Hezbollah actions and denials, the IDF, and some of what PCG has wrong
Hezbollah has published a video showing one of its reconnaissance drones flying over northern Israel, including the Haifa port. pic.twitter.com/7UxfpiX3Io
— Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian (@manniefabian) June 18, 2024
Lebanon-based Hezbollah published a video:
Hezbollah publishes video it says is from reconnaissance drone flying over Israel
June 18, 2024
The Hezbollah terror group has published a video it says is from one of its reconnaissance drones flying over northern Israel, including the Haifa port.
It is unclear when the footage was filmed, although in recent months Hezbollah has been increasingly launching drones, including explosive-laden ones, at northern Israel.
The IDF has not commented on the video. https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/hezbollah-publishes-video-it-says-is-from-reconnaissance-drone-flying-over-israel/
But Israel and its IDF are very concerned about Hezbollah:
Israel Says It’s On “Brink” Of Wider War With Hezbollah
June 17, 2024
There’s been obvious escalation for several weeks at the Israel-Lebanon border, as we’ve been documenting. But on Sunday Israel’s military issued one of the most dire alarms yet, saying it is on the brink of a full-scale war with Hezbollah.
“Hezbollah’s increasing aggression is bringing us to the brink of what could be a wider escalation,” the Israeli military’s chief spokesman, Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, warned. “We are committed to the diplomatic process, however Hezbollah’s aggression is bringing us closer to a critical point in the decision-making regarding our military activities in Lebanon.” …
The second reason for wanting war has to do with Israel’s strategic error – the decision to evacuate more than a 100000 civilians from our Northern border. They were evacuated under the false pretenses that Hizballah was about to invade and start a two-front war.
The IDF is now stuck. The civilians were told there was an impending invasion. How will they return home? How will the IDF fulfill its most basic duty in its own perception- defending Israeli civilians? The IDF can recommend negotiations with Lebanon. Not really.
The IDF does not believe in negotiations. It assumes Israel will, ultimately, have to go to war against Lebanon (remember, they all want to destroy us). The IDF can deploy more troops at the border to calm the civilians down. That is seen as expensive and impractical.
War is the only “option” on the table. It is “inevitable” (to be clear, I think Israel will not start a war). It is the only “resolution”. The third reason the IDF wants war is because the Israeli political system is beginning to break down across the board. https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/israels-military-says-its-brink-wider-war-hezbollah
June 17, 2024
Intensifying aggression by Iran-backed Hezbollah on Israel’s northern border is driving the Middle East towards a wider escalation that could have catastrophic consequences for Lebanon and the region, Israel Defense Forces Spokesman Brig. Gen. Daniel Hagari said on Sunday.
“Hezbollah is jeopardizing the future of Lebanon so that it can be a shield for Hamas,” Hagari said in remarks to the foreign press. “The one that murdered the elderly, raped women, burned children and kidnapped Jews, Muslims and Christians during their massacre on October 7th.” …
On Thursday, Hezbollah claimed it launched some 150 rockets and 30 drones towards Israel in its “largest and most comprehensive attack” since the start of the war. Two people sustained light wounds in the attacks, which caused widespread destruction in northern towns.
The day prior, as Israeli families celebrated the festival of Shavuot (the “Feast of Weeks”), Hezbollah had launched more than 200 rockets across the border with Israel in one of the heaviest attacks in recent months.
“Lebanon and Hezbollah, under the guidance of Iran, bear full responsibility for the deterioration of the security situation in the north,” Israeli government spokesperson David Mencer said on Thursday.
“Whether through diplomatic efforts or otherwise—Israel will restore security on our northern border,” added the spokesperson.
The United States is very concerned about the situation on the Israel-Lebanon border escalating further into full-out war, a senior Biden administration official told the Reuters press agency on Thursday. https://israel365news.com/391905/idf-hezbollah-jeopardizing-future-of-lebanon/
Hezbollah claimed this month, however, that this was not the time for a massive war against Israel:
June 7, 2024
Hizbullah Deputy Secretary-General Sheikh Naim Qassem said that Hizballah does not seek an all-out war at this time. In a June 7, 2024 interview with Al-Rabiaa TV (Iraq), he explained that this is not the final war to completely liberate Jerusalem and Palestine, but only to stop the war in Gaza. Qassem continued to say that Hizbullah has accomplished all its goals in the war by keeping the Israeli military occupied in the north and driving out Israelis from norther Israel, making them become a burden on the Israeli government. He stressed that an all-out war would not serve Gaza or Lebanon at this time.
