Collision Course - By Daymond Duck -
It would be wrong for me to say or to infer that all Bible prophecy teachers agree on everything the Bible says about the future of Syria, Lebanon, Russia and Iran because they don't (some think Psa. 83 is a prophecy, some think it is a prayer, some think it is both, etc.).
But despite the differences of opinion, most of the Bible prophecy teachers that I know believe the aforementioned nations are on a collision course with God over Israel and that their defeat is getting close.
Most of the Bible prophecy teachers that I know agree that God made an everlasting covenant with Abraham to be Israel's God and to give him and his descendants all of the land of Canaan for an everlasting possession (Gen. 17:7-8).
They agree that Israel turned her back on God many times, but God will forgive Israel's sins and bring the nation into a right relationship with Him in the future (Zech. 13:1; Jer. 31:31-34; Ezek. 36:24-27; Rom. 11:1, 26-27).
They agree that God will curse those that curse Israel (Gen. 12:3). Syria, Lebanon, Russia, Iran and others are on a collision course with God because of their treatment of Israel. At some point, He will set the hook, pull them onto the mountains of Israel (Golan Heights) and destroy them (Ezek. 38:4, 8, 18-22).
They also agree that some of these nations are mentioned by several prophets, not just one.
Lebanon (Gebal and Tyre) and Syria (Assyria) are mentioned in Psa. 83. Syria (Damascus) is mentioned in Isa. 17 and Jer. 49:23-27. Iran (Elam and Persia) is mentioned in Jer. 49:34-39 and Ezek. 38:5. Russia (land of Magog) is mentioned in Ezek. 38-39.
The fact that the future of these nations is revealed by one prophet and confirmed by another - plus the fact that current events are lining up with what these prophets said and not disputing any of them - is evidence that this collision course with God is rightly understood and near.
Consider the fact that God told Russia to "Be thou prepared, and prepare for thyself, thou, and all thy company that are assembled unto thee" (Ezek. 38:7).
Know that Russia has prepared by moving jets, helicopters, ships, missiles, troops, submarines and more to Syria; that Russia has built bases in Syria; installed radar systems in Syria and more.
Know that Russia has prepared for her company (allies) by letting Iran and Hezbollah build bases, weapons factories, underground facilities in Syria and more.
Consider the fact that God told Russia to "be a guard unto them" (Ezek. 38:7) - and Russia has guarded her allies by sharing bases with them, hoping that no one would attack them for fear of killing Russians; that Russia has warned Israel to stop attacking targets in Syria; that Russia threatened to shoot down the planes and sink the ships of the U.S., England and France if they attacked Syria, etc.
In Apr. 2017, two U.S. warships fired 59 Tomahawk missiles at a Syrian military base where chemical weapons are made and stored. It was meant to be a warning to Russia and Syria to never use chemical weapons again.
On Apr. 7, 2018, Syria allegedly used chemical weapons against civilians in a town near Damascus.
On Apr. 9, 2018, two unidentified jets fired eight missiles at a Syrian base used by Russia, Iran and Syria.
At first, Russia blamed the U.S. The U.S. denied any involvement. Then, Russia blamed Israel.
Russia had previously warned Israel to stop attacking targets in Syria, and some believe this was a turning point for Russia.
The attack killed 7 Iranian officers and a disputed number of other people.
Iran said the attack will not go unanswered, and threatened to hit Israel.
Russia offered to join forces with Iran, retaliate against Israel, and jointly defend against a threatened attack by the U.S., England and France.
On Apr. 11, 2018, Israel said if Iran strikes Israel from Syrian territory, Pres. Assad and his regime "will disappear from the map and the world."
This is an interesting statement in light of the fact that Mr. Assad's palace is in Damascus, and the Bible says Damascus will cease to exist forever in one night.
Israel warned Hezbollah's leaders in Lebanon to stay out of the fight if Israel is attacked by Iran. Israel said their fate will be the same as Mr. Assad's, if they enter the war.
On Apr. 11, 2018, Israeli Prime Min. Netanyahu called Russian Pres. Putin. Their conversation was described as very angry.
Mr. Putin warned Mr. Netanyahu to stop attacking targets in Syria. Mr. Netanyahu warned Mr. Putin that Israel will not let Iran establish permanent military bases in Syria. The conversation ended with neither man giving in.
On Apr. 13, 2018, the U.S., England and France attacked Syria. There were several large explosions near downtown Damascus.
Russia, Iran and Syria blamed Israel's allies for attacking Syria. They said this attack by Israel's allies gives them the right to attack Israel.
Iran threatened to retaliate against regional (Israel) and international (U.S., English and French) targets.
