Iran in Bible Prophecy

With the recent attacks on Israel by Iran, many are curious about how Iran fits into end times Bible prophecy…what does God have in store for Iran, what role will they play, and what should we as Bible-believing Christians be watching for? In Old Testament times, Iran was known as “Persia”. Persia is probably familiar to most Bible readers as one of the kingdoms under which the Israelites were held in captivity until being allowed to return to rebuild Jerusalem by Cyrus the Great, King of Persia. Also, the story of Esther takes place in Persia, within the capital city of Susa, in which the Medo-Persian King reigned.

Persia makes another appearance in the passage in Ezekiel 38, known as the prophecy of the Gog and Magog War.

"Son of man, face Gog, of the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal. Prophesy against him and say, 'This is what the Lord GOD says: Look, I am against you, Gog, chief prince of Meshech and Tubal. I will turn you around, put hooks in your jaws, and bring you out with all your army, including horses and riders, who are all splendidly dressed, a huge assembly armed with large and small shields, all of them brandishing swords. Persia, Cush, and Put are with them, all of them with shields and helmets; Gomer with all its troops; and Beth-togarmah from the remotest parts of the north along with all its troops -- many peoples are with you.”  Ezekiel 38:2-6

Persia evidently will be part of the coalition that joins with Gog in attacking Israel in the end times. I understand this war to occur at some point most-likely after the rapture of the church, and prior to the start of the tribulation period, in that period of time between the two events. So, Persia (Iran) will continue to exist and be a military might up until the time of the Gog/Magog War prophesied in Ezekiel 38. However, we are then told what happens to Gog and all the other kingdoms which ally with him as part of the coalition against Israel:

"Now on that day, the day when Gog comes against the land of Israel -- this is the declaration of the Lord GOD -- ‘my wrath will flare up. I swear in my zeal and fiery wrath: On that day there will be a great earthquake in the land of Israel. The fish of the sea, the birds of the sky, the animals of the field, every creature that crawls on the ground, and every human being on the face of the earth will tremble before me. The mountains will be demolished, the cliffs will collapse, and every wall will fall to the ground. I will call for a sword against him on all my mountains -- this is the declaration of the Lord GOD -- and every man's sword will be against his brother. I will execute judgment on him with plague and bloodshed. I will pour out torrential rain, hailstones, fire, and burning sulfur on him, as well as his troops and the many peoples who are with him. I will display my greatness and holiness, and I will reveal myself in the sight of many nations. Then they will know that I am the LORD.'” Ezekiel 38:18-23

After the Ezekiel 38 Gog/Magog War, Persia (Iran) appears to no longer be a military threat to Israel. This is accomplished by God performing a very observable intercession on behalf of His people Israel…They will know that He is the Lord God.


There is one other prophecy from the Old Testament that needs to be considered also, one from Jeremiah. Jeremiah is pronouncing prophetic judgments against several countries and includes this one about Elam. Elam is an ancient middle eastern kingdom that is included in the far western portion of the modern country of Iran.

“This is the word of the LORD that came to the prophet Jeremiah about Elam at the beginning of the reign of King Zedekiah of Judah. This is what the LORD of Armies says: I am about to shatter Elam's bow, the source of their might. I will bring the four winds against Elam from the four corners of the heavens, and I will scatter them to all these winds. There will not be a nation to which Elam's banished ones will not go. I will devastate Elam before their enemies, before those who intend to take their lives. I will bring disaster on them, my burning anger. This is the LORD's declaration. I will send the sword after them until I finish them off. I will set my throne in Elam, and I will destroy the king and officials from there. This is the LORD's declaration. Yet, in the last days, I will restore the fortunes of Elam. This is the LORD's declaration.”  Jeremiah 49:34-39

There are many different interpretations of this passage, and how it relates to Elam (Iran) either in part or total, and the timing of the prophecy. It is an interesting study though, and I believe it does hold a prophetic warning against Iran, or at least a specific region of Iran, in these last days. You can read more about this prophecy at Bill Salus’ website Prophecy Depot:   http://www.prophecydepotministries.net/2019/does-the-bible-predict-iranians-will-soon-flee-to-america/


It will be interesting to watch how Israel responds over the next few hours and days, and to see what consequences Iran faces for attacking Israel as it has. I know one thing…God has a plan for Israel, and He has made it clear that He will protect them. The Biblical promise that whoever blesses Israel will be blessed, and whoever curses them will be cursed is still in effect.

