|
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.
Key Scriptures
Click on one of these
references to see
the passage.
Thanks to the services of:
|
And |
|
Current Events
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
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
|
Notice: Ads are not necessarily endorsed by Prophecy Central.
|
Check out Today's News
Return to Top
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
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)
Return to Top | Prophecy Central Home
Last Updated: 1/1/15
Copyright © 1996-2015 by Ron Graff. All rights reserved.