On Apr. 14, 2018, it was reported that Russia was moving to strengthen its ties with Iran and Syria at the same time that the U.S., England and France were attacking Syria.
During the attack by the U.S., England and France on Syrian chemical weapons facilities, Syrian and Hezbollah troops backed by Russian mercenaries tried to cross the Euphrates River to capture territory that is held by U.S. troops. No information was given on what happened.
On this same day, at least two Russian freighters loaded with military equipment were spotted that were believed to be destined for forces in Syria. Don't worry. It takes a lot of weapons to build a fire that will burn for seven years.
On Apr. 14, 2018, it was also reported that four military bases in Syria were bombed and several Iranian soldiers were killed. Syria claimed that the bases were struck by Israeli aircraft.
On Apr. 14, 2018, the leader of Hezbollah, Sec.-Gen. Hassan Nasrallah, said Israel's attack on military bases in Syria that killed Iranian soldiers "opened the possibility of conflict between the two enemies." He said, "You are in a face-to-face confrontation with Iran."
On Apr. 16, 2018, Israel's Defense Minister said Syria's army, Lebanon's army, Hezbollah and mercenaries from foreign nations are being brought under Iranian commanders in Syria and forged into one military on Israel's northern border.
On Apr. 16, 2018, Israel's Defense Minister said, "Israel will not accept limitations on its 'actions' in Syria from Russia."
On Apr. 17, 2018, Israel released photos of five Iranian airbases in Syria; said Iran is flying troops and weapons into Syria (more bodies to bury and fuel for the fire) and building up her forces on Israel's border; Israel accused Iran of preparing to attack Israel; Israel strengthened her forces on her border with Lebanon and Syria; alerted her people of the possibility of a coming confrontation; and warned Iran that Israel will retaliate with great power.
On Apr. 18, 2018, it was reported that the commander of Iran's ground forces said, "The date has been set" for Israel's destruction.
It is impossible to predict what will happen in the next few weeks. Israel's enemies can launch a limited attack. God can pull them in or delay it, but when this happens the latter days and latter years are here and could bring dramatic changes on planet Earth (cry for world leader, peace treaty, affect price of oil, etc.).
I apologize for the length of this article. In the last ten days or so, significant things have happened almost daily (like birth pangs). This is very serious.
Prophecy Plus Ministries, Inc.
Daymond & Rachel Duck
The Real War in Syria - By Matt Ward -
Just hours after the West's unilateral strike in response to the horrendous chemical weapons attack in Douma, President Donald Trump took to Twitter, declaring,
"A perfectly executed strike last night. Thank you to France and the United Kingdom for their wisdom and fine military. Could not have been a better result. Mission Accomplished!"
This statement makes me feel deeply uneasy. Trump is not the first Commander in Chief to issue such a claim. Fifteen years before him, President George W. Bush, standing on board the USS Abraham Lincoln, announced that, "major combat operations have ended."
With a banner hanging above his head, touting the phrase "Mission Accomplished," it was a speech that would in time come to haunt him. To this day he is still ridiculed and mocked for it. Bush was there that day to declare an end to combat operations in Iraq.
Unfortunately for President Bush, most of the American military deaths in Iraq were still yet to occur, happening long after he had given this "Mission Accomplished" speech. The mission, for the American military in Iraqi, remained far from over.
Skip forward in time fifteen years and one has to wonder how much President Trump really understands about the quagmire that is modern-day Syria. This isn't over yet, despite his claims to the contrary. Russia, for their part and at the time of this writing, has not yet even responded to these allied airstrikes. And Russia will respond; of that we can be sure.
Most likely, this response will take one of a number of different forms. The British government, for their part, has been very vocal in recent days about their belief that Russia will certainly retaliate at some point in the near future. Boris Johnson, British Foreign Minister, when questioned on television last Sunday, warned that the UK must take "every possible precaution" to protect itself from Russian retaliation following the coalition air strikes on Syria. (1)
Johnson, when asked directly about the possibility of Russian "revenge" attacks, replied,
"You have to take every possible precaution, and when you look at what Russia has done not just in this country, in Salisbury, attacks on TV stations, on the democratic processes, on critical national infrastructure - of course we have to be very, very cautious indeed."
Indeed, intelligence officers at GCHQ and Britain's Secret Intelligence Services are on standby, not only for potential cyber-attacks, but also for a "dirty" campaign against the British establishment itself, using the "kompromat" tactics widely used at the height of the cold war. It is believed to be highly likely that Russian hackers will now target British, French and American politicians and VIP's, with the express aim of finding information that may compromise or smear them in some way.
