As followers of world events, the readers of my blog do not need a full recounting of the events of the first four days in the war between Iran and Israel. I’m sure you are following events closely. I will try to offer some underappreciated details about this war and offer a new biblical perspective that is coming into focus. It is noteworthy that just hours after my previous blog warning of an imminent war between Israel and Iran was posted, that war did begin.
This war has barely begun if Israel fully intends to destroy Iran’s capacity to make nuclear weapons–and I believe they have no choice but to be determined to accomplish that goal. The fact that Iran is aiming for civilian population centers in its missile attacks shows that Iran will have no hesitations to hit Israeli cities with nukes if they get the chance. Israel must prevent that from happening. Iran was clearly stalling for time in their unproductive talks with the Trump administration. President Trump had given Iran 60 days to settle the matter via negotiation. Iran apparently forgot how to count or they didn’t take Trump seriously. On day 61 with no settlement or progress in hand, Trump unleashed the Israelis to start taking apart Iran’s nuclear program. The war has been intense since Israel’s strikes began. While we are allowed to see the effects of Iranian missiles on Israeli targets because Israel is an open society, we do not see the full effect of Israel’s persistent air strikes on Iranian targets all over Iran because Iran will not allow the media to see or show the full extent of the damage. So far I’ve seen no evidence that Israeli strategic submarines have fired their missiles at Iranian targets. They are doubtless on station waiting for an order to fire their missiles. The USA has so far not assisted in offensive actions vs. Iranian targets, but the USA has assisted Israel in its defensive efforts vs. Iranian missile attacks via America’s Patriot, Aegis and THAAD air defense systems.
In the first few days of combat, Israel has hit many Iranian nuclear, ballistic missile and military sites and Israel is proclaiming it will finish the job of eliminating Iran’s ability to make nukes (first link). That is the entire central focus of the preemptive attacks. Israel has also hit and severely degraded Iran’s energy production–a fact which has received little media notice. The second link reports Israel has already eliminated well over half of Iran’s natural gas production ability. Iran is causing casualties in Israeli cities with its ballistic missiles, one of which hit the Israeli military command center in Tel Aviv (third link). Israel’s air defenses have intercepted the vast majority of Iran’s missiles, but some are getting through and causing significant damage to Israeli cities. In the aftermath of the American military parade in Washington, DC, Iran has been warned not to attack any US bases in the Mideast, and that if they do, they will face the full might of America’s wrath. This morning’s news has reported Iran wants to restart talks, but I see this as an effort by Iran simply to stall for time and save its nuclear program from complete destruction.
I find it meaningful the Israelis call this military strike “Operation Rising Lion.” My previous post discussed Genesis 49’s description of the tribe of Judah (Jews/ Israelis) as a “lion” which will be “roused up” from its prey in the latter days. This operation’s name is profoundly consistent with that biblical prophecy about Judah in our climactic time.
There have been repeated hopes expressed in media interviews and reports that the Iranian people would rise up and overthrow the dictatorship of the Iranian extremist mullahs. Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu openly called for such an action in one of his speeches. While that would be a great outcome for the Iranian people, there is something in biblical prophecy which argues that will not happen. Ezekiel 38:1-7 lists the latter-day nations which will be in the Gog-Magog alliance in the final war at the very end of this age. In verse 5 it lists “Persia” as a nation within the Gog-Magog alliance at the very end of this age. This strongly infers that no attempt to overthrow the mullah’s rule will be successful. It is more likely that when this war ends, a badly-damaged Iran will have to turn to Russia and China for help in rebuilding its military and civilian infrastructures. This will cause Iran to be even more indebted to Russia and China.
While Israel has attacked Iran’s natural gas industry, I have not yet seen reports that it has attacked Iran’s oil industries. If you see/hear media reports that Israeli warplanes or submarines have attacked and destroyed Iran’s oil production and shipping industries (such as the one at Kharg Island), you will know Israel is really in this war “for keeps.” Iran builds its military forces and funds its terrorist proxies with funds from its oil exports. By destroying Iran’s oil shipping capabilities, Israel would cut off Iran’s funding to Hamas, Hezbollah, the Houthis, etc. With no Iranian funding, these proxy forces would be greatly degraded and Hamas would likely have to sue for peace with Israel.
As this war continues, I’m sure more important events will occur, but this is enough for my initial comments on its early series of events.
- https://www.foxnews.com/live-
news/israel-iran-tel-aviv- tehran-airstrikes-middle-east- tensions-escalate - https://tjvnews.com/news/
israel/israel-targets-irans- energy-infrastructure-in- first-direct-strike-on-south- pars-gas-field/ - https://tjvnews.com/news/
israel/iranian-missile- barrage-hits-israeli-military- command-center-in-tel-aviv- major-escalation-in-ongoing- conflict/
