Rod McNair

[The text below represents an edited transcript this Tomorrow’s World program.]

What Helps You Draw Near to God?

We live in a world of religious confusion. There is no end to the bizarre list of traditions that have developed as a means to honor some concept of the divine. Fire-walking. Prayer wheels. Leaving food at gravestones. Tattoos—yes, tattoos originally had religious meaning in pagan cultures. And by the way, did you know that God specifically forbade His people from getting cuttings in their flesh or getting tattoos on their bodies? That’s found in Leviticus 19:28.

Some traditions are more bizarre and even deadly. In parts of India, before the British rule, a widow was expected to throw herself onto the burning corpse of their dead husband, in a tradition called “sati.” The British banned this cruel and barbaric custom in 1829.

But even within the professing Christian religion, there is a wide variety of beliefs of what God expects of us. How can this be when it all supposedly came from one source, Jesus Christ?

And more specifically, how can you know what God expects of you? This is an important question that we’ll answer today on Tomorrow’s World. Type those words into a Google search, and you’ll get all sorts of answers.

In the professing Christian world, most people believe that God generally wants you to be kind to others, have compassion, and accept His love. Or some variation of that. Some churches teach that God expects His people to engage in devotional practices such as praying the rosary, reciting the so-called Lord’s Prayer and repeating Hail Marys.

Some believe that the only REAL religious people are the clergy or priests. They believe that the average person just should “leave religion to the experts,” so to speak. But is that true? To be serious about pleasing God, do you have to go to a seminary or get a degree in theology?

Answers in the Book of Micah

All of this can be very confusing. But God’s word actually cuts through the confusion and gives us clear and straightforward answers to these questions. It’s not up to every man to decide for himself. It’s not about our opinions or our imagination. The Bible provides the answer.

The prophet Micah was born over 700 years before Christ. He was a prophet in ancient Judah, who fulfilled his role from about 757 to 699 BC (Jamieson, Fausset, Brown Commentary). In a previous telecast, entitled “The Surprising Message of Micah the Prophet,” I touched on the book that bears his name, and the message it holds for our generation.

For the sake of our discussion today, I want to key in one passage that Micah wrote. He addresses our question today, “What does God expect of you?” Let’s pick it up in Micah 6:6.

“With what shall I come before the Lord, and bow myself before the high God? Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old? Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, ten thousand rivers of oil?” (Micah 6:6–7).

God had originally given the Israelites the sacrificial system. But other scriptures in the Old Testament show that He never just wanted them to slaughter animals to please Him. He wanted them to learn and understand true obedience from the heart, to learn to love Him and worship Him.

Pagan Practices God Hates

Notice what else He said, going on in Micah 6:7.

“Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?”

This was not a concept Micah just pulled out of His imagination. Certain apostate kings in Judah had sacrificed their own children. But God never intended that as a requirement to serve Him. It was actually a practice that had been common among the people of the land prior to the children of Israel entering Canaan. But notice what God said about that. This is found in Jeremiah 19:3.

Hear the word of the Lord, O kings of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem. Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: “Behold, I will bring such a catastrophe on this place, that whoever hears of it, his ears will tingle. Because they have forsaken Me and made this an alien place, because they… filled this place with the blood of the innocents (they have also built the high places of Baal, to burn their sons with fire for burnt offerings to Baal, which I did not command or speak, nor did it come into My mind)” (Jeremiah 19:3–5).

Judah had fallen into the pagan practice of sacrificing their own children. This was a practice that God said He never commanded—it didn’t even come into His mind that He would require them to do such a thing.

And notice, it was part of what caused the downfall of the nation. That should give us pause, if we are living in Western nations that have allowed the systematic murder of unborn babies for decades.

No, God never intended to require that of His servants.

What Does the Lord Require of You? Micah 6:8 Explained

But what does He require? Let’s go back to Micah to find out. Micah answers his own question.

He has shown you, O man, what is good, and what does the Lord require of you, but to do justly, to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God (Micah 6:8)?

Sometimes we can make serving God much more complicated than it is. Micah is saying that the intent of God has always been very simple. Do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly before God.

I think back in my own life, during a period of trials and questioning in my own life. And a dear friend reminded me of this passage. It helped give me clarity and focus. I found it extremely encouraging.

And I hope this message can be encouraging to you as well. God’s way is not complicated. It’s actually very straightforward if we are willing to have an open mind and really listen to what God says.

Actually, we find the general equivalent to what Micah said in the New Testament as well. It was spoken by Jesus Christ. We find it in Matthew 23.

Jesus was correcting the hypocritical Pharisees who had made the worship of the true God a confusing burden for the common people. Jesus sought to cut through the clutter about God’s law that the Pharisees had created, and bring clarity and focus. Notice what He said in Matthew 23:23.

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone.”

Notice that Jesus didn’t tell them they were wrong to tithe on the increase of their produce, no matter how small. God does want us to show our loyalty to Him, even in how we manage our finances. And that includes tithing. But the point Jesus was making was that while they were taking great pains to tithe on tiny sprigs of herbs from their garden, they were missing the big picture.

Isn’t that an admonition for us today? As we meticulously practice what we’ve been taught by our parents or grandparents—some of which may be accurate and good—could we still be missing the big picture of what Christ really wants us to learn?

Jesus explained that the WEIGHTIER matters of the law are “justice, mercy and faith.” This is not an exact restatement of Micah 6:8, but it’s close enough to say it’s pretty obvious Jesus was making a reference to Micah’s writings. In fact, in my Bible, there is a marginal reference here of Micah 6:8.

How to “Do Justly”

So, let’s now look at the first part of the answer. What does God expect of you?

1. Do justly.

What does that mean? Well, let’s look at the phrase: “Do justly.” “Justly” is translated from the Hebrew word mishpat, which is a far-reaching word used many times in the Hebrew Scriptures. It can refer to “judgment, justice, ordinance, law, decision, or right.” In the strictest sense it can mean being fair and honest in all dealings with others. But in a broader sense it refers to just doing what’s right.

In God’s instructions to the ancient Israelites, He placed great emphasis on building a society based on the rule of law—His law, encoded in the Ten Commandments. Let’s look at one place where this word is used. It’s found in Exodus 23:6.

You shall not pervert the judgment [or mishpat] of your poor in his dispute. Keep yourself far from a false matter; do not kill the innocent and righteous. For I will not justify the wicked. And you shall take no bribe, for a bribe blinds the discerning and perverts the words of the righteous (Exodus 23:6–8).

God knew that if a society was built based on His good and just laws, harmony would be the result. But if people cheated one another, and justice wasn’t applied fairly, it would end in disaster.

In the introduction to this program, I referred to God’s directive to not have cuttings or tattoo marks in your flesh. That’s found in Leviticus 19:28. But the whole chapter discusses the importance of exercising fairness and justice in all their dealings. Notice a few of them (Leviticus 19:11).

You shall not steal, nor deal falsely, nor lie to one another.

Here’s another one (Leviticus 19:13).

You shall not cheat your neighbor, nor rob him. The wages of him who is hired shall not remain with you all night until morning.

Here’s another reference in Leviticus 19:15.

You shall do no injustice in judgment. You shall not be partial to the poor, nor honor the person of the mighty. In righteousness you shall judge your neighbor.

It’s about conducting ourselves in our community in a fair and equitable way, according to God’s law. And here’s another one.

You shall do no injustice in judgment, in measurement of length, weight, or volume. You shall have honest scales, honest weights, an honest ephah, and an honest hin: I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt (Leviticus 19:35–36).

