"The Prophecy of Elam and the future of Iran."

  There is no other book in the world like the Bible. One of the chief characteristics of the "God of the Bible" is His ability to not only know the future but to ordain it and bring it to pass.

  In Isaiah 46, Verse 10,  God declares, "I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say, "My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please."

  God is not like the fortune tellers and the crystal ball gazers who exploit people with their occult deception and false predictions but rather, God is the sovereign Lord of the universe who plans and controls every detail of history.

  Daniel Chapter 2, verse 21, says of God. "He controls the course of world events."

  The ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran tops the news headlines every day. Iran is hell-bent on destroying Israel through their proxies of Hezbollah and Hamas. Israelis endure almost daily the terrifying experience of missiles being launched against them and Hamas terrorists attacking and murdering innocent civilians.

 However, unlike their evil government, Iranians have a close friendship with the Jewish people and desire a day when they will finally have a true democracy instead of a dictatorship.

  Will there be a future for the people of Iran where peace instead of terror reigns?

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  There is a little-known obscure prophecy ticked away in the Bible that seems to predict a day when Iranians will have a true democracy. In fact, Hormoz Shariat, founder and president of Iran Alive Ministries has said, "Iranians are excited about what the Bible says about their future."

 The Bible does speak of Iran, but not in a favorable way that indicates a future of peace. Iran is one of the nations mentioned in Ezekiel 38 (Persia) that will be part of a coalition of nations led by Russia in the last days that will attack Israel. In response, God causes a massive earthquake and wipes them out.

  However, the prophet Jeremiah mentions another mysterious prophecy, written around 596 B.C., about an ancient civilization known as Elam.

    "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 won't 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 kings and officials, declares the Lord.

  "Yet I will restore the fortunes of Elam in days to come," declares the Lord.

                                                   (Jeremiah 49:34-38)

   In the King James Version, verse 39 is very significant. to our discussion.  God declares, "But it shall come to pass, in the latter days, that I will bring again the captivity of Elam," saith the Lord.

 The term, "Latter days," makes it abundantly clear that this prophecy has not yet been fulfilled, but will be fulfilled in the latter days. Author and Prophecy expert, Bill Salus has written extensively on this topic in his book, "Nuclear Showdown in Iran."

  The context of this amazing prophecy is centered around the civilization of the Elamities. Elam was the son of Shem, who was the son of Noah. Elam created a tiny civilization in Persia thousands of years ago. Elam was an ancient territory within Persia, located today in Western Iran, that hugged the Persian Gulf and was separated by the Zagros mountain range. 

 According to history and the Bible, The Elamites were expert Archers and God declared that He was going to "break their bow" in an act of judgment.

 But what does this ancient prophecy have to do with modern-day Iran?

 We have already established that this prophecy has a future fulfillment and the unique language outlined in the verses seems to indicate that God will enact a future judgment upon Elam, which of course correlates with modern-day Iran. The judgment is restricted to Elam's leaders and not the people of Iran.

                                                                    

                                                             

 God declares "I will break the bow of Elam."

 God indeed judged the ancient Elamites by striking a death blow to their military might, which of course was their archers.

  However, looking ahead to the present day, God will strike Elam once again, breaking their bow, breaking their military might, and what is Iran's present-day military might?

 It is their nuclear program and their ICBM missiles. God is threatening to destroy their missile launching capabilities. The location for the ancient civilization of Elam just so happens to be in the exact location of one of Iran’s oldest Nuclear Power Plants, The Busheher Nuclear site!

 We saw a foreshadowing of this future attack back in April of 2024 when Israel launched a strike against Iran in retaliation for their missile attack. The Israeli military struck Isfahan and scored a major attack near their nuclear facilities. This is a foreshadowing of what is yet to come.  

 If indeed, there is a major nuclear fallout from an attack by Israel in the near future, the prophecy goes on to say that the result of this attack will create a humanitarian crisis. Iranians will flee in a worldwide diaspora because of the judgment of God upon the government. The nuclear meltdown will be the catalyst for this worldwide scattering.

The prophecy says that God is fiercely angry with Elam. Why?

When Ahmadinejad was president he publicly declared that Iran would wipe Israel off the map. God will defend His covenant people and any threats against them, He takes them very seriously!

Another major reason for the anger of God is The Islamic Republic's treatment of Christians. They are daily arrested and persecuted because they refuse to worship Allah and follow the dictates of Islam.

                                                                   

   

 However, there is a glorious future promised for the Iranian people. God promises, "I will set my throne in Elam."

 The Bible mentions God's throne is in heaven, in Jerusalem, and in Elam.

 He is already working mightily among the people of Iran. Iran has the fastest-growing underground church in the world. Millions of Iranians have embraced Christ, despite the persecution, and have turned their backs on Islam. God is using dreams, visions, and miracles to awaken the Iranian people and bring them to faith in Christ.

"Yet I will restore the fortunes of Elam in days to come," declares the Lord.

God promises the Iranians a bright and prosperous future. He will destroy the oppressive regime and give them true freedom and democracy one day. No wonder Iranians are excited about their future when they read the Bible!

Letters from Iran, "We are in a hopeless situation."

 

                                                                     

  "There is a desperate cry for help coming from the people of Iran. The oppressive Islamic Republic of Iran continues to arrest and torture women for Hijab violations. They continually execute protesters who believe in that seven-letter dirty little word called freedom. For those Iranians who remain silent and submissive to the government, they suffer from the pains of addiction, poverty, and joblessness. Iran has become a culture of death and despair since The Iranian Revolution of 1979 that sent the Shah and his family into exile.

