Persia, which is modern-day Iran, is a significant player in endtime Bible prophecy. Now, when it comes to naming all the nations lined up marching against Israel, guess which nation is right at the front of the queue? Well, in Ezekiel 38:5, the Bible says, "Persia, Ethiopia, and Libya are with them.
All of them with shield and helmet. " This is a coalition coming. And Ezekiel says the one that's going to rev it up is Persia.
When it comes to Iran, there is no nation on earth that has threatened Israel more completely for annihilation. Many scholars believe that the nation of Iran in this modern day and in the hands of its current leaders are tied, controlled, and influenced by ancient principalities. It's demonic.
It's not human. It's a demonic passion to destroy God's chosen people of promise, the Jewish people. Remember the lesson from Daniel 10.
Daniel exposed that as he was praying behind the scenes, the answer to his prayer was influenced by the prince of Persia. This highranking principality and power. Daniel 10:13 explains, "But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withtood me 21 days.
" This prince was no human king. It was a spiritual being, a demonic power influencing the Persian Empire. This dark power fought to keep the answer from reaching Daniel.
This demon over a country. Now, another aspect of this is what's next on the prophetic timeline. Is it the rapture or is it World War III which may or may not play a part in the Gog and Magog war?
But let's take a closer look at the prophetic events profiled in Ezekiel 38 and 39. Many believe those events are not too far off in the future. But let me briefly share what Ezekiel 38-39 says is going to happen because these chapters profile how Israel will be attacked by a broad and overwhelming coalition of hostile forces.
These forces are led by the biblically symbolic name Gog who is also referred to as the prince of Rash Meek and Tubil. This coalition hates Israel and attacks with overwhelming military assets advancing on Israel from the far north. Enemy forces will mercilessly attack.
Their dual purpose is to plunder and loot and annihilate the people of Israel. Ezekiel notes the decisive battlefield will be the mountains of Israel which have long been desolate. When Israel's destruction seems imminent, God will intervene and bring about a decisive victory by sending torrents of rain, hailstones, and burning sulfur down on the advancing army.
God desires that through this clearly supernatural victory, many will be brought to faith in him. Ezekiel 38:23 notes, "I will make myself known in the sight of many nations. Then they will know that I am the Lord.
" Okay, let's look at this important potentially near future prophecy in more detail. The Ezekiel 38 prophecy begins, "The word of the Lord came to me, son of man, set your face against Gog of the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meek and Tubil. Prophesy against him and say, "This is what the sovereign Lord says.
I am against you, Gog, chief prince of Meek and Tubel. " Okay. Thus far, we see that God is angry with the plans and actions of certain groups being led by Gog of the land of Mog, the chief prince of Meek and Tubel.
Ezekiel writes these sobering words from Gog to Gog. I am against you. The text notes the evil players are led by Gog and as we will see they will conspire and plan to destroy Israel.
God will use their malice and like Pharaoh of old harden their hearts and lure them to Israel and there supernaturally destroy them as a sign and witness to the world that he alone is Lord and the prophecies in the Bible are true. Ezekiel then describes what it will be like for Israel. He calls enemy forces hordes and notes that Israel will be surrounded.
He writes, "All the hordes will be gathered about you. You will be called to arms. " In verse 9, we read that the enemy force will advance like a storm and that it will be like a cloud covering the land.
vivid, sobering word imagery. Verses 10 to 12 provide additional insight into why these nations will attack. The verse also provides insight as to the when.
Ezekiel notes two primary reasons for the attack. The first is arrogance and pride. Note how many times the phrase I will is used.
It is the same phrase both Ezekiel and Isaiah used to describe the pride of Satan who in ages past said, "I will raise my throne above the throne of God. " Beginning in verse 10, we read, "On that day, you will devise an evil scheme. You will say, I will invade a land of unwalled villages.
I will attack a peaceful and unsuspecting people, all of them living without walls and without gates and bars. I will plunder and loot and turn my hand against the resettled people gathered from the nations. The enemy will attack because he hates Israel and in pride believes he can prevail against the nation God has vowed to restore and use in the last days.
There is pride. There is arrogance and there is a deep desire to subvert God's prophetic plan. So what are believers to do today?
First and foremost, we are not to live in fear, but we are to live with our hope and faith in Jesus Christ. Next, we are to see that Bible prophecy is true and use it as we can as a witnessing tool regarding hostility against Israel. Believers can look to headlines regarding coalitions being formed, threats being made, and economic needs heightening.
