Church of God News

Iranian protests

COGwriter

Protests have been happening in Iran. Its government is blaming ‘Tweets’ for the protests and unrest it has been experiencing:

January 4, 2018

Wednesday in Iran brought demonstrations both against and in support of the government, while the United States promised new support for the Iranian people and Iran’s representative to the United Nations accused the United States of “flagrant acts of intervention.”

The unrest has been going on for a week with protesters rallying against economic problems and also calling for government reforms. At least 21 people have been killed and authorities have arrested hundreds of people. …

Trump tweets; Iranians fume

U.S. President Donald Trump turned to Twitter to express his latest support for those unhappy with the Iranian government.

“Such respect for the people of Iran as they try to take back their corrupt government,” Trump said. “You will see great support from the United States at the appropriate time!” It was not immediately clear what assistance Trump had in mind.

Top Iranian leaders, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, have blamed foreign governments for driving the protests. https://www.voanews.com/a/us-iranian-leaders-protests/4191754.html

January 4, 2018

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — Iran charged Wednesday that the U.S. “has crossed every limit” in international relations by expressing support for Iran’s anti-government protesters and said President Donald Trump’s “absurd tweets” have encouraged disruption.

In a letter to U.N. officials, Iranian Ambassador Gholamali Khoshroo complained that Washington was intervening “in a grotesque way in Iran’s internal affairs.” He said Trump and Vice President Mike Pence were personally stirring up trouble.

“The President and Vice-President of the United States, in their numerous absurd tweets, incited Iranians to engage in disruptive acts,” the ambassador wrote to the U.N. Security Council president and U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. https://www.apnews.com/6ae1a3507c7247868daca243419b15f9/Iran-says-Trump’s-‘absurd-tweets’-have-incited-disruption

Civil unrest is not the answer for Iran, the Kingdom of God is.

But that is not the focus of the protesters nor the government there.

The Iranian government has been working on containing the protests:

January 4, 2018

WASHINGTON — The Iranian government appears to have contained the civil unrest across that country so far, but the protests could still evolve into a serious threat to the regime, current and former intelligence officials told NBC News.

“At this moment, the government appears to have this under control — this is discontent, not revolution,” said a former senior intelligence official with long Middle East experience, after Iran was roiled by a sixth day of anti-government protests in more than 70 cities. The protests are both large and small, according to one official, who said that in some cities, demonstrators can be counted on one hand.

“People so far are moving away from something — the status quo — but not embracing something else, revolution,” said the former official. https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/it-s-not-revolution-yet-iran-s-regime-embarrassed-n834421

Protests and civil unrest in Iran are not unexpected.

Back in March 2012, I posted the following here:

I have tended to feel that Iran will be somehow neutralized by either a regional war and/or internal political unrest. (Thiel B. Obama says, ‘I don’t bluff’ and hints of attacking Iran. COGwriter.com, March 2, 2012)

The situation in Iran will change.

For years, I have warned that we could see a regional war involving Iran, Syria, and Israel. We may be getting closer to that happening.

Consider 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.

39 ‘But it shall come to pass in the latter days:
I will bring back the captives of Elam,’ says the Lord.” (Jeremiah 49:34-39)

Elam seems to be a reference to at least some in Iran. Some believe Kir is an area in the south of Iran, while others suggest closer to the Black Sea. The Bible tells of a time when Kir will be destroyed (Isaiah 15:1b) and also says that Syria’s capital Damascus will be destroyed (Isaiah 17:1).

Here is something from my book Donald Trump and America’s Apocalypse:

Iran and Prophecy

Donald Trump has stated that he wants to eliminate or at least change the “nuclear deal” with Iran (Wilkinson T. Trump’s plans to scuttle or amend the Iran nuclear deal remain a work in progress. Los Angeles Times, November 14, 2016).

He also might be more willing than the Obama Administration to trigger enforcement provisions if he feels Iran has violated portions of the agreement.

Iran would not like to see either of those actions and continues to show some of its nuclear ambitions: after Donald Trump’s election, Iran declared it would pursue development of nuclear powered ships (Norman L. Europe Hopeful Trump Will Stick With Iran Nuclear Deal. Wall Street Journal, December 13, 2016).

Because  Bible  prophecy indicates  that it  will  be  primarily Arabic nations that support the final King of the South (Daniel 11:40-43; Ezekiel 30:1-8), though with some (probably temporary per Daniel 11:25-26) support from Turkey (and possibly Pakistan), it is not biblically possible that Iran can truly be the leader of the Islamic world as it seems to want to be. Also, because it is basically due east of Jerusalem, Iran should not be considered to be a candidate to be the final ‘King of the South’ of biblical prophecy.

Despite its posturing and relative military strength, Iran will be somehow effectively neutralized (cf. Ezekiel 32:24). This could perhaps be from an attack involving Israel and/or internal civil unrest — this could also include electromagnetic (EMP) or similar weapons used against Iran (Jeremiah 49:34-39).

It is of prophetic interest to note that the small nation of Israel is prophesied to one day be attacked by some that seem to have connection to Iran (Isaiah 22:1-14).

Iran may decide to strike out against Israel, and possibly Jerusalem (cf. Isaiah 22:7-8) if a Trump Administration and/or Israel takes actions it does not like.

Iran has weapons that can cause damage. Furthermore, the U.S.A. itself (as well as is the State of Israel) is vulnerable to EMP type attacks and/or items such as biological weapons, chemical weapons, terrorism, nuclear weapons, dirty bombs, etc. because of a conflict involving Iran, Syria, and/or others.

But should this occur, this would NOT be the final destruction of the U.S.A. Prophetically, Iran would not end up faring well (cf. Ezekiel 32:24-25). (Thiel B. Donald Trump and America’s Apocalypse. Nazarene Books, 2017)

While the current protests are not the end of Iran, we are getting closer to the time when Iran will be neutralized in accordance with what is and is not directly prophesied about it in the Bible.

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This entry was posted on Thursday, January 4th, 2018 at 8:00 am and is filed under Prophecy.

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• Donald Trump tweets massive warning to Iran
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• ‘Iran Blames Israel for Natanz Blackout’
• BibleNewsProphecy: Iran in Prophecy
• PCG: Will America and Iran Go to War?
• Iran, Russia, and China to Conduct War Games in Syria
• PCG: Iran beating USA on nuclear deal; COGwriter: But it will not end well if Iran acts.
• Iran again defies USA with more military tests