*Iranian cities with protests (by* *Zentonyx* *via Wikipedia)*

The protests in Iran have now had fatalities:

Iran protests sparked by failing economy turn deadly
January 2, 2026
Iran’s nearly week-long protests, sparked by economic despair but quickly widening into demands for broad change, have turned deadly, with multiple human rights groups saying that several people had been killed by security forces.
President Donald Trump issued a warning to Iran on social media on Friday, writing that if Iran “violently kills peaceful protesters, which is their custom, the United States of America will come to their rescue. We are locked and loaded and ready to go.” The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment on what kind of aid Trump was referring to.
Shortly after, Ali Larijani, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, wrote on X that “Trump should know that American interference in this issue is equivalent to chaos in the entire region and will destroy America’s interests.”
The Center for Human Rights in Iran had tallied six killings by Friday, according to spokeswoman Bahar Ghandehari, while the Abdorrahman Boroumand Center for Human Rights in Iran said on social media that “at least five” protesters had been killed in direct shootings.
The Hengaw Organization for Human Rights, which focuses on Kurdish human rights issues, said that eight people have been killed so far, including a 15-year-old. Those reported killed were all male, mostly in their 20s and 30s.
Iranian authorities have acknowledged only one death thus far,
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/news/iran-protests-sparked-by-failing-economy-turn-deadly/ar-AA1TrEUY
Trump says if Iran “kills peaceful protesters,” the U.S. will “come to their rescue”
January 2, 2026
President Trump warned Friday in a social media post that if Iran “violently kills peaceful protesters, which is their custom, the United States of America will come to their rescue.”
Mr. Trump offer no further comment on Iran or how the U.S. might intervene to protect protesters in the country in the post on his Truth Social network, which was published just before 3 a.m. Eastern, but he said: “We are locked and loaded and ready to go.”
It came hours after reports that at least six people have been killed amid nearly a week of escalating protests in Iran. The unrest began last weekend as business owners voiced frustration at the dire economic conditions in the Islamic Republic.
Iran has been plagued for years by staggering hyperinflation, fueled by Western sanctions imposed over the hardline clerical government’s nuclear program and backing for militant groups across the region. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-iran-protests-us-will-come-to-their-rescue/

We will see what action that Donald Trump is prepared to take–perhaps something in conjunction with Israel.

Before going further, notice something I posted here back in 2012:

According to the Bible, the King of the South (Daniel 11:40) will rise up and we will see if this happens sometime after an Israeli conflict with Iran. Since Iran is not destined to be the King of the South, I have long written that it will somehow be neutralized (through a conflict involving Israel and/or internal strife, etc.)–thus Iran would likely suffer major damage (though a limited strike is possible, by Israel, but that view may prove to be optimistic).
This does not mean that I believe that Israel (or the USA and/or its allies for that matter) will end up without potentially severe losses (actually I do think that Israel and/or one of its allies will), only that Iran and Syria may start to feel so desperate that they will conclude that military conflict with Israel is their best option–if so, this would be a mistake on those nations’ part.
But Israel, and or the USA, are also at risk. Iran and/or Syria have chemical and biological weapons that could affect Israel and the USA, as well the potential for emp type bombs …, “dirty” bombs, and other nuclear-type bombs that Israel and/or the USA may have underestimated. Terrorist and other attacks are also possible–and any could hurt the USA, perhaps more seriously than many Americans think.
Wars do not always go as planned, for either side (or their allies). (Thiel B. Netanyahu Frustrated by USA and Others, Wants Clearer Determination Against Iran. COGwriter, September 2, 2012)

Now notice something from my free 2025 eBook Unintended Consequences and Donald Trump’s Presidency: Is Donald Trump Fulfilling Biblical, Islamic, Greco-Roman Catholic, Buddhist, and other America-Related Prophecies?:

Iran has weapons that can cause damage. Furthermore, the USA itself (as well as is the State of Israel) is vulnerable to EMP type attacks and items such as biological weapons, chemical weapons, terrorism, nuclear weapons, dirty bombs, etc. because of a conflict involving Iran, Syria, and/or others.
But should this occur, this would NOT be the final destruction of the USA. Prophetically, Iran would not end up faring well (cf. Ezekiel 32:24-25).

