This article will appear in the December 2017 edition of The Herald of Hope Magazine.

by John Ecob

You are our friends. One day you will be free from the evil regime that terrorizes you.

Benjamin Netanyahu

One wonders if Mr Netanyahu knew the truth of his statement to the UN in Sep.2017. Perhaps he was aware of Jeremiah’s amazing prophecy concerning Elam (Persia/Iran). Jeremiah wrote:

But it shall come to pass in the latter days, that I will bring again the captivity of Elam, saith the LORD (Jeremiah 49:39).

Jeremiah concluded his prophecies in chapters 46 to 51 with specific judgments “against the Gentiles” (Jeremiah 46:1); against Egypt, the Philistines, Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Syrians, Arabians and finally Elam. They foretell the conquests of Nebuchadnezzar and also the destructon of babylon by the Medes and Persians.

The prophecy against Elam was given early in the reign of Zedekiah who began to reign in 597BC (Jeremiah 49:34). The  final prophecy is of the utter destruction of Babylon which he states would “sink” and “not rise” (Chs. 50 and 51).

Concerning Elam (Persia)

In Jeremiah’s day Nebuchanezzar was a rising star on the political horizon and God used him to punish Judah for her sins. Nebuchadnezzar also destroyed many nations to become the sole world ruler. He was the first ruler in the “times of the Gentiles” (Luke 21:24) and Elam was one nation that he devastated.

The prophecy of Elam however, goes beyond the time of Nebuchadnezzar to the last days.

Firstly, we read that Elam would be judged by the “fierce anger” of the Lord (Jeremiah 49:37). This prophecy was fulfilled during the reign of Nebuchadnezzar who sought to recover the god Marduk (Bel) that had been taken away from Babylon by the Elamites. There were several campaigns against Elam but finally Nebuchadnezzar prevailed exactly as Jeremiah prophesied.

Secondly, God would raise up the Elamites and they would overthrow Babylon. Furthermore God’s throne would be in Elam:

And I will set my throne in Elam, and will destroy from thence the (Babylonian) king and the princes, saith the LORD (Jeremiah 49:38).

History records the overthrow of Babylon by the Medes and Persians. God said the King and princes of Babylon would be destroyed “from thence” ie. from Elam (Persia). Cyrus was a Persian and the grandson of the King of the Medes. He raised an army that defeated the Medes and together they overthrew Babylon about 538BC.

After the Medes and Persians defeated Babylon God placed His servants in the Government of Persia so that it could truely be said that God’s throne was in Elam.

Daniel was head over all the presidents while Zerubbabel was the bodyguard and given the title of “cousin” to Darius; who permitted him to “sit with me” on the throne (Antiqities of the Jews, Book 11,ch.3, para 58 by Joesphus).

Queen Esther sat on the throne of Persia and Nehemiah was the King’s cupbearer in the days of Artaxerxes.

The influence of the Jews on the Persian Empire was very strong so that it could truely be said that God set His throne in Elam after the throne of David was suspended in Jerusalem (Ezekiel 21:27).

The final prophecy of Elam concerns “the latter days” when Elam (Iran) will be restored and blessed by God.

Iran today is the centre of Shiite Islam religion which rejects the Lord Jesus Christ and we know from Ezekiel’s prophecy (Ch. 38/39) that Persia (Iran) will be a major player in the invasion of Israel in the first half of the Tribulation and it will be this invasion that brings Israel to repentance.

But other scriptures indicate that many Muslim countries with turn to Jesus Christ during the Tribulation. Egypt and Assyria (Isaiah 19), Arabia (Sheba and Kedar) (Psalms 72:10; 60:6-7) will also seek the Lord and serve the Lord in the Millennial kingdom.

One wonders if Prime Minister Netanyahu knew about God’s plan for Iran when he told the Iranian people,

You are our friends. One day you will be free from the evil regime that terrorizes you.

This article, and many others like it, appears in our bi-monthly magazine, The Herald of Hope.