ALIYAH EXPLOSION! 70,000 Immigrate to Israel From 95 Countries in 2022

The most olim in more than two decades arrived in Israel this year, representing a dramatic increase from 2021.

Some 70,000 people from 95 different countries immigrated to Israel in 2022 with the assistance of the Jewish Agency for Israel, in cooperation with the Ministry of Aliyah and Integration.

It was the most olim in 23 years and a dramatic increase from 2021 when about 28,600 immigrants arrived in the country.

Even before the Israelites went into the Promised Land, Moses told them they would be cast out of the land and scattered across the earth but then regathered from all the nations where God has scattered them. Look also what God told Ezekiel, Jeremiah, and Isaiah. Can there be any doubt about Biblical prophecy, the inerrancy of God’s Word, and Jesus coming Millennial Kingdom.

Now it shall come to pass, when all these things come upon you . . . and you call them to mind among all the nations where the LORD your God drives you, and you return to the Lord your God. . . that the Lord your God will bring you back from captivity, and have compassion on you, and gather you again from all the nations where the LORD your God has scattered you. . . . Then the LORD your God will bring you to the land which your fathers possessed, and you shall possess it.” Deuteronomy 30:1-3

Thus says the Lord God: Behold, I will take the people of Israel from the nations among which they have gone, and will gather them from all around, and bring them to their own land. And I will make them one nation in the land, on the mountains of Israel. And one king shall be king over them all, and they shall be no longer two nations, and no longer divided into two kingdoms. They shall not defile themselves anymore with their idols and their detestable things, or with any of their transgressions. But I will save them from all the backslidings in which they have sinned and will cleanse them, and they shall be my people, and I will be their God.Ezekiel 37:21-23

Therefore, behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when it shall no longer be said, As the Lord lives who brought up the people of Israel out of the land of Egypt,’ but As the Lord lives who brought up the people of Israel out of the north country and out of all the countries where he had driven them.’ For I will bring them back to their own land that I gave to their fathers.Jeremiah 16:14-15, repeated again in Jeremiah 23:

In that day the Lord will extend his hand yet a second time to recover the remnant that remains of his people, from Assyria, from Egypt, from Pathros, from Cush, from Elam, from Shinar, from Hamath, and from the coastlands of the sea. He will raise a signal for the nations and will assemble the banished of Israel, and gather the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth.Isaiah 11:11-12

The regathering actually began before 1948 when Israel was miraculously re-established as a nation. Israel being reborn was the first major prophesied “end-times” sign.

Jewish Agency data for the period between Jan. 1 and Dec. 1, 2022, shows that 37,364 olim arrived from Russia; 14,680 from Ukraine; 3,500 from North America, with assistance from Nefesh B’Nefesh; 2,049 from France; 1,993 from Belarus; 1,498 from Ethiopia as part of Operation Tzur Israel; 985 from Argentina; 526 from Great Britain; 426 from South Africa; and 356 from Brazil. Final totals for 2022 will be available after the year concludes.

Approximately 27% (about 19,000) of this year’s olim are young people between the ages of 18 and 35, who will boost Israeli society and the economy, including professionals in fields where there is a labor shortage in Israel such as medicine, engineering and education. Around 24% (16,500) of the olim are ages 0-17; 22% are between 36 and 50 years old; 14% are aged 51-64; and 13% are 65 and over.

ISRAEL AND THE END TIMES

Worldview expert Jason Jimenez, host of the “Challenging Conversations Podcast,” explains what the Bible says about Israel, whether modern-day Israel is a fulfillment of prophecy — and more. Listen to Jimenez break down why he believes Christians today should care about Israel.

He also covers why we need to know about all the prophecies God provides on “end times” events, particularly concerning the last seven years.

