What Is Iran Up To?

The race for the White House in 2016 is heating up.  The Republican field is getting crowded with strong candidates representing strong conservative values throwing their hats into the ring.  And it is sounding as if the first non-politician in a long time to run as president will soon declare.  The momentum for Dr. Ben Carson has grown, especially since his address before the National Presidential Prayer Breakfast two years ago.  As a non-politician he certainly sees the office through a different lens than do others.  It will be very interesting to see how far his candidacy will go and what following he will have in Iowa, New Hampshire, and South Carolina during the early days of the process. 


On the Democratic side, Hillary Clinton did what she was supposed to do.  But it is interesting the manner in which she entered the race.  The clouds that hang over her head are many.  The questions about Benghazi - what she knew and when she knew it, and about her deleted emails while Secretary of State will linger, demanding answers - and not just pat-ones.  And she will need some transparency which she has always found difficult to do.  I think it will be interesting to see whether any other Democrats will challenge her "already crowned nomination."  If they do, it could be very interesting.


I continue to watch with great interest the alignment of powers in the Middle East.  No sooner had the ink dried on the agreement that outlines the continuation of the Iran Talks, then the Iranians make two items non-negotiable.  First, President Rouhani stated that Iran will NOT give regulators access to all nuclear sites, and second, that Iran DEMANDS that all financial constraints placed upon Iran be lifted immediately the day the accords go into effect.  I wondered why they could make those types of demands so quickly.  Then I remembered seeing a picture in a newspaper of the celebration on the streets of Tehran at the announcement of the signing of these preliminary accords.  Friends, you only celebrate if you feel you have won.  There certainly was no celebration on the streets in London or Paris or Berlin or Washington.  The Iranians believe that they have won; that the P5+1 nations will not do anything.  Therefore the quick demands. 


Then, this past Monday, Fox News reported that Russia has agreed to deliver to Iran a sophisticated S-300 anti-missile system.  Iran had initially purchased this system in 2007, but Russia had halted the shipment to Iran in 2010.  Russia, one of the signatory nations of the P5+1, by virtue of its lifting the shipment ban is declaring that Iran has won.  The American response from Secretary of State John Kerry was, "We don't believe it's constructive at this time for Russia to move forward with this but we've worked very closely with the Russians on the P5+1 negotiations.  We don't think this will have an impact on unity in terms of inside the negotiating room."  Are the Israeli's concerned?  Yes they are.  Iran has always been a major threat to them.  They worry about the impact of a nuclear Iran upon Israel and upon the entire Middle East. 


Then, just this morning, Christianity Today reported that "influential Egyptian TV personality Tawfik Okasha has reportedly told Israel to bomb Iran. ... 'Put your trust in God and bomb it.  We are with you and if you need fuel for the jets, we will give it to you,' Okasha said." 


This strengthening alignment between Russia and Iran makes others in the Middle East very nervous.  And it certainly has shades of Ezekiel 38-39 written all over it.  For there, in those familiar prophetic verses, we see a strong alignment between Persia (today's Iran) and the ruler of the land of Magog (modern day Russia).  Are we nearing the end of the days of waiting for the sounding of the trumpet?  I cannot speak with absolute authority, but the Scriptural texts do seem to come alive right before our eyes.  Friends, Iran is not going away.  They have a mission to accomplish...to bring in the Twelfth Iman.  And, according to their understanding, he will come during a time of chaos and war. 


What should be the attitude of the believer?  Fear?  Absolutely not!  Apathy?  Definitely not!  Excitement?  This is a must.  Energized?  Yes, for we have a great task that still is unfinished.  These are great days.