Thanks to Luis Vegas we have this very good study comparing the nations of Israel and Iran.
In his chart I think the total populations were reversed, and from there down I do not know for sure. Nonetheless is a good chart showing the characteristics of these two nations that are on the verge of clashing in war.
Thank you Luis Vega.
In the Bible this war was foreseen by the prophet Ezekiel in ch 38 and 39.
http://niv.scripturetext.com/ezekiel/38-1.htm
Nando
http://www.fivedoves.com/letters/sep2012/luisv929.htm
Luis Vega (29 Sep 2012)
“The Coming Prince of Persia – spiritual undertones in the current Israel-Iran showdown“
The COMING Prince of Persia
Confrontation between the Sons of Judah & Elam in the Last Days
An analysis of the spiritual undertones in the current Israel-Iran showdown
By Luis B. Vega
vegapost@hotmail.com
PDF chart online at: www.sonoma.edu/users/v/vegalu/eschatology_files/Prince.pdf
“For they are the spirits of devils working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.” -Revelation 16:14
The purpose of this study (with chart, see above link) is to consider the ancient spiritual undertones of the current geo-political conflict between Iran & Israel. In a general since, several parallels between certain key personalities from the Bible will be compared to the current leaders of the respected countries. A modern timeline showing the major events at the time of the Iranian Shia Revolution will be highlighted. A military comparison will be displayed; matching Israel’s & Iran’s capabilities for war.
A map of Iran will incorporate the various geographic regions to include the ancient & historical influence of Iran’s language & culture. Iran was formally known as Persia. They are not Arab & they speak Farsi. The name of the country was changed to Iran, alluding to the original peoples call the Aryans. The map will also highlight the numerous US military bases that are surrounding Iran currently & that are protecting the various oil & gas pipelines. Several of the major oil & gas pipeline routes will be mapped-out for context, showing Iran’s export percentages of oil to the world.
The confrontation between the Sons of Judah, i.e., Israel & the Sons of Elam i.e., Iran in these Last Days goes as far back as to the times of Abraham. The Bible records that it was the Jewish GOD YHWH, the Creator of Earth & Heaven that called Abram from Ur of the Chaldeans. When Abram was living in the Promised Land, that is, Judah or Israel, an ancient Elamite King Chedorlaomer of Iran was one of the Kings of the East that led the raids that took all of Abraham’s possessions, including his nephew Lot. The Bible goes on to describe that it was Abraham & his allies & own personal army that sought & defeated Chedorlaomer.
Here we have a rendition the Abram, i.e. Israel defeating the 5 Kings of Elam or Iran to rescue his household, possessions & nephew Lot. Abram regained the wealth plundered from the Sons of Elam, Iran that had sought to take as a spoil. Once again in these Last Days, so too the Sons of Elam, Iran seeks to take the possession, the Land, the Promised Land given by GOD to Abram & to his descendents, the Sons of Judah – Israel.
The Iranian pretext for its hostility & rhetoric against the ‘zionist’ state of Israel is that it is defending the cause of the Palestinians. Prophetically, Iran will not be part of the Psalm 83 confederations that will attack Israel for this very purpose. Perhaps Iran will not be able to aid the Arab confederation of Psalm 83 nations as it will be so militarily weakened by a joint US-Israeli strike on Iran before then; Iran may only be able to spurs on the attacks through their proxy armies of Hamas & Hezbollah. One could draw a parallel thought that the Psalm 83 War will end up just like what happened with Abram in the Bible against Elam. Perhaps Israel will likewise defeat the 5 ‘kings’ or armies that will go against it during the Psalm 83 War. The 5 major Arab states said to be involved in this Israeli invasion are:
1. Egypt
2. Jordan
3. Lebanon
4. Syria
5. Arabia
The Prince to Come
It was in Iran that the Prophet Daniel was given the vision of the coming Messiah, Jesus Christ in Susa. It is in Susa or Shushan where his tomb is believed to be at even to this day. It is ironic that in that same region, the people are waiting for a different ‘messiah’, the Mahdi. Ironically both descendants of Israel & Iran are waiting for along expectant messiah to come. This ‘messiah’ is the ‘Son of David’ for the Jews & the 12th Imam or Mahdi for the shi’a muslims of Iran & sunnis in general. Each is holding out that their messiah is the one that will defeat & destroy the other & has the true rendition of ‘god’s revelation with permission to rule & conquer the rest of the world.
>From a Judeo-Christian perspective, the New Testament declares that Jesus Christ was & is the True & Only Messiah of the Jewish Nation & Savior of the World. Christ Jesus promised to return at the End of Days to establish His Kingdom over the whole Earth from the literal Throne of King David of Israel in Jerusalem. It would be rather incredible if perhaps this coming ‘messiah’ that both the Jews & the muslims are waiting for turned out to be the one in the same for both!
How? Perhaps after the Psalm 83 War & the Rapture of the Christian Church to have happened, maybe Israel will at that time strike a deal with the AntiChrist who will come on the scene with the world’s solutions. Perhaps this personage will be the one whom they will accept as their long awaited ‘messiah’ because he ‘Confirms the Covenant’ with the Jewish nation -securing ‘peace & safety’. But also somehow, someway, he will also be ascribed to be the Mahdi of the muslims as well. Perhaps it will be a combination of the muslims having to ‘save face’ from all the defeats at the hands of the Israeli Defense Force IDF of Israel after the Psalm 83 War. So in essence, this coming ‘false messiah’ will end up being accepted as the one and the same by both the Jews & Muslims?!
Why? Because this ‘false messiah’, Prince of Persia will have done what no other human has been able to do; that is to bring lasting peace between the Jews & muslims. Because he will have done so, but only momentarily as he is prophesied to break the Covenant at some mid-point, nonetheless, he will be heralded as the ‘savior of the world’. This is purely conjecture. One thing is for sure, the coming of this ‘Prince of Persia’ will be done according to the workings of lawlessness, darkness & by the power of lucifer from spiritual high places. According to the Bible, (Daniel 9,10-12) there is a spiritual dimension that is real & has order that is operating behind the veil sort of speak; behind the choosing of world leaders & planned events as we speak.
Behind the veil
In the Bible, the Book of Daniel gives us a vivid glimpse of the behind the scenes look at this spiritual realm from which this & all human contention emanates from due to sin & pride. Perhaps this ancient & heavenly conflict is now on schedule to spill over into our space & time dimension as it pertains to the stand-off between Israel & Iran in particular. It does appear to be the case guessing from all the rhetoric & military build-up around Iran. The stage is being set for this ‘behind the scenes’ spiritual conflict to come through & pierce behind the veil onto this visible world stage. It appears that the same players are once again, being pitched against each other in these Last Days; the Sons of Judah against the Sons of Elam.
All that is needed now is for the specific ‘timing’ or day to be chosen by Iran to annihilate Israel as the chosen day is to be revealed like in Purim during the time of Esther. It was a time when the enemies of the Jews in Esther’s day sought out the astrologers to pick a demonically inspired day to give them success in annihilating the Jews in 1 day. According to the Book of Daniel, the Arch-Angels are in direct opposition to the King & Prince of Persia. The Book of Daniel stated specifically that there would be a day in the future where these spiritual entities themselves would have to re-engage in this same ancient celestial conflict, specifically against the Prince of Persia, i.e., Iran.
