1-OT 36 Daniel 7-12

Lesson #36 - Daniel 2, 7-12 2019 Before starting this lesson, re-read Daniel 2 and then read chapters 7-12. You may find it helpful to read the chapters, go thru the lesson and then read the chapters once again. Since it is a short section, it will not be difficult to do. OUTLINE History proves God is in control 1 – 6 Prophecy proves God is in control 7 - 12 Daniel has written this book to show that whether we study history or prophecy - whether we study about the past or about the future, we can see the evidence of God’s power - that God is in control. In the previous lesson we looked at history. This lesson is about prophecy - information God reveals about the future. But to see the evidence of God’s control, we need to start with 3 basic beliefs. God knows the future God is involved in world events God is the author of Scripture Without these beliefs, the chapters will sound like nothing more than fantasy or science fiction. With these beliefs, our faith can be strengthened and encouraged. I am starting with these beliefs. In these chapters, God is telling Daniel about 6 world empires or kingdoms. Living in the 21st century, we know there have been far more that 6 world empires since the days of Daniel, so why does God only mention 6? The answer is that Daniel is a Jewish book, so the content is Jewish. God only talks about empires that exist when Israel is on the map as a nation from the time of Daniel until the time of God’s kingdom. This includes Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece and Rome in the past. Israel, as a nation was destroyed by Rome. She was off the map from 70 AD -1948, so all empires during that time are not mentioned. With Israel back on the map, God says there will be 2 more kingdoms in her future. The book of Daniel is Jewish Its content is from a Jewish perspective. Its style of writing is also Jewish. There is lots of picture language and repetition. There will be many different pictures to talk about exactly the same six empires or kingdoms. Sometimes it is looking at them in the big, overall picture. Sometimes it is zooming in to give more details about just one or two of them. Other times it is looking at the kingdoms from different points of Babylonian Empire view. 605 - 539 BC Picture language and repetition - 2 major styles of Jewish writing. Before looking at the verses in Daniel, we need a foundation of history. FACTS OF HISTORY Babylon was the ruling empire during most of Daniel’s life. It lasted 70 years - from 605 - 539 BC. Medo-Persian Empire 539 - 331 BC L B E Babylon was conquered by the Medes and Persians. Media was geographically larger, but Persia was always stronger. Media’s army joined with the army of Cyrus. Cyrus, as general, led them to conquer Lydia and Babylon to form an empire. He then became the 1st king. His son later conquered Egypt. After Cyrus, there were 3 more kings … The following king was Xerxes, called Ahasuerus in the Bible. Medo-Persia That empire lasted 200 years, from 539 to 331 BC. Greek Empire 331- 63 BC Medo-Persia was conquered by Alexander the Great, who formed the Greek empire. Divided Greek Greek Empire Empire 331-63 BC 323-63 BC When he died, his empire was divided among the 4 generals who served under him. The 4 areas were Macedonia, Asia Minor, Egypt and Syria. Seleucids Ptolemies Only 2 of them affected Jewish history - the Syrian and Egyptian divisions. In history, the Greek kings ruling from Syria were known as the Seleúcids. In the Bible, they are called the kings of the north. The Greek kings ruling from Egypt were known as the Ptolemies or the kings of the south. These kings were always trying to control the Jews and their land. Near the end of the Greek empire, a king from the Syrian division wanted to annihilate the Jews. The empire in both its unity and divisions lasted 250 years - from 331 to 63 BC. Greek It was conquered by the Romans Roman Roman RomanEmpire Empire 63 BC - 476 AD Their empire lasted 500 years from 63 BC to 476 AD. These are the facts about the 4 empires of the past. Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, Rome In the future, there will be 2 more kingdoms Satan’s kingdom God’s kingdom God’s kingdom had been promised to the Jews as a people and nation thruout the Old Testament. But they had no idea of how or when it would come. These chapters in Daniel are the first clues. Before God’s kingdom would come, there would be a series of other kingdoms that involved the nation of Israel. Their identity is revealed thru picture language from the dreams of Nebuchadnezzar and Daniel. Because this is the Jewish style of writing, we need to remember not to take the dreams or pictures literally. An object or animal is used to emphasize one major quality or characteristic. It will be something dominant about that object or animal. For example: to emphasize speed and agility, the Jews would use picture language of an eagle, leopard, or something with wings. All the chapters in this lesson are talking about the same 6 empires or kingdoms. But each chapter uses a different set of pictures. The only way to see how they fit together is on a chart with the kingdoms/empires listed and the pictures from each chapter inserted. 