WARS AND RUMOURS OF WARS

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Is the Middle East inching toward all-out war? The Biblical answer is yes, and the time is near.

Nothing is certain. Iran’s leadership has promised, publicly, loudly, and repeatedly, that it will strike Israel militarily. It says this is to avenge the killing of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh on July 31 in Tehran. This killing was carried out by Israel, although Jerusalem has not claimed responsibility for the event.

Haniyeh has been replaced as overall Hamas leader by Yahya Sinwar, the architect of the October 7 atrocity. A ceasefire may still be on the cards, but whenever Sinwar shows his face the Israelis will surely kill him.

A day before Haniyeh’s death, an Israeli strike killed Hezbollah’s military commander, Fuad Shukr, in Beirut. The Israelis were responding to a Hezbollah 50kg rocket that hit an Israeli Druze village and killed 12 young people. As a result of the death of its military commander, Hezbollah too has vowed, repeatedly and explicitly, a major strike on Israel.

So Iran and Hezbollah have now committed to military actions against Israel in the coming days.

The world has taken these threats seriously. The Albanese government advised Australians in Lebanon to leave now, while they can. Numbers of international airlines have stopped flights to Beirut and some to Israel. Others have decided to avoid Iranian air space.

Israel’s Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, says Israel is already at war with Iran.

Netanyahu sees Iran as a unique existential threat to Israel. He also sees it as having a much bigger significance in global politics. In his recent speech to the US Congress, Netanyahu said: “For Iran, Israel is first, America is next. So, when Israel fights Hamas, we’re fighting Iran. When we fight Hezbollah, we’re fighting Iran. And when we fight Iran, we’re fighting the most radical and murderous enemy of the United States.

Iran’s leadership seethes with visceral hatred of Israel. Even in Australia, the Iranian ambassador thought it good form to tweet out a statement that he hoped the “Zionist plague” would be “wiped from the map” by 2027.

Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, promised “harsh punishment” for Israel. Hossein Salami, the commander of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps, vowed a “severe response” to teach Israel a lesson.

Senior Iranian officials reportedly told Arab governments they no longer cared whether their forthcoming attack on Israel caused an all-out regional war. This may be a bluff, or at least stylised military signalling.

Hezbollah’s leader, Hassan Nasrallah, also told his own people his group would hit Israel harder than before. In a fiery speech in Beirut he declared: “We have not sought escalations until now, we have been fighting in support of Gaza but keeping in mind the Lebanese national interest. Every time one of our commanders was killed, our response was heightened but always measured.

“But the assassination of a top (Hezbollah) leader (in Beirut) must be treated differently. Our response is coming, God willing, from us and the axis of resistance – and it must be strong.”

The “axis of resistance” Nasrallah is talking about is Iran and its regional proxies, namely Hezbollah, the Houthis in Yemen, Shi’ite militias in Iraq and Syria, and Hamas as well as Palestinian Islamic Jihad in the Palestinian territories.

All except the Palestinian groups are Shi’ite. Iran has always aspired, mostly forlornly, to lead and inspire the entire Muslim world. Its leaders had close connections to the Sunni extremist Muslim Brotherhood. Although the Arab Middle East generally is divided into Sunni versus Shia, this hasn’t stopped Iran from supporting, supplying, and effectively leading Hamas and PIJ.

Iran is the ram of Daniel 8:4. “I saw the ram charging westward, northward and southward. No beast could stand before him, and there was no one who could rescue from his power.” With its proxies: Hezbollah (Lebanon), Hamas (Gaza), Palestinian Islamic Jihad (West Bank and Gaza), Houthi (Yemen), Al-Ashtar Brigades (Bahrain), Kata’ib Hezbollah (Iraq), Badr Organization (Iraq), Asa’ib Ahl al-Haq (Iraq), Fatemiyoun Brigade (Syria), Zainabiyoun Brigade (Syria), Quawt al-Ridha (Syria), Baqir Brigade (Syria) it is pushing westward, northward and southward.

Who is the goat of Daniel 8? The Hebrew word translated “Greece” is actually YAVAN. Yavan were an ancient people that occupied eastern Greece and western Turkey. The principle city within the region is Istanbul. The Angel is not referring to Greece but rather to the land once occupied by the Yavan people who lived in western Turkey! Hence, Turkey is the goat. Daniel instructs us that a great war is about to take place between Iran and Turkey, and Turkey will ultimately prevail. It will be a war between Shia Muslims and Sunni Muslims. Turkey will re-conquer Babylon (Iraq) and conquer Persia (Iran). This will create an empire that is part Lion, part Bear, and part Leopard (referring to Rev. 13). A revived Ottoman Empire.

