WORLD AT WAR: 4.20.24 - Responding To Iran AND MORE!!!

Prophetic Showdown? - Netanyahu Tells World Leaders Israel Will Make Its �Own Decisions� Responding To Iran � By Breanna Claussen - https://harbingersdaily.com/prophetic-showdown-netanyahu-tells-world-leaders-israel-will-make-its-own-decisions-responding-to-iran/ As the nations of the world actively seek to temper Israel�s response to Sunday�s large-scale drone and missile attack by Iran, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu madeclear that the Jewish State will make their �own decisions� in defense of their country. Shortly following meetings with British and German Foreign Ministers, the Israeli leader on Wednesday stressed that foreign powers would not make the decision surroundingIsrael�s next steps in dealing with the Iranian regime. �I thank our friends for their support in defending Israel, and I say support in words and deeds,� Netanyahu stated. �They [world leaders] have also all types of suggestionsand advice. I appreciate it, but I want to make clear that we will make our own decisions, and the State of Israel will do all that is needed to defend itself.� Early Sunday morning Israel-time, the Iranian regime commenced an attack on Israel, which included over three hundred suicide drones, ballistic missiles, and cruise missilesfired from Iran soil. 99% of the airborne projectiles were intercepted prior to reaching the Jewish State, with the US, UK, France, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia also taking part in shooting down the weapons. At an annual army parade speech on Wednesday, Iran�s President Ebrahim Raisi warned that the �slightest action� by Israel in retaliation will be �met with a severe, extensiveand painful response.� Iran asserted that their attack was conducted in retaliation for an alleged Israeli airstrike on their consulate in Syria in which twelve individuals were killed, includingan IRGC general reportedly involved in the �planning and execution� of Hamas� brutal massacre of Israelis on October 7th. Since the beginning of the war, Israel has vowed to target and eliminate all terrorists involved in the massacre, no matter their current location. Many have attributed theIranian regime as responsible for the murderous rampage�which their terror proxy, Hamas, carried out. The most recent country to lambast Iran�s involvement was Saudi Arabia, who insisted earlier this week that Iran strategically timed October 7th to thwarttheir normalization with Israel. Sunday�s attack by Iran was the first incident in which Tehran has targeted Israel from its soil, which is usually done by way of its proxies�Hamas, Hezbollah, Houthis, andother terrorist groups in Iraq and Syria. Prior to Iran�s attempted �blitz,� Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz warned the regime that �If Iran attacks from its territory, Israel will react and attack in Iran.� On Sunday, Israeli President Isaac Herzog called the Iranian attack a �declaration of war� and said that Israel is �considering all options.� The United States, the European Union, and others have announced plans to sanction Iran, which The Globe and Mail highlighted is �seen as aimed at mollifying Israel and persuadingit to rein in its retaliation.� Erick Stakelbeck, the host of �Stakelbeck Tonight� on Wednesday, asked Amir Tsarfati, Founder and President of Behold Israel, if he sees �any prophetic implications in theshowdown right now between Israel and Iran.� �Absolutely,� Tsarfati responded. �As much as we would love to see the Ayatollah being toppled and have a much greater regime for the Iranian people�which, by the way, are people whom we love very much�theBible is telling us that the war with Iran is far from being over,� he explained. �In fact, whether it is going to be defeated by Israel now or call it even, Iran will eventually join a coalition against Israel led by Russia. Lo and behold, we see alreadythat Russia is siding with Iran, Turkey is siding with Iran, and they�re preparing their proxies in Libya and Sudan as well. These are exactly the countries that Ezekiel prophesied as the coalition that is going to come against Israel.� �The Middle East is all about interests, intrigues, and �my enemy�s enemy is my friend.� Israel must be very ready for this Alliance, but you know, we�ll never be ready enoughfor an alliance of giants like Russia, Iran, and Turkey together,� he stressed. Stakelbeck further emphasized, �The Book of Ezekiel chapters 38-39 talks about God�s Divine hand, and it doesn�t end too well for that Ezekiel Invasion force.� According to Tsarfati, many Israelis have recognized the unlikely probability that 99% of Iran�s projectiles on Sunday were intercepted, attributing it to �divine intervention.� �If we�re seeing divine intervention already,� he stated, �you can imagine how the Israelis are going to be amazed when God shakes the Earth and throws things from the skieson the enemies of [the Jewish State] and defeats them on the mountains of Israel.� �There�s a great Exodus of Jewish people from secularism, hedonism, and materialism,� he described. �We�re at the point where only He can help us. God has always been therefor us, and He always wanted us to be at the point where we call for His help and not rely on our own strength. �Some trust in horses, some in chariots, but we shall call upon the name of the Lord,� as Psalm 20 says. ------------------------------------- Alert! Israel Is Preparing To Hit Iran �Forcefully� And The Iranians Are Promising To Retaliate - by Michael Snyder - https://endoftheamericandream.com/alert-israel-is-preparing-to-hit-iran-forcefully-and-the-iranians-are-promising-to-retaliate/ This is the most dangerous moment that we have seen in the Middle East in modern times. As you will see below, Israel has decided to hit Iran. There is still debate aboutwhether it should be a devastating blow or a more limited strike. But in either case, the Iranians are pledging to retaliate. In fact, the Iranians are promising to respond to any attack with overwhelming force. Needless to say, that would certainly provokeanother response from Israel. The cycle would continue until someone finally decides that enough is enough. But what if neither side backs down and the conflict escalates to an unthinkable level? According to the Times of Israel, Channel 12 is reporting that the Israeli government has decided to hit Iran �clearly and forcefully�� In an unsourced report, Channel 12 claims the war cabinet has made the decision to hit back �clearly and forcefully� against Iran for its missile and drone attack on Saturdaynight. The response will be designed to send the message that Israel �will not allow an attack of that magnitude against it to pass without a reaction,� the report says. The responsewill also be designed to make plain that Israel will not allow the Iranians to �establish the equation� they have sought to assert in recent days. This appears to be a reference to Iran�s warning that future Israeli strikes on Iranian territory, includingits international diplomatic premises, will henceforth again be met by Iranian retaliatory strikes on Israel. Of course that isn�t the only outlet that is indicating that a decision has already been made. According to Axios, Yoav Gallant has told Lloyd Austin that Israel feels that it must respond to Iran�s attack on Saturday� Israeli Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant told Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin Sunday that Israel has no choice but to respond to the unprecedented missile and drone attacklaunched by Iran over the weekend, a U.S. official and another source briefed on the call told Axios. And on Monday, Herzi Halevi publicly stated that Iran�s attack �will be met with a response�� Israel�s war cabinet met Monday to discuss how and when to respond to Iran�s attack, which Tehran said was in response to the killing by Israel of a senior Iranian generalat an Iranian diplomatic building in Damascus, Syria. Israel hasn�t confirmed or denied involvement. �We are looking ahead and considering our steps. The launching of so many missiles, cruise missiles and drones into Israeli territory will be met with a response,� said