Iran

PROPHETIC SIGNIFICANCE:

Since the Islamic Revolution in 1979, Iran has been the champion of the Shi'ite branch of Islam. Now their leadership harbors a deep hatred for the United States, whom they call "The Great Satan," and Israel, "The Little Satan."

Even though they have immense supplies of oil, they have claimed to need nuclear power as well. It is now admitted by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the United Nation's nuclear watchdog, that their goal is the development of nuclear weapons. At the beginning of 2012 experts believe that it will take only a year or less for them to become a deadly threat to Israel, the Middle East, and United States.

Iran figures prominently in Bible prophecy because they are the direct descendants of the Persians, who are mentioned in Ezekiel 38 as key allies of Magog, a powerful nation in the North that many prophecy scholars have tentatively identified as Russia. Together with other nations, these allies will engage Israel in a future war against Israel. See The War of Gog and Magog.

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Excerpt from Connecting the Dots: A Handbook of Bible Prophecy





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Current Events

Prophetic Significance of Iran

See also:
War of Gog and Magog
Middle East Conflict
The New Cold War
Russia

Notice: Sources often remove their news links after a period of time. Some of them move older stories to a subscription-only section. Even if the story is no longer on line, our summary will still be available on this page.

Names translated from other languages may have different spelling, depending on the source.


See more recent articles: After December 31, 2014


Iran holds 'largest military exercise in history', in bid to send 'message'

Dec. 27, 2014 - Iran is reportedly conducting a massive show of force involving ground forces, warships and submarines. This is said to be their "largest military exercise in history."
General Hashma Allah Malka said it was an "Important message of peace to our friendly neighbors, but also a show of force regarding our defense abilities which sends a message to our enemies."
Their activities will last for several days and will be held from the Strait of Hormuz in the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Aden and even parts of the Indian Ocean.
Source: YNet News
Iran's army tests suicide drone in drills - YNet News

Prophetic Significance of Iran




Iran Nuclear Talks Continue Without A Clear Resolution In Sight

Dec, 16, 2014 - After failing to reach agreement about Iran's nuclear program on Nov. 24th, representatives of six world powers met again in Geneva to start an extended effort for seven more months to solve the issue.
They are aimed at resolving a 12-year stand-off over Iran's disputed nuclear aspirations that has wrought heavy economic sanctions on the Islamic Republic and fears of a new Middle East war unless the dispute can be settled diplomatically soon.
Source: Business Insider

Iran attacks Islamic State targets in Iraq

Dec. 2, 2014 - Video footage shows Iran jets bombing IS ground targets to help Iraqi forces take back the Kurdish towns Sa’adiya and Jawlala on Nov. 25.
The joint operation between Iraqi military and Kurdish peshmerga forces to re-take the towns near the Iranian border was Iraq’s largest offensive against the terrorist group since June.
Source: Times of Israel

Iran nuclear talks deadline extended to end of June

Nov. 24, 2014 -
The deadline for Iran nuclear deal has been extended to the end of June after talks in Vienna failed to reach a comprehensive agreement, diplomats say.
UK Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond said it was "not possible to get an agreement by the [original] deadline". The new timetable calls for a political agreement by 1 March, with the full technical details confirmed by 1 July.
Source: BBC
REACTION:
Advocating continuing and toughening the economic sanctions, Netanyahu said, “I think that is road that has to be taken. But of course Israel is watching very carefully what is happening here, and Israel always, always, reserves the right to defend itself.”- Jerusalem Post
New whispers of an Israeli strike against Iran as nuclear deal deadline passes and Tehran continues to pursue nuclear program unimpeded. - Joel Rosenberg
Iranian Leader Tells Armed Forces to Stay Ready for Combat - Space Daily

Few signs of movement as deadline for Iran nuclear agreement nears

Nov. 23, 2014 -
The Wall Street Journal, citing a senior Western diplomat, reported late Saturday that reaching a final agreement by a Monday deadline was "impossible," though a deal setting out the key principles of a final agreement is not out of reach.
Source: Fox
Exclusive: Cornered but unbound by nuclear pact, Israel reconsiders military action against Iran - Prophecy Central's Israel Section

