it specifically affirmed their right to return to their Holy City. The president’s proclamation likewise affirmed the right of Israel to return to its Holy City. And therein lies another mystery behind the president and that declaration. Listen again to the Scripture:
Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he made a proclamation . . . ” 7
“What was the word,” I asked, “that Cyrus fulfilled?”
“It was a prophecy given to Jeremiah revealing how long Israel’s exile would last:
For thus says the LORD: After seventy years are completed at Babylon, I will . . . perform My good word toward you, and cause you to return . . . 8
“‘After seventy years,’” said the Oracle. “The key is seventy years. It was the king’s proclamation that allowed the Jewish people to return to Jerusalem after seventy years. So Cyrus is connected to an interval of seventy years. Is it possible, then, that the same interval of time, seventy years, could have a part in the replaying of the mystery in the American president and his declaration?
“Cyrus ascended to world power at the end of the seventy years. When Donald Trump ascended to world power, how many years had he lived? For seventy years. Thus, as with Cyrus, he ascended to world power after seventy years. And that rise began as he announced his candidacy for the presidency just two days into the start of his seventieth year. His life was, itself, the embodiment of the seventy years. And as for the ancient Cyrus, the period of seventy years would likewise be central to his life. He would live for seventy years.”
“So the modern Cyrus began where the ancient Cyrus left off.”
“You could say that.”
“What about Israel?” I asked. “The seventy years of the prophecy were connected to Israel. So could the president’s proclamation be connected to a seventy-year period having to do with Israel?”
“If the seventy-year period,” he replied, “ends with the proclamation, then we would have to go back seventy years from that proclamation to see if it brings us to any significant event. The proclamation took place in 2017. So going back seventy years would lead to . . . ”
“1947!”
“1947. The year that Israel was voted into existence at the United Nations. So the seventy years began with Israel’s conception. In the ancient case it was at the end of a critical seventy-year period in Israel’s history that Cyrus ascended to world power. So the template would reveal that after a critical seventy-year period in Israel’s history we would see the rise of a world leader who would issue a proclamation concerning Israel. So the modern seventy-year period ended in the year 2017, the very year that a new Cyrus, Donald Trump, rose to world power and just happened to issue a proclamation concerning Israel . . . ”
“Which has to be issued in the seventieth year.”
“And when he issued that declaration, he made special mention of another president. He spoke of the other Cyrus, Harry Truman. And his declaration contained the phrase that would link the modern declaration to the ancient—the phrase seventy years. He said this:
It was 70 years ago that the United States, under President Truman, recognized the State of Israel. 9
“So the proclamation itself makes note that the proclamation is itself going forth at the end of a seventy-year period.”
“And there’s another connection,” I said. “The two presidents who walk in the template of Cyrus are connected not only to a critical seventy-year period in Israel’s history but a seventy-year period with regard to each other. The two presidencies take place seventy years apart from the other. Trump leads America seventy years after Truman led America. And as the reign of Cyrus framed the seventy-year period, so each of the two American presidents frame the modern seventy-year period, the first at its beginning and the second at its end. And the seventy-year period they frame has to do with Israel’s restoration.”
“Very good,” said the Oracle. “Now, note the parameters of the Scripture. The declaration goes forth at the end of the seventy years, and, at the same time, in the first year of the king’s reign as world leader. In President Trump both parameters converge; the seventieth year with regard to Israel is also the first year of his presidency . . . and