--- Alexander the Great... ---
Do you fear the powerful rulers of this world?
Abandon fear of them; become a Christian!
Written: April 2025
"Alexander the Great!" What a "Great" name to be recognized by the whole world as, right? According to the Bible and historians including Josephus, Alexander is a figure from history important enough that our just knowing about, can be to our benefit. What happened to him can and should encourage faith in the Bible, faith in its prophecies; and helps teach how it might be proper for us to feel about and/or address our world rulers of today; especially those who appear wicked. [Who is or is not wicked is always God's judgment to make, of course! (John 3:18-19 of 16-21)] There seem many today who are not hesitant to wreck the lives of, and even to kill, anyone who stands in the way of where they think we should go. That is most noticeable, certainly, among the human rulers of our modern world. They often speak of necessary sacrifice, but, are they making any? "Alexander the Great" stands as perhaps the supreme example of a ruthless ruler. Brief time successful in his works for sure, but terrible in the suffering he caused humanity. It is un-telling by humans how many people he killed in his lust for power and prominence. Perhaps most important to note about Alexander is his untimely death brought by his foolish disregard for our Creator's will and direction. Please consider: Alexander was born in 356 BCE [356 years before Christ], son of King Philip II of Macedonia [thought by most as the dominant city over ancient Greece] and his wife Olympias.
The phalanx was a military tactic or formation of their day, which presented to the enemy as a solid line of soldiers with large shields and long spears; their shields joining or even interlocking to form a wall. Philip was a great warrior and tactician. He refined the phalanx and had success as a warrior. So, then, young Alexander grew up a warrior learning from his Father Philip. Alexander's father was murdered and he ascended the throne at a bit over 20 years of age. Two years later, Alexander ambitiously, but apparently not arrogantly, set out to conquer the then known world! Alexander followed in his father's footsteps as a tactician and planner, and so, he further refined the phalanx and honed his army's skills.
Alexander used many of the 16 rows by 16 columns, 256 man blocks of the phalanx, in a line or row side by side. He then held horse soldiers and infantry rapid assault troops at the ready behind, to protect their flanks or as needed. The front line could be opened to release the cavalry wherever the enemy appeared weak. He trained and conditioned his army to be fierce and fast and to have great endurance. When his enemy's scouts would report his army was 3 days away, he would force march them through a night and be upon them the next day. Alexander simply decimated opposing armies in his attack on the world of his day.
After two decisive victories in Asia Minor [the first at the Granicus River; the second on the Plain of Issus, where a great Persian army estimated at half a million met utter defeat], Alexander turned his attention to the island city of Tyre. Over two centuries earlier, it had been foretold by God that the walls, towers, homes, and even the dust of Tyre would be pitched into the sea.
• Ezekiel 26:3-4 GNB [writing completed 591 BCE] "Now then, this is what I, the Sovereign
LORD (
יהוה), am saying: I am your enemy, city of Tyre. I will bring many nations to attack you, and they will come like the waves of the sea. (4) They will destroy your city walls and tear down your towers. Then I will sweep away all the dust and leave only a bare rock.
• Ezekiel 26:12-14 GNB Your enemies will help themselves to your wealth and merchandise. They will pull down your walls and shatter your luxurious houses.
They will take the stones and wood and all the rubble, and dump them into the sea. (13) I will put an end to all your songs, and I will silence the music of your harps. (14) I will leave only a bare rock where fishermen can dry their nets. The city will never be rebuilt. I, the
Sovereign LORD, have spoken."
Scripturally, it seems important to note that Alexander took the rubble of the old mainland city destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar some years before, and threw it into the sea to build an 800 meter (1/2 mile) approach out to the remaining island city. The pounding by his navy and engines of war destroyed the proud and previously impenetrable city of Tyre in July 332 BCE. So, it happened just like God prophesied it would. Alexander was used to destroy God's enemies; but, did that mean he was God's friend or even servant? (John 15:11-16) Well, it must not! Alexander didn't last very long...
One of the true God's other prophets, Daniel, had prophesied Alexander's rapid ascent and rulership of the earth by his destroying the existing world power(s). Danile wrote, sometime before 536 BCE:
• Daniel 8:5-7 GNB While I was wondering what this meant, a goat came rushing out of the west, moving so fast that his feet didn't touch the ground. He had one prominent horn between his eyes. (6) He came toward the ram, which I had seen standing beside the river, and rushed at him with all his force. (7) I watched him attack the ram. He was so angry that he smashed into him and broke the two horns. The ram had no strength to resist. He was thrown to the ground and trampled on, and there was no one who could save him.
• Daniel 8:20-21 GNB "The ram you saw that had two horns represents the kingdoms of Media and Persia. (21) The goat represents the kingdom of Greece...