Equally, it is also highly likely that Russia may launch a series of cyber-attacks on British or allied key infrastructures, like the NHS in Britain, transport or power networks. These attacks, if successful, could potentially bring Britain, or allies, to their knees.
More ominous, though, is what Russia's response means for the Jewish State of Israel. From a Western and Israeli perspective, the Russian response to the targeted bombings in Syria has been a disturbing one, with Russia immediately seeking to strengthen its ties with Tehran and beginning a rapid process of beefing up the Syrian military.
At the very same time that Western news media was full of stories of Russia's non-reaction to the Western bombings, Russia was repositioning its heavy strategic Tu-95 and Tu-22M nuclear bombers to bases in Iran, thereby cutting flight time to Syria from Russia by four hours.
At the same time, and in full sight of Western military observers, Russian freighters were landing cargoes of brand new Russia military equipment in Syria, bound for use by the Assad military that the West had just bombed.
Russia has also indicated that they will resume their discussions with Iran, Syria and other nations for the sale of their highly advanced S300 air defense systems, with the aim of protecting their allies against any future US military strikes.
All of this is extremely bad news for Israel. Unlike the West, who limited their attack in Syria to just chemical weapons facilities and associated storage sites, the Russians have made no such promises regarding the scope of their response or retaliation. Everything is fair game to the Russians.
Israel, quite understandably, feels increasingly threatened by Iran's growing military presence in Syria, and Russia now feels absolutely no inclination to check it, in any way. The US-French-UK airstrikes of Saturday, April 14th, did nothing to address any of Israel's growing strategic and security concerns in Syria. Indeed, Israel has now been left feeling increasingly isolated by the action, fearing that in the wake of these strikes they may well be left all alone in the event of an Iranian attack against them.
And Israel is right in assuming that Iran may be ready, for the first time, to launch a direct attack of their own against the Jewish State. Hassan Nasrallah, Secretary General of Hezbollah, summed up the strikes quite succinctly, along with the non-impact they have had upon Israel's enemies:
"Western strikes on Syria had failed to terrorize the army, help insurgents or even serve Israel's interests."
And this brings us to the heart of the problem in Syria, and where the real war is, because it certainly isn't between Russia and the West. The real war in Syria is between Israel and Iran. The recent joint Western strikes did nothing to address any of Israel's ongoing security concerns, nor did they in any way diminish Iran's rapidly increasing military presence or the threat they pose to Israel.
Indeed, when President Trump, shortly after the strikes, declared that he would leave Syria and the growing threats there "to others," Jerusalem determined this to mean that the US was telling Israel, and Jordan by implication, that they must face up to the growing Iranian threats on their borders on their own.
At the exact moment when Israel needs increased US support against Iran, Israel may well not get it. Iran, on the other-hand, is enjoying significantly ramped-up support from Russia because of the strikes.
It is time for a reality check. The Western strikes in Syria have not weakened Assad, nor have they diminished Assad's illegal chemical weapons arsenal. Neither have the strikes in any way deterred Russia or her allies. Indeed, the opposite is true; the Western strikes have served only to push Russia more deeply into the arms of Iran and her proxies.
Thus, we now reach a point where Israel's military is at its highest state of alert for years. Israel's forces on its northern border are at a higher state of readiness now than they have ever been in Israel's history. This is so because Israel is expecting an attack, at any moment, from Iran. Israel believes that Iran is now on the verge of launching a military operation against them as punishment for their bombing of the Iranian T-4 airbase within Syria just weeks ago, which left eight Iranian Revolutionary Guardsmen and an Iranian Colonel dead.
If this does happen, it will be the first ever direct military clash between Israel and Iran. Israeli intelligence, as cited in national Israeli news publications - which are clearly trying to prepare the Israeli public for an imminent clash with Iran - relayed that various Iranian units in Syria seem to be gearing up for just such an attack.
Avigdor Lieberman, Israel's Defense Minister, put it as follows:
"We are facing a new reality - the Lebanese Army in cooperation with Hezbollah, the Syrian Army, the Shiite militias in Syria and above them Iran - are all becoming a single front against the state of Israel."
Uncomfortable parallels exist today between the Middle East and Europe immediately prior to the outbreak of World War One. In 1914, it took only one small spark to light a fire that provoked the "war to end all wars."
The present-day Middle East is the modern-day equivalent of Europe in 1914. Amidst the background of an ever-developing nuclear arms race between Shiite Islam and Sunni Islam, we have the ruined nation state of Syria, which has developed without question into a proxy war between East and West, and which will likely soon culminate in a direct clash between Israel and Iran.