Jesus tells us: “Do not be in dismay because your redemption draws nigh”. Jesus gives us HOPE: we know from end times prophecies that despite the prophesied persecution coming for Christians it is for a prescribed time. Scripture gives us a great deal of information on the last seven years before Jesus returns. It is a time of tribulation even great tribulation when God will refine His church before He takes it to heaven. At the trumpet blast and opening of the seventh seal the Rapture of the Saints takes place and John sees the Saints in heaven before the throne of God (Rev. 7:9-17) so we do not experience the wrath of God that is poured out an unrepentant world with the Trumpet (Rev. 8) and Bowl (Rev. 16) judgements. At the close of the Bowl judgements Jesus returns to earth with the resurrected Saints to defeat the Antichrist at the Battle of Armageddon and to establish His Millennial Kingdom.

WHY THIS HOSTILITY TOWARDS THE JEWS?

Could it be they are a people group, a nation, that God established for His purposes and that the Prince of this World, Satan, is intent on destroying them to prevent them from fulfilling His purposes?

What about the horrors of Auschwitz and the Jewish Holocaust? It is hard to comprehend how six million Jews could be exterminated and the German people and even the church were silent.

How many people do you know that understand the truth of the following Scripture?

For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.Ephesians 6:12

Children at an Iranian Islamic school in North London were taught to sing a song about massacring the Jews. What is behind this madness, this evil, except for demonic forces?

The UK’s Jewish Chronicle (JC) recently exposed an Iranian propaganda video shot about a mile from the New London synagogue in which school children sing a horrific song about killing Jews.

The British paper received access to a video filmed several months ago, showing dozens of children ages 8-15 in the Islamic Republic of Iran School (IRIS) in London, standing in rows and mouthing lyrics that pledge an “oath of loyalty as a warrior and servant” to the Mahdi. The Mahdi is a messianic figure in Islamic belief who is to appear at the end of times to rid the world of evil and injustice. “It is antisemitic to its core”, he said, “because it holds that before the Mahdi can return, Israel must be destroyed and all the world’s Jews put to death.”

In the video, boys, and girls aged eight to 15 pledge their allegiance to Ayatollah Khamenei, leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Over the course of the last several months, Khamenei’s regime has overseen the massacre of protesters demonstrating against the murder of Mahsa Amini, who was killed while in custody for not properly wearing the hijab.

According to Kasra Aarabi, who oversees the Iran Programme at the Tony Blair Institute, the doctrine summarized in the song “is antisemitic to its core” and is the foundation of Iran’s policy.

Israel is surrounded by hostile nations all intent on its elimination and yet their judgement is foretold.

Hasten and come, all you surrounding nations, and gather yourselves there. Bring down your warriors, O Lord. Let the nations stir themselves up and come up to the Valley of Jehoshaphat; for there I will sit to judge all the surrounding nations... The Lord roars from Zion, and utters his voice from Jerusalem, and the heavens and the earth quake. But the Lord is a refuge to his people,
a stronghold to the people of Israel.
” ” Joel 3:11-12,16

GOD PROMISED THAT ISRAEL WILL BE A BLESSING TO THE NATIONS

“Israel continues to be a world leader in drone technology…Israel serves as a model of a country that develops regulations and technologies to enable the management and control of the operation of multiple drones for various needs, and is rapidly approaching a continuous operating model that will enable low-altitude flights throughout the country,” said IIA CEO Dror Bin.

Nehemiah Shalem, acting director of the Civil Aviation Authority of Israel, said that the organization was committed to fully supporting all of the entities involved in the project.

“Additionally, the CAAI will promote the critical legislative actions required for developing a thriving aviation industry that serves as a world leader while never compromising on flight safety,” said Shalem

In the not-too-distant future, Jesus will be ruling and reigning all the nations from Jerusalem. The psalmist summarized and emphasized the eternality of God’s covenant promise to Israel regarding the land to which they returned in 1948 but at present, they only partially occupy a small portion of what God promised them.

“He is the LORD our God; his judgments are in all the earth. He remembers his covenant forever, the word that he commanded, for a thousand generations, the covenant that he made with Abraham, his sworn promise to Isaac, which he confirmed to Jacob as a statute, to Israel as an everlasting covenant, saying, “To you, I will give the land of Canaan as your portion for an inheritance.” Psalm 105:7-11

The Hebrews had to obey God’s voice and meet their obligations in order to obtain the blessings of the Mosaic Covenant (Exodus 19:5). This is not the case with the Promised Abrahamic Land Covenant.

