After years of tension between Iran and Israel over Iran's nuclear weapons program, Israel finally launched a preemptive strike against Iran. In the first waves of the Israeli Air Force attacks, top military and governmental personnel, nuclear facilities, missile sites and scientists were targeted and eliminated. An all-out war between Iran and Israel, possibly involving the United States, could be on the horizon as many have feared.
I believe that this preemptive attack by Israel, backed up by the United States, potentially creates an unprecedented opportunity for a regime change in Iran as well as an explosion of growth for the Christian Church. Interestingly, the Bible seemingly prophesies of events that will occur in Iran related to these themes, which gives us a roadmap of how to pray in alignment to God's revealed will. Iran is a very strategic nation in the Bible with a clear prophetic future laid out for her.
The modern day nation of Iran is mentioned numerous times in the Old Testament under its ancient names, including Elam and Medo-Persia. In this article, I will elaborate on the prophecies about Iran in the seeming order of how the future will play out.
Daniel 8 — The Fall of Media and Persia
The futurist interpretation of the vision in Daniel 8 clearly reveals Media and Persia (modern-day Iran) as the predominant national power in the Middle East. Iran is pictured as the ram that magnified himself with no one to stop him. Then in the second part of the vision, the goat from the west comes and strikes the ram so that it has no strength to stand.
I saw the ram butting westward, northward, and southward, and no other beasts could stand before him nor was there anyone to rescue from his power, but he did as he pleased and magnified himself... — Daniel 8:3-4
The ram which you saw with the two horns represents the kings of Media and Persia. — Daniel 8:20
Jeremiah 49 — God's Throne in Elam
This very insightful passage explicitly reveals that the bow of Elam is going to break before their enemies and the Elamites will be scattered. However, embedded in verse 38 is the amazing promise that God will set His throne in Elam and destroy out of it king and princes. Could it be that the judgment that breaks Iran's leadership actually brings forth a regime change as well as revival and unprecedented Church growth?
"Behold, I am going to break the bow of Elam, the finest of their might. I will bring upon Elam the four winds from the four ends of heaven, and will scatter them to all these winds..." — Jeremiah 49:35-36
"Then I will set My throne in Elam and destroy out of it king and princes," Declares the LORD. "But it will come about in the last days that I will restore the fortunes of Elam," — Jeremiah 49:38-39
Because this prophetic promise in Jeremiah 49 is so vivid, some believe Iran will even become a Christian nation! At the least, it seems to suggest that revival will come with the establishment of the kingdom of God so that Elam (Iran) will be able to accomplish God's purposes for them as a nation.
Jeremiah 51 — Iran Consecrated Against Babylon
Consecrate the nations against her, the kings of the Medes, their governors and all their prefects, and every land of their dominion. — Jeremiah 51:28
The overturning of the governmental authority and power of Iran would coincide with religious freedom and change since the current leaders operate under Islamic Republic governed by sharia law. Assuming that God moves in Iran to establish His throne, the entire religious atmosphere would be vastly different — Iran will manifest the characteristics of righteousness and purity to resist the Harlot Babylon. This only comes from the manifestation of the Holy Spirit within the midst of Iran!
How to Pray for Iran
This leads us to the question of how to pray for Iran right now. Could this comprehensive situation be the time for God's judgment to remove its leaders and to build His throne there? I believe it is worth praying in this way: that a regime change comes about through the removal of military, religious and governmental leaders. Israel's military actions could give the Iranian people an opportunity to stand up against their oppressive government.
We may be witnessing Biblical history taking place in Iran. The Bible gives us prophetic understanding of what God wants to do in Iran so that we can come into agreement with Him and partner with Him through our prayers. Let's take up the role as intercessors and pray for Israel, pray for Iran, and pray for God's kingdom to be established on earth as it is in heaven.