Iran’s nuclear program crossed red line? Syria’s chemical weapons crossed red line? Karl zu Guttenberg: ‘Germany must have Israel’s back’

Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg (World Economic Forum)

An Israeli official has claimed that Iran’s nuclear program has crossed the proverbial ‘red line’:

Iran has crossed the nuclear red line set by Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, former Military Intelligence chief Maj.-Gen. (res.) Amos Yadlin announced on Tuesday…

Netanyahu has defined Israel’s red line regarding Iran as the possession of 250 kg. of uranium enriched to the 20 percent level, known as medium-enriched uranium…

According to an International Atomic Energy Agency report released in February, Tehran has not crossed that point, but has already amassed 167 kg. of uranium enriched to that level.

“By the summer, Iran will be a month or two away from a decision about the bomb,” Yadlin said at the INSS conference, adding that the decision whether to advance beyond that will be made after Iran’s presidential elections in June.

Once Iran amasses sufficient enriched uranium, “it will be very hard to stop,” Yadlin said. “If the US, Iran and Israel all stand behind their announcements, then we are on a collision course toward the end of the year.” http://www.jpost.com/Iranian-Threat/News/Yadlin-Iranian-nuclear-program-crossed-red-line-310791

Whether Amos Yadlin is correct that the ‘red line’ has already been crossed, it obviously appears to be closer. On the other hand, it is possible that Iran’s next presidential election will impact all of this.

There was another ‘red line’ that is claimed to have been crossed, and that involves Syria and chemical weapons:

JERUSALEM — Israel’s accusation that Syria used chemical weapons against rebels raises the prospect that Damascus crossed what President Obama has termed a “red line,” but appears unlikely to overcome deep resistance of the U.S. and its allies to military involvement in the country’s civil war.

Brig. Gen. Itai Brun, Israel’s top military intelligence analyst, said at a security conference in Tel Aviv on Tuesday that Syria used chemical weapons, probably a sarin-based nerve agent, in attacks March 19 near Aleppo and Damascus. He said the assessment was based on reports of victims foaming at the mouth and having constricted pupils.

The disclosure followed similar assessments last week by Britain and France, which asked the United Nations to investigate.

U.S. officials say they are evaluating the reports that the beleaguered Syrian government unleashed its stockpile of chemical weapons, by some estimates the third-largest in the world. Privately, U.S. officials say they remain unconvinced by the assessments of three close allies — even that of Israel, whose regional intelligence-gathering has long been crucial to the United States. http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/middleeast/la-fg-syria-chemical-weapons-20130424,0,6939646.story

I reported on the British and French claim earlier (Britain and France claim Syria has used chemical weapons, while Israel considers a military strike). The USA appears to wish to wait before is more directly involved militarily in Syria, but it recently doubled funding of what has been termed ‘nonlethal aid’ to the opposition there (US to double aid to Muslim Brotherhood dominated group in Syria; Qatar supporting Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt). Because of evidence from Israel, France, and Britain, the USA may decide it has no choice but to take much more direct military action.

A regional war involving Iran, Israel, the USA, and/or Syria is likely.

Since Iran, however, is NOT really south of Jerusalem (though it may support such a king per certain interpretations of the peoples listed in Ezekiel 30:1-9), it will not be the final King of the South of Bible prophecy (cf. Daniel 11:40-43). Because of that, I have tended to believe that Iran may somehow get “neutralized” before this final king fully rises up. A serious attack by the USA and/or Israel may neutralize Iran and much of its influence. It also may take a regional war for the seven-year confirmation of the deal in Daniel 9:27 to come about.

My reading and re-reading of Bible prophecy simply does not show that Iran will be a major player in Daniel 11:21-44 nor the deal of Psalm 83:4-8 (Arabs, Turks, and Europeans are); though Ezekiel 30:1-9 possibly implicates Iran as a supporter of an end-time confederation involving Egypt. Yet, the same passages strongly suggest that Syria will support the final King of the South, so I have long believed that the Assad regime will be replaced or at least changed.

Damascus the capital of Syria, is prophesied to be destroyed according to Isaiah 17:1 and this destruction could allow for the rising of the prophesied King of the South to rise up (revolution in Iran, is also another possibility, for its “neutralization”).

Leaders in the USA and Israel have suggested that they may intervene and attack Iran and Syria. But if the USA and Israel do hit one or more of them, Iran and/or Syria would likely not fare well, but that does not mean that the USA would not suffer.

The reality is that the cost to the USA and/or Israel for a regional war involving Iran and/or Syria will be higher than many in the USA or Israel believe. Between terrorist acts, sustained resistance, chemical weapons (Syria Reportedly Has Loaded Chemical Weapons into Bombs), biological weapons, EMP-type bombs (EMP attack can do more than knock-out electricity), and/or even disruptions of the internet (Iran Believed to be Behind Cyber-Attacks Against US Banks), Iran and/or Syria can inflict significant damage to their enemies. The possible cyber-attacks are just one more way Iran can cause consternation (it may be both on the receiving and sending end of that as well as EMP attacks).

Yet, the USA and the tiny of nation of Israel will not be eliminated by Iran and/or Syria–it will come later, by the King of the North (cf. Daniel 11:39).

