Diatribes, as of this writing, have become prolific. President Trump, so the tirade goes, is changing his mind regarding demands he’s made that the Iranian terrorist regime give up its stockpile of enriched uranium that they were building to produce a nuclear weapons capability.

Also, there is talk, particularly in mainstream news sources, that Trump is giving in to Iranian demands that the regime will open the Strait of Hormuz for petroleum and other commercial traffic if the president will pay reparations for the war-making that destroyed the regime’s own war-making ability.

I don’t believe a word of it. Having studied this president for many years and his dealings in the commercial world and now the international community, it is clear that he is patiently, deeply into the art of the deal-making for which he is famous.

But all of this is miniscule in considering its importance to the things truly involved in biblical prophecy. The only thing that really matters in this regard is: What does it mean insofar as it is helping set the stage for the wind-up of this age (Age of Grace/Church Age)?

In that regard, I’d like to look at the matter most concerning to this president and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, a matter that’s also at the center of Bible prophecy: the nation now named Iran. By that, I mean what’s in the future for America, Israel, and the rest of the world so far as the possibility of Iran ever having nuclear weaponry? It is interesting to ponder, as we know the God of Heaven has His omnipresent, omniscient, omnipotent hand upon all that is transpiring.

First, let’s look at what’s being discussed and bandied about that frames the nuclear Iran question.

When researching reporting on all of this, I found so much specious material—indeed, pure sophistry—in mainstream news sources that I mention it here only to demonstrate how deception, particularly surrounding such a clearly prophetic matter as Iran’s hatred of Israel, is rampant.

The deceptive reports include the supposed documentation that the late Ayatollah Ali Khamenei issued a fatwa (legal ruling under Islamic law) against Iran’s development of nuclear weapons, but that American and Israeli threats against Iran caused the supreme leader to think again. The reports from mainstream sources go on to say that successors to the late Khamenei are thinking about doing away with his fatwa, and might now pursue atomic weaponry if, for instance, Israel continues to attack their proxy forces in Lebanon.

Speciousness and sophistry all…

The following somewhat corrals the issue of fear of a nuclear Iran, I believe. A former CIA intelligence analyst recently raised supposed inside information about the true nuclear threat posed by the Iranian regime. According to writer Michael Snyder, whose article, “The Nuclear Rumors About Iran Are Getting Louder,” appears in the June 3 edition of Rapture Ready News, there is reason to count the story as valid, even though he, Snyder, can’t verify the former CIA analyst’s charge.

The analyst, Larry C. Johnson, was interviewed by Newsmax TV program host Judge Andrew Napolitano a short time ago. During that interview, Johnson claimed Iran is prepared to conduct “a demonstration with a nuclear weapon.” The following is an excerpt of information revealed in the interview that Johnson released on his blog. Again, this seems to me to be a biased report from a former CIA analyst who could be somewhat at odds—disgruntled—with his former agency and this president for whatever reasons. The “report” is thus somewhat suspect to me. Nonetheless, it offers an interesting perspective on possible prophetic developments:

Pepe Escobar and I received the following intelligence report last Thursday, which was produced by a knowledgeable source with access. I am not reproducing the entire report, but I want to highlight the issue of whether or not Iran now has, or soon will have, a nuke. Let me emphasize that I firmly support past US intel community assessments that Iran, until now, had no interest in obtaining a nuke.

However, it appears that the surprise attack on 28 February, which followed the aborted color revolution attempted in late December 2025, played a decisive role in changing Iran’s view on this matter…

[Johnson’s analysis:]

Following Trump’s maximalist public response, the Supreme National Security Council deployed its ultimate deterrent. Through Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif—currently the only trusted back-channel between Washington and Tehran—Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian communicated a formally structured, three-step strategic ultimatum if US strikes continued:

1. Immediate Withdrawal from the ongoing nuclear peace talks.
   2. Total Abandonment of the prospective Nuclear Treaty framework.
   3. The Detonation of a Nuclear Device on Iranian soil—executed not as a weapon of war, but as an undeniable demonstration of sovereign capability and ultimate control over the escalation ladder.

