INTERESTING INFORMATION
CHRISTIAN MINISTRY 7-22-2026 Every Wednesday Evening
Est. 1997
The following material is provided for information purposes only. Any conclusions or opinions formed should be based on the principles as outlined in Acts 17:11. The material is intended for use as a witnessing tool and to keep you informed so you will not be unaware (Luke 21:34) of what is happening according to Scripture “However, when the Son of Man comes, will He find any faith on the earth?” (Luke 18:8b)
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INTERESTING INFORMATION ARTICLES
THE FALSE MESSIAH DRIVING IRAN
Koenig’s Eye View, Mon, July 13, 2026 -The Bible uses many literary devices to communicate its message, one of them being repetition. Whenever you see statements repeated in Scripture (especially if they are close together in the same text), then the writer is emphasizing the message and telling us we really need to pay attention. A good example is Jesus’ Olivet Discourse found in Matthew 24, which is prophetic in nature and covers the end times. It starts off with Jesus warning, “See to it that no one misleads you. For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will mislead many” (vv. 4–5). Then, just a few verses later, He says: “Many false prophets will arise and will mislead many” (vs. 11).
Skip down just a little more, and then there’s this: “Then if anyone says to you, ‘Behold, here is the Christ,’ or ‘There He is,’ do not believe him. For false Christs and false prophets will arise and will show great signs and wonders, so as to mislead, if possible, even the elect” (vv. 23–24).
I don’t know about you, but to me, it sure looks like Jesus wants us to be on the lookout for false messiahs and their mouthpieces. You might think such a thing is rare and only happens today with a handful of people who get snookered now and then by some religious charlatan, the events of which get portrayed on some Netflix documentary.
But you’d be wrong. For example, let me introduce you to the false messiah figure that’s influencing the nation of Iran’s actions towards the world at large, and especially at Israel and the United States.
Iran’s counterfeit savior
About 20 years ago, then-president of Iran, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, stated in an interview that he experienced a supernatural experience during a speech he gave at the United Nations. Ahmadinejad claimed that he was bathed in a light from Heaven at the outset of his talk, with the light remaining on him for the full length of the speech. Ahmadinejad made several references during that U.N. speech to a “mighty Lord” who will hasten the emergence of “the promised one,” a person who “will fill this world with justice and peace.” Any guesses as to who Ahmadinejad was referring to?
During that time, CNN national security analyst Peter Bergen pointed out that groups such as ISIS have similar hopes based on their belief in Islamic prophecy. Believing that their actions hasten a supposed final battle at a small, obscure Syrian town named Dabiq between “Rome” and Islam (where the forces of true Islam triumph), Bergan noted: “Members devoutly believe that they are fighting in a cosmic war in which they are on the side of good, which allows them to kill anyone they perceive to be standing in their way with no compunction. This is, of course, a serious delusion, but serious it is.” An article by Graeme Wood in The Atlantic echoed Bergen’s conclusions on Iran and other groups’ prophetically driven ideology and put forward the idea that no threat will deter their current course of action: “That the Islamic State holds the imminent fulfillment of prophecy as a matter of dogma at least tells us the mettle of our opponent. It is ready to cheer its own near-obliteration, and to remain confident, even when surrounded, that it will receive divine succor if it stays true to the Prophetic model.”
And to Iran, that “model” includes a messianic-type figure known as the “Mahdi”; the “mighty lord” Ahmadinejad was referring to in his U.N. speech. During another talk Ahmadinejad gave that same year, he stated that his main mission was to “pave the path for the glorious reappearance of Imam Mahdi, may Allah hasten his reappearance.”
It’s a good bet you’ve never heard of the Mahdi, unless you’ve studied some of Islam’s prophetic literature. The figure is emphasized especially on the Shi’a side of the Islamic faith (the other side being Sunni), which makes up the vast majority of Iran’s practicing Muslims, including their Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
In fact, the IRGC’s worldview focuses on “Mahdism” and the return of the 12th divinely ordained Shi’a imam, Muhammad al-Mahdi (or the Hidden Imam). They believe the Mahdi was hidden by God into a miraculous state in 874 CE, and that he will one day return to rid the world of evil and injustice. His coming, they believe, will bring about “one final apocalyptic battle” between two armies, in which Shi’as say that the Mahdi and his forces will prevail over evil.