Notice—something so mundane and ordinary as having consistent weights and measures in commerce. Why? Because God knows that if everybody knows everyone is playing by the same rules, it breeds cooperation and harmony and peace. If some people get an advantage based on who they are, or how much money they have, or who they’re connected to, it breeds discontent and anarchy. Summing it up, God said:

Therefore you shall observe all My statutes and all My judgments, and perform them: I am the Lord (Leviticus 19:37).

So what about you and me? What does this mean for us?

Micah 6:8 says “doing justly” is something God looks for in men and women of faith. God wants us to have the strength of character to do the right thing even when no one is looking.

Are we honest? Do we back up our word? Are we fair in our dealings with our children or grandchildren?

Children are keenly aware of inconsistencies when it comes to the conduct of their parents. Our children know it if we shade the truth, if we behave one way to the world but differently in private. That’s called hypocrisy.

It’s interesting that Jesus also taught “doing justice” when correcting the Pharisees. They were hypocrites. They acted like they were righteous, but their behavior was exactly the opposite, [as] Jesus told the crowds, when referring to the Pharisees.

Then Jesus spoke to the multitudes and to His disciples, saying: “The scribes and Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. Therefore whatever they tell you to observe, that observe and do, but do not do according to their works; for they say, and do not do” (Matthew 23:1–3).

What a sad commentary on the example of the Pharisees. That should be a wake-up call to us. God wants us to be lights to the world. Jesus called His disciples “the salt of the earth.” He wants us to set a good example in our conduct and behavior. That starts in our homes, with our husband or wife, our children or grandchildren. Letting our conduct be what is fitting for someone who calls themselves a Christian.

That is the message of Micah 6:8, as echoed by Jesus Christ Himself. It’s not complicated. It’s doing the right thing because it’s the right thing to do, based on God’s law. It’s “doing justly.”

How to Love Mercy

What’s the next item? Again, Micah 6:8.

He has shown you, O man, what is good, and what does the Lord require of you, but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.

2. Love mercy.

This is echoed in Christ’s words as well. As we read before, Jesus said in Matthew 23:23 that the weightier matters of the law are “justice, mercy, and faith.”

Some take “mercy” to mean not being judgmental of bad behavior, as if any conduct is ok. Their slogan is “Don’t judge me,” even if their behavior is arrogant or vulgar. But notice what Christ said in Luke 6:37.

Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.

Frankly, Christ made a moral judgment when He called out the Pharisees’ hypocritical behavior. What He’s telling us here is we must avoid condemning others. Every human being is made in the image of God, and Christ died for every single one of us.

What God is looking for in us is a merciful spirit toward others, as opposed to a vengeful spirit. But think about it. We can get caught up the emotion of a hero bringing down the villain. But often it’s only about personal vengeance, which is the exact opposite of what God wants us to do. Turn to Hebrews 10:30.

For we know Him who said, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord.

There are some people who have lived for years with vengeance in their hearts, with unresolved grudges. Maybe they don’t want to forgive because they feel that would condone the bad behavior that was done. But forgiveness and mercy don’t make bad conduct somehow ok. They just release the grudge. They say, “God, You take care of it.”

We need mercy from God. Notice in Matthew 6:14.

“For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses” (Matthew 6:14–15).

That’s serious. We have all sinned, and we need God’s forgiveness. But if we aren’t willing to forgive one another, we won’t be forgiven by God.

So again, one of the fundamental things that God expects from us, as explained by Micah—and reinforced by our Savior, Jesus Christ—is love mercy.

How to Walk Humbly With Your God

So what’s the third element to knowing what God expects of us? Back to Micah 6:8.

He has shown you, O man, what is good, and what does the Lord require of you, but to do justly, to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.

3. Walk humbly with your God.

As we noted earlier, Jesus essentially echoed Micah 6:8 in Matthew 23:23. But in regard to this third item, He worded it differently. Let’s notice Matthew 23:23, “justice, mercy, and faith.”

So, Micah says “walk humbly” and Jesus says “have faith.” Which is it? Well, maybe it’s not one or the other, but what they mean together.

Humility is not something highly prized in this world—we see that in entertainment and the media—but it is of great value to God. In fact, when we think of what does God expect of us, Isaiah 66 gives us powerful insight. Notice Isaiah 66:2.

On this one will I look: On him who is poor and of a contrite spirit, and who trembles at My word.

If we humble ourselves, approach God’s word with awe and respect, that attracts God’s attention. But what does that have to do with the faith that Jesus described? I think the account of the Centurion’s servant sheds light on that. You probably know the story.

Jesus Approved a Roman Centurion’s Faith, Humility, and Obedience

A Roman centurion had a servant who was sick, and he asked Jesus to heal him. But he told Jesus he didn’t feel worthy for Jesus to come to his house. Notice what the centurion said in Luke 7:6.

“Lord, do not trouble Yourself, for I am not worthy that You should enter under my roof. Therefore I did not even think myself worthy to come to You. But say the word, and my servant will be healed. For I also am a man placed under authority, having soldiers under me. And I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it” (Romans 7:6–8).

Roman centurions were officers in the army who commanded great respect. As the name would imply, they were responsible for 80 to 100 men on the battlefield, and had a crucial role to the effective functioning of the Roman army.

Jesus was shocked and pleased by his attitude. Notice Luke 7:9.

When Jesus heard these things, He marveled at him, and turned around and said to the crowd that followed Him, “I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel!”

What impressed Jesus so much about this man? Perhaps not just his faith that He could heal. Maybe it was also his profound humility, even though he was a man of accomplishment and high position. He was voluntarily submitting himself to Jesus Christ, and humbly acknowledging his need for help.

Maybe expressing faith goes hand in hand with walking humbly with God, and putting our confidence and trust in God, not in ourselves, as Hebrews 11:6 says.

But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

To diligently seek Him, we must accept we are not sufficient on our own. It’s not complicated. It’s not a mechanical formula or a complicated ritual. It’s about humbling ourselves and walking in faith with the One who gave us life and breath.

When the Apostle Paul was in Athens, while waiting for his travelling companions, he happened to see the many idols in the city. After hearing some of what he had to say about the Savior Jesus Christ, some of the citizens of the city brought him up to the Areopagus. This was where public discourse about philosophical questions often took place.

While there, Paul saw their altar “to the Unknown God.” He took that as an opportunity to introduce them to the God of Heaven, Earth and all that there is. Let’s pick it up in Acts 17:23.

The One whom you worship without knowing, Him I proclaim to you.

And then he explained who the true God is: The One who made us, the One who sustains life on this earth, the one who holds our next breath in His hands. Going on in verse 29.

Therefore, since we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Divine Nature is like gold or silver or stone, something shaped by art and man’s devising. Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent, because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead (Acts 17:29–31).

He was introducing them to God. And introducing them to the Savior Jesus Christ, who died and rose again. And paid the penalty of sin for all mankind.

But God expects something in return. He expects us to respond in faith, and love, and loyal obedience to Him.

If you are willing to do that, God has a special role for you and an opportunity to build a very close relationship with Him, as this next video explains.

Do you want to serve God with your whole heart? Do you want to fulfill all that the Lord requires of you—to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with Him?

Then you need to take the next step and respond with a willing heart to what God is calling you to do. We’ll show you how in the next video.

[The text below represents an edited transcript of the TV version of this Tomorrow’s World program.]

When Bad Things Happen to Good People: Lessons from Job

Our world is suffering. Soldiers endure the stress and violence of war. Innocent civilians are displaced or brutalized, caught between warring factions. Homes are destroyed, lives are disrupted, families are torn apart.

