ICG on Israel and Iran

Jerusalem

In his latest update last night, ICG’s Mark Armstrong wrote the following:

There are enough social, political and environmental controversies in play domestically to keep your head whirling as we watch our beloved United States devolve toward politically correct totalitarianism at the same time that the government is taking control of industry and finance.

Of even greater concern is the prospect of a nuclear Iran, and potentially, a nuclear Taliban. Washington is trying to diplomatically romance the Iranian leadership, and bring Syria into the fold. Traditional Arab “allies” Egypt and Saudi Arabia are less than enthusiastic. Israel appears poised to take action against Iran’s nuclear facilities, having, according to reports, already practiced dry runs. Meanwhile the U.S. administration is determined to impose its will for a Palestinian state on Israel, blaming the Iran’s push for nuclear weapons and the lack of Arab/Israeli peace on Israel.

Articles in the Jerusalem Post indicate that the U.S. administration is trying to get the Arabs, the Europeans and the UN to draw up an elaborate agreement that will include Israel withdrawing to pre-1967 borders and accepting millions of Palestinian refugees. According to a very enlightening op-ed column in today’s Jerusalem Post, Israel would effectively cease to be a Jewish nation under the plan, and would be unable to defend itself against foreign attack. But even that logic is meaningless to the current framers of U.S. policy. Consider the following quote, “As far as the Obama administration is concerned, Israel is the only obstacle to peace.”

Circumstances dictate that the status quo cannot drag on much longer. You are aware that the pope is in the middle of a Middle East tour, with plans to visit Israel during the days ahead. Public statements he made in Jordan claim that the Vatican is not a political power, but intends to use its “spiritual power” to promote Middle East peace. One can only wonder what that might entail at this stage of the game…

Prime Minister Netanyahu is scheduled to come to D.C. and meet with administration officials week after next. The preliminary meeting with Shimon Peres earlier this week did not go well, and Netanyahu is expected to get a chilly reception as well. Everything to do with the traditional U.S./Israel alliance is being revamped. Israel is being treated as if it is the ugly stepchild of the Middle East, and a liability under the new strategy of trying to reason with and befriend our mutual enemies. Relations with Israel are already so strained that the author of the above noted article doubts that much further damage can be done if an attack on Iran goes forward.

It is amazing to see so many pieces of the prophetic puzzle falling into place. But there are still some open gaps, namely, a cohesive coalition of power in Europe. We’ll have to watch intently to see if events in Pakistan, and the inevitable clash between Israel and Iran contribute to that eventuality.

There are two points from the above piece that I would like to comment upon.

The first, is that prophetically, Israel will remain a nation for some time, irrespective of the opinions of various writers or world leaders. But it certainly is likely to ultimately make a peace deal that will backfire against it (Daniel 9:26-27).

The second point is that while military action by Israel against Iran may occur, I do not believe that this is what will really lead to much improved cohesion among the Europeans.

The more I study Catholic literature and visit Europe (currently I am averaging two trips per year to Europe), the more convinced I have become that it is likely to be visions claiming to be Mary that will be a factor leading to significant European cohesion (see also Mary, the Mother of Jesus and the Apparitions ). Of course, anti-Muslim sentiments are expected to play a major role as well.

As Jesus said,

35 Watch therefore, for you do not know when the master of the house is coming–in the evening, at midnight, at the crowing of the rooster, or in the morning– 36 lest, coming suddenly, he find you sleeping. 37 And what I say to you, I say to all: Watch! (Mark 13:35-37)

And the goings on in Israel and the Middle East are certainly areas that He was referring to (cf. Mark 13:14). So, we should all watch them.

Although Iran is not the final King of the South it is likely to take actions that will help lead to the rising up of that coming Islamic power. The Bible also shows that the USA and Israel will not have too long to survive after that happens as the King of the South will make a deadly deal with the coming King of the North (Daniel 11:27; Psalm 83)–a deal to cut the USA, Israel, and their Anglo-allies off from being a nation (Psalm 83:3-4).

Prophetic events continue to line up.

Some articles of possibly related interest may include:

Mary, the Mother of Jesus and the Apparitions Do you know much about Mary? Are the apparitions real? What might they mean? Are Protestants moving towards Mary? How might Mary view them?
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, British, Scottish, Welsh, Australians, Anglo-Southern Africans, and New Zealanders descendants of Joseph? Where are the lost ten-tribes of Israel? Who are the lost tribes of Israel? Will God punish the U.S.A., Canada, United Kingdom, and other Anglo nations? Why might God allow them to be punished first? What will happen to the nation of Israel?
Who is the King of the North? Is there one? Do biblical and Roman Catholic prophecies point to the same leader? Should he be followed? Who will be the King of the North discussed in Daniel 11? Is a nuclear attack prophesied to happen to the English-speaking peoples of the United States, Great Britain, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand? When do the 1335 days, 1290 days, and 1260 days (the time, times, and half a time) of Daniel 12 begin? When does the Bible show that economic collapse will affect the United States?
Barack Obama, Prophecy, and the Destruction of the United States Some claim that Barack Obama is the prophesied “son of Kenya”, based up an early 20th century writing.
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.
Prophecies of Barack Obama? Are there biblical and non-biblical prophecies about Barack Obama. Did Nostradamus predict Barack Obama dealing with the Antichrist? This is the longest and most detailed of the articles here related to prophecy and Barack Obama.
Does God Have a 6,000 Year Plan? What Year Does the 6,000 Years End? Was a 6000 year time allowed for humans to rule followed by a literal thousand year reign of Christ on Earth taught by the early Christians? When does the six thousand years of human rule end?
Can the Great Tribulation Begin in 2009, 2010, or 2011? Can the Great Tribulation begin today? When is the earliest that the Great Tribulation can begin? What is the Day of the Lord?