Twenty years ago, Ahmadinejad urged his countrymen to prepare for the coming of the Mahdi by turning the country into a mighty and advanced Islamic society, and by avoiding the corruption and excesses of the West. While sounding innocent, it’s important to understand that part of the preparation has to do with the elimination of Islam’s enemies and those who stand in the way of the Mahdi’s return. Topping the list is the United States, and the chief enemy of Islam, Israel. In a report issued by the Middle East Institute just a few years ago, researchers Saeid Golkar and Kasra Aarabi noted that the IRGC’s leadership sees the world divided between the “will of the essence of transcendence” and “the arrogant powers.” The former is led by “the people and the leadership of Iran,” and the latter includes “Zionism, Wahhabi Zionism, and Christian Zionism.”
They go on to say:
“The IRGC is increasingly understanding and communicating its official policy of eradicating Israel and Zionism through the doctrine of Mahdism. While the destruction of Israel has been the IRGC’s working objective since its inception, like other Islamist groups this hostility was borne out of viewing the Jewish state an illegitimate, oppressive, and usurping entity for the West to achieve its supposed colonial goals across the Muslim world. More recently, however, the existence of Israel is being viewed and understood as the ‘greatest barrier’ to the reappearance of the 12th Imam. According to the doctrine of Mahdism, part of preparing for the reappearance of the 12th Imam is removing all obstacles and barriers to his return. Against this backdrop, Iran’s hardline clergy affiliated with the IRGC claim religious hadiths state that the ‘Jewish state will be destroyed before Mahdi’s arrival.’”
We shouldn’t be dismissive of such thinking. Golkar and Aarabi highlight the real danger of all this when they write: “At present the doctrine of Mahdism in the IRGC remains a complete blind spot for Western policymakers, yet it could have major implications for the Islamic Republic’s militia network, ballistic missile program, and even its nuclear program.”
That’s a bit concerning, wouldn’t you say?
At present, our governments spend enormous resources analyzing Iran's economy, military capabilities, and nuclear ambitions, all of that being good.
But maybe it’s time they devote equal attention to understanding the theological convictions that motivate many of the regime's politicians. History has repeatedly shown that leaders driven by deeply held religious beliefs cannot always be deterred by conventional assumptions and actions. Ignoring those beliefs doesn't make them disappear; it simply makes strategic miscalculation more likely.
Our leaders need to heed Jesus' warning about false messiahs and understand it wasn't merely a religious observation. It was a reminder that false hopes and false saviors have real-world consequences, both spiritually and politically.
What did Christ say again? “See to it that no one misleads you.” Listen up, America.
THE WEIGHT OF YOUR WORD
Creation Moments – Somewhere, hidden deep in a box in a storeroom, is a book about the planets, written and presented to Creation Moments by a TV astronomer in Britain. In the section about Jupiter, it informs us that the Solar System’s largest planet has 10 moons. Since that book was published, in the early 1970s, they have found a few more. As I write this script, an article in New Scientist informs me that Jupiter has 79 known moons.
The article also said that 5 recently discovered moons have just been given official names.
It was interesting to read how the names are assigned. The moon’s discoverer has the right to suggest a name, and the International Astronomical Union (IAU) decides on the suitability of the name. Greco-Roman mythology is mined for the names of the Jovian system. All Jupiter’s moons are named after legendary lovers or descendants of Jupiter/Zeus. One extra nugget, however, that I had not previously known is this: If the moon’s name ends with an “a”, it means that it orbits retrograde, compared to the normal orbital direction of planets and moons.
How did some moons manage to orbit in a retrograde manner in any case? If all these objects had condensed from solar dust, as deep-time astrophysicists suggest, angular momentum would require that they all orbit in the same direction. The existence of moons like Europa, Amalthea and newly named Pandia is a huge problem for evolutionary ideas about the planets.
JUPITER’S MOONS: WHAT’S IN A NAME?
THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK
The term “Nothing is free” is false – Only the grace of Jesus is free! – Pastor Harold Hansen
PARTNERS IN MINISTRY
As members of the body of Christ, we all share the mission to serve and spread the gospel.
Related Scripture Acts 20:1-6, 1 Corinthians 12:14-27, Bible in a Year, Ecclesiastes 9-12, Acts 20:1-6
No one can dispute that the apostle Paul played a foundational role in the establishment of the early church—but Paul rarely worked alone.
Throughout the book of Acts and the Epistles, we see glimpses of people who partnered with Paul in ministry. In today’s reading, we meet a missionary team—including Luke—who accompanied Paul through Macedonia. Although we know little about most of them, each played an important part in the formation of the church. In 1 Corinthians 12:14-27, Paul likens the church to a body, whose health depends on the functioning of all its parts. The Holy Spirit gives each believer a special ability for service within the church. Although people like Paul, who have a conspicuous role, may seem more necessary, every believer is just as essential.
God values our service not by its visibility but by the heart behind it. He’s interested in our obedience, attitude, and motive for serving Him. Whether our role is noticed by many or by few, we can trust that the Lord sees our faithfulness. He promises to reward our service and invites us to find our satisfaction in knowing we’re contributing to His eternal purposes—not in whether or not others recognize our contribution.
"Hallelujah"
https://www.heritagechurchmckinney.com/messages/Hallelujah.mp3
Pastor Len McLaughlin, Heritage Church, McKinney, Tx
This is a wonderful Message. Don’t miss it, you will be blessed! Pass it on to your Homebound Family and friends
SUMMARY OF ARTICLES
Koenig’s Eye View - 13, 2026
The book of Numbers closes with Mattot (Tribes) and Masei (Journeys). Before Israel enters the Promised Land, the LORD begins with an unexpected subject, the importance of keeping your word. Numbers 30:2 says, "If a man makes a vow to the LORD, or swears an oath to bind himself by some agreement, he shall not break his word; he shall do according to all that proceeds out of his mouth." God created the world by speaking, and He expects His people to value their words. Integrity builds trust between God and man, and trust is the foundation of every healthy family, church, business, and nation. The laws of vows come just before Israel inherits the land because the promises made by covenant people must be trusted.
The lesson immediately becomes practical. The tribes of Reuben and Gad wanted to settle east of the Jordan because the land was ideal for livestock. Moses challenged them, fearing they would abandon the other tribes before the conquest of Canaan. They vowed to cross the Jordan armed for battle and remain until every tribe received its inheritance. They kept that promise, as recorded in Joshua. Their faithfulness strengthened the nation because their word became their bond. Yeshua (Jesus) reinforced this principle in Matthew 5:37, saying, "Let your 'Yes' be 'Yes,' and your 'No,' 'No.'" Careless promises damage relationships and weaken our witness. Faithful words reflect the character of the God we serve. Our testimony is measured as much by the promises we keep as by the message we proclaim.
Masei then reviews Israel's journey from Egypt to the plains of Moab, reminding the people of God's constant faithfulness. The LORD provided manna, water from the rock, protection in the wilderness, and His presence throughout the journey. He established the boundaries of the Promised Land, divided the inheritance, appointed cities for the Levites, and created cities of refuge. The land remains central because it belongs to God's everlasting covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Those boundaries never have been completely fulfilled in history, demonstrating that God's promises concerning Israel still stand for a future yet to come. The Church has been grafted into God's plan of redemption through Messiah, but Scripture never teaches that the Church replaces Israel or inherits Israel's covenant land promises. God always keeps His covenants.
Numbers closes with the LORD declaring, "You shall not defile the land which you inhabit, in the midst of which I dwell; for I the LORD dwell among the children of Israel" (Numbers 35:34). God's covenant with Israel remains as certain today as when He first made it because it rests on His faithfulness. The message of Mattot and Masei is simple: Honor your word because God honors His. Keep your promises because God keeps His. Trust His covenant because He never abandons what He has spoken. In a culture where commitments are easily broken, believers should stand apart as people whose words carry weight because they reflect the unchanging character of a promise-keeping God.
Genesis 1:16b “He made the stars also…”