Israeli Finance Minister: Iran on Edge of Economic Collapse

Naqsh-e Jahan Square, Iran

Iran has made a variety of threats against the USA. Now, it is believed that some actual cyber-attacks have been made:

September 30, 2012

Finance minister says Iran’s oil income losses will reach $45-50 billion by the end of the year due to international sanctions; believes US may delineate “red lines” on Tehran’s nuclear program in coming months.

Iran’s economy is edging towards collapse due to international sanctions over its controversial nuclear program, Finance Minister Yuval Steinitz told Israel Radio on Sunday…A Foreign Ministry document leaked last week said sanctions had caused more damage to Iran’s economy than at first thought and ordinary Iranians were suffering under soaring inflation…Parliamentary opponents of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad say sanctions are not a major cause of Iran’s economic problems and accuse his government of mismanaging the economy. http://www.jpost.com/IranianThreat/News/Article.aspx?id=286152

If Iran’s economy is on the brink of collapse, it may take some actions itself. And partially based upon its prophetic and religious views. Notice something from earlier this year:

Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei… has been heard to say that the coming of the last Islamic Messiah, the Shiites’ 12th Imam Mahdi, is near and that specific actions need to be taken to protect the Islamic regime for upcoming events. Mahdi, according to Shiite belief, will reappear at the time of Armageddon. Selected forces within the Revolutionary Guards and Basij reportedly have been trained under a task force called “Soldiers of Imam Mahdi” and they will bear the responsibility of security and protecting the regime against uprisings. Many in the Guards and Basij have been told that the 12th Imam is on earth, facilitated the victory of Hezbollah over Israel in the 2006 war and soon will announce publicly his presence after the needed environment is created. http://www.wnd.com/2012/01/iran-preparing-now-for-armageddon/, January 24, 2012)

Notice something from last week:

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad today called for the end of the “hegemonic” powers of the United States and Israel, whom he described as “the uncivilized Zionists.” He said the world would “soon” see new “global management” by the Twelfth Imam, also known as the “Mahdi,” and his deputy, Jesus Christ.

This was Ahmadinejad’s eighth and likely final annual address to the opening fall session of the United Nations General Assembly. http://www.wnd.com/2012/09/ahmadinejads-end-times-address-to-u-n/

Of course, the Bible is clear that JESUS, not the Imam Mahdi, is the ultimate Savior and will bring about world peace (Revelation 19-22).

But from an Islamic perspective, it may be important to realize that various of their prophecies of the Mahdi state that he would return in an even numbered year, like the one beginning with the end of 2012 (Zumwalt J. Iran’s Dynamic Duo Dedicated to Global Destruction. August 13, 2010. http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=38528), since the Islamic calendar runs differently than the Roman calendar). Iran may claim that Ahmadinejad received some other type of “appointment” that happened in 2006/2007 that counts, as opposed to being appointed president in 2005. And that would be consistent with a late 2012 (or sometime in 2013) Mahdi arrival (though according to my understanding of Iranian prophetic understanding, taking over Jerusalem anytime between now and late 2013 would probably fit). The Mahdi is supposed to be recognized in an even numbered year, and since Ahmadinejad’s term ends on November 3, 2013 (Islamic year 1434 runs from November 15, 2012 to November 3, 2013) or June 2013 (according to another source), and he indicated he wanted to cause the Mahdi to arrive before he leaves office (e.g Farah J. Iran Leader’s Messianic End Time’s Mission. World News Daily, January 6, 2006), he may cause enough chaos to try to cause this to happen soon (the Islamic year 1432 ended November 26, 2011; and year 1433 ends soon).

I suspect that if Iran has an unsuccessful attack on Jerusalem that a Caliph-type leader will rise up from elsewhere in the Middle East and that many in Iran will support him anyway (even if all the Mahdi predictions do not come to pass). Some Persian/Iranian peoples seem to be shown to support the final King of the South in Ezekiel 30:5.

I would add that the fact that many in Iran consider that the USA is the “great Satan,” plus USA and Israeli sabre-rattling against it are also factors for this attack (presuming that Iran is actually behind it). Various leaders in Iran want the USA out of the way (see, for example, Iranian Leader Calls for Vanishing USA and Israel from the Universe).

But Iran’s words tend to speak louder than its abilities in some areas–yet as its economy barely holds on, it may believe more in its hoped for Imam Mahdi–and this to its peril.

However, it will not only Iran that would suffer. The reality is that the cost to the USA and/or Israel for a regional war involving Iran and/or Syria will be higher than many in the USA or Israel believe. Between terrorist acts, sustained resistance, chemical weapons, biological weapons, emp-type bombs, and/or even disruptions of the internet, Iran and/or Syria can inflict significant damage to their enemies. The possible cyber-attacks are just one more way Iran can cause consternation (it may be both on the receiving and sending end of that as well as emp attacks). Yet, the USA and the tiny of nation of Israel would not be eliminated by Iran or Syria–it will come later, by the King of the North (cf. Daniel 11:39).

Watch! (Mark 13:37)

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 does Islam teach about the Imam Mahdi?
Is There A Future King of the South? Some no longer believe there needs to be. Might Egypt, Islam, Iran, Arabs, or Ethiopia be involved? Is he the Imam Mahdi? What does the Bible say?
End of Mayan Calendar 2012–Might 2012 Mean Something? Are there Mayan calendar predictions for change in 2012? Changes were centuries ago predicted by the Hopi Native Americans. Do Mayan/Hindu/Hopi/Buddhist/New Age/Nostradamus prophecies have any value here? Why might Satan have inspired this date? Does the Dresden codex show destruction of the earth by flood? Can the great tribulation start in 2012? How might Barack Obama be involved in 2012?
Anglo – America in Prophecy & the Lost Tribes of Israel Are the Americans, Canadians, English, Scottish, Welsh, Australians, Anglo (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 nations? Why might God allow them to be punished first?
Will the Anglo-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?
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?