Even in countries free from armed conflicts, many people suffer from drug abuse, alcohol addiction, broken homes, and physical or sexual abuse. For some, their home life is filled with daily, silent suffering.

Millions more endure the effects of failed crops from extreme weather. Blistering heat; torrential rains; water supplies that are unreliable and contaminated; food shortages from failed crops. Electricity outages and infrastructure failures.

Our world is suffering. Far too many people live their lives from one agonizing moment to the next with little relief in sight.

And so many wonder why all the suffering? Especially, why do basically caring and loving people who really do try to treat their families and neighbors well, why do they suffer, too?

These are important questions. And they are questions that deserve real answers. The Bible is the only place where we really find the truth about the big questions of life.

3 Lessons from Job About Suffering

This can be a very confusing and distressing subject. And it makes no difference what time period of history you live in.

For example, this question was difficult for a man who lived thousands of years ago. His name was Job. And the book of Job in the Bible is still relevant in our modern world, to give us insight into why God allows suffering.

Job was a good man. We are told that right in the beginning of the account. It’s found in Job 1:1.

There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was blameless and upright, and one who feared God and shunned evil.

Blameless and upright: That means he was a faithful man, a righteous man, one who believed God and followed His directions. And yet, as those of us who’ve read the book know, something went wrong in his life. Everything was going well and he was prospering, and then it all suddenly came crashing down. His herds and flocks were destroyed. His wealth evaporated. And his grown children were violently killed.

It’s not hard for us to understand why Job got deeply discouraged. He had obeyed God; He had walked with God throughout his life. He had been blessed. And now it’s as if it all was swept away without warning or meaning. He was terribly confused and frustrated.

What did he learn through the experience? And what can we learn as we live our lives in these end-times?

Spiritual Warfare: We Have an Unseen Enemy

In the remainder of this program, let’s identify three keys to understanding why good people suffer.

1. We have an enemy in the spirit world.

That enemy is named Satan the Devil. And he and his demons—which are fallen, rebellious angels—want to distract, discourage, and destroy all humanity. The spirit world is not make-believe. The devil is not just a spooky cartoon character. He’s real and he’s our enemy.

The book of Job explains that very clearly. Notice Job 1:6.

Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came among them. And the Lord said to Satan, “From where do you come?” (Job 1:6–7).

“Sons of God” refers to righteous angels. Satan the Devil had been one of those angels, named Lucifer. But after he rebelled, he became known as Satan or the Adversary. And in this account he came before God, and God asked him what he’d been doing. Going on in Job 1:7:

So Satan answered the Lord and said, “From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking back and forth on it.” Then the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil?” (Job 1:7–8).

Again, Job is described as being a good example in character and integrity. That’s important to note. Going on in Job 1:9:

So Satan answered the Lord and said, “Does Job fear God for nothing? Have You not made a hedge around him, around his household, and around all that he has on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. But now, stretch out Your hand and touch all that he has, and he will surely curse You to Your face” (Job 1:9–11).

Satan the Devil attacked Job’s character. He essentially said Job was only in it for what he could get out of God; his obedience and his love for God was conditional; and if God would take His blessings away, Job would quickly turn against God.

So the Lord said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your power; only do not lay a hand on his person.” Then Satan went out from the presence of the Lord (Job 1:12).

That’s when Satan destroyed Job’s flocks, his herds, and his livelihood. He even killed Job’s grown children in a tragic windstorm.

So who is the enemy of mankind? Who sought to pry Job’s blessings away from him? Who even wanted to drive a wedge between Job and God? It was Satan the Devil.

You know, there are certain types of actions that are so bad that God says He hates them. That should get our notice. We find the list in Proverbs 6:16:

These six things the Lord hates, yes, seven are an abomination to Him: A proud look, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that are swift in running to evil, a false witness who speaks lies, and one who sows discord among brethren.

That’s exactly what Satan the Devil set out to do: to sow discord, and distrust, and suspicion between Job and God.

You can read the rest of the account in chapter 2. In that second chapter, Satan increased his persecution of Job. He struck Job with painful boils all over his body. Job’s suffering only increased.

So, what’s the point? We need to understand there IS an invisible spirit world. And in that spirit world, some angelic beings are good and righteous and helpers of God, but there is also Satan and his demons. These are angels who chose the way of self-centeredness, anger, competition, and hate. They want to destroy humanity, and they want to make human beings suffer.

You see, the author of human suffering is not God. A lot of people misunderstand that. The author of human suffering is Satan the Devil, who has deceived the whole world. Let’s read that in Revelation 12:9.

So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world.

This devil was in the garden of Eden with our first parents, Adam and Eve. He deceived them, coerced them into sinning, and caused them to turn away from God and disobey Him. And if you think about it, that’s been the story of human civilization ever since—a humanity cut off from God, locked into a cycle of sin, all because of Satan’s deception.

Now, you might be thinking, “Sure, there’s a devil. He’s the deceiver. He’s the destroyer. But God is all powerful. And if God is all powerful, why doesn’t He stop the suffering caused by Satan?”

God’s Plan for You: What to Learn from Suffering

Let’s go back to the account in Job 1:12.

So the Lord said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your power; only do not lay a hand on his person.”

God said, “Ok, Satan, you can afflict him, but only up to a point. I won’t let you go further.” God essentially said the same thing later when Satan came back to ask if he could afflict Job’s health. In Job 2:6 we read:

And the Lord said to Satan, “Behold, he is in your hand, but spare his life.”

God set the limits on what Satan could do and couldn’t do. That’s an important point to recognize. And that brings us to our second key to understanding suffering in this life.

2. God is working out a plan in your life.

When you or I have trials, and even when our life feels out of control, we must not panic. God will guide our path if we want Him to, if we seek Him with all our heart, but He also might allow us to go through some pain along the way. Why? Because God has a plan He is working out. Turn over to Hebrews 2:10.

For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the author of their salvation perfect through sufferings.

God’s goal is to bring every one of His created sons and daughters to glory, but to get there, there is some suffering involved. Remember, even Jesus suffered. And so, we suffer as well in this flesh, but there’s a purpose.

Before God gives anyone eternal life, He has to know we’ll live in harmony with Him forever. He doesn’t want anyone to live for all eternity who’s going to be in a state of rebellion. He won’t force anyone to accept the gift of eternal life.

And so God gave us physical lives in temporary bodies to learn to make choices. Actually, we find this choice laid out for mankind, even way back in the Garden of Eden. Adam and Eve, our first parents, were given a choice to go God’s way, or the way of the self, influenced by Satan. They made the wrong choice and they were cast out of the Garden of Eden. Notice what we read in Genesis 3:22.

Then the Lord God said, “Behold, the man has become like one of Us, to know good and evil. And now, lest he put out his hand and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live forever”—therefore the Lord God sent him out of the garden of Eden to till the ground from which he was taken. So He drove out the man; and He placed cherubim at the east of the garden of Eden, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to guard the way to the tree of life (Genesis 3:22–24).

God cut them off from access to eternal life, and in general, mankind has been cut off from God ever since. How else do you explain a world of so much corruption, violence, and sorrow? God wants the human family to learn that Satan’s way only brings suffering, misery, and death.

Does that mean humanity is lost and without hope? Not at all. God is calling individuals, one by one, to repentance. He grants forgiveness of sins through the blood of Jesus Christ. Those whom He calls then make the choice to enter into a personal covenant with Him. Notice what the Apostle Peter said in 1 Peter 4:1:

Therefore, since Christ suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind, for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God (1 Peter 4:1–2).

