Right now, everyone should be concerned about the war against Iran. In this war led against Iran by the U.S. and Israel, more than 6,000 Iranians have been killed, and 15 U.S. service members have been killed [April l7, 2026] in the massive strikes on Iran in which Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, and dozens of top officials were killed in the February 28 initial 900-strike wave.
Appromately l90 ballistic missile launchers and l55 navel vessel have been destroyed. In this war, at least 17 U.S. sites in the Middle East have sustained damage, which includes 12 radar systems/satellite terminals, one THAAD RADAR, and several Patriot missile system components.
The good news is that there is a temporary ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran which is scheduled to expire on April 22. Today, [4/17], Iran has re-opened the Strait of Hormuz, for “full passage,” and to hand over their “nuclear Dust;” all of which we pray could end in a permanent cease fire.
What are we as Christians to do in this most strategic time? I believe one of our priorities should be to pray for Iran.
BIBLICAL BACKGROUND ON PERSIA.
First, a little history on the Biblical importance of Iran. Iran’s original name was “Persia,” and this great territory had an important role in the Scriptures. The word “Persia” appears thirty times across five books in the Old Testament. Of great significance in the Old Testament is the time when the Persian King Cyrus the Great issued a proclamation allowing the Jews to return home and rebuild the temple.[II Chronicles 36: 22-23; Ezra l:l-4] In his wake followed kings Darius, Xerxes, and Artaxerxes who ruled over the post-exilic lives of Danial, Ezra, Nehemiah, and Esther.
PRESENT DAY PERSIA [IRAN]
Now fast forward to the twentieth century, when in l979, the Shite Muslim regime came to power following the nation’s frustrations with its shah [king] and his oil -money personal excesses. Ayatullah Ruhollah Khomeini first ruled this tyrannical regime, until he was succeeded in l989 by Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
In these troubled 47 years, the Islamic Republic government and its Revolutionary Guard have led a constant reign of terror and repression. This dictatorship has made religion the center of public life, while sharply restricting the rights of women, and has killed thousands of Iranians who protested against this malevolent government.
However, in the last few years, there has been a wave of a movement in which Iranians have become “disillusioned with both the regime and with Islam,” and “the younger generation has become fed up with its legacy of oppression, bloodshed, cruel justice, corruption, and cultural isolation from most of the world.
According to OPERATION WORLD, in Iran alone, “50,000 mosques have closed,” and an “estimated two to seven million Muslims have converted to Christianity, since the start of the twenty-first century in all parts of the Muslim world, especially in Afghanistan and Iran.
HOW TO PRAY FOR PERSIA
What can we do for the people in Persia [Iran]? As believers, here are some things we can pray for Persia.
1. We can pray for this war to end soon, and for a lasting peace on the other side of this conflict. We can make our supplications for the protection of civilians and for minimal loss of life inside and outside of Iran.
2. We can intercede for the Persian Christian Church, asking God to give them grace to endure persecution and to out-rejoice their opponents, praying these terrifying times will soon usher in a new era in which God’s church might come above ground and His people in Iran, and be able to lead peaceful, quiet lives, fruitful in evangelism and establishing of the Church.
3. We can pray that the good news that Jesus saves sinners will spread like never before in Persia, and intercede for all the youth disenchanted with Islam, the women who have struggled under its demeaning structures, and for the aged who have been deceived.
4. And most of all, we can pray and believe for Persians and the world, this last prayer in the Bible, “Even so, Lord Jesus Come!, [Revelation ], knowing, “soon and very soon,” …“every knee shall bow, and every tongue confess, that Jesus Christ is Lord.”[Philippians 2: l0-ll]
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Thanks to my WordPress Friends, who are growing every day. I pray you will have a blessed weekend in Jesus! May we all rejoice in knowing that on the glorious day of our Lord’s return, we will sing,
“All hail the power of Jesus’ name! Let angels’ prostate fall.
Hail Him who saves you by His grace, And crown Him Lord of all.
Bring forth the royal diadem,
And crown Him Lord of All.
O that with yonder sacred throng,
We at His feet may fall! We’ll join the everlasting song,
And crown Him Lord of All.
[Edward Perroner, text; Oliver Holden, music] https://youtu.be/Xr1ddOoi_QQ?si=DR48q0bbrqnGAyiY
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[**Special thanks to David Mathis for his timely article, “What Will War Bring to Iran? Praying for a Country in Crisis,” which was published in Desiring God, March 5, 2026, is a large part of this post.
Grace Beyond the Walls 