Watchman on the Wall

Southwest Radio Ministries: Welcome to Watchman on the Wall, a daily outreach of Southwest Radio Ministries and swrc.com. The removal of Iran's regime brought key Bible prophecies into sharper focus. Josh Davis explains what these prophecies say on today's program.

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So thank you, friends, for visiting swrc.com and showing your support for Southwest Radio Ministries and Watchman on the Wall. The removal of Iran's regime, it brought key Bible prophecies into sharper focus. Iran is known by two names in Bible prophecy: Persia and Elam. Ancient prophecies concerning these locations connect the dots to events occurring today. Josh Davis explains what these prophecies say on today's Headlines from the End Times.

Josh Davis: Greetings fellow Watchman on the Wall, and welcome to another Headlines from the End Times. The removal of Iran's regime brought some key Bible prophecies into a sharper focus. Now we want to dive into that and explore it from God's Word's perspective. What do certain Bible prophecies such as Jeremiah 49, Ezekiel 38, other passages of scripture have to say about what we see happening in the world today?

Some of you may be saying, "Well, I tuned in last Friday and I was expecting you to be talking about this issue. Why weren't you talking about it then? Why are you waiting until now?" First and foremost, we're going to God's Word. We're going to understand what does God's Word have to say about that. Breaking news comes one day and it's gone the next oftentimes.

But God's Word stands the test of time. And so if we accurately interpret and accurately apply God's Word, then we can come out with a much sharper focus to use that analogy again. And the second point is that we just simply have to have these programs recorded about two weeks ahead of time so that they can get to the radio stations in a timely manner to be uploaded and ready to go on the day that they air.

Since it's not live radio, we can't always respond right away. But as I said, I'm taking a step back, looking at what God's Word says. And there's something important about that. It's not just something that I'm trying to say to cause you to listen today, but really, when we're talking about how do these events fit into God's prophetic plan, as followers of the Lord Jesus Christ, that must be and should be our very first impulse.

Get into God's Word. What does God's Word have to say about this? So the opposite of that is taking the headlines and reading them into the passages of scripture. Some people call that "newspaper exegesis." In other words, starting with the headlines and then seeing which passage of scripture somewhere in some unique corner of the Bible can I find a place to mold this and deform this and fit this into the pages of scripture.

That is not what I am doing. That is not what we should do. That is improper Bible study. I emphasize that so highly because many times, students of Bible prophecy have been guilty of that. And it was that abuse of Bible prophecy that caused me to want to turn away from paying attention to Bible prophecy for a period of my life.

I was growing in other areas of my spiritual life, but I was largely ignoring Bible prophecy because it had been abused in this particular manner. We start with what the Word of God says. We start with properly understanding God's Word, and then if current events are checking those boxes and it's fitting into there, then yes, we can see a correlation. We can see a fulfillment of prophecy.

But it has to start with the proper understanding of God's Word. And that's what I want to help guide you through today so that we can take a step back, take a deep breath, analyze this from God's Word and understand what it has to say. I want to, before we jump into scripture and exploring some of these passages in greater detail, I want to just take a moment and call your attention to this phrase that I used in my opening. And that is sharper focus—that these prophecies are coming into a sharper focus.

That's not the same as saying that these prophecies were fulfilled with the removal of Iran's leadership. Rather, we can see the fulfillment of prophecies much more clearly, just like a blurry camera lens coming into a sharper or a clearer focus. Consider a quick illustration. It was just about 100 years ago that people were wondering how could the whole world see these two witnesses' dead bodies during the Tribulation?

I'm talking about in Revelation chapter 11. Around verse 9, it says that the two witnesses, their bodies will lie dead in the street for three and a half days, and the whole world will look on them. Well think back 100 years ago, that seemed to be totally impossible. How are you going to get the entire world's population to come to one central place in the world over a three and a half day period to view these dead bodies?

Well, to us that sounds so ridiculous to even suggest such a thing. But think about it. From the time that was written, and you fast forward almost 2,000 years, people scratched their heads. How could this even become possible? How is this achievable? We thought it had to be an allegory. This can't be taken literally. This has to be symbolic of some way that the whole world—I mean, it's impossible for the whole world to see this.

