Amidst all the media coverage about the chaos in the global financial markets after US Treasury debt was downgraded, there is another item worthy of note which has received little attention (I thank a reader for bringing it to my attention). The Israelis already have in service three state-of-the-art, German-made submarines which are widely believed to be fitted with nuclear-tipped cruise missiles. Previous blog posts have discussed these submarines. Two more similar submarines are already on order and will be delivered by Germany to the Israelis in 2012 and 2013. The Israelis have just ordered a sixth such submarine from Germany. See the links below [1, 2] for more details.
Given the confusions and upheaval in Arab nations this year, the Israelis have little choice but to make preparations for their own strategic defense in case they have no de facto Arab allies in the future. The Israelis’ steady increase in their submarine fleet means that the Israelis are seeking heightened deterrence against a future war by making sure they have a survivable nuclear-armed force which can eliminate many nations with nuclear weapons if the survival of the Israeli homeland is threatened. The Israelis also have Jericho missiles and warplanes which can deliver nuclear weapons on their enemies.
Given President Obama’s widely-reported, anti-Israeli stance, the Israelis have even more incentive to “go it alone” in their war preparations as they cannot rely on American support in a future Mideast war as long as Obama is president. Indeed, the Israelis have now learned that they cannot automatically rely on the USA in the future, no matter who is elected in the future as an American president.
Genesis 49:8-9 prophesies that Judah (the Israelis/Jews) will have its “hand in the neck of its enemies,” and be like a “lion” in the latter days. One can argue that this prophecy was fulfilled in the Arab-Israeli wars that were fought in 1948, 1956, 1967 and 1973 as well as in lesser conflicts since those wars. However, another large war may be ahead of us. If so, Genesis 49:8-9 still applies to Judah in its latter-day wars. Zechariah 12:2-3 also states God’s promise to defend Judah and Jerusalem in the latter days even if “all the people of the earth be gathered together against it.” Isaiah 19:16-17 also prophesies that “the land of Judah shall be a terror unto Egypt” in a latter-day context. Egypt and Israel enjoyed at least cordial relationships during the time of President Mubarak’s leadership of Egypt, but with Mubarak gone, Egypt’s future direction is unclear. If the Muslim Brotherhood ever seizes the reigns of power in Egypt, it will be a nightmare for both the Israelis and Egypt. Egypt has such a large military that the Israelis would likely have to resort to nuclear weapons at the beginning of any war that included Egypt in its list of enemies. If the Israelis had to use nuclear weapons against Egypt, Egypt would effectively cease to exist as a nation. One Israeli nuke on the Aswan Dam would release a radioactive tsunami which would render all arable land in Egypt useless for a very long time. I’m sure Egypt’s ruling generals realize this, and they do not want to risk suicide for Egypt in such a war with the Israelis.
Bible prophecy is clear that at the very end of this age, a great war will be raging which will include the subjugation of half the city of Jerusalem by invaders (Zechariah 14:1-4). I believe that will be the climactic end-time, Gog-Magog war of Ezekiel 38-39 which is also prophesied to begin with an invasion of the “kings of the east” which leads to Armageddon in Revelation 16:12-16. The Messiah’s feet will stand on the mount of Olives as Divine armies intervene, rescue mankind from extinction and put an end to World War III. Zechariah 12:8-14 describes this same Divine intervention, and it prophesies the Jews will be shocked to learn that the true Messiah is one “whom they have pierced.” Christians already know who that Messiah will be. It will be Jesus Christ/Yashua.
http://www.ynetnews.com/Ext/Comp/ArticleLayout/CdaArticlePrintPreview/1,2506,L-4096694,00.html
http://www.jpost.com/Defense/Article.aspx?id=229970