Transmitted by Pakistani FM Ishaq Dar to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, this was not rhetoric; it was a binary geopolitical shock warning. Rubio recognized the gravity, immediately moving to suppress the White House’s escalatory posturing. The Council directed President Pezeshkian to deliver a message to Pakistan’s Prime Minister, Shebas Sharif. Pezeshkian’s message was simple and direct. Prime Minister Sharif then directed his Foreign Minister, Mr. Ishaq Dar, to deliver the message to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Let me emphasize that the source of this information was involved in the decision-making process that culminated in the warning delivered to Rubio.

The key phrase — If US Strikes Continued — was delivered to Rubio on Thursday. Based on Iran’s announcement today (Monday) that it was withdrawing from further talks with the US until the Israeli attacks on Lebanon and the Palestinians end, I believe this intelligence report to be credible.

The ball is now in the hands of Donald Trump and Bibi Netanyahu… If Israel persists in bombing Lebanon — Beirut in particular — then we should expect Iran to announce that it is withdrawing from the NPT. Once free of the NPT obligations, Iran will be free to carry out item 3, i.e., Detonating a Nuclear Device on Iranian Soil. This will be a demonstration intended to warn Israel and the US that further attacks on Iran would carry catastrophic consequences.

Pepe and I received clarification on how Iran has obtained a functioning nuke… The information regarding the construction of this device (or devices) was provided by a third country that does have proven capabilities in this area. Iran’s objective is, with the backing of Pakistan, China and Russia, to raise the risk to Israel of engaging in future attacks on Iran. (“Does Iran Have a Nuke? Well Placed Source Says, ‘Yes’,” 2 June 2026, Larry C. Johnson, SONAR21)

The report included the possibility of Iran being able to produce an atomic device akin to the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima, Japan, in 1945. It would be a “dirty type” bomb that might produce the effects described in the Jeremiah 49 prophecy we’ve considered in previous articles. Such an explosion could cause the scattering of populations in every direction, as indicated in that prophecy about Elam.

One can imagine this evil regime doing such a thing if they believe their rulership is about to be destroyed.

Whether the current Iranian fanatics have at least one such nuclear device, or whether their nuclear weapons ambition is totally removed through diplomatic and/or military action, Ezekiel’s Gog-Magog prophecy apparently indicates that Persia (Iran) won’t use nuclear weapons in its coalition involvement within the attack on God’s chosen nation. In other words, Persia won’t possess nuclear weapons; otherwise, it would almost certainly use them, at least under the present Iranian regime. It is believed to be a land-force assault.

There is mention, of course, of “fire” that falls at that time upon the “coastlands.” However, that seems to be fire sent by God Himself as punishment upon all those who want Israel destroyed.

Stay tuned, as they say. Rather, stay prophetically attuned!

Wtjames1@swbell.net

Author’s note: The following article was originally written and posted in 2010. The information regarding the status of Christians who consider Bible prophecy important remains relatively unchanged at this late hour of this Age of Grace. I believe Jesus’ command was never more crucial for Christians than at this moment.

“And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh” (Luke 21:28).

Jesus’ Critical Question for End-Times Believers

A recent news item about certain polling data grasped my attention. I’m sure many who look at www.raptureready.com‘s news section had their curiosity piqued and read it as well.

After looking into the matters reported, I found the poll wasn’t as thorough as I would have liked—but it was fascinating nonetheless. Also, it was too one-sided in ethnic makeup. However, I give it enough credence to examine it here because I believe it revolves around a concern the Lord Jesus Christ expressed while teaching about conditions that will prevail at the end of the age.

A new survey finds that Americans are divided over whether they believe Jesus Christ will return by the year 2050.

Among respondents to the survey by the Pew Research Center for the People and the Press and Smithsonian Magazine, 41 percent said they expect Jesus’ Second Coming in the next forty years, while 46 percent said it probably or definitely won’t happen.

The poll suggests that 58 percent of white evangelicals believe Jesus will return by 2050, compared to only 32 percent of Catholics, and respondents with no college education were three times as likely as those with college degrees to expect Christ’s Second Coming in the next forty years. (“Many Americans Expect Jesus’ Return by 2050,” Associated Press/Israel News, 6/23/10).

