The race is on...

It seems like a race right now. A race to see who will trigger the Middle East to explode, and create the final cascade of events leading into and beginning the Tribulation. Currently the race seems to be between the "local" terrorist groups (controlled by Iran/Syria) and the situation with Iran. Many of us consider that we could see an initial conflict between Israel and Lebanon/Syria/Hezbollah leading into the Isaiah 17 destruction of Damascus, which would, in turn, lead to the invasion of Gog-MaGog. But that is speculation. God has His own plan and we will have to see how it develops. The other part of this race hinges on Iran, and the potential for Israel to "attack" their nuclear facilities, which would also trigger a cascade of events.

Today, we see both of these potential scenarios in play:

"IDF reveals Hizbullah positions"

Hizbullah will likely fire close to 800 rockets into Israel every day during a future war, senior IDF officers said on Wednesday, as the Northern Command declassified for the first time evidence of Hizbullah’s growing presence inside close to 160 villages throughout southern Lebanon.

Using the village of el-Khiam – located about 4 km. north of the border – as an example, the IDF showed extensive footage, videos and maps of homes that Hizbullah has taken over and used to store weapons caches and establish command-and-control centers.

The IDF said that Hizbullah today maintains about 20,000 guerrilla fighters throughout southern Lebanon, whose main objective is to prevent an Israeli ground invasion. The fighters are also responsible for operating Hizbullah’s extensive missile capability, which would allow them to strike deep within Israel.

Hizbullah has an estimated 40,000 short-, medium- and long-range missiles.

The declassification of the material on Wednesday is a demonstration of the IDF’s penetration of Hizbullah.

And when the next conflict breaks out, we all need to remember how the terrorist groups operate:

“It is important to show the world that Hizbullah has built up its military infrastructure inside villages, with the objective that we will kill the maximum amount of civilians in a future conflict,” a senior IDF officer said.

“We want to warn that if we are attacked by Hizbullah – this may happen.”

And this related article from Haaretz:

"Hezbollah readying for urban war in southern Lebanon, IDF warns"

Israel's military on Wednesday offered evidence of what it says is a growing threat from Hezbollah in southern Lebanon, using aerial images to highlight the militants group's activities in towns and villages close to the Israeli border.

Israel's military on Wednesday offered evidence of what it says is a growing threat from Hezbollah in southern Lebanon, using aerial images to highlight the militants group's activities in towns and villages close to the Israeli border.

In a briefing to journalists, Israel Defense Forces Colonel Ronen Marley revealed previously classified photographs to show what he said was a unit of 90 Hezbollah militants operating in the village of Al-Hiyam, where they were storing weapons close to hospitals and schools.

See also:

"IDF: Hizballah deployed across southern Lebanon"

"IDF Releases Map of Hizbullah Targets"


Now we turn to Iran and the situation with their nuclear weapons:

"The Time to Act Against Iran Is Fast Approaching"

Given what we know or should know by this time, we would be foolish not to take Iran’s claims and threats with utmost seriousness. Everything points to a dangerous rogue regime intent on establishing its hegemony in the Middle East, working assiduously against Western interests, and unafraid to unleash real devastation upon the world. Russian strategist Major-General Vladimir Dvorkin, head of the Moscow-based Center for Strategic Nuclear Forces, believes that in the near future Iran “will most likely be able to threaten the whole of Europe.” Articles 19 and 20 of the IAEA Board of Governors Report for November 19, 2008, are unambiguous and are still as pertinent today as they were two years ago:

The IAEA now believes that Iran is on the way to developing a nuclear payload for a ballistic missile cone. The IAEA has also noted that the Shihab-3 ballistic missile is being adapted to explode 650 meters above target, appropriate only for nuclear warheads, and that Iran is engaged in a process to convert uranium Yellowcake into Green Salt, necessary for nuclear weapons cores. In fact, Iran has now produced its first batch of 20% enriched uranium. The Telegraph for March 28, 2010, reports that Iran appears to have started construction on “two Qom look-alikes.” On April 9, 2009, Iran announced the development of a “third generation” centrifuge, capable of doubling the enrichment output of its predecessor. And on May 31, 2010, the IAEA reported that Iran possesses sufficient nuclear fuel to render two nuclear missiles operational.

OK, thats bad enough, but the following scenario is what has me the most concerned, and has for some time now:

William R. Graham, reporting from his post as chairman of the Congressional Commission to Assess the Threat to the United States from Electromagnetic Pulse Attack, testified that Iran has already conducted electromagnetic pulse missile tests from frigates in the Caspian Sea. Additionally, Graham draws attention to Iranian military writings that “explicitly discuss a nuclear EMP attack that would gravely harm the United States.”