As this demonic Prince of Persia is to rise against Israel in the Last Days, spiritually, it is using Iran’s current geo-political & religious institutions to manifest this satanic hatred for the GOD of the Jews & His Earthly People. Nonetheless, the Arch-Angel Michael is portrayed as the special guardian or protector over Israel as a counter-balance spiritual force. Perhaps this celestial conflict in the near future will correlate to an earthly confrontation with Israel & Iran that perhaps may very well be played out during the Gog-Magog war as written in Ezekiel 38 & 39.
The vision of Daniel gives a specific account where the Arch-Angel contents with the Prince of Persia in delivering the answer to Daniel’s prayer & supplication. Why is this prayer such an issue of celestial contention? This prayer and/or supplication dealt with the particulars of the coming of the True Messiah, Jesus Christ. Evidently, the ‘Kings of Persia’ in the spiritual realm was opposed to Daniel having this type of foreknowledge & prophecy about the coming of the Messiah. It is evident that satan did not want Daniel to have a revelation of what would be happening in the future either. Also, somehow, the enemy can decipher the context of Daniel’s prayer, especially if one prays out laud.
Such entities as the Prince of Persia that has sway over the territory of Iran are the spiritual demonic entities of darkness nonetheless that have influence of its rulers, i.e. President Ahmadinejad. It also appears that there is a hierarchy or rank within this spiritual principality arena, i.e., all the religious clerics. It is by the LORD’s divine providence that those principalities of darkness such as the Prince of Persia & Greece, later on for that matter, are allowed to have dominion over nations & peoples. It will be at the 2nd coming of Jesus Christ when He will vanquish their thrones. These are the very thrones that are to be administered out perhaps to the Saints during the Millennial reign of Christ.
The false messiah
It is very evident from the belief & rhetoric of Ahmadenajab that the shi’a branch of islam awaits their ‘messiah’ or Mahdi. He is the 12th Imam or spiritual leader that will usher in the islamic paradise on earth from Jerusalem. Interestingly, this islamic ‘messiah’ will make a pact for 7 years with the Jews. This will be a time when he, the Mahdi along with the assistance of jesus christ will convert all the Jews & Christians to islam- by force if necessary. Many Biblical scholars speculate that this ‘jesus christ’ will be the last Roman Catholic Pope, ‘Peter the Roman’ as many who hold to a certain Pope Prophecy of Saint Malachy declares.
Given this conjecture, then this ‘jesus christ’ would be none other than the False Prophet that is prophesied to aid the AntiChrist, according to the Book of Revelation. Perhaps this coming ‘Prince’ to the muslims is what the AntiChrist will turn out to be according to the Christians. One thing is for sure, this coming ‘Prince’ will captivate the world with his economic, political & religious solutions to the point that the whole world will ascribe to him the messiahship that muslim, Jews & some Christians will have been waiting for that matter.
According to the Bible, this ‘false messiah’ or Mahdi will be endowed with demonic power & energy that which at some point, lucifer himself will directly possess. This is not to suggest that the literal AntiChrist -as defined by the Bible, will be an Iranian, but that the same spiritual darkness of lucifer governs over such entities. It is lucifer, satan, the enemy of YHWH that along with his cadre of fallen demonic angles are operating & will operate to usher in their ‘messiah’ to the world with their ‘New Order’.
As lucifer has worked to confront GOD at every step in the Plan of Redemption through the death, burial & resurrection of GOD the SON, then, so too is he is now working to do the same in these Last Days because he know his time is short. What will be carried out during the Tribulation period will be a forced compliance that will exclude any homage to Jesus Christ. Any force that is against the true interpretation & person of Jesus Christ as laid out in the New Testament & that is against the physical bloodline of Christ is of the spirit & power of lucifer & his AntiChrist to come soon onto the world stage.
The Spirit of Haman
According to the Book of Esther, this age old conflict between the Sons of Judah & the Sons of Elam goes back even farther than Abraham. This conflict goes all that way back to the Garden of Eden; to the first human parents having the Seed of the Woman against the Seed of the Serpent (Gen 3:15). GOD pronounced this mortal combat for dominance in the Earth due to the Fall of Man. We see this played out in Elam or the land of Persia during the time the Jews were in Iran due to the Babylonian Exile through the evil Spirit of a man named Haman.
Esther along with her cousin Mordechai represented the People of the God of Israel, YHWH the Seed of the Woman, that being of the forth-coming Messiah. Haman represented the Seed of the Serpent bent on crushing the bloodline of the Messiah, the Jewish race. Haman was a descendant of Amelek. His bloodline found its way also into the land of Persia. He was like the current counterpart, Ahmadinejad, bent on a satanic hatred for YHWH & His People in a quest to kill off the Jewish people & rid them from the Earth. Recently during the 67th session of the UN General Assembly, Ahmadinejad once again publically prayed to allah for this coming New World Order to be ruled by the Mahdi & that the ‘zionist’ state of Israel be obliterated.
Haman devised a wicked plan to have all the Jews within the Persian provinces killed in a single day. Artaxerxes II (404-359BC in Susa (Shushan) husband of Esther, was tricked into signing a royal decree to annihilate the Jews; this would have included Esther, despite being the Queen, she was a Jew. She bravely put her reputation & personal safety aside & used her position as Queen to advocate on the Jews behalf. With her intervention, a counter Royal Edict went out that allowed the Jews to defend themselves on the day of their planned annihilation. This day was called Purim. Purim means a casting of the die or lots. To this day, Purim is celebrated as a deliverance from Haman’s attempt at a decreed public genocide against the Jews, as the current Iranian religious clerics & president are seeking to do likewise.
The same spirit of Haman that sought to destroy the People of God has risen up again in these Last Days to attempt such a task. The modern counterpart of Haman, Ahmadinejad, likewise currently seeks to publically announce the need to impose national genocide upon Israel. The rhetoric used by the muslim clerics & the current Iranian President to eradicate the Zionist ‘menace’ is taken quite literally & serious by the Israeli leadership –as they should. What helped lead the cause for the Holocaust in Nazi Germany was 1) Israel did not have unified & sovereign state or leadership to which address the menace & threat of extermination at the hands of Hitler. What is different now is that there is a unified & sovereign state of Israel & a strong leadership through Netanyahu that is addressing the credible threat.
What is different in not allowing Iran to possess a nuclear armory as opposed to other nations is that Iran’s President & its religious leadership both prescribe a weapon of mass destruction against Israel to be the prerequisite to unleash the advent of the Madhi. Currently there is only 1 other muslim nation that has the nuclear bomb, Pakistan but the leaders of that country do not rant about destroying Zionist Israel off the map at every UN General Assembly meeting. This is the difference.
If the Israeli leadership does not act & induce a pre-emptive strike against Iran as the Jews did against Haman’s plot, the nation of Israel will in jeopardy of literally being wiped off the map of the world. The stakes are too high for Israel to wait on UN inspectors, negotiations and/or sanctions. If Benjamin Netanyahu or whoever will be the Prime Minister during this upcoming critical time does not act like Mordechai & Esther in Iran of old, the Jewish nation could parish.
Yet Biblically speaking, there will be inevitable war in the Middle East as Israel will be the flash point. According to Zechariah, 2/3s of the current 5 million Jewish population of Israel will be killed at some point due to the coming military confrontations with the muslims. Israel will not escape a coming sever persecution because of this mortal struggle between the Seed of satan & the Seed of the Woman. In part, the LORD is allowing this to occur to force Israel to turn its eyes & heart to Jesus Christ, their Only & True Messiah. It will take such a purging through the fire that Israel will have its scales fall from its eyes as the Apostle Paul describes their current spiritual condition before the LORD comes to address the enemies of His People, Israel.