2 In the first column are the 4 empires of the past and 2 in the future. The names of kings or geographical areas in the list are ones mentioned in these chapters. NATIONS in . . . . . . . . . . Daniel 2 REPRESENTED by . . . . . . . . . . . IMAGE BABYLON 606 - 539 BC Head of Gold MEDO-PERSIA 539 - 331 BC Cyrus Cambyses Pseudo-Smerdis Darius Gt I Xerxes Ahasuerus The bronze section – belly, thigh represents GREECE. Belly, thigh Alexander Gt 4 Generals over: Asia Minor Macedonia Syria Seleucids Antiochus Epiphanes Egypt Ptolemies of ROME 63 BC - 476 AD Legs iron The 2 legs of iron picture the ROMAN empire with its eastern and western divisions. In 476 AD, it comes to an end. brass 476 AD - PRESENT Feet - iron w/ clay 10 toes Satan's man GOD’S KINGDOM The silver arms and chest represent MEDO-PERSIA. The fact that there are 2 arms with one chest, illustrate there are 2 parts to one empire - the Medes and the Persians. silver GREECE 331 - 63 BC 10 groups He sees an image of a man, made from different metals. There is a head of gold which represents BABYLON. Chest, arms of } SATAN'S KINGDOM Chapter 2 is the dream of Nebuchadnezzar (see note at end) Stone i The feet of the image – iron mixed with clay represent SATAN’S KINGDOM. Because it has iron like the legs, means it will have something in common with the Roman empire of the past. Personally, I think it means the power base will be in Europe. In other ways Satan’s kingdom will be different. Iron and clay can never be mixed so that it holds together on its own. So Satan’s kingdom will be united, yet divided. It will be strong, yet brittle. The only way to hold it together will be thru brute force. There are 10 toes that form the feet. This is picture language to say 10 leaders or groups, will join together to form a power base. This could be groups or their leaders – such as the European Union along with OPEC, APEC, UN, NATO, World Trade Organization, World Health Organization, etc. Whom-ever this power base of 10 are, they will create Satan’s kingdom with a global government, economy and religion. But then, in Nebuchadnezzar’s dream, a stone comes out of a mountain and destroys the whole image by striking it on the feet and toes. The stone represents GOD’S KINGDOM that brings an end to all human empires. The fact the stone hits the image on its feet says that when God’s kingdom comes, it will destroy a kingdom that is in power at that time. This is why we say the feet represent a kingdom yet future. Nebuchadnezzar’s dream in chapter 2 covers the world scene from the Babylonian empire in 605 BC until the fall of the Roman empire in 476 AD. It leaves a gap for the time in which we live and picks up again to describe 2 future kingdoms - Satan’s kingdom and then God’s kingdom. Chapter 7 is the dream of Daniel The picture language in his dream involves a series of animals. One of the best ways to understand Jewish picture language is to think of the most obvious characteristic for that symbol. It is usually the meaning. For example in Daniel’s dream there is a lion with wings. A lion is known for it’s strength. Wings make us think of swiftness. The lion with wings represents BABYLON in her strength and swiftness. It was Babylon who first used the military tactic of swift and surprise attack which was later called the blitzkrieg. 3 The next animal is a bear with 3 ribs in its teeth. The bear represents MEDO-PERSIA. It is raised on 1 side, meaning 1 of those 2 countries is more dominant. From history we know Persia was always the stronger. The 3 ribs in the bear’s mouth makes us think of a bear capturing and devouring other animals. It is a picture of 3 areas that Medo-Persia captured to expand her empire. The next animal is a leopard with wings. The leopard is known for its agility - the wings once again for swiftness. So we have a picture is agility and swiftness. Alexander the Great became king of GREECE at the age of 20 and tragically died at the age of 32, an alcoholic. During his lifetime he conquered 1½ million square miles. On one occasion, he captured 5 major cities in just 2 days. He and his soldiers covered 35,000 miles on foot in those 11 years. How appropriate