All of which could set the stage for this epic conflict. Believers are to share the warning signs with unbelievers so that when prophecy unfolds as predicted, skeptics will be brought to faith. Five major signs that are converging today to show that we're living in the end times.
Sign number one, celestial disturbances. What scripture describes as the sun darkened and the moon turned to blood. Joel writes, "I will display wonders in the sky and on the earth, blood, fire, and columns of smoke.
The sun will be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes. And it will come about that whoever calls on the name of the Lord will be delivered. " Now, we must begin with this.
Joel is speaking of the day of the Lord. Now, that's a technical term in scripture. It refers to a future time of divine judgment and unprecedented upheaval.
The language is not incidental. It's apocalyptic. It describes cosmic disturbance accompanying God's direct intervention and judgment.
In recent years, much attention has been given to so-called blood moons and eclipses occurring near significant events in Jewish history. On March 3rd, 2026, there will be a full blood moon eclipse. This is the last total lunar eclipse visible until December 31st, 2028.
One article reports, "This will be the last total lunar eclipse visible anywhere on Earth until New Year's Eve, 2028. For North America, the next opportunity to see one will not come until June 26th, 2029. However, there will be a deep partial lunar eclipse on August 27th through 28th, 2026, when 93% of the full moon will enter the umbra.
Expect a reddish tinged full moon, but not the glory of totality. Only March 2nd through 3rd will feature a true blood moon in 2026. People observe patterns.
They draw correlations. They suggest prophetic implications. But we must be careful for it's scripture, not NASA charts, not historical coincidence that defines prophetic fulfillment.
Now Joel is not describing a mere sequence of predictable lunar eclipses. He's describing supernatural phenomena tied to the climactic day of the Lord. The ultimate fulfillment of that text is future global unmistakable and associated with divine wrath, not simply astronomical cycles.
With that said, the increasing attention to Israel, to Jerusalem, and to temple matters is significant. And that leads to a second issue. Sign number two, preparations related to the temple in Jerusalem.
The temple was destroyed in AD70 by the Romans, just as our Lord predicted. And since that time, there has been no functioning Jewish temple. Yet, scripture indicates that in the future, during the 70th week of Daniel, there will again be sacrifices, and they'll be stopped by the man of lawlessness.
Daniel 9 speaks of a coming ruler who will make a covenant, bring an end to sacrifice, and commit what Jesus later calls the abomination of desolation. Paul in 2 Thessalonians 2 describes this individual taking his seat in the temple of God, displaying himself as being God. Revelation 11 speaks of a temple measured during a tribulation period.
All of that implies a functioning temple in the future. Now, in our day, there are organizations in Israel preparing priestly garments, utensils, and instruments. And that historically is remarkable.
For nearly two millennia, such preparation was inconceivable. Today, it's openly discussed. But again, we must distinguish between possibility and fulfillment.
Preparations don't equal prophecy fulfilled. They demonstrate the stage could be set. They don't prove that the curtain has risen.
Sign number three, widespread scoffing regarding the Lord's return. Now, this one is explicit. Peter tells us in second Peter 3 that in the last days mockers will come following after their own lusts, saying, "Where is the promise of his coming?
" Now, notice here they speak of his coming. They are not pagan atheists. They're not people within the orbit of the church.
They process belief, but they ridicule the doctrine of Christ's return. They dismiss it as irrelevant, symbolic, or exaggerated. And Peter says that attitude itself is a sign.
Their skepticism is not a reputation of prophecy. It's the fulfillment of it. And we're living in a time when large portions of the professing church neglect, minimize, or even openly reject biblical esquetology.
Yet, the second coming of Christ saturates the New Testament. It's not peripheral. It's central.
The return of Christ is the blessed hope of the church and the terror of the ungodly. Sign number four, an unprecedented increase in knowledge and global capability. Daniel 12 speaks of a time when many will go back and forth and knowledge will increase.
While that text primarily refers to the unfolding and understanding of prophetic revelation, it is certainly true that our era is marked by an explosion of technology. I mean, for the first time in human history, the entire world can observe events in real time. Revelation 11 describes the whole world seeing the bodies of the two witnesses.
2,000 years ago that would have seemed incomprehensible. But today, global communication is instantaneous. Now, technology does not create prophecy, but it does demonstrate how certain prophecies are entirely feasible in ways they never were before.