“The LORD said to Abram: Go from your land, your relatives, and your father's house to the land that I will show you. I will make you into a great nation, I will bless you, I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, I will curse anyone who treats you with contempt, and all the peoples on earth will be blessed through you.”  Genesis 12:1-3

Today you will be with me in Paradise

When they arrived at the place called The Skull, they crucified him there, along with the criminals, one on the right and one on the left. ... The people stood watching, and even the leaders were scoffing: "He saved others; let him save himself if this is God's Messiah, the Chosen One! " ... Then one of the criminals hanging there began to yell insults at him: "Aren't you the Messiah? Save yourself and us! " But the other answered, rebuking him: "Don't you even fear God, since you are undergoing the same punishment? We are punished justly, because we're getting back what we deserve for the things we did, but this man has done nothing wrong." Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom." And he said to him, "Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise." Luke 23:33, 35, 39-43

On the day that Jesus was crucified, scriptures mention that there were two other criminals crucified with Him. While one joined in with the crowd in mocking Jesus, the other criminal did not. He challenged the man by telling him that they both deserved the punishment they were getting, but Jesus did not as He was innocent. He asked, “don’t you fear God?” The criminal then turned and asked for Jesus to remember him when He established His kingdom. An amazing request, as the criminal is acknowledging that Jesus is who He says He is. The man has faith that although this man next to him on a cross will die just as he will, that will not be the end of this man Jesus. He will establish His kingdom. Death will not be the end of Jesus this man is declaring, and he asks simply to be remembered. Jesus responds to him “today you will be with me in Paradise.”

Luke was the only one of the four Gospel writers to include this short conversation between Jesus and the criminal, but we can learn much from it. First we need to clarify a misconception that has been taught about this. It is taught that “Paradise” is what is referred to as Hades in the New Testament, or Sheol in the Old Testament. You will see and hear “Paradise” also being referred to as “Abraham's bosom” from the story of the rich man and Lazarus in Luke 16. This is not scripturally correct, it is another example of a “tradition of men” that has been passed on without being biblically accurate. Paradise is not the same place as Hades, Sheol, or Abraham’s Bosom. These places are a reference to the holding place for the souls of the deceased. While the body is in the ground, the soul went to Sheol/Hades until the resurrection in Old Testament times.

So, where is Paradise then? There are only three references in the Bible to “Paradise,” the one from our text above in Luke, Paul mentions Paradise in his second letter to the Corinthians, and John mentions Paradise in the book of Revelation when quoting Jesus in His letters to the seven churches. Let’s look at these two passages more closely to see just what “Paradise” actually refers to if it is not Sheol/Hades.

“I know a man in Christ who was caught up to the third heaven fourteen years ago. Whether he was in the body or out of the body, I don't know; God knows. I know that this man -- whether in the body or out of the body I don't know; God knows -- was caught up into paradise and heard inexpressible words, which a human being is not allowed to speak.” 2 Cor. 12:2-4

Paul is speaking about himself in these verses, he was caught up to Paradise during his encounter with Jesus on the Damascus Road while on his way to persecute the church. In Acts chapter 9 we are given an account of what happened, and what Jesus said to Paul. But the point is Paul was “caught up” (neat word here by the way that in the Greek is Harpazo, and in the Latin is Rapturo, where we get the word rapture from) to Heaven where Jesus was, and where Jesus spoke to Paul. Paul was not caught up to Hades/Sheol. Paradise is not Hades/Sheol. Paradise is Heaven where God is.

"... To the one who conquers, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.” Rev 2:7

Here in Revelation, John is quoting Jesus who is dictating a letter to the seven churches. In this letter to the church at Ephesus, Jesus promises to those that overcome that they will eat of the tree of life, and then locates that tree as being in the “paradise of God.” Then, three times in chapter 22 of the book of Revelation, John writes that the tree of life is located in the New City Jerusalem where God is…Heaven in other words. Paradise is not Hades/Sheol. Paradise is Heaven where God is.

So, what do we do with this new information that Paradise is not Hades/Sheol, but instead Paradise refers to Heaven? The criminal on the cross was soon to die. He had faith in Jesus that He would not die, and that He would establish His kingdom just as He said He would. The thief asked to be remembered in that kingdom. Jesus said he would be with Him in Paradise, or in Heaven as we have established, “this very day.” And the Greek word that Jesus uses there means exactly that, today, this very day. Jesus did not tell the man on the cross next to him “you will be with me in Heaven some day in the future.” No, He said “this very day.” That is a game changer. This is new information. This is life-changing.

You see, in the past, Old Testament Saints were told they would “sleep in the dust” (meaning their bodies) and their souls would go to Sheol to await the final resurrection. We see this for example in Daniel 12:2 Many who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake, some to eternal life, and some to disgrace and eternal contempt. In the Psalms we see this about Sheol: “Like sheep they are headed for Sheol; Death will shepherd them. The upright will rule over them in the morning, and their form will waste away in Sheol, far from their lofty abode. But God will redeem me from the power of Sheol, for he will take me.” Psalm 49:14-15. The prophet Daniel was even told he would not ‘receive his inheritance” until the end of the days (after the tribulation period referring to the Millennial Kingdom reign of Christ) "But as for you, go on your way to the end; you will rest, and then you will rise to receive your allotted inheritance at the end of the days." Daniel 12:13. Their body returns to the earth from where it was formed where it “sleeps”, and the soul (your consciousness, the thing that makes you “you”) goes to Sheol/Hades to wait for resurrection.