The following is an article in the Wall Street Journal co-written by former German Defense Minister Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg:

Germany Must Have Israel’s Back

As Israel’s new government takes office, chances are that in 2013 the crisis over Iran’s nuclear program will finally come to a head. Tightened international sanctions have crippled Iran’s economy, but Tehran continues to power ahead with its uranium-enrichment efforts. Negotiations with the P5+1 group are being drawn out, buying the regime valuable time to build 3,000 next-generation centrifuges and to disperse them around the country in increasingly hardened sites.

Speaking to the European Parliament last month, Israeli President Shimon Peres called Iran “the greatest danger to peace in the world.” Days earlier, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned that Tehran is nearing the “red line,” and that sanctions must be “coupled with a clear and credible military threat” in case diplomacy and economic pressure fail.

Germany bears a special historical and moral responsibility to support Israel against an Iranian threat…There can be no doubt that Germany is Israel’s closest and most vital ally in Europe. The two countries enjoy exceptionally close defense and intelligence ties. Berlin provided significant funding to help Israel acquire Germany’s advanced “Dolphin” submarines, a critical boost to the Israeli Defense Forces’ deterrence capability…

Berlin should also start thinking about how to support Israel in the wake of potential air strikes on Iran. It is better to develop a plan now than to engage in hectic ad-hoc decision making once the crisis has erupted. Germany’s first priority should be to offer Israel civil and military assistance to defend against potential counterattacks…

The stakes are high. Germany cannot afford to be on the wrong side of history. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887323296504578396113845689862.html

Baron Guttenberg was embarrassed by a plagiarism scandal in 2011, then resigned and went on a self-imposed exile to the USA. However, he writes and lectures and is keeping himself in the media often enough so that he is not forgotten. He is one who, however, could possibly be the final Beast/King of the North of biblical prophecy or at least one who may be involved in his rise. And since that individual will apparently confirm some type of deal with Israel, and then betray it (Daniel 9:27; 11:31), speaking out as a friend of Israel at this point may help him have influence with Israel later.

There are more than a dozen New Testament admonitions to watch and be alert to the signs of the times in the last days (see Matthew 24:42-44; 25:13; Mark 13:33-37; Luke 21:34-36; Acts 20:31; 1 Thessalonians 5:6, 20).

The world is changing and the situations with Israel, Syria, Iran, Germany, and the USA should be watched.

Some links of possibly related interest may include:

Damascus and Syria in Prophecy Will Bashar Assad hold power as he has it? Does the Bible show that Damascus, the capital of Syria, will be destroyed? What will happen to Syria? Will the Syrians support the final King of the South that the Bible tells will rise up? Which scriptures discuss the rise and fall of an Arabic confederation? Does Islamic prophecy predict the destruction of Syria. This is a YouTube video.
Is There A Future King of the South? Some no longer believe there needs to be. Might Egypt, Islam, Iran, Arabs, or Ethiopia be involved? Might this King be called the Mahdi? What does the Bible say?
The Arab and Islamic World In the Bible, History, and Prophecy The Bible discusses the origins of the Arab world and discusses the Middle East in prophecy. What is ahead for the Middle East and those who follow Islam? What about the Imam Mahdi? What lies ahead for Turkey, Iran, and the other non-Arabic Muslims?
Is There an Islamic Antichrist? Is Joel Richardson correct that the final Antichrist will be Islamic and not European? Find out.
The Muslim Brotherhood and the Rise of the King of the South The Bible tells of the formation of a power of nations that are in the Middle East and North Africa that are part of the final “King of the South” (Daniel 11:40-43) The Muslim Brotherhood wishes to have an Islamic empire with basically the same nations. This YouTube video explains what to expect from such a confederation.
Barack Obama in Islamic Prophecy? There is actually a 17th century Shiite prophecy that some believe that Barack Obama will fulfill that will lead to a rising up of Islam.
Barack Obama, Prophecy, and the Destruction of the United States-Second Edition for Second Obama Term This is a 160 page book for people truly interested in prophecies related to Barack Obama and the United States, including learning about many that have already been fulfilled (which the book documents in detail) and those that will be fulfilled in the future. It also has a chapter about a Republican choice. This book is available to order at www.barackobamaprophecy.com. The physical book can also be purchased at Amazon from the following link: Barack Obama, Prophecy, and the Destruction of the United States: Is Barack Obama Fulfilling Biblical, Islamic Catholic, Kenyan, and other America-Related Prophecies? What About Republican Leaders? Second Edition for Second Obama Term.
Barack Obama, Prophecy, and the Destruction of the United States-Second Term-Amazon Kindle edition. This electronic version is available for only US$2.99. And you do not need an actual Kindle device to read it. Why? Amazon will allow you to download it to almost any device: Please click HERE to download one of Amazon s Free Reader Apps. After you go to for your free Kindle reader and then go to Barack Obama, Prophecy, and the Destruction of the United States-Second Term-Amazon Kindle edition.
Might German Baron Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg become the King of the North? Is the former German Defense Minister (who is also the former German Minister for Economics and Technology) one to watch? What do Catholic, Byzantine, and biblical prophecies suggest?
Can You Prove that the Beast to Come is European? The Book of Revelation tells of a beast power that will rise up. Some think that this must be Russia or could be Islamic, while others say that this power is European. The Book of Daniel tells of the rise of an end time King of the North that some think must be referring to a Russian leader, while others say that this power is European. How can you be sure? This YouTube video has all the scriptural proofs that you should need to prove that this power must be a European one.