Iran Ignites: Are You Ready?

[Steve Myers] Strikes in Iran. Retaliation. Nuclear capabilities and, once again, the Middle East is on fire. Now this may feel like just another crisis in a long stream of them. But Jesus Christ told us exactly how to understand moments like this.

Matthew 24 verse 6 says, "And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you're not troubled, for all these things must come to pass. But the end is not yet, for nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom. And then He says, all these things are the beginning of sorrows." The beginning of sorrows.

You know, that sorrows word actually means birth pains. Not chaos without direction. Not random instability. Birth pains. What do birth pains do? They increase. They intensify. They move toward something. They don't mean the delivery has happened yet, but they mean it's progressing.

And so when we see Iran escalating, especially around Jerusalem, that focal point of prophecy, we're watching movement.

Now Persia, that's modern Iran in the Bible, that is right there at the prophecy point. Ezekiel 38 verse 5 says, "Persia, Ethiopia and Libya are with them." You see, Iran matters in the prophetic landscape.

But here's what matters even more. What does it mean for you? Because prophecy is not given to create spectators. It's given to shape disciples.

You see, Jesus didn't say, analyze every headline. He said in verse 6, "see that you're not troubled." Not troubled, but not unmoved.

You see, there's a difference between fear and urgency. Birth pains, they don't produce panic. They produce preparation. And here's where this becomes very personal. Some of you listening right now, you know the truth. You understand about the Sabbath. You understand the Holy Days. You understand God's plan. You understand the Kingdom of God, but you haven't acted. You're listening, you're learning, but you're delaying.

So let me say this directly, because I care. Birth pains are not a time for spiritual hesitation. Luke 21:28 says, "Now when these things begin to happen, look up, lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near."

No doubt, it is drawing near. That is no casual language. Jesus warned, verse 34, "take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing drunkenness and cares of this life."

You see, the greatest danger is not geopolitical escalation. It's spiritual procrastination. It's knowing, but not committing. It's agreeing, but not acting. It's being almost persuaded. You see, birth pains means time is progressing. And so when labor intensifies, no one says, well, I'll worry about that later. No, they prepare immediately.

You see, if you know God's calling you, if you know changes need to be made, if you know obedience has been delayed, well, what's going on in Iran isn't giving a message of just fear. It's a message of opportunity. Because here's where this is headed.

Revelation 11:15 reminds us, "the kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever." You see, that's the delivery. That's the future.

But you don't just drift into that future. You prepare for it.

Peter reminds us why prophecy matters. 2 Peter 1:19. "So we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place." You see, light just doesn't inform. It exposes what needs to change.

So if you're listening but not acting, ask yourself, what am I waiting for? Clearer signs? More time? Less inconvenience? The direction of history, it's not slowing down. You see, birth pains, they don't reverse. They move forward.

Now, it's not about panic. It's about purpose. So be informed, but not passive. Be aware, but not apathetic. Be urgent, but not anxious.

You see, if God's calling you, respond. If repentance is needed, it's time to act. If commitment's been postponed, make that decision. Because the pain of this age, it's actually temporary. But the kingdom that's coming is permanent.

So don't just listen. Move. Lift up your head and live like you believe what you know.