The Bible reveals God will regather the Jews from all the Nations and on Jesus’ return, with Him ruling and reigning, Israel will realize her destiny as head of the Nations.

The promises that God made to Israel at the beginning through Moses will then be fulfilled:

“If you fully obey the Lord your God and carefully follow all his commands that I give you today, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations on earth. All these blessings will come on you and accompany you if you obey the Lord your God: You will be blessed in the city and blessed in the country. The fruit of your womb will be blessed, and the crops of your land and the young of your livestock – the calves of your herds and the lambs of your flocks. Your basket and your kneading trough will be blessed. You will be blessed when you come in and blessed when you go out. 

The Lord will grant that the enemies who rise up against you will be defeated before you. They will come at you from one direction but flee from you in seven. The Lord will send a blessing on your barns and on everything you put your hand to. The Lord your God will bless you in the land he is giving you. 

The Lord will establish you as his holy people, as he promised you on oath, if you keep the commands of the Lord your God and walk in obedience to him. Then all the peoples on earth will see that you are called by the name of the Lord, and they will fear you. The Lord will grant you abundant prosperity – in the fruit of your womb, the young of your livestock and the crops of your ground – in the land he swore to your ancestors to give you.

The Lord will open the heavens, the storehouse of his bounty, to send rain on your land in season and to bless all the work of your hands. You will lend to many nations but will borrow from none. The Lord will make you the head, not the tail. If you pay attention to the commands of the Lord your God that I give you this day and carefully follow them, you will always be at the top, never at the bottom. Do not turn aside from any of the commands I give you today, to the right or to the left, following other gods and serving them.” Deuteronomy 28:1-14

The regathering began in 1948 when Israel was miraculously re-established as a nation. This was the first major prophesied “end-times” sign. Many of the other “end times” signs are also occurring in our time. Jesus said that when you see them we will know His return is near.

“So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that the kingdom of God is near.” Luke 21:31

And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. Now when these things begin to take place, straighten up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.” Luke 21: 27

Only at the end of Jesus’ Millennial reign, will come “the end”, only then, the second resurrection followed by the White Throne judgement and then a new heaven and new earth where only the righteous dwell.

Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet.” 1 Corinthias 15:24-25

HOW FOOLISH ARE THE NATIONS THAT COME AGAINST ISRAEL

Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you, all the families of the earth shall be blessed.Genesis 12:3

We know that this prophecy has been fulfilled in large part because of Jesus, He was a Jew, hence all the families of the earth have the opportunity to be blessed and have eternal life in Him because of His incarnation and resurrection. However, the following three Scriptures prophecy future events that indicate Jesus has unfinished business with Israel that will be fulfilled at Jesus’ second coming.

The oracle of the word of the Lord concerning Israel: Thus declares the Lord, who stretched out the heavens and founded the earth and formed the spirit of man within him: “Behold, I am about to make Jerusalem a cup of staggering to all the surrounding peoples.Zechariah 12:1-2

And in that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people: all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces, though all the people of the earth be gathered together against it.Zechariah 12:3

On that day the Lord will protect the inhabitants of Jerusalem so that the feeblest among them on that day shall be like David, and the house of David shall be like God, like the angel of the Lord, going before them. And on that day I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem.Zechariah 12:8-9

Streaks of light are seen as Israel’s Iron Dome anti-missile system intercepts rockets launched from the Gaza Strip towards Israel, as seen from Ashkelon, Israel May 10, 2021.

However, we also know that until Jesus returns to earth to rescue Israel it will come under repeated attacks from Satan-controlled nations.

In the first half of 2022, Arab terrorists have committed over 3,700 terrorist attacks against Israelis, Sauveteurs sans Frontières (SSF) Judea and Samaria reported Sunday, July 31st, 2022. As a result of these attacks and violence by Arabs against Israelis, 21 Israelis were murdered, leaving behind 43 orphans, and 316 were injured.

