While a number of Bible prophecy advocates are promoting Iran's involvement in an impending invasion of Israel, exegetical evidence shows that Ezekiel 38 will not have an imminent fulfillment. (See the author's September 25th article, "Two Coming Invasions of Israel: Ezekiel 38 and 39.") However, it seems that Iran will still have a key role, leading to end-times fulfillment—one which we can discern by comparing the goal of its leadership with Biblical prophecy. As we do, we will see a very dramatic role played by the terrorist actor.
We begin with the goal of Iran's leadership, which is to bring the world under Islamic rule. According to the belief of Iranian Spiritual Leader Ali Khamenei and President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, this will be accomplished following the introduction of the Twelfth Imam (the Mahdi, the Muslim messiah) onto the world's stage.
To achieve its long-term goal, the Iranian leadership believes it must eliminate Israel and dominate the Middle East. Then it must go after Europe and the Great Satan, the United States.
The Iranian regime believes that to accomplish each of these short-term goals toward its ultimate ambition, it needs nuclear weapons. So where is the regime on that quest?
Based on Western intelligence, Iran already has enough enriched uranium for four nuclear warheads. Though this is low-enriched uranium, the most difficult part of the nuclear process has been accomplished to get uranium to this point. Though Iran has had challenges with its nuclear program, still, it is able produce enough low-enriched uranium for a nuclear warhead per year.
As British Foreign Secretary William Hague stated recently, Iran will be on a critical path toward nukes this coming year. Hague reminded us that the terrorist regime has already achieved the development of enriched uranium to 20%, a key level in the enrichment process. In addition, the Iranian regime has moved centrifuges to an underground facility, indicating it is on the homestretch for nuclear development. Thus, according to the Institute for Science and International Security (ISIS), Iran is right on target in its goal of producing weapon-grade uranium for nukes.
Until it is nuclear-equipped, Iran is seeking to make headway toward global domination any way it can. This includes seeking smaller victories over the U.S. in order to demonstrate its superiority over the Great Satan. That may be at least part of the reason why Iran has been infiltrating Latin America, the backyard of the U.S. The Iranian presence has been moving northward toward the U.S.-Mexican border, as evidence clearly shows Hizbullah's presence in Mexico and its ties to Mexican drug trafficking organizations along the border.
This is an aggressive posture which aligns with the recently discovered hostile plan to assassinate a Saudi ambassador in Washington D.C. It appears that the Ahmadinejad regime is boldly going after America. As a matter of fact, it has already begun by attacking U.S. troops in Iraq.
President Obama's announced withdrawal of U.S. troops in Iraq opens the door to 30,000 Iranian fighters who are already positioned in that country. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton proclaimed that the U.S. would stand with Iraq and its neighbors, yet allies are skeptical. After all, a complete troop pullout will leave Iraq open to more than 30,000 armed members of the Revolutionary Guard terrorist arm, the al-Qods Brigades, which are deployed there. In addition, the U.S. administration has done nothing in response to the Iranian attempted murder on U.S. soil of a Saudi ambassador; in fact, the U.S. has done virtually nothing in response to Iran's threats.
Because America will not take a hard line against the terrorist regime, there is no real incentive for the Iranian leadership to halt its quest for nuclear weapons. Not only does the evidence suggest that the White House is not willing to do what is necessary to stop Iran from acquiring nuclear capability, past comments by the Secretary of State suggests that the current administration is willing to accept a nuclear Iran.
This raises doubts in the minds of onlookers that the U.S. is serious about confronting Iran. As a nervous Middle East looks for help against Iran, it will likely not look to the U.S.; instead, Arab states now understand that Israel is its best hope against the Persian terrorist regime.
After all, Arab leaders know that passivity in the face of a nuclear Iran is not an option for Israel. This is because both the president of Iran (Mahmoud Ahmadinejad) and its spiritual leader (Ali Khamenei) have threatened to annihilate the Jewish nation. Based on Iran's past behavior, Israel has to take the threat seriously. In fact, because this threat is based on religious zeal, it becomes even more realistic. Thus, Israel will need to find a way to stop the terrorist regime from acquiring nuclear capability; and, at this point, there seems to be only one way—a military strike on its nuclear facilities. While many experts say this would only be a temporary fix, it is likely that the growing opposition movement in Iran would take advantage of the resulting chaos and overthrow the regime.
Once that occurs, look for it to start a domino effect in which Middle East terrorist entities, currently supported by Iran, to come down. That will open up the region to align with Israel to prepare for the Bible's predicted end-times treaty with Israel, a seven-year treaty, starting the clock ticking on the final seven years leading to the return of Christ. (For much more on this treaty, see Apocalypse 2012: The Ticking of the End Time Clock—What Does the Bible Say?)
Since Bible prophecy suggests that five of the ten co-signers with Israel on this treaty will be Arab leaders, it appears that Iran is contributing toward this future Arab alignment with Israel. As mentioned above, Arab leaders are looking for a hero to deliver them from Iran's impending domination. It appears Israel will surface as that hero. In fact, there already appears to have been some discussion between some Arab leadership and Israeli leadership on the Iranian issue. For example, we know that Saudi Arabia has offered Israel its air space to utilize for an attack on Iran.