Syria is not a "mission accomplished" scenario, either for the West or for Israel. Indeed, all the signs indicate that the real chaos, between Israel and Iran, is about to begin.
Why Iran is escalating conflict with Israel - Yochanan Visser - https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/244873
Israel expects a new Iranian cross border attack from Syria, as Iran seeks to end increase in anti-regime activity.
A day after Israel celebrated its 70th birthday the conflict with Iran escalated, as a host of Iranian and Hezbollah leaders threatened the Jewish state with destruction and annihilation via a two-front missile war which they said would drive the Jews into the sea.
Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu immediately responded to the new threats and said on Friday that anyone who dared to harm Israel would pay a heavy price.
"We hear threats from Iran, and the Israeli forces are prepared for every possible Iranian move. We will fight whoever tries to harm us. We will not shy away from action against those who threaten our security. They will pay a heavy price," Netanyahu said during a special cabinet meeting in honor of Israel's 70th Independence Day.
The deputy head of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps Gen. Hossein Salami immediately shot back and said that Israel's military bases are "within range" of Iranian missiles, which would be launched at Israel's "vital interests."
"Do not trust your air bases they are within the range of fire. Our fingers are on the trigger and the missiles are ready to launch. The moment the enemy decides to act against us, we will launch them," Salami said.
Tensions between the two countries spiked at the beginning of February when an explosive-laden Iranian drone entered Israeli airspace near the Sheikh Hussein border crossing between Jordan and Israel, in the northern Jordan Valley.
The drone, which apparently was on its way to launch an attack on the nearby Israeli city of Bet Shean, was shot down by an Israeli AH-64 Apache attack helicopter. The serious incident was followed by 12 Israeli airstrikes on Iranian targets in Syria and marked the first direct confrontation between Israel and Iran.
One of these targets was the T-4 air base near the northern Syrian city of Homs, where Iran was operating its fleet of drones.
The base was again attacked by the Israeli Air Force (IAF) on April 10th - this time to destroy an advanced Iranian air defense system which was installed after the earlier IAF strike on February 10.
Israel and the US military are reportedly working together to stop Iran's encroachment on Israel's border with Syria and to counter the Iranian attempt to take over the devastated country.
Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah last week said that Israel had entered a "face to face struggle" with Iran and on Saturday again threatened to launch his impressive missile arsenal at the Jewish state.
"The forces of the resistance (Iran and its Shiite proxies) today have the ability, the power, and the missiles to hit any target in Israel," Nasrallah said during a speech on Hezbollah's al-Manar TV station in Lebanon.
Israel is now expecting a new Iranian cross border attack from Syria. This the reason the IDF released new satellite images showing Iranian air bases in Syria via which the Islamic Republic flow of weapons arrives in Syria.
The IDF believes the attack will come in the form of precision-guided missiles, according to an anonymous IDF official who was interviewed by Arabic Sky News.
The anticipated attack will be overseen by Qassem Soleimani, commander of the Quds Force of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps, who aspires to become the successor of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Khamenei's top adviser, former Iranian FM Ali Akbar Velayati, has promised "a powerful response" to Israel's latest attack on the T-4 base near Homs which he said, "will not remain unanswered."
According to the Lebanese news site, Ad-Diyar, Iran has already attempted to launch a new drone strike on northern Israel.
Middle East analyst Michael G Pregent reported that on April 19. Russia prevented the new Iranian attack by shooting down three explosive-laden drones.
The three drones reportedly departed from an area between Daraa near Jordan and Sousa south of Damascus and apparently flew the same route as the drone which entered Israeli airspace on Feb. 10, according to analyst Jennifer Dyer.
The mounting tensions between Iran and Israel caused the IAF to cancel its participation in the Red Flag drill in Alaska which is tol run between April 25 and May 11.
Iran's increasing belligerent behavior toward Israel could be connected to what is currently happening in the Islamic Republic.
The popular protests against Khamenei's regime have not died down as became clear from video footage recorded inside a mosque in Iran on Friday.
Worshippers shouted slogans against the regime and chanted that Iran's real enemy is the Islamist regime and not the U.S. or Israel.
"Our enemy is right here. They're lying when they say it's America," the crowd chanted referring to the regime of the mullahs.
Across Tehran, one can see graffiti expressing displeasure with Iran's current foreign policy.
"Leave Syria, think about us! No to Yemen! No to Lebanon and Hezbollah! Our lives for Iran," anti-regime activists have painted on walls of buildings in Iran's capital.
