THE PROPHECY OF IRAN BEING A CHRISTIAN NATION IN REALITY
Today in Iran something extraordinary seems to be going on, in that more
Iranians are coming to faith in Christ than Israelis, yet Iran’s
leadership is preparing to annihilate Israel. ...
This is the word of the LORD that came to Jeremiah the prophet concerning Elam, early in the reign of Zedekiah king of Judah:
This is what the LORD Almighty says:
‘See, I will break the bow of Elam,
the mainstay of their might.
I will bring against Elam the four winds
from the four quarters of heaven;
I will scatter them to the four winds,
and there will not be a nation
where Elam’s exiles do not go.
I will shatter Elam before their foes,
before those who want to kill them;
I will bring disaster on them,
even my fierce anger,’
declares the LORD.
‘I will pursue them with the sword
until I have made an end of them.
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. JEREMIAH 49:34-39.
Prophet Jeremiah predicted the fate of Elam and Ezekiel prophesied the destiny of Persia in Ezk.38. Both ancient Elam and Persia comprise the modern-day Iran. Elam was the son of Shem, whose king Chedorlaomer was a contemporary with Abraham.
Genesis 14:1-17 tells us the story that Abraham who were equipped with self-raised army of over three hundred servants defeated the king’s alliance with four other kings to rescue Lot, his nephew. Elam was located about 320km east of Babylon and traditionally an enemy of Jerusalem.
Today in Iran something extraordinary seems to be going on, in that more Iranians are coming to faith in Christ than Israelis, yet Iran’s leadership is preparing to annihilate Israel. The prophecies from Jeremiah Chapter 49 quoted in the beginning of this month’s letter, which indicates that there would be a great spiritual awakening in Iran in the latter days, appears to be beginning to take place.
A close survey of these prophecies in the Books of Jeremiah and of Ezekiel has led an author of a book entitled “NUCLEAR SHOWDOWN IN IRAN”, Bill Salus to conclude that Iran has double trouble in store for her future, by analysing them as entirely different events. According to his arguments, Jeremiah’s prophecies indicate the following: (1) Concerning Iran, they appear to occur prior to Ezekiel’s prophecies. (2) They are now imminent. (3) They imply the fate of Iran’s nuclear program. (4) They predict today’s spiritual showdown in Iran.
The quoted passage tells us that as the result of Iran (Elam) angering the Lord, a disaster occurs in Iran, which necessitates a wide-scale expulsion of Iranians out of the affected area. Because of the magnitude of this humanitarian crisis, ‘there will not be a nation where Elam’s exiles do not go’, which probably alludes to a dispersion by radioactive fallout coming from Bushehr nuclear plant located in the area of ancient Elam. Actually, some news headlines appear to adequately depict such serious concern that the nuclear facility could create an epic catastrophe.
According to the Scripture, Iran has enemies to witness the calamity and today, there are three notable adversaries of Iran: 1. Israelis, whom Iran has openly threatened with extinction. 2. The Gulf Cooperation Council of Arab States (GCC), including Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and so on, who are deeply apprehensive about the potential dangers of the unchecked Bushehr nuclear plant. 3. The international community.
The author Bill Salus elaborates (1) in the following way:
(https://flashtrafficblog.wordpress.com/2016/01/06/millions-of-muslims-are-leaving-islam-as-they-watch-the-extremism-of-iranian-isis-leaders-says-a-top-iranian-christian-leader/) on 6th Jan. ‘16
NEWS-NEWS-NEWS-NEWS-NEWS-NEWS-NEWS-NEWS-NEWS-
This month, a money gift of $**** has been sent to Mary Jane in the Philippines to support her ministry of reaching out to minority tribes and to the impoverished children with the sustenance of livelihoods and the Word, including the personnel cost of labour for the engagement in organic vegetable gardens and in pig breeding and poultry farming. She is thinking of a new start of outreach to the neighbours of the mission house and the adjoining elementary school, by a regular weekly feeding program with food and the Word for at least fifty children under the age of 12. Pray for her new plans and her ministry being continuously blessed by the Lord.
Genesis 14:1-17 tells us the story that Abraham who were equipped with self-raised army of over three hundred servants defeated the king’s alliance with four other kings to rescue Lot, his nephew. Elam was located about 320km east of Babylon and traditionally an enemy of Jerusalem.
