Jeremiah 49:34-39
You know, folks, as we go through the Bible and even in your own reading, we come to these prophecies against the nations, and they remind us that God is sovereign over every kingdom on earth.
He sets up kings and brings them down. And here in Jeremiah 49, we have this short but powerful word against Elam, that ancient area in what we call southwestern Iran today, part of old Persia.
But before we consider the judgment, Iran has been on my mind in my prayers as I think about the people fighting for freedom.
Given the current difficulties, let us recall the positive contributions God made through Persia in the past, where it played a significant role in the Old Testament.
- King Cyrus of Persia allowed the Jewish people to return from Babylonian exile and rebuild the Temple (Ezra 1; Isaiah 44-45 even names Cyrus as God's anointed for this, and just imagine God calling a pagan king His shepherd hundreds of years ahead!).
- The books of Esther, Daniel, and parts of Nehemiah are set right in the Persian Empire, where God protected His people and used even foreign rulers for His glory.
- And on the Day of Pentecost, folks from Persia, Parthians, Medes, and Elamites, were right there in Jerusalem hearing the Gospel in their own language (Acts 2:9). God had His hand on Persia back then, bringing blessing and salvation.
Now, turn with me to Jeremiah 49:34-39. These verses should weave into Ezekiel 38-39 the invasion and battle of Gog and Magog into the picture, especially since Persia (modern Iran) is explicitly named as a key ally in that coalition against Israel.
As we see them posturing to threaten to wipe Israel off the map, that Israel and US bases are "legitimate targets" if America intervenes in protests, we see echoes of the hostility Scripture describes.
But folks, the people aren't the regime! Oppressed Iranians reject radical Shia rule, stricken poverty, crackdowns, and deaths in protests.
But amazingly, as the underground church explodes, the fastest-growing house churches are multiplying, with millions turning to Christ, seeing dreams and visions, and attending secret satellite ministries across the country. Revival amid suffering, and God is drawing hearts through this time of trial and tribulation!
So, let's look at these scriptures verse by verse, the Ezekiel 38-39 (Gog and Magog battle): will likely take place sometime after the rapture but before the beginning or during the tribulation period.
I believe the invasion will be during the interval of days, weeks, months, or maybe years between the rapture and the start of the seven-year tribulation.
So, the northern leader Gog from Magog, linked to Russia where Persia/Iran joins and invades a secure, peaceful Israel with allies: "Persia, Ethiopia, and Libya are with them" (38:5).
- Persia (Iran) joins Russia, Turkey areas, Sudan/Libya against restored Israel. Where their motive is spoil and plunder (38:12-13).
- God intervenes supernaturally, with earthquakes, fire, confusion, destroying the invaders to reveal His glory (38:18-23; 39:1-8).
- Through this havoc, Israel knows the Lord (39:21-22).
These prophecies show us that God judges the evil of regime oppression and anti-Israel hatred, but mercy triumphs. He sets His throne through Jesus.
Let’s look at Jeremiah 49: 34-39
34 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,
35 "Thus says the LORD of hosts: 'Behold, I will break the bow of Elam, The foremost of their might.
36 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.
37 For I will cause Elam to be dismayed before their enemies And before those who seek their life. I will bring disaster upon them, My fierce anger,' says the LORD; 'And I will send the sword after them Until I have consumed them.
38 I will set My throne in Elam, And will destroy from there the king and the princes,' says the LORD.
39 'But it shall come to pass in the latter days: I will bring back the captives of Elam,' says the LORD."
This prophecy came early in Zedekiah's reign, around 597 BC. Elam was known for its mighty archers; the bow was their strength. But God says:
Point 1: The Word of the Lord Comes Against Elam (v. 34)
34 – "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,"
This was a direct message from God to Jeremiah in the early reign of Zedekiah, who would also be the last king of Judea before the Exile, as God warns him before Judgment falls.
Point 2: God Will Break the Source of Their Strength (v. 35)
35 – "Thus says the LORD of hosts: ‘Behold, I will break the bow of Elam, The foremost of their might.’" Elam's main military strength was its deadly archers, capable of firing countless arrows at foes. However, last year, they launched 550 ballistic missiles and over 1,000 suicide drones against Israel. Now, they are focused on developing nuclear missiles as their top military asset.
Isaiah 22:6 references Elam’s archers, who were allied with the Babylonians during Jerusalem's fall. God also promised that He would someday break Elam’s bow.
Think of Iran today, which boasts about its advanced missile programme, the "bow" of modern warfare. They parade their rockets, saying, "Our missiles make us invincible; no one dares challenge us!"
But God steps in and causes those very missiles to fail, perhaps mid-flight, or their launch systems to break down, or their factories to be struck, turning their proud "might" into useless scrap.
We saw echoes of this in recent conflicts where hyped-up missile arsenals didn't perform as boasted. God targets the source, the technology, the pride in human ingenuity (in·juh·nyoo·uh·tee), and shows that He alone is sovereign.
No matter how advanced the weapon, if it's built on pride and enmity toward His people, He can break it in an instant.
Point 3: God Will Scatter Them as Refugees to Every Nation (v. 36)
36 – "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 nation Where the outcasts of Elam will not go." As God promised to conquer Elam, He caused a sudden catastrophe mainly in the Southwest of Iran, where key facilities are based, that caused a crisis and scattered people as refugees worldwide, turning them into global outcasts.
