“And he said to me, “O Daniel, man greatly beloved, understand the words that I speak to you, and stand upright, for I have now been sent to you. While he was speaking this word to me, I stood trembling. Then he said to me, “Do not fear, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart to understand, and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard; and I have come because of your words. But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty-one days; and behold, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I had been left alone there with the kings of Persia.” (Daniel 10:11-13)
“Then Haman said to King Ahasuerus, “There is a certain people scattered and dispersed among the people in all the provinces of your kingdom; their laws are different from all other peoples, and they do not keep the king’s laws. Therefore, it is not fitting for the king to let them remain. If it pleases the king, let a decree be written that they be destroyed, and I will pay ten thousand talents of silver into the hands of those who do the work, to bring it into the king’s treasuries.” (Esther 3:8-9)
“King Cyrus freed the Jews, now the Jews will free the Persians.” (Benjamin Netanyahu)
The on-going struggle
Over the centuries the wicked Prince of Persia, an evil satanic principality in the heavenlies, has resisted God’s purpose of world redemption by seeking to destroy Israel and exterminate her people everywhere since they are the chosen vehicle by which this redemptive purpose is brought to the nations (John 4:22). Daniel’s prayers for the nation of Israel were challenged by the unseen principality of the Prince of Persia. Consequently, Michael, the Archangel of War, had to engage this wicked prince in battle and overcome him before the Jewish people could be freed from captivity to return to Zion. As a result, this paved the way for the great Messiah of Israel to be born in Bethlehem. This also demonstrates that real heart driven prayer and intercession on behalf of Israel and the Jewish people is the great weapon that defeats this principality and thereby liberates them into the on-going plan of God.
This same evil principality arose in Germany in the 1930s and so once again its central agenda was the extermination of the Jewish people. The satanic plan in all of this was to prevent the Jewish people from returning to what was then called Palestine to begin a national process of restoration. This national restoration process has something to do again with real global peace, blessing and Messiah’s return to the earth! (Psalm 102:12-18). It was in fact dedicated prayer, like that of Daniel, by many intercessors, of which Rees Howells was one, that once again dislodged and destroyed the wicked principality of Nazism.
The nature of the struggle
This is a huge battle and, as we have noted, it always begins in the unseen realm of the heavenlies and then manifests on the earth as a desperate and mighty struggle. John in his twelfth chapter of the book of Revelation confirms this in that war in heaven results in war on earth. The raging struggle on earth is in fact the death-throws of a defeated demonic foe (Revelation 12:7-12). This unseen war has now come down to the earth and thus the conflict between Israel and Iran, though heart breaking, is evidence of it. It has been this prayer battle, that millions of Christians all over the world have waged on behalf of Israel for a long time, that has already defeated the Prince of Persia. Israel now has an “Army of Daniels” all over the world and this constitutes her mighty unseen weapon.
This reality, like that of the Six Day War, is enforced by the mighty miracles of innovation and surprise that have undone the Iranians in recent days. These are breath-taking in their scope and literally incredible and can only have come from heaven. The Prince of Persia has fallen together with his hordes by the name of Hamas, Hezbollah, Islamic Jihad, Palestinians Islamic Jihad and the Houthis of Yemen. The truth is this wicked principality has fallen and will be vanquished just as the false god of Baal fell before the God of Israel 3200 years ago (1 Samuel 5:1-4). We are now watching the head of the evil octopus of the of Iranian regime being removed!
The outcome of the struggle
When the dust finally settles in this conflict Israel will know, yet again, that her God has helped her and saved her from the Prince of Persia just as He parted the waters of the Red Sea to save her from the Prince of Egypt. Consequently, she will begin to seek Him anew clothed in humility and repentance (Hosea 5:14-15). Also, throughout the Middle East and in Iran the door will be opened, as never before, for millions of people, formerly deceived by, and held captive to, the Prince of Persia to hear and embrace the glorious good news of Jesus Christ. This again will be the fruit of intercession that has taken place in churches all over the world for many decades for the so-called “10/40 window”, which is the wider Middle East region, including Iran.
In addition, those Christians who denied that God was in any way involved with the modern-day restoration of Israel will have to admit that something amazing and miraculous is unfolding in Israel for the benefit and blessing of the world.