to represent him as a leopard with wings - agility with swiftness. The leopard is also said to have 4 heads. After Alexander’s death, his kingdom was divided between his 4 generals. The 4 heads of the leopard represent the 4 divisions of the Greek empire. The last animal is called a fearful beast. The beast itself represents the ROMAN empire of the past. The 10 horns of the beast picture the joining of 10 leaders or groups that create SATAN’S KINGDOM of the future. They picture the same thing as the 10 toes of the image. Since the horns are part of the beast, it once again is saying that Satan’s kingdom will have something in common with the Roman empire of the past, probably that the power base will be in Europe. Suddenly a little horn appears among the 10 horns, meaning Satan’s man or leader appears from one of the 10 groups or leaders. Three of these groups or leaders do not accept him, but he has so much power, he can instantly put them down. In Daniel’s dream, this little horn has eyes of a man - meaning the leader has great intelligence. It also says he will speak boastfully against God. In the time of Satan’s kingdom, Satan’s man will have power over the Jews for a time, times and half a time. Time means one year; times - 2 years; half a time - half a year. For 3½ years, he will try to destroy the Jews. This number is confirmed in Revelation, when John the apostle says the time period is 42 months or 1260 days. (A Jewish year is 360 days; each month has 30 days) Daniel then sees thrones and fire and the form of God the Father, called the Ancient of Days. The Ancient of Days sends the Son of Man to come in clouds of glory. This refers to Jesus, who will take control of all kingdoms by destroying Satan’s kingdom. He then will set up GOD’S KINGDOM. 4 NATIONS in . . . . . . . . . . Daniel 2 REPRESENTED by . . . . . . . . . . . IMAGE BABYLON 606 - 539 BC Daniel 7 4 ANIMALS Head of Gold Daniel 8 RAM & HE GOAT Lion w/ eagle’s wings Bear / 3 ribs in MEDO-PERSIA 539 - 331 BC Cyrus Cambyses Pseudo-Smerdis Darius Gt I Xerxes Ahasuerus } Ram w/ 2 horns 1 horn = Persia teeth Chest, arms of Leopard w/ 4 wings Belly, thigh of brass Alexander Gt 4 Generals over: Asia Minor Macedonia Syria Seleucids Antiochus Epiphanes Egypt Ptolemies He-goat 1 horn broken 4 heads 4 horns little horn Fearful Legs - iron beast Feet - iron w/ clay 10 toes GOD’S KINGDOM 10 horns little horn Throne - Judge Son of Man Satan's man Stone This time God uses the animals that will be the actual symbols of the Persian and Greek leaders. First there is a ram with 2 horns. It represents MEDO-PERSIA. One horn of the ram grows longer than the other. Like the bear with one side higher than the other, we are reminded Persia is stronger than Media. 476 AD - PRESENT 10 groups God has Daniel describe two dreams with different pictures to give 2 viewpoints about the same empires. Chapter 8 Daniel next dream. ROME 63 BC - 476 AD SATAN'S KINGDOM Nebuchadnezzar’s dream gives our view of empires - they are valuable and to be desired like the valuable metals. Daniel’s dream gives God’s view human empires are savage and brutal like the wild animals. silver GREECE 331 - 63 BC The animals in Daniel’s dream of Chapter 7, picture exactly the same empires, in the same order, as the image in Nebuchadnezzar’s dream. The purpose is to present 2 viewpoints. The ram conquers westward, northward and southward. This is the same as the 3 ribs in the bear’s mouth - the 3 major areas Medo-Persia adds to her own. From the capital of Persia, Babylon is westward; Lydia, northward and Egypt, southward. (Refer to the Medo-Persian map on page 1.) According to ancient history, the ram’s head was the national symbol of Persia. In the Persian capital of Persepolis, king Xerxes had columns in his palace, with rams sculptured on them. When Persian kings entered into battle they wore a ram’s head over their head. A The 2nd animal in Daniel’s dream, is a goat. This goat comes from the west and breaks the 2 horns of the ram. In comparison to MedoPersia, Greece is in the west. The goat with the prominent horn is the first king of GREECE Alexander the Great. Looking at a map, you will see the water on the east side of Greece is named Greece Aegean Sea. The word Aegean is Greek for goat - Goat Sea. According to ancient history, the goat was a symbol for Alexander the Great. n ea eg a Se So the goat breaking the 2 horns of the ram is a picture of Greece conquering Medo-Persia. But then the one horn of the goat is broken - Alexander dies. In its place are 4 horns - the 4 divisions of the Greek empire under the 4 generals - just like the 4 heads on the leopard. Then out of 1 of the 4 horns comes a little horn - that is, out of one of the Greek divisions of the empire will come a king. He will be stern-faced in the last part of the Greek empire. He will attack Israel and destroy many Jews. He will demand worship. He will make the Jewish temple unholy so it will be unusable for 1150 days. (For the Jews, one day includes both an evening and a morning. So 1150 days is the same as 2300 evenings and mornings. 