Did you ever blow a dandelion puff as a child? I still do it sometimes on my hikes. Those tiny seeds scatter instantly in all directions, carried by the slightest breeze to distant places.
No seed stays put; they're gone to the four winds, landing wherever the air takes them. That's exactly how God scatters Elam: one powerful divine "breath" (ruchot also means spirit/breath), and the people are blown across the earth, total dispersal, no gathering back without His mercy.
Point 4: God Will Bring Disaster and Pursue Until Consumed (v. 37)
37 – "For I will cause Elam to be dismayed before their enemies And before those who seek their life. I will bring disaster upon them, My fierce anger,’ says the LORD; ‘And I will send the sword after them Until I have consumed them.’" Enemies defeat them, possibly through Israel, where God's fierce anger brings total end to the current rule.
To illustrate the strength of the Hebrew word chamati "My fierce anger", consider the firestorm unleashed on Dresden, Germany, in February 1945.
In February 1945, Allied forces, including RAF Bomber Command, dropped thousands of incendiary bombs on the city. These bombs caused intense heat created a raging firestorm with temperatures soaring to around 1,000°C, melting stone, iron, and steel, and turning proud buildings into ash. The fire raged relentlessly until it had nothing left but ashes to smoulder, consuming the city centre completely.
This echoes (chamati) the idea that God's wrath is poured out like an unrelenting fire and sword, pursuing until complete consumption (kalah), a sobering reminder that unrepented sin invites total judgment.
Point 5: God Claims Authority and Removes Wicked Leaders (v. 38)
38 – "I will set My throne in Elam, And will destroy from there the king and the princes,’ says the LORD." Iran's regime tries to crush Christianity, yet the underground house church movement is exploding, the fastest-growing in the world, with estimates of 1–3 million secret believers (many from Muslim backgrounds).
House churches multiply in homes, often led by women, with dreams and visions of Jesus drawing people.
God is already "setting His throne" there through revival, His presence ruling hearts despite opposition, fulfilling the promise of restoration in the latter days!
Point 6: Yet... Hope and Restoration in the Latter Days (v. 39)
39 – "‘Yet in the latter days, I will bring back the captives of Elam,’ says the LORD."
At some point in the past, I mentioned in the introduction how the Elamites likely returned to their homeland, as evidenced by their presence at Acts 2:9 during the Pentecost event.
Today, we're witnessing a beautiful phenomenon unfolding right now, even amid terrible and horrific suffering, with over 40,000 lives lost in recent nationwide protests and massacres.
Yet God shows a special fondness for Iran (ancient Elam), as a vibrant revival is blossoming there. Many are recognising this as a wonderful turning point toward Christ, with the underground church growing rapidly despite intense persecution.
God is already setting His throne in Iran, His rule reigning in hearts, transforming lives, and fulfilling the promise of restoration in the latter days!
But the whole picture in these verses is the eschatology element I want to show.
Look over this chapter 49 and with chapter 48:47, it shows Gods sovering mercy to the nations that opposed Israel, Moab, Ammon and Elam, but notice the terms “in the latter days” or afterwards”, we see a beautiful picture of God's gracein the Millenial Kingdom where these ancient enemies are redeemd under christs trone on earth for 1000 years (Revalation 20).
During this time, Israel's former enemies and their descendants will also be blessed, worship the Lord, and live peacefully. (See Zechariah 14:16-19 and Isaiah 19:23-25 for reference.)
God is going to break their military power and bring a sudden, catastrophic disaster. Just the other day, US President Donald Trump confidently said that if Iran tries to assassinate him, he will give the "order to wipe it off the face of this Earth.'
This would be like four winds whipping from every direction, scattering the people like the pappus of the dandelion as refugees to every nation under heaven.
No place will be untouched. Enemies will terrify them, disaster will come, God's fierce anger will pursue them until the old regime is consumed.
And He will set His throne there, claim full authority, and remove the wicked kings and princes.
Now, history saw some partial fulfilments, conquests by Babylonians, Greeks, others, but I believe there's a fuller end-times fulfilment coming.
We're seeing pieces line up today: Iran in the news, alliances forming minute by minute (think Ezekiel 38, where Persia joins with others against Israel), underground believers growing by the millions despite persecution.
The diaspora (dai·a·spuh·ruh) since 1979, with millions fleeing to the UK, the US, and everywhere (including right here in Scotland), looks like a preview of that scattering. But the full thing? Suddenly, global, tied to a big crisis, perhaps war or strike in that Elam area near the Gulf.
And after the church is raptured (before or during the Tribulation wrath), these things could unfold fast.
But praise God, it doesn't end in judgment! Verse 39: "Yet in the latter days, I will bring back the captives of Elam." Restoration! Hope! In the end times, God will reverse fortunes, bring back exiles, to heal and to bless.
We've seen hints: Elamites at Pentecost hearing the Gospel. And today, in Iran, the fastest-growing church anywhere, people are turning to Jesus by the thousands amid hardship.
That's God setting His throne in hearts right now, through Christ!
Friends, these prophecies show God's eye on every nation. He judges evil regimes that oppress, hate Israel, and kill their own.
But mercy follows for those who turn to Him. He remembered Cyrus honouring the "God of heaven" (Daniel, Ezra), and He can redeem descendants today.
So, pray for Iranian believers, protection, and boldness.
Pray for revival in hard places.
Watch the signs, but don't set dates, live ready for the blessed hope, the rapture, Christ's return.
So, in Him, even the darkest nations find light.
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