Naim Qassem: “It does not take two hours to reach Jerusalem by car. Reaching Jerusalem requires sacrifices, big efforts, martyrdom, capabilities, an axis, fighting Palestinians… All these are needed for Jerusalem to be liberated. People who think this is the time to completely liberate Jerusalem, and to plant our flag there, are wrong in their analysis.
“We are now engaged in one of the battles that will lead to the liberation of Jerusalem. We are not in the final war. In this war, we are doing everything that is needed from us. When Nasrallah said that this is a complete war, he was right because what is happening on the battlefront has all the elements of war, but it is not an all-out war. It is a complete war in the area where it is taking place but it is not an all-out war with regard to Lebanon in its entirety, because we do not think that turning this into an all-out war would serve Gaza or Lebanon. It will not. We already did [the things] that could serve them. If there is something else we can do to serve Gaza we will do it, but not an all out war, because this is not the right time.
“Liberation requires sufficient capabilities, appropriate circumstances, and a balance of power between the warring parties. In our estimate, all the elements in place right now do not allow for a complete liberation at the moment. I am talking about now, about this period of time. So why are we being asked to go all in when this is not the right time for complete liberation. We do what suits the current period and the current requirements.
“The main goal right now is to end the war in Gaza. It needs to stop. We set goals for this war. What were the goals? To support Gaza, to reduce the force of the Israeli army by preoccupying it in Northern Palestine, to drive out a number of settlers [ from Northern Israel] so that they would become a burden on Israel and that they would become worried and exert pressure on the Israeli government. We have accomplished all the goals that we had set. There are no other goals at the current stage that require us to expand our operations.” https://www.memri.org/tv/hizbullah-dep-sec-gen-naim-qassem-not-final-war-to-liberate-jerusalem-palestine-accomplished-all-our-goals
Well, okay, the moment for all-out war from Hezbollah was not June 7th. But perhaps July 7th or sometime later this year?
Jim Rickards wrote:
June 18, 2024
Next Middle East War Imminent?
Had enough of the current Middle East war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza? Well, I hate to be the bearer of bad news.
But it’s time to get ready for the next phase of this war. The next Middle East war will also involve Israel. Except in this war, Israel’s guns will be pointing north toward Lebanon.
And it risks a much wider conflict, with Iran in particular. Let’s break it down…
Recent intelligence from a variety of sources points to an Israeli war against Hezbollah, which is an Iranian proxy.
Hezbollah is systematically attacking Israeli bases, radars, intelligence-collections facilities and other defense system components. Now the attacks are spreading to include Israeli settlements in the West Bank and Galilee. You’re just not hearing about it in the mainstream media. …
Air defense is the critical flip side of air superiority. The best information is that Hezbollah has devised ways to avoid Israel’s Iron Dome air defense system, most likely through the use of drones. Hezbollah has long had 10,000 or more missiles, mostly supplied by Iran.
In the past, Israel could rely on its Iron Dome to protect most major cities and many settlements.
That defense has now proved inadequate. https://dailyreckoning.com/next-middle-east-war-imminent/
I have long warned that Israel would not be fully protected from its ‘Iron Dome’ (e.g. Thiel B. ‘Israel Reveals it is Now Targeting Iranian Forces Militarily’. COGwriter, February 20, 2020). And that is the case.
Hezbollah does not want Israel to exist as the following helps point out:
Doctrine of Hezbollah
Since its creation in 1982, Hezbollah rhetoric has been laden with inflammatory language threatening Israel’s existence and the U.S. presence in the Middle East. Its formal name is the Party of God. Its power base is among Lebanese Shiites, a sect that has historically been marginalized in Lebanese politics and the economy. Its fighters have been armed and trained by Iran since its inception. The movement—now both a militia and a political party—has received hundreds of millions of dollars a year from Iran, a predominantly Shiite country, according to Israeli and U.S. officials. …
The following are excerpts of key statements by Hezbollah leaders.
