider supporting RTTB to help us to continue providing content and free resources. You can do that at this link - Support RTTB - Reasoning Through the Bible May God Bless you!! - Glenn and Steve

“The Weight of Glory” Daniel 5 September 28, 2025 Pastor John Choi  Sermon Application [file]   ----more---- Daniel 5:22 And you his son, Belshazzar, have not humbled your heart, though you knew all this, [23] but you have lifted up yourself against the Lord of heaven. And the vessels of his house have been brought in before you, and you and your lords, your wives, and your concubines have drunk wine from them. And you have praised the gods of silver and gold, of bronze, iron, wood, and stone, which do not see or hear or know, but the God in whose hand is your breath, and whose are all your ways, you have not honored. [24] “Then from his presence the hand was sent, and this writing was inscribed. [25] And this is the writing that was inscribed: Mene, Mene, Tekel, and Parsin. [26] This is the interpretation of the matter: Mene, God has numbered the days of your kingdom and brought it to an end; [27] Tekel, you have been weighed in the balances and found wanting; [28] Peres, your kingdom is divided and given to the Medes and Persians.” [29] Then Belshazzar gave the command, and Daniel was clothed with purple, a chain of gold was put around his neck, and a proclamation was made about him, that he should be the third ruler in the kingdom. [30] That very night Belshazzar the Chaldean king was killed. [31] And Darius the Mede received the kingdom, being about sixty-two years old.     True glory is not achieved by self-effort but rather the gracious gift of God to those who walk in humility before Him.            1.  Where is Glory? (1-16)          2.  What is Glory? (17-23)          3.  The Weight of Glory (24-31)

Daniel 6—aka the lions' den chapter—comes alive in this straight-Bible study with Matt Hepner (The Standard Coffee Shop). We unpack Darius's decree, why Daniel kept praying with the windows open, and what “an excellent spirit” really means for believers now. We also kick around Sabbath vs. Sunday, law vs. grace, and how Daniel's public courage maps onto modern power games.In this episode:Daniel 6: the setup, the trap, the lions' den, and the king's sleepless night“Excellent spirit” = spirit-led life (not vibes or emotions)Sabbath/rest, feast days, and Christian freedom (Col 2)Medes & Persians: why Darius's law “couldn't be changed”Aftermath: Darius's new decree honoring Daniel's God (and why that matters)Matt Hepner — owner, The Standard Coffee Shop (Lady Lake, FL)Matt's shop on Instagram: @thestandardclcl (The Standard CLCL)NEPHILIM DEATH SQUADPatreon (early access + Telegram): https://www.patreon.com/NephilimDeathSquadWebsite & Merch: https://nephilimdeathsquad.comSupport Joe Gilberti: GiveSendGoListen/Watch:Spreaker: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/nephilim-death-squad--6389018YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@NephilimDeathSquadRumble: https://rumble.com/user/NephilimDeathSquadX: https://twitter.com/NephilimDSquadInstagram: https://instagram.com/nephilimdeathsquadContact: chroniclesnds@gmail.comX Community – Nephilim Watch: https://twitter.com/i/communities/1725510634966560797TopLobsta:X: https://twitter.com/TopLobstaInstagram: https://instagram.com/TopLobstaMerch: https://TopLobsta.comRaven:X: https://twitter.com/DavidLCorboInstagram: https://instagram.com/ravenofndsSponsors:Rife Tech – https://realsrifetechnology.com/ (Code: NEPHILIM for 10% off)Purge Store – https://purgestore.com/ (Code: NEPHILIM for 10% off)Credits:Intro Animation: @jslashr on XMusic: End of Days by Vinnie PazBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/nephilim-death-squad--6389018/support.☠️ Nephilim Death Squad — New episodes 5x/week.Join our Patreon for early access, bonus shows & the private Telegram hive.Subscribe on YouTube & Rumble, follow @NephilimDSquad on X/Instagram, grab merch at toplobsta.com. Questions/bookings: chroniclesnds@gmail.com — Stay dangerous.

