News about Iranian-Russian cooperation has been widely reported. For students of Bible prophecy, it’s a recent development of particular interest.
Just how rare is it for these two nations to align this way?
Russia and Iran have a complex history of relations dating back to the 16th century. They have held a few short-lived alliances to fight the Ottoman Empire in 1582, and the Afghan Empire in 1722, but the two countries have been frequent rivals for most of their history. They fought two wars over their border (the Russo-Persian Wars of 1804-1813 and 1826-1828). They allied briefly against the British in the Crimean War in 1853 and against Germany in WWI. For most of the past 100 years, the Soviet Union was hostile toward Iran, beginning after the Russian Revolution in 1917.
In recent years, world events have drawn Russia and Iran closer due to their shared opposition to the United States and their interests in Syria and Iraq. In 2015, Russia played a key role in negotiating the Obama Admin’s Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, JCPA (Iran nuclear deal). Last year, Russia and Iran signed a 20-year strategic cooperation agreement.
What does this have to do with Bible prophecy?
In Ezekiel 37 and 38, the Bible describes a battle in which the nations of the north (commonly interpreted as Russia) join with Persia (Iran) to invade Israel. What is especially interesting is Ezekiel’s description of Israel as a people regathered from many nations, using imagery of dry bones coming back to life.
In the 2500 years since that prophecy was written, this combination of Israel's rebirth and the close alignment of Russia and Persia has not occurred before.
Does this mean that a major End-Times battle is about to begin in the Middle East? Maybe not. But it's hard to deny that the pieces are falling into place.
It will be interesting to watch what happens as events unfold. Ezekiel describes [Russia] being pulled into the invasion of Israel with ‘hooks in her jaws,’ as if drawn in reluctantly. Russia is increasingly reliant on Iran for military support against Ukraine. Could this give Iran leverage to pull Russia into an invasion scheme?
If you wake up to a Special Report about Russia attacking Israel, then you’ll be seeing Bible prophecy fulfilled before your eyes!
As Christians, we should be praying urgently for the ‘Peace of Jerusalem’ and the Jewish people (Psalm 122:6).
It is also a good time to keep in mind Jesus’ words in Matthew 24 and Luke 21:28: “…when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near.”
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