Let me begin by noting the strong response we received on YouTube following last week’s report on “The World Against Israel.” One of the most striking reactions came from Jewish viewers. One person wrote, “Please don’t conflate all Jews with the State of Israel,” and more than twenty-five people quickly expressed their agreement.
What this reveals is that many Jewish people today are seeking to distance themselves from the State of Israel. Perhaps it is because of the growing pressure from antisemitism. Perhaps it is because of the influence of the media and social media. Perhaps it is out of fear.
Whatever the reason, it reflects a reality that has often surfaced throughout Jewish history. Léon Blum, the Prime Minister of France from 1936 to 1937, said: “I am a Jew because, when I was born, I would not have chosen it; because, having been born a Jew, I could not escape it.”
Yet fear and attempts to dissociate oneself from the Jewish people are not the answer. To be Jewish is a great privilege and a unique calling from God. The answer to fear is not distance but faith. Faith is found in the God of Israel and in the Scriptures, where every Jewish person can find comfort, purpose, and the true meaning of their history and destiny. And it is precisely when fear is mounting, and the nations seem to be moving in a troubling direction, that we must turn our attention to what God has already revealed about the future.
In the news, we are hearing reports of a possible agreement between the United States and Iran. Negotiations appear to be advancing, and there is even talk of the Strait of Hormuz fully reopening soon. If these developments materialize, they would be welcomed as good news for the region and the global economy. But the question remains: Will this peace last? And what should we expect next?
We certainly hope for a long period of peace and stability. Yet there are several important developments worth noting. One thing we have learned lately is that, although Iran appeared to have lost the war, it remains undefeated. It was not decapitated, and in many respects, it appears to have emerged with its strategic position largely intact.
Recent reports indicate that it has recovered much of its military infrastructure. We are told that it has salvaged 50 of the 69 tunnel systems damaged during the conflict and reopened most entrances to 18 underground missile facilities. Long-range missiles have reportedly been reburied and redeployed. Beyond its military capabilities, Iran now possesses another strategic asset. In 2023, reports emerged of vast, newly discovered rare-earth deposits.
Why is this significant? The twenty-first century runs on lithium and rare-earth elements much as the twentieth century ran on oil. These minerals are essential to advanced technology, electronics, batteries, renewable energy systems, and military equipment. Whoever controls these resources holds tremendous economic and geopolitical leverage.
We have seen that throughout the conflict, Iran launched approximately 400 to 500 missiles at Israel, along with about 1,000 drones, many of which were directed toward civilian areas. Its hatred of Israel has not changed.
All of this, according to end-time prophecies, is for Israel, one of the many that come against her during the War of Gog and Magog, as described in Ezekiel 38, where the northern power, identified by many as Russia, is listed first, followed by Persia. Among the Jewish people, Gog and Magog is perhaps the best-known end-times conflict. Many regard it as the great war that will immediately precede and usher in the Messiah’s coming.
According to Ezekiel’s prophecy, Persia must remain a significant power because it still has a role in the events leading up to the War of Gog and Magog. Thus, we see this country as a formidable enemy. From a prophetic perspective, Iran’s story is not yet finished. The nation remains on the stage because the prophecy has not yet reached its final fulfillment.
Consider another nation mentioned in Ezekiel 38–39, one that will join the coalition against Israel and that today is raising its voice louder and louder against Israel: Beth-Togarmah, a region many identify with modern-day Turkey. Nearly 2,000 years ago, the Jewish historian Josephus associated Togarmah with the Phrygians, who lived in Asia Minor, now Turkey (Antiquities 1.6.1). The Phrygians were an ancient people who inhabited what is now central and western Turkey.
Today, hostility toward Israel from Turkey’s leadership has grown increasingly vocal, almost as if they cannot wait for the events of Ezekiel 38 to unfold. For example, on May 4, 2026, Turkish President Erdoğan issued a strong warning that Turkey could launch military operations against Israel in response to Israeli actions in Lebanon. He is prepared for military confrontation. Shortly afterward, he accused Israel of “trampling on humanity’s shared values.” Then, on June 10, he declared that Israel’s “aggression” threatens not only Turkey but the entire Mediterranean region and even the world itself.
Israel is increasingly being scapegoated as the cause of the world’s problems. At the same time, Turkey’s Interior Minister, Mustafa Çiftçi, reportedly declared that Jerusalem would one day return to Turkish rule and prayed, “My Lord, one day grant me the governorship of Jerusalem.” The rhetoric continues to intensify.
Yet what many do not realize is that the Scriptures foretold these types of accusations and the alignment of these nations more than 2,500 years ago. Iran and Turkey are only two examples among many nations that appear to be moving into positions that are remarkably consistent with the prophetic Scriptures.
So, the question before us today is this: How close are we to seeing the stage fully set for the complete fulfillment of these remarkable prophecies? The answer is: very close. The signs are converging, and the stage is rapidly being prepared. It is imminent. However, imminent does not necessarily mean immediate. It means the conditions are in place and the event could occur at any time. The one exception is the Rapture of the believers, which requires no preceding prophetic event and may occur at any moment.
Imagine standing at a railroad crossing. If the train is already passing before your eyes, its arrival is immediate. But if you hear the whistle in the distance and see the crossing gates beginning to come down, the train’s arrival is imminent. That is end-time prophecy, and that is where we find ourselves today. As we listen, the sound of that approaching train grows louder and louder.
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