World leaders meet on Iran’s nuclear ambitions; new rocket attack from Gaza

Nagasaki Nuclear Bomb (1945)

World leaders are meeting to discuss what to do about Iran and its potential development of nuclear weapons:

February 26, 2013

Officials from six world powers and Iran are meeting to discuss the country’s controversial nuclear program, in the latest talks to address a decade of concerns that Iran is working to develop a nuclear weapon.

The meeting Tuesday in Almaty, Kazakhstan, includes the so-called P5+1 group of nations – the United States, Britain, France, Russia, China and Germany – and is not expected to produce any major breakthroughs.

The world powers are expected to offer to ease some sanctions against Iran, if the government agrees to halt some of its enrichment activity.

Iran says its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes, but many nations around the world are concerned it is actually aimed at building an arsenal of nuclear bombs.

Speaking in London on Monday, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said that “an Iran with a nuclear weapon, in that region, and given all that has happened, is simply unacceptable.”

Kerry said the United States goes to the talks in Almaty prepared to work in “good faith” and “mutual respect” to avoid what he called the “consequences” of a failed deal.

The International Atomic Energy Agency recently said that Iran has begun installing a new generation of centrifuges at its Natanz enrichment plant, a move U.S. officials have deemed “provocative.”

The meeting marks the first time in eight months that the parties are gathering to discuss Iran’s uranium enrichment program. http://www.voanews.com/content/world-powers-iran-hold-nuclear-talks/1610832.html

Both the USA and Israel have stated that it was unacceptable for Iran to acquire nuclear weapons, yet Iran has taken steps consistent with the development of them. The time for additional intervention by the USA and/or Israel may be near.

As regular readers of the COGwriter news page are aware, I have been warning for some time that a regional war involving Iran, Israel, the USA, and/or Syria seems likely. And Iran keeps taking steps which may help it get ready for such a war.

Since 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 (Syria might not do well per 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”).

Leaders in the USA and Israel have suggested that they may intervene and attack Iran. But if the USA and Israel do hit Iran, Iran would likely not fare well, but that does not mean that the USA would not suffer.

The USA, as is Europe, is vulnerable to being hurt by EMP weapons (which Iran may have), chemical weapons (which at least Syria has), dirty bombs (which Iran already can make), terrorism (which Iran sometimes sponsors), and biological weapons (which both Iran and Syria likely have). Although the USA (nor Europe) will NOT to eliminated by this type of conflict, the USA certainly could be partially or even greatly weakened by these type of attacks. And they could trigger civil unrest in Europe and elsewhere.

If there currently is a “King of the West,” it would currently seem to be the USA, and the Bible does not seem to show it existing much into the Great Tribulation (cf. Daniel 11:39). It likely will be weakened in many ways. Thus, unlike the military interventions in places like Iraq, do not be surprised if the USA itself is not to be unscathed if it engages Iran and/or Syria. This would not be the Great Tribulation per se, but part what Jesus called “the beginning of sorrows” (Matthew 24:4-8) that could help further weaken the USA and make it more vulnerable for being taken over.

Iran keeps taking steps suggesting that it is expecting such conflict.

Gaza City

In other Middle East related news, the situation in Gaza seems to be heating up again:

JERUSALEM | Tue Feb 26, 2013 5:02am EST. JERUSALEM (Reuters) – A rocket fired from Gaza exploded in Israel on Tuesday, the first such attack since a November truce and an apparent show of solidarity with West Bank protests after the death of a Palestinian in an Israeli jail.

Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, a militant group in Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas’s West Bank-based Fatah movement, claimed responsibility for the rocket strike, the Palestinian Ma’an news agency said.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/02/26/us-palestinians-israel-gaza-idUSBRE91P04420130226

Israel is in a tough spot as it feels it cannot allow its cities to be attacked and not respond, while also realizing that responding can further upset others in at least the Islamic world. The group that launched the latest rocket attack is considered to be somewhat outside of the Gaza government, which further complicates matters for Israel.

Syria and Iran may ultimately try to take advantage of this and escalate matters against Israel–those nations are aware that Israel hopes to attack them, so if this escalates, this could be a time that they will decide to get involved, we will see.

Of course, if the meeting on Iran results in something that Iran does not like, that could escalate matters there. It is a dangerous time in the Middle East.

Some articles (and books) of possibly related interest may include:

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? What does the Bible say?
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?
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?
Who is the King of the West? Why is there no End-Time King of the West in Bible Prophecy? Is the United States the King of the West?
When Will the Great Tribulation Begin? 2012, 2013, or 2014? Can the Great Tribulation begin today? What happens before the Great Tribulation in the “beginning of sorrows”? What is the seven-year deal? What happens in the Great Tribulation and the Day of the Lord? Is this the time of the Gentiles? When is the earliest that the Great Tribulation can begin? What is the Day of the Lord? Who are the 144,000?
Barack Obama, Prophecy, and the Destruction of the United States This is a 160 page book for people truly interested in prophecies related to Barack Obama and the United States, including learning about many that have already been fulfilled (which the book documents in detail) and those that will be fulfilled in the future. It also has a chapter about a Republican choice. This book is available to order at www.barackobamaprophecy.com. The physical book can also be purchased at Amazon from the following link: Barack Obama, Prophecy, and the Destruction of the United States: Is Barack Obama Fulfilling Biblical, Islamic, Catholic, Kenyan, and other America-Related Prophecies?
Barack Obama, Prophecy, and the Destruction of the United States–Amazon Kindle edition. This electronic version is available for only US$2.99. 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 Barack Obama, Prophecy, and the Destruction of the United States–Amazon Kindle edition.)