The criminal on the cross however is not told that he will go to Sheol, or that he will have to wait for Jesus’ Kingdom to arrive at some point in the far future at the “end of days.” He is told “today you will be with me” in Heaven, this very day. This is the New Covenant, the one symbolized by the Lord’s Supper which had just occurred the night previous to the crucifixion. Paul discusses the new covenant in his letter to the Corinthians: “For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: On the night when he was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, broke it, and said, "This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me." In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, and said, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me." For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes.” 1 Cor. 11:23-26. The criminal on the cross had faith and believed in Jesus as the Lord, and he was told he would be with Jesus in his kingdom that very day. And, that is exactly what happened, providing a promise for other Christ followers that when we die, we will be immediately with Jesus too.

“Therefore, being always of good courage, and knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord-- ... but we are of good courage and prefer rather to be absent from the body and to be at home with the Lord.” 2 Cor. 5:6,8

Is there another genealogy of Jesus in the Gospels besides those in Matthew and Luke?

Is there another genealogy of Jesus in the Gospels besides those in Matthew and Luke?

Around this time of year, the story of the birth of Jesus is read in churches and homes all around the world. Both Matthew and Luke wrote in their gospel accounts about the birth of the Messiah. Each account contains unique details about the coming of the Lord as a baby born in Bethlehem to Joseph and Mary. Each of the accounts also includes a genealogy of Jesus. It’s easy to get lost in the long list of names listed, however, those paying close attention have probably noticed that the lists are not the same. Why is that exactly, and what does it mean?

Here is the account as written in Matthew’s gospel:

"An account of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the Son of David, the Son of Abraham: Abraham fathered Isaac, Isaac fathered Jacob, Jacob fathered Judah and his brothers, Judah fathered Perez and Zerah by Tamar, Perez fathered Hezron, Hezron fathered Aram, Aram fathered Amminadab, Amminadab fathered Nahshon, Nahshon fathered Salmon, Salmon fathered Boaz by Rahab, Boaz fathered Obed by Ruth, Obed fathered Jesse, and Jesse fathered King David. David fathered Solomon by Uriah's wife, Solomon fathered Rehoboam, Rehoboam fathered Abijah, Abijah fathered Asa, Asa fathered Jehoshaphat, Jehoshaphat fathered Joram, Joram fathered Uzziah, Uzziah fathered Jotham, Jotham fathered Ahaz, Ahaz fathered Hezekiah, Hezekiah fathered Manasseh, Manasseh fathered Amon, Amon fathered Josiah, and Josiah fathered Jeconiah and his brothers at the time of the exile to Babylon. After the exile to Babylon Jeconiah fathered Shealtiel, Shealtiel fathered Zerubbabel, Zerubbabel fathered Abiud, Abiud fathered Eliakim, Eliakim fathered Azor, Azor fathered Zadok, Zadok fathered Achim, Achim fathered Eliud, Eliud fathered Eleazar, Eleazar fathered Matthan, Matthan fathered Jacob, and Jacob fathered Joseph the husband of Mary, who gave birth to Jesus who is called the Messiah." Matthew 1:1-17

The first thing to point out is that Matthew emphasizes the royal kingly line coming from David, and the Jewish lineage of Jesus, starting with Abraham, the father of the Jewish Nation, himself. He refers to Jesus as both the “Son of David” and the “Son of Abraham”, pointing out Jesus’ direct descent from both men. The term “Son of David” is used many times in connection to the coming Messiah, as scripture promised that the Messiah would be a descendant of King David himself: "They brought the donkey and the colt; then they laid their clothes on them, and he sat on them. A very large crowd spread their clothes on the road; others were cutting branches from the trees and spreading them on the road. Then the crowds who went ahead of him and those who followed shouted: Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest heaven!" Matthew 21:7-9

Matthew then proceeds from father to son, tracing a path from Abraham forward in time ending at Jesus the Messiah. He follows Solomon’s royal kingly line to Joseph, who Matthew describes as “the husband of Mary, who gave birth to Jesus who is called the Messiah.” This is the genealogical lineage of Joseph, which follows the line of King David’s son Solomon who was also King. Joseph of course was not the father of Jesus, and contributed no genetic lineage to Jesus. However, through the laws of adoption present in Jewish law and practice, Jesus was connected legally to the lineage of Joseph through adoption as a true son.