And again, you're probably listening to me laughing because television is old news, right? Broadcast television. And then especially as the internet came along, and I mean everybody in the world has a smartphone just about now, and things are filmed and posted almost instantaneously from all corners of the world. And so with the advent of broadcast television, with the advent of the internet, guess what? That prophecy came into a much sharper focus.

It was easy to understand how these things could happen. Although that prophecy concerning the two witnesses of Revelation chapter 11, that still awaits a future fulfillment, it's easy for us to understand how the whole world could witness that event simultaneously without even having to leave the comfort of their living room. So that same principle applies to what we're describing with Iran and recent events to remove that regime.

Now let's turn our focus to this regime and to what the scripture has to say about all these events. I want to begin with a prophecy concerning Elam found in Jeremiah chapter 49. The very last section of Jeremiah 49 is this prophecy concerning Elam. And that goes from verse 34 down to verse 39 of Jeremiah chapter 49. Ancient Elam was located in what is southwestern modern-day Iran, right near the Persian Gulf.

In this section of Jeremiah's book, and in this particular chapter, he's delivering God's prophetic messages concerning many different kingdoms, and he ends with this kingdom of Elam. Most of the prophecies concerning these other kingdoms had a historical fulfillment. In other words, there was a point in history after Jeremiah gave that prophecy where we can look back and say, "Yes, it checks all the boxes. This is precisely when this was fulfilled."

You know, it was fulfilled precisely and it was fulfilled exactly as God predicted. And so it checks all those boxes and therefore it has that historical fulfillment. Now, there's a unique case with Elam's prophecy. Many Bible scholars struggle to find this perfect pinpoint historic fulfillment of this prophecy concerning Elam. There's not been a complete historical fulfillment of this prophecy to date.

It seemed to await a future fulfillment. And I know many of you are wondering, "Well, do these events check those boxes?" Let's walk through the verses of this prophecy and see where the evidence leads us because again, I reemphasize, we must start with the scripture. So during the June 2025 twelve-day war between Israel and Iran, our ministry shared a lot of content to alert Christians to watch how this situation develops.

Now, if you're a regular listener to these Headlines from the End Times episodes of Watchman on the Wall, you've heard me mention Jeremiah 49. You've heard me explain this. Today I'm taking a little bit of a deeper dive into these things, but you've heard me reference that passage and urging people: wait and see, wait and see, watch how the situation develops. We were suggesting back then through our ministry channels, whether that be social media, whether that be through print publications, whether that be right here on Watchman on the Wall, we were using every avenue we could to tell people: watch and see.

Let's look, keep an eye on Jeremiah 49, this prophecy concerning Elam, and understand where this is going to go. Now verse 35 says this: "Thus saith the Lord of hosts: Behold, I will break the bow of Elam, the chief of their might." The bow and arrow were Elam's military might. That long-range weapon was something that they were very skilled in, in Jeremiah's day, in ancient days.

And some have wondered if the long-range missiles and the nuclear capabilities that current and modern-day Iran have as their military prowess, their military might—could there be a correlation between those long-range weaponry? And I just urge people: wait and see, wait and see, based on what the next verses predict will happen when Elam's bow is broken.

So after the breaking of their bow, the prophecy continues in verse 36, and notice what these words say: "Upon Elam I will bring the four winds from the four quarters of heaven, and will scatter them toward all those winds." Who are the them? That's the inhabitants of Elam. "I will scatter them toward all those winds; and there shall be no nation whither the outcasts of Elam shall not come."

And just going back recent years, there's been high inflation, a collapsing economy, strict religious laws, increasing violence against its own citizens. All these factors and they've really reached a new height, if you will, since June of 2025 when that twelve-day war occurred. Especially the violence against their own citizens. I've brought you reports of how that estimates suggest tens of thousands—perhaps 30, 40, 50, even as high as 80,000—of Iran's own citizens have been killed by its own regime.

