“The day is near when I, the Lord, will judge all godless nations! As you have done to Israel, so it will be done to you. All your evil deeds will fall back on your own heads” (Obadiah 1:15).

As Jerusalem goes, so goes Israel. As Israel goes, so goes the world.

I do not think that is an exaggeration.

If anything, it’s an understatement. For no other reason than Jerusalem’s supreme status as a (the) Holy City.

“On the holy mountain stands the city founded by the Lord. He loves the city of Jerusalem more than any other city in Israel. O city of God, what glorious things are said of you!” (Psalm 87:1-3).

If the Lord loves Jerusalem more than any city in Israel, then he must cherish Jerusalem more than any city on earth. For the Lord calls Israel his “special possession” (Joel 3:2 and other passages).

For the record, The LORD cited in the above passages and hundreds of other passages is the God of the Bible. Among other names and titles, He first referred to himself as the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. He is the ONLY true God and must not be confused or identified with (not the same as) the god of Islam or gods of any other religion.

“Remember the things I have done in the past. For I alone am God! I am God, and there is none like me. Only I can tell you the future before it even happens. Everything I plan will come to pass, for I do whatever I wish” (Isaiah 46:9-10).

The Lord backs up his exclusive claim with many mighty miracles and 100% accuracy (fulfillment) for hundreds of persuasive prophecies.

The 1948 rebirth of the sovereign state of Israel followed by the liberation and reinstatement of Jerusalem as her eternal capital via Israel’s stunning victory in the Six-Day War of 1967 was (still is) the single greatest prophetic fulfillment (sign) of the end times thus far. Therefore, I’m convinced that we are living in the final generation that will experience the Rapture—resurrection of dead believers who will be caught up to heaven along with living believers, and both groups transformed into glorious eternal bodies like that of our Lord Jesus Christ. Followed by the Seven-Year Great Tribulation and Return of Messiah Jesus to establish his Millennial Reign on Planet Earth.

The intense increase in the planet’s attention on Israel and obsession with Jerusalem provide more proof that these unfulfilled events are as imminent as ever. Hardly a day goes by without politicians of all levels, celebrities, and common people from every part of the world weighing in on virtually anything and everything pertaining to Israel.

Opinions (mostly unfounded criticism, if not outright antisemitism) abound on what Israel should do or not do. Especially issues involving the Israeli / Palestinian conflict. A few national leaders occasionally (infrequently) express support for Israel’s precarious position among hostile Islamic nations surrounding Israel, particularly Iran, and from antagonistic Palestinian Arabs within Israel (Hamas but also the Palestinian Authority) who deny Israel’s right to exist as a sovereign Jewish nation. Thereby, seeking its very destruction.

For example, Austria’s Chancellor Alexander Schallenberg said, “I understand Israel’s skepticism over a nuclear agreement with Iran.” Sadly, the new United States Administration under President Joe Biden does not adequately appreciate and/or is apathetic toward the perilous predicament in which the Iran Nuclear Deal (2015, spearheaded by former President Obama), places Israel.

Wrote well-known columnist David M. Weinberg in an Israel Hayom article posted 11-7-2021 entitled, Misplaced global priorities:

“In short, world leaders are seized more about the expanding ozone hole than Iran’s deepening nuclear bunkers. They are prepared to bravely declare ‘war’ on polluters, but afraid to threaten Iran with war—which is the only way to reach an accommodation with Iran. They are prepared to heroically escalate their rhetoric against carbons, but not prepared to boldly put the threat of military escalation on the table against Iran.”

Concerning the hostile Palestinian agenda against Israel, Weinberg then said:

“…World leaders are more concerned about the rights of terrorist-backed Palestinian NGOs (in response to Israel’s announcement to abolish six NGO’s that, under the guise of human rights advocacy, sponsor terrorist cells) than the rights of Israelis to live without a perpetual Iranian nuclear threat hanging over their heads. They are more upset with Jewish home-building in Jerusalem and Judea than the building of Iranian Revolutionary Guard bases on Israel’s northern border (and in Iraq, Yemen, Western Africa, etc.).” (1^st set of parentheses mine).

