When certain developments take place, many who study Bible prophecy comment that prophecy is being fulfilled today. We who watch from the pre-Trib view—that is most of us, I think—believe that, rather than seeing actual fulfillment, we are watching the stage being set for prophetic fulfillment. That is, there is no major prophecy for this pre-Trib era (Church Age) completely fulfilled. But in every direction we look, we see issues and events of our time arranging for fulfillment.

Matters involving the nation of Israel always pique our interest, especially when leaders of Israel’s hostile neighbors say things like recently reported.

“We will not back off from annihilation of Israel, even one millimeter.”

Brig.-Gen. Abolfazl Shekarchi of the Islamic Republic of Iran’s armed forces recently made that threat during an interview with an Iranian regime-controlled media outlet. He urged the total elimination of the Jewish state.

The entire diplomatic world is more than a little concerned about developments with regard to Iran’s nuclear ambitions. However, the main concern seems to be with Israel’s forewarnings about the actions they might take in response to Iranian blustering.

The following report frames the problem from Israel’s perspective.

Israeli officials believe Iran is weeks away from enriching uranium to a level sufficient for building a nuclear weapon.

The amount of uranium Iran has enriched to 20-percent purity is critical because reaching a certain threshold – known as the significant quantity (SQ)—means the stockpile can rapidly be enriched to the 90-percent purity needed for a nuclear weapon. (“Israeli officials fear Iran could have enough uranium for a nuclear bomb within weeks.” World News Platform)

Israeli defense operations made clear the Jewish state’s intentions in light of the existential threat.

The head of the Mossad spy agency said Thursday that a bad nuclear deal between world powers and Iran would be “intolerable” for Israel, vowing that the Islamic Republic will never acquire nuclear weapons.

“It’s clear that there’s no need for uranium enriched to 60 percent for civilian purposes,” David Barnea said during a ceremony at the President’s Residence to honor exceptional Mossad agents. “There’s no need for three enrichment sites. There’s no need for thousands of active centrifuges—unless, that is, there is an intention to develop nuclear weapons.”…

“Iran will not have nuclear weapons—not in the coming years, not ever. That is my promise; that is Mossad’s promise.”…

Asked about plans for a potential strike on Iranian nuclear sites during a rare television interview aired Thursday, [Israeli] Air Force head Maj. Gen. Amikam Norkin said the IDF was prioritizing preparations for such a possibility…

Norkin compared Israel to an “insurance policy” against Iran obtaining a nuclear bomb. Asked if that insurance policy would need to be exercised, he said: “We’ll do whatever is required.” (“Mossad head vows no Iran nukes’ ever,’ as credibility of military option scrutinized.” Times of Israel)

It has long been almost certain that Israel has, through hacking into Iran’s computer capabilities, thus far been able to halt or slow considerably the regime’s drive to achieve nuclear weapons status. However, progress in that weapons program has apparently reached the point that a literal military strike will be necessary. Israel’s very existence, in terms of human understanding, is at stake.

We who believe God’s Word is true—that His chosen nation will never be destroyed—know Iran will never be able to achieve Shekarchi’s desire for the nation’s destruction. But we look at the threat and at developments in Iran’s nuclear program and sense that a major prophecy given by Jeremiah the prophet looks to be shaping for fulfillment.

“The word of the LORD that came to Jeremiah the prophet against Elam, in the beginning of the reign of Zedekiah king of Judah, saying, ‘Thus says the LORD of hosts: ‘Behold, I will break the bow of Elam, The foremost of their might. Against Elam I will bring the four winds from the four quarters of heaven, And scatter them toward all those winds; There shall be no nations where the outcasts of Elam will not go'” (Jeremiah 49:34–36).

The area that includes the bulk of Iran’s nuclear facilities is the Bushehr mountains of the geographical region of Elam, as given in biblical terms.

Our good friend, Bill Salus, has done tremendous research and authored a number of books on the end times and the Middle East.

In his book, Nuclear Showdown in Iran, The Ancient Prophecy of Elam, Bill summarizes with the following:

Jeremiah 49:34–36 predicts a coming disaster to the western central portion of Iran where the ancient territory of Elam existed. The magnitude of this tragedy will create a massive worldwide dispersion of the affected population. It may turn out to be a humanitarian crisis of epic proportion. Among those being scattered will be Christians looking for the opportunity to depart from Iran in order to preach the gospel worldwide.

The IRGC will be struck hard at the heart of its military might. This attack appears to minimize the IRGC’s ability to respond effectively. The strategic targets might include Iran’s nuclear program, which could result in an unprecedented nuclear catastrophe.

In a late-breaking development, Amir Tsarfati reports from Tel Aviv that Iran, on Friday or Saturday of the past week, experienced a massive explosion at one of its nuclear development facilities. The area is apparently being cleared of those who live there because of possibly dangerous emissions from the destruction.

Amir indicated that speculation is that a drone strike might have been responsible.

Personally, I believe that such a catastrophic fulfillment as predicted by Jeremiah the prophet won’t take place until after the Rapture of the Church. But with things shaping up as they are in such dramatic fashion, I think it’s wise to take Jesus’ words to heart as never before.

