For the first time in history, the nation of Iran launched direct attacks against the nation of Israel. Iran, known as Persia in Scripture, has existed in some form since ancient times. Yet, while this attack was largely thwarted through the defensive capabilities of Israel and her allies, the leader of the Iranian states remains stalwart. President Raisi vowed that even the tiniest retaliatory response from Israel would result in a “massive and harsh” response and that “nothing would remain from the Zionist regime”. This may be current news, but there is nothing new about it. Israel has always needed to maintain a defensive posture as its enemies have surrounded them and made their threats.

The Bible foretells of things getting worse. Unfolding in the book of Ezekiel chapters 38 and 39 are even greater threats along with God’s purposes for them. So why do these nations want to attack Israel? First, as God’s chosen people, the nation of Israel has represented the true God in the midst of its neighbors who reject the Bible’s claims. Now they haven’t always done a good job at that task and many Jewish people are lost because they haven’t recognized Jesus Christ as their Messiah – but nonetheless, the God they represent has put a target on their backs.

Second, the prophet Ezekiel gives a greater purpose for the future attacks that Israel will one day face. He foresaw the battles and military confrontations that would lead to the return of Christ and establishment of His kingdom. The Bible tells of a military alliance that is formed with Persia, central Asia, Russia, Turkey, Ethiopia and other nations who will come together against the Israel. Though their forces will be overwhelmingly superior to the defenses of Israel, God will intervene and destroy all of these invading forces on Israel’s behalf. The present crisis in Israel may be a precursor to this great conflict, but there are a number of factors that indicate the big event has not yet arrived.

First, the Bible tells of an alliance of nations that is arrayed against Israel. While Lebanon, Iran, and the Palestinians have been involved in the current conflict, the other major players in Ezekiel’s prophesy have not yet come to the table. This indicates that more nations must come together before we can conclude that Ezekiel’s prophecy is fulfilled in the present day.

Second, Ezekiel tells us that “in that day there shall be a great shaking in the land of Israel” (Ezekiel 38:19). This indicates a great earthquake where “all the men that are upon the face of the earth, shall shake at my presence, and the mountains shall be thrown down, and the steep places shall fall, and every wall shall fall to the ground” (Ezekiel 38:20). We have seen earthquakes recently, but nothing of that magnitude in the nation of Israel.

Third, God makes known to us that He will squash this anti-Israeli alliance with rain, fire and hail. “I will rain upon him, and upon his bands, and upon the many people that are with him, and overflowing rain, and great hailstones, fire, and brimstone” (Ezekiel 38:22). Why does God turn back Israel’s enemies with these signs from heaven? Ezekiel tells us that through His personal intervention and dealing with Israel’s enemies in this way that He will cause people to acknowledge Him as God. “Thus I will magnify myself, and sanctify myself, and I will be known in the eyes of many nations, and they shall know that I am the Lord” (Ezekial 38:23).

So the purpose of God in allowing Israel to be attacked in the end times is so He will get the glory when they are defeated. He wants the people of the nations of the earth to recognize Him as the one, true God. He wants them to turn to Him in repentance and ask for His grace and mercy in their lives. This is why God will allow Israel to be pressured from all sides in the last days.

What we are seeing with Iran may be leading up to those last days, but we aren’t there yet. But while we wait for those prophesies to be fulfilled, God doesn’t want you to wait until those horrific events to acknowledge Him. He calls on every nation right now to have a relationship with Him through His Son, Jesus Christ. Let’s pray for the peace of Jerusalem – they still have a target on their backs - but let’s also remember to pray that those who don’t know Christ will come to know eternal peace before the great conflicts of the end times begin.