I would add the observation that these leaders, including (unfortunately) several in the United States administration, blindly accept the Palestinian narrative—proven time and time again to be based on deception and distortion … rewritten history. Hardly a day goes by without reading about three major complaints against Israel and Israeli Jews: apartheid, ethnic cleansing, and occupation.

Because I have written several Eye of Prophecy articles regarding these and other false accusations, my response in this article will be limited to: The accusations are absurd!

For two main reasons: (1) Most people who use (misuse) these phrases and/or carelessly accept them as fact do not really know the full meaning of the terms nor how they play out in real-life experience.

(2) The vast majority of Israel’s critics know practically nothing about Israel’s longstanding history and very little about Israel’s contemporary chronicle … past 100 years or so. None of these conditions have existed in Israel since the Jews reclaimed Jerusalem (indeed, all Israel) in their amazing victory in the Six-Day War of June 1967. Furthermore, from 1948-1967, it was Jordanian and Palestinian Arabs who were actively engaged in apartheid, ethnic cleansing against the Jews, and (illegal) settlement occupation of Judea/Samaria and Jerusalem. That is a matter of historical record of which those who irrationally dislike and even despise Israel are either woefully ignorant or deliberately disregard as irrelevant.

(Now that is ethnic cleansing!)

(See Eye of Prophecy articles: Ethnic Cleansing of Jews … The Real Palestinian Agenda (posted 9-17-2016) and More Palestinian Lies (2-20-2016).

The Rapture, Great Tribulation, and Millennial Reign of Messiah Are Closer Than Ever

The time is that much shorter with one episode after another (within Israel and outside Israel … the Middle East and the whole world) preparing for the day—during the Great Tribulation when the following prophecy will unfold:

“This message concerning the fate of Israel came from the Lord: ‘This message is from the Lord, who stretched out the heavens, laid the foundations of the earth, and formed the human spirit. I will make Jerusalem like an intoxicating drink that makes the nearby nations stagger when they send their armies to besiege Jerusalem and Judah. On that day I will make Jerusalem an immovable rock. All the nations will gather together against it to try to move it, but they will only hurt themselves’” (Zechariah 12:1-3).

Another sign of the last days of the end times is the amazing agricultural, building construction, infrastructure, and economic restoration of Israel’s land and technological advancement of her people. This for a nation that is only 73-years old with a Jewish population of less than 7 million.

“The time will come, says the Lord, when the grain and grapes will grow faster than they can be harvested. Then the terraced vineyards on the hills of Israel will drip with sweet wine! I will bring my exiled people of Israel back from distant lands, and they will rebuild their ruined cities and live in them again. They will plant vineyards and gardens; they will eat their crops and drink their wine. I will firmly plant them there in their own land. They will never again be uprooted from the land I have given them, says the Lord your God” (Amos 9:13-15, emphasis added).

That time has come and will continue unabated until Israel’s achievements will be even greater and her standing among the nations highly elevated when Messiah begins his Millennial Reign on earth from Jerusalem.

Since the Romans crushed the Jewish rebellion (66-70 AD), devastated most of Israel, destroyed the Second Jewish Temple along with much of Jerusalem, and exiled the Jews to the four corners of the earth, the land of Israel had been largely forsaken. Beginning with the miraculous rebirth of Israel in 1948, Amos’s prophecy is being fulfilled before our 20^th and 21^st century eyes.

The affluence of Israel is a direct result of God’s blessing after their time of discipline ended in 1967 (see Eye of Prophecy trilogy: Seven times Seven to the 4^th power; followed by The Omega Generation—posted January, February 2014). The renewal of Israel from a desolate, infertile land to one of abundant harvest (making even the desert bloom) and beauty is a God-thing … accomplished only after the Jews returned to Israel in great numbers.

This literal budding of Israel did not take place during the times that Jews were fewer in number and the land and people were under the thumb of the Arabs, the Crusaders (not true Christians, but in name only), the Ottoman Turks, or even the British.

It was through God’s chosen people, the Jews—descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—that the land of Israel has been revived to the point of hardly being recognized after hundreds of years of neglect and barrenness.

