The Thursday Update

JUNE 26, 2025

Lakeshore Friends,

I want to use my weekly update this week (and next week) to address what is happening in the Middle East in light of the past two weeks. I want to address it all from a biblical perspective, examining if these events have any significance in God’s plan for the prophetic future of that region and for the future of the whole world.

Next week, I’ll address, “What’s Happening With Israel?” This week, I’ll look at “What’s Happening With Iran?” Feel free to forward this to friends who may have a curiosity as to what’s happening.

About two weeks ago, Israel attacked Iran. Their goal has been to disable Iran’s ability to attack Israel. Israel sees this as a necessity for their own survival for at least three reasons:

1. In 1979, the government of Iran was taken over by a radical Islamic revolution that has vowed to bring death to both Israel and America, nations they call the little Satan and the great Satan respectively. Many times over, the nation has backed up these chants with violent acts, beginning with the capture of American hostages in 1979 and plotting and executing multiple terrorist attacks that have killed and injured many thousands of people since then. Their threat is not an empty threat, but a real one for Israel.

2. On October 7, 2023, led by the terrorist organization Hamas, Iran’s proxies invaded Israel and killed nearly 1,200 innocent people there through the most barbaric and brutal means imaginable. They also took nearly 100 hostages, most of them have already been murdered. In the over 20 months since then, proxy militia that serve Iran like the Houthis and Hezbollah have attacked Israel from the north and south, making their assault on the nation multifaceted and multidirectional. Many more innocent lives have perished as a result. Israel has responded with strikes that have targeted the terrorists and their weapons, trying to avoid innocent civilians. While the strikes have not always been as precise as desired, unbiased observers have recognized that no nation has done more to try to avoid innocent civilian casualties during a war than Israel has, especially in light of the fact that the terrorists have used the hostages and civilians as human shields for themselves. Israel responded to this terrorist attack, like any other nation would, to protect itself from further terrorism.

3. On June 12, Israel launched a series of targeted attacks inside of Iran to destroy their nuclear and military capabilities. This has been a war that’s been about 45 years in the making. Israel, the United States (at least our current administration), and other nations have vowed to never let Iran have a nuclear weapon. The reason is simple: their chants for death to Israel would become more likely to be a reality with these weapons. This is based on their belief that the return of their final Islamic Imam, known as the Mahdi, would only occur when they had finished their mission to destroy Israel (and others). Their nuclear attack would serve as a part of their end time desires to usher in this Mahdi and a world ruled by Islamic law. Israel knows how seriously a threat an Iran with nuclear weapons would be to their survival.

While it is early, it appears that Iran’s nuclear program was dealt a major blow. How much of a blow or how long it will take to recover their nuclear program is still being determined. But clearly, they are severely weakened today.

In light of all of this, let me answer three questions related to this war with Iran and Bible prophecy.

1. Are these attacks by Israel on Iran a fulfillment of biblical prophecy? Possibly. Jeremiah 49:34-39 is the passage which may shed some light:

This is the word of the Lord that came to Jeremiah the prophet concerning Elam, early in the reign of Zedekiah king of Judah: 35 This is what the Lord Almighty says: “See, I will break the bow of Elam, the mainstay of their might. 36 I will bring against Elam the four winds from the four quarters of heaven; I will scatter them to the four winds, and there will not be a nation where Elam’s exiles do not go. 37 I will shatter Elam before their foes, before those who want to kill them; I will bring disaster on them, even my fierce anger,” declares the Lord. “I will pursue them with the sword until I have made an end of them. 38 I will set my throne in Elam and destroy her king and officials,” declares the Lord. 39 “Yet I will restore the fortunes of Elam in days to come,” declares the Lord.

Elam is the ancient name of the land that is located in the southwest area of Iran today. Interestingly, that is the area where many of Iran’s nuclear sites were located. About 2,500 years ago, Jeremiah prophesied that God would break Elam’s bow (verse 35). Could this “bow” be an ancient term that refers to the launching of missiles and nuclear weapons? Could there be a continuation of what seems to be the start of an exile from Iran today as predicted in verse 36? With so many nations publically and privately happy that Iran’s nuclear ambitions have been disrupted (even most of the neighboring muslim nations), could this be what verse 37 refers to as “Elam’s foes”? Only time will tell. It does appear that verses 38-39 at the end of the passage speak of what will happen when Christ returns (Revelation 19) and sets up His 1,000 year kingdom on earth (Revelation 20) and are more focused on the long term plan of God. Like many prophecies in the Old Testament, this appears to have a two-phase fulfilment in two different eras of time, and the first phase may be happening right before our eyes. Again, only time will tell.

2. Is Iran involved in additional future end time biblical prophecy related to Israel? Absolutely. Ezekiel 38-39 speaks of a future invasion that will happen sometime just after the Rapture of the church (most likely), and it’s called the Gog Magog Invasion of Israel. As you read this passage, you’ll see that a list of nations with ancient names is given. While there is some debate on the exact identity of some of the nations, most biblical scholars believe that “Rosh” is likely Russia, “Magog” refers potentially to parts of Russia and former Soviet territories, “Meshech and Tubal” are associated with Turkey, and “Persia” clearly speaks of modern-day Iran. It says that this coalition of nations will invade Israel directly with military forces in the land (Ezekiel 38:10), that at that time Israel will dwell in unwalled villages without gates and bars, and that Israel will not suspect this attack (Ezekiel 38:11-16). When this happens, God will directly intervene to destroy these armies (Ezekiel 38:18-23) to show Himself strong to the people of Israel and to the world.