If you are ready to leave your own past sins behind you, then God can work with you, as Peter told the brethren in 1 Peter 4:3:

For we have spent enough of our past lifetime in doing the will of the Gentiles—when we walked in licentiousness, lusts, drunkenness, revelries, drinking parties, and abominable idolatries. In regard to these, they think it strange that you do not run with them in the same flood of dissipation, speaking evil of you (1 Peter 4:3–4).

Does that mean that when a Christian repents and turns His life over to God, all his problems evaporate? Of course not. We are still living in this world, and this is Satan’s world. We’re going to suffer, even as a Christian. Notice 1 Peter 4:12:

Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy (1 Peter 4:12–13).

In this world, in this life, we’re going to suffer even as Christians.

If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified. But let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or as a busybody in other peoples’ matters. Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter. For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God (1 Peter 4:14–17).

Judgment in this case means evaluation and testing. In other words, if you turn your life over to God, He’s going to work with you and train you. And sometimes that means suffering, because some of the most important lessons we learn in life come through things we suffer. It doesn’t mean He has abandoned us. It means He’s got a plan, and He’s working with us.

Consequences of Sin Include Suffering

God has a plan to call every human being who has ever lived, in their own time, and ultimately bring many sons to glory.

But there’s one more thing we need to address as we examine this question, why do good people suffer? One more key. That is:

3. All have sinned (except Jesus Christ).

When we ask the question why do good people suffer, there really is an implied assumption. That is, “God is not fair.”

What do I mean? Well, because we may think that good people—however that is defined—shouldn’t suffer because they’re good. And it’s really God’s fault if good people suffer because, after all, He could stop it because He’s all-powerful.

But let’s ask ourselves the question, what is a “good person?” How do you define it? Rather than let our own ideas answer that, let’s find out what the Bible says. We find an interesting passage in Matthew 19:16;

Now behold, one came and said to Him, “Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?” So He said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God” (Matthew 19:16–17).

This rich young ruler came to Christ asking this question. But Jesus made an important point: Don’t casually throw around evaluations of good or bad without understanding God’s standard because, in the ultimate sense, no one is good. No man is good. No woman is good. Only God is good.

But then He goes on in Matthew 19:17:

“But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.”

The standard for being good is God’s commandments. And yet none of us have ever perfectly, completely attained that standard. None of us can say we are without mistakes or without sin. The Apostle Paul explains that in Romans 3:23.

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.

And what is the penalty for sin? Paul explains that as well in Romans 6:23.

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

We have all earned the death penalty. And our human nature, instead of being basically good, is actually flawed and not willing to be subject to God. Notice what Paul said in Romans 8:7:

Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be.

You see, all of us feel we deserve certain things. We deserve to be blessed. We deserve to be loved. We deserve freedom and justice. We deserve to have a smooth and relatively pain-free and problem-free life. We may not actually say those words, but deep down, I think that’s our assumption. And yet, what do we really deserve, based on our actions?

God is a just God. There is absolutely no partiality in Him. That’s in Romans 2:11. He will never sin. He is a God of justice. But perhaps even more important for us on a personal level, He is also a God of mercy.

You see, in the ultimate sense, none of us deserve the mercies of God. None of us deserve to have our sins forgiven. And Jesus Christ didn’t deserve to have to suffer and die for our sins. He willingly did it, because He loves us. And the Father gave His Son because HE loves us.

“After you have suffered a while” | 1 Peter 5:10 Explained

Let’s revisit the example of Job briefly. At the end of the book, he finally realized the suffering he’d gone through had been for a purpose. He had needed to learn valuable lessons. He needed to draw closer to God and rely less on his own goodness. Here is how he sums it up in Job 42:5:

“I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees You. Therefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes” (Job 42:5–6).

Why suffering? To learn to reject relying on our own goodness, and instead to learn to embrace the authority and will of our Creator God. And suffering in the flesh is a necessary component God uses to teach us that.

God is offering us eternal life. That’s a long time. Whatever we suffer in this life—which is just a blink of an eye compared to eternal life—is worth it. Notice what Peter said in 1 Peter 5:10:

But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strength, and settle you.

Our destiny is to have eternal life with God and our Elder Brother in His Kingdom forever—without suffering, without pain and without death. Forever. Notice what John says in Revelation 21:3:

And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people and God Himself will be with them and be their God. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying; and there shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away” (Revelation 21:3–4).

That’s God’s plan. That’s what He’s preparing us for.

God is working out a plan in bringing many sons to glory, but He allows us to live in this temporary state to learn lessons. And He even allows Satan the Devil to be around so we can learn a clear distinction between Satan’s way and God’s way.

God’s way produces harmony, peace, and a wonderful life free of suffering in God’s family forever.

God gives everyone the choice between these two ways of life. And ultimately, we will all have to choose for ourselves, as Moses told the Israelites as they prepared to go into the Promised Land, in Deuteronomy 30:19.

I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live; that you may love the Lord your God, that you may obey His voice, and that you may cling to Him, for He is your life (Deuteronomy 30:19–20).

God is allowing all humanity to learn what sin and its effects look like. And at the end of the day, God wants that experience to teach us to choose life.

In this next video, you’ll find one very important key to how to do that.

Now, many of you have probably taken a step toward choosing life, just by wanting to know Jesus Christ. And you probably know that He suffered greatly and even died for your sins.

But if you truly want to follow Jesus Christ, wouldn’t you also want to know which behaviors He calls sins—so that you can turn away from them?

Watch this next video to discover the Bible’s clear answer to the question: What is sin?

[The text below represents an edited transcript of this Tomorrow’s World program.]

Good vs Evil: Micah’s End-Times Prophecy

A quarter to one-third of the Bible is prophecy. And yet most people don’t take Bible prophecy seriously.

Long-time viewers of Tomorrow’s World know that on this program, we not only discuss world news, current events, and Christian living. We discuss Bible prophecy. And it’s not just because it’s a curiosity. It’s not just to hear exciting things about the future. If we have ears to hear, God has a message for us in His word, especially as end-time events draw near. We need to understand Bible prophecy.

So today on Tomorrow’s World, let’s dive into one of the prophetic books of the Old Testament. It’s one of the lesser-known books, one of the so-called Minor Prophets. The Minor Prophets are called that not because they are less important, but because they are much shorter. In fact, the book we’re talking about has only seven chapters.

Which book am I referring to? The book of Micah—it’s found in your Bible toward the end of the Old Testament.

But what does the book of Micah have to do with you and me today? Is there something we can learn from it? Could this small, obscure book hold some unexpected treasures we can dig up to help us as the end of the age draws near?

Micah 1 | The Day of the Lord and God’s Wrath

The prophet Micah was born over 700 years before Christ. His ministry lasted from about 750 to 687 BC. He was from Judah, from a town called Moresheth, about 20 miles southwest of Jerusalem. He prophesied during the reigns of Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah. He was roughly contemporary with the prophet Isaiah, who is much more well-known.

While some prophets—such as Isaiah—were from Jerusalem and had access to the royal court, Micah was from a small town in a rural area.

In the book bearing his name, Micah speaks of a time to come of worldwide calamity. Notice what he says in Micah 1:2.

Hear all you peoples, listen, O earth, and all that is in it. Let the Lord GOD be a witness against you, the Lord from His holy temple. For behold, the Lord is coming out of His place; He will come down and tread on the high places of the earth. The mountains will melt under Him, and the valleys will split like wax before the fire, like waters poured down a steep place (Micah 1:2–4).

It doesn’t take too much knowledge of the Bible to recognize he’s talking about the Day of the LORD. It’s very similar language to what we later find in the Book of Revelation.