Moreover, under the rule of the Antichrist, Jesus tells us that Jews will experience great tribulation and many will perish during those last three and half years before He returns with the resurrected Saints to destroy the Antichrist and the nations at the battle of Armageddon.

So when you see the abomination of desolation (Antichrist) spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand), then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains... For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be. And if those days had not been cut short, no human being would be saved. But for the sake of the elect, those days will be cut short.Matthew 24:15-16, 21-22

ISRAEL SEES ALL-TIME HIGH IN EXPORTS

Israeli exports increased to about $140 billion in 2021 and hit a record high, an increase of close to 20% compared to about $114.3 billion in 2020, according to estimates by the Foreign Trade Administration at the Ministry of Economy and Industry.

For the first time in Israel’s economic history, exports of services exceed exports of goods with a 51% to 49% ratio, while the exports of goods are also on the rise.

Despite pandemic, Israel sees all-time high in exports
Industrial container yard at Haifa Port

The leading sectors in the export of goods are automation and electronic equipment, products of the chemical and pharmaceutical industries, and optical and medical equipment.

Israel’s top exporting destinations are the U.S., China, Netherlands, Turkey, and Germany.

The two most significant trends that contributed to the change in the balance of power between goods and services are a significant increase in the high-tech industries in Israeli exports – exports of programming services and research and development services that are not start-ups, which grew by 25% and 15% respectively, and the significant increase in transportation services exports that jumped this year by 138% percent. Exports resulting from the sale of start-up companies also jumped by 257% and these trends led to the overall growth of about 30% in the export of services.

The majority of exports, 39%, are directed to European markets, 33% to American markets, and about 25% to Asian markets.

Ohad Cohen, Director of Foreign Trade Administration at the Ministry of Economy and Industry, stated Monday that “the year 2021 will break records in Israeli exports and its components. Whether we reach the $140 billion threshold or not, this is an all-time high in exports, which was slightly halted in 2020 due to the Corona pandemic.”

He noted that the exporting sector showed “an impressive recovery” in late 2020 and even more so in 2021, both in the export of goods and services.

This nation which God established for His purposes to be a blessing to the world is being a blessing to the world in the development of high-tech products and services but sadly it will not fulfill God’s purpose until its Messiah Jesus returns to establish His Millennial Kingdom. In fact, we are told in God’s Word only one-third will survive the coming reign of the Antichrist.

In the whole land, declares the Lord ‘two-thirds will be struck down and perish; yet one-third will be left in it. This third I will put into the fire; I will refine them like silver and test them like gold. They will call on my name and I will answer them; I will say, ‘They are my people, and they will say, ‘The Lord is our God.’” Zechariah 13:8-9

The prince-of-preachers Charles Spurgeon preached: “I think we do not attach sufficient importance to the restoration of the Jews. We do not think enough about it. But certainly, if there is anything promised in the Bible it is this. I imagine that you cannot read the Bible without seeing clearly that there is to be an actual restoration of the Children of Israel . . . For when the Jews are restored, the fullness of the Gentiles shall be gathered in; and as soon as they return, then Jesus will come upon Mount Zion with his ancients gloriously, and the halcyon days of the Millennium shall then dawn; we shall then know every man to be a brother and a friend; Christ shall rule with universal sway.”

ISRAEL IN THE MILLENNIUM

Jon Voight understands that Jeremiah, Ezekiel and many of the other O.T. prophets prophesied that God would restore Israel and that God’s people will once again produce wonderful wine, more so in the coming Millennial reign of Jesus Christ.

The following two Scriptures clearly outline the future of Israel with their Messiah, Jesus ruling and reigning over the nations of the world.

