US Defense Secretary Says US Force May Be Used Against Iranian Nuclear Program

Hiroshima After the Atomic Bomb Was Detonated

The US Defense Secretary has publicly stated that the USA is willing to use its military against Iranian nuclear development:

Panetta: US force an option against Iran nukes

August 1, 2012

(AP) ASHKELON, Israel – U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said Wednesday that Iran must either negotiate acceptable limits on its nuclear program or face the possibility of U.S. military action to stop it from getting the bomb.

As regular readers of the COGwriter news page are aware, I have been warning for some time that a regional war involving Iran, Israel, the USA, and/or Syria seems likely. The statements from Leon Panetta are further confirmation of that. Israel is getting more and more concerned as the following headline today confirms: Israel to US: Time running out in Iran nuclear dispute.

The situation in the Middle East is tense. 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 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; though Ezekiel 30:1-9 possibly implicates Iran. Since Iran does not seem to be identified as the leader in those particular passages, and Iran has a loud voice in the Islamic world now, those facts have somewhat led me to conclude that Iran will somehow be “neutralized.” This neutralization may be from a regional war, internal war, economic pressure, and/or internal change.

“Neutralizing” Iran would allow most of the other Islamic states (like Saudi Arabia and Egypt) to continue to exist (Syria might not do well per Isaiah 17:1) and allow for the rising of the prophesied leader (revolution in Iran, is also another possibility, for its “neutralization”).

A reality is that Israel has stated that it cannot tolerate a nuclear Iran. And the USA comments today suggest that it knows that the USA itself may intervene and attack Iran. But if the USA and Israel do hit Iran, Iran would likely not fair well.

If there currently is a “King of the West,” it would currently seem to be the USA, and the Bible does not seem to show it existing into the Great Tribulation (cf. Daniel 11:39). It likely will be weakened in many ways. Thus, unlike the military interventions in places like Libya, do not be surprised if the USA itself is not to be unscathed if it engages Iran and/or Syria. This would not be the Great Tribulation per se, but part what Jesus called “the beginning of sorrows” (Matthew 24:4-8) that could help further weaken the USA and make it more vulnerable for being taken over.

As far as the USA and the coming King of the South, US Defense Secretary Panetta said something yesterday of interest:

Panetta: Egypt’s leaders promise full democracy

July 31, 2012

CAIRO (AP) – U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta left meetings with Egypt’s new leaders Tuesday with an optimistic outlook for the valuable American ally emerging from its Arab Spring revolution, saying that he believes new Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi and the country’s military chief both are committed to democratic rule…

Asked about Morsi’s affiliation with the Muslim Brotherhood and its reported ties to Islamic extremist groups like Hamas, Panetta said that after talking to Morsi at the presidential palace he believes Morsi “is his own man.”

As far as being his “own man,” Dr. Morsi had responsibilities for the website of the Muslim Brotherhood for years. Notice something from it (and this quote was there when Dr. Morsi had responsibilities for this website):

What is the Muslim Brotherhood?
The world’s largest and most influential Islamist movement. Founded in Egypt in 1928, the group was originally focused on ridding the country of corrupting secular influences brought by British colonial rule. Over the years, it established branches and affiliates in many countries to promote traditional Sunni Islamic morals, social justice, and the eradication of poverty and corruption. “The Islamic nation,” its charter states, “must be fully prepared to fight the tyrants and the enemies of Allah as a prelude to establishing an Islamic state”—ideally a re-established caliphate, stretching from Spain across the Middle East and Central Asia to Indonesia, to be governed according to Islamic sharia law. http://www.ikhwanweb.com/article.php?id=28019 viewed 07/20/12

While it will not end up with Spain if I understand certain aspects of Bible prophecy correctly, the confederation of the final King of the South may go from around Western Sahara and/or Mauritania to Oman (with possible involvement and/or coordination with Afghanistan, Iran, Pakistan and/or Indonesia).

The Muslim Brotherhood is committed to a pan-Islamic confederation and so historically has been Dr. Morsi. Dr. Morsi was chosen by the Muslim Brotherhood to run for the presidency of Egypt. For Leon Panetta to suggest that Dr. Morsi is “his own man,” and so is distant from the Muslim Brotherhood and its goals make no sense.

The support that the USA has given, and continues to give, to the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt and others in the Middle East/North Africa clearly shows that the USA does not care enough about Bible prophecy to realize that an Islamic empire is about to form (unless, of course, the Obama Administration wants it–as it keeps taking steps to encourage such a confederation. Which, three years ago, I warned that it would in my book 2012 and the Rise of the Secret Sect).

Egypt itself will support the King of the South and there is a good likelihood that that King may be from Egypt (cf. Daniel 11:40-43; Ezekiel 30:1-9).

And the USA, especially if it helps defeat Iran, continues to take steps that are encouraging the rise of the final King of the South. The comments the past day or so by the US Defense Secretary confirms that the USA is facilitating that rise.

Some articles (and books) of possibly related interest may include:

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? What does the Bible say?
The Arab 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?
Anglo – America in Prophecy & the Lost Tribes of Israel Are the Americans, Canadians, English, Scottish, Welsh, Australians, Anglo (non-Dutch) Southern Africans, and New Zealanders descendants of Joseph? Where are the lost ten-tribes of Israel? Who are the lost tribes of Israel? What will happen to Jerusalem and the Jews in Israel? Will God punish the U.S.A., Canada, United Kingdom, and other Anglo nations? Why might God allow them to be punished first?
Who is the King of the West? Why is there no End-Time King of the West in Bible Prophecy? Is the United States the King of the West?
When Will the Great Tribulation Begin? 2012, 2013, or 2014? Can the Great Tribulation begin today? What happens before the Great Tribulation in the “beginning of sorrows”? What is the seven-year deal? What happens in the Great Tribulation and the Day of the Lord? Is this the time of the Gentiles? When is the earliest that the Great Tribulation can begin? What is the Day of the Lord? Who are the 144,000?
End of Mayan Calendar 2012–Might 2012 Mean Something? Are there Mayan calendar predictions for change in 2012? Changes were centuries ago predicted by the Hopi Native Americans. Do Mayan/Hindu/Hopi/Buddhist/New Age/Nostradamus prophecies have any value here? Why might Satan have inspired this date? Does the Dresden codex show destruction of the earth by flood? Can the great tribulation start before 2012? How might Barack Obama be involved in 2012?
2012 and the Rise of the Secret Sect This is a link related to a book by Bob Thiel (COGwriter). This link also has YouTube videos. This book documents and explains hundreds of prophecies. And since it was published, world events have aligned with at least 23 predictions in the book and many more will to come to pass.