But still, technology itself is morally neutral. It's a tool. What matters is the heart of a man who wields it.
Sign number five, moral conditions resembling the days of Noah. Our Lord said in Matthew 24, "For the coming of the Son of Man will be just like the days of Noah. " So what characterized those days?
Well, Genesis 6 tells us corruption and violence filled the earth. Human depravity was pervasive. Judgment came suddenly upon an unprepared world while a righteous remnant was preserved.
We don't need a creative imagination to see the parallels here. Moral corruption is celebrated. Violence is commonplace.
God is marginalized. And yet life goes on. People eating, drinking, marrying, unconcerned about divine judgment.
That is precisely the atmosphere Jesus described. Now, as we consider all of this, we must guard against sensationalism. Scripture does not call us to speculation.
It calls us to faithfulness. Yes, we are living in days that appear increasingly aligned with what the Bible describes as the end of the age. Yes, Israel is central on the world stage.
Yes, moral decline is accelerating. Yes, technology makes global control conceivable. And yes, mockery of Christ's return is widespread.
But here's the controlling truth. The timing belongs to God. And Peter reminds us that with the Lord, one day is like a thousand years.
And a thousand years like one day. God is not slow. He's patient.
He's not bound by our calendars. His redemptive plan is unfolding exactly on schedule. So what do we do?
We don't set dates. We don't panic. We don't withdraw from life.
We live responsibly, plan wisely, and work diligently as though Christ may tar. and we live purely, urgently, expectantly as though he may come today. Jesus said, "When you see these things begin to take place, straighten up and lift up your heads because your redemption is drawing near.
" The return of Christ is not meant to terrify the believer. It's meant to purify us, to steady us, and to fill us with hope. The judge is coming.
The king is returning. And every word God has spoken will be fulfilled precisely, completely, and gloriously. When it comes to judgment day, there will be two groups of people.
And I want you to notice this rule of two. There are the sheep and the goats. Matthew 25:32-33 says, "All the nations will be gathered in his presence, and he will separate the people as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.
He will place the sheep at his right hand and the goats at his left. The sheep will be on Jesus's right hand, and they are blessed by God and will receive eternal life. " But you see, the goats on Jesus's left hand are cursed with eternal hellfire.
Another separation is to do with judgment day itself. Once again, we see this rule of two. There are two endtime judgments of which the Bible speaks.
The great white throne judgment and the judgment seat of Christ. For the great white throne judgment, only lost people appear at that judgment. Everyone there is cast into the lake of fire.
The judgment is to determine their degree of punishment. This judgment is detailed in Revelation 20. And then there is the judgment seat of Christ which is detailed in 2 Corinthians 5:10.
Only Christians will appear at this judgment. It is a judgment to determine eternal rewards or the loss of them. It has nothing to do with determining salvation.
Now I could go on and give you more examples of this rule of two in the Bible. those who are on the broad road living however they like versus those who walk on the narrow road and live their lives for the glory of Christ. There are those who will fulfill the prophecy given to us in 1 Timothy 3:1 to5 which details that in the last days people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant and so forth.
And then there are those who will fulfill the prophecy given to us in Acts 2:17, which says, "And in the last days it shall be, God declares that I will pour out my spirit on all flesh, and your sons and daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams. " Now, in this video, I want to talk to you, or rather warn you about the danger of falling into the wrong category. God wants everyone to be saved.
But the reality presented to us in the Bible is that not everyone will be saved. And I want to warn you about the type of person, the type of character that will not be saved. The first group is the most obvious.
These are the unbelievers. Those who do not believe in the birth, death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The Bible explicitly states that Jesus Christ is the way, the truth, and the life, and there is no way through to the Father except through him.
On the cross, Jesus was there, and there were two criminals on either side of him. One of the criminals hanging beside him scoffed, "So, you're the Messiah, are you? Prove it by saving yourself and us, too, while you're at it.
" But the other criminal protested, "Don't you fear God even when you have been sentenced to die? We deserve to die for our crimes, but this man hasn't done anything wrong. Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.
" And Jesus replied, "I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise. " One criminal believed in Jesus and he went to heaven to be with the Lord. The other was an unbeliever and we can only assume based on the information we have that he was not saved.
Nothing else can save a person. Not intelligence, power, money, good looks, or even family or friends. We are saved only by the blood of Jesus and his death on the cross paid for our sins.