The forewarning of the struggle
The World Trade Center Memorial in New York. (Credit: Axel Houmadi/Unsplash)
I well remember that in 2001, just two weeks before 9/11, when the same evil prince attacked the Twin Towers in New York, that the Lord gave me a remarkable dream wherein a very evil eye in Iran was fully focused on the destruction of Israel and the Jewish people. However, as I saw this, I also noticed that a shaft of light came down from heaven that covered the whole nation of Israel thus protecting it from the evil and satanic plan of the Prince of Persia. I knew then that something sinister was about to take root in the Middle East region and that in the end Israel would enjoy divine protection and victory. This victory would not only help her but the world as well. At that time, I was serving in Jerusalem as the Executive Director of the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem and, being greatly impacted by the dream, I shared it also with the staff of the Embassy. It was even more dramatic in that in the same dream I was told that a day of fire from the sky was about to befall America and that the nation would have to embrace renewed faith in God. Just two weeks later we all watched in horror as passenger planes piloted by wicked people were used as bombs to tear down the Twin Towers, the Pentagon and other targets. It is truly time for the people of God everywhere to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness! Even more so as we hear the footsteps of our glorious Messiah coming over the hills of Zion. Of Him Paul wrote that the “Deliverer will come out of Zion” (Romans 11:26).
The enemies of the struggle
It is also sad to see how many people, many of them western politicians and Christian Ministers, have come out in support of the dark Prince of Persia and thereby standing against Israel. In a way this should not surprise us as even in the 1930s the same thing happened. These ignorant fools joined themselves with evil because “they loved not the truth” of God’s word that declared “I will curse those who curse you” and consequently God Himself gave them over to their delusions.
Young IDF soldiers. (Credit: Timon Studler/Unsplash)
My dear friends, Hamas, Hezbollah, Islamic Jihad and the Houthis are all tentacles of the wicked and satanic Prince of Persia in Iran. All of these have fallen before the nation of Israel and now the very heart of the beast is about fall. We should not be surprised because the God of Israel has stated that, “No weapon formed against you will prosper” (Isaiah 54:16-17). The God of the Jews, and of our Lord Jesus Christ, is the “Defender of Israel” and all those who have maligned Israel and even accused her of genocide will be humiliated and ashamed because they have stood with the Prince of Persia, just as others of their type stood with Hitler in the 1930s.
The reality is that the Iranian regime has been the regional bully for decades now and they and their proxies are the real perpetrators of genocide, international terrorism and assassinations all over the world. Just like the Nazi thugs, their day of destruction has come!
The blessing of the struggle
In all of this you can be sure that Israel’s modern-day restoration is not a political accident or even the fruit of misguided colonialism but in fact the fulfillment of God’s word and promise given to Abraham 4000 years ago. This word or promise was given to the nation of Israel for the blessing of the world (Genesis 12:1-3; Genesis 17:7-8). That is, society would be transformed by a civilizing law and culture that would also build a value system that would make nations great. If then embraced peace and prosperity would follow, and more important still, multiple millions of people would receive the gift of eternal life because at the heart of this blessing is a cross upon which a Jewish Savior died for the sins of the world (John 3:16). All of this is a clear reminder that “salvation is of the Jews” (Romans 9:3-5) and that in fact the whole world owes them a great debt of gratitude (Romans 15:27). This is all undeniable because history affirms it. Nevertheless, the battle continues because evil is real as is the fallen nature of every human being (Romans 3:23) and thus we all have to “overcome” as Jesus challenged His churches in Asia Minor (Revelation 3:5-6).
Antisemitism, however, is a spiritual disease that can take hold of any heart because its root is satanic and manifests in our world as the Prince of Persia. This evil prince will now fall and in fact he will hang on the gallows that he built for the Jews! (Esther 7:9-10). It is no coincidence then that 2500 years ago exactly, at this very same time in June, on the 23rd day of Sivan, the Jews destroyed the Prince of Persia. God is not mocked!
Rev. Malcom Hedding has served with the ICEJ in many capacities over the past four decades, including as our former Executive Director from 2000 to 2011, and as a member of our international Board of Trustees until 2024.