Open letter published on Feb. 16, 1985 in Al Safir
We are often asked: Who are we, the Hezbollah, and what is our identity? We are the sons of the umma (Muslim community) – the party of God (Hezbollah) the vanguard of which was made victorious by God in Iran. …
Each of us is a fighting soldier. And when it becomes necessary to carry out the Holy War, each of us takes up his assignment in the fight …
OUR OBJECTIVES
Let us put it truthfully: the sons of Hezbollah know who are their major enemies in the Middle East – the Phalanges, Israel, France and the US. …
The Necessity for the Destruction of Israel
We see in Israel the vanguard of the United States in our Islamic world. It is the hated enemy that must be fought until the hated ones get what they deserve. This enemy is the greatest danger to our future generations and to the destiny of our lands, particularly as it glorifies the ideas of settlement and expansion, initiated in Palestine, and yearning outward to the extension of the Great Israel, from the Euphrates to the Nile. Our primary assumption in our fight against Israel states that the Zionist entity is aggressive from its inception, and built on lands wrested from their owners, at the expense of the rights of the Muslim people. Therefore our struggle will end only when this entity is obliterated. We recognize no treaty with it, no cease fire, and no peace agreements, whether separate or consolidated. We vigorously condemn all plans for negotiation with Israel, and regard all negotiators as enemies, for the reason that such negotiation is nothing but the recognition of the legitimacy of the Zionist occupation of Palestine. …
Nasrallah statement on Oct. 7, 2023 following the Hamas attack on Israel
“Hezbollah congratulates the resisting Palestinian people and the heroic fighters of the Palestinian factions, especially our dear brothers in the al Qassam Brigades and the Islamic Resistance Movement, Hamas, for the wide-ranging and divinely supported heroic operation, promising complete victory. “ https://iranprimer.usip.org/blog/2023/oct/19/doctrine-hezbollah
Like Hamas, Hezbollah says it has no interest with peace or peace deals with Israel. It wants to eliminate that nation.
Eventually, I believe that Hezbollah will reign a volley of bombs on Israel. Those in Jerusalem, and not just in the northern portion of Israel, should be concerned.
Israel’s ‘Iron Dome’ and other defenses will not be able to protect Jerusalem against enough of the coming attack to prevent great damage.
As I have mentioned before, the Bible shows that God will allow the nation of Israel to be hit:
1 The burden against the Valley of Vision.
What ails you now, that you have all gone up to the housetops, 2 You who are full of noise, A tumultuous city, a joyous city? Your slain men are not slain with the sword, Nor dead in battle. 3 All your rulers have fled together; They are captured by the archers. All who are found in you are bound together; They have fled from afar. 4 Therefore I said, “Look away from me, I will weep bitterly; Do not labor to comfort me Because of the plundering of the daughter of my people.”
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. 11 You also made a reservoir between the two walls For the water of the old pool. But you did not look to its Maker, Nor did you have respect for Him who fashioned it long ago.
12 And in that day the Lord God of hosts Called for weeping and for mourning, For baldness and for girding with sackcloth. 13 But instead, joy and gladness, Slaying oxen and killing sheep, Eating meat and drinking wine: “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die!”
14 Then it was revealed in my hearing by the Lord of hosts, ”Surely for this iniquity there will be no atonement for you, Even to your death,” says the Lord God of hosts. (Isaiah 22:1-14 NKJV)
Elam looks to be a reference to at least some in Iran. The old Worldwide Church of God published the following:
Iranians comprise nearly 70 percent of the country. Iranians, though Islamic, are totally distinct from the neighboring Arab peoples of the Middle East. They are a mixed people of the remnants of Media and Elam and other ancestors of Semitic and Hamitic stock. (Stump K. South Asia in Prophecy. Plain Truth, July/August 1986, p. 5)
Kir is of interest as it it looks to include Syrians and others in the region. For example, the Bible tells that after Tiglath-Pileser king of Assyria took over Damascus, he moved Syrians to Kir. While this does not mean that Kir must (or must only) be a reference to Syria, the fact that Syria is an ally of Iran is interesting. Some believe Kir is an area in the south of Iran (which could then include some in Iraq), while others suggest closer to the Black Sea (which Turkey borders). God’s word has the expression “the Syrians from Kir” (Amos 9:7), which is basically confirmation that Kir of Isaiah 22 would include Syrians. The prophecy that “Kir uncovered the shield” suggests that Syria will have somehow reduced the effectiveness of Israel’s ‘Iron Dome’ and/or other defensive equipment the nation of Israel will use.
The “House of the Forest” was anciently located in Lebanon (e.g. 1 Kings 7:2, 10:17,21; 2 Chronicles 9:16,20)–see also A Discourse on the House of the Forest of Lebanon, pp: 111-134 in Bunyan J. Stebbing H. The Entire Works of John Bunyan, Volume 4. Virtue and Company, 1860.