8:14) 5 Secular history as well as the Jewish book of 1 Maccabees verifies that this actually happened. In 168 BC, there was a Greek king from the Syrian division named Antíochus Epiphanes. He attacked the Jews in Jerusalem, went to the Jewish temple grounds and burned a pig on the altar of animal sacrifices. He then entered the temple itself and went to the room where the ark had been in the past. In this room, the most holy place, he put up a statue of the Greek god Zeus. He then went outside, said it was a statue of himself, demanding that everyone worship him. This action made the Jewish temple desolate, meaning, unholy and unusable - desecrated. During this time, the whole nation of Judah or Israel was under this king’s control. Then exactly 1150 days later, in 165 BC, Jews get their freedom and purified their temple. The opportunity to rededicate their Temple and have freedom of worship was so wonderful, they made it a holy day to always be celebrated. To this day they celebrate the Feast of Dedication, Feast of Lights or as we know it, Hanukkah. Daniel’s dream in chapter 8 deals only with the Medo-Persian and Greek empires, from 539 to 164 BC. Chapter 9 The life of Daniel When Babylon falls and the Medo-Persian empire begins, Daniel has been in the capital city, Babylon, for 67 years. He knows the change of empires means the future of the Jews could change. He goes back to the letter that Jeremiah had sent the exiles 58 years earlier, in 598 BC. Jeremiah told them the exile would last for 70 years. Daniel realizes - 67 years have gone by; only 3 more years left. Knowing the Jewish people need to prepare and repent, Daniel begins to pray. First of all he recognizes God was fair to send them into exile. Then he asks God to forgive them as a people. MEDO-PERSIAN EMPIRE 539 BC Babylon O Lord, listen. O Lord, forgive. O Lord, hear and act. For your sake, O my God, do not delay, because YOUR city and YOUR people bear YOUR Name. 9:19 Daniel is praying specifically about Jerusalem and the Jewish nation - Your city, Your people. The angel Gabriel comes to tell Daniel that God’s program for Jerusalem and the Jews involves a period of 70 “sevens”. For the Jews, this meant 70 time periods of 7 years each. 70 x 7 years is a total of 490 years. Some Bibles use the phrase 70 weeks. The literal Hebrew is 70 sevens. The angel Gabriel tells Daniel that by the end of 490 years, 5 things will be accomplished regarding the Jews as a nation. The Jews as a nation will believe in Jesus as their Messiah. The final payment for sin will have been made. Their sin as a nation will be forgiven. All of God’s promises to the Jews will be fulfilled. Jesus will then set up His kingdom and will be the center of worship. Logically, Daniel wants to know when these 490 years will start - when should the Jews start counting? The angel Gabriel says it starts with the command to rebuild the city of Jerusalem. From that command until the coming of the anointed one, their Messiah, there will be 483 years. (7 sevens plus 62 sevens equal 69 sevens /483 years.) During the ministry of Jesus, near the end of the 2nd year, the Jewish people were ready to believe Jesus was their Messiah. But God had given Jewish leadership the responsibility to determine who the Messiah was and then lead the people to accept Him. So the Jewish people went to their religious leaders and asked, Is Jesus our promised Messiah? The leadership said, No, He is not our Messiah. The reason they said no was because they did not want a Messiah who would save them from sin - they were looking for a Messiah who would save them from Rome. If the national leadership had accepted Jesus as their Messiah, Jesus would have died, risen and ascended into heaven. At some point, the Romans would have destroyed the Jewish temple. But within a few years, someone would have come, made a 7-year treaty with the Jews, including the right to rebuild the Temple. Satan’s kingdom would have come and lasted for 7 years. After that, Jesus would have returned to establish His kingdom. It would have happened before the end of the 1st century. Remember, John came with the message, repent, for the Kingdom of God is at hand - near. Jesus said the Kingdom was at hand. 6 Jesus offered the Kingdom to the Jews in His century. But when the leadership