We reserve a few minutes to discuss current trends that you’d expect from reading Bible prophecy.

What’s the deal with Iran??

Iran in the Bible is referred to as Elam and later Persia:

• Elam appears in early Old Testament history (Genesis 10:22).
• Later called Persia, it became a major empire. Cyrus the Great, King of Persia, allowed the Jews to return from their Babylonian exile 8(Ezra 1:1-4).This is why you sometimes hear a world leader compared to Cyrus. Lord Arthur Balfour, Harry S. Truman, & now President Trump have been seen that way.
• In Ezekiel 38:5 Persia is part of an End-Times coalition that comes against Israel.

In 1935, Reza Shah Pahlavi formally requested that countries with diplomatic relations refer to the country as “Iran,” which is the name the people of the region had long used in their own language.

The Shah was deposed in 1979, and Iran has been governed by an Islamic theocracy led by a Supreme Leader.

Christians mostly think of Iran as one of the nations that Ezekiel 38&39 prophesies will invade Israel in the last days and be destroyed by God. The others include Russia, Turkey, parts of Sudan, & Libya.

There is a lesser-known prophecy in the book of Jeremiah which offers a glimpse of a restoration of Iran. Coincidentally it is another 38&39, Jeremiah 49:38&39.

“I will set my throne in Elam and destroy her king and officials,” declares the Lord. “Yet I will restore the fortunes of Elam in days to come,” declares the Lord.

Reports from inside Iran indicate that the Gospel has taken root. Dr. Hormoz Shariot, a Muslim convert to Christianity, reports that a surge of Iranians turning to Christianity underscores a spiritual awakening in Iran. Through avenues like satellite broadcasts, encounters with visions of Jesus, and personal testimonies of conversions, countless Iranians are finding a relationship with Jesus Christ.

Shariot said, “I strongly believe that Iran is positioned not only to transition from an Islamic state to a Christian nation but also to influence the rest of the Middle Eastern nations.”^[1]

We do not know the timing of Jeremiah 49 or Ezekiel 38&39. Therefore, we shouldn’t speculate – especially when sharing with unbelievers.

Here is what we do know: God scattered the Jews in 70AD, promising to regather them in Israel in the End Times. Jerusalem would be a problem to the nations. Iran is mentioned as one of the nations who would seek her annihilation.

All of that, and more has already been fulfilled.

That segues effortlessly into what is coming any moment: The resurrection & rapture of the Church, followed hard by the 7yr Great Tribulation.

It begs this question – “Are you ready for the Rapture?” If not, get ready, stay ready, & keep looking up.

Ready or not, Jesus is coming!