Here is the Catholic Public Domain Version translation of Isaiah 22:8:
8 And the covering of Judah will be exposed, and in that day, you will see the weaponry of the forest house. (Isaiah 22:8, CPDV)
A way for Judah to “see the weaponry of the forest house” would be a massive attack by Hezbollah. In Isaiah 22:8, “Judah” is a reference to those in the land commonly called Israel–God will allow Israel to be attacked! Hezbollah has a lot of weaponry.
In Isaiah 22:9, consider that “the damage to the city of David” is a reference to at least part of Jerusalem.
In Isaiah 22:1-14, the Bible shows that God will allow something that appears to be an Iranian-Syrian-Southern Lebanese confederation, to strike the nation of Israel.
In my view, Iran, Hezbollah, and Syria are most likely consulting with each other to determine how and when to launch a major attack against Israel.
Years back, PCG‘s Gerald Flurry came up with something about the prophecy of Psalm 83 and Lebanon:
Psalm 83 Is Being Fulfilled
August 9, 2015 • 27 minutes
The first visible sign of this prophecy has now been manifested in the little Mediterranean country of Lebanon in the Middle East. …
Iraq and Iran are missing from Psalm 83.
In the above video (which probably was originally posted in 2014), Gerald Flurry indicates that a donation from Saudi Arabia to Lebanon of $3 billion to buy weapons from France was the first visible sign related to the prophecies in Psalm 83 being fulfilled. He also improperly claimed that Daniel 11:40 shows a coming conflict between Germany and Iran–PCG has many things wrong. But Iraq, and likely Iran, will be involved in Psalm 83. The old WCG taught Iraq would be involved in Psalm 83.
PCG posted something yesterday related to Lebanon and prophecy:
June 17, 2024
An Israeli invasion of Lebanon would dramatically change the equation of the war. It’s too early to speculate as to which ways a hypothetical Lebanese war would turn. But supposing Israel does succeed, what would the future be? What does a post-Hezbollah Lebanon look like?
A prophecy in Psalm 83 gives us a glimpse. …
Daniel 11:40-44 shows Germany and Iran at war with each other. (See here for more information.) Iran will never be friends with Germany. Yet Lebanon will.
Based on these prophecies, the Trumpet expects Lebanon to break from Iran and side with Germany. Germany has already supported Israel in the war in an unprecedented way. War between Israel and Hezbollah could be the opening Germany needs to kick Iran out of Lebanon for good. https://www.thetrumpet.com/29670-is-hezbollah-ready-for-israels-invasion
Yet, the old Worldwide Church of God taught:
Once again fighting in Lebanon has grabbed the headlines. But what of the future of this battle — scarred region? …
Biblical prophecies focus on the various cities of Lebanon individually. The dismemberment of the country in recent years into separate enclaves thus fits perfectly into the overall picture anciently laid out in prophecy. …
Psalm 83. Here we find described a coming coalition of nations of the Middle East whose purpose will be to eradicate the name of Israel! They will say, “Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation; that the name of Israel may be no more in remembrance” (verse 4).
This prophecy could never have been fulfilled until this 20th century. Why? Since ancient times (the 8th century B.C.) there has not been — until this century — a nation in the Middle East recognized officially by the name Israel. But there is an Israel today. This is clearly a prophecy for these latter days!
Among the participants in this wide-ranging confederacy revealed in Psalm 83 will be Gebal (ancient Byblos, modern Jubayl) and “the Philistines [Palestinians centered in the Gaza Strip] with the inhabitants of Tyre” (verse 7).
Here we see that it was anciently — and accurately — prophesied that Palestinian Arabs would in these tumultuous last days become associated in some way with the cities of Lebanon. The prophet Jeremiah (47:4) also speaks of the Philistines and their allies from Tyre and Sidon.
