Analysis: The Iranian Video About The 12th Imam

I've been waiting to see what Joel Rosenberg would have to say about the new Iranian video that is receiving so much publicity - the video that describes the coming of the 12th Imam which, according to Iranian leaders is coming soon:

Why is the New Iranian Video About the Soon Coming of the Messiah Significant?

Last night, I returned from a week in Europe where I had the opportunity to brief several dozen Iranian, Arab, Israeli, European and American pastors and Christian ministry leaders about the new feature-length documentary film produced by the Iranian government and its religious allies called, The Coming Is Near.

As I will explain in more detail below, I believe now is the time for pastors and ministry leaders around the world to use the occasion of the release of this film to accelerate and intensify their own teaching about the Second Coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and to answer the questions being asked by millions of people throughout the Middle East and elsewhere about who the Messiah is and when/how/why He will return.

Now he explains the film contents:

The film, The Coming Is Near, was brought to the attention of the West by Reza Khalili, a former Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps member who became a double agent for the CIA working against Iran in the 1980s. It explains how the current wars and revolutions in Iraq, Egypt, Libya, Saudi Arabia, Yemen and elsewhere throughout the Middle East and North Africa are signs consistent with Shia Islamic End Times teaching that the Twelfth Imam (or Mahdi) and Jesus will soon appear on earth to usher in the destruction of Israel, the establishment of an Islamic caliphate (kingdom), and the end of days.

Now to the best part - the explanation of the significance of this film and what it represents:

Why is this new film significant? I see several reasons:

1. The film has attracted international attention through reports by the Christian Broadcasting Network, the Drudge Report, and other media outlets — this is good because it is further helping people around the world to understand what the current Iranian regime believes and why it is so dangerous.

2. The film has been screened and approved at the highest levels of Iranian government, providing further confirmation that the Ayatollah Khamenei and President Ahmadinejad believe their eschatology is being vindicated and thus emboldening them to continue pursuing nuclear weapons and long-range ballistic missiles.

3. The film is being screened throughout Iran for military officers and soldiers as well as for paramilitary units, suggesting that Iran’s leaders are trying to prepare their forces for a rapidly approaching genocidal war against Israel, the U.S. and the West and to encourage them not to fear because Shia Muslims are on the winning side of history.

4. The film is being translated from Farsi (the language of Iran) to Arabic, suggesting that it will soon be shown and distributed throughout the broader Middle East and North Africa to prepare other Muslims — Sunni and Shia – for a genocidal war with Israel and the West.

5. The film is full of false teaching (the Twelfth Imam is not the true Messiah, cannot save mankind and will not set up a global Islamic kingdom), delivered by false teachers (Iranian clerics), who follow a false religion (Islam), but it is useful in that it is further evidence that our Lord Jesus Christ was absolutely correct when He warned His disciples in Matthew 24 and Luke 21 that “false messiahs” and “false prophets” will come in the last days before Christ’s own return.

Indeed, while we can’t know for certain that a false Islamic messiah known as the Twelfth Imam is actually coming soon, we must recognize that this is possible, would be a fulfillment of Bible prophecy, would create much deception in the world, and would need to be countered with great courage and wisdom by faithful followers of Jesus Christ.

6. The film is full of evil, anti-Semitic, anti-Israel and anti-Christian teaching, but it is serving one particularly good function: it is beginning to accelerate and intensify an on-going conversation among Muslims and Jews throughout the world who are asking, “Who is the Messiah? When will He come? What signs will precede His coming? How shall we recognize Him when He comes? And how shall we live differently in light of His soon arrival?”

And below we see the conclusions:

The film, in my view, should immediately lead to Christian ministries producing films and TV programs explaining what the Bible says about the Second Coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and how to both prepare for His return and live lives of holiness, prayer, evangelism, discipleship and church planting in view of Christ Jesus’ coming.

Please pray that many Christian leaders around the world will see this as an important moment to teach Bible truths in love and with great courage, that Jesus of Nazareth is the only true Messiah and the Savior of the world, and that He is coming back soon.

Amen to the last comments above.

I believe Ahmadinejad realizes that he is towards the end of his reign of power and has precious few months in which to create events which (in his mind) will precipitate the return of the Mahdi.