(Example of terraced vineyards and crops in Israel yielding abundant harvests)

Which will be a catalyst to yet another powerful prophecy of the last days:

“At the time of those events, says the Lord, when I restore the prosperity of Judah and Jerusalem, I will gather the armies of the world into the valley of Jehoshaphat. There I will judge them for harming my people, my special possession, for scattering my people among the nations, and for dividing up my land” (Joel 3:1-2).

Jehoshaphat means “the Lord judges.” In Joel’s prophecy, these are the same armies (Antichrist and his ten-nation coalition) spoken of by Zechariah in the passage quoted earlier plus the “kings of the east” (Daniel 11 and Revelation 16) who will at first oppose Antichrist, then align with him just before the final battle of Armageddon. The valley of Jehoshaphat judgement and Armageddon (in the valley of Megiddo) are one and the same. It will happen when Messiah Jesus returns with “power and great glory” (Matthew 24:30) to vanquish these armies just after Antichrist and the False Prophet are captured and thrown into the Lake of Fire (Revelation 19).

Many nations have harmed (or attempted to) the Jews and/or Israel through the centuries and have scattered the Jews (or attempted to). Such as: Assyria, Babylon, Persia (contemporary Iran which most Israelis believe is Israel’s greatest modern threat), the Roman Empire, Roman Catholic Church via the Crusaders and the shameful Inquisitions. Plus, European heads of state doing the Pope’s bidding through the Middle Ages. Also, Russian and eastern European pogroms against Jews particularly during the 18, 19^th & 20^th centuries. Worst of all: Hitler’s Third Reich Holocaust that murdered six million Jews.

Followed by Israel’s four full-scale wars with Arab nations: 1948, 1956, 1967, 1973. Each resulting in Israel’s victory.

When the Arab nations realized they could not defeat Israel in conventional warfare, individual Palestinians (usually after incitement by Palestinian Authority President Yassar Arafat then Mahmoud Abbas or other PA officials) resorted to lone-wolf attacks to maim and murder Jews. With Hamas in the Gaza Strip launching thousands of missiles into Israel since the Jews were removed from Gaza (under orders of the Israeli government) in 2005.

As for “dividing up my land” (Israel), that is and will continue to be more of a modern phenomenon right up to the present time and then into the post-Rapture soon-to-come Great Tribulation. The divisions began with the British Mandate that subsequently created the nation of Jordan, much of which was part of Israel’s Biblical land as described in several passages in the Old Testament. As a result of the creation of the Jordanian state, Israel’s original land mass was considerably condensed. When Messiah returns, Israel’s full territory will be as it was promised by the Lord long ago.

More on the dangers of dividing Jerusalem and Israel in the next Eye of Prophecy article.

Turmoil, Tragedy, and Terror in Israel

This was the title of three recent Eye of Prophecy articles: Part I—Turmoil; Part II— Tragedy; Part III—Terror (published June, July 2021).

Here is an excerpt from Part I of that trilogy to summarize what precipitated and comprised these three tests of endurance, experienced by Israelis primarily during the first half of 2021:

When you combine the turmoil of an Israeli government following the country’s 4^th election (March 23, 2021) in two years (under the helm of what many consider to be Israel’s greatest Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu—in terms of national and international accomplishments for Israel) but still unable to form a majority coalition of 61 seats in the Knesset, with the tragedy on Mount Meron (April 30^th) followed recently by terror inflicted on Israelis via indiscriminate firing of over 4,000 missiles from Gaza into Israel (beginning on May 10^th); preceded by tens of thousands of Arabs rioting in several towns, including Jerusalem (earlier in May); an argument could be made that Israel’s resolve and resiliency have not been tested like this since the 50-day war between Israel and Hamas in 2014.

Some would say not since the Palestinian intifada of 2001. Others might even compare the inner turmoil—political, social, and (most of all) religious division among Israelis—combined with the Mt. Meron tragedy in which 45 men and boys were crushed to death during what was supposed to be one of the most jubilant religious celebrations among Orthodox Jews; plus, the recent Palestinian terrorism uprising to constitute the most difficult time in Israel’s 73-year history since the Yom Kippur War of 1973.

