IT HAPPENED – The Iran War & Russia’s Role in Prophecy

If you are intimately in tune with what is going on, you may consider skipping down to the heading Relevance to Prophecy. If you aren’t closely following what is going on, please read on from here and we’ll summarize. This letter is longer than ones we have shared recently, and that is because it is important. Also, given the nature of my schedule and the labor involved in formatting emails and uploading articles, it is more productive and convenient for me to write in one sitting than to share little snippets here and there. If you need to read this in a few sittings, please do so.

We cover what I have found to be the key prophecies which lead to the vastly different interpretations of prophecy which we see today. As we will see, this relates to how we understand foundation prophecies like Daniel 2 and Nebuchadnezzar’s image, and specifically how our understanding of those has a direct impact on how we interpret other prophecies.

What’s Going On

The event we’ve been anticipating for years seems to have finally occurred, and we are witnessing the most significant war in recent history!

In a 200-jet air strike, America and Israel carried out a joint attack targeting 500 Iranian targets which have left the nation “without a head” (United with Israel). The Supreme leader Khamenei, about 40 other senior leaders, and any logical successors have all been eliminated, and the assault still continues (All Israel News). The Iranian people have been literally dancing in the streets to celebrate the end of their tyrant’s rule, and statues and monuments are being torn down – a clear signal that Iran is entering a brand new phase (World Israel News).

Iran has fired back in as many ways as they can, firing rockets at Israel, attacking US and other Western ally bases, and closing the Strait of Hormuz (Prophecy News Watch). Israel’s defense systems have intercepted most missiles, but some have slipped through and caused significant damage and caused casualties. It has shown that Israel is not invincible, even if they are prepared (The Jerusalem Post).

As expected, they’ve called upon their proxies to come to their aid, and the terrorist group Hezbollah has attacked Israel from Lebanon. This effectively ended the ceasefire that’s been in place for a few months. In response, Israel eliminated some of their leaders (United with Israel, World Israel News).

So far, Israel and the United States have received absolutely zero physical resistance from any other nations. As we write this, their jets are flying across Iran and eliminating more targets, and no foreign nations have even hinted at sending their own forces. Russia has barely even voiced criticism and has simply condemned the attacks. Rather than threatening getting involved, Russia’s warnings so far have consisted to pointing out general risks and plunging the region into further chaos (ABC10). They’ve warned that such a war could backfire and cause Arab nations to seek their own nuclear abilities (Reuters). Russia has also offered to mediate with Iran, but nothing has transpired on this so far (The Jerusalem Post). Russia’s role in this is telling and relates to what we expect of latter-day events, and we will cover that in a minute. But let us first consider

Where It Looks to be Going

While an incredible number of Western objectives have been achieved, the conflict is supposedly far from over. Trump has estimated that the entire operation will last around four weeks and states that we have yet to see the biggest hit, saying that “the big one is coming” (World Israel News, Prophecy News Watch). Trump did not say what “the big one” is, but it seems that Secretary of State Marco Rubio might supply the answer. He recently stated that “US military strikes against Iran will intensify, aiming to destroy Tehran’s missile and naval capabilities” (Israel National News). America and Israel want to completely eliminate Iran as a threat. Trump has even stated that he will not rule out putting American boots on the Iranian soil (The Jerusalem Post).

But Lebanon must be considered as well. The strikes there seem to be leading toward escalation between Hezbollah and Israel, and Israel is currently weighing a ground invasion of Lebanon (World Israel News). If that occurs, that could be another game changer.

There seem to be two general possibilities before us. Either America and Israel finish their objectives and nations reposition themselves accordingly, or this conflict will spread and lead to a more wide-spread war, perhaps even WWIII. It is of course impossible to say which will happen, but given the muted response by Iran’s “allies”, it seems that significant escalation is unlikely. As long as America and Israel focus on Iranian assets, I think Russia is going to just sit by and watch.

Then there is the question of who will rule Iran (World Israel News). We cannot be sure who will rule the nation, and exiled Prince Pahlavi is eager to assume the role. We do know that Iran is not involved in the Psalm 83 conflict but will be in the Ezekiel 38 war, so who is in power could directly relate to those facts. We know that Iran must eventually be an enemy of Israel again, for they come against her in Ezekiel 38. Pahlavi has vowed warm ties and recognition of Israel, so that could explain why Iran is not in Psalm 83 (All Israel News). It would not explain why they fight Israel later on though. We wait to see.

Relevance to Prophecy

We’ve only briefly mentioned prophecy’s role in this so far. It was necessary to lay the groundwork of what has been going on before turning our attention to the Scriptures, but now we can turn to them and see the relevance of these developments. For space and time, I’ll focus on what I believe are a few of the most important takeaways here – some of which gets to the core of why our views differ from what’s often referred to as the “traditional Christadelphian view” on prophecy.