thehead of Israel�s military, Herzi Halevi, during a visit to an Israeli air force base that was damaged by the Iranian attack. Some news sources were suggesting that an attack was imminent, but that appears to be very unlikely. The war cabinet is going to meet again on Tuesday, and any strike on Iran will almost certainly have to wait until some time after that meeting� The war cabinet is scheduled to meet again tomorrow, the report notes, and Home Front command regulations have not been changed, indicating that an Israeli attack is unlikelyto take place today. But the clock is ticking, because Passover is coming up, and that is a major national holiday in Israel. So I would expect something to happen well before then. Many in Netanyahu�s coalition are getting restless, because they want to hit Iran extremely hard. In fact, Itamar Ben-Gvir has said that it is time for Israel �to go crazy�� Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu�s right-wing base is already disgruntled that the ground operation in Rafah hasn�t taken place and doesn�t seem imminent, since Israelhas pulled most of its soldiers out of Gaza. Israel is calling up two reserve brigades in the coming days for reinforcement in Gaza but will need more forces for any major operation. Now, Netanyahu�s supporters want a strong retaliation against Iran as well. �To create deterrence in the Middle East,� Israel �has to go crazy,� Itamar Ben-Gvir, Israel�s national security minister and a voice of Israel�s hard right, said on Sunday. Failure to act against Iran or in Rafah could further harm Netanyahu�s already diminished political support, said Chuck Freilich, a former Israeli deputy national securityadviser. On the other hand, some Israeli leaders want to strike Iran without greatly escalating matters. But it appears that Iran is poised to respond to any Israeli attack with tremendous force. The new leader of the IRGC is saying that whenever Israel attacks Iranian interests anywhere in the region from now on the response will come from Iran itself� The head of Iran�s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Maj. Gen. Hossein Salami, said Sunday that Iran would respond to future Israeli attacks on Iran-linked targets from Iraniansoil, potentially opening the door for escalatory responses from Israel. �We have decided to create a new equation and it goes this way: from now on if the Zionist regime anywhere attacks our interests, assets, figures and citizens, we will reciprocally attackit from the origin of Iran,� Salami told a state-run television station. That is a major shift in Iranian strategy. And Iran�s Supreme National Security Council has announced that if Israel strikes Iran directly, �it will face a response at least tenfold greater and of similar nature�� It comes as Iran today vowed to launch ten times the amount of missiles in a fresh strike against Israel if it unleashes a retaliatory hit on Tehran. The new threat could see 1,460 missiles hurled at Israel as world leaders hold their breath to see if an �uncontrollable war� breaks out in the Middle East. Iran�s Supreme National Security Council vowed to retaliate if Israel launches a counter-strike � for which IDF plans have already been drawn up. The Council issued a chilling warning that said: �If the Zionist regime persists in its evil actions against Iran, by any means and to any extent, it will face a responseat least tenfold greater and of similar nature.� I believe that the Iranians are serious. So if Israel strikes Iran, they will also need to be ready to deal with Iran�s response. And this time around they won�t be pulling any punches. According to one Iranian official, the response could even include a weapon that Iran has never used before� The Speaker of the Iranian Parliament�s National Security Commission, Abolfazl Amouei has stated tonight that Iran is prepared to utilize �A Weapon it has never before Used� if Israel decides to launch a Retaliatory Attack. Sadly, I don�t expect either side to back down. Israel will hit Iran, and then Iran will strike back. And then it will officially be on. Meanwhile, action continues to heat up on the northern front. On Monday, there were more IDF airstrikes in southern Lebanon� Israeli fighter jets struck additional buildings the IDF says are used by Hezbollah in southern Lebanon. The IDF says the Hezbollah sites were hit in the villages of Markaba and Majdal Zoun. Troops also shelled areas near Jabal Blat with artillery to �remove a threat,� the army says. And four IDF soldiers were reportedly wounded after a small group crossed over the Lebanese border� Four Israeli soldiers were wounded Monday after a bomb was detonated inside Lebanese territory, in a rare moment where it appears the IDF was seeking to breach the border. Hezbollah took responsibility for the explosion, saying it planted the bomb near the border. Hezbollah militants �planted explosive devices in the Tal Ismail area� insideLebanon, and detonated them after Israeli soldiers �crossed the border,� according to a statement from the group. The IDF subsequently acknowledged the four soldiers were injured, and it was reported by news wires as happening �hundreds of meters within Lebanon.� One of the soldiers has been listed by the IDF as �severely injured� after the explosion was set off �in the area of the northern border� � according to the military statement. Israeli army radio admitted that �Golani fighters carried out an operation near the border, tens of hundreds of meters away from Israeli territory,� and that the troops wereinjured �inside Lebanese territory.� We have been waiting for this war for a very long time. Now it is here. Here in the western world, we will probably see enormous protests in our major cities and the price of gasoline is likely to go absolutely nuts. But in the Middle East, the consequences could be much more severe. The Iranians and the Israelis have both been preparing for this showdown for decades. The Iranians would like to see Israel wiped off the face of the map, and the Israelis are absolutely determined to do whatever it takes to prevent that from happening. In a conflict where the stakes are this high, it can be very easy to panic. Both sides have some surprises up their sleeves, and unfortunately I have a feeling that it will not be too long before some of those surprises are finally unveiled. ------------------------------------ What Will Israel Do Now? - by Michael Snyder - https://theeconomiccollapseblog.com/what-will-israel-do-now/ I have been sitting here trying to figure out what to write about what we just witnessed. Just like October 7th, the shocking attack on Israel that just took place alteredthe course of history. This was the first time that Iran ever attacked Israel directly, and I was flooded with emails by readers that were concerned about World War III. So now that the Iranian attack is over, what will Israel do now? That is the big question. IfIsrael directly attacks Iran, the Iranians will inevitably respond and the conflict could spiral out of control. But if the Israelis do not strike back, they will look weak and the Iranians could feel like they will be able to get away with similar thingsin the future. Overall, the Iranians sent more than 300 drones and missiles toward Israeli territory… Two Israeli officials told the New York Times that Iran launched 185 drones, 36 cruise missiles and 110 surface-to-surface missiles as part of the unprecedented attack onIsrael. According to the sources, “most of the launches were carried out from Iranian territory, while a small portion of them came from Iraq and Yemen.” Besides the U.S, Britain and Jordan also helped Israel intercept the launches. The good news is that the U.S. military and the IDF were able to shoot down 99 percent of them… At 7:15 am IDF Spokesperson R.