Israel at War and the Prophetic Hour

Delivered with fervent conviction and anchored in the unchanging Word of God, reflecting on recent headlines of the Israel-Iran conflict

 We stand today at a pivotal moment in history, a time when the world seems to teeter on the brink of chaos and eternity. Open your newspapers, scroll your screens, or turn on the news—what do you see? War. Missiles blazing through the night sky. Nations clashing with unrelenting fury. Just this week, we witnessed Israel’s decisive and blistering strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities and military strongholds, taking out top generals and scientists in a bold act of self-defense. Iran, in retaliation, unleashed a barrage of ballistic missiles aimed at Israeli homes, schools, and hospitals. A 6-day-old infant was miraculously pulled from the rubble in central Israel, a fragile life spared amidst the 

destruction. Yet, tragedy struck elsewhere as an Israeli-Arab family in Tamra perished under the impact of an Iranian missile. The Middle East is ablaze, a powder keg with its fuse burning ever shorter.

To the unbelieving world, this may appear as mere geopolitical turmoil, a cycle of violence without meaning. But for those of us who cling to the inerrant, inspired Word of God, these are not random events—they are the reverberations of prophecy echoing across the ages. The Bible is not silent about these days. It speaks with clarity and authority, and it is our duty as believers to listen, to discern, and to respond.

The Prophetic Lens: Ezekiel 38 and the Gathering Storm

Let us turn our hearts and minds to the book of Ezekiel, chapter 38. Here, the prophet, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, unveils a future war—a coalition of nations led by Gog of the land of Magog, drawn as if by hooks in their jaws to descend upon Israel. Among these nations is Persia, known to us today as Iran, a name it adopted only in 1935. For decades, Iran’s leaders have openly declared their intent to annihilate Israel, calling it a “cancer” to be eradicated. Their pursuit of nuclear weapons, their funding of terrorist proxies like Hamas and Hezbollah, and their relentless attacks align chillingly with Ezekiel’s vision.

But Persia does not stand alone in this prophecy. The text names other players—Rosh, often understood as a reference to Russia, and Togarmah, linked by many scholars to modern-day Turkey. Consider the headlines: Russia has entrenched itself in Syria, just north of Israel, propping up a regime hostile to God’s people. Turkey, under its current leadership, has shifted from an ally to a regional power flexing its muscles across the Middle East, often at odds with Israel’s interests. Are these mere coincidences? I say no—they are pieces of a divine puzzle snapping into place. While we may not yet be in the full throes of Ezekiel 38’s war, the shadows of that coming conflict stretch across our world today.

Israel: The Apple of God’s Eye

Why does this matter? Because Israel is no ordinary nation. Scripture declares in Zechariah 2:8 that whoever touches Israel touches “the apple of [God’s] eye.” In Deuteronomy 7:6, the Lord calls Israel “a holy people to the Lord your God… chosen to be a people for Himself, a special treasure above all the peoples on the face of the earth.” The Jewish people are not chosen because of their own merit, but because of God’s sovereign grace and His unbreakable covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Genesis 12:3 rings as true today as it did millennia ago: “I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who curses you; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”

The rebirth of Israel in 1948 was a miracle, a fulfillment of Ezekiel 36:24: “For I will take you from among the nations, gather you out of all countries, and bring you into your own land.” This was no political fluke—it was the hand of God moving in history. Today, as Israel stands surrounded by enemies, facing a rising tide of global anti-Semitism, we see the spiritual stakes laid bare. This is not just a battle over land or power; it is a cosmic struggle between the forces of light and darkness, between God’s purposes and Satan’s schemes.

The Signs of the Times

Our Lord Jesus Christ Himself gave us the key to understanding these days. In Matthew 24:6-8, He said, “You will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of sorrows.”

These “birth pains,” as Jesus called them, are intensifying. Wars rage not only in the Middle East but across the globe. Earthquakes shake the ground with alarming frequency—think of the devastation in Turkey and Syria last year. Hurricanes, floods, and wildfires ravage nations, while famines and diseases spread. These are not mere natural phenomena; they are warnings, urging us to look up.

And then there are the spiritual signs. Jesus warned in Matthew 24:11 that “many false prophets will rise up and deceive many.” Today, we see a proliferation of false teachers—some in pulpits, others on screens—peddling a gospel of prosperity or tolerance that denies the truth of sin, judgment, and the cross. The apostle Paul spoke of a “falling away” in 2 Thessalonians 2:3, a great apostasy that must come before the Day of the Lord. Look around—churches compromise, morality crumbles, and the world grows ripe for the Antichrist’s deception.

The Rapture and the Tribulation: Are You Ready?

But before that dark hour fully dawns, we, the Church, have a blessed hope. In 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17, Paul writes, “For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.” This is the Rapture, the moment when Christ snatches His Bride away from the wrath to come. It could happen today, tomorrow, or in the next breath. Are you ready? Is your heart right with God? Have you confessed Jesus as Lord and Savior?

For those left behind, the Tribulation awaits—a seven-year period of unprecedented suffering described in Revelation 6-19. The Antichrist will rise, offering false peace before unleashing tyranny. The world will face judgments—seals, trumpets, and bowls—that make today’s conflicts pale in comparison. Yet even in that darkness, God’s mercy will shine, as 144,000 Jewish evangelists and countless tribulation saints proclaim the Gospel.

A Call to Action: Stand, Pray, Proclaim

So, what are we to do, brothers and sisters, as we witness these unfolding events? First, we must pray. Psalm 122:6 exhorts us, “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: ‘May they prosper who love you.’” Lift up Israel in prayer—pray for its protection, for the salvation of its people, and for the innocent caught in the crossfire, whether Jewish or Arab. Pray for wisdom for leaders, that they might align with God’s will. And pray fervently, “Even so, come, Lord Jesus!” (Revelation 22:20).

Second, we must prepare. The Rapture is imminent, and we must live as if Christ could return at any moment. Examine your life—are you walking in holiness? Are you sharing the Gospel with boldness? Time is short, and souls hang in the balance. As Jesus said in John 9:4, “I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work.”

Third, we must stand with Israel. God’s promise to Abraham in Genesis 12:3 is not nullified. America has been blessed in part because of its historic support for Israel, a nation that defends its people while Iran targets civilians. The moral clarity is undeniable. Let us not grow weary or wavering in our support, lest we invite the consequences of cursing what God has blessed.

Finally, we must stand firm in faith. Ephesians 6:10-13 calls us to action: “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.” This is a spiritual war, and our weapons are prayer, Scripture, and the testimony of Jesus Christ.

The Hope Amid the Storm

Beloved, the war between Israel and Iran is more than a headline—it is a clarion call from Heaven. Satan seeks to destroy God’s people, but God has promised their preservation. Isaiah 54:17 declares, “No weapon formed against you shall prosper, and every tongue which rises against you in judgment you shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord.” Israel will endure, not by its own strength, but by the faithfulness of God.

And we, the Church, have an even greater hope. As the world trembles, we cling to the Rock of Ages, Jesus Christ. Titus 2:13 calls Him “our blessed hope,” the One who will return “in the twinkling of an eye” (1 Corinthians 15:52) to take us home. The missiles may fly, the nations may rage, but our God reigns supreme. As Jesus promised in Luke 21:28, “When these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near."

So let us be watchful, prayerful, and steadfast. Let us pray for Israel, proclaim the Gospel, and live holy lives, eagerly awaiting the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ. These are perilous times, but they are also prophetic times—times that saints and prophets longed to see. Let us not shrink back, but press forward in faith, knowing that the King is coming, and His reward is with Him.

Amen.

DMMC 6/16/2025