The second group of people who will not be saved are those who commit the unpardonable sin. Those who blasphe the Holy Spirit. In the New Testament, the Pharisees and Sadducees knew deep in their hearts.
They knew Jesus was from God and that his miraculous power was from the Holy Spirit. Yet, they accused him of casting out demons by the power of Beelzebub. In other words, they called the Holy Spirit a fraud.
They consistently put Jesus's power to the test and question his authority despite witnessing his amazing works. This is what blaspheming the Holy Spirit looks and sounds like. Jesus specifically mentioned this unforgivable sin in Matthew 12:31, saying, "Therefore, I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven people, but the blasphemy against the spirit will not be forgiven.
" The definition of blasphemy when looked up in the dictionary is the action or offense of speaking sacriiggiously about God or sacred things. profane talk. So why does Jesus say blasphemy can be forgiven in any form except for when it is directed at the Holy Spirit?
The next verse gives us some context and clarification. In verse 32, he says, "And whoever speaks a word against the son of man will be forgiven, but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven either in this age or in the age to come. " That might be confusing to some.
Why is blasphemy against the spirit worse than blaspheming the son? Jesus makes it clear that the unforgivable blasphemy he is referring to isn't just saying something mean about God. It's not simply mocking or talking disrespectfully about the son.
Although this is definitely still a sin, one can repent from it completely and God will forgive the sinner. The blasphemy against the spirit isn't simply a bad thought or word. It is the active rejection of the Holy Spirit, his message.
The third group is the people who have a form of godliness, the hypocrites. Envision a person who puts on an act while in public. They pray the loudest.
They raise their hands the highest. They sing with so much passion, but when in private, they live a different life behind closed doors. In Matthew 23, Jesus confronted the religious leaders hypocrisy, denouncing their outward righteousness while neglecting justice, mercy, and humility.
Just as the hypocrites actions betray their true heart, God despises hypocrisy that contradicts genuine faith. Jesus told this parable about a Pharisee who was proud and had great confidence in their own righteousness and scorned everyone else. Two men went to the temple to pray.
One was a Pharisee and the other was a despised tax collector. The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed this prayer. I thank you God that I am not like other people, cheaters, sinners, adulterers.
I'm certainly not like that tax collector. I fast twice a week and I give you a tenth of my income. But the tax collector stood at a distance and dared not even lift his eyes to heaven as he prayed.
Instead, he beat his chest in sorrow, saying, "Oh God, be merciful to me, for I am a sinner. I tell you, this sinner, not the Pharisee, returned home justified before God. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.
" I'd like to tell you today that Jesus Christ can see. He can see right through the facades. He can see beyond your actions and right into your intentions and motives.
We may not be a Pharisee or a scribe, but here's what we all have in common. We're all private people and we all don't like to announce to the world what we're really like inside. We have secrets.
People have secrets. Secret thoughts, secret intentions, secret motives, and most of the time, secrets and sins go together as a pair. Is your public life matching up to your private life?
Or are you one person when there's an audience, but someone else when you're alone? I believe that we all must be aware of becoming self-righteous. A self-righteous person will appear to be morally superior than others in order to hide their own struggles.
A self-righteous person will strive to make others believe that they are a good Christian, a strong Christian, when in reality they are simply seeking the applause of man. The fourth and final group of people who cannot be saved are those with a hardened heart. What does it mean to have a hardened heart?
It means spiritual blindness. It means insensitivity toward God's beauty and glory. It means chasing after our own desires instead of the things of God.
What are some of the practical things that show when someone's heart has been hardened? Proverbs 6 verse 16 to 19 sums this up perfectly saying these six things the Lord hates. Yes, seven are an abomination to him.
A proud look, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that are swift in running to evil, a false witness who speaks lies, and one who sews discord among brethren. When someone's heart has become cold and hard, they will not turn away from such things. They will continue to be proud, to lie, to run to evil, and so on.
One of the clearest and most powerful verses in the Bible can be found in 1 John 2:6. The word of God says, "Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did. " I don't think the Bible can be any clearer here.
Anyone who claims to be a Christian must walk and conduct themselves as Christ. We ought to be imitators of Christ in every way possible. And this means we need to strive to be as prayerful as Jesus was when he walked on this earth.
We should strive to be as loving and merciful as Jesus was on this earth. We should fight to be about our father's business. We should fight to do God's will.
And so, dear friend, our heart's cry should be, "Lord, I want to walk like you did. Teach me how to love like you did. Teach me how to be obedient just like you were.
