Russia: An attack on Tehran is an attack on Moscow

In bible prophecy we are told of a military confederacy which will come against the nation of Israel in the "latter years" (Ezekiel 38:8), a reference to the end times leading up to Christ's visible, physical, bodily return to earth at the Battle of Armageddon.

The confederacy of which I'm speaking is believed by most to consist of the following nations:

• Magog - Most agree this is a reference to Russia.

• Meshech - Most associate this with modern day Turkey, ancient Anatolia, but some say it refers to the Moscow area.

• Tubal - Most associate this with modern day Turkey, ancient Anatolia.

• Persia - modern Iran

• Ethiopia

• Libya

• Gomer - eastern Europe or Turkey

• Togarmah - southeastern Europe or Turkey

To Bomb or Not to Bomb Iran

Itchy trigger fingers can cause wars. A pre-emptive conventional weapons bombing strike against Iran's known nuclear facilities could do more harm than good….or at least so say some.[i]

And indeed there is the real and frightening possibility that an Israeli or American attack might unite Iran's disaffected anti-Mullah 30-somethings into a furious show of patriotism and thus lock in the current mullah-cracy (aka the Islamic Republic of Iran) for another generation. Such an attack might also have a similar effect on the current Syrian regime; radicalize the Muslim world against the West; ignite Hezbollah on the Lebanese border; re-invigorate a flagging Hamas; endanger US troops in Iraq; spark revenge terror attacks; propel oil prices skyward; trigger a regional war; prompt Iran's closure of the Straits of Hormuz; and cause stock markets world-wide to plummet. And then again, it might not.

Russia, Syria, Iran & End-Times Prophecy

The Putin-led government signed a $550 million contract with Syria in December to provide 36 Yak-130 Mitten combat trainers to the Syrian government, which can serve as a heavily-armed ground attack and counterinsurgency aircraft. It is estimated that Russia has $5 billion in potential arms exports to Syria in the works, with this latest project aimed to help Syrian President Bashar al-Assad stay in power.

Thus, Russia is placing its bets on Assad's regime. However, regional experts do not see this as a good and wise bet. Why?

Is an Ancient Jewish Prophecy of the Coming of the Messiah Now Being Fulfilled?

Israel National News wonders if an ancient Jewish prophecy about the coming of the Messiah is being fulfilled. In an article published Saturday, the Jewish news site explained that Jews who are familiar with a compilation of Aggadic exegesis called Yalkut Shimoni noticed in recent weeks that current tension between Iran and Saudi Arabia matches a prophecy it contains regarding the year in which the Messiah is to appear.
The prophecy, going back at least 700 years—and possibly much farther—predicts that Saudi Arabia will be provoked by Iran, and Israel will be in distress, as Iran seeks to destroy the world. In fact, the prophecy states: "The king of Persia [Iran] goes back and destroys the entire world. And all the nations of the world are in panic and distress and they fall upon their faces and are seized with pains like those of a woman giving birth..."

Panetta to Israel: Don't Touch Iran

Defense Secretary Leon Panetta has given Israeli defense minister Ehud Barak a clear warning: don't attack Iran. Panetta pointed to a U.S. analysis that a strike on Iran would set back its nuclear program, which Iran says is only for peaceful purposes, by one or two years at most. It would also have implications for U.S. forces in the region.
He added that "thirdly, there are going to be economic consequences to that, that could impact not just on our economy but the world economy."
What to do, then, if a military strike would be both pointless and harmful?
"The United States feels strongly," Panetta says, "that the way to deal with [the problem] is to work with our allies, to work with the international community to develop the sanctions and the diplomatic efforts that would further isolate Iran."