The Die has been Cast – Purim in march 2013
In the Bible, the Book of Esther speaks of a Jewish maiden named Esther that lived in the land of Persia or Iran. Esther’s Jewish name was Hadassah. Although she was brought up by her uncle in humble beginnings, she ended up married to Artaxerxes II (404-359BC in Susa (Shushan). He was the most powerful monarch of the day.
During this time of history, she, along with the counsel of Mordechai became the delivers of the Jews in Persia during a time when the religious & political enemies of the Jews sought to annihilate them all in one day –as they do today specifically in Iran. The LORD overturned the fortunes and executed the same execution upon the enemies of the Jews starting with Haman & his 10 sons. That day is commemorated as Purim, or when the ‘Die is cast’.
If you read the current headlines of the Middle East, & you open the Bible to the Books of Daniel, Ezra, Nehemiah, & Esther, you will not help but see the striking parallels of history. It appears that the pages of the Bible are coming alive with similar scenarios; at least in terms of the plot against the Jews. For example, take the Tomb of Queen Esther & Mordechai is believed to be in Hamadan, between Tehran & Iraq. There are muslim extremists in Hamadan that in recent years have threatened to demolish the Tombs of Ester & Mordechai if Israel in any way advances to overtake the Temple Mount’s Mosques.
It appears that the Jewish nation once again finds itself at the cross-hairs of satanic all-out assault. This coming assault will involve the very existence & survival as the spirit of the ‘Prince of Persia’ has risen in these Last Days to over-power the Jewish Nation into oblivion. Perhaps as the ‘bomb’ is being readied by Iran, the chosen day & time will coincide with a ‘Purim’ date. It is interesting that the 1st Gulf War & 2nd Gulf War both had a direct association to Purim. They either started on or end near Purim.
The Israeli Prime Minister showed the bomb diagram at the UN on the 67th General Assembly address, illustrating that there are 3 stages to completing & arming a nuclear bomb. He stated that the
1st Stage: Is to secure low-level enriched uranium. This stage has been completed by Iran, although it took several years to do it. (7-12 year process)
2nd Stage: Iran in this stage is about to be completing mid-level enrichment that is only months away. Netanyahu then stressed that a Red Line needs to be place on Iran from acquiring the last stage of the enrichment process. (3-6 month process)
3rd Stage: This last stage will only take weeks at most after the mid-level enrichment centrifuges are obtained. From this point, it will be easy to mount it on a tip of one of their SEJIL long rage missiles that can reach Israel. (2-6 week process)
Given this likely scenario, the 2nd stage is about to be completed in about 2-3 months or around the Winter of 2012. Thereafter it will be a matter of several weeks to have a 1st bomb. This timetable would put the likelihood of Iran having their first nuclear bomb by around March of 2013. Purim is on March 25, 2013. Could this be the ‘Day’ that Iran will seek to strike at Israel – like in Haman’s day? Will this be the time that Israel will counter-strike at Iran as they did against Haman & their enemies during the time of Esther & Mordechai?
The Messiah Complex
According to the Book of Ezra, King Cyrus, the Persian (576 BC–530 BC) was used by the Jewish God, YHWH to play a key role the history of the Jewish people. To this day Cyrus’ mausoleum still stands in the Plain of Pasagrad in Iran. According to the Bible, Cyrus is even called by name in Isaiah 44 & 45, hundreds of years before his birth. History tells us that Cyrus acknowledged the will of the God of Israel & followed His instructions. The LORD instructed Cyrus to restore the LORD’s Temple that Solomon had built & return the Jewish Captives in Babylon after Cyrus captured Babylon from the hands of Belshazzar. The Prophet Daniel was there that very Day. (Daniel 5) This Edict of Restoration is what some Biblical Scholars use to date & calculate specific end time scenarios from.
This Edict & personality of Cyrus had so much of an impact on the Jewish psyche at that time, that Cyrus the Great is the only ‘Gentile’ that is attributed the features & gestures of the ‘messiah’ complex or the ‘Anointed-Chosen One’. It is interesting that the reign of Cyrus lasted about 2500 years. It actually came to an end with the last Shah of Iran abdicated the throne on Feb 11, 1979 due to the Iranian islamic Revolution. This 2500 time period of years also corresponds to the number of years of the Jewish Diaspora. Since the Babylonian Captivity until the birth of the Jewish Nation on May 14, 1948 has been about 2500 years also.
During the time of the Shah of Iran, Palavi, the Jews of Iran, like in the time of Cyrus, experienced a ‘golden age’. Although politically the Shah did not recognize Israel’s independence in 1942, it was in 1941 that he began the reign in the 2,500 year successive monarchical rule of Persia. His reign, unlike the Shah Rheza of WW2 –who was Pro Nazi, allowed the Jews of Iran full rights & privileges as citizens. It was a time when the Jewish community excelled in education, science & commerce. Sadly his reign ended at the hands of islamic shi’a extremists. With the departure of the Shah of Iran, so too went the freedom & access Persian Jews had under his reign.
Scenarios
The Bible does clearly state that in the Last Days, there will be 3 major regional wars, all centered around Israel. You have the
1. Psalm 83 War –Arab confederation of inner ring neighboring countries of Israel
2. The Gog-Magog War I –at some point either before or into the Tribulation Period
3. The Gog-Magog War II –at the end of the 1000 Year Millennial reign of Christ on Earth
Prophetically, one thing is for sure, Iran (Persia) will attack & strike Israel with an alliance of other muslim nations led by Russia. This is the infamous Ezekiel 38-39 War. Preceding this will be a stage that is not clear or as certain that will involve the Arab ‘inner ring’ of nation that will attack Israel before this Gog-Magog war.
Many political scientists would have you realize that the ‘War’ between Israel & Iran has already started. It has mainly been a ‘cold war’ for a few years now. There has been the computer software virus that attacked the Iranian Nuclear sites. There have been bombing of research & development facilities & assassination of top Iranian nuclear scientists. Since it appears that in the current tense stand-off between Israel & Iran will lead to an Iranian strike or war, Iran will be in tact nonetheless. It may be weakened but not to the point that it will once again be part of that alliance further into the near future. Here are some suggested scenarios that might play out.
1. Israel could be bluffing as Iran says it is and do nothing overtly
2. Israel could strike Iran on her own, without US or coalition support
3. Israel could wait till a united coalition, much like the one used against Iraq to strike
4. Israel could strike at Iran’s directly by way of its neighboring proxy militias, Hezbollah & Hamas*
5. Iran could strike Israel once Israel engages in direct conflict against Hamas and/or Hezbollah*
*Iran as a mutual military pact with Hezbollah & Hamas to come to its aid & defense if attacked.
A possible direct military confrontation with Iran by Israel could be the result of the Psalm 83 Arab confederation assault on Israel. The inevitable strife & attack on Hamas & Hezbollah would force Iran to strike at Israel in some fashion thereafter. Or Iran could elect not to enter the fray until an opportune time, which would be the prophesied Gog-Magog alliance. Perhaps Iran at that point would see itself as having a better vantage point in the alliance than to go at it alone against a direct military conformation against Israel.
the rise of arab Sunni radical islam
Another factor to consider in the volatile mix is that shi’a & sunni islam have the same complex in comparison to the Catholic & Protestant divide. Each considers the other to be heretical & false; in need of repentance & conversion. There have been varying degrees of hostilities throughout the centuries & in current times; case in point, the civil war in Syria. Moreover, the Iranians see themselves as the true nation of islam & the guardian that is to lead & speak on behalf of the ‘house of islam,’ not the Saudis.