-Adm. Daniel Hagari said that 99% of the aerial threats were shot down, which he said was a strategic achievement. That was very good news, and in the end very little damage was done… He said virtually all of the weapons were intercepted before entering Israeli territory and he reported only minor damage to one military base from the few ballistic missilesthat did land in the country. Hagari confirmed that a 10-year-old girl had been “severely injured by shrapnel,” but said “as far as we know, there are no additional casualties.” The Iranians are trying to frame this strike as a victory, but the truth is that it was a huge defeat. So that gives Israel options. If a tremendous amount of damage had been done inside Israel, the Israeli government would have felt a need to respond very forcefully. But since the Iranian attack was such a failure, that gives Israel the option of simply walking away. In the immediate aftermath of the attack, that is what Joe Biden was encouraging Israel to do… President Joe Biden told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that the US will not support any counterattack against Iran, sources have revealed. Biden spoke with Netanyahu in a late-night phone call after Iran bombarded Israel with hundreds of missiles and drones on Saturday in response to a drone strike in Syria thatkilled 12 Iranians, including two top generals. A senior White House official told Axios that Biden made it clear to Netanyahu that US forces would not participate in any further operations. Netanyahu said he understood. Biden reportedly told the Israeli Prime Minister: ‘You got a win. Take the win’, amid fears amongst White House officials that an Iran attack will lead to a greater war inthe region. Of course if someone sent more than 300 drones and missiles at U.S. cities, Biden would be singing a much different tune. In that case, the U.S. military would already be pounding whoever dared to launch such an attack. And it appears that Israel was ready to hit Iran really hard right away, but the conversation with Biden apparently persuaded Netanyahu to call off an attack for now… US President Joe Biden dissuaded Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu from greenlighting an immediate retaliatory strike against Iran after it launched around 300 attack dronesand missiles at Israel last night, the New York Times reports. According to the report, several members of Israel’s war cabinet had been in favor of launching a response attack, but the lack of serious damage caused by Iran, in additionto Netanyahu’s conversation with Biden, led to it being called off. This doesn’t mean that there will be no Israeli response. The Israeli war cabinet was scheduled to meet on Sunday, and I am sure that they were discussing their options. The UN Security Council also met on Sunday, although it wasn’t expected to do much of anything… The United Nations Security Council will hold an emergency meeting Sunday over Iran’s unprecedented drone and missile attack on Israel, the body’s president said. A spokesperson for Malta, which holds the rotating presidency this month, told the press Saturday evening that the Security Council was aiming for the meeting to be held at4:00 p.m. (11 p.m. Israel time) Sunday after Israel requested the council condemn Iran’s attack and designate the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps a terrorist organization. The wealthy western countries do not approve of what Iran has done, but they are desperate to keep a major war from erupting in the region. In particular, Joe Biden knows that a major war in the Middle East would be very bad for his chances in November. So a tremendous amount of pressure will be put on Israel to stand down. And Iran has already warned that it will hit Israel again with even greater force if Israel strikes Iranian territory… Tehran has warned it will strike again with greater force if Israel or the US retaliate for the Iranian strike on Israel that used more than 300 drones and missiles on Saturdaynight. The air raids, the country’s first ever direct attack on the Israeli state, brought a years-long shadow war into the open and threatened to draw the region into a broaderconflagration as Israel said it was considering its response. If missiles start flying back and forth, events could quickly spiral out of control. But Israel has always believed in responding with force when it is attacked. And I believe that there will eventually be a response. Some are calling for Israel to strike Iran’s nuclear program. If there was ever a golden opportunity to do that, it would be now. We shall just have to wait and see what happens. Even though it is uncertain whether or not Israel will directly strike Iran, on Sunday the IDF was conducting “retaliatory strikes” in southern Lebanon… In a series of retaliatory strikes, Israel has intensified its attacks on southern Lebanon, targeting several areas overnight and in the early morning hours. The escalating violence has raised concerns of a broader conflict in the region. In one case, a building that was a “significant weapons manufacturing site” was completely destroyed… A source within Lebanon’s Iran-backed Hezbollah group said Israel struck one of its buildings close to the Syrian border today, as tensions soared after Iran directly attackedIsrael. The source told news agency AFP: ‘The Israeli strike targeted an area… near Baalbek and targeted a two-storey building belonging to Hezbollah,’ adding that there were no casualtiesreported. Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency also reported that ‘an enemy air strike targeted a building’ in the village of Nabi Sheet and ‘destroyed it’. The IDF later confirmed the strike on the ‘significant weapons manufacturing site’ in the Nabi Sheet area. So Israel is already hitting back. But striking Iran directly would be an extremely bold move. An all-out war with Iran could easily take an apocalyptic turn, and both sides realize this. We really are in uncharted territory, and it won’t take much to push events over the edge ----------------------------------- BIG - By Daymond Duck - https://www.raptureready.com/2024/04/13/big-by-daymond-duck/ It seems like Bible prophecy teachers are using the word “big” more and more lately. “Big,” not as in considerable size, huge, giant, titanic, humongous, etc. “Big” as in extremely important, major, consequential, incredibly significant, etc. • Israel’s possession of 4 perfect red heifers is “big” because they haven’t had one for about 2,000 years, and it could mean the Temple may soon be rebuilt. • Israel’s attack on the Iranian consulate in Syria is “big” because it means Israel is now going after Iran instead of Iran’s proxies, and it could mean the Israel-Hamas war willspread and the Battle of Gog and Magog is close. • Biden’s efforts to undermine Prime Min. Netanyahu is “big” because it could mean the “curse” may soon fall on America, and it is pushing Israel to depend more on Jehovah. • A Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) with credit scores is “big” because it indicates government plans to track all buying and selling. This is the point: we are witnessing an undeniable big-time convergence of Bible prophecies that are extremely important. Here are some recent reports that seem to indicate that the end of the age is close. One, concerning another pandemic and a global population reduction:on Mar. 29, 2024, one of the world’s leading virologists predicted that a ‘massive tsunami’ of ‘chaos’ and ‘death’ is about to decimate the global Covid mRNA-vaccinated population.” He predicted that there will be a ‘huge, huge wave’ of illness and deaths in the coming weeks (perhaps before the next U.S. election so it can be used to impact the outcomeand protect the criminals that pushed mRNA vaccinations on the world) among those vaccinated for Covid. I cannot prove that this virologist is right, but if it happens, it will be big. Two, concerning the Battle of Gog and Magog: it has been reportedthat Iran sent a message to the U.S. through the Sultanate of Oman that the Islamic Republic intends to directly strike Israel unless the U.S. guarantees an immediate permanent ceasefire in Gaza and no Israeli ground invasion of Rafah. On Apr. 3, 2024, Israel responded by calling up its reserve forces and canceling the leave of all combat units. Israel’s Defense Minister said, “We are not seeking war with Lebanon (Iran’s proxy), and I can tell you that such a war will be a difficult challenge for Israel, but it wouldbe catastrophic for Hezbollah and for Lebanon, not