‘Hard-line judiciary head wins Iran presidency as turnout low’

Ebrahim Raisi (khamenei.ir)

The Iranians elected Ebrahim Raisi to be their president:

Hard-line judiciary head wins Iran presidency as turnout low

June 19, 2021

Iran’s hard-line judiciary chief won the country’s presidential election in a landslide victory Saturday, propelling the supreme leader’s protege into Tehran’s highest civilian position in a vote that appeared to see the lowest turnout in the Islamic Republic’s history.

Initial results showed Ebrahim Raisi won 17.8 million votes in the contest, dwarfing those of the race’s sole moderate candidate. However, Raisi dominated the election only after a panel under the watch of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei disqualified his strongest competition.

His candidacy, and the sense the election served more as a coronation for him, sparked widespread apathy among eligible voters in the Islamic Republic, which has held up turnout as a sign of support for the theocracy since its 1979 Islamic Revolution. Some, including former hard-line President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, called for a boycott. …

On Twitter, Rezaei praised Khamenei and the Iranian people for taking part in the vote.

“God willing, the decisive election of my esteemed brother, Ayatollah Dr. Seyyed Ebrahim Raisi, promises the establishment of a strong and popular government to solve the country’s problems,” Rezaei wrote.

The quick concessions, while not unusual in Iran’s previous elections, signaled what semiofficial news agencies inside Iran had been hinting at for hours: That the carefully controlled vote had been a blowout win for Raisi amid the boycott calls. https://apnews.com/article/middle-east-iran-judiciary-4d60554fd608a5dea2c76a303ec352d8

The German press reported the following:

19 June 2021

What do we know about Raisi?

Raisi, 60, has been the head of the nation’s judiciary since 2019 and belongs to the ultraconservative camp that most deeply distrusts the United States.

He is notorious for his involvement as a prosecutor in the execution of thousands of political prisoners in the late 1980s.

The EU and the US have imposed sanctions on Raisi for his role in the human rights violations that happened in Iran during the nationwide anti-government protests in 2019.

Rights group Amnesty International on Saturday renewed a call for Raisi to be investigated for his role in human rights violations in the country.

“We continue to call for Ebrahim Raisi to be investigated for his involvement in past and ongoing crimes under international law, including by states that exercise universal jurisdiction,” Amnesty Secretary-General Agnès Callamard said in a statement.

Raisi’s win would also give more power to Iranian hard-liners amid ongoing talks in Vienna to revive the 2015 nuclear deal struck by Iran and world powers. …

During the election campaign, Raisi vowed to keep up the fight on graft, construct four million new homes for low-income families, and build “a government of the people for a strong Iran.”

What could a Raisi presidency mean for Iran?

The election came at a critical juncture for Iran. The nation’s economy is struggling to cope with the harsh US sanctions imposed by the Trump administration, after Washington left the international nuclear deal. …

As president, Raisi would be confronted with the nation’s dire economic situation and foreign policy challenges.

But even though the president has significant influence to set direction on a wide range of issues, from economic policy to foreign affairs, ultimate power in Iran lies with the supreme leader, Khamenei.

Nevertheless, many observers see Raisi as a possible successor to Khamenei, who turns 82 next month, as supreme leader. https://www.dw.com/en/islamic-hard-liner-ebrahim-raisi-wins-irans-election/a-57962967

Wikipedia has the following information about Raisi:

Sayyid Ebrahim Raisol-Sadati (Persian: سید ابراهیم رئیس‌الساداتی‎; born 14 December 1960),^[7]^[8] commonly known as Ebrahim Raisi (Persian: ابراهیم رئیسی‎, pronunciation), is an Iranian conservative …

He began to study in Qom Seminary at the age of 15.^[4] Then he decided to educate in Navvab school for a short time. After that, he went to Ayatollah Sayyed Muhammad Mousavi Nezhad school and his studying was coincided with teaching to other students. In 1976, he went to Qom to continue his studying in Ayatollah Borujerdi school. He was the student of Seyyed Hossein Borujerdi, Morteza Motahhari, Abolghasem Khazali, Hossein Noori Hamedani, Ali Meshkini and Morteza Pasandideh.^[22]^[23] According to Alex Vatanka of the Middle East Institute, Raisi’s “exact religious qualification” is a “sore point”. “For a while” prior to investigation by the Iranian media, he “referred to himself” as “Ayatollah” on his personal website. However, according to Vatanka, the media “publicized his lack of formal religious education” and credentials, after which Raisi ceased claiming to hold the aforementioned rank. He now “refers to himself as hojat-ol-eslam“, a clerical position lower in status and privilege.^[24] …

In 2019 Saeid Golkar of Al Jazeera called Raisi “the most likely successor of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei” as Supreme Leader of Iran.^[60] In 2020 Dexter Filkins described him as “frequently mentioned” as a successor to Khamenei.^[61] …

Raisi is married to Jamileh Alamolhoda, daughter of Mashhad Friday Prayers Imam, Ahmad Alamolhoda. She is an associate professor at Tehran’s Shahid Beheshti University and is also president of the university’s Institute of Fundamental Studies of Science and Technology.^[73] The couple has two daughters.^[6] (Ebrahim Raisi. Wikipedia, accessed 06/19/21)

So, Raisi has considered himself to be the Ayatollah, the current top Ayatollah called him one, and the German press reports some believe he could be the successor to the current Ayatollah Khamenei.

