The modern hostility between Iran and Israel is often seen as a modern political and religious crisis. But the truth runs far deeper. To understand why these two nations stand in bitter opposition today, we must uncover centuries of history, religious prophecy, and political revolutions. At the center of it all is not just a geopolitical rivalry—but a spiritual struggle with roots in the Bible, stretching from the days of Abraham and Cyrus the Great to the missiles and drones of modern warfare.
Ironically, the relationship between ancient Persia and the Jewish people began in friendship. Under King Cyrus the Great, the Persian Empire conquered Babylon in the 6th century B.C. and liberated the Jewish people from captivity. Unlike other pagan kings, Cyrus was honored in the Hebrew Scriptures. In Isaiah 45:1, God refers to him as “His anointed,” a remarkable designation for a Gentile ruler. Cyrus not only freed the Jews but empowered them to return to Jerusalem and rebuild their Temple, as recorded in the Book of Ezra. Persian kings after him continued to interact with Jewish leaders, including Queen Esther’s influence in the Persian court. For a time, Jews and Persians lived side-by-side, even thriving together.
But that cooperation ended long ago.
After the Islamic conquest of Persia in the 7th century, Iran was transformed into a Muslim state. Over time, it adopted Shiite Islam as its official sect, differentiating it from the Sunni-dominated Arab world. Shiite theology often emphasizes a coming messianic figure—the Mahdi—who is expected to usher in a final age of justice by vanquishing the enemies of Islam, especially the so-called Zionist regime. This eschatological belief has fueled Iran’s revolutionary ideology.
In 1979, the last bridge between Israel and Iran collapsed when the Islamic Revolution overthrew the Western-backed Shah and replaced him with Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini. Almost overnight, Iran transformed from an ally of Israel into one of its greatest enemies. Khomeini famously labeled Israel the “Little Satan,” while reserving “Great Satan” for the United States. The revolution was not just political—it was theological. The new regime viewed the Jewish state not as a neighbor to be negotiated with, but as a usurper of Islamic land and a threat to their divine mission.
Khomeini’s hatred wasn’t subtle. He called for Israel to be “wiped off the map”—a phrase repeated by Iranian leaders to this day. Iran enshrined this position in its constitution, declaring the Islamic Republic responsible for supporting oppressed Muslims everywhere. In practice, that meant arming and funding violent proxies with the stated goal of Israel’s destruction.
Two of the most dangerous tools in Iran’s proxy arsenal are Hezbollah and Hamas.
Hezbollah was formed in 1982 in response to Israel’s invasion of southern Lebanon. With funding and training from Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), Hezbollah quickly rose from a small guerrilla group into one of the most powerful non-state military forces in the world. It is both a political party and a paramilitary organization that now holds significant power in Lebanon’s government. Its ideology is rooted in radical Shiism, and its stated mission is the complete elimination of Israel. With tens of thousands of missiles aimed at Israeli cities and advanced drone and cyberwarfare capabilities, Hezbollah serves as Iran’s northern spear against the Jewish state.
To the south, Iran supports Hamas, a Sunni Islamist group that governs the Gaza Strip. Founded in 1987 during the First Intifada, Hamas emerged from the Muslim Brotherhood as an alternative to the secular Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO). Though Sunni, Hamas accepted Iranian support due to their shared desire to destroy Israel. Iran provides Hamas with money, weapons, and military training. In return, Hamas serves as the southern pincer in Iran’s strategy to encircle Israel with hostile forces.
Iran uses these groups to wage a shadow war—attacking Israeli civilians while avoiding direct state-on-state conflict. Israel, in response, has waged a decades-long campaign of targeted assassinations, cyber sabotage, and airstrikes on Iranian assets in Syria and Lebanon.
Beyond the bombs and missiles, many Christians see something far deeper at play—a spiritual war foretold in Scripture.
In the Book of Ezekiel, chapters 38 and 39 describe a future war in which a coalition of nations—specifically naming Persia—rises against Israel in the “latter days.” Many prophecy scholars believe that Persia refers to modern-day Iran, and that these verses foretell a future alliance of hostile powers including Russia, Turkey, and Iran converging on Israel.
