The Battle Behind the Scenes

While Satan was trying to influence Medo-Persia to show disfavor to God’s people, angels worked in behalf of the exiles. Daniel gives us a glimpse of this struggle between good and evil. For three weeks Gabriel wrestled with the powers of darkness, seeking to counteract the influences at work on the mind of Cyrus; and before the contest closed, Christ Himself came to Gabriel’s aid. “The prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty-one days,” Gabriel declared, “and behold, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I had been left alone there with the kings of Persia.” Daniel 10:13. The victory finally came. The forces of the enemy were held back all the days of Cyrus and all the days of his son Cambyses.RR 200.4

The highest agencies of heaven were working on the hearts of kings, and the people of God should have spared no effort to restore the temple and its services and to reestablish themselves in their Judean homes.RR 200.5

But their enemies opposed them relentlessly, and gradually the builders lost heart. Some could not forget the scene at the laying of the cornerstone, when many had expressed lack of confidence in the enterprise. And as the Samaritans grew bolder, many of the Jews questioned whether the time had come to rebuild. This feeling soon became widespread. Workmen, discouraged and disheartened, took up the ordinary pursuits of life.RR 201.1

During the reign of Cambyses work on the temple progressed slowly. And during the reign of the false Smerdis the Samaritans persuaded that impostor to issue a decree forbidding the Jews to rebuild their temple and city.RR 201.2

For more than a year the temple was almost forsaken. The people lived in their homes and worked to attain earthly wealth, but they did not prosper. Nature seemed to conspire against them. Because they had let the temple lie waste, the Lord sent drought. God had given them the fruits of field and garden as a sign of His favor, but because they had used these gifts selfishly, He removed the blessings.RR 201.3