Why does scripture highlight this particular war? It is highlighted because it launches the career of the Antichrist! Scripture reveals that a revived Ottoman Empire exists for a short time but it is broken up into four. We are not told by whom but it could be the United Nations. They would not like to see a revived Ottoman Empire. It is out of one of the four nations the Antichrist arises.

“Out of one of them came a little horn, which grew exceedingly great toward the south, toward the east, and toward the glorious land. It grew great, even to the host of heaven. And some of the host and some of the stars it threw down to the ground and trampled on them. It became great, even as great as the Prince of the host. And the regular burnt offering was taken away from him, and the place of his sanctuary was overthrown.“ Daniel 8:9-11

For Christians, the next major end-times sign is the Goat (Turkey/Sunni) v Ram (Iran/Shia) war. When this eventuates Christians can show non-believers the truth of God’s Word. Apocalyptic evangelism should be a powerful tool.

IRAN PUSHING WESTWARD, NORTHWARD, AND SOUTHWARD AS PROPHESIED

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On August 24, 2022, IRINN (Iran) aired a report about the first-ever multibranch UAV exercise held by the Islamic Republic of Iran Army. The exercise involved 150 drones from four of the Army’s branches, and the report showed footage from the Army’s UAV Base 313, which houses over 100 drones. It also described the operations of the Kaman-12 and Kaman-22 reconnaissance drones, monitoring stations located in the Anark area, and the Omid suicide drone, which it compared to the Israeli-made Harop drone used by Azerbaijan. General Hamid Vahedi, the Commander of the Army’s Air Force, said that the drones are equipped with missiles and bombs produced by Iran’s Ministry of Defense. The following day, Channel 1 (Iran) also aired a report about the exercise. This report showcased the following drones: the Ababil-4; the Arash; the long-range Bavar-5 drone, which has classified capabilities; and the vertical-take-off Homa drone. The drones were being launched from the deck of the Lavan battleship in the northern Indian Ocean. In addition, the report showed the Chamroush and Zhubin drones being launched from a Fateh-class submarine, and it showed Karrar bomber drones being prepared for launch. Moreover, it showcased Omid drones and the Mohajer drones, which carry Almas and Ghaem missiles.

As I have reported many times before: on the “end times” prophecy timeline, the next prophesied events to unfold are given in Daniel 8. The first is the Ram (Iran) with its terror proxies including Hezbollah in Lebanon, Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad in the Gaza Strip, Shi’ite militias in Syria and Iraq, and the Houthis in Yemen doing exactly what was prophesied with Iran pushing westward, northward, and southward.

“I (Daniel) saw the ram charging westward and northward and southward. No beast could stand before him, and there was no one who could rescue from his power. He did as he pleased and became great.” Daniel 8:4

Watch for what is next on the prophecy “end times” timeline. It is the Goat (Turkey) taking down the Ram (Iran).

If you want more information on Iran’s role in “end times” prophecy can I suggest Mark Davidson’s book shown on the left.

You can get an ebook or paperback on Amazon or direct from Mark. website: http://www.foursignposts.com

IRAN – THE RAM OF DANIEL 8

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Iran’s Revolutionary Guards and the elite Qods Force funds, trains and fights alongside a group of terror proxies that menace the Middle East, including the Houthis in Yemen, Hezbollah in Lebanon and Syria, Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad in Gaza and Badr Organisation in Iraq.

Iran Proxy and Sanctions Map Dec 2020

“And I (Daniel) saw in the vision; and when I saw, I was in Susa the citadel, which is in the province of Elam. And I saw in the vision, and I was at the Ulai canal. I raised my eyes and saw, and behold, a ram (Iran) standing on the bank of the canal. It had two horns, and both horns were high, but one was higher than the other, and the higher one came up last. I saw the ram charging westward and northward and southward No beast could stand before him, and there was no one who could rescue from his power. He did as he pleased and became great..” Daniel 8: 2-4

The prophecy in Daniel 8 is unfolding in our day as Iran’s proxies are “charging westward and northward and southward.

Between 1995 and 2020, four administrations – Clinton, Bush, Obama and Trump –sanctioned 10 Iranian proxy groups in five countries. They also sanctioned 86 leaders* from 13 groups supported by Tehran.

Between 2017 and 2020, the Trump administration designated six of these terrorist groups all tied to Iran. One of President Trump’s top foreign policy goals was to limit Tehran’s regional influence and support for militant groups across the Middle East. “From Lebanon to Iraq to Yemen, Iran funds, arms, and trains terrorists, militias, and other extremist groups that spread destruction and chaos across the region,” he said in May 2017. “For decades, Iran has fueled the fires of sectarian conflict and terror.” 

Nujaba
Harakat Hezbollah al Nujaba, an Iraqi militia trained, armed and advised by Iran’s Revolutionary Guards
State Department Iran Proxy Map 2020

Bible prophecy reveals that what comes next is Turkey, Sunni (Goat of Daniel 8) intent on reviving its past Ottoman Empire crushes Iran, Shia and for a period dominates the middle east.