Ezekiel 38:5 reads: “Persia, Cush, and Put will be with them, all with shields and helmets.”
This has led many to believe that Iran’s antagonism toward Israel is more than political or even religious—it is prophetic.
Another chilling parallel comes from the Book of Esther. Set during the height of the Persian Empire, the story tells of Haman, a Persian official who plots to exterminate the Jews out of personal hatred for Mordecai. Esther 3:6 says: “But he disdained to lay hands on Mordecai alone… instead Haman sought to destroy all the Jews.” Many see in Iran’s current leaders the same genocidal spirit as Haman—an ancient hatred that refuses to die.
But perhaps the most foundational Scripture that ties the fate of nations to their relationship with Israel is found in Genesis 12:3, where God makes a covenant promise to Abraham:
“I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.”
This verse is not a casual remark—it is a spiritual principle. It’s the backbone of what theologians call the Abrahamic Covenant, a promise that has echoed through history. God binds the fate of entire nations to how they treat the Jewish people. Those who bless Israel will find favor. Those who curse her will suffer consequences—some say divinely administered.
History seems to confirm it. Egypt, Babylon, Nazi Germany—every empire that turned against the Jewish people eventually crumbled. Conversely, King Cyrus, who blessed the Jews and enabled the rebuilding of the Temple, is honored not only in Scripture but in history. Christians believe that the final clause of Genesis 12:3—“and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you”—is fulfilled in Jesus Christ, a descendant of Abraham, who offered salvation to the whole world.
To the modern believer, this covenant is not ancient folklore—it is active today. Iran’s hostility toward Israel is, therefore, not only reckless politically—it is, in biblical terms, a provocation against God Himself.
This theological understanding is why millions of Christians and Jews around the world take Iran’s threats seriously, not just as foreign policy but as a fulfillment of prophecy. In their view, Israel is not just another country. It is a divine instrument, a covenant nation, and a symbol of God’s enduring faithfulness. To attack it is to challenge the sovereignty of God.
Yet within Iran itself, many ordinary people do not share the hatred of their regime. Iranian citizens have taken to social media over the years to express solidarity with the people of Israel. Many are weary of their government’s aggressive policies and long for peace and freedom. It is a tragic irony that one of the world’s most oppressive regimes rules over a people known historically for their culture, intelligence, and tolerance.
Meanwhile, Iran’s nuclear ambitions remain the greatest threat to Israel’s existence. The regime insists its program is for peaceful energy, but its enrichment levels and missile developments tell another story. Former Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has repeatedly warned the world—holding up diagrams of atomic bombs at the U.N., publishing satellite evidence, and launching covert cyber-operations like Stuxnet to slow Iran’s progress.
Israel, a nation barely the size of New Jersey, is surrounded by enemies armed with missiles and driven by apocalyptic theology. And yet, it endures. Whether by divine protection or iron resolve, the Jewish state remains standing.
The conflict between Iran and Israel is not merely about land, oil, or politics. It is about identity, destiny, and ultimately—prophecy. What began as an alliance under Cyrus has become one of the most volatile and dangerous rivalries in modern history. And if the Bible is right, we may be witnessing more than just history—we may be watching prophecy unfold in real time.
The Persian Empire once helped build the Temple. Its modern successor seeks to destroy the nation that prays there. The question that remains: Will this final chapter be written in peace—or in fire?
SOURCES
The Holy Bible (Genesis, Isaiah, Ezekiel, Esther)
U.S. State Department Reports on Iran and Terrorism
Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) Press Releases
“The Rise and Fall of the Persian Empire” – Britannica
Hezbollah Manifesto and History – Council on Foreign Relations
Hamas Charter (1988 and 2017 revisions)
Khamenei.ir – Speeches by Iran’s Supreme Leader
Netanyahu U.N. 2012 Address Transcript
“Understanding Shiite Apocalypticism” – Middle East Forum
“Iran’s Proxy War Strategy” – Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
Pew Research Center: Views on Israel and Iran
