GOD S PURPOSE FOR IRAN

Transcription

1 GOD S PURPOSE FOR IRAN Iran is not adopting a constructive role, so said Foreign Minister William Hague on Tuesday of this week. Also on Tuesday (3 rd September, 2013), Israel fired a practice range missile in the Eastern Mediterranean. Meanwhile, following the UK government s decision not to become militarily involved in Syria, the US is in the precarious position of only having the likes of France as its ally in any combatant activities. Russia, supported by China, invokes the anger of the West by openly siding with the Syrian regime. Indeed, we have a very interesting play being acted out on this part of the world s stage. It was, of course, hoped that when President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad completed his term in office a more conciliatory leader would take his place. The new President Hassan Rouhani was welcomed among the Western nations as a moderate leader. However, we must understand this term moderate within the context of the Islamic region. As it transpires, the country s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei directs the government decisions and policies and therefore, President Rouhani and his ministers simply fall into line. When it comes to the issue of the state of Israel, Iranian policy is quite simple and straightforward. In October 2005 the then President Ahmadinejad quoted this same Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, this regime occupying Jerusalem must vanish from the page of time. That is the aspiration of all the Islamic nations, - some of them voice it more, but underneath even the quiet nations are in agreement. Israel has to be destroyed! This official policy of the Iranian regime was played out again on August 28 th 2013 when Commander Mohammad Ali Jafira of the Army of the Guardians of the Islamic Revolution of Iran threatened in the state-sponsored Iranian Tasnim News Agency, The Zionists must know that US military attack on Syria will not rescue [their] regime from the talons of the resistance, but will bring about the imminent destruction of Israel. The commander was appointed by this same alreadymentioned Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on 1 st September He, therefore, has the full backing and support of the entire Iranian government and military system to destroy Israel. It is Iranian policy that Israel must vanish from the page of time! To fulfil this policy Iran, - with its nuclear capabilities, - is ratcheting up the language of war in the Middle East, and is the main protagonist behind the present instability that is focussed on Syria.

2 2 The name Iran does not occur in Scripture. In the past, Iran was officially called Persia by people outside the country. In its international deals, it was always known as Persia. However, the people who lived there called it Iran. Iran simply means the land of the Aryans. Now, this has nothing to do with Hitler Iran was the land of the Aryans long before Hitler was ever born. He merely stole the term to describe his concept of a master race. It was only as recently as 1935 that the then Shah ( king ) changed the name from Persia to Iran. To the north of present-day Iran is another country called Turkmenistan and until 1881 this was also a part of Persia. Turkmenistan was the region of the Parthians (cf. Acts 2:9). From the Biblical perspective, modern Iran is known as Elam. To discover where Elam comes from we turn to Genesis 10:22 where we are told Elam was descended from Shem, Noah s son. We also notice in this verse the name Arphaxad, - he was a descendant of Abram (Gen. 11:11-26). So, Abram, - from whom the Jews came, - was of the same lineage as Elam. This is the close link between the Hebrews and the Elamites. However, despite this close connection with Abram, the next time we meet the Elamites is in chapter fourteen where we read of the battle of the four kings against the five kings. One of the invading kings who defeated the cities of the plain was Chedolaomer, King of Elam. Along with the kings from the east he kidnapped Lot, the nephew of Abram. This resulted in Abram mobilising his servants into an army to bring Lot back home, with the spoil the kings from the east had stolen. This, then, was the first account of warfare between the people of Elam and the people of Abram. Generally speaking, since then relations between the descendants of Abraham and the descendants of Elam has been marked by conflict. However, there were brief times of peace between the two nations. For example, one, - and perhaps the only one, - was prior to the Islamic Revolution in 1979, Persia had been an ally of Israel, and had actually supported them in their struggle with other nations in the Middle East. So, Genesis records the Elamites, - who descended from Shem, - were part of a confederacy who warred against Abram Now remember this within the context of what the Lord had said to the father of the Hebrew and Jewish nation, Gen. 12:2 I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: 3 And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee 13:14 And the LORD said unto Abram, after that Lot was separated from him, Lift up

