Iran’s new leaders are taking risks their predecessors avoided | CNN

Joel 3 is an eschatological prophecy describing God's judgment on the nations that have mistreated Israel and divided His land. The 'Valley of Jehoshaphat' (meaning 'Yahweh judges') is a symbolic location where God will execute judgment.

The prophecy specifically mentions the nations scattering Israel and dividing God's land—actions that have characterized the modern conflict over the land of Israel.

While the ultimate fulfillment awaits the final judgment of nations, the pattern of nations gathering against Israel and disputing the land is a recurring theme that intensifies as the end approaches. Iran's direct strikes on Israel and its longstanding rhetoric about destroying the Jewish state fit this prophetic pattern precisely.

Iran's decision to strike Israel directly—rather than through proxies—represents a new phase in the gathering of nations against God's heritage. The Islamic Republic's leaders have repeatedly called for Israel's destruction and have 'divided up' God's land through their support for armed groups that contest Israeli sovereignty.

This escalation is a sobering reminder that the nations' rebellion against God's purposes for Israel is not a relic of ancient history but a present reality. Joel's prophecy warns that such actions will ultimately bring the nations into the Valley of Judgment, where God will vindicate His people.

Zechariah 12 is a post-exilic prophecy describing a future siege of Jerusalem in which all nations gather against the city. The imagery of Jerusalem as a 'cup of staggering' and a 'heavy stone' indicates that those who attack the city will be injured and confounded.

The prophecy has both a near-term horizon (possibly the Maccabean period) and an eschatological fulfillment in the final battle for Jerusalem.

Iran's direct strikes on Israel—and specifically the threat to Jerusalem—align with this prophecy's description of surrounding peoples (Iran is not geographically adjacent but is a major regional power) being involved in the siege and conflict over Jerusalem.

Iran's unprecedented direct military action against Israel, including strikes that threatened Jerusalem and its environs, demonstrates how the city remains 'a heavy stone' for the nations. The Islamic Republic's leaders have made no secret of their desire to 'liberate' Jerusalem from Israeli control, and this week's escalation brings that ambition into direct military confrontation.

Zechariah's prophecy warns that all who 'lift' this stone—who attempt to displace God's purposes for Jerusalem—will 'surely hurt themselves.' The outcome of this confrontation, whether immediate or eschatological, is already determined by the One who makes Jerusalem the center of His redemptive plan.