Tag: Iran

IS IRAN IN THE CROSSHAIRS OF BIBLICAL PROPHECY? 

There’s a group of people who believe a dark alliance of nations will rise in the last days, and their sights set on one target: Israel. Among them stands Persia — known today as Iran.

For centuries, the prophetic words of Ezekiel lay dormant. But now, as Iran asserts its influence across the Middle East and sculpts its rhetoric against Israel, some Bible readers say we are watching prophecy awaken

Dale Pollard

There’s a group of people who believe a dark alliance of nations will rise in the last days, and their sights set on one target: Israel. Among them stands Persia — known today as Iran.

For centuries, the prophetic words of Ezekiel lay dormant. But now, as Iran asserts its influence across the Middle East and sculpts its rhetoric against Israel, some Bible readers say we are watching prophecy awaken.

Ezekiel 38 describes a future war led by a mysterious figure called Gog from the land of Magog, joined by a coalition including Persia. This alliance will launch a sudden attack on Israel, catching the world off guard. Yet, in a stunning twist, they will be supernaturally defeated — not by Israel’s army, but by divine intervention: earthquakes, hailstorms, and chaos among the invaders themselves.

According to these interpretations, Iran’s fate is sealed not by global politics, but by a divine script written long ago. Though the timeline remains uncertain, the message is clear: Persia, once a mighty empire, will play a pivotal — and ultimately tragic — role in the final act of history.

As tensions rise in the real world, some wonder: Is the stage being set? Let’s see what the Bible says about it.

The Bible does not mention “Iran” by name, but it refers to the ancient region of Persia, which is modern-day Iran. Biblical prophecy includes several references to Persia, both in historical and future contexts. Here’s the straight skinny on how Iran (Persia) is used in prophecy:

1. Persia In Context

  • Daniel 8:20 — “The two-horned ram that you saw represents the kings of Media and Persia.”

Explanation: This vision prophesies the rise of the Medo-Persian Empire, which historically conquered Babylon and ruled a vast territory. This is a fulfilled prophecy, not the future.

  • Ezra 1:1-4 / Isaiah 45:1 — The Persian king Cyrus is prophesied by name as the one who would allow the Jews to return from Babylonian exile and rebuild the temple in Jerusalem.

The God and Magog War 

The most significant passage many refer to when discussing Iran’s prophetic future is Ezekiel 38–39, known as the Gog and Magog War.

Ezekiel 38:5

“Persia, Cush and Put will be with them, all with shields and helmets.”

This passage describes a future invasion of Israel by a coalition of nations led by “Gog of the land of Magog.”

While many view the Gog and Magog prophecy of Ezekiel 38–39 as a future apocalyptic war, several alternative perspectives argue it has already been fulfilled or symbolically represents historical events, check out this brief explanation of the major views.

·  Post-Exilic Threats: Some see Gog as symbolic of foreign powers threatening Israel after their return from Babylon, with God’s protection preventing any major invasion—fulfilling the prophecy through divine preservation, not visible warfare.

·  The Esther Parallel: Others connect Gog’s defeat to the events in the book of Esther, where Haman’s plan to annihilate the Jews was sovereignly overturned. God’s intervention and the enemies’ destruction parallel the reversal described in Ezekiel.

·  Maccabean Revolt: Some scholars associate the prophecy with Antiochus Epiphanes’ attack on Israel in the 2nd century BC. The miraculous Jewish victory under the Maccabees is viewed as a historical outworking of divine deliverance.

·  Symbolic Fulfillment in Christ: A theological reading sees Gog as representing all anti-God forces, with God’s ultimate defeat of them fulfilled in Christ’s victory on the cross and in spiritual judgment, rather than a literal battle. Homer Hailey refers to Gog and Magog as “symbolic names” and interprets Ezekiel 38–39 as a vision representing the ultimate enemies of God’s people, not literal nations (Hailey, Homer. A Commentary on the Book of Ezekiel. Baker Book House, 1972, 379-392). Robert Harkrider interprets the mention of Gog and Magog in Revelation 20 as symbolic of worldwide opposition to God’s people, culminating in their final defeat by God (Harkrider, Robert. Revelation. Truth for Today Commentary Series, edited by Eddie Cloer, Resource Publications, 2003, 377-383).

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Key Takeaways:

The Bible doesn’t predict the rise and fall of the modern state of Iran specifically.