Iran could be the one bluffing & actually have a strategy of waiting it out. Due to the current arab-sunni uprising & changes of government as in Egypt for example with the Muslim Brotherhood, Iran being shi’a could be playing a wait and see position by letting the arab countries that surround Israel engage in war first with Israel. Their inevitable defeat by Israel, militarily or supernaturally would provide Iran with an opportunity to fill in the muslim void of leadership; assuming Saudi Arabia would so weakened in its claim to be the guardian of the true version of islam. Second, having Israel be militarily spent, Iran would be at a military advantage as Israel would be recouping its spent military strength due to the inner-ring war i.e., the Psalm 83 War.
Here below is a comparison of each county’s arsenal –according to public records.
| Active personnel |
176,500
|
545,000
|
| Reserve personnel |
445,000
|
1,800,000
|
| Budget |
~$14.5 bill
|
~10 bil
|
| Percent of GDP |
~7%
|
~3%
|
| Foreign suppliers |
USA
|
Russia
|
| Tanks |
78.9 mill
|
7.5 mil
|
| Towed artillery |
23 mill
|
1.8 mil
|
| Self-propelled guns |
545,000
|
187,000
|
| X rocket systems |
650,000
|
565,000
|
| Mortars |
1,613
|
3,501
|
| Anti-tank weapons |
2,010
|
456
|
| Anti-aircraft weapons |
865
|
620
|
| Logistical vehicles |
200
|
138
|
| Total navy ships |
5,000
|
750
|
| Destroyers |
1,400
|
900
|
| Submarines |
1,701
|
200
|
| Frigates |
12,000
|
7,684
|
Iranian Missile Arsenal
Iran has successfully test fired their SHAHAB 3 SEJIL missiles during military exercises. Both have a range of approximately 2000 km or about 5000 miles. Targets can be reached in Central Europe, North Africa & Asia. Both seek to match Israel’s Jericho 3 missile systems.
Economic war -Sanctions
The economic sanctions imposed on Iran by the US, the UN & the EU have had direct effects on the austerity measures imposed on Europe as Greece & now Spain are on the brink of economic collapse. The sanctions against Iran have spiked inflation & has nearly destroyed its currently but the sanctions have also had negative adverse effects directly on Europe. As Iran exports a significant percentage of its oil to Greece& Spain, it has been part of a contributing factor of destabilizing those economies there as well. It is also that Iran is one of the last remaining world nations without a ‘central banking’ system as in most other nations. A centralized banking system like the Federal Reserve in the US takes the power of printing money away from governments & instead lends out money with interest to the government. This satanic scheme makes it impossible for a nation to ever get out of national debt & as a result, the central banks that are not owned by the national governments, are forced to be ruled by them.
Currently 40% of the world’s oil passes through this Strait. The centralized criminal ‘banksters’ want this control & economy directly. If & when Iran will be provoked to possibly ‘strike’ 1st, it will cut off oil shipments. This will cause the barrel of oil to go above $200+ & possibly cause Western economies to collapse & dollar to fall. If you look at the regional map of Iran & you see where the oil & gas pipelines, you can also compare the US military bases in relation to them. At once will a coalition of nations join as they did with Iraq to ‘liberate’ the country to provide ‘freedom’ & ‘democracy’. Yeah right, just look at Obama’s results in the current Middle East nightmare.
It would appear that the US military bases correlate to the geo-political constructs of the oil & gas pipeline network. Having also the headquarters of the 5th US Navy Fleet in Bahrain across the Persian Gulf give the US a strategic position militarily. Recently over 30 nations participated in sending their navy contingents for a mine sweeping exercise. This has been unprecedented as it took place in the Straights of Hormuz where a possible military confrontation or ‘false flag’ could ensue either a US-Israeli strike or WWII for that matter. The Straits of Hormuz is considered on of the world’s 7 Gates; basically whom ever controls these 7 Gates of the world, controls the world economies, transportation, energy supplies & trade.
The 7 World Gates
Oil Transit Chokepoints. About1/2 of the world’s oil is moved by oil tankers.
1. Strait of Hormuz
2. Strait of Malacca
3. Danish Straits
4. Bab El-Mandab
5. Bosporus Strait
6. Suez Canal
7. Panama Canal
IRAN OIL Exports
80% or 4/5th Oil makes up about of Iran’s exports
60% goes to Asia
50% of Turkey’s oil comes from Iran
10% of energy needs for China, Japan & S.Korea rely on Iran
Iranian Imports
Products imported by Iran in $ Millions
China 18,236
Japan 11,162
Italy 6,079
S.Korea 3,687
India 1,774
Greece 1,540
Germany 1,108
France 1,107
Belgium 668
Brazil 136
Oil Reserves
in Billions of Barrels
1. 750 Middle East
2. 206 North America
3. 126 South America
4. 121 Africa
5. 42 Asia
6. 15 Europe
Perspectives
To get a sense of how & why Iran & the Middle East as a whole is acting this way, we have to examine its history. In part, it will help provide context & a partial explanation as to why things have escalated to this point internationally between Israel & Iran. It goes back to the 1989 Iranian Revolution. It goes farther back to the CIA coup that ousted Mosadek CIA in 1953 with Operation Ajax. It goes farther back when the Shah Reza allowed the oil conglomerates of what is now British Petroleum BP to control the oil wealth of Iran.
The Iranians do have legitimate grievances as it feels that the West has only sought out to exploit it as many other 3rd world nations for its resources. According to Wesley Clark, Oct 3, 2007 at the Commonwealth Club of California, San Francisco. He stated that the US military has been used for these globalist purposes. There would be 7 Middle East countries that will be taken down to usher in the New World Order.
1. Afghanistan
2. Iraq
3. Tunisia
4. Libya
5. Egypt
6. Syria
7. IRAN?
Deja-vous
What is also interesting is that the current cycle of US presidential elections & candidates mirrors that of the 1980 US presidential election. You had a Democratic US President, the 39th Jimmy Carter that came out of obscurity. He was not national known or recognized but was cast into the center stage of world politics. It was a time when the US was in a recession & unemployment was up in comparison to other years. There was a general sense of helplessness & disconnect amongst the US electorate.
Carter was up against a Republican nominee, Ronald Reagan that presented a very clear alternative to the perceived lack of leadership, not only on the national level but the international one as well. You had a fuming radicalization of islam in Iran that overthrew the Shah of Iran. American flags were burned to the ground & the US embassy was overrun. The Iranian muslim extremists took over 50 US Embassy staff & personnel as hostages.
Although the current political scenario does have much in common with the events that led up to the Iranian Revolution & the US’s direct involvement with Iran, there are very distinct differences in personalities & situations. For one, Obama’s foreign policy –unlike Carters, has basically aided & embolden the rise of the radicalization of islam in the region. His policy has encouraged the overthrow of long lasting political governments, albeit, corrupt as they were. On the other hand, Obama’s Republican opponent does not have a very well throughout & articulated alternative as Reagan did.
What is the same & at an even alarming rate is the increase in unemployment, natural disasters, & more dependence on foreign oil. Perhaps history is indeed repeating itself in the boarder sense, it would mean that Obama will be defeated & Romney will be elected the next President of the USA. This is not to say that it will happen but that there are some peculiar parallels.
What is significantly different is that this current scenario of Middle East is that the Christian communities within those toppled countries have been caught in the crossfire. The Christian minorities have taken the brunt of the anger, rage & satanic fanaticism of the so called peace-loving & merciful muslims. Nonetheless, it seems that history is repeating itself as US embassies, US flags & now Christian churches are being burnt to the ground.