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Why did the Assyrians spare Philistine port cities like Gaza when they conquered The Levant? How did the Persians overthrow the Babylonians in the region? What did Alexander The Great send back to his tutor after he sieged Gaza City?  William and Anita are joined once again by Josephine Quinn, Professor of Ancient History at the University of Cambridge and author of How The World Made The West, to discuss the five ancient empires that conquered Gaza. Join the Empire Club: Unlock the full Empire experience – with bonus episodes, ad-free listening, early access to miniseries and live show tickets, exclusive book discounts, a members-only newsletter, and access to our private Discord chatroom. Sign up directly at empirepoduk.com  For more Goalhanger Podcasts, head to www.goalhanger.com. Email: empire@goalhanger.com Instagram: @empirepoduk Blue Sky: @empirepoduk X: @empirepoduk Assistant Producer: Becki Hills Producer: Anouska Lewis Executive Producer: Neil Fearn Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In a world where oars stitched the sea like threads in a loom, a vast Persian fleet pressed toward the Greek isles, its banners glimmering like storm-lit sails. At the heart of the Greek defense stood Athens, a city of bronze-voices and sea-worn hands. The Greeks faced a choice as old as the waves: retreat or outwit the storm. On an early dawn, the sea wore a silver breath, and the Greek captains gathered in murmured knots. The oracle of necessity spoke through their minds: fight where the Persians could not fully spread their great numbers; choose the narrow strait where walls of rock and water could bend even a multitude. The Athenians, led by a steady commander, mapped a plan not of brute force but of cunning. The ships massed into a tight chorus, smaller and nimbler than the Persian galleys. They whispered to the sea itself—"Push, then slice, then vanish." In the strait, the Persians advanced with thunder, their oars beating like drums of war. But the Greeks bent their lines, luring the enemy into a claustrophobic embrace. The Persian column, confident in its breadth, found itself a tangled forest of hulls, obstructed by reefs of rock and the sudden cunning of Greek maneuvering. As bronze met bronze, misfortune clung to the larger fleet. The Greeks struck with precision, their lines weaving through the press, their triremes ramming and retreating in a dance of discipline. The sea, once a mere highway, became a guillotine for the invaders. When the smoke cleared, the Persians reeled, their advance stalled, their dreams of conquest washed away by the tides of a single, daring strategy. The Greeks had carved a path to freedom through cunning over numbers, and the win did not merely mean victory at sea; it meant the birth of a stubborn light: that courage paired with wit can redirect fate. And so, the story of Salamis sailed into legend—a reminder that cleverness can tilt the scales even when the odds are colossal.

The Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross celebrates the return of the Cross through the efforts of the Byzantine Emperor Heraclius against the Persians. However, only when Heraclius humbled himself by removing his royal raiment was he able to bring the Cross back into Jerusalem. At the same time, this feast reminds us of the cruciform structure of many churches, the present of crosses throughout, and the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.

"Saint Helen, the mother of Saint Constantine the Great, when she was already advanced in years, undertook, in her great piety, the hardships of a journey to Jerusalem in search of the Cross, about the year 325. A temple to Aphrodite had been raised up by the Emperor Hadrian upon Golgotha, to defile and cover with oblivion the place where the saving Passion had been suffered. The venerable Helen had the statue of Aphrodite destroyed, and the earth removed, revealing the Tomb of our Lord, and three crosses. Of these, it was believed that one must be that of our Lord, the other two of the thieves crucified with Him; but Saint Helen was at a loss which one might be the Wood of our salvation. At the inspiration of Saint Macarius, Archbishop of Jerusalem, a lady of Jerusalem, who was already at the point of death from a certain disease, was brought to touch the crosses, and as soon as she came near to the Cross of our Lord, she was made perfectly whole. Consequently, the precious Cross was lifed on high by Archbishop Macarius of Jerusalem; as he stood on the ambo, and when the people beheld it, they cried out, "Lord, have mercy." It should be noted that after its discovery, a portion of the venerable Cross was taken to Constantinople as a blessing. The rest was left in Jerusalem in the magnificent church built by Saint Helen, until the year 614. At that time, the Persians plundered Palestine and took the Cross to their own country (See Jan. 22, Saint Anastasius the Persian). Later, in the year 628, Emperor Heraclius set out on a military campaign, retrieved the Cross, and after bringing it to Constantinople, himself escorted it back to Jerusalem, where he restored it to its place." (Great Horologion) A fast is kept today, whatever the day of the week.

Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross; commemorating the discovery of the True Cross in 326, its initial exaltation for public veneration in 335, and the recovery of the Cross from the Persians in 628 24th Sunday in Ordinary Time Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 9/14/25 Gospel: John 3:13-17

This is the interpretation of the thing: MENE; God hath numbered thy kingdom, and finished it.DAN.5:27 TEKEL; Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting.DAN.5:28 PERES; Thy kingdom is divided, and given to the Medes and Persians.

In 480 BC, following the fall of Thermopylae, the Greek fleet withdrew from Artemisium and regrouped at Salamis. At the same time, Xerxes advanced through Boeotia virtually unopposed, while Athens prepared for evacuation under the so-called Decree of Themistocles. Ancient sources speak of a Persian attempt to plunder Delphi, but modern scholarship generally regards this as later propaganda intended to protect the sanctuary's reputation.At Salamis, the Greek alliance faced difficult choices. Many Peloponnesian commanders favored retreat to the Isthmus, but Themistocles argued successfully for battle in the straits. His strategy, coupled with a ruse that compelled Xerxes to commit his fleet, brought the Persians into waters where their numbers offered little advantage. Among the notable figures at Salamis was Artemisia of Halicarnassus, whose role Herodotus highlights with particular interest.The Battle of Salamis was a turning point in the Greco-Persian Wars. Though the conflict was far from over, the outcome would decide the course of the war going forward.*Contents:*00:00 After Thermopylae and Artemisium00:45 Persians Passing through Delphi03:55 The Themistocles Decree12:05 Preparing for the Persians14:09 Catalog of Ships18:45 Evacuating Athens21:51 The Sack of Athens27:14 Debating with Themistocles 37:20 The Persians Arrive at Salamis50:26 The Battle of Salamis01:07:40 Aftermath of Salamis01:09:58 Thank You and PatronsSupport the show

