Iran’s President-Elect speaks and others wonder: What’s really ahead for Iran?

Iran’s President-Elect Hassan Rouhani (Photo by Mojtaba Salimi )

Iran’s new president-elect is in the news:

June 16, 2013

Iran’s President-elect Hassan Rowhani has called on citizens to remain “committed to the law” in order to establish peace and stability in the country.

In his first televised speech since Friday’s election, the moderate cleric said Sunday he “deeply” needs the people’s assistance along the path toward preserving national pride and national interests.

Rowhani’s surprise victory was seen by many analysts as a popular repudiation of the conservative hardliners in the race.

A former chief nuclear negotiator and the favorite of reformists, Rowhani received slightly more than 50 percent of the vote – close to 19 million out of nearly 37 million counted. His closest competitor among five other candidates was Tehran Mayor Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, who received about 16 percent of the vote. Turnout was more than 70 percent.

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon congratulated Rowhani and encouraged Iranian authorities and the president-elect to play a “constructive role” in regional and international affairs.

The Obama administration said it respects the vote of the Iranian people and congratulated them for their participation in the political process. But the statement from White House Press Secretary Jay Carney pointed out that Iran’s election took place against what he described as “government obstacles and limitations,” including a lack of transparency, censorship of the media and an intimidating security environment.

Carney said the United States hopes the Iranian government will heed its people’s will and make choices that create a better future for them. He reiterated the U.S. willingness to engage Iran directly to reach a diplomatic solution to concerns over its nuclear program.

Iran’s presidential vote was the first since President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s disputed re-election in 2009 spawned widespread protests and a bloody crackdown by the government. Ahmadinejad, known internationally for his hostility toward the U.S. and Israel, was barred by law from a third term.

As Iran’s next president, Rowhani will take on an economy struggling with high unemployment and inflation and crippled by the international sanctions over the country’s disputed nuclear program.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday cautioned the international community not to get ease sanctions on Iran due to “wishful thinking” following Rowhani’s election. He called Iran’s alleged pursuit of nuclear weapons the “greatest threat to world peace.”

While the president-elect has vowed to improve ties with the international community, the election outcome is unlikely to significantly alter Iran’s relationship with the rest of the world, as major policy decisions rest with Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. http://www.voanews.com/content/iran-president-elect-addresses-nation-after-surprise-victory/1682751.html

Iran’s current President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad had stated that the Imam Mahdi, someone similar to the biblical King of the South of Daniel 11:40-43) would arise before he (President Ahmadinejad) left office. Well, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad leaves office August 2/3 2013, and so either he will be wrong (which he will be) and/or he will take steps to try to make this happen.

However, since Iran itself is NOT the biblical king of the South, then something will happen to reduce its influence in the Islamic world. Either its current President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad will do something that causes this, its new president-elect Hassan Rowhani will, and/or various of its other leaders will.

Why?

Because even though Iran may give some support to the final King of the South, it cannot be the actual King of the South of biblical prophecy. In the Bible, Jerusalem is often used as the point of geographic reference. Looking at a map of the region, Iran is shown as being basically straight east of Jerusalem. And Tehran, Iran’s capital is also north of Jerusalem (a map is shown in the video sermon ( The Future King of the South is Rising).

Iran, however, is NOT really south of Jerusalem (though it may support such a king per certain interpretations of the peoples listed in Ezekiel 30:1-9), it will not be the final King of the South of Bible prophecy (cf. Daniel 11:40-43). Because of that, I have tended to believe that Iran may somehow get “neutralized” before this final king rises up. A serious attack by the USA and/or Israel may neutralize Iran and much of its influence. It also may take a regional war for the seven-year confirmation of the deal in Daniel 9:27 to come about.

My reading and re-reading of Bible prophecy simply does not show that Iran will be a major player in Daniel 11:21-44 nor the deal of Psalm 83:4-8 (Arabs, Turks, and Europeans are); though Ezekiel 30:1-9 possibly implicates Iran as a supporter of an end-time confederation involving Egypt.

“Neutralizing” Iran would allow most of the other Islamic states (like Saudi Arabia and Egypt) to continue to exist (Damascus the capital of Syria, is prophesied to be destroyed according to Isaiah 17:1) and allow for the rising of the prophesied King of the South to rise up (revolution in Iran, is also another possibility, for its “neutralization”).

This neutralization may well happen under the administration of Hassan Rowhani. Of course, its current administration could also possibly trigger it. But either way, Iran is going to end up with LESS influence in the Islamic world in the future according to my reading on Bible prophecy.

Some items of possibly related interest may include:

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? What prophecies involve Iran? What does Islam teach about the Imam 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?

The Future King of the South is Rising Does the Bible teach that there will be a future King of the South in Daniel 11? Is this kingdom rising up now? Did the old Worldwide Church of God (WCG) teach that there would be another one? And who is the King of the South? How will this involve Egypt? Is the final King of the South some type of Arab-Muslim confederation? Can Iran be involved? Is there a group that seems to be supporting the goals of the King of the South? Has the Obama Administration supported the rise of this power? This is a YouTube video.

The Muslim Brotherhood and the Rise of the King of the South The Bible tells of the formation of a power of nations that are in the Middle East and North Africa that are part of the final “King of the South” (Daniel 11:40-43) The Muslim Brotherhood wishes to have an Islamic empire with basically the same nations. This YouTube video explains what to expect from such a confederation.

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.

Who is the King of the North? Is there one? Do biblical and Roman Catholic prophecies for the Great Monarch 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? Here is a link to a video titled: Can You Prove that the Beast to Come is European?