Nando
A woman and her baby evacuate to higher ground after a strong earthquake in Sumatra in April. (Heri Juanda / Associated Press / April 11, 2012)
Twelve Books - Rapture, Antichrist, False Prophet, End Time Signs, Bible Prophecy, Nando 
“The Coming Prince of Persia – spiritual undertones in the current Israel-Iran showdown” Luis Vega (29 Sep 2012)
Thanks to Luis Vegas we have this very good study comparing the nations of Israel and Iran.
In his chart I think the total populations were reversed, and from there down I do not know for sure. Nonetheless is a good chart showing the characteristics of these two nations that are on the verge of clashing in war.
Thank you Luis Vega.
In the Bible this war was foreseen by the prophet Ezekiel in ch 38 and 39.
http://niv.scripturetext.com/ezekiel/38-1.htm
Nando
http://www.fivedoves.com/letters/sep2012/luisv929.htm
Luis Vega (29 Sep 2012)
“The Coming Prince of Persia – spiritual undertones in the current Israel-Iran showdown“
The COMING Prince of Persia
Confrontation between the Sons of Judah & Elam in the Last Days
An analysis of the spiritual undertones in the current Israel-Iran showdown
By Luis B. Vega
vegapost@hotmail.com
PDF chart online at: www.sonoma.edu/users/v/vegalu/eschatology_files/Prince.pdf
“For they are the spirits of devils working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.” -Revelation 16:14
The purpose of this study (with chart, see above link) is to consider the ancient spiritual undertones of the current geo-political conflict between Iran & Israel. In a general since, several parallels between certain key personalities from the Bible will be compared to the current leaders of the respected countries. A modern timeline showing the major events at the time of the Iranian Shia Revolution will be highlighted. A military comparison will be displayed; matching Israel’s & Iran’s capabilities for war.
A map of Iran will incorporate the various geographic regions to include the ancient & historical influence of Iran’s language & culture. Iran was formally known as Persia. They are not Arab & they speak Farsi. The name of the country was changed to Iran, alluding to the original peoples call the Aryans. The map will also highlight the numerous US military bases that are surrounding Iran currently & that are protecting the various oil & gas pipelines. Several of the major oil & gas pipeline routes will be mapped-out for context, showing Iran’s export percentages of oil to the world.
The confrontation between the Sons of Judah, i.e., Israel & the Sons of Elam i.e., Iran in these Last Days goes as far back as to the times of Abraham. The Bible records that it was the Jewish GOD YHWH, the Creator of Earth & Heaven that called Abram from Ur of the Chaldeans. When Abram was living in the Promised Land, that is, Judah or Israel, an ancient Elamite King Chedorlaomer of Iran was one of the Kings of the East that led the raids that took all of Abraham’s possessions, including his nephew Lot. The Bible goes on to describe that it was Abraham & his allies & own personal army that sought & defeated Chedorlaomer.
Here we have a rendition the Abram, i.e. Israel defeating the 5 Kings of Elam or Iran to rescue his household, possessions & nephew Lot. Abram regained the wealth plundered from the Sons of Elam, Iran that had sought to take as a spoil. Once again in these Last Days, so too the Sons of Elam, Iran seeks to take the possession, the Land, the Promised Land given by GOD to Abram & to his descendents, the Sons of Judah – Israel.
The Iranian pretext for its hostility & rhetoric against the ‘zionist’ state of Israel is that it is defending the cause of the Palestinians. Prophetically, Iran will not be part of the Psalm 83 confederations that will attack Israel for this very purpose. Perhaps Iran will not be able to aid the Arab confederation of Psalm 83 nations as it will be so militarily weakened by a joint US-Israeli strike on Iran before then; Iran may only be able to spurs on the attacks through their proxy armies of Hamas & Hezbollah. One could draw a parallel thought that the Psalm 83 War will end up just like what happened with Abram in the Bible against Elam. Perhaps Israel will likewise defeat the 5 ‘kings’ or armies that will go against it during the Psalm 83 War. The 5 major Arab states said to be involved in this Israeli invasion are:
1. Egypt
2. Jordan
3. Lebanon
4. Syria
5. Arabia
The Prince to Come
It was in Iran that the Prophet Daniel was given the vision of the coming Messiah, Jesus Christ in Susa. It is in Susa or Shushan where his tomb is believed to be at even to this day. It is ironic that in that same region, the people are waiting for a different ‘messiah’, the Mahdi. Ironically both descendants of Israel & Iran are waiting for along expectant messiah to come. This ‘messiah’ is the ‘Son of David’ for the Jews & the 12th Imam or Mahdi for the shi’a muslims of Iran & sunnis in general. Each is holding out that their messiah is the one that will defeat & destroy the other & has the true rendition of ‘god’s revelation with permission to rule & conquer the rest of the world.
>From a Judeo-Christian perspective, the New Testament declares that Jesus Christ was & is the True & Only Messiah of the Jewish Nation & Savior of the World. Christ Jesus promised to return at the End of Days to establish His Kingdom over the whole Earth from the literal Throne of King David of Israel in Jerusalem. It would be rather incredible if perhaps this coming ‘messiah’ that both the Jews & the muslims are waiting for turned out to be the one in the same for both!
How? Perhaps after the Psalm 83 War & the Rapture of the Christian Church to have happened, maybe Israel will at that time strike a deal with the AntiChrist who will come on the scene with the world’s solutions. Perhaps this personage will be the one whom they will accept as their long awaited ‘messiah’ because he ‘Confirms the Covenant’ with the Jewish nation -securing ‘peace & safety’. But also somehow, someway, he will also be ascribed to be the Mahdi of the muslims as well. Perhaps it will be a combination of the muslims having to ‘save face’ from all the defeats at the hands of the Israeli Defense Force IDF of Israel after the Psalm 83 War. So in essence, this coming ‘false messiah’ will end up being accepted as the one and the same by both the Jews & Muslims?!
Why? Because this ‘false messiah’, Prince of Persia will have done what no other human has been able to do; that is to bring lasting peace between the Jews & muslims. Because he will have done so, but only momentarily as he is prophesied to break the Covenant at some mid-point, nonetheless, he will be heralded as the ‘savior of the world’. This is purely conjecture. One thing is for sure, the coming of this ‘Prince of Persia’ will be done according to the workings of lawlessness, darkness & by the power of lucifer from spiritual high places. According to the Bible, (Daniel 9,10-12) there is a spiritual dimension that is real & has order that is operating behind the veil sort of speak; behind the choosing of world leaders & planned events as we speak.
Behind the veil
In the Bible, the Book of Daniel gives us a vivid glimpse of the behind the scenes look at this spiritual realm from which this & all human contention emanates from due to sin & pride. Perhaps this ancient & heavenly conflict is now on schedule to spill over into our space & time dimension as it pertains to the stand-off between Israel & Iran in particular. It does appear to be the case guessing from all the rhetoric & military build-up around Iran. The stage is being set for this ‘behind the scenes’ spiritual conflict to come through & pierce behind the veil onto this visible world stage. It appears that the same players are once again, being pitched against each other in these Last Days; the Sons of Judah against the Sons of Elam.
All that is needed now is for the specific ‘timing’ or day to be chosen by Iran to annihilate Israel as the chosen day is to be revealed like in Purim during the time of Esther. It was a time when the enemies of the Jews in Esther’s day sought out the astrologers to pick a demonically inspired day to give them success in annihilating the Jews in 1 day. According to the Book of Daniel, the Arch-Angels are in direct opposition to the King & Prince of Persia. The Book of Daniel stated specifically that there would be a day in the future where these spiritual entities themselves would have to re-engage in this same ancient celestial conflict, specifically against the Prince of Persia, i.e., Iran.