No prophecy singles them out or specifies its exact fate beyond the involvement with Israel in its post exilic state.

Latter day prophecies like this would have had no value for the original readers.

Is Peace Possible?

By Gary Pollard

Wednesday’s Column: Third’s Words

Peace conjures a number of different images in our minds; from hippies to nature’s beauty to inner calm to lack of anxiety. Nearly every group of people in the world craves peace as no rational human being wants to live in constant upheaval. We all want to have peace, but our world somehow is still getting worse and worse. Why is this? The prince of this world is not a being who desires peace (II Corinthians 4.4; Ephesians 2.2; John 12.31). His very existence is dedicated to bringing down anyone who believes in God (I Peter 5:8) and he has no care or concern for the fate or well-being of anyone on this earth. Total, lasting world peace will never be possible as long as time continues (see Romans 8.18-25: sin caused the earth to be subjected to futility).

Total, lasting world peace may not be possible in this life, but this does not mean the world cannot experience any peace at all. How can we experience peace in our lives?
Firstly, it has to come from us. The world will never act in a way that brings peace. Anytime the world wishes to better its conditions, it incites civil unrest in the form of riots, protests, and other not-very-peaceful behaviors. Christians, however, are called to be different. I Timothy 2.1ff tells us that praying to God on behalf of all men, for kings, and all who are in authority, will allow us to lead quiet and tranquil lives in all godliness and dignity. We can have peace by being obedient to government authorities – even if we do not agree with them politically – because God put them in place (Romans 13). If we want peace, we have to show that peace by how we live. Since man is naturally attracted to peace, our quiet, godly lives will draw others to Christ.
Secondly, even if our world is in chaos we can have inner peace. Philippians was written to break up a nasty fight between Euodia and Syntyche. To have the “peace beyond what we can understand,” they had to rejoice in the Lord, be reasonable, not be anxious, and reach out to God for their every need. The same applies to us today! Do we get our joy from God or from worldly pursuits? Are we worried about meeting personal needs or do we rely on God (see Phil. 4.19; Matt. 6.25)? Do we try to fix our own problems, relying on our own strength, or do we place them in God’s hands and work with His guidance and providence? The Christian life is not easy, nor is it always peaceful, but the inner peace that a faithful Christian experiences, knowing that his/her name is in the book of life and that nothing in this short life can disrupt God’s love for them makes every struggle in this life worth the pain.
If we want peace we have to be that peace. We have to live peaceful lives. We have to submit to governing authorities (as long as it is within the parameters of godliness). We have to be unified as a church. We have to look to God for all of our needs. We have to trust that He will take care of us, even if that isn’t in this life. If we can do these things, we will have peace.

Ancient, But Temporary

Neal Pollard

The oldest buildings in the world are found in Turkey, France, Italy, Scotland, Malta, England, Ireland, and Iran. All of them date back to at least 3,000 B.C.  They include tombs, temples, settlements, houses, sanctuaries, and plazas. They are historical treasures, revealing the earliest dental procedures, burial habits, religious ceremonies of pagans, societies and more. Some are remarkably preserved for their age, and many are visited by tourists after having been meticulously studied by archaeologists and other students of history.  It fires the imagination to think about what life was like for people who lived contemporary to Noah’s sons, Abraham, and perhaps Job. The fact that any part of these edifices still stand is incredible. When you consider that the oldest buildings intact in the United States are Puebloan houses and villages located in New Mexico, Arizona, Colorado, and Utah, dating only as far back as between 750-1000 A.D., the existence of the aforementioned structures in Europe and Asia is all the more impressive (information via taospueblo.com, wikipedia, et al).

History and archaeology buffs revel at the thought of visiting such sites, and who could fail to marvel at such testaments to durability?  We can hardly fathom buildings that have stood for several thousands of years.  However, they are all comparatively temporary.

Peter writes, “But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up. Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will destroyed by burning, and the elements will melt with intense heat!” (2 Pet. 3:10-12).  When Christ comes again, all the works of earth will be destroyed with fire. Such a promise is meant to motivate us to live in view of the unseen and the eternal.  Specifically, Peter says such knowledge such cause us to be holy and godly, watchful and anticipating.  Ancient buildings can be seen with the eyes of flesh.  Future destruction must be viewed through eyes of faith.  May we remember, as we live each day and build our lives, that nothing in this life is worth surrendering eternal life.