Notice also something from Michael Snyder:

January 1, 2026
Is this the end for the tyrannical regime of Ayatollah Khamenei and his minions? During the fifth day of protests in Iran, violence erupted in multiple major cities, and protesters were shouting for Khamenei to be killed. But I wouldn’t get too excited yet. Demanding regime change is easy. Bringing it about is something else altogether. Khamenei and his minions have a lot more guns than the protesters do, and the current regime will never step aside willingly. So those that are desperately hoping for regime change in Iran should not count their chickens before they hatch. …
Khamenei and his thugs are under siege.
So how will they respond? …
The Khamenei regime is being backed into a corner.
That is good news, but it also makes them extremely dangerous.
If the mullahs feel like they are facing an existential threat, there is no telling what they might do. https://endoftheamericandream.com/is-regime-change-here-protesters-call-for-the-death-of-ayatollah-khamenei-as-violence-erupts-all-over-iran/

Well, biblically, Iran may launch the attack that will cause great damage to Jerusalem as foretold in Isaiah 22:6-9.

Now some are asserting that the protests in Iran are actually against the USA, not the Khamenei regime:

Iranian protests are not for ‘regime change’ but for relief from US economic war
2 January 2026 …
In Washington and Tel Aviv, the narrative being pushed is one of a “regime on the brink”, where economic failure is framed as a precursor to total collapse.
However, my empirical research with other colleagues suggests a far more complex reality.
What we are witnessing is not a political revolution, but the desperate gasps of a society whose economic buffer, the middle class, has been systematically hollowed out by an inhumane, punitive policy of international isolation.
The US weaponisation of the the global financial system, imposing the “maximum pressure” campaign and targeting Iran’s oil exports has effectively hit at the life savings of every Iranian teacher, nurse, and small business owner. …
The Iranians currently in the streets are not asking for their country to be dismantled; they are asking for the restoration of their dignity, for economic relief, and for an end to the collective punishment that has hollowed out their lives.
The tragedy of the current US-Israeli strategy is that it has destroyed the very segment of society, the middle class, most capable of pushing for a stable, reformist, and less confrontational future. https://www.middleeasteye.net/opinion/iranians-are-protesting-economic-relief-not-regime-change

The people in Iran are getting more and more desperate. It also is likely that the leadership of Iran is getting more desperate too.

Last week Iran’s president claimed that it is at war with the USA, EU, and Israel (see Iran’s President says his nation is at war with the United States, Israel and Europe).

The latest post at PCG’s Trumpet website has the following:

A Nuclear Iran Is at the Door
In my opinion, we are at total war with the United States, Israel and Europe,” Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian told state media Saturday. “They want to bring our country to its knees.” But after being beaten by Israel and the U.S. in June, could Iran back such a dramatic threat?
The world has actually never been more in danger of Iran, and the June war has everything to do with it.
The Nuclear Green Light
According to the Italian Institute for International Political Studies, Iran’s supreme leader has “decided to give the green light to the development of compact warheads for ballistic missiles.” …
Iran may not be restricting its weapons developments to nuclear weapons. “[I]nformed military sources” told Iran International that “Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (irgc) is developing biological and chemical warheads for the country’s long-range ballistic missiles ….” …
Mr. Flurry since the 1990s has identified this “king of the south” as Iran. (See here for more information.) The Bible prophesies that nuclear war starts with a global provocation from Iran.
This has everything to do with the latest news.
Commentating on nuclear programs like Iran’s, Mr. Flurry writes: “We are now at the edge of this nuclear abyss! … This is not a fantasy! This is the real world!” https://www.thetrumpet.com/33222-a-nuclear-iran-is-at-the-door

Yes, Iran has missiles and nuclear ambitions, along with biological and weapons.

However, Gerald Flurry’s position about Iran being the King of the South is wrong.

Like many groups that hold to wrong prophetic interpretations, PCG often repeats them (here is a link to another PCG has recently repeated: PCG’s Gerald Flurry admits he was wrong, but says he still has been right about Donald Trump as Jeroboam).

As far as the King of the South goes, check out the article: Is the Future King of the South Rising Up?

PCG improperly claims:

The PCG is the only Church that holds onto ALL of what Christ established through Mr. Armstrong (Flurry, Gerald and Leap, Dennis. Ezra and Nehemiah: Building God’s Temple. Booklet. 1997. p.29).

People who were around when Herbert W. Armstrong was alive (or even those who were not) realize that is not the case.

The Plain Truth of December 1980–the year that HWA often claimed he now had the Church back on track–taught:

Bible prophecy reveals the coming emergence of an Arab-Moslem confederation in the Middle East. It is referred to in prophecy as the ‘king of the south’ (Daniel 11:40). This confederation will play a crucial role in end-time events (Stump, K. Plain Truth. December 1980, p.26).

A related Plain Truth article states:

Bible prophecy reveals the coming emergence of an Arab-Moslem confederation in the Middle East. It is referred to in prophecy as “the king of the south” (Dan. 11:40). This confederation will play a crucial role in end-time events. (Stump K. Seeing the World Through Islamic Eyes. Plain Truth, June 1983, p.44).

Iran was never taught by the old WCG to possibly be the King of the South as scripture does not support that.

