Painting of 1625 Titled ‘Feast of Esther’
The Jewish Feast of Purim 2026 begins at sunset on March 2nd (some Jews begin celebrations and preparations earlier).
Israel365News posted had the following related to Purim and a threat for US President Donald Trump:
Trump’s Purim Ultimatum to Iran
February 22, 2026
On Thursday, President Trump issued what amounts to an ultimatum to the Islamic Republic of Iran: reach a deal on your nuclear program within 10 to 15 days, or face military consequences. The deadline lands squarely on the eve of Purim — the Jewish festival that commemorates the miraculous downfall of a Persian villain who had vowed to annihilate the Jewish people. Students of history and Scripture will recognize the pattern.
Speaking Thursday at the inaugural meeting of his “Board of Peace,” his initiative to secure stability in Gaza, Trump referenced last June’s US strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities and made clear the door to military action remains open. “Now, we may have to take it a step further — or we may not. Maybe we’re going to make a deal,” he said. Pressed later aboard Air Force One on how much time remained, Trump was precise: “I would think that would be enough time — 10, 15 days, pretty much maximum. We’re either going to get a deal, or it’s going to be unfortunate for them.”
Trump reiterated what has become a red line of his presidency: “Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon. You can’t have peace in the Middle East if they have a nuclear weapon.” He called on Tehran to “join us on a path” toward a deal, but left no ambiguity about the alternative. “They must make a deal. If that doesn’t happen… bad things will happen.” …
Iran has not been silent. Hamidreza Haji Babaei, deputy speaker of the Majlis (the Iranian parliament), personally threatened Trump at a public gathering in Hamedan Province on January 30. His message was unambiguous: “Strike once and we will keep hitting back until we end them. There is no such thing as a limited war. The solution to the problems lies in punishing Trump…In about a month, we will recite the funeral prayer for Trump, the United States, and their allies.”
In a powerful case of synchronicity, Haji Babaei’s threat came exactly one month before Purim. Babaei also warned that if the US attacks, Iran will strike any country that offers Washington support — placing Israel directly in the crosshairs. …
Trump’s 10-day deadline, issued on Thursday, expires on March 2. Purim — the Jewish festival that commemorates the deliverance of the Jewish people from the genocidal Persian villain Haman — begins at sundown on March 2.
This is not a minor scheduling coincidence. The central drama of Purim is precisely the story of a powerful Persian official who threatened to exterminate the Jewish people and instead brought destruction upon himself. The phenomenon has a name in Jewish thought: V’nahafoch Hu (וְנַהֲפוֹךְ הוּא) — “it was turned upside down.” The phrase comes directly from the Megillat Esther (the Scroll of Esther), which records: “On the day that the enemies of the Jews hoped to prevail over them, it was turned upside down, and the Jews prevailed over their enemies.” (Esther 9:1) https://israel365news.com/416266/trumps-purim-ultimatum-to-iran/
We will see if, and when, Donald Trump may order an attack against Iran.
Here is some information related to Purim which comes from the Book of Esther:
1 Now in the twelfth month, that is, the month of Adar, on the thirteenth day, the time came for the king’s command and his decree to be executed. On the day that the enemies of the Jews had hoped to overpower them, the opposite occurred, in that the Jews themselves overpowered those who hated them. 2 The Jews gathered together in their cities throughout all the provinces of King Ahasuerus to lay hands on those who sought their harm. And no one could withstand them, because fear of them fell upon all people. 3 And all the officials of the provinces, the satraps, the governors, and all those doing the king’s work, helped the Jews, because the fear of Mordecai fell upon them. 4 For Mordecai was great in the king’s palace, and his fame spread throughout all the provinces; for this man Mordecai became increasingly prominent. 5 Thus the Jews defeated all their enemies with the stroke of the sword, with slaughter and destruction, and did what they pleased with those who hated them. (Esther 9:1-5)
20 And Mordecai wrote these things and sent letters to all the Jews, near and far, who were in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus, 21 to establish among them that they should celebrate yearly the fourteenth and fifteenth days of the month of Adar, 22 as the days on which the Jews had rest from their enemies, as the month which was turned from sorrow to joy for them, and from mourning to a holiday; that they should make them days of feasting and joy, of sending presents to one another and gifts to the poor. 23 So the Jews accepted the custom which they had begun, as Mordecai had written to them, 24 because Haman, the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the enemy of all the Jews, had plotted against the Jews to annihilate them, and had cast Pur (that is, the lot), to consume them and destroy them; 25 but when Esther came before the king, he commanded by letter that this wicked plot which Haman had devised against the Jews should return on his own head, and that he and his sons should be hanged on the gallows.