Iran's Diplomatic Path to the Bomb

November 16, 2014 - Joel Rosenberg mentions that the extended deadline for an agreement about Iran's nuclear program will arrive on Nov. 24, and it doesn't look like a deal will be made by then. He quotes from an article by By Reuel Marc Gerecht and Mark Dubowitz in the Wall Street Journal that lists four possible next steps the U.S. could take. It is unlikely that President Obama will do either of the last two, which could stop Iran from developing nuclear weapons. Here are the options:
1- Give up on diplomacy and pre-emptively strike Iran’s nuclear sites.
2- Give up on the current talks and default back to sanctions.
3- Impose even more biting sanctions.
4- Try to reinforce new sanctions with the credible show of military force [such as taking out Syria's President Assad] to intimidate the Iranian regime.
Source: Flashtraffic
Update 11/20/14 - Kerry meets key mediator as signs point to nuke talks extension - Times of Israel
Update: Nov. 18, 2014 - Pessimism pervades Iran nuclear deal talks - BBC

Iran nuclear crisis: Oman hosts talks as deadline nears

Nov. 10, 2014 - A year has passed since Iran and six world powers - the US, Britain, France, Germany, Russia and China - made a temporary agreement that eased Western sanctions if Iran would limit their nuclear program. A new deadline for completion of talks was set for this coming Nov. 24th. So far no further agreement has been reached.
US Secretary of State John Kerry is meeting his Iranian counterpart Mohammad Javad Zarif and EU negotiator Catherine Ashton.
President Obama said "big gaps" remain in negotiations concerning uranium enrichment and sanctions relief.
Source: BBC
US, Iran negotiators ‘talk late into the night’ on nuke deal - Times of Israel
Obama Warns Iran Nuclear Deal May Not be Reached - NewsMax
‘US, Iran held secret talks to renew ties if nuke deal reached’ - Times of Israel
Iran Deal: The New 'Peace in Our Time' - Why an Iran agreement will be worth less than the paper on which it is printed. - Joel B. Pollak - Breitbart

Iran's Khamenei proposes plan for Israel's elimination - on Twitter

Nov. 10, 2014 - Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran's Supreme Leader has posted a nine-point plan to eliminate Israel.
In the post, Khamenei accuses Israel of seeking to realize its goals "by means of infanticide, homicide, violence & iron fist," and says that the only way to stop the "Israeli crimes" is to eliminate the "fake Zionist regime."
Khamenei says he believes his plan will be accepted by the international arena.
Source: Haaretz
Khamenei's plan - Twitter
Editor's note: I commented to this vile post: "If the world had rid itself of Hitler when he talked like this we would not have had WWII." a name="141109">

Lindsey Graham: New Senate will push congressional overview of Iran deal

Nov. 9, 2014 - Senator Lindsey Graham says that the new Republican majority on the Senate will advance a bill to subject a nuclear deal with Iran to a congressional review.
The Obama administration has until now, with the outgoing Democratic Senate majority, managed to minimize Congress’ influence on the talks underway between Iran and the major world powers.
Source: JTA

John Bolton: Obama Caving In to Iran's Nuclear Demands

Nov. 7, 2014 - Former U.N. Ambassador John Bolton has expressed concern that the Obama administration will give in to Iran's plans to acquire nuclear weapons.
"Leaving any uranium enrichment capability in the hands of this regime in Tehran is an invitation for them to break out into nuclear weapons capability," Bolton said Thursday on "The Kelly Files." "There is no negotiation with a regime like this."
Source: NewsMax
Report: Obama wrote Khamenei secret letter - An accord with Iran after decades of estrangement with the United States would be a big boost to Obama’s international legacy - YNet News
Report: Netanyahu Believes Obama Admin Insults Were Bid to Weaken Israel’s Hand on Iran - Algemeiner

Trump: 'Never a greater enemy to Israel than Obama'

Nov. 2, 2014 - On the “Justice with Judge Jeanine” television program Donald Trump voiced strong disagreement with President Obama and his administration's “concessions” to Iran and its poor relations with Israel. Jeanine Pirro mentioned that Susan Rice, the U.N. ambassador walked out ahead of Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu’s speech to the General Assembly, and some administration official had referred to Netanyahu as “chicken**.” Trump made this forceful reply:
“Probably, maybe from the beginning, there has never been a greater enemy to Israel than Barack Obama. It’s incredible the way he treats them, the way he’s speaking to them. I think he treats our known enemies much better.”
Source: WND

Iran nuclear talks to go into high gear

Nov. 1, 2014 - Little more than three weeks remain to solve the nuclear crisis with Iran.
US Secretary of State John Kerry, his Iranian counterpart Mohammad Javad Zarif and outgoing EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton — will crisscross the globe ahead of the November 24 deadline seeking to narrow the gaps.
Source: The Times of Israel
Iran poised to choose poverty over nuclear disarmament - Washington Post
The Endgame for Iran Nuclear Talks - US News & World Report
Iran Blocks Inspections, Hobbling Nuclear Deal - Wall Street Journal
Israel Jabs Back After U.S. Official Calls Netanyahu a Coward - NY Times