Today in Iran something extraordinary seems to be going on, in that more Iranians are coming to faith in Christ than Israelis, yet Iran’s leadership is preparing to annihilate Israel. The prophecies from Jeremiah Chapter 49 quoted in the beginning of this month’s letter, which indicates that there would be a great spiritual awakening in Iran in the latter days, appears to be beginning to take place.
A close survey of these prophecies in the Books of Jeremiah and of Ezekiel has led an author of a book entitled “NUCLEAR SHOWDOWN IN IRAN”, Bill Salus to conclude that Iran has double trouble in store for her future, by analysing them as entirely different events. According to his arguments, Jeremiah’s prophecies indicate the following: (1) Concerning Iran, they appear to occur prior to Ezekiel’s prophecies. (2) They are now imminent. (3) They imply the fate of Iran’s nuclear program. (4) They predict today’s spiritual showdown in Iran.
The quoted passage tells us that as the result of Iran (Elam) angering the Lord, a disaster occurs in Iran, which necessitates a wide-scale expulsion of Iranians out of the affected area. Because of the magnitude of this humanitarian crisis, ‘there will not be a nation where Elam’s exiles do not go’, which probably alludes to a dispersion by radioactive fallout coming from Bushehr nuclear plant located in the area of ancient Elam. Actually, some news headlines appear to adequately depict such serious concern that the nuclear facility could create an epic catastrophe.
According to the Scripture, Iran has enemies to witness the calamity and today, there are three notable adversaries of Iran: 1. Israelis, whom Iran has openly threatened with extinction. 2. The Gulf Cooperation Council of Arab States (GCC), including Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and so on, who are deeply apprehensive about the potential dangers of the unchecked Bushehr nuclear plant. 3. The international community.
The author Bill Salus elaborates (1) in the following way:
‘One of the reasons Jeremiah’s prophecy concerning Elam probably precedes Ezekiel 38, is because of the Lord’s promise in Jeremiah 49:39 to “bring back the captives of Elam.” This verse precludes that the refugees of Jeremiah 49:36 survive the Ezekiel 38 prophecy by being exiled in other countries, and out of harm’s way from Iran’s defeat. If Jeremiah 49:34-38 did not occur before Ezekiel 38, then there might not be many exiles from Elam to regather. This is because all Iranian males of military service age, even those dwelling in the territory of ancient Elam, would be drafted to fight in Ezekiel 38. Presently, Iran has a mandatory military service law in place. It is important to note that Ezekiel 38 and 39 make no promises to restore the fortunes of Persia. In fact, nowhere in the Bible are restored fortunes promised to Persia. This should be extremely troubling to Iranians because Persia is decisively defeated during the Ezekiel 38 invasion. If the Jeremiah 49:37 disaster in Elam does not occur before the Ezekiel 38 invasion, then many Iranians residing in the ancient territory of Elam will be forced to fight to their death in Ezekiel 38. Thus, in theory it makes more sense that Jeremiah’s prophecy about Elam occurs before Iran invades Israel in the Ezekiel 38 prophecy. Ancient Elam could experience a geographically isolated disaster without preventing Persia from being involved in Ezekiel 38. Ancient Elam comprises about one-sixth of modern-day Iran, and is physically separated from greater Iran by the Zagros Mountain range’ (Line added).Bill Salus concludes his article with the exciting news, referring to (4):
‘A promise was made earlier in this article to provide the possible reasons as to why the Lord might be fiercely angry with Iran today. This concluding section identifies these probable causes. Additionally, their problematic connection to the burgeoning Christian harvest underway inside Iran will be explained. Presently, there is a supernatural spiritual showdown taking place in Iran between Christianity and Islam. The old baseball adage seems to apply here; three strikes and you’re out. …Strike One; Israel, Strike Two; Allah, and Strike Three; Christian persecution. The third strike is utterly intolerable when you consider the fact that Iran is presently being transformed into a Christian nation. At least that is the mission statement of Iran Alive Ministries, founded by Hormoz Shariat. Shariat, who the bestselling Christian author, Joel Rosenberg, calls the “Billy Graham of Iran,” utilizes satellite television as a highly effective means to transmit the gospel of Christ into Iran. …the Supreme Leader of Iran, Ayatollah Khamenei, decreed that all Christian home churches were to be shut down, and all pastors imprisoned. This edict has led to the wide spread persecution of Iranian Christians. This religious national diktat was issued because Christianity was spreading exponentially within Iran. The Christian growth phenomenon in Iran is the result of a miraculous work of the Holy Spirit, in correlation with Joel 2:29. Joel 2:29-31 predicted an outpouring of the Spirit in the last days, which would be characterized by people becoming believers through miracles, dreams and visions. … In light of the spiritual showdown underway in Iran, the world may be watching a preview of Jeremiah 49:38, which predicts the establishment of the Lord’s throne in Elam. This ancient territory, whose history dates back before the time of Abraham, may soon become the focal point of a Nuclear Showdown in Iran, after which, a worldwide flood of Iranian exiles will flow. Are you ready to receive them into your homes and neighborhoods?’The following article is an exciting report of what is already taking place in Iran by Dr. Hormoz Shariat, a former Muslim who came to faith in Christ in the early 1980s. He is preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ to millions upon millions of Iranians through his 24/7 Farsi satellite TV network.
(http://www.prophecydepotministries.net/2014/iran-nuclear-showdown-prophecy-news/)
(https://flashtrafficblog.wordpress.com/2016/01/06/millions-of-muslims-are-leaving-islam-as-they-watch-the-extremism-of-iranian-isis-leaders-says-a-top-iranian-christian-leader/) on 6th Jan. ‘16
AN ANALYSIS OF TREND-LINES IN THE MUSLIM WORLD
1. A growing number of Muslims are coming to faith in Jesus Christ because of the Islamic Republic of Iran (IRI) and ISIS.
The extreme actions and rhetoric of Iran’s government and the ISIS leaders have caused many Muslims in the Middle East to start thinking, asking questions, wondering if Islam could really be true. This is a major spiritual breakthrough. For a person raised in the West where approaching any issue logically and objectively is the norm, this fact may not be appreciated. “Question Everything” is a cultural virtue in the West. But Muslims living in the Islamic world are not allowed to question their faith at all. Those who do are considered weak in their faith, and sometimes are punished by lashes. Muslims are oppressed by a spirit of fear. They are afraid to read the Qur’an objectively, or even ask sincere questions about it. Islam is based on total obedience to Allah, without asking any questions. …
What has caused Muslims to start questioning their faith? For Shiites, it has been the action of the IRI. For Sunnis, it is what ISIS is doing. I see similarities between the spiritual journey of Iranians for the last 35 years (leaving under the fear and oppression of Khomeini and Khamenei regimes) and a growing number of Sunnis in the last two years, since ISIS became powerful.
Here are the steps of how their thinking changes during their spiritual journey away from Islam and towards Christ: First, they start thinking the Islamic leaders in the region are not really “True Muslims” – This is often the first reaction of Muslims to the Iranian Government and ISIS. Muslims look at what IRI and ISIS do and say: “Islam is good and perfect; it is these extreme leaders that are the problem. They are giving Islam a bad name. What they do is not true Islam.”
Next, they start wondering, “What is True Islam?” — Both the Iranian regime leaders and ISIS leaders claim that what they do is based on Qur’an, and examples from the life of Prophet Mohammad. They certainly claim to be true Muslims. They challenge all Muslims by saying “What is it that we do that is outside Islam?” This challenge causes Muslims to take another look at the origin of their faith—that is, the Qur’an and the life of their Prophet Muhammad—in order to disprove IRI/ISIS actions and prove that Islam is true and good.
Then the suddenly realize, “Oh my God! The leaders of Iran and ISIS ARE true Muslims!” – A growing number of Muslims who take up the challenge of disproving the actions of the leaders of Iran and ISIS come to a shocking conclusion: that what those leaders are doing actually IS true Islam. They realize that Iran’s and ISIS’s leaders are not fanatic Muslims, but deeply committed and faithful Muslims.