26 So they called these days Purim, after the name Pur. Therefore, because of all the words of this letter, what they had seen concerning this matter, and what had happened to them, 27 the Jews established and imposed it upon themselves and their descendants and all who would join them, that without fail they should celebrate these two days every year, according to the written instructions and according to the prescribed time, 28 that these days should be remembered and kept throughout every generation, every family, every province, and every city, that these days of Purim should not fail to be observed among the Jews, and that the memory of them should not perish among their descendants.
29 Then Queen Esther, the daughter of Abihail, with Mordecai the Jew, wrote with full authority to confirm this second letter about Purim. 30 And Mordecai sent letters to all the Jews, to the one hundred and twenty-seven provinces of the kingdom of Ahasuerus, with words of peace and truth, 31 to confirm these days of Purim at their appointed time, as Mordecai the Jew and Queen Esther had prescribed for them, and as they had decreed for themselves and their descendants concerning matters of their fasting and lamenting. 32 So the decree of Esther confirmed these matters of Purim, and it was written in the book. (Esther 9:20-32)
While Purim is a national holiday and is not listed as a holy day in Leviticus 23 or elsewhere. It is not a biblically required observation for those in the Church of God. Yet, some believe that Jesus (who was physically a Jew) kept it:
Wieseler, Hug, Meyer Lance, Godet, Weiss, Farrar, Watkins, think that the Feast of Purim, celebrated on the 15th of Adar (or March) (2 Macc. 15:36), in commemoration of the deliverance of the people from the evil intention of Haman (Esther 9:21, etc.), was that national fast and feast which Jesus thus honoured. Purim was not one of the divinely appointed festivals, but it is also stated that the Lord undoubtedly attended one of the national and recently appointed festivals, that of Dedication (John 10:22). …
The claims of the Purim feast turn principally on the fact that, since it occurred, about a month before the Passover, on the 14th or 15th of Adar, this visit might have taken place in the course of the four months referred to in John 4:35, and therefore between the sojourn in Samaria and the Passover of John 6:4, which Jesus diet not attend. …
It must be admitted that the majority of modern critics assume the Feast of Purim to be that intended (Pulpit Commentary on John 5:1).
A feast of the Jews.—The writer does not tell us what feast this was, and we must be content to remain without certain knowledge. There is, perhaps, no Jewish feast with which it has not been identified, and it has been even proclaimed confidently that it must have been the Day of Atonement! (Caspari, Chron. and Geogr., Introd., Eng. Trans., p. 130). Our reading is to be regarded as the better one, though not a few authorities insert the article, and interpret “the Feast” to mean the Feast of Passover.The time-limits are John 4:35, which was in Tebeth (January), and John 6:4, which bring us to the next Passover in Nisan (April), i.e., an interval of four months, the year being an intercalary one with the month VeAdar (and Adar) added, or, as we should say, with two months of March. The only feast which falls in this interval is the Feast of Purim, and it is with this that the best modern opinion identifies the feast of our text. It was kept on the 14th of Adar (March), in commemoration of the deliverance of the Jews from the plots of Haman, and took its name from the lots cast by him (Esther 3:7; Esther 9:24 et seq.). (Elliot’s Commentary on John 5:1).