It is mind-boggling in scope and should give serious cause for Israelis and Jews worldwide to pause; to ponder their perplexing past, perilous present, and portentous future of the reborn state of Israel.

In fact, the whole world would do well to carefully consider its imminent destiny and take heed of these three tenses of Israel’s existence….

(Damage to house in Ashkelon, Israel from missile launched by Hamas from Gaza Strip, several Israeli Jews injured)

I then made some penetrating but poignant statements in that article, directed toward Israel and the Jews, but obviously including all people and nations. Everyone needs Jesus.

Prefaced by this sub-heading:

Listen Up … Look Up!

It is time for God’s chosen people—religious, secular, leaders, and common folk alike to—individually and collectively, nationally (the state of Israel) and internationally (Jews worldwide)—heed the passionate warning of the only true and living God, the God of Israel’s ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob:

“Listen to me, O my people, while I give you stern warnings. O Israel, if you would only listen to me!” (Psalm 81:8).

It is time for Israel and Jews worldwide, especially the observant among them (Ultra-Orthodox, Orthodox, Conservative, Reformed) to realize that thousands of Messianic Jews all over the world (who have believed and received Jesus as the Son of God—the Messiah foretold in the Jewish Scriptures) have indeed listened to the God of Israel. They have heeded the Lord’s precious promises, powerful prophecies, and stern warnings given to his prophets, who practiced, preached, and prophesied precisely what God told them to do and speak.

Prophets such as Amos who declared: “Indeed, the Sovereign Lord never does anything until he reveals his plans to his servants the prophets” (Amos 3:7).

Like King David who unequivocally proclaimed in one of the Messianic prophecies in Scripture that the God of Israel has a Son, who is the Messiah: “For the Lord declares, ‘I have placed my chosen king on the throne in Jerusalem, on my holy mountain.’ The king proclaims the Lord’s decree…” (Psalm 2:6-7a).

“Now then, you kings act wisely! Be warned you rulers of the earth! Serve the Lord with reverent fear; and rejoice with trembling. Submit to God’s royal son, or he will become angry, and you will be destroyed in the midst of all your activities—for his anger flares up in an instant. But what joy for all who take refuge in him” (Psalms 2:7b-12).

Then in the profound book of Hebrews (New Testament), the Jewish author summarizes so great a salvation purchased by Jesus Christ with the highest price ever paid, through the (once for all) greatest sacrifice ever made … the blood and life of the Son of God. Beginning with:

“Long ago God spoke many times and in many ways to our ancestors through the prophets. And now in these final days (when the new covenant had begun), he has spoken to us through his Son. God promised everything to the Son as an inheritance, and through the Son he created the universe. The Son radiates God’s own glory and expresses the very character of God, and he sustains everything by the mighty power of his command. When he had cleansed us from our sins, he sat down in the place of honor at the right hand of the majestic God in heaven” (Hebrews 1:1-3, parenthesis mine).

Blessings or Banes (Curses) Depend on How Israel Is Treated

“The Lord had said to Abram, ‘Leave your native country, your relatives, and your father’s family, and go to the land that I will show you…. I will bless those who bless you and curse those who treat you with contempt. All the families of the earth will be blessed through you” (Genesis 12:1 & 3, emphasis added).

Hundreds of Bible end-times prophecies revolve around two subjects: (1) Israel’s final restoration and redemption, individually and as a nation. (2) Accomplished by the Messiah’s—Jesus of Nazareth who fulfilled all the prophecies about Messiah’s (first) arrival on earth—glorious return to rescue Israel, physically and spiritually.

“…Some of the people of Israel have hard hearts, but this will last only until the full number of Gentiles comes to Christ. And so all Israel will be saved. As the Scriptures say, ‘The one who rescues will come from Jerusalem, and he will turn Israel away from ungodliness. And this is my covenant with them, that I will take away their sins’” (Romans 11:25-27, quoting Isaiah 59:20-21).