What might Ebrahim Raisi do?

Well, as regular readers of this page are aware, the Bible tells of damage coming to Judah (the modern nation of Israel) from a power like Iran:

5 For it is a day of trouble and treading down and perplexity By the Lord God of hosts In the Valley of Vision — Breaking down the walls And of crying to the mountain. 6 Elam bore the quiver With chariots of men and horsemen, And Kir uncovered the shield. 7 It shall come to pass that your choicest valleys Shall be full of chariots,And the horsemen shall set themselves in array at the gate.8 He removed the protection of Judah. You looked in that day to the armor of the House of the Forest; 9 You also saw the damage to the city of David, That it was great; And you gathered together the waters of the lower pool. 10 You numbered the houses of Jerusalem, And the houses you broke down To fortify the wall. (Isaiah 22:51-9)

Elam looks to be a reference to at least some in Iran and the Bible ties Syrians to Kir in several places (cf. Amos 1:5, 9:7; 2 Kings 16:). Iran is Syria’s closest ally.

Could Ebrahim Raisi be one who would call for and/or support the coming “great damage” to Jerusalem from Iran and/or Syria?

Yes.

Particularly if he is frustrated enough with USA and other sanctions and not satisfied with the new nuclear talks.

Furthermore, please understand that Iranian presidential terms last four years and can be renewed once.

Hence, based on where we are in God’s 6,000/7,000 year plan (see Does God Have a 6,000/7,000 Year Plan? What Year Does the 6,000 Years End?), unless he were to die or leave office prior to the completion of two-presidential terms, Ebrahim Raisi looks to be one who will be involved in the fulfillment of Isaiah 22.

Isaiah 22 shows, Israel could very well be damaged by Iran before the the Great Tribulation begins.

Would it strike back?

Undoubtedly, yes.

Could it cause massive damage to Iran?

Yes.

In view of that, consider also the following prophecy:

34 The word of the Lord that came to Jeremiah the prophet against Elam, in the beginning of the reign of Zedekiah king of Judah, saying, 35 “Thus says the Lord of hosts:

‘Behold, I will break the bow of Elam,
The foremost of their might.
36 Against Elam I will bring the four winds
From the four quarters of heaven,
And scatter them toward all those winds;
There shall be no nations where the outcasts of Elam will not go.
37 For I will cause Elam to be dismayed before their enemies
And before those who seek their life.
I will bring disaster upon them,
My fierce anger,’ says the Lord;
‘And I will send the sword after them
Until I have consumed them.
38 I will set My throne in Elam,
And will destroy from there the king and the princes,’ says the Lord. (Jeremiah 49:34-38)

I have long believed that Iran is a threat that will one day be ‘neutralized,’ as I believe it will overplay its hand. The above prophecy, if it has application in this time, would tend to support that.

If he survives in office long enough, expect Ebrahim Raisi to be involved in events that will lead to the deal of Daniel 9:27.

Here is part of number 9 of my list of 21 items to prophetically watch in 2021:

Daniel 9:27 seems to be discussing some type of peace deal that the Europeans will either propose or at least one leader from Europe will endorse.

Why is this believed to be a type of ‘peace deal’?

There are several reasons, but notice some other scriptures that discuss this leader:

25 And through his policy also he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify himself in his heart, and by peace shall destroy many: he shall also stand up against the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken without hand. (Daniel 8:25, KJV).

23 And after the league is made with him he shall act deceitfully, for he shall come up and become strong with a small number of people. 24 He shall enter peaceably, even into the richest places of the province; and he shall do what his fathers have not done, nor his forefathers: he shall disperse among them the plunder, spoil, and riches; and he shall devise his plans against the strongholds, but only for a time. (Daniel 11:23-24, NKJV)

So this leader gives people the impression that there will be “peace” and is involved in some type of deal. This is the same leader that confirms the covenant in Daniel 9:27. The term is translated as “peace” in Daniel 8:25 is from the Hebrew term shalvah and essentially means security. In other words, this leader will destroy “many” who are under the impression that they are secure because of some type of security and/or trade arrangement. Such arrangements are now commonly referred to as peace deals or treaties.

US President Trump, leaders in the Middle East, and leaders in Europe have all discussed various peace deals. Essentially, they tend to be advocating one similar to the deal in Daniel 9:27.