To be honest, I was quite surprised that 58 percent of white evangelicals believe Christ will return by 2050. This disconnect in my mind comes from the fact that in looking for interest in Bible prophecy within the church today (by this I mean, of course, born-again believers; see John 3:3), my colleagues and I find no evidence to support that percentage.

Perhaps I should speak just for myself, but if my colleagues are honest, based upon conversations we’ve had, they will confess that the interest just isn’t there in those kinds of numbers.

So, a few cynical (I suppose) thoughts regarding the poll come to mind:

• The poll is a complete “guesstimate”—even a prefabrication.
• The poll is skewed because it was taken from among a limited group of believers thoroughly educated in Bible prophecy.
• The poll reflects a flippancy that will agree that Christ could return within the next forty years because the possibility is far enough in the future that the respondents need not worry about changing their personal conduct.
• My colleagues and I are wrong, and the church—”white evangelicals,” in this case—is expecting the Lord’s return in majority numbers.

If the last point is true, then the fact that so many are looking for Christ is well hidden. I’m a blind guy, as many know, so I can’t see things all that well. But interest in Christ’s return—and in Bible prophecy in general, according to everything I hear—is confined to an extremely small number of folks in relationship to the tremendous number of people who claim the name of Christ.

Clicking through Christian TV networks (yes, we blind guys “watch” TV), I rarely come across a prophetic message. Most of the viewing fare consists of the prosperity gospel or entertainment that is, for the most part, a rather poor knockoff of secular entertainment. The preachers who do present a sound gospel message and sound doctrine seldom to rarely speak on Bible prophecy. And they certainly don’t touch upon the pre-Trib return of Christ in the Rapture.

When I’ve personally asked some of the preachers and teachers why they avoid presenting prophecy, they have said things like, “The people just don’t understand Revelation”; “The subject is just too scary to most people”; or ” We just concentrate on getting people the gospel so they will be saved.”

The honest preachers and teachers say, “I just don’t know anything about prophecy. I’ve not studied it enough to preach on it.”

What a tragedy, a travesty, this is! There is a singular hope (Titus 2:13) that God’s people have in this swiftly degenerating age. Yet, their shepherds—the preachers and teachers, their suppliers of spiritual food—use every conceivable excuse for not telling Christians about their returning Lord.

Some accuse those of us whose mission is to concentrate on Bible prophecy of doing so to the point that we ignore Christ’s love and the Bible’s life lessons for His people.

We in no way believe prophecy should be taught exclusively. However, prophecy constitutes almost 30 percent of the whole Word of God, so the Heavenly Father obviously means for it to be a generous part of the mix for His children’s spiritual sustenance. This is especially true in these days when the signals of Christ’s coming again are in every direction in which one looks.

Bible prophecy is being marginalized by those who are supposed to shepherd their flocks, but who don’t want to study it and/or don’t want to risk scaring people out of the pews. This is because it is the feel-good and do-good, entertainment-oriented sermonettes that tickle itching ears and build many of the elaborate end-times edifices.

Understand that I recognize there are huge churches that hold to doctrinal truth and include God’s prophetic Word as part of feeding their attending flocks. This is not to castigate these wonderful pastors, teachers, and staffs. God bless them! But these are in the minority. The dearth of interest in Christ’s coming back in the Rapture, then in the Second Advent, demonstrates the lack of faith resident within Christ’s Body at this crucial hour.

Jesus asked the following profoundly troubling question in that prophetic context: “Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?” (Luke 18:8b). The Lord had a somber message for God’s people who will be alive at His sudden, unannounced coming. I wrote the following as part of a chapter for an upcoming book that I believe gets across the gist of this:

The indifference so prevalent within the church is, itself, an end-times signal, it seems. The Lord obviously spoke to the fact that God’s own children will, in large part, be indifferent to the prophetic signals. They will not be living as they should at the time of His coming for them, as He promised in John 14:1-3. As a matter of fact, He forewarned: “And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth. Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man” (Luke 21:34-6; from a chapter by Terry James in a book to be released in 2010).

I pray more born-again pastors, Bible teachers, and God’s children of this nation and the world will awaken en masse to the staggering implications of Christ’s Second Coming.

—Terry

Wtjames1@swbell.net