On Sunday, May 19, reports came out of Iran that Iran’s dictator president Ebrahim Raisi, Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, and a host of other Iranian officials and bodyguards had experienced a “hard landing” when their helicopter went down. Turns out that the hard landing actually was a crash that killed all on board. Iranian news agencies reported that Raisi and others had been “martyred” because they were killed in service to their people. Known as the “Butcher of Tehran” for his brutality to dissidents and women, Raisi also was an outspoken enemy of Israel and the United States. In fact, Iran is funding Hamas, Hezbollah and other terrorists in the war against Israel. In his death, there may be prophetic lessons.
With that as the background, this untimely end to Iran’s extreme and radical leader should be a warning sign not only to the extremists in terrorist-led Iran, but also to Joe Biden, the United States and the church. In Genesis 12:3, the LORD said of Israel, “And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curses thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.” Raisi and his minions may well have suffered at the hand of God because of what they are doing and have done to Israel. Most certainly, there is historic documentation when leaders in the US go against Israel, there is usually a natural, political, or economic disaster that follows. Americans, brace yourselves because Biden has been part and parcel to Iran’s and Hamas’ funding for “humanitarian purposes” that has allowed these terrorists to war against Israel.
There are “replacement” theologists which many mainline churches follow that contend that Christianity replaced the Jews as God’s chosen people. They assert that Israel of today is not the Israel of the Bible, not God’s covenant land. They further claim that modern Israel is so sinful and against the precepts of God, that it is disqualified from being the Israel of the Bible. This is a very false and dangerous theology—one held at the risk of divine retribution, an example we have seen with Raisi and the US is experiencing as a nation in crisis. Throughout the Bible, we see that God uses the nations to chastise Israel for its turning away. But because of the harshness of those nations against Israel, they too, are judged and chastised. Examples are found in Zechariah 12, 14; Ezekiel 38, 39; Joel 3; Jude 1; Jeremiah 25; Revelation, and many more.
In the prophetic end times, the Holy Scriptures are very clear that Christ returns to restore Israel and the Jews are once again and forevermore His people and He will be their God. In Ezekiel 39:28-29, the LORD says, “Then shall they know that I am the LORD their God, which caused them to be led into captivity among the heathen: but I have gathered them unto their own land, and have left none of them any more there. Neither will I hide my face any more from them: for I have poured out my spirit upon the house of Israel, says the LORD God.” Many will say that Raisi got what he deserved and they rejoice at his death for his life was evil. But will there be the same rejoicing among those chastised for their replacement doctrine and for their leaders that say they support Israel, but are actively working against her? Something to ponder.