rejected Him, God’s clock for the Jewish nation temporarily stopped running. Daniel was told there would be a period of 483 years. After that, the Anointed One, Messiah, would be cut off, meaning killed. Then later, a people would come who would destroy Jerusalem and the Jewish Temple. From history we know it was the Roman empire who destroyed Jerusalem and the temple in 70 AD. Daniel also said that later, a ruler would come who was connected with the people who destroyed the Temple. This ruler will make a treaty with the Jews which will let them rebuild their temple. This is the same person referred to in Daniel 7 as the little horn among the 10 horns. R Je ebu ru ild sa lem So from Daniel’s time forward, God’s entire program for the Jews involves a 70 - 7’s = 490 years total of 490 years. When Jewish Ruler leadership rejected Jesus, God’s Jewish God's Jewish clock us s clock stopped at 483 years - 7 years short stopped Je 483 yrs 7 yrs of the 490 years. God’s clock is still stopped in our day. However, the moment a world leader makes a 7-year treaty with the Jews so they can rebuild their temple, God’s Jewish clock will start up and will complete the 7 years that are left. But half-way thru, the world leader, Satan’s man, will break the treaty. But in the end, God will destroy him, and God’s program for the Jews will be fulfilled. In chapter 9, Daniel is told about 2 time periods - 483 years and 7 years. Together they make a total of 490 years. Chapter 11 Daniel’s final dream Once again he is given details about the Persian and Greek empires, a period of 366 years. After Cyrus, the Persian king, there will be 3 more kings. Then a 4th who is richer, is going to turn everyone against Greece. From history, we know this to be Xerxes. In the Bible he is called Ahasuerus. But then a mighty king will appear - Alexander the Great. Later, his empire will be broken up and parceled to the 4 winds - it will be divided among the 4 generals of Alexander. This is the same as the 4 horns of the goat or the 4 heads of the leopard. Notice, that even tho the pictures change, the numbers are the same, because they are talking Greek Empire Divided Greek Empire about the same historical facts. 331-63 BC 323-63 BC Chapter 11 is difficult to read and understand because of all the details. It describes the Greek kings ruling in Syria (Seleucids) who challenge the Greek kings ruling in Egypt (Ptolemies). It tells about their wars as well as their marriage alliances. There are 135 specific predictions about the various kings in the Greek empire. Comparing it with history, we find they all came true between 530 and 164 BC. Only God could have given these details to Daniel. Seleucids Ptolemies God then tells Daniel that near the end of Greek history an evil king will come to power - Antíochus Epiphanes - the same as the little horn that came out of the horns of the goat in chapter 8. The description of him is almost the same. He will stop temple worship and desecrate the Jewish temple so it will be unusable. He will try to annihilate the Jews. From history, we know this happens, but thru the Jewish high priest Mattathias and his 5 sons - known as the Maccabees, God protects His people. He gives miraculous victories thru the oldest son, Judas Maccabeus and the Jews who followed him. When someone of the past does something and then a person in the future does exactly the same thing, Jewish writing compresses the time and the 2 events are mentioned in the same verse or verses so readers get the connection. Daniel, is told about Antíochus, a Greek king in Syria. He is then told about Satan’s man, a world leader in the future. Like Antíochus, he will set himself up in place of Christ. It is why he is sometimes called anti-Christ - the one in place of Christ. He also will attack Israel and try to kill all the Jews. But God will intervene, destroy him and he will come to his end. 7 Daniel 7 4 ANIMALS NATIONS in . . . . . . . . . . Daniel 2 REPRESENTED by . . . . . . . . . . . IMAGE BABYLON 606 - 539 BC Head of Gold teeth Chest, arms of } Daniel 9 70 SEVENS 3 more kings vs. 2 4th king-richer vs. 2 Leopard w/ 4 wings Belly, thigh of brass Alexander Gt 4 Generals over: Asia Minor Macedonia Syria Seleucids Antiochus Epiphanes Egypt Ptolemies Daniel 12 TIME OF TROUBLE Ram w/ 2 horns 1 horn = Persia silver GREECE 331 - 63 BC Daniel 11 KINGS OF NORTH & SOUTH Lion w/ eagle’s wings Bear / 3 ribs in MEDO-PERSIA 539 - 331 BC Cyrus Cambyses Pseudo-Smerdis Darius Gt I Xerxes Ahasuerus Daniel 8 RAM & HE GOAT He-goat 1 horn broken 4 heads 4 horns 483 years (69 Sevens) mighty king vs. 3 4 winds-others vs. 4 contemptible person vss. 21-35 little horn Fearful Legs - iron beast