In this episode of History 102, 'WhatIfAltHist' creator Rudyard Lynch and co-host Austin Padgett examine Inner Asia as the overlooked crossroads between China, Islam, Europe, and India, tracing ancient migrations through modern geopolitics in this forgotten spine of Eurasian civilization. -- SPONSOR: ZCASH | NETSUITE | ORACLE The right technology reshapes politics and culture toward freedom and prosperity. Zcash—the "machinery of freedom"—delivers unstoppable private money through encryption. When your wealth is unseen, it's unseizable. Download Zashi wallet and follow @genzcash to learn more: ⁠⁠⁠https://x.com/genzcash⁠⁠⁠ More than 42,000 businesses have already upgraded to NetSuite by Oracle, the #1 cloud financial system bringing accounting, financial management, inventory, HR, into ONE proven platform. If you're looking for an ERP platform, get a one-of-a-kind flexible financing program on NetSuite: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://netsuite.com/102⁠⁠⁠⁠ - Download your free CFO's guide to AI and machine learning. Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI): Oracle's next-generation cloud platform delivers blazing-fast AI and ML performance with 50% less for compute and 80% less for outbound networking compared to other cloud providers. OCI powers industry leaders like Vodafone and Thomson Reuters with secure infrastructure and application development capabilities. New U.S. customers can get their cloud bill cut in half by switching to OCI before March 31, 2024 at ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://oracle.com/cognitive⁠⁠⁠⁠. -- FOLLOW ON X: @whatifalthist (Rudyard) @LudwigNverMises (Austin) @TurpentineMedia -- TIMESTAMPS: (0:00) Introduction: Defining Inner Asia as the Forgotten Crossroads (1:37) Geographic Scope: From Transoxiana to Tibet and Zomia (3:25) James C. Scott and "The Art of Not Being Governed" (5:05) Zomia: Southeast Asian Anarchist Borderlands (9:24) Burma's Capital Move and State Control Strategies (13:00) Reframing Inner Asia as Central Hub vs. Periphery (14:33) The Continental Divide of Eurasia (18:00) Sponsors: Zcash | NetSuite (19:54) Lord Miles and the Wakan Corridor Adventure (23:42) Rudyard Kipling and "The Man Who Would Be King" (28:00) Marx vs. Kipling: Comparing Views on Race and Colonialism (31:24) World War I's Impact on European Colonial Prestige (35:07) Sponsor: Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (36:34) Prehistoric Settlement: East Asian Population Formation (40:22) The Aryan Invasions and Bronze Age Civilizations (47:24) Genetic Mixing: Europeans, Persians, and Indians (57:15) Scythians vs. Persian Empire: Cyrus the Great's Death (1:02:00) Alexander the Great: Conquering Beyond Persia (1:08:04) The Hubris Trap and Christianity's Solution (1:10:53) Chinese Discovery of the Western World (150 BC) (1:15:05) Central Asian Christianity and Nestorian Civilization (1:20:48) Islamic Conquest and Religious Transformation (1:27:00) Tibet's Warrior Empire vs. China (1:30:30) Amira Ghurko's Journey: Meeting Tibet's Buddhist Elite (1:38:00) Islamic Golden Age: Arab Cotton Boom in Transoxiana (1:44:53) Genghis Khan's Destruction of Central Asian Civilization (1:51:01) The Great Game: British vs. Russian Imperial Competition (1:58:00) Modern Central Asian Dictatorships and Soviet Legacy (2:02:34) Belt and Road Initiative: China's Failed Infrastructure Push (2:06:00) Contemporary Challenges: MMA Fighters and Cultural Impact (2:07:33) Wrap Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In part 9 of our series on the 21 Ecumenical Councils, Justin Hibbard discusses the pivotal history that occurred over 127 years between The 2nd Council of Constantinople of 553 and the 3rd Council of Constantinople of 680. This episode covers the two major heresies of the day, the Filioque controversy, the war between the Byzantines and the Persians, the Christological gag order, the rise of Islam, and the heresy that led to the Third Council of Constantinople. HOW TO SUPPORT THIS PODCAST* Become a free subscriber or a patron of Why Catholic? and get the next episode and a discount code to the Why Catholic Etsy shop in your email inbox.* Check out the Why Catholic Etsy shop (all proceeds support this podcast).* Invite Justin to speak at your next event. Inquire at whycatholic@substack.com.SOCIAL LINKS* Follow Why Catholic on Instagram.* Subscribe to Why Catholic on YouTube.* Follow Justin on Facebook.SOURCES:* The Ecumenical Councils of the Catholic Church: A History by Joseph Kelly* The First Seven Ecumenical Councils (325-787): Their History and Theology by Leo Davis* New Advent: Henoticon* Byzantine Empire: Map, History, and Facts* Byzantine – Sasanian War of 602–628 DOCUMENTARY* Orthodoxy Chronicles: The Filioque Controversy - The Orthodox & Catholic Positions* Prophet Muhammad Explained in 13 Minutes* St. John of Damascus' Critique of Islam* The Rise of Islam* Episode 113: The Great Popes* Episode 111: Papal Infallibility * New Advent: 3rd Council of ConstantinoplePREVIOUS EPISODES IN THIS SERIES* Episode 146: Introduction to the 21 Ecumenical Councils* Episode 147: The World that Led to the Council of Nicaea* Episode 148: The First Council of Nicaea (325)* Episode 149: From Nicaea to Constantinople* Episode 150: The First Council of Constantinople (381)* Episode 151: The Council of Ephesus (431)* Episode 152: The Council of Chalcedon (451)* Episode 153: The 2nd Council of Constantinople (553) Get full access to Why Catholic? at whycatholic.substack.com/subscribe