3 3 now thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art northward, and southward, and eastward, and westward: 15 For all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed for ever. The next time the Elamites are mentioned was in connection with the exile to Babylon by the Assyrians. The Assyrians were then conquered by the Babylonians, who were then conquered by the Persians under Darius. So, the descendants of Abram became the captives of the descendants of Elam. These descendants, - the Persians, - were described in Nebuchadnezzar s image by Daniel the prophet as the breast and arms of silver (Dan. 2:31 This great image, whose brightness was excellent, stood before thee; and the form thereof was terrible. 32 This image's head was of fine gold, his breast and his arms of silver, his belly and his thighs of brass, 33 His legs of iron, his feet part of iron and part of clay. The image symbolised Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon as the head of fine gold, who was the absolute authority and had all the power to make all the decisions without the aid of any of his ministers. The head of fine gold symbolising Nebuchadnezzar was then followed by the breast and the arms of silver of the Medo-Persians. They were inferior to Nebuchadnezzar s absolute authority because the King of Medo- Persia had to share the rule with his counsellors for example, Darius could not undo the decree presented to him by his ministers that that resulted in Daniel being incarcerated in the den of lions. In Daniel 7, another vision is given to the prophet portraying the four kingdoms in the form of beasts that arose out of the sea (v.3). The first beast (v.4) was like a lion (the king of beasts) and had eagle s wings (the king of birds), i.e. a most powerful kingdom. This was referring to Babylon The second kingdom (v.5) was symbolised by a bear that was risen up on one side. He had three ribs in his mouth, and the words he spoke were, Arise, devour much flesh. This Medo-Persian Empire was a kingdom that had previously been divided, but had become united (i.e. Medes and Persians) whereas other empires were first united and then divided. It was also a kingdom that had great power (i.e. the bear), and devoured many. In Daniel 8, we read the prophet specifically recorded he had this prophecy when he was in Persia (the province of Elam), not Babylon (v.2). On this occasion, he saw in vision the ram which had the two high horns, - one horn was higher than the other, and this was the horn that rose up last (v.3). Media was the earlier of the two kingdoms to arise and as the bear that was risen up on one side, so it was that Persia became the mightier of the two kingdoms.

4 4 Daniel went on to prophesy how the ram pushed westward, northward, and southward and there was none who could stand before it (v.4). This means the ram was travelling from out of the east. So it was that the kingdom of Persia, - the higher of the two horns of the ram, - pushed beyond the borders of the Babylonian empire (that it had invaded and conquered), - and the ram, - Persia, - occupied even more lands to the west, north and south. This mighty kingdom came to an end, though, when the ram was confronted by the he-goat, - the he-goat came from the west and touched not the ground: and the goat had a notable horn between his eyes (v.5), - that is speaking of Alexander the Great of Greece. Alexander came from the west and conquered the kingdom of Persia and then, his empire, - when he died in 323BC was divided between his four generals (v.8 the he goat waxed very great: and when he was strong, the great horn was broken; and for it came up four notable ones toward the four winds of heaven). Then, we turn to Dan. 11:2 now will I shew thee the truth. Behold, there shall stand up yet three kings in Persia; and the fourth shall be far richer than they all: and by his strength through his riches he shall stir up all against the realm of Grecia. 3 And a mighty king shall stand up, that shall rule with great dominion, and do according to his will. 4 And when he shall stand up, his kingdom shall be broken, and shall be divided toward the four winds of heaven; and not to his posterity, nor according to his dominion which he ruled: for his kingdom shall be plucked up, even for others beside those. Here we are told how the Persian Empire will be overthrown by the Greeks and many commentators ( not all, but many) believe the fourth king (v.2) was Xerxes (Ahasuerus), who married Esther. He reigned over 127 provinces, from India to Ethiopia, - a vast empire, - and this could easily be understood within the context, the fourth shall be far richer than they all. If this fourth king was Xerxes, he was on the throne when the Jews in Shushan (in Persia) were under threat of death from Haman the Agagite. (Jewish Encyclopedia, Haman was a descendant of Agag, who was the king of the Amalekites historically, sworn enemies of the Jews. Amalek was a son of Esau, Gen. 36:12. In the Persian royal court, such an enemy as Haman put in motion a plan concerning the people of Israel whereby the Elamites/Persians, - in the words of the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei today, - must vanish from the page of time. The lesson we learn is that despite the plans of the descendants of the modern-day Iranians against the ancient Israelites, God had His plan to save His people and restore them He had put Mordecai at the king s gate (Esther 2:19,21) and He had Esther as queen (v.17). Indeed, He saved His people then against the ancestors of Iran as He will do once again!

