In a somewhat bizarre turn of events, an explosion that is widely considered to be the work of Israeli intelligence has yielded information that makes Iran much more of a threat than we previously thought.

Israel’s Deputy Prime Minister, Moshe Yaalon, disclosed that a large blast about 30 miles outside of Tehran last November was responsible for destroying a missile factory.  This was not news to many, but what was news is that there is credible evidence now that this factory was in the process of making a new missile system with a range of 6000 miles, which is capable of targeting the United States with a Nuclear tipped missile.  Previously, Iran only had missile systems capable of hitting targets 1500 miles away.  This endangered Israel and parts of Europe, but fell far short of reaching the United States. 

There is also other disturbing information about Iran’s nuclear capabilities according to a Debka File report.  Israeli Military Intelligence Chief Major General Aviv Kochavi reported on February 2nd that currently Iran has 100 kilos of 20-pc enriched uranium, which is enough to make four or five nukes.  This information runs counter to U.S. intelligence estimates.  A recent report by Director of National Intelligence James Clapper stated that a nuclear threat from Iran is very unlikely and that they were much farther from having a nuclear weapon.  His concern was from attacks on U.S. soil through terrorist strikes – even as high as at the presidential level.  This was due to the intelligence gained from the foiled attack on the Saudi Arabian ambassador last year. 

Considering the pitiful intelligence that caught us off guard regarding the North Korean nuclear program, we would do better to trust the Israeli reports than many of our own.  But what does all this mean in the prophetic world?

This will not be Armageddon.  But it can be the event that triggers the Gog-Magog war that happens in Ezekiel 37-38.  That battle involves an astounding number of nations that have pledged to support and be in alliance with Iran in case of an Israeli pre-emptive strike.  One scenario that could work out is that after Israel strikes to destroy Iran’s nuclear program, these nations, which are a who’s who of the Gog-Magog coalition, will rise up and take their place in an attack on Israel from the North.  On that we will have to wait and see.  But one thing that is for certain is this . . . no longer is Iran just a threat to the little Satan (their name for Israel).  With this information we clearly see that the big Satan (their name for the United States) is now clearly at risk as well.  

It is once again that time of year . . . when the leaves are falling from the trees . . . when it is getting colder . . . and when I begin in earnest to study for what will be the Prophecy Update message(s) for 2012.  This is going to be a year unlike any I've ever seen before.  The reason for this is because there is more worldwide unrest and upheaval than in any I've known in my lifetime.  Soooo . . . I thought I'd give a little preview of where I'm going in regard to my early studies and reading.

First, there is the financial upheaval that is going on everywhere in the world.  The uncontrolled spending that has dominated the western world is coming to a close.  The experiment with various aspects of Socialism is coming home to roost.  Our governing officials are running out of other people's money to spend - and that is making for some very interesting developments now - and even more fascinating ones that are coming possibly as early as next year.  What I want to explore though, is how these events may be working toward scenarios put forth for us in the prophecy writings of the Bible.

Second, there is the Arab Spring.  We have watched Egypt and Libya go through revolutions that have removed dictators.  We are watching Syria presently on the verge of revolution.  There is rampant unrest throughout the Middle East in the "street."  Who is going to fill the vacuum left by the departure of these leaders and their regimes?  Will it be an Arab Spring that will follow - or - something far more sinister resembling an Arab "dark ages" instead?  

Third, there is the specter of a nuclear Iran - and what Israel is going to do about that development.  This one may happen before January 1st.  There are several reports from intelligence gathering groups that point to an Israeli strike that will take out Iran's nuclear capabilities.  What will this lead to in the future?  Could this event be the "starting line" for a series of events that could lead to the Gog-Magog invasion of Ezekiel 38-39?  Could this even be a convergence of events that could be when the rapture of the church takes place?  

Fourth, there is Israel.  Since the 7 year tribulation period involves God's work with Israel, it is always helpful to see what kind of developments are taking place among God's chosen people.  There is always a great deal that swirls around this little nation.  We will look at recent developments in the peace process - in the threats that continue to surround Israel - and the way that anti-semitism in on the rise in our nation and around the world.