See earlier Articles: before Nov. 1, 2014






















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Gog and Magog Links

The Magog Invasion - Chuck Missler
Magog Revisited - Missler
Ezekiel 38 - Bill Konig
The Center For Security Policy
Iranium - The movie - 2011 - Order or watch online free

Excerpts from

Connecting the Dots: A Handbook of Bible Prophecy

Pages 141-142
- The Aggressors of the War of Gog and Magog - Ezekiel 38:1-4

According to Ezekiel, an alliance of enemies will attack Israel in the End Times. The leader will be Gog of the land of Magog, who is the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal. He is assisted by Persia, Cush, Put, Gomer, Beth T ogarmah, and other nations. Most of these names are listed in the genealogies of Genesis 10. Gog is not listed in Genesis 10, but he is evidently the head of the land of Magog, who is mentioned as a son of Japheth, one of Noah's sons. It is known that Japheth traveled north from Mt. Ararat after the flood. Hesoid, a Greek writer of the 7th century BC, and contemporary of Ezekiel, identified Magog with the Scythians and southern Russia. Flavius Josephus, a 1st century Jewish historian said that Magogians were called "Scythians" by the Greeks. Philo, a 1st century Greek identified Magog with southern Russia.Commentators from the turn of this century and before have generally identified Gog and Magog with Russia even though, at the time, they could not explain why Russia would turn against God's people. They conjectured that perhaps the time would come when there would be animosity between Russia and Israel. Rosh ("head", "chief") sounds like Russia. Meshech sounds like Moscow or Mushkovi, the old name for Russia. Tubal sounds like Tobolsk.

- The Target: Israel - Ezekiel 38:2-12

This is the only time in history that this could be said of Israel, that they were brought back from many nations. It is true that they were brought back from Babylon and Persia in the Old Testament, but it is only since the Zionist movement, which began in the late 1800's, that Jewish people have returned from nations all over the world. They had been scattered abroad even in New Testament times. On the Day of Pentecost, for example, the various languages spoken by the Apostles, when the Holy Spirit came upon them, represented the many lands where they had settled. But they had not returned to stay. This really never happened until the amazing events that led to the rebirth of Israel in 1948. What thoughts would come into Russia's mind to make them want to attack Israel? A consideration of Russia's instability and the plans of some of their leaders for expansion throughout the Mediterranean area is given below. Israel has always been a key land bridge between Russia's allies and is presently an enemy of some of those allies. Any number of scenarios in the always-volatile Middle East politics could lead to a Russian attack in the future.

- Russia's Allies - Ezekiel 38:5-6

Persia is now known as Iran, and there is an amazingly close relationship now between Russia and Iran. Cush is Ethiopia, Put is Libya, Gomer and Beth Togarmah may well be Turkey and/or other Islamic nations like those once part of the Soviet Union.

It is interesting that Mizraim, the forefather of Egypt is apparently missing from this lineup. This, of course, fits the current world scene, with Egypt being the first Arab nation to make peace with Israel.

- Israel's Allies - Ezekiel 38:13

Israel's allies appear to be few and feeble. Some of Saudi Arabia was populated by Sheba and Dedan. The merchants of Tarshish could be England and English colonies. In that case, The United States could even be included since we were once an English colony. These allies ask why Russia and its allies are coming, but do not appear to deter them.

- The Outcome - Ezekiel 38:22

The quick end of this future war will be with God's judgment. It could be God's personal power, raining literal fire and brimstone, as in the days of Sodom, or it could be God using nation against nation, as he often did in the Old Testament, to precipitate a nuclear exchange.

And with pestilence and with blood I shall enter into judgment with him; and I shall rain on him, and on his troops, and on the many peoples who are with him, a torrential rain, with hailstones, fire, and brimstone. - Ezekiel 38:22 (NIV)

The next chapter of Ezekiel continues to give details of this great conflict. Again, it is a scene of utter destruction.

"And I shall strike your bow from your left hand, and dash down your arrows from your right hand. 4 "You shall fall on the mountains of Israel, you and all your troops, and the peoples who are with you; I shall give you as food to every kind of predatory bird and beast of the field. 5 "You will fall on the open field; for it is I who have spoken," declares the Lord GOD. 6 "And I shall send fire upon Magog and those who inhabit the coastlands in safety; and they will know that I am the LORD." - Ezekiel 39:3-6 (NIV)

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