In this crossover episode with The Lutheran Witness podcast, The Rev Roy Askins shares his interview with missionaries serving Germany. The Rev. Dr. Gottfried Martens, the Rev. Dr. David Preus and the Rev. Dr. Christian Tiews join the podcast to discuss the work at Trinity Lutheran Church, Berlin-Steglitz, Germany. This congregation of the Independent Evangelical — Lutheran Church (SELK) cares for Persian immigrants seeking asylum in Germany. The conversation includes an explanation of the political situation in Germany, and the LCMS mission with Farsi speakers in Germany and beyond.   For the full story, visit engage.lcms.org/persian-project-winter-2025. To learn more about the Independent Evangelical — Lutheran Church (SELK), visit lcms.org/partner-church-bodies/independent-evangelical-lutheran-church. As you grab your morning coffee (and pastry, let's be honest), join hosts Andy Bates and Sarah Gulseth as they bring you stories of the intersection of Lutheran life and a secular world. Catch real-life stories of mercy work of the LCMS and partners, updates from missionaries across the ocean, and practical talk about how to live boldly Lutheran. Have a topic you'd like to hear about on The Coffee Hour? Contact us at: listener@kfuo.org.

In this Bible Story, we are introduced to King Belshazzar, the son of King Nebuchadnezzar. He trifles with the maker of heaven and earth, and is not left unpunished. As Daniel foretold, his kingdom is stripped from him, and the Persians seized Babylon for themselves. This story is inspired by Daniel 5 & 9. Go to BibleinaYear.com and learn the Bible in a Year.Today's Bible verse is Daniel 5:17 from the King James Version.Episode 166: Nebuchadnezzar, King of Babylon is dead and his son King Belshazzar has taken his place. But Belshazzar had not recognized God the same way his father had and he was about to get a startling wake-up call. At one of the many feasts he threw a mysterious sign took place as a phantom hand wrote strange words on the wall. None of the King's men could interpret what it meant. None except Daniel. These words would reveal to the King that his kingdom was no longer his own, God had given it to the Persians.Hear the Bible come to life as Pastor Jack Graham leads you through the official BibleinaYear.com podcast. This Biblical Audio Experience will help you master wisdom from the world's greatest book. In each episode, you will learn to apply Biblical principles to everyday life. Now understanding the Bible is easier than ever before; enjoy a cinematic audio experience full of inspirational storytelling, orchestral music, and profound commentary from world-renowned Pastor Jack Graham.Also, you can download the Pray.com app for more Christian content, including, Daily Prayers, Inspirational Testimonies, and Bedtime Bible Stories.Visit JackGraham.org for more resources on how to tap into God's power for successful Christian living.This episode is sponsored by Medi-Share, an innovative health care solution for Christians to save money without sacrificing quality.Pray.com is the digital destination of faith. With over 5,000 daily prayers, meditations, bedtime stories, and cinematic stories inspired by the Bible, the Pray.com app has everything you need to keep your focus on the Lord. Make Prayer a priority and download the #1 App for Prayer and Sleep today in the Apple app store or Google Play store.Executive Producers: Steve Gatena & Max BardProducer: Ben GammonHosted by: Pastor Jack GrahamMusic by: Andrew Morgan SmithBible Story narration by: Todd HaberkornSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"He was an officer, a tribune, in the Roman army in the time of the Emperor Maximian. A Syrian by birth, he served in his native land. When the Persians attacked the imperial Roman army, this Andrew was entrusted with the command in the battle against the enemy — whence his title: commander, strateletes. A secret Christian, although as yet unbaptised, Andrew commended himself to the living God, and, taking only the cream of the army, went to war. Before the battle, he told his soldiers that, if they all called upon the aid of the one, true God, Christ the Lord, their enemies would become as dust scattered before them. All the soldiers, fired with enthusiasm by Andrew and his faith, invoked Christ's aid and attacked. The Persian army was utterly routed. When the victorious Andrew returned to Antioch, some jealous men denounced him as a Christian and the imperial governor summoned him for trial. Andrew openly proclaimed his steadfast faith in Christ. After harsh torture, the governor threw Andrew into prison and wrote to the Emperor in Rome. Knowing Andrew's popularity among the people and in the army, the Emperor ordered the governor to set Andrew free, but to seek another occasion and another excuse (not his faith) to kill him. By God's revelation, Andrew came to know of this imperial command, and, taking his faithful soldiers (2,593 in all) with him, went off to Tarsus in Cilicia, where they were all baptised by the bishop, Peter. Persecuted here also by imperial might, Andrew and his companions withdrew deep into the Armenian mountain of Tavros. There in a ravine, while they were at prayer, the Roman army came upon them and beheaded them all. Not one of them would recant, all being determined on death by martyrdom for Christ. On the spot where a stream of the martyrs' blood flowed down, a spring of healing water sprang forth, healing from every disease. The bishop, Peter, came secretly with his people and buried the martyrs' bodies in that same place. They all suffered with honour at the end of the third century and were crowned with wreaths of eternal glory, entering into the Kingdom of Christ our God." (Prologue)