least for Beirut and the south.” It is estimated that Iran has helped Hezbollah acquire about 200,000 rockets and missiles. Without a doubt, the damage to Israel will be great, but the damage to Hezbollah and possibly Iran will be significantly worse. (More:On Apr. 5, 2024, Israel temporarily closed 28 of its embassies and consulates due to Iranian threats.) (More:On Apr. 8, 2024, Israeli jets targeted a village in Lebanon and eliminated a Hezbollah field commander.) Three, concerning the Battle of Gog and Magog: on Apr. 3, 2024,Erick Stakelbeck (The Watchman Newscast) reported that Russia has acknowledged that it has built three military observation posts in Syria this year on Syria’s border with Israel. Russia appears to have built these military observation posts to monitor Israel’s activities in Syria. This is big because the Bible teaches that Russia, Iran, Turkey, and others will attack Israel in the latter years and latter days; God will destroy their armies; it willtake 7 months to bury the dead and 7 years to burn the weapons (Ezek. 38-39). When they attack Israel in the latter years and latter days, it will be a clear sign that history has reached the very end of the latter days. Four, concerning the Battle of Gog and Magog: on Apr, 9, 2024,an article in The Times of Israel states that Israel is preparing (conducting Air Force drills) to strike Iran’s nuclear plants if faced with a retaliatory attack for the death of an Iranian commander. Here is a link to the article: Israelprepared to strike Iranian nuclear facilities if Tehran launches attack – report | The Times of Israel Five, concerning all world leaders turning against Israel andBiden’s efforts to undermine the Netanyahu government and prevent the defeat of Hamas: in a phone call on Apr. 4, 2024, Biden demanded that Netanyahu declare an immediate ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war or risk the loss of U.S. support. Biden now appears to be a spokesman for Hamas, and it will be next to impossible for Israel to get the hostages released if they cannot attack Hamas. (My opinion:Biden has now put the U.S. on Satan’s side in the Muslim effort to destroy Israel. His claim that Israel has America’s unwavering support is a big lie.) (More:On Apr.4, 2024, Netanyahu met with a visiting Republican congressional delegation and told them, “There’s an attempt to ram a Palestinian state down our throats.”) (More:On Apr. 4, 2024 (the day Biden threatened Netanyahu with the loss of U.S. support), a bolt of lightning struck the torch on the Statue of Liberty. I cannot dogmatically say it was a warning from God, but it is interesting that lightning struck the statue onthe same day Biden threatened Israel.) (More:On Apr. 5, 2024, the head of the American Center for Law and Justice said, “The implication for that is that America has now become Israel’s tactical enemy. In real terms, in practical terms, this is impossible, demanding that Israel lose this war. Israelcannot afford to lose this war. This is an existential war.”) (More:On Apr. 5. 2024 (the day after Biden threatened Netanyahu), a 4.8 earthquake struck near Whitehouse Station, NJ. It rattled buildings in a large area of the northeast U.S., including New York City (about 45 miles away). An estimated 43 million people feltit, and it interrupted a UN Security Council meeting while attendees were discussing the situation in Gaza.) (More:Following Israel’s admission that 2 Israeli officers had mistakenly killed 7 humanitarian relief workers in Gaza, 40 Democrats sent a letter to Pres. Biden urging him to halt the shipment of weapons to Israel until a full investigation is completed. On Apr.9, 2024, the Wall Street Journal editorial board wrote, “Denying weapons to Israel in the middle of a war is betrayal.” They called Nancy Pelosi a “sunshine ally.”) Six, concerning the Israeli-Hamas war: • Biden hinted that the U.S. might curtail its shipment of weapons and ammunition to Israel if Israel attacked Rafah. • Biden allowed the UN Security Council to adopt a resolution demanding an immediate ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. • Biden demanded that Netanyahu declare an immediate ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war or risk the loss of U.S. support. (More:On Apr.7, 2024, the Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives said it is time to stop lecturing Israel on how to defend itself when terrorists attack it. He called upon Washington to unite in its support for our ally Israel.) (More:On Apr. 7, 2024, Muslims in Dearborn (the jihad capital of America), Michigan, marched and shouted, “Death to America” and “Death to Israel.”) (My opinion:Biden lost the war in Afghanistan, he is trying to force Israel to lose the war in Gaza, he refuses to close America’s border with Mexico, and there is little doubt that he intends to surrender the sovereignty of the U.S. to the New World Order. If Israeldoes not already realize it, she will soon realize that the U.S. is no longer a reliable partner.) Seven, Jesus said one of the signs of His Second Coming wouldbe wars and rumors of wars. On Apr. 9, 2024, the EU’s chief diplomat said, • “War is certainly looming around us (…), and a high-intensity, conventional war in Europe is no longer a fantasy.” • “The US umbrella, which we have relied on since the Cold War, may not be open all the time.” • “Maybe, depending on who is ruling Washington, we cannot rely on America to protect us.” Eight, concerning the days of Lot and the moral decline of theU.S., • Utah has put a man who claims he is a woman in prison with male prisoners. • He wants prison officials to provide him with women’s clothes and women’s makeup, give him hormone therapy, use female pronouns when they talk to him, put him in with femaleprisoners, and have female guards pat him down when it is necessary. • Prison officials said they are following the law by refusing his requests. • On Apr. 2, 2024, the U.S. Dept. of Justice sued the state of Utah to force compliance with the prisoner’s requests. (My opinion:Millions of dollars are being wasted on things like this, and many people who really need help cannot get it.) Nine, concerning the days of Lot and a departing from the faithin the Roman Catholic Church: on Apr. 3, 2024, the Vatican approved a homosexual priest for the position of Dean of Theology at the Philosophical-Theological College in Brixen starting on Sept. 1, 2024. The new Dean has made it clear that he wants a “change of mind” in what the Catholic Church believes about homosexuality. Here is my daily update on the Israel-Hamas war. Wednesday, Apr. 3, 2024 (Day 180): The one hundred-twenty-fifth day of the resumed war. • Egypt said the U.S. promised that Israel will not invade Rafah before May 2024. Thursday, Apr. 4, 2024 (Day 181): The one hundred-twenty-sixth day of the resumed war. • S. Sec. of State Antony said if the U.S. doesn’t see Israel make changes to its strategy in Gaza, there’ll be changes in our own policy. • Israel’s embassies were put on high alert all over the world following Iran’s threats to retaliate for Israel’s attack on Iran’s consulate building in Syria. • Israel’s Health Ministry met with hospital managers. Israel requested them to increase security, prepare for widespread power outages, and to prepare for a mass casualty event. Friday, Apr. 5, 2024 (Day 182): The one hundred-twenty-seventh day of the resumed war. • Biden sent a letter to the leaders of Qatar and Egypt urging them to push Hamas for a hostage deal with Israel. • Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah said Israel’s attack on the Iranian consulate in Damascus marks a turning point in the war, and people can be sure that an Iranian responseis coming. • S. intelligence said Iran is planning to strike Israel with a swarm of drones and missiles (they have no information on where they will be launched from, when they will be launched,or what the intended target is). • In a written message to the U.S., Iran asked the U.S. to step aside when it retaliates against Israel. • Hezbollah said it is ready for war with Israel. Saturday, Apr. 6, 2024 (Day 183): The one hundred-twenty-eighth day of the resumed war. • Based on intelligence, Israel