Pastor’s Thoughts – 06-29-2025

I have often thought about the blessedness of living in the times in which we live. We have so much world history and Bible prophecy fulfilled behind us and we have the Bible to tell us of the future coming events. No one knows the exact timing, but we are told how circumstances will unfold leading to the end of the age. For those studying Scripture and looking at world events it appears obvious we are near the prophesied end. Paul writes to the Thessalonian Church, who wrongly thought they were in the day of the Lord, “But you brethren, are not in darkness, that the day would overtake you like a thief; for you are all sons of light and sons of day. We are not of the night nor of darkness; so then let us not sleep as others do, but let us be alert and sober” (1 Thessalonians 5:4-6). Why was Paul saying this? It is because they and we, who are yet much further down God’s purposed history, have the Word of God to guide us.

The fact that Iran will actively seek to destroy Israel was given to us prophetically long ago. Iran of today was Persia in the biblical times. We just completed the study of Esther.  In Esther’s time Haman sought to annihilate the dispersed Jews living in the world kingdom of Persia, and God protected them not through random circumstances but providentially orchestrated events. Israel is God’s covenant people. God chose to reveal Himself through them and promised that the Savior would be through the blood line of Israel. And God is not through with Israel as some think. His coming kingdom will be established from Israel (Isaiah 2:2-4). The reality of the nation of Israel dispersed into the nations of the world in 70 AD, as Christ foretold, and then coming back into the land promised to Abraham nearly 2000 years later, is a modern miracle before our eyes. And Israel continues to suffer from modern Persia or Iran just as the Bible has prophesied. To be a Jew and live in Israel is not a life of peace today and will not be until Christ rules.

Iran is driven to destroy Israel. It is not a reasonable hostility, but a spiritual hostility. Why should Iran or any of the Arab countries near Israel be so compelled to spend their resources on weapons to be used against tiny Israel? Why should they teach their children from birth to hate and do all they can to destroy the Jewish race? The curtain is pulled back in Revelation 12:12-13. Satan’s primary focus is on Israel in his attempts to thwart God’s promises through Israel and later their conversion. These Islamic nations have their false religious system to counter God’s promises to Israel. Despite the all-out assaults from the surrounding Islamic nations who have combined their efforts with Iran, Israel still stands. The latest event of the United States, who by stealth, intervened to destroy Iran’s effort to create a nuclear weapon capable of destroying Israel, is marked by the protective providence of God. As I read initially, we are to be those who are in the light. We have the Word of God to keep us informed and enable us to be aware of the movement of our God in the historic events happening in the world.

There are many places in the prophecies of the Old Testament where the events that are unfolding today were told to us by God many years ago. One such place is Ezekiel chapter 36 through chapter 38. God pictures Israel in the latter days as dry bones that come to life. We have now witnessed Israel regathered in their land and sustained. Our Lord foretold through the prophet Ezekiel, “For I will take you from the nations, gather you from all the lands and bring you into your own land. Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean. I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols. Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you, and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will be careful to observe My ordinances. You will live in the land that I gave to your forefathers, so you will be My people, and I will be your God” (Ezekiel 36:24-28).

We are living in the time of these prophecies coming to fruition. What should be noted is what God emphatically promised to do 2500 years ago. He will first bring Israel back into the land promised to Abraham. Then, God says, He will save them. That is what the language of the text describes. They will know and become followers of Jesus Christ (Zech. 12:10). This has not happened yet, but it will. We also know that all of this is put in the context of the latter days (Ezekiel 38:8). In conjunction with this prophecy is prophecy of continued opposition to Israel by surrounding nations including Iran. Brethren, we are observing events unfolding before us that portray the hand of God and His promises on display. This should bring us comfort and joy knowing He is orchestrating history just as He promised. History is not random happenings but is moving precisely in His purpose to restore what has been lost in humanity because of sin. God’s children walk in the light and have a blessed hope that is more than wishful thinking. We have a sure Redeemer who is promised to come on behalf of those who repent, trust, and follow Him. Keep studying the Scripture and looking up for our redemption draws near!