“And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet” (Matthew 24:6).
A glance around the globe reveals an escalation in hostilities. Israel remains in Iran’s crosshairs. Syria’s violent unrest leaves it divided, as Turkey seems poised to mold Syria into its image.
Israel’s attempts to eradicate Hamas continue. The terrorists’ demonic depravity was revealed when they recently returned the bodies of hostage children brutally murdered by their hands.
The war between Ukraine and Russia seems like a simmering pot almost ready to boil over into World War III as European allies promise more weapons to Ukraine and as tensions rise among many nations.
Records indicate that more than 100 armed conflicts are currently occurring around the world. Forty-five are in the Middle East and Northern Africa alone.
Iran’s Nuclear Capabilities Rising
A confidential report was leaked to the press, revealing that Iran is ramping up its nuclear capabilities. The U.N.-run International Atomic Energy Agency told its member nations that Iran’s enrichment has skyrocketed over recent months, according to a Feb. 26 Reuters report.
It is estimated that Iran now has enough enriched uranium for six nuclear bombs. It has enriched uranium up to 60 percent purity and could easily enrich it to the 90 percent needed for atomic weapons.
With this accelerated pace of uranium enrichment, it is estimated that Iran could make one nuclear bomb every four to six weeks. In short order, Iran could have more than a dozen atomic bombs.
“The significantly increased production and accumulation of highly enriched uranium by Iran, the only non-nuclear weapon state to produce such nuclear material, is of serious concern,” the IAEA stated in its confidential report.
This statement is revealing because the world knows Iran’s intentions. Publicly, Iran claims it is only enriching uranium for its internal nuclear power grid. The world knows better.
President Trump has threatened to bomb Iran for its nuclear program. Iran has responded with threats against American troops stationed in the Middle East. Another simmering pot to keep a close eye on.
Israeli security forces seized large stockpiles of weapons in Judea and Samaria over the last month. For over a year, Iran has smuggled weapons into Samaria. Israel is on high alert, suspecting the weapons will be used to coordinate another Oct. 7 attack. Some experts suggest Israel was more concerned about a 2023 attack from Judea and Samaria than from Gaza.
Israel is investigating the explosion of three buses near Tel Aviv in late February. Thankfully, no one was injured in the explosion, but it seems likely that Iran provided the weapons used in this attack. A written note found with one of the bombs indicates that the attack arose from Judea and Samaria.
Israel’s Nuclear Extinction?
The question hangs in the air like thick smoke. Will Iran destroy Israel through its proxies and nuclear weapons?
Based on Bible prophecy, the answer is “No.” Zechariah 12-14 forms three of the most prophetically significant Old Testament chapters. Jerusalem is the epicenter of the Second Coming when Jesus fights the Armageddon Campaign. The surrounding nations will besiege Judah and Jerusalem (Zech. 12). But Jerusalem will prove to be a “cup of trembling” and a “burdensome stone” for the nations (Zech. 12:2-3). These metaphors speak to God’s divine judgment poured out upon His enemies at the Second Coming (Rev. 19). The nations try in vain to move a rock they cannot lift and to drink more than they can hold.
Zechariah 12:6-9 reveals that God will give the decisive victory to Jerusalem. While all the forces of evil converge to destroy Israel once and for all, God will prevail through His mighty hand.
After this Second Advent war is won, Israel will recognize her Messiah: “And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn” (Zech. 12:10).
In a parallel passage, Zechariah 14 reveals the King’s return. “Then shall the LORD go forth, and fight against those nations, as when he fought in the day of battle” (Zech. 14:3). The King will go out in battle against those nations and will fight on behalf of His people.
“And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west, and there shall be a very great valley; and half of the mountain shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south” (Zech. 14:4).
Jesus ascended from the Mount of Olives after His resurrection. He will descend to Earth at the exact same spot. A mighty earthquake will accompany His return, splitting the Mount of Olives. This earthquake will provide a new valley for the righteous remnant to escape to safety, accompanied by the Lord and His saints (Zech. 14:5).
Jesus wins. Jerusalem is not destroyed. A righteous remnant of Israel is preserved.
So, to reiterate the answer to the question, “Will Iran destroy Israel in a nuclear war?” Absolutely not! All the other nations will be dissolved while God preserves a righteous remnant of Israel.
Israel’s Friends and Foes
Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu considers President Trump the closest ally he’s ever had in the White House. The Trump administration has provided military supplies to Israel and has pledged ongoing support to eradicate terrorism in Israel.
Remember that Trump moved the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem during his first term. This bold move showed his level of support for Israel and the belief that Jerusalem is rightfully Israel’s capital city.
The U.N. plans a June 2-4 “Conference on Palestine.” This body has previously called for a return to the pre-1967 borders, which would split Jerusalem in two. This is very significant because it would give the Old City of Jerusalem and the Temple Mount to the Palestinians, making it highly unlikely that a third temple would be built. Once more, students of Bible prophecy understand the implications of these proposals.
Netanyahu said this solution would be suicidal for the Jewish people living in Israel. President Trump has also voiced his opposition to the U.N.’s proposal. As summer heat returns to the U.S., look for things to heat up between the U.N., U.S., and Israel. Jerusalem will become a focal point once more. In one of his first appointments, President Trump selected Mike Huckabee as the U.S. ambassador to Israel, another indication of this administration’s strong support for Israel.
Christians must remember why supporting Israel matters. In God’s unconditional covenant with Abraham, He promised, “And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed” (Gen. 12:3).
Does this mean the Israeli government gets carte blanche with Christians? No. It means we honor the Word of God with a biblical view of Israel’s past, present, and future in God’s redemptive and prophetic plans.
God told Israel: “For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God: the LORD thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth. The LORD did not set his love upon you, nor choose you, because ye were more in number than any people; for ye were the fewest of all people: But because the LORD loved you, and because he would keep the oath which he had sworn unto your fathers, hath the LORD brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you out of the house of bondmen, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt” (Deut. 7:6-8).
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[Josh Davis serves as Staff Evangelist with Southwest Radio Ministries. www.swrc.com.]