“Then the goat (Turkey) became exceedingly great, but when he was strong, the great horn was broken, and instead of it there came up four conspicuous horns toward the four winds of heaven.” Daniel 8:8

As also revealed in this verse, Daniel next sees the revived Ottoman Empire is broken up into four by whom we can only speculate, perhaps the leader dies or the United Nations or even Russia are possible candidates.

“Out of one of them came a little horn, which grew exceedingly great toward the south, toward the east, and toward the glorious land… It grew great, even to the host of heaven.” Daniel 8:10-11

The above verse reveals that it is out of one of these four nations that the Antichrist will arise.

Daniel is given an interpretation of this vison of the goat and ram in Daniel 8:18-27 and is told to seal it up as it refers to last days events.

“Now while he was talking with me, I sank into a deep sleep with my face to the ground; but he touched me and made me stand upright. He said, “Behold, I am going to let you know what will occur at the final period of the indignation, for it pertains to the appointed time of the end.” Daniel 8:18-19

“The ram which you saw with the two horns represents the kings of Media and Persia. The shaggy goat represents the kingdom of Yavan, and the large horn that is between his eyes is the first king.” Daniel 8:20-21

Implications of the Consistent Futurist Interpretation

Step 1: Iranian Invasion of Middle East
Step 2: Turkish Response and Defeat of Iran
Step 3: Leader of Turkey Dies (one possible explanation for the break up)
Step 4: This New Turkey Breaks up into Four
Step 5: Out of One of these Emerges the Antichrist

DANIEL 8: RAM (IRAN) PUSHING WESTWARD AND SOUTHWARD

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Report from World Israel News WIN confirms Iran “pushing westward and southward exactly as prophesied in Daniel 8.

According to the London-based Arabic daily Asharq Al-Awsat, Israel struck two Iranian military sites this month in Iraq. The report, citing Western diplomatic sources, said Israeli stealth F-35 jets hit an Iranian rocket depot northeast of Baghdad on July 19, and on July 28, a base in Iraq that lies just 80 kilometres from the Iranian border in an airstrike. That base reportedly contained a shipment of Iranian ballistic missiles, as well as Iranian “advisers,” the report stated.

Iran’s apparent shift to Iraq comes after an intensive Iranian push in recent years to turn Syria into a missile, drone, and terrorist launchpad against Israel. That attempt ran into a brick wall, in the form of hundreds of Israeli airstrikes that largely prevented the rise of an Iranian war machine in Syria. Iran already established a forward division in Lebanon in the form of Hezbollah, and Israel has no intention of allowing Iran to replicate that success in Syria.

Iran appears to have responded to Israel’s intelligence superiority by re-positioning itself in Iraq. If the latest reports are true, Israel is signalling that it is prepared to use the same effective combination of intelligence and precision firepower to thwart Iranian threats as they form in Iraq, just like it did in Syria.

In addition, it seems that the shadow war between Tehran and Jerusalem in Syria is far from over. Last week, Israeli jets reportedly struck a target in southern Syria’s Tel al-Hara, apparently to stop Iranian-backed forces from seizing control of a strategically important hill that can be used to gather intelligence on Israel.

Reports also surfaced last week of a Hezbollah operative – a Syrian-Druze resident of the village of Khadr, near the Israeli border – being killed after his car exploded as it drove in south Syria.

Iran continues efforts to surround Israel with missiles and hostile forces

Fateh-110 ballistic missiles being fired as part of Iran’s “Great Prophet 7” military exercise

Israel’s “War Between Wars,” the low-profile campaign designed to stop Iran from setting up attack and weapons bases in Syria and beyond, seems to remain highly active. It is a direct response to Iran’s own intensive attempts to build up threats against Israel, including the attempt to flood Syria with missile factories, rocket launchers, drone bases, and terror cells.

Iran has failed to achieve many of its central goals in Syria, so the Iranian Quds Force, led by the notorious Qassem Soleimani, looks determined to set up some of the missile bases on Iraqi soil instead.

A new border crossing being built by Iran that links Syria to Iraq is set to open in the coming two months. The Meir Amit Intelligence and Terrorism Information Centre identified why this crossing is critical to Iran’s ambitions, noting that it is “vital for the land bridge Iran seeks to construct between its territory and the Mediterranean Sea. The route allows Iran to send forces, supplies, and weapons through Iraq to Syria and from there to Lebanon. It can be assumed that Iran is of the opinion that the land bridge will enable it to reduce its dependence on risky aerial and naval routes. The new crossing, when it opens, will enable larger numbers of vehicles to enter Syria and make it easier to preserve secrecy.”