recovered the body of one of the hostages in an overnight raid. Sunday, Apr. 7, 2024 (Day 184): The one hundred-twenty-ninth day of the resumed war. • Israel held services to remember that it has been 6 months since Hamas attacked her on Oct. 7, 2023. • Israel temporarily withdrew all its forces except for one brigade from the Gaza strip, but Israel’s military Chief of Staff said the conflict with Hamas is ongoing and far fromconcluded. • Netanyahu said there will be no Gaza truce without the release of hostages. • Ayatollah Khamenei warned that no Israeli embassy is safe. Monday, Apr. 8, 2024 (Day 185): The one-hundred-thirtieth day of the resumed war. • Israel denied that its troop withdrawals mean it has given up on destroying Hamas. • Israel left one brigade in Gaza to keep Hamas bottled up in Rafah to have more forces ready for Lebanon, Syria, and Iran if needed. • It was reported that Netanyahu said Israel has set a date for an invasion of Rafah. Netanyahu said it will happen. There is a date. • Israel’s navy shot down a Houthi drone over the Red Sea as it approached Israel. Tuesday, Apr. 9, 2024 (Day 186): The one hundred-thirty-first day of the resumed war. • Israel eliminated several Hezbollah observation posts in Lebanon and Syria. • The body of a man who is believed to have funneled tens of millions of dollars to Hamas was found riddled with bullets in Lebanon. Wednesday, Apr. 10, 2024 (Day 187): The one hundred-thirty-second day of the resumed war. • Officials in Qatar and Egypt that have been working on a ceasefire with Hamas releasing 40 hostages (including all the women and men who are sick and elderly) said Hamas hasindicated it is currently unable to identify and track down 40 Israeli hostages that meet those conditions for the first phase of a ceasefire deal. • The three sons of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh (and two of his grandsons) were killed in Gaza when the car they were riding in was bombed. • Israel has eliminated numerous terrorists in central Gaza in the last few days. FYI: God does not send anyone to Hell (all of us are born witha sin nature and destined to go to Hell because we sin), but God has provided a way (Jesus) for everyone to go to Heaven (and He is the only way to get there; John 14:6). Finally, are you Rapture Ready? If you want to be rapture ready and go to heaven, you must be born again (John 3:3). God loves you, and if you have not done so, sincerely admit that you are a sinner; believethat Jesus is the virgin-born, sinless Son of God who died for the sins of the world, was buried, and raised from the dead; ask Him to forgive your sins, cleanse you, come into your heart and be your Saviour; then tell someone that you have done this. duck_daymond@yahoo.com ----------------------------------- Geophysical Gyrations as Israel Intimidated � Terry James - https://terryjamesprophecyline.com/2024/04/15/geophysical-gyrations-as-israel-intimidated/ Early Friday morning, April 5, I was listening to news while getting ready to start morning work. The announcement came that a 4.2 earthquake centered somewhere beneath NewJersey had shaken the northeast, with 4.8 on the Richter recorded in New York City. While 4.8 would be barely noticed in parts of California or some of the western environs, an earthquake of any magnitude in the northeast U.S. provokes considerable angst.These just don�t occur that often beneath the solid rock that is Manhattan. A day or two before the quake, a torrential storm of rain, wind, and lightning struck the New York City area. A photographer caught an explosive lightning strike hitting theStatue of Liberty�s torch. Before that, of course, we know the Francis Scott Key Bridge, named after the author of our national anthem, in Baltimore collapsed when struck by a container ship heavily loaded with environmentally dangerous cargo. Now, I�ve not been one to easily accept that God necessarily makes His Displeasure Known through Displays of Geophysical Reaction. However, there has seemingly come the time to acknowledge that things have reached the point that coincidence likely has diminished as a percentage of cause and effect inconsidering such occurrences as witnessed just recently. While the earthquake was shaking the Big Apple and regions of the eastern U.S., another report reached my ears. The audio on one or the other news programs I was listening to had a United Nations official saying that Israel must be dealt with harshly in the matter of its attacks onthe civilian populations of Gaza. Benjamin Netanyahu must be replaced as Israel�s prime minister and Israel made to cease wreaking destruction on the defenseless Palestinians. It was reported that, at that time, the U.N. Building was affected by the shaking, as was downtown Manhattan and even Yankee Stadium. Whether one holds to the notion that God reacts in this way to matters adversely affecting Israel, it can�t be dismissed that there has been, of late, an incremental steppingup of such geophysical gyrations. The Prophet Zechariah foretold that all nations will eventually come against God�s chosen nation and people. God will, Zechariah says, cause all to be injured who do so (Zechariahchapter 12). God Himself tells through the Prophet Joel that He will bring all nations to face the horror of Armageddon because of their dealings in forcing Israel to divide His land �theland He granted Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob forever (Joel chapter 2). In that regard, an article makes clear what Israel�s leader thinks about the current pressures being brought against his country. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met on Thursday with a Republican U.S. Congressional delegation, which was organized by AIPAC, at the Prime Minister�s Office in Jerusalem. During the meeting, which also included the AIPAC senior leadership, the Prime Minister briefed the delegation on the fighting in the Gaza Strip and answered the Representatives� questions on defeating the Hamas terrorist organization, the unrelenting efforts to free the hostages, and the issue of humanitarian aid� [Netanyahu gave the representatives 3 points in outlining Israel�s need of help from the U.S., the most important for considering the dividing of the land being the thirdpoint.] �The third thing is this: there is a contrary move, an attempt to force, ram down our throats a Palestinian state, which will be another terror haven, another launching groundfor an attempt, as was the Hamas state in Gaza. That is opposed by Israelis, overwhelmingly. We just had a vote in the Knesset: 99 to 9. Do you have those kinds of numbers? I think you might have those numbers if you bring that same resolution, that same resolutionto Congress. I think you�ll have a similar or at least a very powerful majority.� Netanyahu concluded: �I think it�s important because the people of Israel choose life, and life means security, and security means defeating our enemies but also standingtogether for our common civilization.� [Source: Netanyahu to Republicans: �There�s an attempt to ram a Palestinian state down our throats� | Israel National News � Arutz Sheva; April 5, 2024] So many strange things are happening in a seeming convergence of prophetic signals. It is certainly prudent, as Watchers on the Wall, to observe the geophysical gyrationsin order to try to discern the Prophetic Forecast. We should keep Watch, as Jesus Instructs. �And what I say to one, I say to all, watch� (Mark 13:37). ----------------------------------- Prophetic considerations of the Iran attack on Israel - Bill Wilson � www.dailyjot.com The recent Iranian attack on Israel was certainly a prophetic moment. One of the infamous end time players, the terrorist state of Iran, launched a historic attack on Israel.Thanks to Israeli defenses, the attack didn�t succeed. Have no doubt: Iran�s, and its allies who joined in the attack, stated mission is to wipe Israel from the face of the earth. The attack demonstrated that Iran�s military capabilities are not what Iran,at least, thinks they are, and Israel�s defenses are better than expected. It also shows that end time players are now emboldened to directly attack Israel, possibly from the incredibly weak US leadership that no longer stands in the gap of deterrence. Andthis also has prophetic implications. Many from the prophetic side will point to Ezekiel 38. Ezekiel 38:2 says, ��set thy face against Gog, the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal, and prophesyagainst them.