The President of Palestine, in December 2017 stated, “The United States has chosen to lose its qualification as a mediator … We will no longer accept that it has a role in the political process from now.” (see Palestine’s Abbas wants UN not USA, Turkey’s Erdogan says recognize Palestinian Jerusalem). He made a similar statement a few days earlier after US President Donald Trump announced the official recogniton of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital by the USA. Europe also denounced Donald Trump’s decision, which would tend to endear them to the Palestinians (see Donald Trump announces plan to relocate US Israeli embassy to Jerusalem against torrent of world opinion).

This essentially means that Europe will be involved, and may take the lead, on this deal. So, this is something to look out for as that is consistent with biblical prophecy.

What appears most likely at this stage is the the Biden-Harris Administration will try to work with the Palestinians and Europeans to come up with something they will find acceptable and then attempt to pressure Israel to take it.

Though it may take a regional war, with the prophesied destruction coming to Jerusalem (cf. Isaiah 22:6-8) for that to happen.

If Iran is less than pleased with the Biden-Harris Administration, perhaps that could come as early as 2021–we will have to wait and see.

Once the deal is confirmed for one prophetic week (which could happen some time AFTER a deal is made) by the “prince,” the seven-year countdown for the return of Jesus occurs.

But since the deal is broken in the middle of it, by the King of the North, who was once the “prince” of Daniel 9:26-27, the countdown for the Great Tribulation (Matthew 24:21) will begin. That 3 1/2 period of the Great Tribulation and the Day of the Lord is the same length of time some have calculated associated with the handwriting on the wall that Daniel wrote of in the 5th chapter of his book.

Let me also state that it may take a major regional war for the ‘peace deal’ of Daniel 9:27 to be ratified.

Interestingly, the Jews have an old tradition that they will end up with some type of peace related to Iran:

Kessin, who holds has a Ph.D. in psychology from Fordham University and is a noted lecturer on Jewish philosophy in the U.S., Canada, South Africa and Israel, also sees significance in the recent U.S. deal with Iran over nuclear weapons.

There is an 800-year-old rabbinic commentary known as Yalkut Shimoni, which he translates: “Paras (Persia-Iran) will be the dread of humanity. The world’s leaders will be frustrated in their futile efforts to save what they can, but to no avail. The people of Israel will also be petrified by the impending danger. And HaShem (God) will say to us, ‘Why are you afraid? All of this I have done in order to bring you the awaited redemption. And this redemption will not be like the redemption from Egypt, which was followed by suffering. This redemption will be absolute, followed with peace.’” …

“We have now entered the countdown to the messiah, which is unbelievable,” Kessin said.(Rabbi: Blood moons mean ‘messianic advancement’. World News Daily, August 30, 2015. http://www.wnd.com/2015/08/rabbi-blood-moons-mean-messianic-advancement/#PvyBhDZJ5CBl3mwm.99)

So Jews, based on tradition, may believe that after conflict with Iran, Israel will have peace. Now a temporal peace deal, like the one related to Daniel 9:27 (see also The ‘Peace Deal’ of Daniel 9:27), could come after a regional war involving Iran, Israel, and possibly Syria and/or the USA. The existence of the Jewish tradition may incline the Jews to accept a timed peace deal which will NOT turn out well for the tiny nation of Israel (cf. Daniel 9:27; 11:31).

However, the Bible itself shows that this deal will be broken (Daniel 9:27) and the King of the North will invade Jerusalem (Daniel 11:31) and this will not turn out well for the tiny nation of Israel.

Iran, Syria, and Israel may one day be in a major regional war in the future. And the prophesied coming ‘peace deal’ will not bring real peace.

We are getting much closer to that time.

Ebrahim Raisi is one to watch.

Some items of possibly related interest may include:

Iran in Prophecy Is Iran in Bible prophecy? If so, what does the Bible teach? What names, other than Persia, may be used to describe Iran? There is also a YouTube video titled Iran In Prophecy.
The ‘Peace Deal’ of Daniel 9:27 This prophecy could give up to 3 1/2 years advance notice of the coming Great Tribulation. Will most ignore or misunderstand its fulfillment? Here is a link to a related sermon video Daniel 9:27 and the Start of the Great Tribulation.
How Will Middle East Peace be Brought About? Can humans bring peace to the Middle East? Here is a link to a related video: Middle East Peace? When?
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.
21 items to prophetically watch in 2021 Much is happening. Dr. Thiel points to 21 items to watch (cf. Mark 13:37) in this article. Here is a link to a related sermon video: 21 Items to Watch in 2021.
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? Does God have 7,000 year plan? What year may the six thousand years of human rule end? When will Jesus return? 2028 or or 2031 or 20xx? There is also a video titled 6000 Years: When will God’s Kingdom Come? Here is a link to the article in Spanish: ¿Tiene Dios un plan de 6,000 años?