Main photo: The flag of Iran. (Credit: Sina Drakhshani/Unsplash)
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The Prince of Persia
“And he said to me, “O Daniel, man greatly beloved, understand the words that I speak to you, and stand upright, for I have now been sent to you. While he was speaking this word to me, I stood trembling. Then he said to me, “Do not fear, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart to understand, and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard; and I have come because of your words. But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty-one days; and behold, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I had been left alone there with the kings of Persia.” (Daniel 10:11-13)
“Then Haman said to King Ahasuerus, “There is a certain people scattered and dispersed among the people in all the provinces of your kingdom; their laws are different from all other peoples, and they do not keep the king’s laws. Therefore, it is not fitting for the king to let them remain. If it pleases the king, let a decree be written that they be destroyed, and I will pay ten thousand talents of silver into the hands of those who do the work, to bring it into the king’s treasuries.” (Esther 3:8-9)
“King Cyrus freed the Jews, now the Jews will free the Persians.” (Benjamin Netanyahu)
The on-going struggle
Over the centuries the wicked Prince of Persia, an evil satanic principality in the heavenlies, has resisted God’s purpose of world redemption by seeking to destroy Israel and exterminate her people everywhere since they are the chosen vehicle by which this redemptive purpose is brought to the nations (John 4:22). Daniel’s prayers for the nation of Israel were challenged by the unseen principality of the Prince of Persia. Consequently, Michael, the Archangel of War, had to engage this wicked prince in battle and overcome him before the Jewish people could be freed from captivity to return to Zion. As a result, this paved the way for the great Messiah of Israel to be born in Bethlehem. This also demonstrates that real heart driven prayer and intercession on behalf of Israel and the Jewish people is the great weapon that defeats this principality and thereby liberates them into the on-going plan of God.
This same evil principality arose in Germany in the 1930s and so once again its central agenda was the extermination of the Jewish people. The satanic plan in all of this was to prevent the Jewish people from returning to what was then called Palestine to begin a national process of restoration. This national restoration process has something to do again with real global peace, blessing and Messiah’s return to the earth! (Psalm 102:12-18). It was in fact dedicated prayer, like that of Daniel, by many intercessors, of which Rees Howells was one, that once again dislodged and destroyed the wicked principality of Nazism.
The nature of the struggle
This is a huge battle and, as we have noted, it always begins in the unseen realm of the heavenlies and then manifests on the earth as a desperate and mighty struggle. John in his twelfth chapter of the book of Revelation confirms this in that war in heaven results in war on earth. The raging struggle on earth is in fact the death-throws of a defeated demonic foe (Revelation 12:7-12). This unseen war has now come down to the earth and thus the conflict between Israel and Iran, though heart breaking, is evidence of it. It has been this prayer battle, that millions of Christians all over the world have waged on behalf of Israel for a long time, that has already defeated the Prince of Persia. Israel now has an “Army of Daniels” all over the world and this constitutes her mighty unseen weapon.
This reality, like that of the Six Day War, is enforced by the mighty miracles of innovation and surprise that have undone the Iranians in recent days. These are breath-taking in their scope and literally incredible and can only have come from heaven. The Prince of Persia has fallen together with his hordes by the name of Hamas, Hezbollah, Islamic Jihad, Palestinians Islamic Jihad and the Houthis of Yemen. The truth is this wicked principality has fallen and will be vanquished just as the false god of Baal fell before the God of Israel 3200 years ago (1 Samuel 5:1-4). We are now watching the head of the evil octopus of the of Iranian regime being removed!
The outcome of the struggle
When the dust finally settles in this conflict Israel will know, yet again, that her God has helped her and saved her from the Prince of Persia just as He parted the waters of the Red Sea to save her from the Prince of Egypt. Consequently, she will begin to seek Him anew clothed in humility and repentance (Hosea 5:14-15). Also, throughout the Middle East and in Iran the door will be opened, as never before, for millions of people, formerly deceived by, and held captive to, the Prince of Persia to hear and embrace the glorious good news of Jesus Christ. This again will be the fruit of intercession that has taken place in churches all over the world for many decades for the so-called “10/40 window”, which is the wider Middle East region, including Iran.