Consider this: Are Iran, Russia and Turkey aligned together now like this prophecy predicts? The answer appears to be yes. Clearly Iran and Russia are today, and Turkey has voiced threats toward Israel with the current president Erdogan, even though they are a part of NATO. Would an alliance between these nations make sense? Yes, they all have a common enemy in Israel. Is Israel dwelling without walls, gates, and bars? And are they unsuspecting of an attack today? Clearly the answer to both is no. But it suggests that between now and this Gog Magog Invasion of Israel, there will be a time when Israel enters an era of peace… actually an era of false peace. Which leads to the final question.

3. What does it all mean for us today? The Rapture of every true Christian is close, and so is the subsequent seven-year tribulation that will follow. The next great event in the future is the time when Jesus will take every true Christian from the earth at an event called the Rapture. You can read about it in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 and 1 Corinthians 15:51-58. If you are a Christian when the Rapture occurs, Jesus will take you up to meet Him in the clouds and you will return to heaven with Him. If you aren’t a Christian at the Rapture, you will be left behind here on earth and will face with the perils of the seven-year tribulation period described in Revelation 6-19. It will be a terrible time of God’s judgment on the earth and on the people of the world for its rejection of Jesus and its rejection of His truth.

How will it all begin? 1 Thessalonians 5:1-3 tells us:

Now, brothers and sisters, about times and dates we do not need to write to you, 2 for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. 3 While people are saying, “Peace and safety,” destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.

The world is in turmoil now. But one day, there will be a temporary false peace and false safety that will seem to put people at ease. And as we just covered in Ezekiel 38:11-16, even Israel will feel safe during this time. But this false peace will only last for a brief moment because it will be a peace that comes from the future world leader, the Anti-Christ, and not from Jesus Christ. I believe that people today are being lulled to sleep today by hopes of a future peace that will not last.

So my hope for all of you is that you will be ready for this day. The Rapture can happen at any moment. Are you absolutely sure you’re a Christian? Are you really living for Jesus? Are you living a godly life? Are you ready for this incredible day? I hope so.

As always, we’re here to help you in this journey.

Forward this to a friend. And next week, I’ll talk about what’s happening with Israel as well as provide a true understanding of their relationship to the church today (in contrast to the false teaching of Replacement Theology).

Warmly,
Vince

JUNE 19, 2025

Lakeshore Friends,

One of my favorite sayings (and as a public speaker and teacher, I have many) is the one related to what distinguishes successful people from everyone else. It goes like this:

The difference between successful people and unsuccessful people is that successful people are willing to do what unsuccessful people can’t do, won’t do, or just talk about doing.

More than almost any other attribute, being someone who persists in doing a task is the best indicator of success in life, assuming what you’re persisting in is worth doing. Being a person who doesn’t quit very easily, someone who has grit, determination, tenacity, resolve, staying power, and a ceaselessness to their efforts is the best predictor of a person’s success when all other factors are the same between people. People with the exact opposite approach rarely find success. Winners never quit, and quitters never win.

Political figure Newt Gingrich once said, “Perseverance is the hard work you do after you get tired of doing the hard work you already did.”

Of course, it’s important to remember that there are limits to our efforts. We must always allow room for God’s grace to be truly and eternally successful. But all things being equal, pressing on is the sign of success for people who trust in God’s grace as the primary virtue in their life. I know because of what the Apostle Paul says in Philippians 3:12-14. I’ll cover this on Suany as we continue our series in Philippians, “How To Find Joy In Life”.

If you want to find more joy in your life, you need to develop a persistent spirit. God will use it to do great things in your life, including becoming more filled with the joy of Jesus in all you do. And that’s what true success is all about.

Wamrly,
Vince

JUNE 12, 2025

Lakeshore Friends,

This Sunday is Father’s Day. For many, this is a chance to celebrate our fathers, whether they are still with us or have passed on, for all the positive contributions they made in our lives (even when they weren’t perfect). For some, this is a challenging time because it may be hard to celebrate our fathers because of their absence or potentially even their abuse.

For all of us, we should do our best to honor our fathers (and mothers, Exodus 20:12) as God commanded. We should also honor fatherhood. After all, it is a role created by God to bring direction and leadership to the family. Fathers are God’s good and gracious provision for the family. We know this is true because God said it’s true (see Genesis 2:24, Ephesians 6:1-4). We also know it is true based on research which affirms God’s Word.

Did you know that children with a father’s presence are healthier, are more secure in their identity and mental health, do better in school, are more likely to succeed as well-adjusted adults, and are much more likely to find faith in Jesus. Listen to this amazing statistic: when a father becomes a Christian, there’s a 93% chance that his children become Christians. That percentage is far, far lower for any other person in the family unit who becomes a Christian. Stunning!

But when a father is absent, children are sicker more frequently (both physically and mentally), are 43% less likely to earn A’s and 33% less likely to earn B’s in school, are more likely to struggle with becoming adults, and are more likely to be imprisoned. Listen to this sad statistic: 85% of all imprisoned youth have an absent father. Staggering!

This is why God created fathers and why we are to honor them. They play such a critical role in God’s plan for the family, for societies, and for the world.

At Lakeshore we will take some time in both services on Sunday to honor fathers and celebrate them. We hope that no matter what your role as a father has been or is, and no matter what your relationship was like with your earthly father, that you’ll be at church on Sunday to thank God the Father for the institution of fatherhood and for fathers. We’ll also continue our series in Philippians, How to Find Joy in Life, by looking at out most important pursuit in life.

Hope to see you Sunday for Father’s Day,
Vince