5 5 In fact, Jeremiah had prophesied how the Jewish nation would return to its own land, - 25:11 And this whole land shall be a desolation, and an astonishment; and these nations shall serve the king of Babylon seventy years, - and this was the promise of God Daniel trusted in (9:2 In the first year of his reign I Daniel understood by books the number of the years, whereof the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah the prophet, that he would accomplish seventy years in the desolations of Jerusalem). And it was also another king of Persia, - Cyrus, - who set in motion the return to Jerusalem (II Chron. 36:22 Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the LORD spoken by the mouth of Jeremiah might be accomplished, the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and put it also in writing, saying, 23 Thus saith Cyrus king of Persia, All the kingdoms of the earth hath the LORD God of heaven given me; and he hath charged me to build him an house in Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Who is there among you of all his people? The LORD his God be with him, and let him go up.) When we read through the books of Ezra and Nehemiah, we discover the work was financed and assisted by the kings of Persia. Jeremiah s prophecy was fulfilled, reminding us God does have plans for the nations, - some of which have already been fulfilled, some are presently being fulfilled, and some that are yet to be fulfilled. Then, we also read about people from this land who were represented in Jerusalem on the Day of Pentecost by the Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites (Acts 2:9). They heard Peter preaching the Gospel! They were all amazed (v.12). When they returned home, they would surely have brought with them the account of how Christ died on the cross and gave His life as redemption for His people. Surely, many of the Parthians believed in Him and were saved! So, how do we assess God s future plan for the nation of Iran? Today, out of over 75 million of a population, only 0.2% (117,678) is evangelical Christian. Almost 99% is Shiite Muslim. Nonetheless, Christ has His presence there. He has His light shining in that country. It may be but faint, but the enemy cannot extinguish it. He persecutes it cruelly, and without mercy but the gates of Hell cannot prevail against Christ s witness in that land. Wycliffe Bible Translators are busily producing the Bible into Farsi, the language of the Iranian people. Despite the opposition, the church in that country continues to move forward! God has far from given up on that land! He has a tremendous memory. He has never forgotten the part they played in Esther s story, and in the rebuilding of Jerusalem after the Babylonian captivity

