Of all the concerns in the Middle East, there is none bigger (at least in my mind!) than Iran, and I’ll do my best to explain why.  To do so, let’s go back over 35 years.

As a young person in the late-1970’s, I recall hearing about the overthrow of the Shah of Iran.  I didn’t know what that was all about, but it sounded like an American ally was being dethroned in favor of a man they called the Grand Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini.  The next thing I knew, Iranian young people were storming the US embassy and taking Americans hostage, and the Grand Ayatollah was quoted as saying that America is “the great Satan, the wounded snake.”  Iran, once an ally, was suddenly a very bad place.
Today, Ali Khamenei is Iran’s Grand Ayatollah (supreme leader of the Islamic Republic), and multiple times he has echoed Ruhollah Khomeini’s “Great Satan” sentiment regarding America.  Beyond that, Israel has now been tabbed the “Little Satan,” and chants of “Death to America, Death to Israel” are often shouted by Iranian revolutionaries.   Furthermore, Iranian presidents (and others) have stated their desire to “wipe Israel off the map.”  (Here is one example.)
Making those comments even more alarming is the fact that the Iranian regime believes it is their duty to bring about the coming of the Islamic messiah!  You see, Shia Muslims (dominant in Iran) believe that imams are appointed by God and must be followed.  However, the Twelfth Imam miraculously disappeared centuries ago and Shias are now awaiting his return as the Islamic messiah.  In recent years, the Iranian regime has professed a belief that it is their “duty” to hasten the return of the messiah; and if they can create chaos (particularly among “infidels”) it will bring about that event.
Friends, our Bible assures us that a Messiah will indeed come (John 14:1-3, Revelation 22:12, and many more), but there will be many false messiahs who will introduce destructive heresies and deny the One True Messiah.
Sure, Iran is a cause for concern, but our Lord reigns!  No need for worry or fear for those of us whose trust is in the One True Messiah, Jesus Christ.
However, this is only part of the story!  Come back tomorrow for “the rest of the story!”