Kirt & Mr. Sal discuss Season 1 Episode 7 of Dexter: Resurrection in which nobody does caviar like the Persians. Shoe Hammer some Show Hoppers into your day! Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJb6TAVe_sYmo4G7lAfEYtg Website: showhoppers.com Show Hoppers Twitter: @ShowHoppers Mr. Sal Twitter: @ShowHoppersSal e-mail: showhopperspodcast@gmail.com

Comedian and school teacher Pej Ahmadi makes his debut on the podcast. Randy kicks off by asking Pej about Iran, so Pej gives a little history lesson on Persia. They talk about the current situation in the Middle East and how everyone has an opinion, even if they know absolutely nothing about the region. Pej talks about his family fleeing Iran and being a refugee in the US. The boys get into a discussion about racism and bigotry and how other countries have to deal with it as part of their culture more than most Americans think. Randy asks Pej what it's like being an elementary school teacher. They shift back to discuss the 1979 Iranian revolution. Pej starts a conversation about money and politics and how financial interests are what really controls American politics. Randy asks about how he got his start in comedy and being a musician. The guys touch on the Israel-Iran conflict before closing with the news for the week - 50% of women in relationships have a back-up partner plan in mind, a chef was fired for telling a social media influencer she isn't famous enough to get a free meal, and a new study suggests women are usually right in relationship arguments.    00:00  Intro 01:00  Iran and Persians in California 05:00  Being a Refugee in America 19:00  Racism Abroad 24:00  Teaching and Education in America 31:00  Childhood and Growing Up Today 40:00  Money and Politics 48:00  Starting in Comedy 1:00:00  The Weekly News   Outro: “Funk Doctor” by Gee Dubs   Social Media: Instagram: @randyvalerio @readysetblowpodcast Twitter: @randytvalerio @readysetblowpodcast TikTok: @randyvaleriocomedy @readysetblowpod YouTube:   @randyvaleriocomedy   @readysetblowpodcast     #comedypodcast #comedy #podcast #news #advice #standup #standupcomedy #comedian #jokes #politics #relationships #dating #marriage #kids #family #parenting #iran #persia #iranian #persian #middleeast #israel #history #education #children #student #teacher #school #parents #war #conflict #money #racism #immigration #immigrants #refugees #childhood #teacher #teaching #growingup #parenting