At this point, they begin to realize that there is something fundamentally wrong with Islam itself – This is the start of their rejection of Islam and becoming open to other ways of thinking and faiths, including Christianity. So this is encouraging — millions of Muslims have started to ask questions about their faith. Ironically, currently in the U.S., one is not allowed to ask hard questions about Islamic faith. As a result of political correctness and an apparent government policy of appeasing Islam, many refuse to logically and objectively discuss what Muslims believe or even discuss Quranic verses. Most media personalities dare to even quote verses from the Qur’an.
2. Iran is fast becoming the first Islamic nation that is abandoning Islam and becoming a Christian nation.
Iran will be a Christian nation according to God’s promise for Elam (today’s Iran) in Jeremiah 49:38. This is happening even today before our eyes. It is no longer by faith that I say “Iran will be a Christian nation,” but it is by sight. Islam is experiencing its greatest defeat in its history in Iran today. Islam is on the offense and is advancing everywhere in the world—except Iran. Iran is the only country in the world where Islam is on the defense and Christianity is on the offense.
Also, Iran will be the first country that fulfills Romans 11:11 in bringing the Jews to jealousy. When the Jews see that citizens of a nation who wanted to “wipe them off the map” increasingly becoming their friends and sincerely love, value, and have good will towards them because so many Iranians have received Jesus as the Messiah and Savior and been transformed by faith in Him, they will wake up to the fact that Jesus truly changes individual lives and even nations.
As the government of Iran continues to threaten Israel with annihilation, the people of Iran are gradually getting rid of their hatred for the Jews. Iranian Muslims who come to Christ and renounce Islam and start reading their Bibles become free from that hatred. They start getting the heart and mind of God for the Jewish people. Amazingly, a growing number of Muslims are also losing that hatred, or at least the issue of Israel and Jews is becoming a non-issue for them. I see it all the time, and I believe the reason is that there is such a disconnect and distrust between the people of Iran and their government. When the government sponsors rally’s chanting “Death to Israel,” the people of Iran increasingly think, “If our government tell us that we should hate the Jews, it is a good reason that we should not.”
3. Signs, wonders, visions, dreams, and miracles are slowing down in Iran.
The younger generation in Iran (those under 30 years old) are increasingly experiencing fewer supernatural events—even though a growing number of them are coming to faith in Christ. I believe this is because they do not need miracles in order to come to Christ. The Lord is so gracious. The older generation in Iran needs such miraculous signs because they are more oppressed by the spirit of Islam. They are, initially, very afraid to make a final decision to follow Christ, even when they are totally convinced of the truth of the Gospel. They are captives to the spirit of Islam, which is the spirit of fear. Therefore, the Lord graciously gives them supernatural experiences (visions, dreams, and miracles) to help them make that final decision.
The younger generation, however, do not need such signs and wonders. Most have been raised in a family where Islam was rejected and even ridiculed, or at least it was a non-issue. The majority of youth in Iran are coming to Christ after hearing the Gospel preached and the Word of God taught to them because, as they frequently put it, “I need salvation.” Their faith is deep even without these supernatural experiences.
Coming from a life of desperation and hopelessness, they greatly value the salvation and life-changing forgiveness offered by Jesus Christ. I am so thrilled and inspired when I talk to the young believers in Iran. They are fearless. They are neither afraid of Allah nor the Iranian government. Many say, “So what if they kill me, I was dead anyway.”
One young convert recently told me, “I am not afraid of them (the Iranian regime). They are afraid of me and my Gospel message. It is out of their fear that they want to put me in jail.” These young generation are ready to live for Jesus and if necessary to die for Him. I believe that as we — the older generation of Iranian followers of Christ – set the foundation of Iran to become a Christian nation, it is this emerging young leaders who will finish the job of transforming Iran into a Christian nation.
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This month, a money gift of $**** has been sent to Mary Jane in the Philippines to support her ministry of reaching out to minority tribes and to the impoverished children with the sustenance of livelihoods and the Word, including the personnel cost of labour for the engagement in organic vegetable gardens and in pig breeding and poultry farming. She is thinking of a new start of outreach to the neighbours of the mission house and the adjoining elementary school, by a regular weekly feeding program with food and the Word for at least fifty children under the age of 12. Pray for her new plans and her ministry being continuously blessed by the Lord.