This could be yet another potential "tipping point" for the region - an event which will set off the final cascade of events which will lead into the Tribulation.

This film seems highly significant as it seems to be signaling as a beacon - or better stated "a call to arms" for those in the Middle East who are determined to destroy Israel - a scenario which begs for attention; a scenario that shows us that the final days are indeed upon us.

It won't be long before the bridegroom comes for His bride. As seen in the post below "A World Divided II", while the world becomes completely immersed in darkness, we'll be in a different location - one that is far more preferable. We are not destined for this darkness. Instead, we are destined for the light - the light from Christ Jesus who already took this wrath on our behalf - the light which will be shining in a place called New Jerusalem. Our permanent home. We're almost there.

Headlines for a day

ElBaradei: We'll fight back if Israel attacks Gaza

Former International Atomic Energy Agency chief Mohamed ElBaradei, who had previously announced his intetions to run for the presidency of Egypt, said Monday that “if Israel attacked Gaza we would declare war against the Zionist regime."

Indonesia issues tsunami warning after quake off Java

Indonesia's earthquake agency on Monday issued a tsunami warning after a 7.1 magnitude quake struck at about 300 kilometres (186 miles) off Cilacap on the south coast of Java island.

Earthquake of magnitude 5.7 at India-Nepal border, tremors felt in Delhi

An earthquake measuring 5.7 on the Richter scale and with an epicentre in Nepal shook parts of north India, including capital Delhi and its suburbs on Monday evening.

Discharge of radioactive water into sea continues

Tokyo Electric Power Company, or TEPCO, is continuing its operation to discharge wastewater containing low-level radioactive substances into the sea from the troubled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant.

Syria opposition: Assad regime wants talks amid ongoing protests

Syrian opposition groups leading anti- government protests based in the country on Tuesday said authorities have offered to meet with them. But some activists, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the offer could be a ploy by security forces to find out more about the various opposition groups coordinating the protests.

Ahmadinejad: U.S. seeking to divide Jordan to form Palestinian state

The United States is leading an effort to annex a part of Jordan to the West Bank, thus enlarging the future Palestinians state, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said in a press conference on Monday, adding that the alleged move was meant to protect Israel's security. Speaking in a Tehran press conference on Monday, Ahmadinejad claimed the latest conflicts in the Arab world would eventually lead to the collapse of Israel, saying: "The latest conflicts will leave no chance for the Zionist regime [Israel] to survive as all the involved countries are against the occupation of Palestine."

Second Iron Dome Battery Deployed -- to Protect Ashkelon

An second battery of the Iron Dome anti-rocket system was deployed Monday in southern Israel, according to Army Radio. The battery, operated by commanders and soldiers from the IAF's Aerial Defense Network, will be deployed in as part of efforts to protect residents of the cities of Ashkelon and Ashdod against rocket fire from Gaza.

Iran's Supreme Leader: 'We Have Won on the Nuclear Front'

In a recent meeting that took place between Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei and a group of his top-ranking military commanders, the nuclear matter was a focal point.
The supreme leader commented on the fact that the (Western) oppressors have employed all of their political, propaganda, and economic might in forcing the Islamic Republic to abandon its nuclear pursuits. Then, he said:

And now, after eight years of pressure, the Islamic Iran has won out.

Enough Already: Are Israeli Settlements Actually 'Illegal'?

According to the governing Mandatory authority, which was in force until 1948, Jews were not only permitted to build in the entire area designated as the “Jewish national home,” they were entitled to do so by the Mandate itself. Zionism, the political expression of Jewish self-determination and sovereignty in the Land of Israel, was (except for Arabs) generally undisputed.

Will Bretton Woods shock U.S. economy?

The gathering of economic giants will take place at Mount Washington Hotel, famous for hosting the original Bretton Woods economic agreements drafted in 1944. That conference's goal was to rebuild a post-World War II international monetary system. The April gathering has a similar goal in mind – a global economic restructuring.