The regime seems to be in serious trouble after Iran's currency, the Rial, plunged further against the dollar last week while inflation in the country soars. The Iranian currency has lost close to half of its value against the dollar since September 2017.
The price of vegetables rose almost 100 percent last week while chicken prices increased by 30 percent. Unemployment may have reached a staggering 45 percent, according to Iran watchers.
Factories and other businesses had to lay off workers because they are no longer able to import goods and materials.
As expected, Valiollah Seif, Governor of the Central Bank of Iran, is blaming the financial crisis on Iran's enemies.
"Enemies outside our borders, in various guises, are fueling this issue and are going to some effort to make conditions tougher for the people," Saif told local media last week.
Saif was most likely referring to statements made by John Bolton, the new security adviser to US President Donald Trump.
Bolton is a proponent of regime change in Iran as a way to counter the growing threat posed by the regime.
"The behavior and the objectives of the regime are not going to change and, therefore, the only solution is to change the regime itself," Bolton told members of the Iranian opposition several months ago. He later said that new sanctions would have a crippling effect on Iran.
Trump has indicated he will pull out the U.S. from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, the nuclear deal between Iran and six world powers brokered by former US Secretary of State John Kerry.
If that happens, sanctions against Iran will snap back and under the current circumstances, this could disrupt Iran's hegemonistic drive in the region, which gained momentum significantly after the defeat of ISIS in both Syria and Iraq.
All this explains why Khamenei last week suddenly warned that Iran is in the middle of a war against a "huge powerful front of enemies" and has to develop "offensive strategies".
The Iranian Supreme Leader also instructed his intelligence services to get ready to fight an "intelligence war over public opinion and the integrity of the country's ruling ideology."
His words signaled for the first time that the Iranian dictator realizes his regime is in serious trouble.
U.S. National News
- Category: U.S. National News
- Tuesday, 17 April 2018 22:51
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives said Gregory General Contracting Company reported approximately 640 pounds of dynamite and 400 blasting caps were taken. My former colleagues in the federal Intelligence Community tell me Iranian "Sleeper Cells" are suspected and are believed to be moving aggressively toward an actual attack here in the U.S.
The explosives were stored in a locked truck trailer left at the site on River Road in Marietta, PA on Friday, according to the ATF. The work site security company discovered the theft Monday after noticing the trailer door was open and the locks were missing.
The ATF is offering a reward of up to $10,000 for information that leads to the recovery of the stolen explosives and/or the arrest and conviction of those responsible. Anyone with information can call the ATF hotline at 1-888-ATF-BOMB (1-888-283-2662). Tips can also be reported online.
IRAN "SLEEPER CELLS" SUSPECTED
Iranian-backed militants are operating across the United States -- mostly unfettered -- raising concerns in Congress and among regional experts that these "sleeper cell" agents are poised to launch a large-scale attack on the American homeland, according to testimony before lawmakers.
Iranian agents tied to the terror group Hezbollah have already been discovered in the United States plotting attacks, giving rise to fears that Tehran could order a strike inside America should tensions between the Trump administration and Islamic Republic reach a boiling point.
Intelligence officials and former White House officials confirmed to Congress on Tuesday that such an attack is not only plausible, but relatively easy for Iran to carry out at a time when the Trump administration is considering abandoning the landmark nuclear deal and reapplying sanctions on Tehran.
There is mounting evidence that Iran poses "a direct threat to the homeland," according to Rep. Peter King (R., N.Y.), a member of the House Homeland Security Committee and chair of its subcommittee on counter-terrorism and intelligence.
A chief concern is "Iranian support for Hezbollah, which is active in the Middle East, Latin America, and here in the U.S., where Hezbollah operatives have been arrested for activities conducted in our own country," King said, referring the recent arrest of two individuals plotting terror attacks in New York City and Michigan.
"Both individuals received significant weapons training from Hezbollah," King said. "It is clear Hezbollah has the will and capability."
After more than a decade of receiving intelligence briefs, King said he has concluded that "Hezbollah is probably the most experienced and professional terrorist organization in the world," even more so than ISIS and Al Qaeda.
Asked if Iran could use Hezbollah to conduct strikes on the United States, a panel of experts including intelligence officials and former White House insiders responded in the affirmative.
"They are as good or better at explosive devices than ISIS, they are better at assassinations and developing assassination cells," said Michael Pregent, a former intelligence officer who worked to counter Iranian influence in the region. "They're better at targeting, better at looking at things," and they can outsource attacks to Hezbollah.
"Hezbollah is smart," Pregent said. "They're very good at keeping their communications secure, keeping their operational security secure, and, again, from a high profile attack perspective, they'd be good at improvised explosive devices."
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