That being said, some have wondered about the Book of Esther in light of the current events in Iran and Israel. Iran and Israel were actually allies during the time of the Shah of Iran. And interestingly that in the time of Esther it was only a minority of the Persian empire that wanted to eliminate the Jews. It is possible that a regime change in Iran (which could be brought about by many means, including attacks by Israel and/or the USA) could change the relationship between the Jews and Persians (Iranians) again.
The Bible shows that Iran, along with some in Lebanon and Syria, will one day attack Israel and cause great damage (Isaiah 22:8-14). And it could happen this year or next. Related to Lebanon, notice the following:
22 February 2026
Hezbollah said on 21 February that the Lebanese people “no longer have any option” other than resistance, after a series of violent and deadly Israeli attacks against the country’s east and south.
Deputy chief of Hezbollah’s Political Council Mahmoud Qamati said “What happened yesterday in the Bekaa is a new massacre and a new aggression.”
“What option do we have left to defend ourselves and our country? What other option do we have besides resistance? We no longer have any option,” he added. …
Israeli warplanes carried out violent airstrikes on Lebanon’s eastern Bekaa region on Friday night, killing at least ten, including Hezbollah members and civilians.
The Lebanese resistance confirmed the deaths of eight of its members, including a senior official. It said they “sacrificed themselves for Lebanon and its people.”
At least 24 others were wounded, including children. A Syrian man and an Ethiopian woman were among the dead.
Tel Aviv claimed it attacked members of Hezbollah’s missile unit. https://thecradle.co/articles-id/36101
We continue to hear of wars and rumors of war, but the end is not yet (cf. Matthew 24:6).
It may take a regional war in the Middle East and perhaps terrorist attacks on USA-related targets for the apparent peace deal of Daniel 9:27 to take place. The situation in Middle East will change–and military conflict may well be one of those changes.
Some items of possibly related interest may include:
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.
Jerusalem: Past, Present, and Future What does the Bible say about Jerusalem and its future? Is Jerusalem going to be divided and eliminated? Is Jesus returning to the area of Jerusalem? There are also two related YouTube videos you can watch: Jerusalem To be divided and eliminated and God’s and Satan’s Plan for Jerusalem.
Lost Tribes and Prophecies: What will happen to Australia, the British Isles, Canada, Europe, New Zealand and the United States of America? Where did those people come from? Can you totally rely on DNA? Do you really know what will happen to Europe and the English-speaking peoples? What about the peoples of Africa, Asia, South America, and the islands? This free online book provides scriptural, scientific, historical references, and commentary to address those matters. Here are links to related sermons: Lost tribes, the Bible, and DNA; Lost tribes, prophecies, and identifications; 11 Tribes, 144,000, and Multitudes; Israel, Jeremiah, Tea Tephi, and British Royalty; Gentile European Beast; Royal Succession, Samaria, and Prophecies; Asia, Islands, Latin America, Africa, and Armageddon; When Will the End of the Age Come?; Rise of the Prophesied King of the North; Christian Persecution from the Beast; WWIII and the Coming New World Order; and Woes, WWIV, and the Good News of the Kingdom of God.
Proof Jesus is the Messiah This free book has over 200 Hebrew prophecies were fulfilled by Jesus. Plus, His arrival was consistent with specific prophecies and even Jewish interpretations of prophecy. Here are links to seven related sermons: Proof Jesus is the Messiah, Prophecies of Jesus’ birth, timing, and death, Jesus’ prophesied divinity, 200+ OT prophecies Jesus filled; Plus prophecies He made, Why Don’t Jews Accept Jesus?, Daniel 9, Jews, and Jesus, and Facts and Atheists’ Delusions About Jesus. Plus the links to two sermonettes: Luke’s census: Any historical evidence? and Muslims believe Jesus is the Messiah, but …