 Recently, "Transform Iran," A Christian internet ministry dedicated to preaching the gospel, planting churches in Iran, and discipling believers, asked three house church leaders to describe for the world exactly what life is like in Iran. They agreed and shared with "Transform Iran" a series of voice notes, detailing and explaining the hopeless situation that Iranians face on a daily basis. The pain and anguish in their voices were almost unbearable to listen to. 

 I want to share a sample of their "Letters from Iran" and educate us on the pain and suffering of a people desperate for hope and freedom.

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   One house church leader describes the situation in his own words:

  "The majority of people are depressed. This is no exaggeration. The opportunity to earn a living and make a life for yourself is gone."

  Poverty is great. It is everywhere and growing constantly. People are hungry and powerless to change their circumstances. Prostitution is alarmingly high. Real value and worth is fragile. Dignity is lost. There is no joy.

  You look at women and they don't look normal anymore. Those that can afford it have had so much plastic surgery, that it's devastating to see. They are pursuing external beauty to mask the emptiness inside.

  Another house church leader points out the three major problems among the youth:

  Poverty, addiction, and joblessness are the three major problems facing the youth in Iran.

  Poverty is turning people against each other. The extreme poverty is leading to crime. To numb all of the pain, people are turning to drugs and getting high to forget their troubles even if just for a moment. They have lost all hope.

 Our girls, our younger generation, are being lost to prostitution. They make choices that will harm them in the long run, all out of desperation to survive.

 Little children who should be getting an education are instead out in the streets selling flowers, washing car windshields, and polishing shoes.

  Depression among men is very high. It is like 90% of our men are bound in deep and hidden depression and many don't even know it.

 It is very bad. Iran needs a miracle!

                                                                        

  People ask us if God has turned away from Iran. "Where is God?" they ask us. We always encourage them that He still remains, and He is listening to our voices, to all of our cries for help.

  These voice notes that were translated into letters are heartbreaking. They reveal a deep hopelessness among Iranians. The Mullahs refuse to listen to their voices or give them any relief. The government has used all of the sanction relief money courtesy of the Biden administration, to further its terrorist activities through groups like Hezbollah and Hamas.

 However, God has not forsaken the people of Iran. He continues to bring believers to himself through dreams and visions of Jesus. Even though 50,000 mosques have closed their doors in Iran, God has been faithful to answer the cries of desperate Iranians. Iranians are abandoning Islam and embracing Christianity, becoming active members of the underground house churches.

  God hears the cries of aching and hopeless hearts. He is inviting them to come to the living waters of hope through Jesus Christ.

  Jesus is reaching out to Iranians with his arms of love declaring,

   "Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest."

                                                          (Matthew 11:28 NLT)

   There is hope for Iranians. It is not in a new government or a strong charismatic leader promising utopia, but instead, it's in a living savior who cleanses us from all of our guilt and shame and makes everything new!

  

 

Ahoo Daryaei, "You don't control my body!"

 

   In another courageous example of standing up for women's rights, a 30-year-old student at the University of Tehran publicly defied security forces, stripped down to her underwear, and began walking shamelessly across the campus. Ahoo Daryaei is currently a student in the Science and Research Branch of Tehran's Islamic Azad University. 

                                                                   

Last week, Ahoo was confronted by security forces for not wearing a proper hijab. Instead of submitting to their harassment, she turned her body into a symbol of protest by removing her trousers and flinging them at the Morality Police. The video of her protest immediately went viral and at one point in the video, security officers can be seen finally surrounding her and forcing Ahoo into a waiting van. It was later reported that Ahoo was taken to a mental ward and treated for some type of mental illness.

  Is it a mental illness to demand freedom? Is it a crime to resist the demands of men for control over your body? For women living in Iran under the oppression of Islam, it is a crime to be free and it is a crime to control one's own body. Two years ago, on September 13, 2022, a young Kurdish woman was arrested by the Morality Police for showing too much hair and later beaten to death while in custody. The death of Mahsa Amini sparked a massive revolution known as the "Woman, life, Freedom," movement in Iran.

  Ahoo clearly understood what her fate would be if she submitted to the Morality Police. Instead, she boldly removed her clothing to make a statement not only to the University campus but to the whole world. She was saying no to control and oppression! She was loudly proclaiming, "Hands off! This is my body!"

  The common response of authorities is to claim that she is mentally unbalanced and must be removed from society. This tactic is continuously used by the government to delegitimize the protests of women who refuse to submit but instead oppose this evil regime. The government must discredit their protest and assign them to a group of unstable non-conformists who must be silenced.  Ironically Ahoo's name means, "deer of the sea" which translated refers to one who is resilient and brave. The government is deathly afraid of anyone who would dare to stand up and scream to the world that dirty little seven-letter world called, "Freedom!"

                                                                       

  The right to live freely, safely, and with dignity is a crime in Iran. Every person who protests is slowly chipping away at the foundation of oppression in Iran and that cannot be tolerated! Ahoo has raised the issues of bodily autonomy, freedom of expression, and gender equality. For the last four decades, Iranian women have raised their voices loudly to the silent world of feminists in the West who are more preoccupied and terrified of losing their "so called" rights under a Trump Administration and have no clue about the struggle of women in the Middle East.

   I am praying That Ahoo will not become another statistic like previous brave protesters who were tortured, raped, and then killed. One way to ensure that Ahoo will not become another statistic is to be her voice and tell her story. Flood the media with pictures of her protest and make her name known to the whole world. The ongoing struggle for freedom and justice in Iran must be met with your support and prayers.

  On January 20, 2025, Donald J. Trump will be sworn in as the 47th president of the United States. While he was president in 2017, Trump was a huge supporter of the rights of the Iranian people. He was constantly on Twitter confronting the regime in Iran and warning them that the whole world was watching.                                                                  

  The whole world is watching you Ahoo! We have your back and we won't be silent until you are released and the oppression against women finally becomes a thing of the past in Iran!