“They will never see their gold again, just as they do not see their own ears.”Josef StalinGold's strength is that its value exists in and of itself. It's nobody else's liability. Unlike money in the bank or a bond, it carries no promise from a third party, and its value is not dependent on the creditworthiness of any issuer or guarantor. Hand it to someone else and its value is transferred. It is a “bearer” asset, effectively owned by whoever has possession of it. For this reason gold has been the target of many a heist. Quickly resmelt it, and its provenance is very hard to prove.So there is one obvious problem with gold: that is keeping it safe. It's all very well having a pot of gold, but if somebody comes along and takes it from you, as Alexander did from the Persians, or the Conquistadors from the Incas, then you're left with nothing at all.When the Spanish Civil War broke out in 1936, the Soviet Union, under Joseph Stalin, supported the Spanish Republican government. The Nazis supported their opponents, the revolutionary fascist forces led by General Franco. At the time Spanish gold reserves, some 635 tonnes, were the fourth largest in the world.Much of that treasure had been accumulated during WWI, when Spain had stayed neutral. Selling stuff to the British seems to have been the really big earner: 70% of Spanish gold holdings were British sovereigns.With Franco just 20 miles from the capital, the Republicans were on the verge of defeat. Never mind the fascists, there were also rumours that Catalan separatists had hatched plans to take the gold from Madrid to Barcelona. All that gold was at risk.Finance minister, Juan Negrín, and Prime Minister, Francisco Largo Caballero, leant on President Azaña to sign a secret decree to move the gold - some 10,000 cases - to a place “which in his [Negrín's] opinion offers the best security”. Azaña signed and the gold was moved, starting the next day, to Cartajena on the south coast, as far from Franco's armies as possible. The Spanish soldiers who transported the cases thought they were lifting munitions. A fifth of it was then shipped to Marseille where it was traded for French francs, which the Republicans used to fund their side of the war. The rest, 510 tonnes, would be sent to Joseph Stalin in Moscow for safekeeping.Even if Bolshevik sympathisers, what were Negrín and Caballero thinking? The Russians had already demonstrated that they had no qualms about seizing other people's gold. In 1916, the Romanian government sent its treasury of 91 tonnes of gold to Tsarist Russia for safekeeping, worried that it was vulnerable to the Axis powers when Romania had just joined WWI on the side of the Entente. Shortly afterwards, during the Great October Revolution, communists, led by Lenin, seized power, sequestered the gold and refused to give it back. Though small amounts were returned in 1935, 1956, and 2008, “as a gesture of goodwill”, the large majority was retained. As you can imagine, it has been something of a sore spot in diplomatic relations between the two nations ever since.It seems Negrín and Caballero did not know the story. In any case, Caballero actually wrote to Stalin asking if he would “agree to the deposit of approximately 500 tonnes of gold.” Two days later, he got a reply from the Soviet leader, not previously known for his prompt responses. No surprise: Stalin would be “glad” to take the gold.Buying gold or silver to protect yourself in these ‘interesting' times? The bullion dealer I use and recommend is the Pure Gold Company. Pricing is competitive, quality of service is high. They deliver to the UK, the US, Canada and Europe or you can store your gold with them. More here.Alexander Orlov was the Russian agent in charge of transporting the booty. Negrín gave him fake documents to show he was an US official from the Bank of America, in case he should be stopped. Negrín, who, remember, was finance minister, had thought Bank of America was the US central bank. That would be the Federal Reserve. Russian agent Orlov didn't realise either. It's extraordinary.Four Russian ships came to Cartagena to collect the bounty, and the gold was loaded on. There was a discrepancy of 100 cases between Orlov and Spanish treasurer Mendez Aspe's number: Aspe said 7,800 cases, Orlov 7,900. Orlov said nothing. He reported the discrepancy to his superiors, who told him, “Do not worry about figures. Everything will be counted anew in Moscow. Do not mention your figure to anybody.” Aspe didn't even get a receipt off Orlov (who had been instructed not to give him one). “Don't worry, my friend,” said Orlov, “it will be issued by the State Bank of the Soviet Union, when everything is checked and weighed.” We will never know whether Orlov miscounted or whether those 100 boxes went missing.It took them three nights to load the four ships. The Russians then left Cartagena for Odessa in the Black Sea, escorted by the Spanish as far as Italy. From Odessa it was loaded onto a freight train bound for Moscow. "If all the boxes of gold that we piled up on the wharfs of Odessa were to be placed here side by side,” said one of the officials. “They would completely cover up the Red Square".When the gold arrived in Moscow, Stalin celebrated with a banquet at the Kremlin. “They will never see their gold again”, he laughed. “Just as they do not see their own ears.”The Spanish eventually got their receipt: for 5,619 standard cases and 126 damaged. Some distance below both Aspe and Orlov's figure. But three months later the Russians completed the audit, calculating that the shipments totalled 510 tonnes of gold coins and ingots, 90% pure, thus around 460 tonnes of pure gold. There were gold coins from across Europe and Latin America, especially those British sovereigns and Portuguese escudos, but also Spanish pesetas, French, Swiss and Belgian francs, German marks,, Russian rubles, Austrian schillings, Dutch guilders, and Mexican, Argentine and Chilean pesos. The numismatic value of the coins was higher than their gold content.The following year Spain met with a currency crisis. With exceptional chutzpah, even by the standards of politicians, Republicans blamed the inflation on the free market. Nothing to do with the absence of all that gold!Later, the Franco regime was happy to let the story of the "Moscow gold" stolen by Russia spread, as part of its anti-communist propaganda. And yet it appears sell orders from Negrín were actually carried out in 1937 and 1938, for which Spain received pounds, dollars and francs. Spain also received planes, tanks, machine guns, artillery, rifles, cartridges, food and fuel from Russia. The Soviets demanded some compensation for what they had sent during the war, but it's believed that aside from various expenses, the Soviets did not abuse their position and defraud the Spanish. Ultimately then, most of the gold went, one way or another, on the cost of the civil war. Such is the way with war. It is expensive.And just a couple or three years later, as Nazi forces advanced through Europe, the farce of transporting gold would be repeated many times over, and across the continent.Stories like this fill the pages of The Secret History of Gold (although this one didn't actually make the cut).The Secret History of Gold is available to pre-order at Amazon, Waterstones and all good bookshops. I hear the audiobook, read by me, is excellent. The book comes out on August 28. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.theflyingfrisby.com/subscribe