The Great Tribulation and the Day of the LORD will lead right up to Jesus Christ’s return to earth. He’ll set His feet on the Mount of Olives and fight against the nations gathered against Him. And Micah gives us a dramatic, powerful illustration of how it will happen.

This obscure prophet from a small, agricultural village spoke of it more than 2,700 years ago.

So should the book of Micah interest us? Well, if we’re living in the time just before this calamity strikes our nations, it should absolutely concern us.

Notice also further context Micah provides regarding these events. This we find in Micah 1:5.

All this is for the transgression of Jacob and for the sins of the house of Israel.

In other words, Christ is going to come back to set up His government. But He’s also coming back to bring an end to the transgressions of the house of Israel.

Micah 2 | End-Time Warning for the House of Israel

Who is the house of Israel? If you’ve been a viewer of Tomorrow’s World for a good bit of time, you know that we explain that the Bible identifies the modern-day House of Israel (or Jacob, for that was his name before it was changed to Israel). Modern-day Israelites today constitute the British-descended nations of the world, as well as other countries of Northwest Europe.

In short, the descendants of the patriarch Israel were to experience spectacular blessings in the centuries leading up to the end-times. The modern-day nations of the former British Empire, and other northwest European countries have enjoyed tremendous material wealth as well as military strength.

But we have not used those blessings properly. In fact, what do you find in many of these countries today? Immorality, greed, selfishness, and a widespread rejection of God’s instruction book—the Bible. Read on in Micah 2:1.

Woe to those who devise iniquity and work out evil on their beds! At morning light they practice it, because it is in the power of their hand. They covet fields and take them by violence, also houses, and seize them. So they oppress a man and his house, a man and his inheritance (Micah 2:1–2).

One of the major themes of the book of Micah was the inequality in the social structure of the land. Now this is not to be confused with a socialistic or communistic approach. That’s not what God wanted.

What He desired was righteousness and obedience among those in power and those who had material wealth, not using that influence to bend the rules for themselves while the poor are drowning in debt. And yet all too often, we see examples of that happening around us even today.

Notice what God’s response was to their actions in Micah 2:3.

Therefore thus says the LORD: “Behold, against this family I am devising disaster, from which you cannot remove your necks; nor shall you walk haughtily, for this is an evil time.”

Micah 3 | Woe to Those Who Call Evil Good

Going on in Micah 3:1.

And I said: “Hear now, O heads of Jacob, and you rulers of the house of Israel: Is it not for you to know justice? You who hate good and love evil… (Micah 3:1–2).

And it is an evil time when leaders even use their influence to redefine good and evil. Do we see that today?

Some in leadership positions are recasting morality to be just the opposite of what God says. They condone deviant behavior as worth celebrating. They portray those who defend immorality as being kind and loving, while one who would uphold God’s standards are painted as harsh and cruel.

The parallels with our time are hard to miss, especially when you realize many of us are living in the modern-day nations of Israel. But he doesn’t stop there—he also corrected the religious leaders. Notice Micah 3:5.

Thus says the LORD concerning the prophets who make My people stray, who chant “Peace” while they chew with their teeth, but who prepare war against him who puts nothing into their mouths.

In other words, religious leaders are supposed to teach those whom they serve. They are supposed to feed them spiritually. They should help them understand the ways of God. But Micah is saying in his time, the religious leaders themselves were deceived and leading the people astray (Micah 3:6).

Therefore, you shall have night without vision, you shall have darkness without divination. The sun shall go down on the prophets, and the day shall be dark for them. So the seers shall be ashamed, and the diviners abashed; indeed, they all cover their lips; for there is no answer from God (Micah 3:6–7).

Micah was saying the religious leaders were leading their nation astray. But what about in our day? Do too many churches teach traditions of men instead of the commandments of God? Do too many religious leaders perpetuate myths and lies instead of the truths of the Bible?

All you have to do is look and see for yourself what you find in your Bible.

Micah 3:8 Explained | God’s Servants Must Boldly Preach the Truth

What does it mean to be a servant of God?

So Micah gave them a scathing indictment. But notice what he told them next, about himself. He told them he would tell them the truth, straight from God and His word. Notice Micah 3:8.

But truly I am full of power by the Spirit of the LORD, and of justice and might, to declare to Jacob his transgression, and to Israel his sin.

A voice crying out in the wilderness. That’s what Micah was—a courageous and bold servant of God. So what would God have us do today, if we want to be God’s servants doing God’s will and His work? Well, we need to do the same thing. We need to speak boldly. We need to speak plainly, declaring to the modern descendants of Jacob their sins so they can change and repent.

This is not a popular message, but it’s the truth. Do you want the truth? In love. In gentleness. With compassion. Yes. But the simple and plain truth.

How could we, if we’re servants of Jesus Christ, give you anything less? And that is what we strive to do here at Tomorrow’s World.

So why are we looking at the book of Micah today? Because it speaks of something still ahead of us. It speaks of the coming calamity in the Day of the LORD, but also it speaks of the collapse of the Israelite nations that many of us are living in right now. These messages are as relevant as today’s news.

But that’s not the end of the story. There’s much more to this obscure book.

Micah 4 | Jesus Returns to Set Up the Kingdom of God

You see, Micah goes right on, speaking about what will happen after Christ’s return, after the so-called Battle of Armageddon. And he brings a message of comfort and hope. Notice what he says in Micah 4:1.

Now it shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the LORD’s house shall be established on the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and peoples shall flow to it. Many nations shall come and say, “Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob…” (Micah 4:1–2).

This is a remarkable passage, because it speaks in detail about the future of the world. In particular, [it’s] about how nations all over this globe will be ruled over by God during the Millennium.

You see, in Bible prophecy, mountains represent kingdoms or governments. So this is saying that there is coming a time in the latter days when God’s Kingdom will be established on the top of the other kingdoms. People from all over the earth will come up to Jerusalem to worship the King (Micah 4:2).

He will teach us His ways, and we shall walk in His paths. For out of Zion the law shall go forth, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.

Some people believe that the Kingdom of God is on earth today. But is that true? Or does this say it’s something yet in the future?

We read, “Out of Zion the law shall go forth.” Is the law of God being disseminated from Jerusalem today? Is God’s law even being taught by most churches in this world? Sure, lip service is often given to the Ten Commandments, but how many actually reason their way around the Commandments, especially the fourth commandment about the seventh-day Sabbath?

What will Christ do when He comes (Micah 4:3)?

He shall judge between many peoples, and rebuke strong nations afar off; they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks….

Outside the United Nations Headquarters in New York, there is a sculpture of a man beating a sword into a plowshare. But right now, that’s not reality, is it? Peace has not spread all over the earth. In other words, the Kingdom that Christ will bring is not yet here. But peace will come when Christ sets His feet on the Mount of Olives. Again, think about this.

Going on in Micah 4:3.

Nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore.

When you see all nations stop fighting, and when you see all nations stop preparing for war, that’s the time when Christ will be ruling on this earth. And again, through the prophet Micah, we learn that time is coming. Notice what else it will be like. Read in Micah 4:4.

But everyone shall sit under his vine and under his fig tree, and no one shall make them afraid, for the mouth of the LORD of hosts has spoken.

Has that happened yet? Do all people around the globe enjoy security and prosperity? Or do too many live in fear of gangs breaking into their homes, their young sons being forced into military conscription, and their families terrorized? Many people living today suffer such brutality or other inhumane treatment.

But Micah said, through the inspiration of God, there will be a time when it will stop. And people will be blessed in peace and safety, and be able to raise their families and enjoy the fruit of their labors (Micah 4:5).

