March 7, 2015 - A. V. Rauf
Benjamin Netanyahu’s Congressional Speech: 24 Hours Later……………..
Just a few days ago, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the U. S. Congress and lobbied powerfully against a possible nuclear agreement with Iran. Many are saying that Benjamin Netanyahu gave what just may be the defining speech of his career.
So now the Iran negotiations head toward a March 31 deadline. As mentioned in the previous post, the speech was given on the eve of Purim, the Jewish holiday that celebrates Jewish victory over annihilation and genocide.
Hundreds of years before Christ, in the ancient empire of Persia, a fiendish plot was hatched. A palace officer named Haman decided to exterminate the Jews. We can read the account in the Bible’s book of Esther, and it makes us realize some things never change. Persia is modern Iran.
Queen Esther’s petition before the king foiled that plot, and as a result, Haman was hung on the very gallows he built to murder Jews.
Just one day after Netanyahu gave this speech and as the Purim holiday was being observed, it is being reported that Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was hospitalized in critical condition. According to Arab media reports cited by Israel Hayom, Khamenei was urgently brought to a hospital in Tehran after several of his bodily systems had already failed.
The reports add that the 76-year-old supreme leader of the Islamic regime has undergone surgery and remains in critical condition. Recently it has been reported that he was suffering from prostate cancer which had spread to additional parts of his body, and due to his poor health condition he had largely ceased taking part in public events.
Khamenei has threatened Israel with destruction numerous times in the past literally calling for their annihilation. Iran is the largest state sponsor of terrorism, and as Netanyahu noted in his speech, has seized influence in Yemen through the Houthis, Lebanon through Hezbollah, Iraq by taking a lead role in the ISIS fight, and Syria.
As of today, Israeli General Israel Ziv reported in Jerusalem that Iranian general officers have taken command of the Syrian front within six miles of the north-east border of Israel, along with 10,000 “volunteers” from Iran, Iraq and Afghanistan.
This dangerous development may lead to a fast-spreading regional war in the Middle East. An Iranian attack against the Golan Heights would trigger Israeli defenses in depth in Syria. Iran could potentially bring more than 100,000 Basiji into the battle, as well as IRGC troops. If Israel is directly threatened, it may well resort to unconventional weapons, and even launch a counter-attack against Iran itself. In previous wars Israel has counter-attacked into Syria and Egypt.
While this is happening, Iran is seeking to find a successor to become the new supreme leader of Iran.
There are many candidates to succeed Khamenei at the top spot in the Islamic Republic. In the council there are 86 members that are chosen every eight years, and they choose the supreme leader. Needless to say a new leader will most likely be appointed no later then 2016.
Jeremiah 49:34-39—The word of the Lord that came to Jeremiah the prophet against Elam in the beginning of the reign of Zedekiah king of Judah, saying, 35 Thus saith the Lord of hosts; Behold, I will break the bow of Elam, the chief of their might. 36 And upon Elam will I bring the four winds from the four quarters of heaven, and will scatter them toward all those winds; and there shall be no nation whither the outcasts of Elam shall not come. 37 For I will cause Elam to be dismayed before their enemies, and before them that seek their life: and I will bring evil upon them, even my fierce anger, saith the Lord; and I will send the sword after them, till I have consumed them: 38 And I will set my throne in Elam, and will destroy from thence the king and the princes, saith the Lord. 39 But it shall come to pass in the latter days, that I will bring again the captivity of Elam, saith the Lord.
Elam is an ancient geographical location mentioned in the Bible. Today its location would be mainly in Iran with a small section in Iraq. It bordered with the ancient Babylonian Empire. The actual location of Elam would be the very northern end of the Persian Gulf and down along with the west coast of Iran.
The context of Jeremiah 49 is judgment on nations that will be fulfilled during the Day of the LORD. The judgment against Elam was not fulfilled but will be in the future. The prophecy speaks of the people being driven off the land and scattered into all the world. This has never happened in recorded history. It also speaks of the God of Israel setting His throne in Elam. This has never happened. This is all future because this prophecy was never fulfilled. It appears that with Elam now the focus of world attention, As I mentioned in the previous post God is ready to fulfill it.
According to Obadiah 1:15, God judges nations in relation to what that nation does to Israel.
Obadiah 1:15-– For the day of the Lord is near upon all the heathen: as thou hast done, it shall be done unto thee: thy reward shall return upon thine own head.
The judgment as recorded in Jeremiah 49 indicates that Elam was anotorious enemy of Israel. Elam was with the Assyrians and assisted the Babylons in their attacks on Jerusalem. Now, Israel is once again a nation and ancient Elam/Iran is again trying to destroy Israel and capture Jerusalem. Iran wants to destroy Israel.
Now here’s where it it gets really interesting…….
A mainstream Muslim website recently declared that the Imam Mahdi will appear either this year (2015) or in 2016, and that Jesus will return in 2022.
DiscoveringIslam.org and the End Times Research Center believe the first phase of the End of Time will begin soon, and lead to the Day of Judgment in seven years.
The estimates were derived from “Numerical Analysis of the Quran, Hadith, Arabic Words, and Historical Events,” according to the organization’s website.
They claim that many signs have appeared and are continuing and increasing.
The Mahdi is not explicitly referenced in the Koran, but appears in a compilation of teachings, known as Hadith. Some Muslims believe he will return to rule for seven years, and will eradicate all evil. Within the Shiite sect of Islam, which is predominate in Iran, it is prophesied that there is a coming 12th Imam who is the great spiritual savior. Let me mention again that the chief leaders in Iran are predominantly Shi’ite Muslims.
The Hidden Imam, as he is also known by his followers, will only return after a period of cosmic chaos, war and bloodshed – what Christians call the Apocalypse and then lead the world into an era of universal peace.
I want to emphasize again that we must pray for our nation and our leaders in this pivotal moment in time and we must also pray for the peace of Jerusalem.
1 Timothy 2:1-3-–I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; 2For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. 3For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;
Psalm 122:6—Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee.
I do want to clearly emphasize that by no means am I attempting to be a date-setter of any sort. Needless to say in regards to this information and much of what is transpiring in the Middle East and Israel at a breakneck speed, things are about to get very , very interesting folks!