In this podcast recorded almost a year ago, the Rev. Dr. Gottfried Martens, the Rev. Dr. David Preus and the Rev. Dr. Christian Tiews join the podcast to discuss the work at Trinity Lutheran Church, Berlin-Steglitz, Germany. This congregation of the Independent Evangelical — Lutheran Church (SELK) cares for Persian immigrants seeking asylum in Germany. The conversation includes an explanation of the political situation in Germany, and the LCMS mission with Farsi speakers in Germany and beyond.   For the full story, visit engage.lcms.org/persian-project-winter-2025.  To learn more about the Independent Evangelical — Lutheran Church (SELK), visit lcms.org/partner-church-bodies/independent-evangelical-lutheran-church.  For more information on The Lutheran Witness or to subscribe to the magazine, please visit witness.lcms.org. Sound effect obtained from zapsplat.com.

Marziyeh (Marzi) Amirizadeh is a powerful force for persecuted Christians in Islam, unfortunately knowing all too well personally: having been sentenced to death in Iran for becoming a Christian under the brutal Islamic regime. She also advocates for the restoration of warm relations between Jews and Persians, and Israel and Iran again. One month after imposing a cease fire in the war between Israel and Iran, we discuss a wide range of issues relating to Iran, to the evil influence of the ayatollahs and IRGC, how to eliminate the threat to free the Iranian people of their country being hijacked in 1979, and her great vision for bringing Christians to Israel for a unique experience demonstrating unconditional love to Israel and the Jewish people through www.rootandbranchisrael.com. PLEASE DONATE TO THE GENESIS 123 FOUNDATION ISRAEL EMERGENCY FUND AT WWW.GENESIS123.CO Connect with Marziyeh Amirizadeh and get her books at www.MarzisJourney.com and find out more about her ministry at www.NewPersia.org.To join us making special events like this possible, please give generously at https://genesis123foundation.revv.co/soldierssocialwelfareGet information about how you can join FOOTSTEPS at https://genesis123.co/footsteps/For information about and how to register for Root & Branch, please go to www.RootandBranchIsrael.comConnect with the Genesis 123 Foundation at www.Genesis123.co and learn how you can host Shabbat in your community.FB - www.facebook.com/Genesis123Foundation Twitter - @Genesis123FIG - Genesis_123_FoundationFind out how you can be part of Run for Zion and bless Israel with every step at www.RunforZion.com

In the 5th century BC, the Greek world found itself in the middle of one of its greatest wars. This wasn't one of their existential conflicts against the Persians; this was a war of Greeks against Greeks.  An alliance of city-states led by Athens fought a coalition led by Sparta for control of the Greek world.  Over nearly 30 years, the two city-states fought for supremacy, leaving a lasting impact on the Greek world. Learn more about the Peloponnesian War, its causes, and its resolution on this episode of Everything Everywhere Daily. ***5th Anniversary Celebration RSVP*** Sponsors Quince Go to quince.com/daily for 365-day returns, plus free shipping on your order! Mint Mobile Get your 3-month Unlimited wireless plan for just 15 bucks a month at mintmobile.com/eed Jerry Compare quotes and coverages side-by-side from up to 50 top insurers at jerry.ai/daily American Scandal Follow American Scandal on the Wondery App or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe to the podcast!  https://everything-everywhere.com/everything-everywhere-daily-podcast/ -------------------------------- Executive Producer: Charles Daniel Associate Producers: Austin Oetken & Cameron Kieffer   Become a supporter on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/everythingeverywhere Update your podcast app at newpodcastapps.com Discord Server: https://discord.gg/UkRUJFh Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/everythingeverywhere/ Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/everythingeverywheredaily Twitter: https://twitter.com/everywheretrip Website: https://everything-everywhere.com/  Disce aliquid novi cotidie Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Marinus and Martha were wealthy Persians; but they sold all their goods and traveled to Rome with their sons Audifax, Habakkuk, Valentine, and Cyrinus, in order to venerate the holy relics of the apostles and martyrs. When the Emperor Claudius asked them why they had come so far, at such cost, to seek the dead in Rome, they answered 'We are servants of Christ, and are come to venerate the holy apostles whose immortal souls are alive with God, that they may be our intercessors with Christ our God.' All of them were sentenced to interrogation and to death if they would not deny Christ. Valentine, who was a priest, was handed over to a General named Asterius. When Valentine healed Asterius' daughter, who had been blind for two years, Asterius and his entire household accepted Christ and were baptised by Valentine. All of them, along with Marinus and Martha and their family, underwent torture and death for the sake of Christ.