Notice the regions that are associated with the King of the South according to the Bible:

40 “In the end times the southern king will attack him. The northern king will rush at him like a storm with chariots, horses, and many ships. He will invade countries, overwhelm them, and pass through their land. 41 He will invade the beautiful land, and tens of thousands will be defeated. But Edom, Moab, and the leaders of the Ammonites will escape from his power. 42 He will use his power against many countries. Even Egypt will not escape. 43 He will control gold and silver treasures and all Egypt’s treasuries. Libya and Sudan will surrender to him. (Daniel 11:40-43, GWT)

The above peoples are basically Turks, Arabs, and Africans. I should probably add here that the Iranians are Persian, and not Arabs. They primarily speak Farsi, which is not an Arabic language. While the Iranians tend to be strict Muslims (though even that seems to be changing among many there), they are NOT Arabs nor Turks nor African ethnically.

Iran is NOT the prophesied King of the South. This is something from the imagination of PCG’s leader Gerald Flurry. His view is not from the Bible.

We in the Continuing Church of God do not believe that Iran will be the final King of the South of Bible prophecy (cf. Daniel 11:40-43). Because of that, I have long tended to believe that Iran may somehow get “neutralized” before this final king rises up. And it may be that provoking some type of conflict with Israel (through an attack or through simply possessing nuclear bombs) may result in Israel hitting Iran hard enough militarily to greatly reduce Iran’s influence in the Islamic world. Since no later than May of 2010, I have been writing that since Iran cannot be the final King of the South that it may be neutralized (see Thiel. B. Iran Slams Russia. COGwriter, May 24, 2010).

Iran could be neutralized because of internal unrest and/or a region conflict involving Israel.

Anyway, those who want to understand more about the coming King of the South should read the article titled Is there a Future King of the South?

To learn more about Iran, check out the article: Iran in Prophecy.

Some items of possibly related interest may include:

Is the Future King of the South Rising Up? Some no longer believe there needs to be a future King of the South. Might Egypt, Islam, Iran, Arabs, or Ethiopia be involved? Might this King be called the Mahdi or Caliph? What does the Bible say? A YouTube video of related interest may be: The Future King of the South is Rising.
Iran in Prophecy Is Iran in Bible prophecy? If so, what does the Bible teach? What names, other than Persia, may be used to describe Iran? There are also two related videos: Iran In Prophecy and Iran and Israel Conflict.
21st Century Church of God Prophets Are there any true prophets in the 21st century? What about false prophets? What are scriptures and fruits to identify the true from the false? You you prove all things and test the spirits?
Why Be Concerned About False and Heretical Leaders? There have been many false leaders–here is some of why you should be concerned about them. Here is a related article in the Spanish language ¿Por qué estar preocupado acerca de falsos y heréticos líderes?
Does the CCOG have the confirmed signs of Acts 2:17-18? Does any church have the confirmed dream and prophetic signs of Acts 2:17-18? Should one? Here is a link in the Spanish language: ¿Tiene la CCOG confirmadas las señales de Hechos 2: 17-18? Here is a link in the French language: Est-ce que l’Église Continue de Dieu confirme les signes d’Actes 2:17-18?
Church of God Leaders on Prophets Have there been prophets throughout the church age? Are any supposed to be around in the last days? What have COG leaders stated or written about prophets? Here is a link to a related sermon: Church of God Leaders on Prophets.
How To Determine If Someone is a True Prophet of God There are many false prophets. How can Christians determine who is a true prophet? There is also a sermon-length video titled How to determine if someone is a true prophet of God. Here is a related link in Spanish/español: ¿Cómo determinar si alguien es un verdadero profeta de Dios?
The Arab and Islamic World In the Bible, History, and Prophecy The Bible discusses the origins of the Arab world and discusses the Middle East in prophecy. What is ahead for the Middle East and those who follow Islam? What about the Imam Mahdi? What lies ahead for Turkey, Iran, and the other non-Arabic Muslims? An item of possibly related interest in the Spanish language would be: Líderes iraníes condenan la hipocresía de Occidente y declaran que ahora es tiempo para prepararse para el Armagedón, la guerra, y el Imán Mahdi.
Ezekiel 38: For Russia & Iran in Our Day? Is Ezekiel 38 about to be fulfilled? A related video is available titled Ezekiel 38: For Russia, Ukraine, & Iran Now? Another could be Russia, Iran, Syria, & the Bible (Code).
Teachings Unique to the Philadelphia Church of God Simply calling oneself ‘Philadelphia’ does not make one so (see Revelation 3:7-9), nor does Gerald Flurry calling himself “that prophet” make it so. This article provides many quotes from this group which tries to look faithful.