Wars and Rumors of Wars
by Dale Reeves
Story Pastor
Operation Epic Fury, which we learned about when we awoke on February 28, coincided with several religious observances, including the Islamic holy days of Ramadan; Lent; and the Jewish holiday of Purim. Is this conflict just about the leaders of our nation seeking to destroy Iran’s nuclear enrichment capacity, military infrastructure, and desire for a regime change—or is it something more? Some observers have linked the conflict to biblical prophecy in Ezekiel 38, 39, identifying modern Iran as “Persia” in end-times narratives. These chapters describe a future, end-times coalition of nations—including Persia—that will attack the nation of Israel. The Bible describes God supernaturally intervening against the invading armies and destroying them.
I read one journalist who shared this week, “In the hours after the U.S. and Israel launched a massive military campaign against Iran, some U.S. commanders responded by scheduling Bible studies, according to complaints reported by the Military Religious Freedom Foundation (MRFF).” It seems that some commanders in military briefings and other venues were sharing their views of the Iran war as a holy war, and in some cases, it has been viewed as part of fulfillment of biblical prophecy in the lead-up to Armageddon and the return of Jesus. There are additional reports that some military leaders believe this conflict could bring about biblical end times.
In response to the killing of its supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, a fatwa (an edict by a recognized religious authority on a point of Islamic law) was issued by Iranian authorities calling for a holy war against the U.S. and Israel. Since 1979, the Islamic Republic of Iran has declared America the “Great Satan” and with cries for “Death to America,” has made clear its commitment to our destruction. Despite repeated diplomatic efforts, the world’s leading state sponsor of terrorism has waged a campaign of terror across the Middle East, and the leaders of the regime have consistently been overt about their desire to destroy the State of Israel.
Signs of the End?
What do you think? Is this a holy war that was predicted in biblical prophecy? Do you see any connection between the prophecy in Joel and the blood-red moon that occurred for 58 minutes this past Tuesday morning, March 3, when the Earth passed directly between the Sun and a full moon? Most scholars date Joel’s prophecy around 835 BC, when he wrote these words under divine inspiration, “And I will show wonders in the heavens and on the earth, blood and fire and columns of smoke. The sun shall be turned to darkness, and the moon to blood, before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes” (Joel 2:30, 31, ESV). I awoke the other day at 6:00 AM hoping to view the total lunar eclipse that would bring about the blood moon, but the cloud cover in Mason was too heavy to be able to view it.
In the last book of the Bible, Revelation, John the apostle writes about the vision he was given from Jesus, and he says, “When he opened the sixth seal, I looked, and behold, there was a great earthquake, and the sun became black as sackcloth, the full moon became like blood, and the stars of the sky fell to the earth as the fig tree sheds its winter fruit when shaken by a gale” (Revelation 6:12, 13, ESV). For a very short time the other day, we may have experienced a blood-red moon, but the sun was not blackened, and the stars of the sky did not fall to the earth.
Our Lord himself said, “And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are but the beginning of the birth pains” (Matthew 24:6-8, ESV).
Jesus emphatically calls us to not be alarmed despite the chaos, stating that these conflicts are necessary, but only the beginning of birth pains—not an immediate signal that the end has arrived.
Regarding when “all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory,” Jesus affirmed, “concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only” (Matthew 24:30, 36, ESV).
Rather than panicking over political or military conflict, or trying to determine how close we are to Jesus’ second coming and the end of the world, we must continue to trust in his unchanging Word, and remain firm in our faith. He is still sovereign over all, and is on the throne.
Praying for Peace and Freedom in Jesus
A Fox News national survey this week revealed that 61% of those surveyed think Iran poses a real national security threat. But when asked if they support the current U.S. military action, 50% approve and 50% disapprove. Among voters who have served in the military, 59% approve of the U.S. strikes on Iran, and 39% disapprove.
A poll conducted this week by CNN revealed that 59% of their respondents disapprove of the military action, while 41% approve, and 56% of them think a long-term conflict is likely; but a bit higher percentage (44%) say they favor the U.S. trying to overthrow the current Iranian regime. When asked by a reporter how long the war might last, President Trump responded, “I don’t want to see it go on too long. I always thought it would be four weeks. But we’re a little ahead of schedule.”
Whether you approve of the current conflict or not, one thing we can all agree on is that we must pray . . . for the Iranian and Israeli people, for the protection of innocent civilians and believers in Iran and Israel, for Iranian Christians and the underground church facing increased danger, for the peace of Jerusalem, for our God to grant wisdom to leaders to prevent further escalation, for families who are being displaced, for our brave men and women in the military who are in harm’s way.
Estimates range from 115,000 to 370,000 for the Christian population in Iran (primarily Armenian), as there is believed to be a rapid, under-the-radar growth of underground converts from Islam, despite intense state persecution. Even in times of crisis, we pray for
the light of Jesus to shine in the darkness, to bring hope and salvation to all, recognizing that God desires all people—regardless of their nationality—to come to repentance. One day the Bible tells us that Jesus will return to the Earth and set all things right, but in the meantime, we have a mission to accomplish. We have unreached people groups, we have coworkers who need to see our love in action, we have family members who don’t have a relationship with Jesus, we have friends still in need of rescue.
An Open Doors partner, a Christian in Iran, shared these powerful words,
“As followers of Christ, we pray for the protection of the innocent, for restraint among leaders, and for a future where Iran and the region may know freedom without fear. May God bring light out of darkness and peace out of turmoil.”
As the old hymn says,
“Rescue the perishing, care for the dying,
Snatch them in pity from sin and the grave;
Weep o’er the erring one, Lift up the fallen,
Tell them of Jesus the mighty to save.”
May we pray that these words from the psalmist will be fulfilled soon:
“He makes wars cease to the end of the earth; he breaks the bow and shatters the spear; he burns the chariots with fire.
Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!” (Psalm 46:9, 10, ESV).