In addition, those Christians who denied that God was in any way involved with the modern-day restoration of Israel will have to admit that something amazing and miraculous is unfolding in Israel for the benefit and blessing of the world.
The forewarning of the struggle
I well remember that in 2001, just two weeks before 9/11, when the same evil prince attacked the Twin Towers in New York, that the Lord gave me a remarkable dream wherein a very evil eye in Iran was fully focused on the destruction of Israel and the Jewish people. However, as I saw this, I also noticed that a shaft of light came down from heaven that covered the whole nation of Israel thus protecting it from the evil and satanic plan of the Prince of Persia. I knew then that something sinister was about to take root in the Middle East region and that in the end Israel would enjoy divine protection and victory. This victory would not only help her but the world as well. At that time, I was serving in Jerusalem as the Executive Director of the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem and, being greatly impacted by the dream, I shared it also with the staff of the Embassy. It was even more dramatic in that in the same dream I was told that a day of fire from the sky was about to befall America and that the nation would have to embrace renewed faith in God. Just two weeks later we all watched in horror as passenger planes piloted by wicked people were used as bombs to tear down the Twin Towers, the Pentagon and other targets. It is truly time for the people of God everywhere to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness! Even more so as we hear the footsteps of our glorious Messiah coming over the hills of Zion. Of Him Paul wrote that the “Deliverer will come out of Zion” (Romans 11:26).
The enemies of the struggle
It is also sad to see how many people, many of them western politicians and Christian Ministers, have come out in support of the dark Prince of Persia and thereby standing against Israel. In a way this should not surprise us as even in the 1930s the same thing happened. These ignorant fools joined themselves with evil because “they loved not the truth” of God’s word that declared “I will curse those who curse you” and consequently God Himself gave them over to their delusions.
My dear friends, Hamas, Hezbollah, Islamic Jihad and the Houthis are all tentacles of the wicked and satanic Prince of Persia in Iran. All of these have fallen before the nation of Israel and now the very heart of the beast is about fall. We should not be surprised because the God of Israel has stated that, “No weapon formed against you will prosper” (Isaiah 54:16-17). The God of the Jews, and of our Lord Jesus Christ, is the “Defender of Israel” and all those who have maligned Israel and even accused her of genocide will be humiliated and ashamed because they have stood with the Prince of Persia, just as others of their type stood with Hitler in the 1930s.
The reality is that the Iranian regime has been the regional bully for decades now and they and their proxies are the real perpetrators of genocide, international terrorism and assassinations all over the world. Just like the Nazi thugs, their day of destruction has come!
The blessing of the struggle
In all of this you can be sure that Israel’s modern-day restoration is not a political accident or even the fruit of misguided colonialism but in fact the fulfillment of God’s word and promise given to Abraham 4000 years ago. This word or promise was given to the nation of Israel for the blessing of the world (Genesis 12:1-3; Genesis 17:7-8). That is, society would be transformed by a civilizing law and culture that would also build a value system that would make nations great. If then embraced peace and prosperity would follow, and more important still, multiple millions of people would receive the gift of eternal life because at the heart of this blessing is a cross upon which a Jewish Savior died for the sins of the world (John 3:16). All of this is a clear reminder that “salvation is of the Jews” (Romans 9:3-5) and that in fact the whole world owes them a great debt of gratitude (Romans 15:27). This is all undeniable because history affirms it. Nevertheless, the battle continues because evil is real as is the fallen nature of every human being (Romans 3:23) and thus we all have to “overcome” as Jesus challenged His churches in Asia Minor (Revelation 3:5-6).
Antisemitism, however, is a spiritual disease that can take hold of any heart because its root is satanic and manifests in our world as the Prince of Persia. This evil prince will now fall and in fact he will hang on the gallows that he built for the Jews! (Esther 7:9-10). It is no coincidence then that 2500 years ago exactly, at this very same time in June, on the 23rd day of Sivan, the Jews destroyed the Prince of Persia. God is not mocked!
Rev. Malcom Hedding has served with the ICEJ in many capacities over the past four decades, including as our former Executive Director from 2000 to 2011, and as a member of our international Board of Trustees until 2024.
Main photo: The flag of Iran. (Credit: Sina Drakhshani/Unsplash)
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