A Neutralized Iran

We have been expecting debilitating blow to Iran since 2021, and this position arose strictly because of what we find in the “sure word of prophecy” (2 Peter 1:19). Initial comments were initially shared with family and friends, but they were published in the digital edition of The Advocate in November 2021 (see the short article here - The Spark to Ignite the Explosion?). While we still do not know how things will pan out with this conflict, what we are witnessing now is precisely in line with previous those theories.  

The thought is this: Iran is not in Psalm 83, but they are in Ezekiel 38. The most logical scenario (in my mind) was that Iran would be temporarily “knocked out”, the Psalm 83 war would commence, and Iran would recoup in order to come against Israel with Russia. It seems the reason for their absence is what we are witnessing at this very moment. Iran is presently being hammered and stripped of its teeth and claws.

This may be why Iran is not listed in Psalm 83, but it does not explain why what the catalyst will be which pushes the Psalm 83 nations to move against Israel. I imagined that the Psalm 83 nations would have all fought on Iran’s behalf, and the strike on Iran would therefore “spark” the Psalm 83 war. But while Iran is being hit right now, that scenario doesn’t seem likely at all.

What we find in the prophecy is a confederacy of 10 peoples and nations, and that confederacy has not fully matured. So far, it is only Hezbollah who has attacked Israel, and still other parts of the confederacy have yet to join alongside them (like Jordan, Syria, and others). It would not surprise me if the dust settles on this conflict, nations repivot because Iran is in tatters, and that is what helps form the Psalm 83 confederacy. Perhaps the thinking will be, “Our main leader (Iran) is no longer a solid nation to rely on to help us fight Israel, so if we are to do away with Israel, we must band together.” This seems more likely to me. It is noteworthy that the Iran conflict could easily spill into a wider regional war though as reported by The Hill.

The Role of Russia in the Latter-Days

I believe this is one of the most important things to talk about, for it is this subject which has been given so many interpretations. I believe that the traditional view on latter-day events has far exaggerated the role of Russia in the latter days, and having studied the writings of early writers, the point at which I find the trouble stems from the interpretation of Nebuchadnezzar’s image in Daniel 2 and the beasts of Daniel 7. I will share my findings on the subject as briefly as I can.

Nebuchadnezzar’s Image, the Beasts, & the Latter Days

The traditional view is most easily summarized and represented in Elpis Israel in the first few sections of “Part Third”. Bro. Thomas’s view was that the nations represented in Nebuchadnezzar’s image in Daniel 2 and the beasts of Daniel 7 relate to one another and mostly relate to the past. I am in full agreement with his historical interpretation of these prophecies and find his explanations fitting. As he explains, Nebuchadnezzar’s image details the transfer of dominion of “the kingdom of men” from power to power over a number of ages, and “the kingdom of men” ends when the stone of Christ descends and smites the image in the feet. The result is described in

Daniel 2:35 – Then was the iron, the clay, the brass, the silver, and the gold, broken to pieces together, and became like the chaff of the summer threshingfloors; and the wind carried them away, that no place was found for them: and the stone that smote the image became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth.

When Christ strikes the feet of the image, all of the elements crumble, and all that remains is the Kingdom of God. This will be a fact one day. The problem with Bro. Thomas’s interpretation arises when talking about the “latter day” component of Nebuchadnezzar’s image. He took verse 35 to mean that every phase represented in the image had to be resurrected to physically appear again, and then it would be destroyed by Christ. He therefore looked for a power that would acquire all the lands of the kingdoms represented in the image, and then that one power would be destroyed. There are many issues with this, but we will cite just two:

Issues with the View

1.     The view of a “fully resurrected image” does not line up with what the prophecy shows. Bro. Thomas’s reasoning was, “How can they be broken in pieces together, seeing that they have been broken to pieces one after the other many centuries ago?” (Elpis Israel, 14^th Ed, pg. 327).

He therefore says that these elements have already broken to pieces in the past and must be formed again in order to be broken by Christ, but this is not at all what the prophecy shows. To fit his view, the prophecy would need to show each element fading once the next element came up, and then all resurfacing again to join into one image right before the stone smites it. But rather than showing elements fade and then resurface, the prophecy shows every element being in constant existence until Christ returns. The interpretation doesn’t fit the figure we’re given. There is no knocking down, rebuilding, then knocking down again. All elements “exist” until the stone strikes the feet, and then it all falls down.

How are we to explain this? It is because it is a timeline showing the current manifestation of the kingdoms of men. It has undergone many changes throughout the years, but it will be destroyed when it is manifested in the feet period – a time we are living in and waiting to see fully formed. These points relate to the second objection to the traditional view (and last, for our purposes here).