Thus says the Lord God: Behold, I will take the people of Israel from the nations among which they have gone, and will gather them from all around, and bring them to their own land. And I will make them one nation in the land, on the mountains of Israel. And one king shall be king over them all, and they shall be no longer two nations, and no longer divided into two kingdoms. They shall not defile themselves anymore with their idols and their detestable things, or with any of their transgressions. But I will save them from all the backslidings in which they have sinned and will cleanse them, and they shall be my people, and I will be their God.Ezekiel 37:21-23

At that time, declares the Lord, I will be the God of all the clans of Israel, and they shall be my people... Again you shall plant vineyards on the mountains of Samaria; the planters shall plant and shall enjoy the fruit. For there shall be a day when watchmen will call in the hill country of Ephraim: ‘Arise and let us go up to Zion, to the Lord our God.’ For thus says the Lord: “Sing aloud with gladness for Jacob, and raise shouts for the chief of the nations; proclaim, give praise, and say, O Lord, save your people, the remnant of Israel.’ Jeremiah 31:1, 5-7

Hear the word of the Lord, O nations, and declare it in the coastlands far away; say, ‘He who scattered Israel will gather him and will keep him as a shepherd keeps his flock.’ For the Lord has ransomed Jacob and has redeemed him from hands too strong for him. They shall come and sing aloud on the height of Zion, and they shall be radiant over the goodness of the Lord, over the grain, the wine, and the oil, and over the young of the flock and the herd; their life shall be like a watered garden, and they shall languish no more.Jeremiah 31:10-12

FORMER SOUTH AFRICAN CHIEF JUSTICE MUST APOLOGIZE FOR DEFENDING ISRAEL

Mogoeng had refused to apologize, saying South Africa’s judges should not be “censored, gagged or muzzled.”

Former South African chief justice given 10 days to apologize for defending Israel
Former South African Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng. (South African Judiciary)

By World Israel News Staff Jan 22, 2022

South Africa’s Judicial Conduct Appeals Committee issued a statement on Thursday giving former Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng 10 days to make an “unconditional apology for becoming involved in political controversy.”

“I’m under an obligation as a Christian to love Israel, to pray for [the] peace of Jerusalem, which actually means the peace of Israel, and I cannot, as I Christian, do anything other than love and pray for Israel, because I know, hatred for Israel by me and for my nation, can only attract unprecedented curses upon our nation,” Mogoeng stated in July 2020 during a webinar discussion with South African Chief Rabbi Warren Goldstein that was hosted by The Jerusalem Post.

“Did Israel take away our land or the land of Africa? Did Israel take our mineral wealth? We’ve got to move from a position of principle here,” he said.

The anti-Israel group Africa4Palestine, the South African branch of the BDS movement, filed a complaint over the chief justice’s comments, accusing him of breaching the judicial code of conduct.

Mogoeng, who served as chief justice until his retirement from the position in October 2021, refused to apologize, saying South Africa’s judges should not be “censored, gagged or muzzled.”

“I respect the law. I will not defy the law. But if it does come to the point where I am forced to do the abominable, or I am forced to reject God, then I would rather be without money, be without any position. I will never refuse to obey the Lord,” he asserted.

“If I get to the point where there is a judgment that says, ‘You must say you hate Israel and the Jews’, I would rather cease to be Chief Justice.

“If I get to the point where they say, ‘Mogoeng, you must say you hate the Palestinians and Palestine,’ I would rather cease to be Chief Justice than to do it…

“I will not apologize for anything. There is nothing to apologize for… I can’t apologize for loving. I can’t apologize for not harboring hatred and bitterness.”

Rejecting Myogoeng’s appeal on Thursday, the Committee said:

“Pursuant to this decision, the committee, by a majority, directed that Chief Justice Mogoeng should issue an unconditional apology for becoming involved in political controversy through his utterances at the online seminar (webinar) hosted by the Jerusalem Post on June 23, 2020. A copy of the apology must be released by Chief Justice Mogoeng to the Office of the Chief Justice and the media within 10 days of the decision.”