For all people walk each in the name of His God, but we will walk in the name of the LORD our God forever and ever.

When you understand it, this is talking about the destiny of the saints. Those who are converted, real Christians today will rise to meet Christ at the resurrection. And they will rule with Him, helping and teaching mankind the ways of God. What a beautiful picture of the future. God says He will heal and comfort and help the afflicted. Notice Micah 4:6.

“In that day,” says the LORD, “I will assemble the lame, I will gather the outcast and those whom I have afflicted, I will make the lame a remnant, and the outcast a strong nation…” (Micah 4:6–7).

When you look at the world around you today, you would never guess that someday in the not-too-distant future there will be peace, harmony and global cooperation. But that’s why Bible prophecy is so important. Not only does it give us a warning of calamity to come—which is vital—it also gives us hope for the future.

Micah 6 | God’s Case Against His People

But where does that leave you and me? What about our lives right now? Does God, through the prophet Micah, give us any advice now, as we prepare for the times ahead? Yes, He does.

Let’s pick it up in Micah 6:1.

Hear now what the LORD says: “Arise, plead your case before the mountains, and let the hills hear your voice. Hear, O you mountains, the LORD’s complaint, and you strong foundations of the earth; for the LORD has a complaint against His people, and He will contend with Israel” (Micah 6:1–2).

The background here is that God has a complaint with His people Israel. These are the people who have inherited the Bible, the people who have the writings inspired by God, the people who know what He says and yet have strayed from it.

Could this be referring to our people today, who have largely turned their back on God?

Going on in Micah 6:3.

Oh, my people, what have I done to you? And how have I wearied you? Testify against Me.

Think about this in terms of where we are in prophecy today. Many of us live in the modern Israelite nations of the earth, and because of that, we enjoy some of the richest, most productive places on the planet. And yet, by and large, many of our people have rejected God, even many who call themselves Christian. Many don’t want God telling them what to do, telling them how to live, or making them feel guilty if their behavior constitutes “sin.”

Yes—what has God done to us? He’s only given us the chance to live in some of the most beautiful and secure nations on earth. He’s given us His word. It explains how to live a blessed and happy life. He’s taught us how to love our neighbor and avoid the penalties of bad choices in life. He’s given us a Savior.

The question is not what has God done to us, rather, what has God not done for us?

Micah 6:8 Explained | What Does the LORD Require of You?

The prophet then asks some intriguing questions. Notice in Micah 6:6.

With what shall I come before the Lord, and bow myself before the high God? Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old? Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, ten thousand rivers of oil? Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? (Micah 6:6–7).

He goes from the ridiculous to the ludicrous. No, God doesn’t require us to sacrifice thousands of rams to please Him. And He surely doesn’t require us to sacrifice our own children. What does He ask from us?

Have you ever really asked yourself that question? Micah answers it for us—notice in Micah 6:8.

He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?

Sometimes we can make serving God much more complicated than it is. Micah is saying that the intent of God has always been very simple. Do justly, love mercy and walk humbly before God.

What about you? Is there something that holds you back from just simply serving God? Have you misunderstood what God expects of you? He doesn’t demand some great herculean feat. He just wants obedience from a pure heart. He wants us to change for our own good.

Jesus gave us the same concept, with slightly different wording, in Matthew 23:23. He explained the weightier matters of the law are “justice, mercy, and faith.”

Speaking of our Savior, it’s also important to note that the prophet Micah is the one who prophesied where the Messiah would be born. It’s found in Micah 5:2.

But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of you shall come forth to Me the One to be ruler in Israel, whose goings forth are from old, from everlasting.

A little town of Bethlehem. You might have heard of it. It’s the town where Christ was born. That’s another surprising element of this Old Testament prophet. He foretold of our Savior with such remarkable detail that the religious leaders of Jesus’ day knew where He would be born. How incredible!

And he also foretold that our Savior would someday be the ruler over Israel. It’s coming yet ahead, when He will also rule over the whole earth.

Micah 7 | How to Repent and Find God’s Mercy

Micah also spoke of God’s great mercy in pardoning sin. Through Christ’s sacrifice, we can be forgiven of our sins and we can be pardoned when we repent, when we are deeply sorry—so sorry that we want to turn from our sins, change our lives, and never look back.

Micah explained that God is a God of forgiveness (Micah 7:18).

Who is a God like You, pardoning iniquity and passing over the transgression of the remnant of His heritage? He does not retain His anger forever, because He delights in mercy. He will again have compassion on us, and will subdue our iniquities. You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea. You will give truth to Jacob and mercy to Abraham, which You have sworn to our fathers from days of old (Micah 7:18–20).

So Micah is packed with surprises. Not only does He predict the Day of the LORD, the punishment of Israel, and the millennial reign of Christ, he also tells us about how we can have a relationship with God and Christ today.

He was a courageous man who lived in the 700s BC. He prophesied of the demise of the northern house of Israel and the southern kingdom of Judah. But he also spoke of the end of the age, the coming calamity on the whole world, and the wonderful reign of Christ that will follow.

And he gave us advice on how to have a close and personal relationship with God. There’s so much we can learn from this dedicated servant.

Micah lived in a time when he had many enemies. It was a time when evil was increasing, an “evil time,” God called it.

We are also living in an evil time, but we’re not left without hope and encouragement from this remarkable servant of God. His example can inspire us to have faith and strength in our day, as we face the dangers of our age.

So what was Micah’s conclusion, when he faced difficulties and trials in his day? Notice in Micah 7:7.

Therefore, I will look to the Lord. I will wait for the God of my salvation. My God will hear me.

It takes faith to wait on God when things look bleak. And it takes faith to believe that “my God will hear me.” But as this next video shows, Jesus Christ recognized the challenges His followers would face in the last days. He knew we would have times when we believe and know God is there. He also knew we would need His help with our unbelief—and He Himself will strengthen us.

So watch this next video to learn how to build the faith you need so you can feel a closer connection with God—and so you will be able to say with conviction, as Micah did: I will look to the Lord. My God will hear me.

[The text below represents an edited transcript of this Tomorrow’s World program.]

US and Israeli Strikes on Iran: Leading to WW3?

On Friday, February 28, 2026, the world was shocked to learn that the United States, Israel and Iran were at war. In a complex, coordinated attack that included cyber and missile attacks and airstrikes, America and Israel struck at the very heart of Iran.

In the opening salvos, over 40 key military leaders were killed. Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was killed in the attack as well.

Iran’s response was immediate. Hundreds of missiles and thousands of drones were launched in retaliation. The Strait of Hormuz was effectively closed, causing a shipping bottleneck that sent shockwaves around the world.

What’s behind the current conflict between Iran and the United States and Israel? Where does Iran fit in Bible prophecy? And how will it affect you and me?

As of this recording, negotiations and peace talks haven’t ended the conflict, although a tenuous ceasefire is in effect.

Iran-US Showdown Brewing for Decades (Iran Nuclear Program)

It’s easy to lose perspective when nations go to war. We can forget all that went before to bring us to this point.

Back in 2025, following two years of war between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah fighters in Lebanon, Israel struck Iranian nuclear facilities. American B-2s dropped “bunker buster” bombs on nuclear sites at Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan. Those limited strikes were aimed at ending Iran’s not-so-secret nuclear and ballistic missile programs.

For years, Iran was suspected of working secretly to build nuclear weapons. Consider this report from CBS news, back in 2013.