2.     If all of the nations exist in a united “form” as Bro. Thomas stated, then why is the image struck in the feet? Why not strike it in the head like David and Goliath? This figure of David and Goliath is often used to describe how the “greater David” will smite the “giant” of Nebuchadnezzar’s image, but it’s rarely explained why Goliath and the image are struck in the far opposite parts of the body. A strike to the head is Scripturally known to be a fatal blow, and a bruise the foot is likewise known to be a temporary blow (consider Genesis 3:15), but here with the image, the strike to the foot is a fatal blow. Why the inconsistency? It is of necessity and speaks volumes of how we must interpret this. Christ strikes the feet because only they exist at the time of his return. The “head” which started the “kingdoms of men” is Babylon, and that passed away many centuries ago. The part which exists today is the feet, and so if the image is to be destroyed, what must be struck is its current manifestation.

Again, the image is describing the history and transfer of rulership over the kingdoms of men throughout time, and when Jesus returns, it will be manifested not by every element, but strictly and only by the feed mixed with miry clay and iron. This is no conjecture, but Scriptural testimony. Note what we read in

Daniel 2:43-44 – And whereas thou sawest iron mixed with miry clay, they shall mingle themselves with the seed of men: but they shall not cleave one to another, even as iron is not mixed with clay.  (44)  And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever.

In whose “days” will the Kingdom of God be set up? Is it the days of those ALL kings represented by the gold empire, the silver, brass, and so on? No, it is the days of the kings mentioned in vss. 42-43 represented as the iron and clay. Only “these kings” represent the kingdoms of men in that day, and it is in “their days” that God sets up His Kingdom.

There are many more things of this sort worth pointing out, but these can be saved for later. Yet the trouble some face surrounds how it can be said that that all of the elements come crashing down together (like verse 35 says) if they are not all physically present at the same time. This was Bro. Thomas’s hang up, but I believe there is a simple answer. Let us look at through an example:

How “All Parts” of the Image Fall Down Together

Consider a man who starts a business from scratch. He grows it and builds it, and it becomes a profitable and wealthy thing. It expands its reach to the entire continent and employs many people, continuing on and growing for decades and decades. As time goes on, it undergoes certain changes while still being the same “entity” that it once was. It is passed down to the children who in turn pass it down to their children, so it undergoes different ownership over time. It also is rebranded a time or two to keep pace with the new popular things of society. Perhaps even the business name itself is changed to be “more modern” and palatable.

Yet while the business looks different and is owned by different individuals at different stages of its history, it is still the same general entity. Even though it looks different, the company which we look at today represents its entire history and everything it has ever stood for.

But then, say the company is exposed for malpractice, sued, and forced to shut down immediately. Through a single court decision, the entire company is dissolved and destroyed. When it fell, so did everything it was ever built upon – its legacy and purpose. None would consider it strange to say this, nor would anyone require that every form and manifestation that the company ever took be fully brought back into existence and THEN shut down for this saying to be true. The legacy has ended and will be no more, all with one judicial swoop.

So it is with the kingdom of men. It is shown in Daniel to begin with Babylon, and as time marched on, it underwent different “owners” and phases. But we are shown that it will be completed and destroyed in an age when it is represented by 10 nations of a union, some weak and some strong. Once they are destroyed, the kingdoms of men are no more, and the legacy is extinct. The kingdoms of men will be no more in that day. The image is simply a timeline of the kingdoms of men, and this explains why the image is shown to never fall until the stone strikes it. It is also why the rock strikes the feet and not the head.

Ramifications of the Interpretation

How we interpret this prophecy has strong implications for how we understand other prophecies. As Bro. Thomas himself says, it is his interpretation of the image which gives Russia such a prominent role in the latter days – one which I find to be at variance with many passages. In describing the necessity of the image being resurrected and all confederated together, he says, “I shall be able to show, from other parts of the prophetic word, that the power destined to play the conspicuous part indicated above is RUSSIA. That it will dominate all the ten kingdoms, subdue Turkey, and incorporate Persia into her empire…” (Elpis Israel, 14^th Ed, pg. 327).

Mark this well. It is upon this basis of “Russia’s grand role” that the majority of Bro. Thomas’s latter-day events are based. I find that this conviction influenced his interpretation of other prophecies like Daniel 11 and Ezekiel 38 and caused him to make some correlations which were not firmly founded, and believing that Russia must have some enormous role, he looked for anything that could potentially answer to that in other prophecies. It is from this section and onward in Elpis Israel that I find many errors and projections which history now shows were factually invalid. As students of the Scriptures, it is our duty to put emphasis on what the Scriptures say and not any words of men (my own included).

