TW: Attack Against Iran Delayed

Naqsh-e Jahan Square, Iran

The latest TW News & Prophecy from the Living Church of God has the following:

Attack on Iran delayed.

During an interview in London last week, Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak conceded that an attack on Iran may have been delayed for eight to ten months. He “predicted that sanctions and diplomacy would still fail to resolve the stand-off. If so, he said that Israel and its allies would probably face the decision over whether to strike Iran’s nuclear facilities in 2013” (The Telegraph , October 30, 2012). In August, Iran chose to take 38 percent of its enriched uranium and turn it into fuel rods for a domestic research reactor. This move reduced its stockpile of high-grade uranium and thus delayed its ability to make a bomb–an issue that will be overcome within months by the ongoing enrichment process.

As Iran continues to strengthen its nuclear enrichment facilities deep within a mountain, Israel is concerned that it will become unreachable by Israeli weaponry… and soon after that, invulnerable to U.S. attack as well (ibid.). For that reason, Mr. Barak believes it will be necessary to strike Iranian facilities in 2013–or they are certain to become a nuclear power, likely leading to a nuclear arms race in the Middle East. According to Mr. Barak, “Saudi Arabia will turn nuclear within weeks…. Turkey will turn nuclear in several years. The new Egypt will have to follow.” “The world would start the ‘countdown’ to the ‘night mare’ of ‘nuclear material ending up in the hands of terrorist groups'” (ibid.).

As tensions continue to rise in the Middle East, so do the stakes. But at the same time, we see the EU more deeply involved and even in a relationship with Israel. Germany has pledged support for and protection of Israel. Jesus Christ foretold a time when “gentiles” (non-Israelites) will surround and control Jerusalem (Luke 21:24). Ultimately, this “gentile” force will be provided by the German-led Beast power. Regional events in the Middle East are now moving in a direction that could lead to the fulfillment of these ancient prophecies.

For more on this fascinating story, be sure to review our booklet, The Middle East in Prophecy!

Israel, despite public statements to the contrary, could attack any time. But now it is stating that it will delay.

Notice a related news item from 11/9/12:

JERUSALEM — Israel’s defense minister said Iran has slowed the timetable for enriching enough uranium to build nuclear weapons, implying that Israel would have more time to decide whether to strike Iran’s enrichment facilities…”I don’t know why they did it. I don’t know if it was because of the deterrence that was connected to our statements and positions,” he said….Barak added Thursday that he doubted negotiations meant to persuade Iran to halt its nuclear program would be effective. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/11/09/iran-nuclear-program-barak_n_2101427.html

I suspect that Iran slowed down its nuclear program to give the USA and Israel less justification to attack it prior to the USA presidential election. Now that the election is past, Iran will likely re-evaluate how to proceed, but probably in a more clandestine manner so that it will be ready before Israel thinks that it will be. Iran also would like to have international sanctions against it lifted as they are impacting Iran’s economy and may lead to civil unrest if continued long enough.

And, Iran likely believes that if it is clandestine enough, the USA will not be active (at least at first) in an attack against it. I still believe that Iran, since it is not the final King of the South, will have to somehow be “neutralized,” and that this will happen via a regional war involving Israel and/or internal civil unrest.

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?
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?