In this episode, Murray tackles a thoughtful listener question: were heavy, armoured troops consistently more effective than missile-armed light troops? Our listener reflects that European armies rarely seem to have been decimated by light forces—Carrhae being a rare exception—and wonders whether this is an accurate memory. Why did Persians, for instance, favour missile troops, and why didn't this overwhelm Macedonian forces despite showers of arrows, slings, and javelins?   Join us on Patron patreon.com/ancientwarfarepodcast  

Michael Germi is a former Muslim who was born in Iran into a Shia Muslim family. In this setting he learned to practice Islam praying 5 times a day toward Mecca. He fasted during Ramadan. He practiced self-mutilation for the cause of Allah. He migrated to Australia in 2006 and in 2009 placed his trust in Jesus Christ. He later moved to the States where he now proclaims the Gospel to Islamic nations. He has written several Farsi Christian books and desires to plant churches around the world where Persians are scattered. Iran has a population that is ten times larger than Israel. It's land mass is also many times larger than Israel. According to worldData.info, Iran is 96.5% Muslim. Its primary language is Persian. It's citizens are low-income and deal with high inflation. Most importantly, it's a nation and people greatly in need of the Gospel. Michael's biggest fear while living as a Muslim in Iran was the thought of going to hell. So what circumstances caused him to move from Islam to Christ? What is Michael's burden for Iran and the Persian people? What does it mean to be a Christian in Iran? Michael explains all this and more when the political, economic and spiritual aspects of Iran take center stage on this fascinating edition of Crosstalk.

This icon was once kept in the Church of Blachernae in Constantinople. In 1383, it suddenly appeared in the sky over Lake Ladoga, then travelled through the air to the city of Tikhvin, where it alit by the River Tikhvina. A monastery was built there to house it. In the twentieth century it was brought to America. Innumerable miracles have been worked through this wonderworking icon, especially healings of children.   On this day is also commemorated the Hodigritia Icon of the Mother of God. According to many accounts, this icon and the Tikhvin Icon are one and the same, so we list them together. Hodigritia is translated "Directress" or more literally "She who shows the way." It was painted by Luke the Evangelist himself, who knew the Mother of God in the flesh. Over the years the icon was taken from Antioch to Jerusalem, then to Constantinople where it was enshrined in the Church of Blachernae. When Constantinople was attacked at the same time by the Persians and the Scythians, Patriarch Sergius carried the holy icon around the ramparts, and the city was miraculously delivered from its pagan enemies. During the iconoclast period, the icon was hidden in a wall in the monastery of the Pantocrator.

LONDINIUM 90AD: Gaius and Germanicus observe that the Americans do not appear informed that the Iranians are the uncowed, unconquered Parthians of Crassus and Caesar aka Persians of Sparta and Athens -- except for Alexander 4th century BCE. More. Michael Vlahos. Friends of History Debating Society. @michalis_vlahos

Allison Kaplan Sommer and Noah Efron talk about (1) whether and how this week's war on Iran reshapes our understanding of the more than 20 months of war in Gaza that preceded it, and (2) what we can learn from a moving essay by American journalist Isaac Saul called, “I think I'm Leaving Zionism, or Zionism is Leaving Me.” All this and what we learn about Iran from the Persians living among us, and music by these self-same Persians. Hear the Extra-Special, Special Extra Segment on Patreon For our most unreasonably generous Patreon supporters, in our extra-special, special extra discussion: What it is like, living from siren-to-siren, shelter-to-shelter (Spoiler alert: Scary and weird, with surprising moments of grace.)

"The holy Martyrs Manuel, Sabel, and Ishmael, Persians by race and brethren according to the flesh, were sent by the Persian King as ambassadors to Julian the Apostate to negotiate a peace treaty. While with him at a place near Chalcedon, they refused to join him in offering sacrifice to his idols. Scorning the immunity universally accorded ambassadors, he had them slain in the year 362. This was a cause of the war with Persia in which Julian perished miserably the following year." (Great Horologion)

The famous Battle of Thermopylae forms the centerpiece of the Spartan Mirage. Legend has it that a tiny force of 300 Spartans took on over two million Persians and managed to hold them off for a remarkable four days. The Spartan sacrifice has been credited with saving Greece and paving the way to the ultimate Greek victory over the invaders. While it's true that the Spartans made a stand at Thermopylae, so too did thousands of other Greeks whose contributions have been edited out of the story. Almost everything about this famous showdown has been exaggerated and distorted. Who were the real heroes of Thermopylae? Tune-in and find out how playing possum, 700 Thespians, and something called the Battle of Champions all play a role in the story.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.