Many are wondering if Israel’s recent attacks on Iran is part of the end times fulfilment. There is certainly valid reasons to believe this.

Israel Reformed as a Nation

Of course, the prophetic end times count down started on May 14, 1948 when Israel was reformed as a nation. The Jews return to the Promise Land has been long prophesied in the Bible (Jeremiah 30:3; Isaiah 11:12).

The Battle of Armageddon

This will lead to the final end times conflict referred to as the Battle of Armageddon. This takes place when a coalition of nations will gather to fight Israel (Ezekiel 38 and 39).

The leader will be Magog. This nation is described as being in the far north, literally the furthest northern nation (Ezekiel 38:15).

The description fits Russia, which in recent years has taken an antagonistic position against Israel.

This group of nations will also include Persia (Ezekiel 38:5). This was Iran’s original name until 1935 when it was changed by Reza Shah Pahlavi, the Shah of Iran.

In recent years, Russia has formed an unholy alliance with Iran, which is providing drones for Russia’s war against Ukraine.

Armageddon Will Include Nuclear Weapons

Aside from funding terrorist groups, the major reason that Israel attacked Iran was to stop its development of nuclear weapons.

Iran has nuclear program and was trying to enrich uranium, which is the final stage for creating nuclear weapons. It seems to have the missiles, including Ballistic, that are capable of carrying a nuclear payload.

The Bible’s description of Armageddon suggests that nuclear weapons will be used in the battle.

We can see this in the vivid description that the prophet Zechariah provided of this final battle:

¹² And this shall be the plague with which the Lord will strike all the peoples that wage war against Jerusalem: their flesh will rot while they are still standing on their feet, their eyes will rot in their sockets, and their tongues will rot in their mouths. (Zechariah 14:12 ESV).

Zechariah was written around 520 BC. The prophet needed to find words in his ancient language to describe events taking place thousands of years in the future.

In his vision, he saw people’s flesh falling off. Their eyes and tongues were rotting. The only thing that came close to this in his day was leprosy which resulted in body parts falling off.

This is why Zechariah called it a plague. It was the only word that explained what the prophet was seeing.

But there was one major difference. Leprosy takes weeks to develop.

Zechariah said that what happened on the battle field was instantaneous. Their flesh and body parts were falling off while they were standing.

There was nothing in Zechariah’s day that could do this.

But there is today.

Was Zechariah witnessing the after effects of a nuclear blast? If so this certainly fits what could happen with today’s modern technology.

Is Something Else at Play Here?

While the recent Israel Iran conflict fits the Biblical description, something else may be at play here.

Britain’s Times Radio reported that: Iran’s allies ‘evaporate into thin air’ as Trump/Putin prepare for ‘ironic’ deal making.

A few nations, like Russia and Communist China, have publicly condemned Israel’s attack. But no one is sending troops to help Iran in this battle.

This does not fit Armageddon which describes several nations sending armies against Israel.

It still could happen, but it hasn’t as of yet.

So what is happening?

There is a verse in the book of Daniel, that I have always found a bit curious. It seems to be describing the Antichrist:

“And he will speak against the Most High and wear down the saints of the Highest One, and he will intend to make alterations in times and in law; and they will be handed over to him for a time, times, and half a time.” (Daniel 7:25 NASV)

It talks about the Antichrist trying to changes times and laws. Some translations read seasons and laws. The word ‘time,’ is the Hebrew word ‘zemân’ and refers to “a set time, time, season.”

So it seems that God has established a set time when these end times events, like Armageddon, will take place. Remember that only God knows the day that Jesus will return (Matthew 24:36).

However, Daniel indicates that Satan will try to interrupt God’s timetable. He wants to initiate these events before they are supposed to take place. This suggests that Satan has some say in these events.

He doesn’t but will still try. This is why John warned of many Antichrists (1 John 2:18).

We have already seen evidence of this happening. I believe that Hitler was Satan’s attempt to ignite the end times before its time. In many ways Hitler fit the description of the Antichrist. He mesmerized the people. He was seeking world domination. He hated the Jews.

But God stopped him.

What is happening between Israel and Iran might be another example of this. This conflict may stop or at least slow down Iran’s nuclear ambitions for now at least.

I agree with Greg Laurie who described the conflict this way.

“Scripture also predicts that in the last days, a great coalition from the north—including Persia (modern-day Iran)—will rise up against Israel (see Ezekiel 38–39),” Laurie wrote in a recent blog post. “While what we are seeing today is not the full fulfillment of that prophecy, it is certainly a foreshadowing.”