Israel prepares for war

Today's headline from Timesonline: "Israel stands ready to bomb Iran's nuclear sites" (article here).

Interesting quotes from this article:

"The Israeli military is preparing itself to launch a massive aerial assault on Iran's nuclear facilities within days of being given the go-ahead by its new government."

"Among the steps taken to ready Israeli forces for what would be a risky raid requiring pinpoint aerial strikes are the acquisition of there Airborn Warning and Control (AWAC) aircraft and regional missions to simulate the attack."

"Two nationwide civil defence drills will help to prepare the public for the retaliation that Israel could face."

"Israel wants to know that if its forces were given the green light they could strike at Iran in a matter of days, even hours."

The reason many of us are following this story - the story about Israel and Iran, is because it very well may trigger the final prophetic dominoes to fall. The reason I believe this includes:

- Russia has threatened to come to Iran's defense if such Israeli strikes occur. That will escalate retaliation many times over.
- The entire region in the Middle-East will be passionately inflamed, potentially setting the stage for fulfillment of Ezekiel 38-39 and the so-called invasion of "Gog-MaGog" which will be ended supernaturally by God, and God's actions will be visible and obvious to all.
- An Israeli strike against Iran could serve as an excuse for more of the predominately Islamic groups to enter the stage, again creating dramatic escalation in the region.
- Its too big to ignore.

In a related news (read here) Joel Rosenberg's site has an interview conducted by Glen Beck. In this interview, Joel Rosenberg explains WHY Iran is so obsessed with the complete destruction of both Israel and the U.S. In a nutshell, Iran's leadership believes that the Islamic "messiah", also known as the 12th Iman or the Mahdi, is coming imminently. They also believe that this "messiah" will only come in the midst of violence/bloodshed/war in the Middle-East. Therefore, to this group of Islamic radicals, widespread warafre in the Middle-East, specifically Israel is a good thing, as it will hasten the return of their "messiah". In this interview, Joel Rosenberg summarizes the situation.

This situation is coming to a head. When it does, its possible that remaining, significant prophetic events will rapidly ensue (my speculation only, but I believe it is grounded well in the scriptures). The time to be prepared is now - prepared in the sense of being ready to meet with Jesus. Israel has a history of taking such actions when least expected; it could come at any day.

Just as Israel is preparing for war, we need to be prepared spiritually. From the words of Luke:

"Even so, when you see these things happening, you know that the Kingdom of God is near." (Luke 21:31)

"Be always on the watch and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man." (Luke 21:36).

Be always on the watch...By being "on the watch" we can have an awareness of the signs around us; but the reason for being watchful is so that we can use the information to prepare spiritually - to prepare for that glorious day in which we will "stand before the Son of Man".

I believe that day is coming soon. Now is the time to prepare. Jesus will come for His bride - its a promise.