As this demonic Prince of Persia is to rise against Israel in the Last Days, spiritually, it is using Iran’s current geo-political & religious institutions to manifest this satanic hatred for the GOD of the Jews & His Earthly People. Nonetheless, the Arch-Angel Michael is portrayed as the special guardian or protector over Israel as a counter-balance spiritual force. Perhaps this celestial conflict in the near future will correlate to an earthly confrontation with Israel & Iran that perhaps may very well be played out during the Gog-Magog war as written in Ezekiel 38 & 39.
The vision of Daniel gives a specific account where the Arch-Angel contents with the Prince of Persia in delivering the answer to Daniel’s prayer & supplication. Why is this prayer such an issue of celestial contention? This prayer and/or supplication dealt with the particulars of the coming of the True Messiah, Jesus Christ. Evidently, the ‘Kings of Persia’ in the spiritual realm was opposed to Daniel having this type of foreknowledge & prophecy about the coming of the Messiah. It is evident that satan did not want Daniel to have a revelation of what would be happening in the future either. Also, somehow, the enemy can decipher the context of Daniel’s prayer, especially if one prays out laud.
Such entities as the Prince of Persia that has sway over the territory of Iran are the spiritual demonic entities of darkness nonetheless that have influence of its rulers, i.e. President Ahmadinejad. It also appears that there is a hierarchy or rank within this spiritual principality arena, i.e., all the religious clerics. It is by the LORD’s divine providence that those principalities of darkness such as the Prince of Persia & Greece, later on for that matter, are allowed to have dominion over nations & peoples. It will be at the 2nd coming of Jesus Christ when He will vanquish their thrones. These are the very thrones that are to be administered out perhaps to the Saints during the Millennial reign of Christ.
The false messiah
It is very evident from the belief & rhetoric of Ahmadenajab that the shi’a branch of islam awaits their ‘messiah’ or Mahdi. He is the 12th Imam or spiritual leader that will usher in the islamic paradise on earth from Jerusalem. Interestingly, this islamic ‘messiah’ will make a pact for 7 years with the Jews. This will be a time when he, the Mahdi along with the assistance of jesus christ will convert all the Jews & Christians to islam- by force if necessary. Many Biblical scholars speculate that this ‘jesus christ’ will be the last Roman Catholic Pope, ‘Peter the Roman’ as many who hold to a certain Pope Prophecy of Saint Malachy declares.
Given this conjecture, then this ‘jesus christ’ would be none other than the False Prophet that is prophesied to aid the AntiChrist, according to the Book of Revelation. Perhaps this coming ‘Prince’ to the muslims is what the AntiChrist will turn out to be according to the Christians. One thing is for sure, this coming ‘Prince’ will captivate the world with his economic, political & religious solutions to the point that the whole world will ascribe to him the messiahship that muslim, Jews & some Christians will have been waiting for that matter.
According to the Bible, this ‘false messiah’ or Mahdi will be endowed with demonic power & energy that which at some point, lucifer himself will directly possess. This is not to suggest that the literal AntiChrist -as defined by the Bible, will be an Iranian, but that the same spiritual darkness of lucifer governs over such entities. It is lucifer, satan, the enemy of YHWH that along with his cadre of fallen demonic angles are operating & will operate to usher in their ‘messiah’ to the world with their ‘New Order’.
As lucifer has worked to confront GOD at every step in the Plan of Redemption through the death, burial & resurrection of GOD the SON, then, so too is he is now working to do the same in these Last Days because he know his time is short. What will be carried out during the Tribulation period will be a forced compliance that will exclude any homage to Jesus Christ. Any force that is against the true interpretation & person of Jesus Christ as laid out in the New Testament & that is against the physical bloodline of Christ is of the spirit & power of lucifer & his AntiChrist to come soon onto the world stage.
The Spirit of Haman
According to the Book of Esther, this age old conflict between the Sons of Judah & the Sons of Elam goes back even farther than Abraham. This conflict goes all that way back to the Garden of Eden; to the first human parents having the Seed of the Woman against the Seed of the Serpent (Gen 3:15). GOD pronounced this mortal combat for dominance in the Earth due to the Fall of Man. We see this played out in Elam or the land of Persia during the time the Jews were in Iran due to the Babylonian Exile through the evil Spirit of a man named Haman.
Esther along with her cousin Mordechai represented the People of the God of Israel, YHWH the Seed of the Woman, that being of the forth-coming Messiah. Haman represented the Seed of the Serpent bent on crushing the bloodline of the Messiah, the Jewish race. Haman was a descendant of Amelek. His bloodline found its way also into the land of Persia. He was like the current counterpart, Ahmadinejad, bent on a satanic hatred for YHWH & His People in a quest to kill off the Jewish people & rid them from the Earth. Recently during the 67th session of the UN General Assembly, Ahmadinejad once again publically prayed to allah for this coming New World Order to be ruled by the Mahdi & that the ‘zionist’ state of Israel be obliterated.
Haman devised a wicked plan to have all the Jews within the Persian provinces killed in a single day. Artaxerxes II (404-359BC in Susa (Shushan) husband of Esther, was tricked into signing a royal decree to annihilate the Jews; this would have included Esther, despite being the Queen, she was a Jew. She bravely put her reputation & personal safety aside & used her position as Queen to advocate on the Jews behalf. With her intervention, a counter Royal Edict went out that allowed the Jews to defend themselves on the day of their planned annihilation. This day was called Purim. Purim means a casting of the die or lots. To this day, Purim is celebrated as a deliverance from Haman’s attempt at a decreed public genocide against the Jews, as the current Iranian religious clerics & president are seeking to do likewise.
The same spirit of Haman that sought to destroy the People of God has risen up again in these Last Days to attempt such a task. The modern counterpart of Haman, Ahmadinejad, likewise currently seeks to publically announce the need to impose national genocide upon Israel. The rhetoric used by the muslim clerics & the current Iranian President to eradicate the Zionist ‘menace’ is taken quite literally & serious by the Israeli leadership –as they should. What helped lead the cause for the Holocaust in Nazi Germany was 1) Israel did not have unified & sovereign state or leadership to which address the menace & threat of extermination at the hands of Hitler. What is different now is that there is a unified & sovereign state of Israel & a strong leadership through Netanyahu that is addressing the credible threat.
What is different in not allowing Iran to possess a nuclear armory as opposed to other nations is that Iran’s President & its religious leadership both prescribe a weapon of mass destruction against Israel to be the prerequisite to unleash the advent of the Madhi. Currently there is only 1 other muslim nation that has the nuclear bomb, Pakistan but the leaders of that country do not rant about destroying Zionist Israel off the map at every UN General Assembly meeting. This is the difference.
If the Israeli leadership does not act & induce a pre-emptive strike against Iran as the Jews did against Haman’s plot, the nation of Israel will in jeopardy of literally being wiped off the map of the world. The stakes are too high for Israel to wait on UN inspectors, negotiations and/or sanctions. If Benjamin Netanyahu or whoever will be the Prime Minister during this upcoming critical time does not act like Mordechai & Esther in Iran of old, the Jewish nation could parish.
Yet Biblically speaking, there will be inevitable war in the Middle East as Israel will be the flash point. According to Zechariah, 2/3s of the current 5 million Jewish population of Israel will be killed at some point due to the coming military confrontations with the muslims. Israel will not escape a coming sever persecution because of this mortal struggle between the Seed of satan & the Seed of the Woman. In part, the LORD is allowing this to occur to force Israel to turn its eyes & heart to Jesus Christ, their Only & True Messiah. It will take such a purging through the fire that Israel will have its scales fall from its eyes as the Apostle Paul describes their current spiritual condition before the LORD comes to address the enemies of His People, Israel.