Several passages also speak of God’s increased anger during the end times towards peoples and nations who try to interfere with his plan to restore Israel and usher in the Millennial Reign of Messiah Jesus from Israel’s UNDIVIDED CAPITAL of Jerusalem. Consequently, the leaders of the world, especially the United States which God has generously blessed since our foundation in 1776, would do well to venerate God, and value his precious promises and powerful prophecies.

To also heed his stern warnings regarding the mistreatment of Israel.

Based on the extraordinary evidence of several Biblical prophecies being fulfilled through the ages along with end times predictions coming to pass in this generation, I would confidently present the following premise:

The Lord’s promise of blessing those who bless Israel or judging those who treat her with contempt has increased since 1948 and will intensify until Messiah returns to this earth to set all things right in the magnificent Kingdom of God, replacing the evil, injustice, and violence of this world with righteousness, justice, and peace.

Such as natural disasters (mostly hurricanes) during the past few decades occurring in direct proximity to the United States doing or considering something that would harm or jeopardize Israel’s safety.

A New President for the United States & A New Government & Prime Minister for Israel

Will they be good for the United States and Israel or not so good?

Earlier this year, the 4^th Israeli election in the past 2 ½ years finally produced a coalition government, albeit an awkward and fragile combination of ultra-liberal, central, and conservative parties unprecedented in Israel’s 73-year history. Much like the current Democrat/Republican 50-50 split in America’s Senate with Vice President Kamala Harris a tiebreaker, if necessary, the Israeli parliament consists of a majority with the slimmest of margins … 61-59.

Although U.S. President Joe Biden eventually invited Israel’s Prime Minister Naftali Bennett to meet with him at the White House with all the politically correct verbiage before, during, and after the meeting, their relationship is tenuous (more like testy) at best. During his years as U.S. Senator, President Biden expressed solid support for Israel. However, as Vice President he was heavily influenced by former President Obama’s displeasure with Israel—especially directed against (then Prime Minister) Benjamin Netanyahu.

Just as Israel was recovering from the turmoil, tragedy, terror from within her borders that I wrote about in the previously cited articles, she now faces critical challenges from without. Not the least of which is the United States through an administration that is determined to undo all that former President Donald Trump did, especially regarding Israel. Rather than acknowledging the positive actions taken by Biden’s predecessor including, but not limited to, relocation of the U.S. Embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem and U.S. withdrawal from the horrendous (dangerous) Iran Nuclear Deal.

President Biden has (for now) agreed to leave our embassy in Jerusalem. However, as we will see, he is also seeking to undermine both the symbolic principle and political practicality of the U.S. Embassy being in Israel’s capital which as the previous president Trump and his executive staff said at the time: “It was the right thing to do.”

Recently, the Israeli government passed a (belated) budget for the 2021 calendar year … also 2022. Unless this budget had been finalized before November 14, the new government would have dissolved, and elections held yet again. Shortly afterward, Prime Minister Naftali Bennet said: “Our next mission is to utilize this stability and deal with the challenges and problems that have been neglected for years….”

He then identified several issues, all of which were national or internal matters such as housing cost, traffic jams, cost of living, crime in the Israeli Arab communities. At that time Bennett said nothing about the two most critical challenges facing Israel which, as indicated, have originated internationally—first and foremost through the Biden Administration. Yet, he did address those problems during his meeting with President Biden and during a couple of press conferences.

Concerning Iran, Prime Minister Naftali Bennett spoke these words in preparation for the November 29 conference in Vienna, subject of which will be further discussions on the 2015 nuclear deal:

“Iran poses a strategic threat to the world and an existential threat to Israel, and they ought not to be allowed to get away with it. We will not tire, we will be relentless, when we are talking about the very existence of the Jewish state, we will do what we need to do.”

(Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett addressing the United Nations on 9-27-2021)

Kudos for Naftali Bennett even though former Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had said things like this numerous times over several years.