� Magog, Meshech, Tubal are all located in what is now modern Turkey. Verse 5 says, �Persia, Ethiopia, and Libya with them�� Later it mentions Gomer, Togarmah, Sheba and Dedan. This was not the Ezekiel 38 end time battle. It lacked direct participationfrom many of the players, notably Meshech, Tubal and Magog in Turkey as well as Libya, and Saudi Arabia. Likewise, this is not the Psalm 83 war because it also lacks players such as Edom (modern day Jordan). In fact, Jordan came to Israel�s aid during theattack. Another prophetic consideration is America�s role in this attack. In Genesis 12:3, the LORD�s promise about the great nation of Israel is: �I will bless them that bless thee,and curse him that curses thee.� While the US President said he will stand with Israel against any Iranian attack, he also said he will not support Israeli retaliation. This is double-mindedness because it is saying that the US government will stand with Israelin defense, but will not tolerate Israel fighting back�a signal to the terrorists that they have a green light to attack without fear of retaliation. In fact, it can be argued that Iran would not have dared such an attack if Joe Biden and Barack Obama beforehim had not unfroze and paid billions of dollars to the terrorist state that it used to build its arsenal. They did the same with Hamas and the Palestinian Authority. We know there will be a major attack on Israel that leads to the seven-year peace agreement that starts the beginning of Jacob�s Troubles (commonly referred to as the Tribulation).Certainly, the bold Iranian attack could result in greater attacks which could lead to the end time scenario. Moreover, American citizens should brace themselves for the possible consequences of their leadership funding Iran and terrorist groups like Hamasand the Houthis against Israel. We are seeing the ramifications of claiming support for Israel while funding Israel�s enemies with �humanitarian aid� that is really being used to attack Israel. These are pieces of the end-time prophetic puzzle and they areplaying out before our very eyes. Prepare. Practice discernment. Pray. ----------------------------------- Iran�s Attack on Israel Was Certainly Unprecedented, But Was It Biblically Prophetic? � By Greg Laurie - https://harbingersdaily.com/irans-attack-on-israel-was-certainly-unprecedented-but-was-it-biblically-prophetic/ The attack of Iran on Israel on April 13, 2024, was unprecedented. We know that Iran has sponsored terrorism for a long time, working with proxy groups like the Houthis, Hezbollah,and, of course, Hamas on that horrific attack on the Jewish homeland on October 7th�where 1,200 people were butchered and murdered. It is unbelievable. And there are still so many being held as hostages. But when Iran directly attacked Israel, that is literallywithout precedent, and it has Bible prophecy significance. Now, we had this solar eclipse recently and some people thought that that was a sign of the times, even a warning of an impending judgment on America. And as you recall, Isaid I did not agree with that position. It is true the Bible says that in the last days the sun will not give its light and the power of the heavens will be shaken, but that is speaking specifically of the tribulation period. End Times Events Let me give you just a quick flyover of end times events chronologically. Number one, I think the next event on the prophetic calendar is the Rapture of the Church. Then,the Antichrist emerges on the scene and the tribulation period begins. The tribulation ends with the Second Coming of Christ, and then the Lord establishes the Millennium (the 1,000-year reign of Christ). In the tribulation period, that is when the sun will not give its light and the moon will be darkened, as the Bible predicts. That has not yet happened. So, the eclipse wasnot a sign of the end times. It was just an amazing eclipse. Was the Attack of Iran on Israel Bible Prophecy? Setting that aside, I do believe the attack of Iran on Israel was a fulfillment of Bible prophecy. A sign of the end times, according to Scripture, is the Jewish people willbe regathered together in their homeland. That has happened. On May 14, 1948, Israel officially became a nation. And you might say the prophetic time clock began to tick. That was not just a sign, that was a super sign. But the Bible had more to say. Not only will the Jews be regathered together in their homeland, but they will be increasingly isolated. That�s happening. The Bible also predictedthe rise of antisemitism in the end times. That is happening. The Bible also predicts a large nation to the north of Israel, identified in Ezekiel as Magog, will attack her. That has not yet happened. Many scholars believe that Magog is a reference to modern-dayRussia. I concur with that view, but no one can say with absolute certainty. But this we can say with certainty: One of the allies of Russia will be Persia. Persia was the name of Iran. They changed their name in 1935. Therefore, Persia, or Iran, attackingIsrael is predicted in the Bible. And guess what? That just happened. Will This Lead to Ezekiel 38? Now, am I suggesting that what just took place is going to lead to the scenario of Ezekiel 38? I don�t think that�s necessarily the case, but it certainly is a cause for usto sit up and pay attention. Jesus said, �So when all these things begin to happen, stand and look up, for your salvation is near� (Luke 21:28). I�m so thankful to say that, though 300 Iranian drones, missiles, and rockets were sent toward Israel, 99% of them were taken down by the Iron Dome, David�s Sling, and othertechnology that America has provided for the nation Israel. It is in the best interest of the United States of America to stand with our loyal ally, the nation Israel. God made a promise to Abraham years ago; He said, �I will blessthose who bless you, and I will curse him who curses you� (Genesis 12:3). One of the reasons God has blessed the United States is because we have stood by our friend Israel. And I hope we continue to do so. What Happens Next? I don�t know what will happen next. . . Will Israel retaliate? Again, I don�t know. But Jesus said, �Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads,because your redemption draws near� (Luke 21:28). He did not say, �When you see these things begin to happen, freak out because we�re all dead.� No. Look up! Here�s something else Jesus said, �In My Father�s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and preparea place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself. . .� (John 14:2�3) But then He says, �. . .Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid� (John 14:27). Jesus is coming again. God is in control. But let�s pray for our friends in Israel. Let�s pray for the Jewish people. If you�re reading this right now and you�re Jewish, Iwant you to know that your evangelical friends stand with you now in your hour of need. Let�s continue to pray for this nation of Israel, that God would protect them, that God would lead them, and let�s all make sure we�re ready to meet the Lord�because, well,He could come back at any time. ---------------------------------- Why Is Iran�s Unprecedented Attack on Israel Globally Significant?- Jim Denison - https://www.christianheadlines.com/columnists/denison-forum/why-is-irans-unprecedented-attack-on-israel-globally-significant.html Sirens rang in Jerusalem as air defense systems shot down missiles over the city early yesterday morning. After Iran launched more than three hundred missiles and drones atIsrael, here�s what we know today about Iran�s attack on Israel: • The strikes caused only minor damage to one Israeli military base. • Israel�s chief military spokesman said nearly 99 percent of the aerial threats were intercepted. The US said it helped shoot down dozens of drones and missiles. • Leaders of the Group of Seven nations stated yesterday that they �unequivocally condemn in the strongest terms Iran�s direct and unprecedented attack against Israel.