Suspicion persists that the real aim [of Iran] is nuclear weapons, because it hid much of its program until it was revealed from the outside more than a decade ago and because of what the IAEA [International Atomic Energy Agency] says are indications that it worked secretly on weapons development. Defying U.N. Security Council demands that it halt enrichment, Iran has instead expanded it (“Iran to upgrade nuclear program with faster IR-2M centrifuges to speed uranium enrichment, diplomats say,” January 31, 2013, CBS News).

But when did these uranium enrichment programs begin? The answer was relayed by a former high-ranking Israeli military intelligence officer, Major General Yaakov Amidror. His comments were recorded in a roundtable discussion in 2008. He said this:

In 1995, I was the head of the Research and Assessment Division of IDF Military Intelligence and we found the first signs that the Iranians were going nuclear… It took American experts another two years, until 1997, for the American intelligence community to understand that the Iranians were going nuclear (“The U.S. National Intelligence Estimate on Iran and Its Aftermath: A Roundtable of Israeli Experts,” Yaakov Amidror, March 2008).

Islamic Revolution in 1979 Changed Iran’s Allegiance

You see, this is not a new issue. This conflict has been building up for a whole generation.

But it actually goes back even further, to the Islamic Revolution in 1979.

Many older Americans will remember the events of November 4, 1979, when radical Iranian students stormed the American embassy in Tehran. They took more than 50 American citizens hostage, who were staff members at the embassy. They held them for 444 days.

1979 was also a year of dramatic change for Iran in its relationship with the state of Israel.

You see, Israel had for years enjoyed a friendly relationship with Iran. During the 1950s, 60s and 70s, the Shah of Iran, the ruling monarch of Iran, sought to build and strengthen ties with Israel and the United States. As the Encyclopaedia Iranica online website notes:

While seeking close ties with the West and striving for modernization, Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi (r. 1941-79) viewed Israel as a natural ally. Israel’s strength and progress fascinated him, and its conflict with the Arab world and opposition to Communist influence in the region further promoted the strengthening of ties. The shah also believed that through relations with Israel, Persia [what Iran was formerly called] would benefit in the United States, gaining the support of American Jewry, the congress, media, business community, and the administration (“The Pahlavi Period (1948-78),” ISRAEL i. RELATIONS WITH IRAN, Encyclopaedia Iranica).

In an address to the United Nations General Assembly in 2013, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also explained the close relationship between Iran and Israel, and how it dramatically changed after the 1979 revolution.

In 1979 a radical regime in Tehran tried to stamp out that friendship [between Israel and Iran]. As it was busy crushing the Iranian people’s hope for democracy, it always led wild chants of “death of the Jews”(Netanyahu’s 2013 speech to the UN General Assembly; October 1, 2013; The Times of Israel).

So the close relationship between Iran and Israel evaporated. And we know the rest of the story. We can see what’s happened ever since.

Iran Was Once Persia: Forgotten Alliance with Israel

But perhaps it’s worth our time to investigate a little bit into that history of friendship between Iran—formerly known as Persia—and the Jews.

We’ve got to go back even further—about 2,500 years further. As mentioned before, Iran’s former name was Persia. The government of this country only changed its name to Iran in 1935. Before that, it was known as Persia for millennia. And the Jews and the Persians have generally had good relations through the years.

Again, speaking in 2013 at the General Assembly of the United Nations, Prime Minister Netanyahu said this:

We are an ancient people. We date back nearly 4,000 years to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. We have journeyed through time. We’ve overcome the greatest of adversities… Today our hope for the future is challenged by a nuclear-armed Iran that seeks our destruction. But I want you to know, that wasn’t always the case. Some 2,500 years ago the great Persian king Cyrus ended the Babylonian exile of the Jewish people. He issued a famous edict in which he proclaimed the right of the Jews to return to the land of Israel and rebuild the Jewish temple in Jerusalem. That’s a Persian decree. And thus began an historic friendship between the Jews and the Persians that lasted until modern times (Netanyahu’s 2013 speech to the UN General Assembly; October 1, 2013; The Times of Israel).

In spite of the religious toleration of the Persians, the Jews were not without their enemies.

Queen Esther, Haman, and an Ancient Plot to Kill the Jews

During the reign of Ahasuerus—most likely Xerxes—one of his high-ranking ministers tricked the king into signing a decree authorizing the destruction of the Jewish people. That high-ranking minister’s name was Haman.

But God saved the Jews from annihilation. And He worked through a courageous young Jewish woman, Queen Esther, to accomplish that. The yearly celebration of Purim by the Jews commemorates their victory over their enemies.

There are some fascinating parallels with the story of Haman and the 2026 war in Iran. More than a few Jews have noted the timing of the attacks and the similarity of circumstances.

Among them is Prime Minister Netanyahu himself. Note this article from the Jewish Standard/Times of Israelwebsite.

In his first statement after the beginning of the war, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made the connection to Purim explicit. ‘Twenty-five hundred years ago, in ancient Persia, a tyrant rose against us with the very same goal, to utterly destroy our people,’ Netanyahu said. ‘Today as well, on Purim, the lot has fallen, and in the end this evil regime will fall too’” (“Death of Iranian leader just before Purim revives Book of Esther parallels;” March 5, 2026; Times of Israel).

Haman exercised great influence on the king in setting policy. He almost succeeded in having the Jews annihilated.

Today, modern Persia (Iran) is ruled by leaders who also have the aim of the destruction of Israel as well.

Iran in Bible Prophecy (Persian Empire)

But what about Bible prophecy? What does it say about Persia in the end-time? Will modern-day Persia invade Israel?

Some students of the Bible have noted that Ezekiel 38 prophesies of an attack on Israel by a group of nations, including Persia. They assume that Persia, Russia, and other Asian nations will invade the Holy Land during the Great Tribulation, leading up to Christ’s return. But that’s simply not what the Bible says.

Iran in Ezekiel 38 Prophecy: Timing Explained

Ezekiel 38 does speak of a massive army swooping down into the land of Israel. But it’s during the Millennium after Jesus Christ has returned to earth. Let’s notice it in Ezekiel 38:1.

Now the word of the Lord came to me, saying, “Son of man, set your face against Gog, of the land of Magog, the prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal, and prophesy against him, and say, ‘Thus says the Lord God: “Behold, I am against you, O Gog, the prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal. I will turn you around, put hooks into your jaws, and lead you out, with all your army, horses, and horsemen, all splendidly clothed, a great company with bucklers and shields, all of them handling swords. Persia, Ethiopia, and Libya are with them, all of them with shield and helmet; Gomer and all its troops; the house of Togarmah from the far north and all its troops—many people are with you”’” (Ezekiel 38:1–6).

These countries are identified as Asian nations, led by Russia. But notice that Persia is included among them. And Ezekiel prophesies of a massive military operation by these nations. Read on in Ezekiel 38:8.

After many days you will be visited. In the latter years you will come into the land of those brought back from the sword and gathered from many people on the mountains of Israel, which had long been desolate; they were brought out of the nations, and now all of them dwell safely. You will ascend, coming like a storm, covering the land like a cloud, you and all your troops and many peoples with you (Ezekiel 38:8–9).

It speaks of Israel being a land where people dwell safely, and a little later in the chapter, it says Israel is “a land of unwalled villages.” Could this possibly be speaking of the modern state of Israel today? Absolutely not.

The state of Israel is one of the most heavily defended countries on earth—and by necessity. It’s surrounded by enemies dedicated to its destruction.

So the only possible answer is this prophecy in Ezekiel 38 is speaking of the future, during the Millennium, after Christ has returned. And that’s an important distinction.

And Ezekiel finishes by explaining how the reigning Jesus Christ will supernaturally defend the nation of Israel at that time.

