Great Darkness
Christians at Vank Cathedral, Isfahan, Iran, Image Source https://www.tasnimnews.ir/fa/media/1401/10/17/2832826/%D9%85%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%B3%D9%85-%D9%85%DB%8C%D9%84%D8%A7%D8%AF%D8%AD%D8%B6%D8%B1%D8%AA-%D8%B9%DB%8C%D8%B3%DB%8C-%D8%B9-%D8%AF%D8%B1%DA%A9%D9%84%DB%8C%D8%B3%D8%A7%DB%8C-%D9%88%D8%A7%D9%86%DA%A9, Image Author Morteza Salehi, (CC Attribution 4.0 International)
Iran’s Shiite government is focused on the coming of the Mahdi, the Twelfth Imam in a succession of Islamic rulers who will supposedly establish justice by spreading Sharia law throughout the world [1][2][3][4].
Iranian Islamists seek to advance this cause through violent means, a martyrdom ideology, and the brutal persecution of any who choose to leave Islam, including the 500,000 or more Christian converts living in Iran today [5][6].
In recent years, large numbers of Iranians have experienced religious disillusionment, and have lost faith in Allah. Millions more have turned away from Islam due to the repressive policies of the Iranian regime. However, Iranians who convert to Christianity can be charged with apostacy, and face the death penalty.
Despite this, many Christian ministries have developed media strategies using satellite TV and internet platforms to reach the Iranian population. Please, keep these efforts and the persecuted church everywhere in prayer, that the light of Christ may overcome this great darkness.
“…the Dayspring from on high has visited us; to give light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace” (Luke 1: 78-79).
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[1] Wikipedia, “Iran”, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran.
[2] Wikipedia, “Shia Islam”, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shia_Islam.
[3] Wikipedia, “Mahdi”, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahdi.
[4] There are striking parallels which suggest the Mahdi may be the Antichrist. This, however, is highly disputed. See, https://myislam.dk/articles/en/richardson%20r05-comparing-the-biblical-antichrist-and-the-mahdi.php and https://www.christiantoday.com/news/christian-scholar-claims-shocking-similarity-between-biblical-antichrist-and-muslim-messiah-called-the-mahdi.
[5] Voice of the Martyrs Magazine, “Iran”, October 2026.
[6] Voice of the Martyrs, “Iran”, https://vom.com.au/tags_stories/iran/.
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