Iran & the Prince of Persia

The man Daniel, on the way to winning his “prophetic spurs”, had found from investigative research that “the number of the years specified by the word of the Lord, given through Jeremiah the prophet, that He would accomplish seventy years in the desolations of Jerusalem” (Daniel 9:2) and that these years were at an end.  So he set himself by prayer and fasting to find out exactly when this should be, three weeks he was at this task. 

Then the angel Gabriel showed up assuring Daniel his petition had been heard from the very first, but he had encountered an obstacle getting through to Daniel with the answer to his petition—the Prince of Persia—the ruling principality over Persia or present-day Iran.  Whether the Prince of Persia and Gabriel wrestled, fought with swords, or whatever, it was a standoff until Michael, another angel (actually Israel’s “guardian angel”) came and ran interference for Gabriel, enabling Gabriel to get through to Daniel.

Consider these implications: (1) The Prince of Persia (Iran) is still on duty; (2) There are allegedly one million Christians in Iran—albeit operating clandestinely; (3) Iran and Israel are headed for a showdown with possible nuclear consequences.

What are these Christians to do?  (1) Recognize their real enemy.  The Apostle Paul identifies the enemy this way:  “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 6:12).  (2) Marshal their resources.  Ezekiel 22:30 is a good start: “So I (the Lord God) sought for a man (leaders with varying degrees of responsibility) among them (dwelling in Iran) who would make a wall (a line of defense), and stand in the gap (as Moses stood in the breach to turn away God’s wrath from Israel – see Psalm 106:23) that I should not destroy it; but I found no one (I’m most reluctant to add this conclusion, and may it not be so for Iran)”. This points to a powerful precedent plus revealing the will of God in such matters; a powerful resource.

The next resource believers in Iran can marshal is fasting.  Do a “Daniel fast”:  “In those days I, Daniel, was mourning (fasting) three full weeks.  I ate no pleasant food, no meat or wine came into my mouth, nor did I anoint myself at all (didn’t bathe), till the three whole weeks were fulfilled” (Daniel 10:2, 3).  Conducting such a fast corporately can immeasurably increase its strength.  Outside Iran we can pray for believers within the land that God give them the grace to rise to the task.

A final resource in presenting one’s case is to rely upon the understanding that God is full of mercy, the scriptures are full of such references, none more pointed than James 2:13b, “Mercy triumphs over judgment.”

As Daniel was able to countervene the Prince of Persia, so might these latter day believers.  If you have connections with someone in Iran please forward this article to them—and then let’s all pray for them.