Alexander was so fierce and successful in battle, many nations simply submitted to him. Ancient Jerusalem was one who opened its gates in surrender to Alexander. There in Jerusalem, Alexander was introduced to the true God יהוה by being shown the above Bible's prophecies about his conquests; whereupon Alexander spared Jerusalem and pushed on into Egypt. He continued on to his conquest of the nations of the earth. Sadly for him, Alexander next determined to rebuild Babylon as the city of his throne. Alexander had exposed himself in Jerusalem to our Grand Creator, by his appreciation for יהוה's prophecies about Alexander's own exploits. He could and should have taken note of The True God's prophecy about the eternal destruction of Babylon; out of the pages of the same Bible that prophesied his own rapid rise to world power. Alexander should have paid attention to the words of יהוה's prophet Jeremiah, who had stated in writings completed in 580 BCE:
• Jeremiah 50:35-40 CEV I have declared war on you [Babylon], your officials, and advisors. (36) This war will prove that your prophets are liars and fools. And it will frighten your warriors. (37) Then your chariot horses and the foreigners in your army will refuse to go into battle, and the enemy will carry away everything you treasure. (38) Your rivers and canals will dry up. All of this will happen, because your land is full of idols, and they have made fools of you. (39) Never again will people live in your land-- only desert animals, jackals, and unclean birds. (40) I destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah and the nearby towns, and I will destroy Babylon just as completely. No one will live there again.
Alexander's effort to rebuild Babylon was thus a fools errand...
"Alexander the Great" was dead of malarial fever [possibly complicated by a debauched life style] at 32 years old, and less than 10 years after he started his campaign of earth domination. He did not rebuild Babylon... Had he shown respect for the God who made himself known to Alexander in Jerusalem, the God who allowed or even appointed his kingdom, (Rom 13:1-2) Alexander might have lived longer. Our modern rulers can be viewed in the same light as Alexander. Maybe they can learn from what happened to "Alexander the Great"... Rulers of the world are tolerated and even used by God, until they prove too vile. (Rom 13:1) In my old age, I have never personally seen or even known from history, of any totalitarian and murderous ruler to live more than a very few years after starting to cause harm and destruction among humankind. God does give them a chance to become and display who they are at heart. Once they prove wicked and unrepentant, they are desroyed... Bless יהוה for striking them down, and thus limiting their harm. May he continue to do so... No, may He rather destroy them all, forever! (Psa 37:10-11) Are you righteous? If so, what you pray for is important! Without imagining we can judge who they are, join me in prayer that God will strike all the wicked down forever. (James 5:16; John 9:31; Pro 15:29; John 14:12-14) Christians don't make ourselves known (Rom 10:9-10) in some great and destructive and dangerous gang riot or demonstration; but in our own heart from our personal interior rooms. (Isa 26:20-27) Faith in Christ puts you in a spiritual phalanx, invisible to those without faith, but in lock step with all others of like faith. We don't have a visible "earthly group" that the world can identify or even see. The only thing that identifies true Christians is we each one have our names inscribed in the heavens, and, are thus marked as survivors of Armageddon. (Luke 10:20) Isn't that just a perfect solution by יהוה. Our weapons include our prayers... May our united righteous prayers, (Rev 8:3-4) rising constantly from all around the earth before יהוה, inflict punishment on all who are judged wicked by my God and his Christ! (2 Cor 10:3-6) Just really think about that... All those who have made themselves righteous, (John 6:28-29; John 3:18-19 of 16-21) from all around the earth, offering up prayes for יהוה to strike the wicked; without any personal feelings about who He should kill or who should be spared. All those prayers, drifting up like sweet smelling incense from individuals who have rested our hope in יהוה, including our absolute faith in his judgments. And, each one fully understanding we have each one judged ourselves based on how we have personally responded to the words of Christ. (John 3:18-19 of 16-21) As warriors far greater than Alexander, may our weapons consisting of our united prayers, strike down all the wicked and bring earth wide peace in just that way! (2 Cor 10:3-6; James 5:16-18) Do you know your place in God's war. You are involved! Your only choice is has been which side you are on... Have you built, or are you building, faith in the words of Jesus Christ. (Heb 10:35-39) Consider: יהוה God's final solution.
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The phalanx was a military tactic or formation of their day, which presented to the enemy as a solid line of soldiers with large shields and long spears; their shields joining or even interlocking to form a wall. Philip was a great warrior and tactician. He refined the phalanx and had success as a warrior. So, then, young Alexander grew up a warrior learning from his Father Philip. Alexander's father was murdered and he ascended the throne at a bit over 20 years of age. Two years later, Alexander ambitiously, but apparently not arrogantly, set out to conquer the then known world! Alexander followed in his father's footsteps as a tactician and planner, and so, he further refined the phalanx and honed his army's skills.
Alexander used many of the 16 rows by 16 columns, 256 man blocks of the phalanx, in a line or row side by side. He then held horse soldiers and infantry rapid assault troops at the ready behind, to protect their flanks or as needed. The front line could be opened to release the cavalry wherever the enemy appeared weak. He trained and conditioned his army to be fierce and fast and to have great endurance. When his enemy's scouts would report his army was 3 days away, he would force march them through a night and be upon them the next day. Alexander simply decimated opposing armies in his attack on the world of his day.
After two decisive victories in Asia Minor [the first at the Granicus River; the second on the Plain of Issus, where a great Persian army estimated at half a million met utter defeat], Alexander turned his attention to the island city of Tyre. Over two centuries earlier, it had been foretold by God that the walls, towers, homes, and even the dust of Tyre would be pitched into the sea.