Iran (MNN) — France and other European nations hope to coax the Iran regime into a diplomatic conversation over its advancing nuclear program. Will Iran listen?
As we consider Iran, Hormoz Shariat with Iran Alive Ministries wants us to remember that biblical prophecy has something to say to us. He clarifies that that doesn’t mean trying to predict every detail of the future:
“It’s not looking at world events or world leaders, because they can change. The events can change. But when God says it, that’s settled and it’s going to happen,” he says.
For example, in Jeremiah 49:34-39, God reveals He will set His throne in Elam, a region that today is part of modern-day Iran and Iraq.
“He says He will save Iran,” Shariat notes. “It talks about that He will remove kings and princes, that there is going to be a war, there’s going to be suffering, that Iranians will be scattered all over the world. Then He says, at the end times, ‘I will set my throne there, and I will bring back the captives, and I will bless that nation.’”
(Photo courtesy of Iran Alive Ministries)
Although biblical prophecies tend to make us wonder what hard things will happen at the end of time, Shariat points out the underlying “call to action” for Christians.
“Don’t forget: the end-time events come with the end-time harvest. We shouldn’t be inactive, shouldn’t be fearful. We should be [saying], ‘This is a great opportunity to gather the end time harvest,’” he says.
God is doing something unique in the Iranian church today. Shariat believes Iran will one day be a Christian nation. (More on that here)
“One thing I know is we are moving in that direction really fast. The number of Christians in Iran is growing fast. So it is possible that it will happen in our lifetime,” he says.
Let’s find our place in God’s story in Iran!
“The purpose of prophecy is two things. Don’t be afraid. Get it done,” Shariat says. “We need to wake up and say, ‘God, oh, you’re saving Iranians? You’re transforming that nation? I want to be a part of it. I want to be a history maker.’ As a Christian, we need to listen to the Lord and work with Him where He’s working.”
Learn more here about how Iran Alive Ministries is bringing the gospel of Jesus to Iran.
Header photo of Tehran, Iran courtesy of Khashayar Kouchpeydeh/Unsplash.
