In the light of what is happening currently, this article by an Iranian-born UK Pastor, from a little earlier this year, is now republished here today (28 February).
Christians must understand the Islamic regime in Iran is demonic, and pray against it accordingly, an Iranian evangelical pastor says.
The call comes from Pooyan Mehrshahi, who was born in Iran in 1980, after the Islamic Revolution.
He now lives in the UK, where he is Pastor of Providence Baptist Chapel (Reformed Baptist), Cheltenham, and Chairman of the Parsa Trust, a Persian Iranian Ministry.
The US-based Human Rights Activist News Agency (HRANA) says at least 490 protesters and 48 security personnel have died in Iran in recent days as protests have continued against the government. There have also been 10,600 arrests, it states.
Writing on Substack, Pooyan Mehrshahi says: "Pray hard for Iran, the downfall of the Islamic regime, the freedom of the people, and the extension of Christ’s true church."
And in an accompanying video message, he declares: "When the Islamic republic feels threatened, it spills blood. And so you Christians must understand this: you see, the Islamic regime is not merely political; it's actually spiritual - it is demonic.
“Satan has been operating with great influence in that country for many years, and this Satanic Islamic regime has dominated every area of life through fear, through indoctrination, [and] through control.
“Refusal to comply brings punishment on the people, and that's why so many Christians have been persecuted, and that is the nature of tyranny that is dressed up in this way.
“We must pray that the Lord brings down this evil power. Pray that he breaks Satan’s grip on the nation. Pray that doors long shut will be opened. But we must pray wisely. Christ said, ‘I will build my church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it’.
"Pray for the true Christians in Iran who have been suffering, and pray for the kind of Christianity that will enter Iran when the walls of oppression fall.
Liberal theology
“You see, friends, at present much of what passes as Christianity there is weak, is confused, is unbiblical. Liberal theology, charismatic excesses, westernised Christianity, cults and shallow evangelicalism [are] dominating the scene. They've shaped what many Iranians think Christianity is. And Bible-believing and Protestant and Reformed Christian churches and Christian ministries must decide now what they will do; not later, now.
“When Iran opens, something will rush in. The question is what? Will false gospels and Christianised paganism take root, or will the church rise to disciple the people, train pastors and build churches grounded in sound doctrine and holy living?
“Right now, some of the most influential Christian teachers known in Iran are Joyce Meyer and Joel Osteen and the like. That should sober us. Pray that robust, Biblical, Christianity floods the nation. Pray that God raises up faithful pastors, strong churches and grounded believers. Pray that many souls are truly converted - not entertained, not deceived, but saved. We want the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ to be heard on every street in Iran; we want Biblical, experiential, reformed Christianity [to] be published. That's what we desire.
“This is a moment for serious prayer... If the Islamic regime remains, much darker days will be had, my friends. But if it falls, by God’s grace, we can only dream what God will do. May God have mercy upon the people of Iran and may He set them free by the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.”