� • Israel vowed to �exact a price,� but an Israeli war cabinet meeting ended last night without a decision on how Israel will respond. • Iran�s top military officer said �there is no intention to continue� its offensive, but added that if Israel attacked Iran, �our next operation will be much bigger than this.� While the attack itself was not devastating, the New York Times reports that it �opened a volatile new chapter in the long-running shadow war between Iran and Israel.� Iran is about seventy-five times larger than the Jewish state; its population is nearly ten times larger. The two countries are more than a thousand miles apart. Israel hasno intention of occupying Iranian land or subjugating its people. Why, then, is Iran at war with Israel? And why is this question so significant for America and the global future? BUILDING AN �AXIS OF RESISTANCE� There was a time when Iran and Israel were not enemies but allies. When Israel declared its independence in 1948, Iran was one of the first Muslim countries to recognize thenew state. However, when Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini ousted Shah Mohammed Reza Pahlavi in the 1979 Islamic revolution, he severed all diplomatic and commercial ties with Israel. Khomeini�s goals from the inception of the revolution were to liberate Iranians from �the evils of Western imperialism� and to export his version of political Islam. Overthe years, Iran built what it calls an �axis of resistance� that includes Hezbollah in Lebanon, the Syrian regime and Shia militias in Syria, Houthi rebels in Yemen, militias in Iraq, and Palestinian Islamic Jihad and Hamas in Gaza and the West Bank. Across the years, Iran has waged war on Israel through these proxies. Now it has launched an unprecedented direct attack on Israel from Iran itself. THE �LITTLE SATAN� AND THE �GREAT SATAN� Americans remember Ayatollah Khomeini because of the Iranian hostage crisis that ensued shortly after he came to power and are familiar with his successor, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei,but most do not know the person who prepared the way for this revolution. Ali Shariati was a Western-educated intellectual who was inspired by Marxist anti-colonialist scholars. He divided the world into the oppressed (including Iran) and the oppressors(primarily the West) and framed a revolutionary ideology to oust the monarchy and �liberate� Iranians. He died before the 1979 revolution, but Khomeini capitalized on the popularity of his ideas. From then to now, Iran�s leaders have sought to export this linkage of Marxist �liberation� with radicalized Islam. Since Israel and the US are the primary obstacles to thisvision, Khomeini termed them the �little Satan� and the �great Satan,� respectively. Add the eschatological conviction of Iran�s leaders that the Mahdi, their version of the Messiah, will appear to dominate the world for Islam only after the Muslim world destroysIsrael, and you can see why Iran�s unprecedented escalation against Israel over the weekend is significant. �SO WE REMAIN IN DARKNESS�  This conflict is not just military but spiritual. Iran�s leaders are being used by the evil one who �comes only to steal and kill and destroy� (John 10:10) as they striveto enact their deluded vision of the future through violent means. Jesus� description fits them well: This is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked thingshates the light and does not come into the light, lest his works should be exposed. But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God (John 3:19�21). This temptation to choose self-dependent darkness over Spirit-dependent light is not limited to Iran. Henri Nouwen commented: Jesus sees the evil in this world as a lack of trust in God�s love. He makes us see that we persistently fall back on ourselves, rely more on ourselves than on God, and areinclined more to love of self than to love of God. So we remain in darkness. If we walk in the light, then we are enabled to acknowledge that everything good, beautiful, and true comes from God and is offered to us in love. Now it falls to you and me to �walk in the light� and to share it as urgently as we can: • Abraham Lincoln died on this day in 1865. If you could have warned the president before he went to Ford�s Theater, would you have done so? • The Titanic sank on this day in 1912. If you could have warned the passengers before they embarked on their ill-fated voyage, would you have done so? • Three people were killed and hundreds injured in the Boston Marathon bombing on this day in 2013. If you could have warned the people beforehand, would you have done so? Jesus is still �the light of the world� (John 8:12, my emphasis). The brilliant Renaissance scholar Desiderius Erasmus was right: �Give light, and darkness will disappear of itself.� How will you �give light� today? ----------------------------------------------- It Is Impossible to Look at What Took Place That Night And Not See The Hand Of God � By Amir Tsarfati - https://harbingersdaily.com/amir-tsarfati-it-is-impossible-to-look-at-what-took-place-that-night-and-not-see-the-hand-of-god/ Shalom from Israel! Saturday night was very tense. There were rumors that Iran was actually going to do something they had never done before. They were going to attack Israelfrom their own soil. In the past they always had their little proxy terrorist minions do their dirty work. Why get Persian hands bloody when there are plenty of Arab to do the job? But this time, they felt that to keep their honor, the world needed to seethem step up and act. All the rumors indicated that it was going to be an air attack, and it was going to be massive. The Attack Then it launched. Dozens and dozens of explosive drones began their slow trip toward Israel. It�s an 8-hour flight for a drone to cross the airspace between Iran and my country.As we in Israel awaited their arrival, it was like watching war in slow motion. But then the situation escalated. Drones were launched from proxy militias in Iraq, Syria, and Yemen, countries closer to Israel. Those were followed by cruise missiles. Inall, 185 suicide drones and 36 cruise missiles filled the air. The Israeli Air Force set to work, sending fighter jets to destroy these flying explosives before they reached our borders. But we weren�t alone. The United States, the UK, and France joined usin plucking them out of the sky. Then came Phase Three of the attack. The drones and cruise missiles were not the end game. Their role was to deplete Israel�s air defense system prior to the primary attack � 110 ballistic missiles. As I mentioned earlier, it takes a drone eight hours to fly from Iran to Israel. A cruise missile�s flight is two hours. But a ballistic missile can traverse the gap in 12 minutes. I have to give the ayatollahs credit � it was a goodplan. It just wasn�t good enough. In the end, 99% of the missiles and drones were intercepted. Those that managed to make it through caused a little bit of damage to an airfield and critically injured an innocent child. The Historic and the Miraculous History was made in the early morning hours of April 14. But more significantly, God clearly showed Himself. It was historic in that Iran had never attacked Israel before from its own borders. As I mentioned earlier, they always had their proxies do their dirty work. This was thefirst time in the nearly 76 years of Israel�s existence and the decades of the Islamist regime in Iran that the ayatollahs put their own fingers on the trigger and pulled. It was historic in that never before had an aerial attack of this type and this size been carried out. Again, there were 185 drones, 36 cruise missiles, and 110 ballisticmissiles launched in a coordinated assault with the intention to cause major damage and loss of life. Some may balk, saying, �Yeah, but only one child got hurt. Israel really needs to temper its response.� Let me ask you this � picture a mass shooter loadinghimself up with multiple guns and 200 rounds of ammunition. He then goes to a crowded event and opens fire. Several people are struck and wounded, before he is tackled by bystanders and subdued. Do we say, �Relax, it�s not a big deal. It�s not like he actuallykilled anyone.