In Isaiah, chapter forty-five, verse one, “Thus saith the LORD to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have holden, to subdue nations before him; and I will loose the loins of kings, to open before him the two leaved gates; and the gates shall not be shut.” Although not a worshiper of God, as stated in verses four through five of this theme chapter, “For Jacob my servant’s sake, and Israel mine elect, I have even called thee by thy name: I have surnamed thee, though thou hast not known me. I am the LORD, and there is none else, there is no God beside me: I girded thee, though thou hast not known me.” Cyrus is called “his anointed,” the same title God later gave to His Son (the Messiah, or Christ). Cyrus was anointed in the sense that he was used by God to perform the important task of setting Israel free from bondage so that God could complete His plan to use Israel to bring about the salvation of the human race.
Cyrus the Great, king of the Persian empire, conquered Babylon and soon thereafter issued a decree permitting the people of God to return to their land in Jerusalem.
“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, that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and put it also in writing, saying, Thus saith Cyrus king of Persia, The LORD God of heaven hath given me all the kingdoms of the earth; and he hath charged me to build him an house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah.” God can use anyone to fulfill His will.