These two challenges constitute “existential threats,” meaning a threat to Israel’s very existence as a sovereign state among the family of nations on earth. They are:

(1) The Iran Nuclear Deal: I would surmise that most readers of today’s article are at least somewhat familiar with this infamous “deal” between Iran and six nations, including the United States. With today’s headlines continuously commenting on President Biden’s push to restart discussions (possibly more negotiations) with what is clearly an arrogant and stubborn Iran.

Here is an excerpt from the first part of Eye of Prophecy article entitled, A Deal That Will Live in Infamy (8-1-2015):

I suppose there are other titles that could be used for the subject of this week’s Eye of Prophecy article. But since it follows on the heels of last week’s post entitled, Day of Infamy that dealt with the Jewish 9^th day of Av—a date on which two titanic tragedies and other ominous events struck Israel—it’s appropriate to describe the recent nuclear arrangement with Iran in the same fashion.

This deal with a nation that is an avowed enemy of Israel and the United States is eerily comparable to and just as menacing as the day that England’s Neville Chamberlain signed a pact with Hitler. An agreement that not only didn’t guarantee peace in their time, but intensified the winds of war that led to World War II.

Deal? A very loose term at best. Agreement? I suppose so if they mean that the P5+1 nations agreed to everything Iran demanded. It just may be the most one-sided bargain of all time. No level playing field. No equal benefits for both sides. Picture a teeter-totter that won’t move up and down, with Iran grounded securely below and the P5+1 nations dangling in the air above … hung out to dry. Or a merry-go-round with Iran standing and smirking nearby as they watch the United States on the carousel going round and round at a maddening and dizzying pace….

The imagery of a playground is suitable because the leaders of the United States and of other powerful nations on earth are playing with the lives and destiny of millions of Jews and Arabs and Persians in the Middle East.

Oh, there was give and take. The United States and other P5 nations did all the giving and Iran did all the taking. In doing so, our Presidential Staff apathetically ignored the warnings of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in his stirring address to the United States Congress on March 3^rd, 2015. Much was written about the speech that President Obama and Secretary of state John Kerry refused to attend, including the Eye of Prophecy article entitled, A Modern Day Esther, posted this past March 7^th.

I then quoted a small part of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s speech to the United States Congress. As follows:

Prime Minister Netanyahu proposed a much better deal with concluding remarks such as, “Ladies and gentlemen, history has placed us at a fateful crossroads. We must now choose between two paths. One path leads to a bad deal that will at best curtail Iran’s nuclear ambitions for a while, but it will inexorably lead to a nuclear-armed Iran whose unbridled aggression will inevitably lead to war. The second path, however difficult, could lead to a much better deal that would prevent a nuclear-armed Iran, a nuclearized Middle East and the horrific consequences of both to all of humanity.”

(Back to the 2015 article, A Deal That Will Live in Infamy)

Now that this infamous deal is done, it’s all too clear which path was taken.

This deal has been in the making for nearly two years. Many of us hoped (wishful thinking) that the P5 +1 nations, which include the United States, would see through Iran’s deceitful agenda.

That we would come to our collective senses, and fully realize that you cannot deal with a rogue nation—an enemy which before, during, and after the negotiations continued their tirade that calls for the humiliation and destruction of both Israel and the United States.

(Leaders from the P5 + 1 nations and Iran, plus United Nations representative/flag)

In that article I then discussed in more detail some of the repercussions of this deal (called the Joint Comprehensive Agreement) which would endanger the nation of Israel. Prefaced by an excerpt from a previous article entitled, Let’s Make a Deal, published 12-14-13, written about this deal in the early stages of negotiations. I’m convinced the material in both of those prior articles is as relevant today as it was in 2015 and 2013, respectively. As follows a portion from the 2013 post (also in italics):

About three weeks ago, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei announced to the Iranian people: “Israel is doomed to failure and annihilation.” That, “Zionist leaders cannot be called human.” A short while before that, Khamenei said, “The Zionist regime is a rabid dog.” There were other words of hatred directed against Israel. But the irony of this menacing message is that it was delivered disrespectfully just a short time before the P5+1 (United States, Great Britain, France, Russia, China, and Germany) completed negotiations with Iran in a November 24th interim deal called a “Joint Plan of Action”—to ease economic sanctions against Iran in exchange for a “slow-down” of Iran’s nuclear enrichment of uranium.