But this prophesied alliance in Psalm 83 will not endure long. The Bible reveals that meanwhile, in our time, a great European military dictator — known in the book of Revelation as the “beast” and in the prophecy of Daniel as the “king of the north” — will arise and ultimately descend upon the Middle East. (Stump K. LEBANON’S FUTURE Foretold in the Bible!Plain Truth, September-October 1982)
“They have said, Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation; that the name of Israel may be no more in remembrance. For they have consulted together with one consent: they are confederate against thee: The tabernacles of Edom [Esau or modern-day Turkey, a non-Arab but Islamic nation], and the Ishmaelites [Saudi Arabia]; of Moab [part of Jordan], and the Hagarenes [anciently these peoples dwelt in the area known as Syria today]; Gebal [Lebanon], and Ammon [modern Jordan], and Amalek [part of the Turks]; the Philistines [the modern Palestinians] with the inhabitants of Tyre [Lebanon]; Assur [whose descendants, the Assyrians, migrated to Germany] also is joined with them: they have holpen the children of Lot [Jordan and Western Iraq]” (Psalm 83:4-8)…
But in the end, this European-Arab alliance will prove short-lived. As shown earlier, the “king of the north” of Daniel 11–the leader of the German-led European union–will ultimately turn against the Arab “king of the south,”…Daniel 11:40-41: And the king of the north shall come against him [the king of the south]…The Arab-Moslem Confederation will, of course, be thrown into chaotic disarray in the fact of invasion. (Stump K. The Arab World in Prophecy. Plain Truth, December 1979)
Again, another area where PCG differs from the old WCG prophetically. See also: PCG: Teachings Unique to the Philadelphia Church of God.
As far as Hezbollah’s ally Iran goes, before the current Hamas-Israel war, we put out the following video:
Iran and Israel Conflict
European Union foreign policy chief, Josep Borrel, has been brokering the nuclear negotiations involving Iran and said that he thinks the deal is “in danger.” Iran blames the United States, whereas the USA says they are not delaying it. Israeli sources stated that Israel will stop Iran from getting a nuclear bomb. Joe Biden says the USA would use its own military power to prevent Iran from getting such a bomb if need be. In 2021, Iranian lawmakers have submitted a bill seeking the government by law to commit to Israel’s destruction by the year 2040. Does the 22nd chapter of Isaiah point to damage coming to Israel from Iran and possibly Syria? Might Iran be concerned enough about limited progress with the USA to launch some type of attack? Is Iran the prophesied ‘King of the South’? Is it reasonable to think that the prophesied peace deal of Daniel 9:27 will not happen until after a military conflict, like a regional war? Should Christians watch the Middle East? Dr. Thiel and Steve Dupuie discuss these matters.
Here is a link to our video: Iran and Israel Conflict.
Much is happening. PCG and most others do not understand what is about to happen.
As Jesus stated:
37 And what I say to you, I say to all: Watch! (Mark 13:37)
Some items of possibly related interest may include:
PCG: Teachings Unique to the Philadelphia Church of God Simply calling oneself ‘Philadelphia’ does not make one so (see Revelation 3:7-9), nor does Gerald Flurry calling himself “that prophet” make it so. This article provides many quotes from this group which tries to look faithful.
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.
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 are also two related videos: Iran In Prophecy and Iran and Israel Conflict.
Gaza and the Palestinians in Bible Prophecy What does the Bible teach about Gaza and the fate of the Palestinians? Here is a link to two related videos: Gaza and Bible Prophecy and Gaza and Palestine in Prophecy.
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.
When Will the Great Tribulation Begin? 2023, 2024, or 2025? Can the Great Tribulation begin today? What happens before the Great Tribulation in the “beginning of sorrows”? 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? Here is a version of the article in the Spanish language: ¿Puede la Gran Tribulación comenzar en el 2020 o 2021? ¿Es el Tiempo de los Gentiles? A related video is: Great Tribulation: 2026 or 2027? A shorter video is: Can the Great Tribulation start in 2022 or 2023? Notice also: Can Jesus return in 2023 or 2024?
Could 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? 2031 or ? There is also a video titled: When Does the 6000 Years End? 2031? 2035? Here is a link to the article in Spanish: ¿Tiene Dios un plan de 6,000 años?
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? An item of possibly related interest in the Spanish language would be: Líderes iraníes condenan la hipocresía de Occidente y declaran que ahora es tiempo para prepararse para el Armagedón, la guerra, y el Imán Mahdi.
Is the Future King of the South Rising Up? Some no longer believe there needs to be a future King of the South. Might Egypt, Islam, Iran, Arabs, or Ethiopia be involved? Might this King be called the Mahdi or Caliph? What does the Bible say? Two videos of related interest are: The Future King of the South is Rising and The Rise and Fall of the King of the South. Here is a version the Spanish language: ¿Esta Surgiendo el Rey Del Sur?
Islamic and Biblical Prophecies for the 21st Century This is a free online book which helps show where biblical and Islamic prophecies converge and diverge. Here are links to related sermons: Seeing Christianity Through Islamic Eyes. Imam Mahdi, women, and prophecy., and Terrorism, Iran, and Fatima.
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