But there are still more boxes to check concerning this prophecy before we can mark it and say, "Yes, this prophecy was fulfilled in our current times." Read the next verse. Keep your nose in the Bible and understand what it says. The very next verse, verse 37, tells us: "I will cause Elam to be dismayed before their enemies, and before them that seek their life: and I will bring evil upon them, even my fierce anger, saith the Lord; and I will send the sword after them, till I have consumed them."

Now the next verse connects some key dots about this sword coming after Elam. Notice what this verse says. It's very, very interesting, friends. Verse 38: "And I will set my throne in Elam, and I will destroy from thence the king and the princes, saith the Lord." Notice the focal point of this destruction. It's the king and the princes. Who was the target of the US and Israel's attacks?

It was Iran's leadership, taking them out of the way. It seems that more boxes are being checked for this ancient Bible prophecy in our day. It's interesting that God says there, "I will set my throne in Elam." Now could that be a reference to what we're going to see over coming days and weeks? It's interesting. So I'm pumping the brakes still on this prophecy and I'm saying we cannot with 100% certainty say this is the fulfillment before our very eyes.

We have to read the next and the final verse of this ancient prophecy given concerning Elam. Now the next verse ends this prophecy with this significant promise from God: "But it shall come to pass in the latter days, that I will bring again the captivity of Elam, saith the Lord." So God promises to restore the people to the land. And so this is a key prophecy to watch and that could lead to the fulfillment of other Bible prophecies like Ezekiel 38 and 39.

And it certainly seems like the recent events check a lot of boxes against Jeremiah's Elam prophecy. However, we've got to maintain a wait and see attitude as this situation develops further. Now friends, we're going to continue by looking at Ezekiel 38 and 39. But before I launch into another passage, I want to give you just a second to allow these things to roll in your mind.

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We say thank you so much and let's get back into it as we look at Ezekiel 38 and 39. One of our friends had asked us a question if the removal of Iran's leadership would signal a delay in the Ezekiel 38 and 39 prophecy. Because it seemed like things are shaping up for Ezekiel 38 and 39 under the former Iranian regime, but now has a wrench been thrown into those plans? Has that diverted some of the expectations for how that prophecy would be fulfilled?

I don't think it does, dear friend. I do not think it does. In Ezekiel 38, verse 5, it states that Persia will be involved in this coalition of nations that attacks Israel in this end times battle. It doesn't say that Persia is going to lead this attack, only that it's going to be involved in that coalition. It is Gog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal, that will lead this coalition according to Ezekiel 38, verses 3 through 6.

Interestingly, those locations Meshech and Tubal are in modern-day Turkey, a nation whose leadership continues to oppose Israel and which recently condemned the removal of the Iranian leadership. Say what you want about the Scofield Study Bible. It has some very helpful notes in it and perhaps you're a large fan of that study Bible and that's great. It's got a lot of wonderful, helpful notes and tools involved in it.

But his perspective on Ezekiel 38 and 39, I do take exception with because scholarship has revealed that those aren't Moscow and Tobolsk. It's not cities in Russia that's being referred to right there. They are cities in modern-day Turkey. Now I do believe that Russia will be involved in all of this as the passage goes on, and this isn't an in-depth look into that particular passage of scripture, nor am I going to explore all the different people who will be part of it.

But what about Persia? How is Persia going to be involved now that the Ayatollah has been removed and all the various leadership has been removed? How does Persia come back into the focus of all of this? My question is, will these remaining Iranian Ayatollah sympathizers, will they regroup and join a coalition with the Ezekiel 38 parties? I see that as being highly likely at this particular moment.

So that could allow an anti-Israel Persian force to form in the shadows, waiting for an opportunity to regather, to join forces with some of the other Ezekiel 38 coalition nations and strike at Israel again. Now remember, if you read Ezekiel 38, when that battle begins, Israel will be at rest, the Bible tells us. In fact, in Ezekiel 38, verse 11 and 14, it indicates that Israel will be dwelling safely at that particular moment.

In other words, there's going to be a modicum of peace that will cause Israel to think that it's safe and then this coalition will strike. So could the current Iranian conflict and the removal of Israel's chief antagonist lead to a Middle Eastern truce of sorts? And another question that we need to consider: could President Trump's Board of Peace, which is just an extension of the Abraham Accords, could this be a key player in these peace talks?