Would you make a deal with someone whose main purpose in life was to destroy you and members of your family or your best friend? How do you negotiate with those who would lie to you, cheat you, and ultimately kill you to accomplish their warped objectives? Where do you start? What do you say? How sure can you be? Why are you even there in the first place? But none of these questions seemed to bother the P5+1, with perhaps the exception of France.

“Suppose we can reason with them?” Really?  … It’s been 34 years since the attack on the US Embassy in Tehran and kidnapping of dozens of US Embassy representatives by the newly formed Islamic government of Iran. If we’re even a fraction wrong about Iran’s true intentions, then there’s a 99.9% chance they will follow through on their threats.

Israel’s Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu’s response to this menacing pact was to label it an “historic mistake.” He should know. For the same 34 years, Israel has lived under the constant threat of Iranian terror exported to Syria and Lebanon, especially through Hezbollah. Because Israel understands her enemies far better than the United States under the current administration, Netanyahu also said, “The most dangerous regime in the world must not be allowed to have the most dangerous weapon in the world … we will not allow Iran to receive a military nuclear capability.”

Summary

The U.S. Democrat administrations (naively) sees non-confrontation concessions as the best way to deal with even a terrorist nation. With the misguided notion that placating Iran will persuade its dictatorial leaders not to pursue nuclear bombs. The Republican administration under Trump and most Republicans in the current Biden administration believe the best (only) way to handle a rogue regime like Iran is coercion though sanctions and a show of strength. That nothing should be left on the proverbial “table” including military action, if necessary.

It’s quite simple: As with the Obama era, once again the United States doesn’t regard Iran all that seriously. Accordingly, Biden has reversed Trump’s withdrawal from this so-called deal and is actively promoting compromises with Iran. Whereas Israel takes Iran very solemnly as expressed by former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu who avowed that Israel would do whatever it takes to prevent Iran from going nuclear. The question is whether Israel’s current government under Prime Minister Naftali Bennett is as committed to this goal. It appears they are, but will they relent if the United States (wrongly) applies excessive pressure on Israel not to interfere … politically and especially militarily.

One more excerpt from Let’s Make a Deal:

Regardless of your view on the right or wisdom of Israel to act independently of the US, or the P5+1, or the entire world, I would again ask: Would you sit down at the table with an enemy who has sworn to do anything and everything they can to terminate your existence on this earth? And keep in mind that Iran has not only threatened to wipe Israel from the global map, it has also avowed to destroy the “Great Satan.” That’s right. Iran refers to America as the Great Satan; Israel is only the “little Satan.” We should be so honored?!

In a recent interview, former U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said about the same thing: “It’s really dangerous what the administration is doing. They will, if they head back into that deal, provide resources and money for a regime that had made clear its intentions to wipe Israel off the face of the earth. They want to destroy America as well.”

It’s elementary. Extortion 101. Protection money. Only with the Iran Nuclear Deal this protection has a shelf life.

*Note: Although there’s a possibility that Israel and Iran will go to war before the Rapture, I’m convinced that it will be a limited engagement consisting more of sporadic aerial or missile strikes and/or naval skirmishes. Not until after the Rapture and the massive Gog/Magog invasion against Israel led by Russia, Iran, and Turkey will it be all-out war. A war in which Israel will stand back and watch the Lord God unilaterally fight for Israel and soundly defeat this massive coalition (Ezekiel Chapters 38 & 39).

(Biblical names for today’s Russia, Turkey, Iran, Ethiopia, and Libya. Ezekiel identifies only these nations by name but says there will be “many others.” Thus, I would identify the other nations shown in dark red–besides the five listed–as “probably against Israel”)

Several Eye of Prophecy articles have been written on this subject. Such as: The Prophetic Endgame of Gog and Magog (posted 11-9-2019) and The Terrible Trio of Gog/Magog (2-17-2018).