The Die has been Cast – Purim in march 2013
In the Bible, the Book of Esther speaks of a Jewish maiden named Esther that lived in the land of Persia or Iran. Esther’s Jewish name was Hadassah. Although she was brought up by her uncle in humble beginnings, she ended up married to Artaxerxes II (404-359BC in Susa (Shushan). He was the most powerful monarch of the day.
During this time of history, she, along with the counsel of Mordechai became the delivers of the Jews in Persia during a time when the religious & political enemies of the Jews sought to annihilate them all in one day –as they do today specifically in Iran. The LORD overturned the fortunes and executed the same execution upon the enemies of the Jews starting with Haman & his 10 sons. That day is commemorated as Purim, or when the ‘Die is cast’.
If you read the current headlines of the Middle East, & you open the Bible to the Books of Daniel, Ezra, Nehemiah, & Esther, you will not help but see the striking parallels of history. It appears that the pages of the Bible are coming alive with similar scenarios; at least in terms of the plot against the Jews. For example, take the Tomb of Queen Esther & Mordechai is believed to be in Hamadan, between Tehran & Iraq. There are muslim extremists in Hamadan that in recent years have threatened to demolish the Tombs of Ester & Mordechai if Israel in any way advances to overtake the Temple Mount’s Mosques.
It appears that the Jewish nation once again finds itself at the cross-hairs of satanic all-out assault. This coming assault will involve the very existence & survival as the spirit of the ‘Prince of Persia’ has risen in these Last Days to over-power the Jewish Nation into oblivion. Perhaps as the ‘bomb’ is being readied by Iran, the chosen day & time will coincide with a ‘Purim’ date. It is interesting that the 1st Gulf War & 2nd Gulf War both had a direct association to Purim. They either started on or end near Purim.
The Israeli Prime Minister showed the bomb diagram at the UN on the 67th General Assembly address, illustrating that there are 3 stages to completing & arming a nuclear bomb. He stated that the
1st Stage: Is to secure low-level enriched uranium. This stage has been completed by Iran, although it took several years to do it. (7-12 year process)
2nd Stage: Iran in this stage is about to be completing mid-level enrichment that is only months away. Netanyahu then stressed that a Red Line needs to be place on Iran from acquiring the last stage of the enrichment process. (3-6 month process)
3rd Stage: This last stage will only take weeks at most after the mid-level enrichment centrifuges are obtained. From this point, it will be easy to mount it on a tip of one of their SEJIL long rage missiles that can reach Israel. (2-6 week process)
Given this likely scenario, the 2nd stage is about to be completed in about 2-3 months or around the Winter of 2012. Thereafter it will be a matter of several weeks to have a 1st bomb. This timetable would put the likelihood of Iran having their first nuclear bomb by around March of 2013. Purim is on March 25, 2013. Could this be the ‘Day’ that Iran will seek to strike at Israel – like in Haman’s day? Will this be the time that Israel will counter-strike at Iran as they did against Haman & their enemies during the time of Esther & Mordechai?
The Messiah Complex
According to the Book of Ezra, King Cyrus, the Persian (576 BC–530 BC) was used by the Jewish God, YHWH to play a key role the history of the Jewish people. To this day Cyrus’ mausoleum still stands in the Plain of Pasagrad in Iran. According to the Bible, Cyrus is even called by name in Isaiah 44 & 45, hundreds of years before his birth. History tells us that Cyrus acknowledged the will of the God of Israel & followed His instructions. The LORD instructed Cyrus to restore the LORD’s Temple that Solomon had built & return the Jewish Captives in Babylon after Cyrus captured Babylon from the hands of Belshazzar. The Prophet Daniel was there that very Day. (Daniel 5) This Edict of Restoration is what some Biblical Scholars use to date & calculate specific end time scenarios from.
This Edict & personality of Cyrus had so much of an impact on the Jewish psyche at that time, that Cyrus the Great is the only ‘Gentile’ that is attributed the features & gestures of the ‘messiah’ complex or the ‘Anointed-Chosen One’. It is interesting that the reign of Cyrus lasted about 2500 years. It actually came to an end with the last Shah of Iran abdicated the throne on Feb 11, 1979 due to the Iranian islamic Revolution. This 2500 time period of years also corresponds to the number of years of the Jewish Diaspora. Since the Babylonian Captivity until the birth of the Jewish Nation on May 14, 1948 has been about 2500 years also.
During the time of the Shah of Iran, Palavi, the Jews of Iran, like in the time of Cyrus, experienced a ‘golden age’. Although politically the Shah did not recognize Israel’s independence in 1942, it was in 1941 that he began the reign in the 2,500 year successive monarchical rule of Persia. His reign, unlike the Shah Rheza of WW2 –who was Pro Nazi, allowed the Jews of Iran full rights & privileges as citizens. It was a time when the Jewish community excelled in education, science & commerce. Sadly his reign ended at the hands of islamic shi’a extremists. With the departure of the Shah of Iran, so too went the freedom & access Persian Jews had under his reign.
Scenarios
The Bible does clearly state that in the Last Days, there will be 3 major regional wars, all centered around Israel. You have the
1. Psalm 83 War –Arab confederation of inner ring neighboring countries of Israel
2. The Gog-Magog War I –at some point either before or into the Tribulation Period
3. The Gog-Magog War II –at the end of the 1000 Year Millennial reign of Christ on Earth
Prophetically, one thing is for sure, Iran (Persia) will attack & strike Israel with an alliance of other muslim nations led by Russia. This is the infamous Ezekiel 38-39 War. Preceding this will be a stage that is not clear or as certain that will involve the Arab ‘inner ring’ of nation that will attack Israel before this Gog-Magog war.
Many political scientists would have you realize that the ‘War’ between Israel & Iran has already started. It has mainly been a ‘cold war’ for a few years now. There has been the computer software virus that attacked the Iranian Nuclear sites. There have been bombing of research & development facilities & assassination of top Iranian nuclear scientists. Since it appears that in the current tense stand-off between Israel & Iran will lead to an Iranian strike or war, Iran will be in tact nonetheless. It may be weakened but not to the point that it will once again be part of that alliance further into the near future. Here are some suggested scenarios that might play out.
1. Israel could be bluffing as Iran says it is and do nothing overtly
2. Israel could strike Iran on her own, without US or coalition support
3. Israel could wait till a united coalition, much like the one used against Iraq to strike
4. Israel could strike at Iran’s directly by way of its neighboring proxy militias, Hezbollah & Hamas*
5. Iran could strike Israel once Israel engages in direct conflict against Hamas and/or Hezbollah*
*Iran as a mutual military pact with Hezbollah & Hamas to come to its aid & defense if attacked.
A possible direct military confrontation with Iran by Israel could be the result of the Psalm 83 Arab confederation assault on Israel. The inevitable strife & attack on Hamas & Hezbollah would force Iran to strike at Israel in some fashion thereafter. Or Iran could elect not to enter the fray until an opportune time, which would be the prophesied Gog-Magog alliance. Perhaps Iran at that point would see itself as having a better vantage point in the alliance than to go at it alone against a direct military conformation against Israel.
the rise of arab Sunni radical islam
Another factor to consider in the volatile mix is that shi’a & sunni islam have the same complex in comparison to the Catholic & Protestant divide. Each considers the other to be heretical & false; in need of repentance & conversion. There have been varying degrees of hostilities throughout the centuries & in current times; case in point, the civil war in Syria. Moreover, the Iranians see themselves as the true nation of islam & the guardian that is to lead & speak on behalf of the ‘house of islam,’ not the Saudis.