Now it seems that this scenario could create the environment—I use that word intentionally—the environment necessary for the Ezekiel 38 and 39 conflict to occur. You see friends, this is coming into a sharper focus. We're understanding how this could come to pass in a much clearer way. Now based on other factors described in Ezekiel 38 and 39, it seems most likely that this battle is going to begin shortly after the Tribulation begins.

So that means the Rapture occurs before this battle commences. If all born-again followers of Jesus are raptured, global support for Israel is going to be greatly diminished on earth at that particular time. In other words, you don't see a rush of allies to stand with Israel during the battle of Ezekiel 38 and 39. America has stood with Israel in this particular fight against Iran. So what happens between now and then?

Why is Israel standing alone against its enemies in this future battle? Could it be that the Rapture of the Church causes many of Israel's supporters here in the United States of America to be raptured up and what is left is such a weak portion of, or a weak percentage I should say of the population that there's no real impetus and no real support and backing to get involved with another conflict at that particular time?

And there's matters to take care of here at home that deserve our attention over and above what's going on over in Israel. Could that be a component that comes into play? I believe that it certainly is in the realm of possibility. But make no mistake, while Israel stands alone humanly speaking, it does not stand alone. If you read Ezekiel 38 and 39, you understand very clearly that Almighty God is going to deliver Israel out of that conflict.

He's going to rescue them in a special way. Just read the scriptures and understand that for yourself. There's another scripture that I want to turn to because the events that unfolded have some ironic connection to the story of Esther. Just as God providentially delivered Israel from wicked Haman's annihilation plot, as recorded in the book of Esther, God has done a work of releasing Israel from its enemy Iran in what has happened.

Now the book of Esther, in that book, we read about this beautiful Jewish woman named Esther who is placed as queen by God in the Persian Empire. Now, I think it's amazing how that God positioned the right person that he wanted in that position to deliver his people before the problem even arose. Before Haman ascended to his own powerful position, before Haman came up with the plot to destroy the Jewish people, God already had the answer in place.

Only God could providentially plan such a victory. Now the Bible specifically says that she was in the palace at Shushan in Esther chapter 3, verses 3 and verse 8. It tells us that that's where Esther was. Now where are the ruins of ancient Shushan located? In southwestern Iran, near the modern Iranian city of Shush, that's S-H-U-S-H. Thus God has delivered the Jewish people from destruction from the land currently called Iran back in Esther's day.

Now that's an ironic connection with the present moment. But it's not the only piece of this puzzle. And you might be familiar with this and if so just hear me out for just a moment, but the Jewish holiday of Purim celebrates this divine deliverance every year. Ironically, the campaign against Iran's leadership started just a couple days before Purim would be celebrated, March 2nd and 3rd of this year.

Could this be another signal of a turn to peace for Israel, setting the stage for the biblical end times scenario? It certainly could be. And friends, we live in some amazing days. Isn't it fascinating to be alive in the days that God has allowed us to live? Now I want to bring some applications as we come home with these thoughts and bring it all together today. I want to urge my Christian brothers and sisters: keep watching, keep praying, keep standing firm as Watchman on the Wall.

As these events unfold, we want to continue to watch and pray, just as Jesus instructed his followers to do. And as biblical Watchman on the Wall, we've got to remain vigilant. This could be a powerful gospel moment around the world and especially in Iran where the gospel has been silenced for decades now. The need is urgent, the time is now. Jesus has providentially put his followers here as it says in the book of Esther chapter 4, verse 14. We are here for such a time as this.

And I want to just ask you a question as I end up today, dear friend. Are you going to continue watching and praying until the trumpet sounds? We need to keep looking up. And if you do not know the Lord Jesus as your Savior, the need is urgent. Today is the day of salvation. Every beat of your heart, every breath of your lungs is a gift of God's grace to you. Would you call upon the name of the Lord Jesus Christ? Turn from your sins, turn to faith in Jesus today. Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

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