The bottom line is that U.S. President Biden and his entire executive staff are willing to risk Israel’s (and other nations in the Middle East who see Iran as a threat—like Saudi Arabia) very existence over their end game of discount (the threat) diplomacy. Plus, the United States is setting the stage for a Post-Rapture (Tribulation period) adversarial relationship with Israel by (eventually) cooperating with the Antichrist and his ten-nation coalition. Please see Eye of Prophecy article, “One Ring to Rule Them All…” (11-21-2015).

The second challenge to Israel that also originates directly from/with the United States:

(2) Establish a Consulate for the Palestinians in Israel’s Capital, Jerusalem.

Although this doesn’t necessarily pose an immediate existential threat as does a nuclear armed Iran, it, nevertheless, will aggravate rather than alleviate problems between Israeli Jews and Palestinian Arabs.

It would be tantamount to and a catalyst for a Palestinian State with Jerusalem (the eastern portion) also becoming the capital of that state. One city as the capital of two nations will not cut it. If it didn’t work/continue in Germany (East Berlin and West Berlin) between people of the same nationality (Germans), there’s absolutely no way it will be viable between two peoples whose racial and religious conflict didn’t originate a mere century or so ago. Rather, thousands of years from the ancient past.

Alas, I’m out of space and time. We’ll examine the details of this proposed consulate in the next article, including quotes from some prominent politicians and journalists. And, of course, more Scripture passages regarding the danger of mistreating the “apple of God’s eye” (Zechariah 2:8, NASB).

Things to Ponder

Defiance of God by attacking (synonyms: assailing, assaulting, condemning, damaging, harassing, harming, hurting) his special possession Israel and chosen people the Jews has in the past provoked God to anger and retribution. In the future any dire existential threats (active or passive) against the reborn state of Israel will arouse the full fury of the Lord.

“But this is what the Sovereign Lord says: ‘When Gog invades the land of Israel my fury will boil over! …and all the people on earth—will quake in terror at my presence. Mountains will be thrown down; cliffs will crumble; walls will fall to the earth… Your men will turn their swords against each other. I will punish you and your armies with disease and bloodshed. I will send torrential rain, hailstones, fire, and burning sulfur! In this way I will show my greatness and holiness, and I will make myself known to all the nations of the world. Then they will know that I am the Lord” (Ezekiel 38:18-23).

Let’s hope that the Lord’s wrath doesn’t boil over before the Rapture because of any rivalry with or our antagonism toward and/or disrespectful and reckless endangerment of Israel. To that end, we need to pray for the leaders of Israel and the United States to do what is right. And warn them that they are wrong if they harm Israel in any way. To recognize that Iran is our common enemy and cannot be appeased. To stop foolishly playing with fire which could be the literal result of a maniacal nuclear Iran with its sworn Islamic agenda to eradicate Israel and America.

And as we will see in the next Eye of Prophecy post: To fully acknowledge that Jerusalem is the eternal capital of Israel; neither Israel nor Jerusalem should ever be divided.

In response to Prime Minister Bennett’s words quoted earlier regarding Iran (we will do what we need to do), one high-ranking Iranian general retorted boastfully to the effect that if Israel started anything, Iran would finish it. As a result, Israel would cease to exist.

Really?

I’ll take the Everlasting to Everlasting I AM, Alpha and Omega, Sovereign Creator, Almighty & Most High God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob over the man-made Islamic moon-god anytime, anywhere.

Iran will get its chance. I would encourage its leaders and citizens to read Ezekiel Chapters 38 & 39 for the outcome!

The Lord will give those who defy him and seek Israel’s destruction one last chance to “break their chains … and free ourselves from slavery to God” (Psalm 2:3).

For those who deliberately ignore the warnings of Scripture:

“God says, ‘At the time I have planned, I will bring justice against the wicked. When the earth quakes and its people live in turmoil, I am the one who keeps its foundations firm. I warned the proud, Stop your boasting! I told the wicked, don’t raise your fists! Don’t raise your fists in defiance at the heavens or speak with such arrogance. For no one on earth—from east or west, or even from the wilderness—should raise a defiant fist. It is God alone who judges; he decides who will rise and who will fall’” (Psalm 75:2-7).