Iran Protests: Writing On the Wall for The Islamic Republic

It is a 4th day of wide spread anti-government protests in Iran, which main stream media is either

ignoring or like CNN, reluctantly covering because of being shamed into it by the social media and their own President, who issued a public statement of support for the people of Iran almost as soon as the protests broke out.

This is the largest form of unrest in Iran since 2009 Green Revolution, but it is very different in many ways. This time, the people are not just opposing a single issue such as the economy or their displeasure with one politician, or one faction of their government, but with the entire current political system.

They are shouting: "Down with the Dictator," and "We don't want Islamic Republic." This time they are demanding the regime change altogether and they are literally risking their own lives by doing that. Reportedly more than 50 people were already arrested ( who will be tortured and killed in prison) and 2 were shot dead. The government is blocking cell phone communications with the Iran and limiting the Internet in hopes of keeping the reports of the protesters from getting outside the country, but they are failing.

It is Writing of the Wall for this Regime. The protests will continue to grow and even if the government manages to shut them down somehow, the people will regroup and come again with greater force.

The fall of this Islamic regime will be a blessing since it will cut off the funding to Islamic terrorist groups such as Hezbollah and Hamas, and will stop fueling violence even in countries such as Yemen and Saudi Arabia, and that is the grievance that the people of Iran have with their government, that all the national wealth is going to funding of terrorism and the pockets of the clerics while the money for basic social services for Iranian people such as public schools and pensions are being shut down. Now even the generation that brought in this government in an Islamic Revolution of 1979 says that they regret doing this. They hoped for a more just society, but what they got is oppression, poverty, and corruption, so the old, young, men, and women are marching together in these protests and will not stop until this regime is gone.

We must pray that they will succeed and we must pressure our politicians to support them, and to put more pressure on the Iranian regime to resign and open the country to truly free elections and transition to a democratic system that the people of Iran want.

This coming year 2018 will mark 40 years since the beginnings of the Islamic Revolution, perhaps it will mark the end of the desert experience the people of Iran had under this government and will usher in the promises of God for them. The promises of freedom and return of those who have been exiled to all countries around the world.

'But it shall happen in the latter days, that I will bring back the captivity of Elam,' says the LORD." ( Jeremiah 49:39) Amen.

Prayers For ISIS Fighters Being Answered

Nearly a year ago, I called the readers of this blog to prayer not only for the persecuted Christians, especially in the Middle East, but also for their oppressors, the ISIS fighters.

The reason why they are staging now more terrorist attacks around the world is because they are losing ground in the Middle East, not only militarily, but most of all spiritually.

Many Islamic fighters were deeply moved by the love showed to them by many Christians even as they were being murdered, they cannot shake off the peace that they saw in their eyes, and they cannot forget their courage.

But most of all, many of them are seeing visions of Jesus Himself, who comes to them in their dreams showing them His scars( Islam teaches that Jesus was never really crucified) and calling them to live for Him instead of killing others.

Last week, one of my Arabic speaking friends shared with me some testimonies of ISIS fighters becoming followers of Jesus and asking Christians to forgive them and to pray for them. I cannot share too many details of those very supernatural conversions here as to not identify them, but I am sharing this with you to encourage you to continue to pray for them. God is answering our prayers.

In this context, I understand more and more why the Lord told us to "bless those who curse us and pray for those who persecute us." We must remember that our battle as apostle Paul taught us, is not against flesh and blood. Do not look at people who mistreat you as your enemies, the real enemy is that evil spiritual  force that keeps them in bondage and uses them to hurt us and hurting them as well in the process.

Satan is real and he hates humanity, but Jesus came, died, and rose again to save those who are lost, even those who you might consider an enemy. No matter who is it that causes you pain, a nasty coworker, your in-laws, whoever it is. Bless them, show them kindness, pray for them instead of returning evil for evil, and see how God will change the situation you are in for the better of both you and them. This is the gospel in action and the power of God. This is what those ISIS fighters do not have and when they experience it, they will be changed forever. The Gospel of Jesus Christ won over many hateful ideologies before and will win over this one as well. The victory is on our side already.

Keep Praying!