It is interesting to note that Matthew includes the names of five women in his genealogy of Jesus, which is not a typical thing to do. The list includes Tamar who was the daughter-in-law of Judah (Gen. 38), the son of Jacob. Rahab, the prostitute in Jericho that hid the two spies (Joshua 2). Ruth, the Moabite daughter-in-law of a Jewish woman who married Boaz (Book of Ruth). Bathsheba, the wife of Uriah the Hittite, who David had killed after sleeping with Bathsheba, and mother of Solomon (2 Samuel 11). And lastly, Mary, the mother of Jesus the Messiah. Not only are each of these women ancestors to Jesus, but each of them came from unusual and questionable circumstances involving their past. Despite this, God used these women to bring about the birth of the Messiah to this world.

Here is the account as written in Luke’s gospel:

"As he began his ministry, Jesus was about thirty years old and was thought to be the son of Joseph, son of Heli, son of Matthat, son of Levi, son of Melchi, son of Jannai, son of Joseph, son of Mattathias, son of Amos, son of Nahum, son of Esli, son of Naggai, son of Maath, son of Mattathias, son of Semein, son of Josech, son of Joda, son of Joanan, son of Rhesa, son of Zerubbabel, son of Shealtiel, son of Neri, son of Melchi, son of Addi, son of Cosam, son of Elmadam, son of Er, son of Joshua, son of Eliezer, son of Jorim, son of Matthat, son of Levi, son of Simeon, son of Judah, son of Joseph, son of Jonam, son of Eliakim, son of Melea, son of Menna, son of Mattatha, son of Nathan, son of David, son of Jesse, son of Obed, son of Boaz, son of Salmon, son of Nahshon, son of Amminadab, son of Ram, son of Hezron, son of Perez, son of Judah, son of Jacob, son of Isaac, son of Abraham, son of Terah, son of Nahor, son of Serug, son of Reu, son of Peleg, son of Eber, son of Shelah, son of Cainan, son of Arphaxad, son of Shem, son of Noah, son of Lamech, son of Methuselah, son of Enoch, son of Jared, son of Mahalalel, son of Cainan, son of Enos, son of Seth, son of Adam, son of God”. Luke 3:23-38

Luke focuses on the humanity of Jesus, starting with Joseph and going backwards in time all the way to Adam who is called the “son of God”, as Adam was the first man. The Messiah is referred to throughout scripture as the “Son of Man”: "Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven. He saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. He said, "Look, I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God! "" Acts 7:55-56. The genealogical lineage Luke gives includes Joseph, but he is described as the “son of Heli” instead of listing Joseph’s actual father as “Jacob” as Matthew does. This is not a mistake, but instead is Mary’s actual father. Heli (or Eli) was Mary’s father, and so the lineage detailed by Luke is that of Mary instead of Joseph. Her lineage also goes back to King David, but instead of coming through Solomon, it follows the lineage of David’s other son Nathan. This again is a legal and proper way of tracing lineage according to adoption laws and practices. As Mary’s parents did not have a son, Joseph could be legally adopted as their son once he became the legal husband of their daughter Mary.

While the genealogies included by Matthew and Luke in their Gospel accounts are the ones most often referenced when looking at Jesus’ background and determining his lineage, however, I feel there is another Gospel account that provides information on Jesus’ background. After all, genealogy is defined as “an account of the origin and historical development of someone or something.”

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. All things were created through him, and apart from him not one thing was created that has been created. In him was life, and that life was the light of men. That light shines in the darkness, and yet the darkness did not overcome it. There was a man sent from God whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify about the light, so that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but he came to testify about the light. The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was created through him, and yet the world did not recognize him. He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, he gave them the right to be children of God, to those who believe in his name, who were born, not of natural descent, or of the will of the flesh, or of the will of man, but of God. The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. We observed his glory, the glory as the one and only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth." John 1:1-14

Jesus was the Word of God. He was there in the beginning at creation with God. In fact, John emphasizes that it was actually Jesus who created all things, and that He was life and light. Paul in his letter to the Colossians also refers to Jesus as the creator: "He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For everything was created by him, in heaven and on earth, the visible and the invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities -- all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and by him all things hold together." Colossians 1:15-17. John’s gospel account of the origin and history of Jesus describes Jesus as the creator, present with God at creation. The Word of God was made flesh and dwelt among us. Jesus was God, and like God, has always been. Matthew in his Gospel account quotes Jesus directing His disciples to go out and make disciples of the nations, “... baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit (Mt. 28:19)”. Likewise, Paul in his second letter to the church at Corinth closes his letter in typical fashion with a blessing, saying: “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you all.” 2 Corinthians 13:14. John reminds us that the origin of Jesus is not only flesh and blood as Luke points out, and not only royal blood from kings as Matthew points out, but also that Jesus is life, light, creator, and eternal. Jesus is God and part of the Trinity. This makes it even more wonderful that God would choose to become man, and be born as a baby in a little town called Bethlehem to a virgin called Mary. Thank you Lord for this wonderful gift which we celebrate at Christmas each year.