Fifth, there are the Occupy Wall-Street protesters and the unrest that is growing in our own nation.  What is all this protesting about - and where could it lead us?  Along with this area of study I am going to address how these events play into America's role in the last days.  Where is the United States in all that is going to happen?  What can we expect as the day of our Lord's return draws ever nearer?


Finally, I will also be looking into developments concerning hot-button issues like, "Who is the Antichrist?"  "What about the mark of the beast?"  "What is happening that might factor into the various judgments (Seal, Trumpet, and Bowl) that are going to happen?"  All these may have had some kind of development that bears scrutiny as to how they may happen in the future.

I would appreciate your prayers as I dive into the deep-end of these studies.  This usually involves reading 100's of pages of information - various updates in the financial realm, the political realm, the military realm, and the spiritual realm.  I need God's wisdom to discern truth from error - and fact from hype.  As always I want the Scriptures to dominate how I look at things.  Honestly, I'm excited about this year because of all the developments going on in the world.  But I am also concerned that I not get caught up in any false hype or misinterpretation of the events that are happening today.

What is the world is going on with Iran?  Over the past week we've learned that the Iranian KUDS forces (which is the equivalent of our special forces) were involved in a plot to assassinate the Saudi Arabian ambassador to the United States.  Allegedly, the plot involved working with Mexican drug cartels in an effort to hire professional assassins to carry out the plot.  As more and more details of this plot become known, it is clear that the Iranian government was involved in this effort. 

This is a radical move on the part of the Iranian government - even a game-changing event.  It has led to several things that are happening presently in our own government reaction to this attempt on the Saudi Arabian Ambassador.  The first is that the Obama administration is seeking what they call, "crippling" sanctions against the Iranian government.  The problem with this action is that it will require countries like China and Russia to comply as well.  Since we do not do any business with Iran, our ability to directly affect their economy is fairly limited.  The second action, which is not receiving hardly any attention involves Israel and the sale of 55 advanced bunker-busting bombs to their military.  This was something that was allowed by the Obama Administration.  To give a little insight on this action, the Bush Administration was asked to do the same thing - and did not do it.  It was viewed as too controversial a decision, and one that would come back to haunt them if Israel used these weapons to destroy Iran's nuclear program.

What does all this mean for our world.  It actually means a great deal.  One of the things Israel absolutely had to have to deal with Iran's pursuit of nuclear weapons was bunker-busting bombs.  Now that they have them - an attack on Iran's nuclear infrastructure is far more possible.  This would cause a huge disruption of the delivery of oil throughout the world.  Those who understand the ramifications of this say it might cause the cost of oil to surge to 6-8 dollars a gallon - or more.  This would send an already fragile world economy over the edge into full scale collapse.  Such a collapse would put our world into financial chaos.  It would be a perfect scenario for a world leader to rise to help solve such an issue - not to mention to lead the world toward a one-world currency or system that would be easily be transformed to a cashless economy.

There is also the problem of military reprisals for Israel taking out Iran's nuclear weapons program.  If such an attack were to take place, there is a good possibility that the world would be set on fire.  Russia, Syria, and Turkey all have mutual defense pacts with Iran.  If Israel were to attack Iran - what would these countries do?  It could easily cause the region to erupt with protests - and eventually a military action against Israel from nations throughout the region.  That would fit the view of the Gog-Magog conflict of Ezekiel 37-38 being an event which happens before the rapture of the church and the beginning of the 7 year tribulation period of the book of Revelation. 

The situation with Iran is fluid at the moment.  Much of what I've written today has yet to happen.  We do not know what sanctions will be put on Iran.  We do not know how effective they will be.  We do not know how Iran is going to react to such things.  We do not know how the rest of the Middle East will react to Iran's actions.  But the one thing we do know is that Israel now has the ability to penetrate the bunkers which hide much of Iran's nuclear facilities.  The question will be what Israel will do with them?  The other thing we also know is that these events have done nothing to lessen the political pressures that are rising in the Middle East.  We will need to stay tuned to learn what will happen.  But in the mean time we also need to stay on our knees and continue to pray for the peace of Jerusalem, because these events have made that peace that much more difficult.

