The appeasement of evil has sunk to new levels with the stunning nuclear agreement with Iran. Be warned: Terrible times lie ahead.
The defense editor for The Telegraph opened his report on the Iran nuclear deal with this observation: “You only had to look at the beaming smiles on the faces of the Iranian negotiating team to see who had emerged as the undisputed winners of the drawn-out negotiations over Iran’s nuclear programe”
These developments touch on Bible prophecy in a number of ways.
It would surprise many to learn that the tiny state of Israel and the Jewish people around the world do not constitute all the physical nation of Israel. As explained in our free study guide The United States and Britain in Bible Prophecy , the ancient nation of Israel was split into two kingdoms —the northern kingdom of Israel and the southern kingdom of Judah.
The Jews are descendants of those of the southern kingdom. The tribes of the northern kingdom were taken captive by the Assyrians and later migrated into northwestern Europe. Among these, the descendants of the patriarch Joseph eventually formed the nation of Britain and the other nations that sprang from it, including the United States of America.
God had foretold blessings and national greatness for these nations. But He also warned of curses that would come on them for disobedience (see Leviticus 26 and Deuteronomy 28).
For instance, God stated: “I will break the pride of your power” (Leviticus 26:19). America remains the strongest and most powerful nation in the world. But its resolve on the world scene has severely waned.
Another curse God pronounces is “I will even appoint terror over you” (Leviticus 26:16, emphasis added throughout). This comes in various forms but surely one form is what is now actually called terrorism. This has already affected the nations descended from ancient Israel, but is certain to increase.
Iran could also play a part in the rise of the end-time “king of the South” in the prophecy of Daniel 11. This chapter principally concerns an age-old conflict between powers to the north and south of the Holy Land (see our free study guideThe Middle East in Bible Prophecy ).
Historically, the kings of North and South were the rulers of ancient Syria and Egypt. The power to the north was eventually the Roman Empire and its revivals. Before Christ’s return, the end-time king of the South will attack an end-time king of the North (Daniel 11:40).
Some think this southern power will be Iran. But it seems more likely that this power will be seated again to the south of the Holy Land, perhaps in Egypt or Saudi Arabia. That would seem to tie in to a prophecy in Psalm 83 of an end-time Arab-Muslim confederation against Israel. Persia or Iran is not listed in this confederation.
In the book of Revelation, chapters 9 and 16 both mention powers east of the Euphrates River mobilizing for war in the end time, in the latter case coming to Megiddo in northern Israel before moving on to Jerusalem to fight the returning Jesus Christ. Given the empowerment Iran is currently receiving, it seems quite likely that it will be part of the forces mentioned here.
Something else to note about these chapters is that they show the various forces to be directed by demonic spirits. This reveals who’s really running the show behind the scenes—demonic powers led by Satan the devil.
It should also be pointed out that Persia (Iran) is mentioned as part of the Gog-Magog alliance in Ezekiel 38-39, of which Russia, India and China are apparently also a part. Many think that this is a prophecy of an invasion of the Holy Land by these nations prior to the return of Christ. But as it occurs when Israel is dwelling in peace with no defensive walls, a time soon after Christ’s coming better fits this prophecy (see bible.ucg.org/bible-commentary/Ezekiel/Future-invasion-of-Israel-by-Gog-of-Magog/ ).