Iran could be the one bluffing & actually have a strategy of waiting it out. Due to the current arab-sunni uprising & changes of government as in Egypt for example with the Muslim Brotherhood, Iran being shi’a could be playing a wait and see position by letting the arab countries that surround Israel engage in war first with Israel. Their inevitable defeat by Israel, militarily or supernaturally would provide Iran with an opportunity to fill in the muslim void of leadership; assuming Saudi Arabia would so weakened in its claim to be the guardian of the true version of islam. Second, having Israel be militarily spent, Iran would be at a military advantage as Israel would be recouping its spent military strength due to the inner-ring war i.e., the Psalm 83 War.
Here below is a comparison of each county’s arsenal –according to public records.
176,500
545,000
445,000
1,800,000
~$14.5 bill
~10 bil
~7%
~3%
USA
Russia
78.9 mill
7.5 mil
23 mill
1.8 mil
545,000
187,000
650,000
565,000
1,613
3,501
2,010
456
865
620
200
138
5,000
750
1,400
900
1,701
200
12,000
7,684
Iranian Missile Arsenal
Iran has successfully test fired their SHAHAB 3 SEJIL missiles during military exercises. Both have a range of approximately 2000 km or about 5000 miles. Targets can be reached in Central Europe, North Africa & Asia. Both seek to match Israel’s Jericho 3 missile systems.
Economic war -Sanctions
The economic sanctions imposed on Iran by the US, the UN & the EU have had direct effects on the austerity measures imposed on Europe as Greece & now Spain are on the brink of economic collapse. The sanctions against Iran have spiked inflation & has nearly destroyed its currently but the sanctions have also had negative adverse effects directly on Europe. As Iran exports a significant percentage of its oil to Greece& Spain, it has been part of a contributing factor of destabilizing those economies there as well. It is also that Iran is one of the last remaining world nations without a ‘central banking’ system as in most other nations. A centralized banking system like the Federal Reserve in the US takes the power of printing money away from governments & instead lends out money with interest to the government. This satanic scheme makes it impossible for a nation to ever get out of national debt & as a result, the central banks that are not owned by the national governments, are forced to be ruled by them.
Currently 40% of the world’s oil passes through this Strait. The centralized criminal ‘banksters’ want this control & economy directly. If & when Iran will be provoked to possibly ‘strike’ 1st, it will cut off oil shipments. This will cause the barrel of oil to go above $200+ & possibly cause Western economies to collapse & dollar to fall. If you look at the regional map of Iran & you see where the oil & gas pipelines, you can also compare the US military bases in relation to them. At once will a coalition of nations join as they did with Iraq to ‘liberate’ the country to provide ‘freedom’ & ‘democracy’. Yeah right, just look at Obama’s results in the current Middle East nightmare.
It would appear that the US military bases correlate to the geo-political constructs of the oil & gas pipeline network. Having also the headquarters of the 5th US Navy Fleet in Bahrain across the Persian Gulf give the US a strategic position militarily. Recently over 30 nations participated in sending their navy contingents for a mine sweeping exercise. This has been unprecedented as it took place in the Straights of Hormuz where a possible military confrontation or ‘false flag’ could ensue either a US-Israeli strike or WWII for that matter. The Straits of Hormuz is considered on of the world’s 7 Gates; basically whom ever controls these 7 Gates of the world, controls the world economies, transportation, energy supplies & trade.
The 7 World Gates
Oil Transit Chokepoints. About1/2 of the world’s oil is moved by oil tankers.
1. Strait of Hormuz
2. Strait of Malacca
3. Danish Straits
4. Bab El-Mandab
5. Bosporus Strait
6. Suez Canal
7. Panama Canal
IRAN OIL Exports
80% or 4/5th Oil makes up about of Iran’s exports
60% goes to Asia
50% of Turkey’s oil comes from Iran
10% of energy needs for China, Japan & S.Korea rely on Iran
Iranian Imports
Products imported by Iran in $ Millions
China 18,236
Japan 11,162
Italy 6,079
S.Korea 3,687
India 1,774
Greece 1,540
Germany 1,108
France 1,107
Belgium 668
Brazil 136
Oil Reserves
in Billions of Barrels
1. 750 Middle East
2. 206 North America
3. 126 South America
4. 121 Africa
5. 42 Asia
6. 15 Europe
Perspectives
To get a sense of how & why Iran & the Middle East as a whole is acting this way, we have to examine its history. In part, it will help provide context & a partial explanation as to why things have escalated to this point internationally between Israel & Iran. It goes back to the 1989 Iranian Revolution. It goes farther back to the CIA coup that ousted Mosadek CIA in 1953 with Operation Ajax. It goes farther back when the Shah Reza allowed the oil conglomerates of what is now British Petroleum BP to control the oil wealth of Iran.
The Iranians do have legitimate grievances as it feels that the West has only sought out to exploit it as many other 3rd world nations for its resources. According to Wesley Clark, Oct 3, 2007 at the Commonwealth Club of California, San Francisco. He stated that the US military has been used for these globalist purposes. There would be 7 Middle East countries that will be taken down to usher in the New World Order.
1. Afghanistan
2. Iraq
3. Tunisia
4. Libya
5. Egypt
6. Syria
7. IRAN?
Deja-vous
What is also interesting is that the current cycle of US presidential elections & candidates mirrors that of the 1980 US presidential election. You had a Democratic US President, the 39th Jimmy Carter that came out of obscurity. He was not national known or recognized but was cast into the center stage of world politics. It was a time when the US was in a recession & unemployment was up in comparison to other years. There was a general sense of helplessness & disconnect amongst the US electorate.
Carter was up against a Republican nominee, Ronald Reagan that presented a very clear alternative to the perceived lack of leadership, not only on the national level but the international one as well. You had a fuming radicalization of islam in Iran that overthrew the Shah of Iran. American flags were burned to the ground & the US embassy was overrun. The Iranian muslim extremists took over 50 US Embassy staff & personnel as hostages.
Although the current political scenario does have much in common with the events that led up to the Iranian Revolution & the US’s direct involvement with Iran, there are very distinct differences in personalities & situations. For one, Obama’s foreign policy –unlike Carters, has basically aided & embolden the rise of the radicalization of islam in the region. His policy has encouraged the overthrow of long lasting political governments, albeit, corrupt as they were. On the other hand, Obama’s Republican opponent does not have a very well throughout & articulated alternative as Reagan did.
What is the same & at an even alarming rate is the increase in unemployment, natural disasters, & more dependence on foreign oil. Perhaps history is indeed repeating itself in the boarder sense, it would mean that Obama will be defeated & Romney will be elected the next President of the USA. This is not to say that it will happen but that there are some peculiar parallels.
What is significantly different is that this current scenario of Middle East is that the Christian communities within those toppled countries have been caught in the crossfire. The Christian minorities have taken the brunt of the anger, rage & satanic fanaticism of the so called peace-loving & merciful muslims. Nonetheless, it seems that history is repeating itself as US embassies, US flags & now Christian churches are being burnt to the ground.
Nando
Written by twelvebooks
September 30, 2012 at 4:00 pm
Posted in Apocalypse, Bible Commentary, eschatology, Ezekiel 38-39, Iran, Iran-Persia-Elam, Islam, Israel, Nuclear Weapons, Religious Commentary
Tagged with Apocalypse, Biblical Prophecy, Iran, Islam, Israel, Prophecy