Teach me how to be forgiving just like you were. And of course, teach me how to pray like you did. Jesus sits on the Mount of Olives with his disciples.
They ask him the question that echoes through every generation. >> Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of your coming and the end of the age?
>> And here's what is absolutely stunning. Jesus doesn't start by talking about wars. He doesn't begin with earthquakes or famines.
The very first words out of his mouth are these. Watch out that no one deceives you. >> Deception.
That is the primary warning. That is the first danger. The Greek word for deceive here is Plano.
To cause, to wander, to lead astray, to seduce, in error. It paints the picture of sheep following a voice that sounds almost right only to realize too late that they are being led somewhere dangerous. A recent study revealed that 73% of people who are identified as Christians in their youth no longer attend church or practice or faith by age 30.
That is not a small drift. That is a significant departure. Another survey found that 52% of self-identified Christians believe all religions are equally valid paths to God.
Yet Jesus declared in John 14:6, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the father except through me. " This is exactly the kind of deception Jesus warned about.
It calls for spiritual vigilance. Jesus told us what to look for. You will hear of wars and rumors of wars.
Nations will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines, pestilence and earthquakes in various places. He says these are the beginning of sorrows.
Those who belong to Christ are not meant to be unaware. They are meant to be watchful. So let us examine the first critical difference between the chosen and the deceived.
The chosen stand on the unshakable rock of God's word. The deceived build their faith on the shifting sands of culture. feelings and popular opinion.
Matthew 7 24-27 Jesus describes two builders. One hears his words and puts them into practice. He builds on rock.
When the storms come and Jesus promises they will. His house stands firm. The other hears the same words but does nothing.
He builds on sand. When the storms come, his house collapses. The chosen live out Jesus's words no matter the cost.
They do not merely hear them. They practice them. The deceived may agree intellectually.
They may speak Christian language. But when faith collides with comfort, reputation or ambition, they compromise. They reshape scripture to fit their lives instead of reshaping their lives to fit scripture.
The foundation you stand on determines whether you endure. The second critical difference is love. Matthew 24:12 Jesus says, "Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold.
Not some, most. " Spiritual coldness rarely happens overnight. It's gradual.
A slow drift. One missed prayer time, one compromised conviction, one rationalized sin at a time. The chosen guard their hearts intentionally.
They nurture their love for God through prayer, worship, obedience, and repentance. The deceive allow routine to replace relationship. Outward activity remains, but inward fire fades.
The third critical difference is endurance. Jesus says in Matthew 24:13, "The one who stands firm to the end will be saved. " To stand firm means to remain, to persevere under pressure.
He also warns in verse 9 that believers will face persecution. Around the world today, many Christians face imprisonment and hostility. In other places, pressure may come socially, economically, or culturally.
This is where separation becomes visible. The chosen count the cost and still choose Christ. Like Paul writes to the Philippians 3 7 to8.
He considers everything lost compared to knowing Christ. The deceived decide the cost is too high. Comfort becomes more valuable than conviction.
Jesus warns in Gospel of Matthew 10:33. Whoever disown me before others I will disown before my father in heaven. Neutrality does not endure under pressure.
The fourth critical difference is discernment. Matthew 24 23- 24 Jesus warns that false messiahs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders to deceive if possible even the elect. Paul echoes this warning in 2 epistle to the Corinthians 11:3-15.
He explains that false apostles disguise themselves as servants of righteousness just as Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. This means deception will not always look evil. It may look spiritual, impressive, persuasive.
Jesus even says in Matthew 7 22-23 that some will claim to prophesy and perform miracles in his name. Yet he will say, "I never knew you. " The chosen test everything against scripture.
As first epistle of John 4:1 instructs, believers are to test the spirits. The deceived chase experiences without examining truth. The fifth critical difference is loyalty under betrayal.
Matthew 24:10 Jesus says many will turn away from the faith and betray one another. Matthew 10 21-22 he explains that even family members may betray one another because of allegiance to him. Paul similarly warns in first epistle to Timothy 4:1-2 that some will abandon the faith and follow deceptive teachings.
History shows that faithfulness is often tested not only by enemies but by those once close. The chosen remain steadfast even when relationships fracture. They understand that allegiance to Christ is ultimate.
Following Christ means that loyalty to him stands above comfort. approval and even earthly security. And that is where the true line is drawn.