“And when you see all these things begin to come to pass, then look up and lift up your heads, for your redemption is drawing near” (Luke 21:28).

Another stage-setting indicator for what is coming has suddenly burst onto the worldwide scene. The signal represents the metastasizing effects of a satanically spawned end-times assault on humanity. It is a sign of the coming Tribulation that should alert pastors of Bible-believing churches to just how near Christ’s call in the Rapture must be.

Jesus gave the forewarning for what we see happening around the globe at this very end-of-the-age moment:

“And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring” (Luke 21:25).

The “sea” in this instance symbolically represents the vast numbers of peoples of the world.

Again, it is the so-called pandemic, the COVID-19 matter, that seems to be at the black heart of the devil’s blueprint for the assault. While media in the US and around the globe insist that most of the world’s populations are compliant with receiving mandated vaccines, evidence is mounting that resistance is growing in spectacular ways.

Governmental leaders have turned into would-be masters of the populations they no longer serve—rather, intend to rule over. The yearning in the human heart to be free from such demands as taking vaccines that are no more than experimental injections in most cases are igniting rebellion that is not likely to be doused with flame-quelling retardant until a certain prophesied entity appears on the scene.

The same rebelliousness that makes most on earth reject God’s governance is manifesting in growing rejection of demands made by the minions of the god of this age – that is, demands by the reprobate minds of governmental tyrants guided by Lucifer the fallen. They want no one to rule over them; this is at the heart of the fallen minds of mankind.

It will be Antichrist–Satan’s son of perdition—who will douse the flames of global insurrection against Satan’s blueprint. He will do so with the cruelest, most wicked methodologies ever employed in earth’s history.

The point to be made is that we are witnessing now the stage being set for a primary prophecy given by the Lord Jesus that presages the coming to power of that man of sin –the Antichrist.

The following excerpts put parentheses around this prophetic progression, in my view.

New restrictions on access for the unvaccinated and increasing mandates to be inoculated are sending protesters to the streets in Europe, Australia and other countries.

Authorities in Rotterdam opened fire Friday on protesters during a demonstration against new restrictions on unvaccinated access to public facilities.

At least seven people were injured, and more than 20 people were arrested on Friday night. Protesters set fires and threw rocks over new measures that will curb access to restaurants and shops for the unvaccinated.

Many European countries have stepped up restrictions on unvaccinated people. In Vienna, a crowd estimated in the thousands hit the streets after the Austrian government announced a full lockdown and a vaccine mandate.

Meanwhile, Australia saw thousands gathered at rallies across the country as part of an international day of protest against COVID-19 lockdowns and vaccine mandates. Demonstrators were out in force in Melbourne, Sydney and Adelaide. (“Protests Erupt Across Several European and Australian Cities Over Vaccination Mandates,” By Bruce Haring, Deadline, November 20, 2021)

The spread of the COVID mandate rebelliousness is ratcheting up from the very center out of which “the prince that shall come” (Antichrist) will emerge.

Rome — Central Rome was gripped with violence this weekend as thousands of protesters marched against the toughest new vaccine mandates in the world. All Italians will soon be required to show a coronavirus “Green Pass,” proving either vaccination, recovery in the past six months, or a negative COVID-19 test from the past 48 hours to enter their workplaces.

What started off as a restless but peaceful demonstration against the looming measure in Rome’s Piazza del Popolo ended up sparking a tinderbox when an offshoot of protesters stormed the headquarters of CGIL, Italy’s oldest and biggest labor union.

When they marched toward the prime minister’s office, police responded with water cannon and tear gas. Dozens of police officers were hurt in the melee.

In a bizarre twist, the unrest created a security incident for U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who was in Rome for a meeting with foreign leaders, including Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi and Pope Francis. She was attending Mass at St. Patrick’s Church and scheduled to give a reading when the chaos outside moved Italian government officials to remove the speaker and her husband from the premises.

Vaccine protesters in Rome clash with police (video inside article)

Loud chants of “liberta” (freedom) echoed throughout the Eternal City. Freedom, the protesters demanded, from the national vaccine mandate scheduled to go into effect on October 15. (“Italy’s Toughest-in-the-World COVID-19 Vaccine Mandate Sparks Violent Protests,” By Chris Livesay, CBS News, October 12, 2021)

The rebellion, with the sea and waves roaring, grows exponentially. The US, the UK, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, France, Austria, Asian areas such as Singapore, a number of island nations and most every region across the world are seeing protests, some turning into rioting and destructiveness.

Nations are indeed in perplexity as to how to exert the control the minions–both human and demonic—demand in order to set up the platform for Antichrist to launch his evil Revelation chapter 13 regime.

Before that part of the devil’s blueprint comes to fruition, if you know Jesus Christ as your Savior, you will hear His voice as it trumpets: “Come up here” (Revelation 4:1).

If you don’t know how to be part of that blessed evacuation called the Rapture, here is how.

“That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation” (Romans 10: 9–10).