In the end, this rebellion by Gog—including the nation of Persia—will fail. And those countries will learn a valuable lesson, and that is that God rules supreme.

Ultimately, all nations of the earth will learn, and submit, and obey His voice—and reap the benefits of living God’s way of life in peace and prosperity. And those nations—including Persia—will enjoy the fruits of Christ’s rule on earth for 1,000 years.

But what about in our time now? Will Persia have any role in the Holy Land before Christ’s return? Yes, it will.

When the United States and Israel launched attacks on Iran on February 28, 2026, Iran didn’t just fire back at the nation of Israel and at American ships. Over the next few weeks they also aimed missiles and drones at Arab nations all over the Middle East. Through the first 41 days of the conflict, at least 6,413 missiles and drones were launched against Iran’s neighbors.

The UAE [United Arab Emirates] recorded the highest number of attacks on its territory, followed by Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, and Jordan, while Oman recorded the lowest (“Iran targeted 7 Arab countries with 6,413 missiles, drones over past 41 days,” April 10, 2026, Anadolu Agency news service).

Interestingly, most of these nations have majority populations subscribing to a different branch of Islam than Iran. Iran is predominantly Shiite, whereas the Gulf States and most other Arab nations are predominantly Sunni Muslims. The Shia-Sunni split occurred back in 632 AD after the death of Muhammed. And that deep rift has separated Shias and Sunnis for centuries.

Why Iran’s Missing from Arab Confederacy in Psalm 83

The other thing to recognize is Iran is a Muslim nation, but not an Arab nation. It’s Persian, and that makes it very different from the Arab nations of the Middle East ethnically.

Interestingly, Psalm 83 identifies many Arab nations and their conflict with Israel, during the time of the end. Notice Psalm 83:1.

Do not keep silent, O God! Do not hold Your peace, and do not be still, O God! For behold, Your enemies make a tumult; and those who hate You have lifted up their head. They have taken crafty counsel against Your people, and consulted together against Your sheltered ones. They have said, “Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation, that the name of Israel may be remembered no more” (Psalm 83:1–4).

And there are nations that will attempt to destroy Israel before the end of the age. They’re even named. Notice who they are. Going on in Psalm 83:5.

For they have consulted together with one consent; they form a confederacy against You: The tents of Edom and the Ishmaelites; Moab and the Hagrites; Gebal, Ammon, and Amalek; Philistia with the inhabitants of Tyre; Assyria also has joined with them; they have helped the children of Lot (Psalm 83:5–8).

So who are these people?

Notice what Evangelist Richard Ames says about this verse.

As Psalm 83 indicates, Assyria (identified as modern-day Germany) will be joined by an end-time ‘confederacy’ of Arab nations. Look on a Bible map for the ancient location of Moab, Ammon, and Edom, nations mentioned in Psalm 83 that are also prominently mentioned in Daniel’s end-time prophecy. These are the Muslim peoples of the Middle East (“Bitter Family Rivalry,” section 5, The Middle East in Prophecy, p. 13, Richard Ames).

So watch the Arab nations—not Persia—to turn on Israel as the end of the age draws near. And as he mentioned, watch for Germany, the modern descendants of Assyria, to get involved as well.

Let’s turn to Daniel 11 to get a clear picture of what happens (Daniel 11:40).

At the time of the end the king of the South shall attack him.

The “him” is the king of the north. The king of the north originally was identified as the Seleucid Empire, in Syria, north of Israel. But Rome inherited that role when it conquered Syria in 64 BC. So the king of the north in the end-time is the revived Roman Empire. It’s a European power that rises to prominence with breath-taking speed in the last days.

The king of the South is a confederation of Arab nations.

So the king of the north will be attacked by the king of the South. Watch for world events to cause Arab nations to join together. Perhaps even the conflict with Iran could cause predominantly Sunni Arab nations to coalesce, taking one step closer to a confederated union.

And watch ultimately for a conflict between the Muslim Arab world and the European Beast power (reading on in Daniel 11:40).

And the king of the North shall come against him [that is, the king of the south] like a whirlwind, with chariots, horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter the countries, overwhelm them, and pass through. He shall also enter the Glorious Land, [meaning, the land of Israel] and many countries shall be overthrown; but these shall escape from his hand: Edom, Moab, and the prominent people of Ammon. He shall stretch out his hand against the countries, and the land of Egypt shall not escape. He shall have power over the treasures of gold and silver, and over all the precious things of Egypt; also the Libyans and Ethiopians shall follow at his heels (Daniel 11:40–42).

Watch for Europe to take a strong hand in the Middle East, centering in Jerusalem. Watch for a conflict between a German-led Beast power and an Arab confederation.

Iran and the 200-Million Man Army in Revelation 9

Let’s read on in Daniel 11:44.

But news from the east and the north shall trouble him; therefore he shall go out with great fury to destroy and annihilate many.

What nations are located east and north of Jerusalem?

Here is where Persia and other nations east and north enter the picture. Look at a map of the Middle East and Asia. East and north of Jerusalem is the same group of nations we read about in Ezekiel 38. But in this case, not attacking Israel, but rather confronting the European Beast power. This is also known as the Sixth Trumpet plague. Notice (in Revelation 9:13):

Then the sixth angel sounded: And I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar which is before God, saying to the sixth angel who had the trumpet, “Release the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates.” So the four angels, who had been prepared for the hour and day and month and year, were released to kill a third of mankind. Now the number of the army of the horsemen was two hundred million (Revelation 9:13–16).

This corresponds to Daniel 11:44 which we just read. This massive 200-hundred-million-man army will be representing the lands north and east of Jerusalem.

And this powerful army will converge on the Beast power and cross the Euphrates River, which will by then be dried up. This will lead to the sixth bowl of the seven last plagues (notice in Revelation 16:12).

Then the sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates, and its water was dried up, so that the way of the kings from the east might be prepared. And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs coming out of the mouth of the dragon, out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. For they are spirits of demons, performing signs, which go out to the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty… And they gathered them together to the place called in Hebrew, Armageddon (Revelation 16:12–16).

This leads to the so-called battle of Armageddon or, in Hebrew, “Har Megiddo,” or the Hill of Megiddo. This is located north of Jerusalem. These armies of the east—most likely including Persia—will converge on the Beast. And unless Christ would return, this battle would lead to all life being wiped off the face of the earth.

But what’s been left out of our discussion? Who’s not been mentioned?

Well, we’ve seen where Persia—modern Iran—will play a part in the final battle between the kings of the east and the Beast power.

But notice, by then, there is no mention of end-time Israel. And if you are a regular viewer of Tomorrow’s World, you know that the modern tribes of Israel today include the United States, the British-descended nations, and other countries of northwest Europe.

The sobering truth is, by the time these confrontations take place that we’ve discussed the Israel-descended nations will have already been vanquished. Defeated. And even taken into slavery.

If you live in one of these modern nations of Israel, don’t think these conflicts won’t ever come to your shores. Jesus warned His listeners to watch world events and be ready for His return. These were not just nice-sounding words. He was giving a warning.

The missile attacks and aircraft strikes we watch today on television or on our smart phones will someday be turned on our nations. And that will usher in the Great Tribulation—a time of global crisis unlike anything humanity has ever experienced. But how will you know it’s coming?

To understand what lies ahead—and what it means for you—watch this next video, explaining what the Tribulation is, who it affects most, which Scriptures you can study about it, and how it fits with end-time Bible prophecy.

Don’t wait until it begins. Recognize the events leading up to it—and understand what God wants you to do before it begins.