As Ryan Mauro points out, “an electromagnetic pulse attack … could potentially fry all electronic components for thousands of miles.” Given the American administration’s gelatinous foreign policy, outreach to enemies, and its abdication from critical spheres of influence, it has now become an especially vulnerable target. Such an attack, which could be launched undetectably from, say, a nondescript barge in the Pacific, would devastate the United States and send it reeling back into the 19th century. The American president thus far appears serenely unperturbed by the possibility of an EMP wipeout. Perhaps he should be reminded that it would deprive him of the use of his teleprompters. A reading of William Forstchen’s One Second After might jog his mind a little.

And predictably, the U.S. is doing nothing:

Nevertheless, far too many of us still refuse to take the “Iranian file” seriously. As Thomas Sowell remarked in a recent interview, “If terrorists with nuclear weapons don’t focus your mind, nothing will. Yet, not only are we doing nothing, we’re doing clever, elaborate nothing. We’re going to the United Nations, we’re holding conferences. There are resolutions being passed. You know — a lot of busy work — none of which has the slightest chance of deterring Iran from getting nuclear weapons.” Similarly, former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations John Bolton warned that “there are no incentives that will dissuade Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons.”

There is little doubt that, if it is not decisively stopped, Iran will reach its goal and bring its Manhattan Project to completion, the balance of power in the Middle East will shift dramatically, and a nuclear firestorm will become a distinct possibility. We should remember that apart from North Korea, Iran is the only country in the world that has actually threatened to use nuclear weapons. It has made very clear its intention to eliminate Israel by nuclear holocaust. We should not be under any illusion regarding the sanity of the Iranian leadership, whether we are thinking of its council of infallible mullahs or its political and military commissariat.

And lets not forget what motivates Ahmadinejad:

If Ahmadinejad prevails, the Twelfth Imam, who brings a new “world order” in fire and brimstone, may not remain in occultation for much longer. According to the Iranian newspaper Kargozaran, Cabinet Secretary Majid Doostali has explained that “just as Imam Zaman’s occultation had a prelude and a main period, his return too has a prelude and a main period,” and that Ahmadinejad’s administration “was the prelude to the return.” According to Rooz Online Iran, the president of the Islamic Management Scientific Society at the Qom Seminary School, one Hojjatoleslam Sammameddin Ghavani, has even proposed the establishment of a “‘Ministry of Waiting’ to facilitate the arrival of the Hidden Imam. Ahmadinejad has announced that the Imam Zaman would emerge from occultation within two years — the period of waiting.” Hard-line Ayatollah Mohammad Baqer Kharrazi, leader of the Hizballah Party, points to the creation of a Greater Iran, including Israel, Iraq, and Saudi Arabia, as a prelude to the reappearance of the Mahdi.

Over the course of history, he writes, a “minority of Shi’ites, quite substantial and dangerous at times, would move from pessimistic idealism to an optimistic brand of the same approach — the imam’s arrival is imminent, God’s kingdom is bound to be brought upon earth by this messiah (mahdi), and one should help precipitate its descent by armed revolt.” Ahmadinejad’s intention appears to be to accelerate the Mahdi’s arrival by initiating an act of apocalyptic violence. According to many reports, Ahmadinejad has even widened a boulevard in Tehran to welcome the Mahdi on his return (Newsweek, The Elephant Bar, InvestigateMagazine, etc.).

And the conclusion to this commentary is alarming:

Meanwhile, our soi-disant “authorities” pay no heed to Iran’s oft-proclaimed intentions — from Ayatollah Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani’s twice-uttered threat to launch a nuclear attack against Israel to Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s threatening to “wipe Israel off the map” in, as he later elaborated, “one storm.” The original statement delivered in Farsi at the “World without Zionism” conference, held in Tehran on October 26, 2005, translates literally as: Israel “must be erased from the page of time.” Such statements rather obviously belie Iran’s claims that its nuclear technology is geared to peaceful purposes. And the call for Israel’s elimination is constantly renewed. Those who think the devastation would stop at Israel’s doorstep should think again, if they wish to be in a position ever to think again.

Of equal importance is remembering the fact that Iran is pushing the buttons in the Middle East, with their control over Hezbollah and Hamas. Iran may prefer to see a regional conflict initially, which would distract from their final steps in nuclear weapon development. So, Iran could actually precipitate the final steps in prophetic development by creating war between Lebanon/Syria/Hezbollah, which could, very reasonably lead to the destruction of Damascus.

It is unclear how these final battles will begin, but one thing is clear: The enemies of Israel are armed and ready for battle. The only question remains - when will it all start?

Only God Himself knows that answer. It will all take place according to His plan, and His timing.

Our job is to watch, to inform and to prepare. That is the good part - we are preparing - preparing to meet with Jesus. And that is good news to these ears.