What does this mean then? Most of the subjects deserve ample space at a different time, but one of the main things is that I see no Scriptural reason for Russia to grow into an enormous empire. That theory was rooted in an illogical latter-day theory concerning Daniel 2. Instead, as Ezekiel 38 shows, I believe they will merely have their confederacy (not empire) as listed in Ezekiel 38:5-6. They will be enticed by the spoil which Israel gathers from the “heathen round about” (Zechariah 14:14), and when they do so, they will be smitten and destroyed.

The only relevance of the Russian conflict on the greater world scene is to sanctify God Himself in the eyes of Israel (Ezekiel 38:16) and to “be known in the eyes of many nations, and they shall know that I am the LORD” (Ezekiel 38:23). Gog seems to be used as an example of what happens to nations who come against God, and the exhortation to the world will in essence be, “You have now seen what happens to nations who try to overthrow God’s anointed. Therefore, do not rebel, but ‘Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way’” like we read in Psalm 2:12. Of course, we know that many nations will not listen, but it seems that some will submit – even if that exhortation simply causes the individuals amongst the nations to throw their lot in with Christ. There is much more we could say on this and we invite discussion, but this is hopefully cause for individual study on the subject.

Israel Villainized on the World Stage

One final point to be made on these developments concerning Iran is their role in pitting Israel against the world’s nations. We know that the nations of the earth will fight against Christ when he sits on his throne in Jerusalem and declares himself King, and we would therefore expect the world to be anti-Jewish when that time arrives (see Psalm 2 and others). Right now, America is Israel’s strongest (and perhaps only) ally, but this too must eventually change.

“But how will this happen?” you question. “Isn’t the fact that America and Israel are working together against Iran a testament to their close union?” This is a fact for sure, though we might temper it in saying that America is not helping Israel just because they are “friends”. It is because of two basic things:

1.     Iran is a threat to America.

2.     Israel represents western ideology in the Middle East and therefore is the most natural American ally in the region.

These reasons form a basis for cooperation, but neither make for an impenetrable friendship though. When Iran is neutralized as a threat (like we are witnessing now), then with it perishes a reason for American and Israeli cooperation. Consider: if Israel was the only nation Iran wanted to destroy, we would likely be seeing a different kind of strike on Iran right now. America might assist with a strike, but likely with involvement and investment of resources and money. Reason number one will likely dissolve within the month if Trump’s plan goes as he hopes.

Concerning the second reason, I do believe that Trump is genuinely fond of Israel, but that does not mean that America will always assume this position. Even at this present moment, we are seeing cracks in the foundation. The republican party has historically been friendly with Israel, but we are seeing a drastic shift in that party concerning Israel. Many republicans are furious that America is getting involved with Iran right now and believe that Trump betrayed them. They claim, “Trump promised us ‘America First’ and no foreign wars, and here we are engaged in a foreign conflict.”

Who do you think these republicans are blaming for this? ISRAEL, primarily. Some blame Trump, but most of the blame is being put on the so called “manipulative Jews”. Many prominent republican figures like Tucker Carlson and Candace Owens used to be pro-Israel, but they’ve gone to the other extreme and now despise and vilify the nation. We are seeing a tremendous increase in antisemitism in the republican party, and that could bear its ugly head in the next election which is in 2028. That’s just two years away, and that’s also assuming that nothing changes America’s disposition in the meantime. Things can change fast.

We have written much, but let the exhortation be to watch and study the Word of God as true students of His Word. It is not essential that we have every jot and tittle of latter-day events worked out, but it is important that we temper our expectations by what is reasonable. The danger is in basing our spiritual effort on “how close” Christ seems. This is a foolish tactic in the first place, but it made even more dangerous when expectations of the signs of his coming are based on false premises. It is something that can be examined more in the future, but I have heard some express the sentiment that they are waiting to see Russia overthrow Turkey before they really “get ready” for Christ. Not only is this development based upon the old premise about Daniel 2 which we discussed and shown to be extremely questionable at the very least, but it also shows that the believer is living for the things of this life. 

Prophecy was not given to us so we can know when to start “taking things seriously”. It was given that we might be informed and strengthened as to God’s working in the kingdoms of men, adding to our faith that this present dispensation of corruption and sin is nearing a final end. The fear is that by placing too much emphasis on certain events, many others are discouraged when things don’t pan out as forecasts. It's like how many spoke of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine as being “the end”, yet here we are many years later. Let us use the developments we see profitably and Scripturally, exhorting one another until the day dawn and our Master comes for us.

Isaiah 25:9 – And it shall be said in that day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us: this is the LORD; we have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation.

In the Hope of Israel,

Tanner Hawkins