This tiny nation, Israel, which God established for His purposes some 4000 years ago and which He allowed to be utterly destroyed and renamed Palestine is prophesied to be the centre of world affairs until Jesus returns to this earth to rule and reign the nations. Their re-establishment as a nation in 1948 was a prophesied miracle. Even before Israel went into their Promised Land Moses told them their entire checkered history, including their being cast out of the land and dispersed throughout the nations but also the end of the story when God would regather them and their Messiah will rule the nations and they will be a people, “holy to the Lord your God”.

And if you faithfully obey the voice of the LORD your God, being careful to do all his commandments that I command you today, the LORD your God will set you high above all the nations of the earth.” Deuteronomy 28:1

And the Lord will make you the head and not the tail, and you shall only go up and not down if you obey the commandments of the LORD your God, which I command you today, being careful to do them,” Deuteronomy 28:13

“And the Lord has declared today that you are a people for his treasured possession, as He has promised you, and that you are to keep all his commandments, and that He will set you in praise and in fame and in honour high above all nations that He has made, and that you shall be a people holy to the Lord your God, as He promised. Deuteronomy 26:18-19

“And when all these things come upon you, the blessing and the curse, which I have set before you, and you call them to mind among all the nations where the Lord your God has driven you, and return to the Lord your God, you and your children, and obey his voice in all that I command you today, with all your heart and with all your soul, then the Lord your God will restore your fortunes and have mercy on you, and He will gather you again from all the peoples where the Lord your God has scattered you. Deuteronomy 30:1-3

And the Lord your God will bring you into the land that your fathers possessed, that you may possess it. And He will make you more prosperous and numerous than your fathers. And the Lord your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your offspring so that you will love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, that you may live.” Deuteronomy 30:5-6

The former South African Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng got it right he knows God.s plan for Israel and he will play his part in ruling and reigning with Jesus in the Millennium probably in the judiciary.

FACEBOOK REMOVES VIDEO ON JEWISH TIES TO JERUSALEM

“It is sad that simple historical truths are being labeled as ‘hate speech,” Eytan Meir, Im Tirtzu’s (Building the Zionist Dream) International Relations Coordinator, told United with Israel.

Jerusalem flag parade
Israelis march and dance with flags at the entrance of Jerusalem’s Old City, June 15, 2021

Facebook removed a video posted by the Im Tirtzu Zionist movement that traces the history of Jerusalem and the Holy Land from biblical times to the present, noting that the concept of a Palestinian nation only came about in recent years.

 We are living in a time where facts and truth are being sacrificed in the name of political correctness and wokeness. This is especially true regarding the Israeli-Arab conflict, and that is why videos like this are so critical.

“We will continue creating content that tells the truth about the conflict, regardless of what Facebook thinks,” Eytan Meir said. It clearly demonstrates that the Prince of this World, Satan controls Facebook.

Meir added that an English version of the video is in the works, which he hopes will be published “in the upcoming weeks.”

Im Tirzu chairman Matan Peleg said: “We invite the public to watch a video describing the rich and extensive history of the Jewish people and to judge for themselves whether the decision to remove the video was justified.”

The Bible reveals that this small nation that was miraculously reborn as a nation in 1948 exactly as prophesied will be centre stage of world events right up to the time Jesus returns to rescue it from total annihilation. The Antichrist and his false prophet send out demonic spirits to assemble kings from all over the world for the battle at that place in Hebrew called Armageddon.

And I saw, coming out of the mouth of the dragon and out of the mouth of the beast and out of the mouth of the false prophet, three unclean spirits like frogs. For they are demonic spirits, performing signs, who go abroad to the kings of the whole world, to assemble them for battle on the great day of God the Almighty... And they assembled them at the place that in Hebrew is called Armageddon.Revelation 16:13-16

WARS AND RUMOURS OF WARS IN THE END TIMES

And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are but the beginning of the birth pains.Matthew 24:6-8 and Mark 13:7

Top Israeli defense officials say the country is preparing for the possibility of an armed conflict with regional arch-rival Iran and its proxies.

