Iran tests new Russian missile defense system

Iran has tested the Russian S-300 missile defense system:

March 4, 2017

For 10 years Iran has been trying to get its hands on a Russian air defense system but was held back by embargos. It finally has a chance to show off its newly-allowed firepower.

Iran successfully tested a Russian-made missile defense system, the official Iranian news outlets reported Saturday.

The IRNA news agency said the military launched the sophisticated S-300 system during a recent military exercise named Damvand, named after Iran’s highest mountain.

State TV posted videos online of the missiles being launched from the back of trucks in Iran’s central desert. …

Air defense commander General Farzad Esmaili told state television that a domestically manufactured air defense system dubbed Bavar 373 which was “more advanced than the S-300” would be tested very soon. “The S-300 is a system that is deadly for our enemies and which makes our skies more secure,” he said. http://www.dw.com/en/iran-tests-new-russian-made-s-300-missile-system/a-37808317

While Americans do not think that Iran presents much of a threat, the reality is that Iran keeps boasting that it can damage its enemies.

The reality is that Iran has gotten a lot of its frozen assets back, so it will build more military might. Iran wants to be the military leader of the Muslim world, then the entire world.

Over the years, Iran has made it clear that it wants to eliminate Israel and the USA. Iran’s top leader clearly has personally indicated that (see also After deal, Iran’s Khamenei calls USA ‘arrogant’ and ‘the real terrorists;’ he also says Iran will not change its policies in Middle East). Some believe Iran may use electromagnetic pulse weapons–including potentially using them against the USA (see Maloof: America unprepared for devastating EMP ‘Black Swan’).

Might Iran’s attitude get it involved in military action against the Jewish state and/or the USA?

Yes.

The USA and Israel have concerns:

March 3, 2017

The US and Israel may need to be creative in dealing with Israel’s neighbors and forming alliances to deal with Iran, former US Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Mary Beth Long told an Institute for National Security Studies (INSS) conference on Iran in Tel Aviv …

The former top US defense official did not fully spell out what she had in mind, but the implication was that Israel might need to compromise in other areas, possibly on the peace process front, to help line up moderate Sunni allies against Iran.

Both Long and other speakers, including Foundation for the Defense of Democracies President Mark Dubowitz, suggested that the US should be creative in forming alliances, including potentially leveraging a close relationship with Russia to help tame Iran. …

Former Israeli Atomic Energy Commission and current INSS Senior Fellow Ephraim Asculai said he believed Iran would try to find ways to cheat on the nuclear deal’s terms.

He added that Iran was developing advanced centrifuges which would allow it to enrich uranium faster for a nuclear bomb. Also, as a terror state, it could deliver a nuclear bomb using civilian aircraft or any other kind of suicide aircraft, even if it had not yet perfected placing a nuclear warhead on one of its missiles. http://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Former-US-official-US-and-Israel-needs-to-get-creative-to-deal-with-Iran-483145

But, Iran does not wanted to be ‘tamed.’ Furthermore, the Bible shows that it is possible that God will allow Iran to strike the nation of Israel:

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)

The ‘City of David’ is Jerusalem (cf. 2 Samuel 5:6-9). Elam seems to be a reference to at least some in Iran. Kir is of interest as it has several possibilities. One is that 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, 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).

Iran is allied with Syria. The Bible also indicates that Iran will one day suffer military defeat (Jeremiah 49:34-38).

The clearest term for Iran in the Bible is Persia. This term is used 30 times in the NKJV, and they are all in the Hebrew scriptures (also known as the Old Testament). Even in the 21st century, Iranians often refer to themselves as Persians.

Other terms that seem to refer to parts of Iran in the Bible include Phut and Elam.

What is translated as Put in Ezekiel 30:5 from the NIV and Phut in the YLT (Young’s Literal Translation) may be referring to some of the peoples of Iran as the Hebrew word it is translated from is Puwt, which was a Persian tribe or possibly a branch that made it to Pakistan.

Ezekiel 38:5 as well as Ezekiel 27:10 lists Persia and Phut together (YLT) as part of an alliance in the future and/or perhaps that they have merged together.

Elam was an ancient civilization located in what is now southwest Iran (Bulliet R, ed. The Earth and Its Peoples: A Global History: A Global History. Cengage Learning, 2007, p. 132; see also Daniel 8:1-2). That is why I cited Isaiah 22 as a possibly relevant prophecy.

Iran has ballistic missiles, materials to make at least a ‘dirty bomb’ (a bomb with radioactive components), as well as electromagnetic pulse weaponry. It also claims to have a very large army. Yes, it can cause damage. Though Iran does not have the ability to actually beat the USA in a straight-out war, it could severely damage the Jewish nation of Israel.

Iranian leaders keep publicly stating that they are opposed to the USA and want to eliminate Israel.

Because of the ties between Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the fact Iran has gotten back much of its frozen assets, and statements by Donald Trump, Iran may well conclude it needs to take more destabilizing steps. Israel is looking at what to do as it faces the realization that it is on or near the top of Iran’s enemies’ list.

We could see a regional war involving Iran, Syria, and Israel. A war that would see all of them damaged according to Bible prophecy. But also a war that might lead to another ‘deal’–perhaps one day the deal of Daniel 9:27 that will signal the final countdown to the end.

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.
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.
Jerusalem: Past, Present, and Future What does the Bible say about Jerusalem and its future? Is Jerusalem going to be divided and eliminated? Is Jesus returning to the area of Jerusalem? There is also a related YouTube video you can watch titled Jerusalem To be divided and eliminated.
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?
Anglo – America in Prophecy & the Lost Tribes of Israel Are the Americans, Canadians, English, Scottish, Welsh, Australians, Anglo-Saxon (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-Saxon nations? Why might God allow them to be punished first? Here is a link to the Spanish version of this article: Anglo-América & las Tribus Perdidas de Israel. Information is also in the YouTube sermons titled Where are the Ten Lost Tribes? Why does it matter? and British are the Covenant People. A short YouTube of prophetic interest may be Barack Obama and the State of the Apocalypse.
Will the Anglo-Saxon Nations be Divided and Have People Taken as Slaves? Will the lands of the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand be divided? What about Jerusalem? What does Bible prophecy teach? Are there non-biblical prophecies that support this idea? Who will divide those lands? Who will end up with the lands and the people? Here is a link to a video titled Will the USA and other Anglo-nations be Divided and Their People Made Slaves? Here is a related item in the Spanish language ¿Serán divididas las naciones anglosajonas?
Donald Trump in Prophecy Prophecy, Donald Trump? Are there prophecies that Donald Trump may fulfill? Are there any prophecies that he has already helped fulfill? Could a Donald Trump presidency be apocalyptic? A related video is titled: Donald: ‘Trump of God’ or Apocalyptic?
Donald Trump and America’s Apocalypse This 188 page book is for people truly interested in prophecies related to Donald Trump and the United States, including learning about several that have already been fulfilled and those that will be fulfilled in the future. The physical book can be purchased at Amazon for $12.99 from the following link: Donald Trump and America’s Apocalypse.
Donald Trump and America’s Apocalypse-Kindle Edition This electronic version of the 188 page print edition is available for only US$3.99. And you do not need an actual Kindle device to read it. Why? Amazon will allow you to download it to almost any device: Please click HERE to download one of Amazon s Free Reader Apps. After you go to for your free Kindle reader and then go to Donald Trump and America’s Apocalypse-Kindle Edition.