ROME 63 BC - 476 AD 476 AD - PRESENT SATAN'S KINGDOM 10 groups Feet - iron w/ clay 10 toes Satan's man GOD’S KINGDOM Stone 7 years (1 Seven) 10 horns Ruler to come little horn Throne - Judge Son of Man the king vss. 36-45 vss. 1, 7, 11 time of trouble Resurrection to life vss. 2, 12, 13 From the chart, we can see how these 3 chapters fit together. Chapter 9 It describes 2 special time periods for the Jews - 483 years and 7 years. Together they make a total of 490 years. From the past, it gives details about the end of the Medo-Persian empire, covers the Greek empire and gives details about the beginning of the Roman empire. For the future, it gives details about the seven years of Satan’s kingdom Chapter 11 It gives details about the Medo-Persian and Greek empires from the 500’s to the 100’s BC. Then it jumps to the future and tells about Satan’s man, the leader of Satan’s kingdom. He is the same as… …the ruler in chapter 9 who makes the 7-year treaty and …the little horn who comes out from the 10 horns in chapter 7. Chapter 12 It continues with Satan’s kingdom. Verse 1 At that time,- the time of Satan’s man - the world leader, Michael the great prince who protects your people will arise. This is referring to Michael, the archangel. He is the angel responsible for protecting the nation of Israel. He is needed at this time because…, verse 1, There will be a time of distress such as has not happened from the beginning of nations until then. Satan’s kingdom will be so anti-Semitic, it will bring the greatest time of suffering the Jews have ever known. It will also bring the greatest time of spiritual insight and belief they have ever known. Verse 1 ends, But at that time, when Satan’s man comes to his end, your people - the Jews - will be delivered. Chapters 2 and 7-12 – chapters of prophecy –- use different pictures, but they all talk about the same empires. They show that God was active in the affairs and activities of nations in the past. And the same is true in our day. God lets nations grow. He then gives them information, opportunity and time to choose how they will develop, how they will use their power and how they will treat their own people as well as nations around them. He will warn them if they abuse their power. He will rebuke them if they become proud. God will give them time, but if they do not respond, He will bring another nation to either weaken or destroy them. And the pattern will repeat. 8 I am sure that Daniel felt like the world of his day was totally out of control. And certainly we feel like the world of our day is out of control. Daniel reminds us – yes, it IS out of the control of human hands, but not out of God’s hands. This is why we need God – in our nation and in our own lives. History is HIS-story, God’s story. In the end, God will have the final victory. GOD IS IN CONTROL. Blessed be the name of God forever and ever… He removes kings and sets up kings…He knows what is in the darkness and the light dwells with Him. 2:20-22 EXTRA INFORMATION FOR THE STUDIOUS AND INQUISITIVE Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream – chapter 2 Altho king Nebuchadnezzar did not yet recognize Yahweh, the God of the Jews as relevant, God put within him the awareness that this dream was of great importance. He was afraid that if he first told the interpreters his dream, they could make up any interpretation they wanted to. He would have no way of knowing if it was accurate. But if they had to first tell him what he dreamed, he would know they had special abilities. His interpreters were accurate when they told him it was not humanly possible for someone to know what he dreamed. They depended on the Babylonian gods, but these gods had not reveal it to them. Daniel then told Nebuchadnezzar both what he had dreamed and what the dream meant. For the first time, Nebuchadnezzar knew and admitted that Daniel’s God, Yahweh was in control and greater than all other gods. Further details about the history of Medo-Persia Altho Cyrus, king of Persia had a smaller nation, he declared war against the larger nation of Media. But the general of Media’s army did not want to fight. So he decided to make his army available to Cyrus. It was with the power of the combined forces that Cyrus was able to win battle after battle. Because it would take time to consolidated the empire, Darius the Mede (former leader in Media) was made temporary governor of the capital region. His role was to organize the government in the capital of Babylon. After 3 years of consolidation, Cyrus then took over as king. Since it was Persia that had done everything, instead of being called Medo-Persia, eventually it became known as the Persian empire. In J 9