“We will be prepared to execute operations that haven’t been seen in the past, with means that weren’t in our hands in the past, that will harm the heart of terror and its abilities,” said Defense Minister Benny Gantz. By Associated Press

Israeli army chief of staff Lt. Gen. Aviv Kohavi said Tuesday that the Israeli military was “speeding up the operational plans and readiness for dealing with Iran and the nuclear military threat.”

Lebanon border
Israel readying for War with Iran, Officials say

Israel considers Iran an existential threat and has warned that it would act with military force if needed to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons. Last month Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid said that “if a terror regime is going to acquire a nuclear weapon, we must act.”

Addressing lawmakers at a meeting of the Knesset’s Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, Kohavi said the military “continued to act against our enemies in covert operations and missions around the Middle East” during the past year.

His remarks came following a string of reported Israeli airstrikes in Syria. Israel has staged hundreds of strikes on Iran-linked military targets in neighboring Syria in the past decade but rarely acknowledges its operations. It has been said that Iran’s presence near its northern frontier is a red line and that it targets arms shipments bound for Iranian-backed Lebanese terror group Hezbollah and Iran-linked facilities in Syria.

Speaking during a visit to a defense industry factory in the northern city of Shlomi, near the Lebanese border, Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz said that Israel was “working all the time to prevent war — carrying out operations, conveying messages, preventing (a military) build-up.”

In the event of war, he said, “we will be prepared to execute operations that haven’t been seen in the past, with means that weren’t in our hands in the past, that will harm the heart of terror and its abilities.”

Iran Proxy and Sanctions Map Dec 2020
From Susa in Iran the ram would be charging northward to Lebanon and Iraq

What we see Iran doing militarily is an “end times” prophecy in the book of Daniel. Iran is the ram charging westward and northward and southward. The two horns represent the supreme leader Sayyid Ali Hosseini Khamenei and General Hossein Salami head of the country’s Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) together they control all political and military power in Iran.

I was in Susa the citadel, which is in the province of Elam (Iran). 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 them from his power. He did as he pleased and became great.Daniel 8:2-4

We need to watch for the next part of Daniel 8’s prophecy to be fulfilled. Sunni Turkey (Goat) will not tolerate Shia Iran (Ram) claiming leadership of the Muslim middle east. Turkey (previously controlled the powerful Ottoman Empire) considers itself the leader of the Muslim world. Daniel’s prophecy predicts Turkey defeating Iran in what is described as a savage encounter but then we are told Turkey’s bid to re-establish a neo-Ottoman Empire is short-lived. We are not told who comes against Turkey, possibly the UN or a coalition of western nations that do not want to see a revived Ottoman Empire. Russia for one would not want to see a revived Ottoman Empire challenge its dominance in the region. We are told that it is broken up into four nations/kingdoms and it is out of these that the Little Horn (Antichrist) emerges.

Turkey’s attempt to re-establish a neo-Ottoman Empire

The goat (Turkey) had a conspicuous horn between his eyes. He came toward the two-horned ram (Iran) I had seen standing beside the canal and rushed at him with savage fury. I saw him approaching the ram, and infuriated with him, he struck the ram, shattering his two horns, and the ram was not strong enough to stand against him... Then the male goat became very great, but when he became powerful, the large horn was shattered. Four conspicuous horns came up in its place, pointing toward the four winds of heaven.Daniel 8:6-8

It is only then that the Antichrist (little horn) arrives on the scene and is allowed to dominate the world for an allotted time, three and half years.

From one of them, a little horn emerged and grew extensively toward the south and the east and toward the beautiful land. It grew as high as the heavenly host, made some of the stars and some of the host fall to the earth, and trampled them. It made itself great, even up to the Prince of the host; it removed His daily sacrifice and overthrew the place of His sanctuary. Because of rebellion, a host, together with the daily sacrifice, will be given over. The horn will throw truth to the ground and will be successful in whatever it does.Daniel 8:9-12

Ezekiel 38 also links the Antichrist (Gog) to modern Turkey (and/or its immediately surrounding vicinity). Ezekiel singles out all Islamic nations in the Middle East and North Africa as comprising the vanguard of Gog’s invasion force during the Great Tribulation.