As God has used unbelieving leaders of nations in the past to accomplish His plan (such as Nebuchadnezzar and Cyrus), it appears He is doing so once again. In the past, God has particularly focused on those leaders who have had a direct effect on Israel, and it seems He is now focused on Iran. By this focus, God has provided for Iran to have a central role in preparing the environment for the end-times scenario, which will be part of fulfilling His kingdom plan.
Written by John Claeys
We begin with the goal of Iran's leadership, which is to bring the world under Islamic rule. According to the belief of Iranian Spiritual Leader Ali Khamenei and President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, this will be accomplished following the introduction of the Twelfth Imam (the Mahdi, the Muslim messiah) onto the world's stage.
To achieve its long-term goal, the Iranian leadership believes it must eliminate Israel and dominate the Middle East. Then it must go after Europe and the Great Satan, the United States.
The Iranian regime believes that to accomplish each of these short-term goals toward its ultimate ambition, it needs nuclear weapons. So where is the regime on that quest?
Based on Western intelligence, Iran already has enough enriched uranium for four nuclear warheads. Though this is low-enriched uranium, the most difficult part of the nuclear process has been accomplished to get uranium to this point. Though Iran has had challenges with its nuclear program, still, it is able produce enough low-enriched uranium for a nuclear warhead per year.
As British Foreign Secretary William Hague stated recently, Iran will be on a critical path toward nukes this coming year. Hague reminded us that the terrorist regime has already achieved the development of enriched uranium to 20%, a key level in the enrichment process. In addition, the Iranian regime has moved centrifuges to an underground facility, indicating it is on the homestretch for nuclear development. Thus, according to the Institute for Science and International Security (ISIS), Iran is right on target in its goal of producing weapon-grade uranium for nukes.
Until it is nuclear-equipped, Iran is seeking to make headway toward global domination any way it can. This includes seeking smaller victories over the U.S. in order to demonstrate its superiority over the Great Satan. That may be at least part of the reason why Iran has been infiltrating Latin America, the backyard of the U.S. The Iranian presence has been moving northward toward the U.S.-Mexican border, as evidence clearly shows Hizbullah's presence in Mexico and its ties to Mexican drug trafficking organizations along the border.
This is an aggressive posture which aligns with the recently discovered hostile plan to assassinate a Saudi ambassador in Washington D.C. It appears that the Ahmadinejad regime is boldly going after America. As a matter of fact, it has already begun by attacking U.S. troops in Iraq.
President Obama's announced withdrawal of U.S. troops in Iraq opens the door to 30,000 Iranian fighters who are already positioned in that country. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton proclaimed that the U.S. would stand with Iraq and its neighbors, yet allies are skeptical. After all, a complete troop pullout will leave Iraq open to more than 30,000 armed members of the Revolutionary Guard terrorist arm, the al-Qods Brigades, which are deployed there. In addition, the U.S. administration has done nothing in response to the Iranian attempted murder on U.S. soil of a Saudi ambassador; in fact, the U.S. has done virtually nothing in response to Iran's threats.
Because America will not take a hard line against the terrorist regime, there is no real incentive for the Iranian leadership to halt its quest for nuclear weapons. Not only does the evidence suggest that the White House is not willing to do what is necessary to stop Iran from acquiring nuclear capability, past comments by the Secretary of State suggests that the current administration is willing to accept a nuclear Iran.
This raises doubts in the minds of onlookers that the U.S. is serious about confronting Iran. As a nervous Middle East looks for help against Iran, it will likely not look to the U.S.; instead, Arab states now understand that Israel is its best hope against the Persian terrorist regime.
After all, Arab leaders know that passivity in the face of a nuclear Iran is not an option for Israel. This is because both the president of Iran (Mahmoud Ahmadinejad) and its spiritual leader (Ali Khamenei) have threatened to annihilate the Jewish nation. Based on Iran's past behavior, Israel has to take the threat seriously. In fact, because this threat is based on religious zeal, it becomes even more realistic. Thus, Israel will need to find a way to stop the terrorist regime from acquiring nuclear capability; and, at this point, there seems to be only one way—a military strike on its nuclear facilities. While many experts say this would only be a temporary fix, it is likely that the growing opposition movement in Iran would take advantage of the resulting chaos and overthrow the regime.
Once that occurs, look for it to start a domino effect in which Middle East terrorist entities, currently supported by Iran, to come down. That will open up the region to align with Israel to prepare for the Bible's predicted end-times treaty with Israel, a seven-year treaty, starting the clock ticking on the final seven years leading to the return of Christ. (For much more on this treaty, see Apocalypse 2012: The Ticking of the End Time Clock—What Does the Bible Say?)
Since Bible prophecy suggests that five of the ten co-signers with Israel on this treaty will be Arab leaders, it appears that Iran is contributing toward this future Arab alignment with Israel. As mentioned above, Arab leaders are looking for a hero to deliver them from Iran's impending domination. It appears Israel will surface as that hero. In fact, there already appears to have been some discussion between some Arab leadership and Israeli leadership on the Iranian issue. For example, we know that Saudi Arabia has offered Israel its air space to utilize for an attack on Iran.
As God has used unbelieving leaders of nations in the past to accomplish His plan (such as Nebuchadnezzar and Cyrus), it appears He is doing so once again. In the past, God has particularly focused on those leaders who have had a direct effect on Israel, and it seems He is now focused on Iran. By this focus, God has provided for Iran to have a central role in preparing the environment for the end-times scenario, which will be part of fulfilling His kingdom plan.
Written by John Claeys
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