6 6 And remember what God said to Abram, Gen. 12:3 I will bless them that bless thee and, granted, Elam/Persia/Iran has not always been the friends of Israel but, nonetheless, God will remember their goodness in days gone by towards His people Israel. In the last days, the Bible speaks about the time of Jacob s trouble (Jer. 30:7), when there will be the coalition of enemy forces in a united attack against the people of Israel, Jer. 30:1 lo, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will bring again the captivity of my people Israel and Judah, saith the LORD: and I will cause them to return to the land that I gave to their fathers, and they shall possess it [1948]. 4 And these are the words that the LORD spake concerning Israel and concerning Judah. 5 For thus saith the LORD; We have heard a voice of trembling, of fear, and not of peace. 6 Ask ye now, and see whether a man doth travail with child? wherefore do I see every man with his hands on his loins, as a woman in travail, and all faces are turned into paleness? 7 Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob's trouble; but he shall be saved out of it. 8 For it shall come to pass in that day, saith the LORD of hosts, that I will break his yoke from off thy neck, and will burst thy bonds, and strangers shall no more serve themselves of him: 9 But they shall serve the LORD their God, and David their king, whom I will raise up unto them. Rev. 16:12-16 speaks about the sixth angel pouring out the sixth vial upon the River Euphrates and it describes how the kings of the east (v.12), - using the old language of Gen. 14 these kings of the east will undoubtedly include the armies of Iran (the old Elam and Persia). They will congregate in the Valley of Megiddo and then they will make their way as a mighty force against the city of Jerusalem. They will surround the city, - as Zechariah 14 prophesies but then shall the Lord go forth, and fight against those nations and His feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives (v.3). Remember Melchizedek in Gen. 14, - surely that was a theophany, Christ in the Old Testament. And look how He delivered His people then against the Elamites and then allies and He will do it again, Gen. 14:18 Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God. 19 And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth: 20 And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. Yes, look at Is. 11:11 And it shall come to pass in that day, that the Lord shall set his hand again the second time to recover the remnant of his people, which shall be left, from Assyria, and from Egypt, and from Pathros, and from Cush, and from Elam, and from Shinar, and from Hamath, and from the islands of the sea. Isaiah 13 speaks about the destruction of Babylon and it is foretelling a time in the future for it refers our attention, Behold, the day of the Lord cometh.

7 7 It is speaking of a future event for Babylon as an habitation continues to exist, even today, v.19 Babylon, the glory of kingdoms, the beauty of the Chaldees' excellency, shall be as when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah. 20 It shall never be inhabited, neither shall it be dwelt in from generation to generation. And, in fact, v.17 tells us that in the final overthrow of Babylon God will stir up the Medes (Iran) against them (Iraq) And we know there is absolutely no love lost between those two nations today! In fact, in the Iraq/Iran war over a million lives were lost. I m not meaning to suggest the whole nation of Iran will come over to the side of Christ and His people, because it won t, - not the whole nation. Is. 22:6 tells us Elam will bare the quiver with chariots of men and horsemen Ezekiel speaks about Elam in chapters 27:10; 28; 32:24, and how they were in confederacy with the armies against the people of Israel. In Ezekiel 38:5 we read about their same association. Jeremiah relays a specific prophecy concerning Elam (Iran), 49:35 The word of the LORD that came to Jeremiah the prophet against Elam in the beginning of the reign of Zedekiah king of Judah, saying, 35 Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Behold, I will break the bow of Elam, the chief of their might. 36 And upon Elam will I bring the four winds from the four quarters of heaven, and will scatter them toward all those winds; and there shall be no nation whither the outcasts of Elam shall not come. 37 For I will cause Elam to be dismayed before their enemies, and before them that seek their life: and I will bring evil upon them, even my fierce anger, saith the LORD; and I will send the sword after them, till I have consumed them: 38 And I will set my throne in Elam, and will destroy from thence the king and the princes, saith the LORD. 39 But it shall come to pass in the latter days, that I will bring again the captivity of Elam, saith the LORD. There is the promised hope for many in that land! They will be among the nations spoken of in Is. 2 that will make their way to the Lord s house established in the top of the mountains, Mount Zion. It will be as Zechariah promised, 8:20 Thus saith the LORD of hosts; It shall yet come to pass, that there shall come people, and the inhabitants of many cities: 21 And the inhabitants of one city shall go to another, saying, Let us go speedily to pray before the LORD, and to seek the LORD of hosts: I will go also. 22 Yea, many people and strong nations shall come to seek the LORD of hosts in Jerusalem, and to pray before the LORD. Yes, the psalmist saw it also as he prophesied an event that since it has not already happened, it is yet to be fulfilled too, Ps. 72:11 Yea, all kings shall fall down before him: all nations shall serve Him. Don t you see what is happening around us? God s plan for the nations is fully underway. And even from the land of Iran, God will bring His people out! How privileged we are to look into the Word of God and shine it over the darkness of the nations and see what God is doing, to His glory and for His people even in our own day. Amen!