Keavy Church of Christ

Mark Tabata’s Weekday Devotionals:

Tuesday March 3 2026

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2 Timothy 3:13-But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived.

There is a great deal of speculation circulating regarding the new war that the United States and Israel have entered into against Iran. Some are claiming that American military leaders told the soldiers under their command that this war is prophesied about in the Bible, and that our President is bringing about the war of Armageddon because he has been anointed by Jesus for this purpose. According to Nick Mordowanec:

“A combat-unit commander told non-commissioned officers at a briefing Monday that the Iran war is part of God’s plan and that President Donald Trump was “anointed by Jesus to light the signal fire in Iran to cause Armageddon and mark his return to Earth,” according to independent journalist Jonathan Larsen as published on Substack. That complaint was made by a non-commissioned officer and provided to the Military Religious Freedom Foundation (MRFF), which from Saturday morning through Monday evening received and logged more than 110 complaints about commanders in every branch of the military….That NCO’s commander, described in an email from the NCO to MRFF and shared with Larsen, was described as a “Christian first” member of the military who urged troops not to be “afraid” of what is currently taking place in Iran. “He urged us to tell our troops that this was ‘all part of God’s divine plan’ and he specifically referenced numerous citations out of the Book of Revelation referring to Armageddon and the imminent return of Jesus Christ,” the NCO wrote in the email. “He said that ‘President Trump has been anointed by Jesus to light the signal fire in Iran to cause Armageddon and mark his return to Earth.’” (By Nick Mordowanec Published March 03, 2026 at 6:08pm ET, https://www.military.com/daily-news/2026/03/03/military-officers-accused-of-framing-iran-war-biblical-mandate.html)

My goal in this devotional is not to discuss the veracity of this report, or the motivations for our country’s military action. Rather, I want to investigate these claims regarding Bible prophecy and Iran. Lots of people are asking questions, and we need to study God’s Word to find the truth (Acts 17:11).

To my knowledge, there are two major prophecies in the Bible which deal specifically with the nation of Iran. The first one is usually referred to as the Elam Prophecy.

The Prophet Jeremiah wrote:

Jeremiah 49:34-39-The word of the LORD that came to Jeremiah the prophet against Elam, in the beginning of the reign of Zedekiah king of Judah, saying, 35  “Thus says the LORD of hosts: ‘Behold, I will break the bow of Elam, The foremost of their might. 36  Against Elam I will bring the four winds From the four quarters of heaven, And scatter them toward all those winds; There shall be no nations where the outcasts of Elam will not go. 37  For I will cause Elam to be dismayed before their enemies And before those who seek their life. I will bring disaster upon them, My fierce anger,’ says the LORD; ‘And I will send the sword after them Until I have consumed them. 38  I will set My throne in Elam, And will destroy from there the king and the princes,’ says the LORD. 39  ‘But it shall come to pass in the latter days: I will bring back the captives of Elam,’ says the LORD.”

Let’s study.

Elam is one of the ancient names for the modern day nation of Iran.

“Elam was an important state in southwestern Iran from the third millennium BC to the appearance of the Persian Empire and beyond. Less well-known than its neighbours in Mesopotamia, Anatolia, the Levant or Egypt, it was nonetheless a region of extraordinary cultural vitality….All too often we take for granted the identity and ethnicity of the archaeological and historical cultures which we study, without considering whether discrepancies exist between our definitions and the self-definitions of the peoples being studied. In the case of Elam, it is now clear that we are dealing with a notion imposed by Mesopotamian scribes, not one which had any basis in indigenous notions of ethnic and linguistic self-definition. Diverse groups in southwestern Iran were subsumed under this foreign label, but at a certain point the label was adopted for it clearly served a purpose in a different context of self-definition. Elam is both a name and a concept. How these changed through time will be explored in the chapters which follow.” (D.T. Potts, The Archaeology Of Elam: Formation And Transformation Of An Ancient Iranian State, 1, 12 (Kindle Edition); Cambridge World Archaeology)

In this prophecy, we are told about a day when the people of Elam would have “the captives” brought back by the Lord. This was a Jewish expression that meant that they would repent and be restored. We are also told that this would happen when Elam’s government (notice the language of the “king” and her “princes”) would be broken, and the Lord’s throne would be established there. All this would take place in the “latter days,” a Hebrew expression usually referencing “the Christian age” (cf. Acts 2:16-21; Hebrews 1:1-2).

Some believe that this prophecy is still awaiting a future fulfillment. However, the Book of Acts shows us that this prophecy began to be fulfilled in the first century.

On the great day of Pentecost, the Bible tells us about the establishment of the Lord’s church in “the last days” or “latter days.” There were people gathered together from every nation under Heaven as the Word of the Messiah began to be proclaimed (Acts 2:5). Especially interesting in regard to our study, look at the citizens of which nations are mentioned as being present there:

Acts 2:7-12-Then they were all amazed and marveled, saying to one another, “Look, are not all these who speak Galileans? 8  And how is it that we hear, each in our own language in which we were born? 9  Parthians and Medes and ELAMTES, those dwelling in Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10  Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya adjoining Cyrene, visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, 11  Cretans and Arabs—we hear them speaking in our own tongues the wonderful works of God.” 12  So they were all amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “Whatever could this mean?”

The Elam prophecy of Jeremiah began to be fulfilled on that great day when the Lord established His church in the world of man. That prophecy will continue to be fulfilled in the world as long as people hear the Word of God proclaimed and turn to the Lord for redemption.

What to take from all of this?

First, as always, God’s Word is true!

Second, there are many in the religious world who misinterpret God’s Word (whether through ignorance or willful deceit). This should be a lesson for each of to carefully study God’s Word together (Matthew 22:29; 2 Peter 3:15-17).

Third, Zionism is a growing threat in our nation. The teaching that the Jewish people are still the chosen people of God is influencing a great deal of our country’s beliefs, practices, and policies. The church of Christ is God’s chosen people in the world today (Romans 11:19-23; 1 Peter 2:9). Yes, the Gospel is for Jew and Gentile (Romans 1:16), but only Christians are God’s chosen people today.

Galatians 3:7-Therefore know that only those who are of faith are sons of Abraham.

Galatians 3:26-29-For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. 27  For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28  There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29  And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.

Fourth, Jesus is going to come back when His Father sends Him, and not before. No politician or attempts to manipulate God and His timetable will work.

Matthew 24:36-But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only.

Finally, no matter what the reasons for our country’s new war on Iran, let’s remember to pray for all of our soldiers and their families (1 Thessalonians 5:17). We should also be praying for our leaders (1 Timothy 2:1-6), and for our enemies (Matthew 5:44-45).

Lord, please help us. Amen.