Now this will be the plague with which the LORD will strike all the peoples who have gone to war against Jerusalem; their flesh will rot while they stand on their feet, and their eyes will rot in their sockets, and their tongue will rot in their mouth.  It will come about in that day that a great panic from the LORD will fall on them; and they will seize one another's hand, and the hand of one will be lifted against the hand of another.  Judah also will fight at Jerusalem; and the wealth of all the surrounding nations will be gathered, gold and silver and garments in great abundance.  So also like this plague will be the plague on the horse, the mule, the camel, the donkey and all the cattle that will be in those camps. Zechariah 14:12-15

While reading through the Bible this year, I recently came upon this passage in Zechariah fourteen – a passage that brings to mind images that are horrific – but that also calls to mind a modern weapon that can actually cause the very thing that God speaks of in this passage.

The weapon of which we speak is called the “neutron bomb.”  Neutron bombs act on the part of an atom called the neutron.  A neutron is a basic component of every atom.  In general, for every atom to be a stable element it must have a proton (a positively charged particle) an electron (a negatively charged particle) and a neutron (a neutrally charged element – with no electrical charge whatsoever).  Neutrons are a critical building block of every material thing in our entire universe.  When these neutrons are clinging to protons in the nucleus of an atom, they are vital to the existence of matter itself.  When they are freed from this relationship with a proton, they cause a very deadly form of radiation – in fact it is lethal.

The first atomic bombs involved the splitting apart of “heavy atomic nuclei.”  When this happens there is a tremendous release of power – thus the massive mushroom-clouded type of explosion results.  This was the type of bomb released on Japan at the close of the second world war.  The second generation of nuclear bomb is called the “thermonuclear bomb.”  This involves a process where hydrogen isotopes are fused together to form even heavier atoms – which when split release almost unbelievable amounts of energy.  That is why we are very careful and loathe to release one of these bombs today.  The explosion and effect of a thermonuclear bomb makes the first generation of nuclear bombs look like a mere firecracker.  When we consider the massive destruction at Hiroshima and Nagasaki as a firecracker, we tremble at the destruction one of these second generation bombs could cause. 

The Neutron bomb is a third generation nuclear device.  This bomb is similar to the thermonuclear bomb except that a blanket of heavy U-238 isotopes is removed from it.  What this does to the bomb is make it release only a massive number of neutrons combined with gamma radiation at its detonation.  When this bomb blows the release of the neutrons are lethal to humans and any other animal life around it.  If you are within the radius of a neutron bomb you will be killed almost instantly.  If you are within the blast radius what will happen to you is eerily similar to what Zechariah describes in chapter 14 of his prophecy.  Any kind of flesh is destroyed by a kind of melting process as all the atoms are destroyed within it.  Thus Zechariah’s description of something that rots flesh, eyes, and the tongue are often compared to what happens at the detonation of a neutron bomb.

The reason the military would choose one of these bombs is because they are considered to be much “cleaner” than conventional nuclear bombs.  A neutron bomb blast will only kill living things.  This will leave all the weapons and buildings in the area pretty much intact.  If a nation were attacked by a huge army – as Israel will be attacked in the last days – the bomb will kill all the troops, but will leave all their armor and weaponry undamaged.  The other important difference is that a neutron bomb will leave no radioactive fallout behind after its detonation.  Unlike the first two generations of nuclear weapons, a person is safe walking in the area of the bomb blast immediately after the explosion.  Even soldiers who are dug in many feet below the earth will not escape the results of a neutron bomb blast. 

What is fascinating is that currently only the United States, Israel, and possibly China have this kind of weaponry.  That is interesting to the student of prophecy because if attacked by a huge army, Israel may choose to release such a weapon.  It would effectively destroy their enemies without causing a massive ecological event that would poison the region for decades. 

The question though for us is whether God is going to use something like this in the Gog-Magog invasion that is coming – or whether the deliverance in this scenario is simply going to be a plague that comes from the hand of God.  To be honest with you I do not have a clue which it will be, since God has worked in both ways in the past testimony of Scripture.  At times His judgment and wrath fall through an army that is divinely empowered for victory.  At other times He acts apart from any human involvement and brings His power to bear directly on those who oppose Him. 