� Or, do we say, �Thank the Lord that this man�s plan to massacre all those people was thwarted. Let�s put him away so that he can never do it again.� Iran�s intention was to kill many Israelis, and it is by that intention that they should bejudged and punished. It was historic in that not only did Israel receive help from the US, the UK, and France, but Saudi Arabia and Jordan also participated in shooting down anything that enteredtheir airspace. Help, though, from our Sunni friends had begun prior to that night. The Wall Street Journal reported that Saudi Arabia and the UAE funneled classified intelligence through the US to Israel that helped spoil Iran�s plan. It�s truly remarkableto see the ever-growing effects of the Abraham Accords, mediated by the previous US administration. It was miraculous in that this level of success never should have happened. Mordecai Avitbul, a Doctor of Physics who works for Israeli security, said, �When I look at whathappened on Saturday night on a scientific level, it simply cannot happen.� He explained that to have such a high percentage of weapons destroyed would take every element of the process � human, electronic, mechanical � working just perfectly. He went on tosay, �The likelihood that everything works out just as it should does not exist in complex systems like the defense systems that were operating�. Even if we got 90% protection, it would be a miracle�. If this is not an act of God, then I no longer know whata miracle is.� If you feel he may be a biased observer, let me assure you that he is not the only one who sees the miraculous in this event. A close friend of mine in the US who is involved in military security related to missiles and weapons of that sorthas assured me that it is impossible to logically look at what took place that night and not see the hand of God. It just doesn�t happen. If it seems like I am taking a victory lap, let me assure you that I am not. Intercepting hundreds of warheads and stopping a disastrous attack isn�t a victory. It�s justsuccess. Victory is never achieved by defensive actions. The enemy will just fall back, regroup, find ways to improve, and try again. Attacking and defeating the enemy is the only path to true victory. That is why Israel must now go on the offensive. The Response No sooner were the engines cool on the jet fighters than the US and Western Europe began to warn Israel against a strong response. As I mentioned above, their logic went somethinglike, �Yeah, Iran was wrong for doing that, but nobody really got hurt, right? Let�s just forget it and move on.� Really? Let�s imagine an enemy fires 110 ballistic missiles at the White House or Buckingham Palace or the �lys�e Palace. Just because your airdefenses shoot the weapons out of the sky, are you then going to say, �Tsk, tsk, tsk. This is your warning, guys. Better not do it again�? Israel is going to respond, and it will do so with force. Iran crossed a line and now they have brought the fight to their own soil. It may be a blow to their nuclear program,causing destruction to their production facilities. Their infrastructure may be targeted, taking out dams or electrical stations. The response could be directed at their economy, destroying oil production. Considering the Iranian currency hit an all-time 700,000rials to the US dollar following the failed attack, this could be particularly damaging. Whatever it will be, it is likely the ayatollahs will have to wait and wonder. Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi indicated that a response was unlikely to occur until after Passoverends on April 30. This would enable a homefront policy that would provide for a much-needed, almost-normal Passover week for the people of Israel. It will also give the leaders of the Islamist regime time to sweat. Already they are pulling back workers andreducing the presence of IRGC senior officers from Syria. I understand the strategic benefits of waiting and moving in a time of our own choosing. However, I still think that a forceful attack that same night would have been more effective. The psychologicalimpact of their failure being compounded by a devastating strike by Israel could have gone a long way towards demoralizing and quieting the violent religious radicals who are running the country. In a perfect world with the current U.S. administration�s pressure,an attack would have already been carried out. There is one more twist to this story. A rumor has surfaced today of a deal that may be taking shape. If Israel does not attack Iran, the U.S. will 1) impose severe sanctionson Iran, 2) approve the actions on Rafah in the south and Hezbollah in the north, and 3) transfer the financial aid approved for Israel. Should this be true, it is almost as if Iran has unwittingly fixed all of the U.S.�Israel problems on the regional disputes.I see what the US and Israel are doing here; however, I�m not okay with any of this. This does not sound like Middle East language. It has much more of an American feel. When you leave an attack such as this unanswered in the Middle East, it emboldens theother side to feel like they�ve deterred you. I believe that Israel must do something militarily. Ideally, to the three points above, I would add a fourth that would allow Israel to hit back at Iran. Even if it is something minor, it would at least show thatany strike they give will not go unanswered. Then, if Iran were to retaliate, we could come back on them forcefully giving us a win either way. I do know one thing for sure, that however Israel responds and whatever the resulting escalation might entail, both Iran and Israel will survive this conflict. My confidencedoes not come from the military or infrastructure or allied relationships. My assurance is rooted in the Bible, where Ezekiel 38 tells me that when Russia comes against Israel it will not be alone. Among those joining Russia will be Persia, or Iran. Thus,Iran must be around to attack, while Israel must still exist so that it can be attacked. There is such clarity when people know their Bibles. The Rest of the War In the south, the IDF is intensifying its readiness for a major assault on Rafah. Prior to the attack, all the civilians in the area are being encouraged to leave immediately.Any who refuse the order will likely get moving once the bombs start dropping. As always, the IDF will do all it can to minimize civilian casualties, despite Hamas�s policy of using their own people as human shields. Daily strikes are taking place against Hezbollah in Lebanon. On Tuesday, a targeted attack in the city of Ain Ebel took out Ismail Youssef Baz, commander of the coastal sectorof Hezbollah. That same day, another airstrike in Al-Shahabiyeh killed Muhammad al-Shahouri, commander of the Rockets and Missiles Unit of the Radwan Forces� Western Region. No Hezbollah leader is safe as long as they are targeting Israel. In a heartbreaking story, Nova survivor, 19-year-old Guy Ben Shimon, told a State Audit Commission on the treatment of survivors of the October 7 massacre at the dance festivalthat �there have been almost 50 suicides among the Nova survivors. This number, which was true two months ago, may have increased since.� The victims of Hamas�s holocaust continue to increase even to today. As evil as Hamas is, they are not without friends. A recent article in The Times revealed that Iran has given at least $222 million to the terrorist organization. This isn�ta surprise. However, the article revealed the money pipeline which passed from Iran to Beirut to the Hamas Politburo to Yahya Sinwar in Gaza. Knowing this trail allows the possibility of freezing the Hamas accounts. Turkish President Erdogan gave Hamas somelegitimacy, saying, �There is no difference between the Turkish national forces in the (Turkish) War of Independence and the Hamas movement now.� So, what I hear you saying is that Turkey�s freedom fighters also kidnapped, raped, tortured, and murdered innocentcivilians? Are you sure Hamas is who you want to link your country�s history to, Mr. Erdogan? ---------------------------