Iran & Israel: Are current events fulfilling Ezekiel 38-39?
On February 28, 2026, the US and Israel launched a joint military offensive against Iran, resulting in the death of the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Iran has responded with missile and drone strikes against Israel and US assets across the Gulf Arab states. Now, the son (Mojtaba) of the deceased leader has just been named the new supreme leader. For decades Khamenei and his regime have sponsored terrorism around the world, and enforced Sharia law at home, imprisoning and/or killing those who disagree with it, and making it illegal for Muslims to convert to Christianity. Tragically, in the recent uprisings of Iranians themselves against the Khamenei regime, the evil regime killed over 30,000 of its citizens! Furthermore, Iranian Christians have been severely persecuted for decades. Despite this, the church in Iran is one of the fasting growing churches in the world. Having met several Iranian Christians personally, who have escaped from Iran, and having heard stories of the church in Iran, I can testify that God is at work in powerful ways in that country, saving all who call on Jesus for salvation.
As we think of Iran, first and foremost, we must pray for the people of Iran to be delivered from the lies of an evil Islamic regime, and find freedom and light through the gospel of Christ and the truth of the Bible.
When the church was birthed in Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost, Acts 2:9 tells us that there were men present from ancient Persia—corresponding to modern-day Iran—“Parthians, Medes and Elamites” (Acts 2:9). They heard the gospel and witnessed the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, and no doubt, many repented and trusted in Jesus for salvation that day, getting baptized as well (Acts 2:41).
Similarly today, there is a remnant in/from Iran who have discovered salvation through Jesus.
Many are wondering if this latest attack in Iran is a fulfillment of Bible prophecy? I agree with those who see it more as a prelude to a future one because Ezekiel 38 & 39 describes a coalition of nations, including Iran and Russia, that will join forces and rise up and seek to annihilate Israel. The nations include the following:
-“Gog of the land of Magog” (38:2) = Russia
-“Persia” (38:5) = Iran
-“Cush” (38:5) = Ethiopia & Sudan
-“Put” (38:5) = Libya
-“Gomer & Beth Togarmah” (38:6) = Turkey
This coalition will invade Israel, “a land … whose people were gathered from many nations to the mountains of Israel” (38:8). This is an important detail. Ezekiel 36:24 also reiterates the context of Israel’s regathering to the land, as the Lord says, “I will gather you from all the countries and bring you back into your own land.”
When was Israel granted their own land? 1948. Until that date, Jews living in Israel, after the time of Ezekiel, even after the exiles of the 8th and 7th centuries, were ruled by others (Assyria, Babylon, Persia, Greece, Rome, etc…). Subsequent to the destruction of Jerusalem and the second temple in 70 A.D., Jews were truly scattered to “all the countries” of the world. But, when Israel was reborn as a nation in 1948, before and after that event, Jews returned en masse to the land of Israel. Today, approximately half of the global Jewish population lives in the land of Israel.
So, when will the Ezekiel 38 & 39 battle take place? The Bible doesn’t tell us exactly when it will be, but an essential pre-requisite has already been fulfilled, since 1948. Furthermore, many of the nations who join in the Ezekiel 38 & 39 attack have in recent years openly declared their animosity to Israel, or their support for those who do.
What happens to Israel when this attack occurs? God comes to her rescue, and she is supernaturally delivered. The Lord says in Ezekiel 39:1,4,7, “I am against you, O Gog. … 4 On the mountains of Israel you will fall, you and all your troops and the nations with you. … 7 I will no longer let my holy name be profaned, and the nations will know that I the lord am the Holy One in Israel.”
The nations that come against Israel will suffer a major defeat, and God will use “a great earthquake”, “hailstones and burning sulfur”, as well as “plagues and bloodshed” (Ezek.38:19-22) to accomplish this. After Israel is delivered, it says that, “Then those who live in the towns of Israel will go out and use the weapons for fuel and burn them up. … For seven years they will use them for fuel” (Ezekiel 39:9).
Given all this, the battle described in Ezekiel 38 & 39 likely takes place just before or at the start of the seven years of tribulation. Some think it may coincide with the pre-tribulation rapture of the church. Interestingly, after the Lord fights for Israel, God says “I will pour out my Spirit on the house of Israel” (Ezek.39:29). Perhaps the display of God’s glory and power is the means of a spiritual breakthrough and turning to Christ, which comes to fruition in the tribulation, where “all Israel will be saved” (Romans 11:26). Israel, as much as Iran, needs to be saved!
The bottom line is, God’s Word will come to pass. We don’t know the exact timing of Ezekiel 38 & 39, but it will happen exactly as God said it will. Things are lining up for it to happen.
Knowing all about prophecy is important, but all that knowledge of the word of God can’t save you unless you surrender your life to the God of the Word. Ultimately, Jesus came to save you. He died for your sins and rose again from the dead and Scripture says this.
Romans 10:13 – “Anyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
Have you called on Jesus to save you?
If you know all about fulfilled prophecy but don’t turn to Jesus for salvation, then you’re missing the point of it all. The whole point of the Bible is to lead us into a relationship with Jesus.