What I get from all this is that it is foolish to stand against the apple of God’s eye – the nation of Israel.  Scripture very clearly indicates that the nation of Israel will be a major focus in the last days.  It also indicates that in the end, all nations will turn against Him and against His people.  Yet God will use even this to accomplish His ultimate purposes and plans.  Those plans have nothing to do with world domination – and everything to do with bringing salvation to the people of His own choosing.  They may have rejected their Messiah at His first coming – but eventually God is going to bring Israel to Himself with the events of these last days.  As I read Zechariah fourteen and realized that for the first time in history a human weapon has the capability of doing what is said here – I had another sense that we are indeed living in the last days.  May such a realization cause me – and saints, cause all of us to look up, for indeed our redemption is drawing near!

(This article is taken from this year's Prophecy Update 2011 Message)
For the past couple of decades we have watched as administration after administration has tried to negotiate a peace settlement between Israel and the Palestinian Authority.  This process has been agonizing to watch because no matter what is done – peace has not been the result.  But let’s take a little closer look at what this may be building toward in the future.

No matter who is at the table – the Palestinian contingent seems to never feel like enough is being offered to make a lasting peace.  Of course that may be because their charter has within it the call to destroy the state of Israel.  Kinda hard to make peace when your founding document militates against it. 

The major thing Israel desires if they allow statehood for their avowed neighboring enemy is that it is a secure peace.  What they mean by that is that if a Palestinian state is formed – it needs to be a state that rejects terrorism and that guarantees the safety of their neighbors, the Jews, across their border.  This too may be difficult to discuss and agree to seeing that missiles, both military and human (suicide bombers) seem to keep coming over the border to the detriment (read destruction and death) of their Israeli neighbors.  It is almost as if this call for peace and statehood – is really not the end game for the Palestinian Authority.  Maybe that is where we should start in all this?

The Palestinian Authority may not be winning their statehood outright at the negotiating table, but they are winning it in the court of public opinion.  The worldwide press, with only a very few exceptions, has signed on with the Palestinian Authority.  Their story is gaining ground daily in the world court of opinion.  This is not due to any “right-ness” of their cause – but more due to the one-sided presentation of this conflict – and the terms that are being used to describe it.  Terms like “occupation” and “oppression” do not help the cause of Israel even as missiles are lobbed daily onto their sovereign soil.  The death of one Palestinian protester is trumpeted, while the deaths of dozens of Israel’s citizens in a bus or restaurant bombing are shrugged off – or worse justified by Israel’s detractors. 

The end game here may be coming this spring – as the Palestinian Authority has hinted openly at the probability of declaring themselves a state unilaterally.  They will do this without any kind of agreement from Israel.  With other states saying that they will support such a move and recognize this Palestinian state, this idea is gaining traction by the day.  States such as Brazil, Venezuela, Argentina, Cuba, Chile, Columbia, China, and North Korea have said that they will recognize this state if this happens.  The EU is discussing responding favorably as well.  And although the Congress has voted unanimously to advise our president NOT to do this – there is talk at the White House of recognizing this state as well. 

What we have here is frustrating to those of us who love Israel – and who believe that their security will be threatened by such a move.  If this does happen the state that will be declared will not have boundaries that are agreed to by Israel.  The Palestinian state will most likely claim the West bank (can you say Judah) as their territory, and East Jerusalem as their capitol city (can you say “there is a war coming soon”).  These are things Israel most likely will vehemently reject.  So what is happening here? 

I believe that we are continuing to move to the point where all nations (the United States unfortunately among them) will reject Israel.  If a unilateral Palestinian state is declared – it will have widespread world support.  If a war ensues where Israel is forced to protect itself from a state that claims territory from it that they have not agreed to giving that state, the world will turn against Israel for it.  That war will be a slaughter for the Palestinians – unless they unite with other terrorist factions like Hamas, Hezbollah, and Iran (possibly Syria too – who would like to reclaim the Golan Heights in all this mess) come to their aid. 

Whatever happens – you can bet that it will help to solidify worldwide condemnation on Israel before it is over.  So, we are looking at a situation where the prophetic stage will further be set for all nations to be turning on Israel.  The sad biblical fact is though, that such a situation WILL turn out badly for the nations that touch Israel.  God has promised to protect Israel, not because they are godly, but simply because they are His chosen people.  This will not end well for those nations – but then again – when has that ever stopped them before?