A World Divided II

As mentioned last week, with A World Divided, it is interesting to see how during the Tribulation (and most likely beginning before the Tribulation, with Gog-MaGog) - we see a world where God has made His presence known to the entire planet, thus eliminating the popular option of "God doesn't exist". God will (presumably soon) remove this option, thus, essentially making the decision regarding one's eternal fate somewhat easier.

Now, we turn to the scriptures to reveal another "World Divided", which is an extension of the idea above - this time based on the concept of "light" and "darkness":

"Now, brothers, about times and dates we do not need to write to you, for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.

While people are saying "peace and safety", destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.

But you brothers, are not in darkness so that this day would surprise you like a thief. You are sons of light and sons of the day.
We do not belong to the night or to the darkness." (1 Thessalonians 5:1-5)

"For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ" (1 Thessalonians 5:9)

"Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing." (1 Thessalonians 5:11)

Lets see this stark contrast in two types of people: Those who belong to the "light" as contrasted with those who belong to the "darkness". This could also be stated as a contrast between church saints and the unsaved.

It is also important to keep in mind that the "Day of the Lord" is a reference to the Tribulation, a time which will be defined by and characterized by darkness (Amos 5:18).

Look at the contrasts revealed by this passage:

1. Paul used the pronouns "ye", "yourselves", "you", "we", "us", and "our" to refer to the church saints. By contrast, he used "they" and "them" to refer to the unsaved. The direct address "you brothers" underscores this contrast.

2. The church saints are not "in" darkness - a darkness we know biblically as a place known to be ruled by evil (Eph. 6:12) and a darkness that creates the inability to see reality, the true purpose of life through God etc., and therefore oblivious to the coming judgment.

By contrast, church saints are not in the sphere of darkness, as our alignment with God - who represents light (1 John 1:5) - and through Jesus who is the light of the world (John 8:12) has created a scenario in which we live in the light and are destined for the light.

As stated by Renald Showers in "Maranatha: Our Lord Come" (full reference below) we see the following quote as it relates to the Tribulation which is coming suddenly and unexpectedly like "a thief in the night" to those in the darkness:

"it appears that in the second half of verse 4 Paul was saying that as a result of church saints being delivered from the sphere of darkness and placed into the sphere of light, the coming-as-a-thief phase will not overtake them. Since that phase will be characterized by darkness, it is reserved for those who are in the sphere of darkness, not for those who are in the sphere of light. Amos 5:18-20 indicates that darkness will be the total nature of the Day of the Lord for the unsaved. Thus, it is upon "them" (the unsaved in darkness), not "you" (the church saints in light), that the Day of the Lord will come as a thief in the sight with sudden destruction."

3. Outcome: Saved vs Unsaved. In this passage, Paul makes one point abundantly clear: The "unsaved" will be overtaken by and, by definition, will experience the Day of the Lord, also known as the Tribulation. By contrast, the "saved" are appointed to a completely different destiny.

And how does one obtain this different destiny? Or better stated, how does one escape this coming Tribulation?

"God did not appoint us to suffer this wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ."

In other words, God hasn't appointed us to experience this coming wrath (the Day of the Lord), but to obtain salvation through Christ Jesus and therefore also be spared from this period.

It is also well worth remembering this fact, and I'll let Mr Showers give us the exact quote:

"Because Christ's death for church saints caused their salvation from the future wrath of God, and because Christ's death has already been accomplished once for all (Rom. 6:9-10), the salvation of church saints from the future wrath of God has already been obtained. Their future experience of this already obtained deliverance is certain."

For the well-meaning folks who believe we will suffer through the Tribulation - one must ask - did Jesus not already suffer God's wrath on our behalf?

We know that answer. Of course He did. The apostle Paul makes that case above in a clear, concise way.

The bottom line? Once again, we see a stark division in all people in these last days:

One group who is destined for darkness and another group, who, through their salvation, based on Christ Jesus are living in light and destined for the light.

Those who are in the light are not "appointed" to suffer the coming Tribulation (aka the "wrath" or "the Day of the Lord") because we have received the gift of salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Its that simple. We see a world divided into two groups and this contrast couldn't be more stark.

Its worth adding a couple of additional scriptures which further confirm this point:

In 1 Thessalonians 1:10, Paul again gives us instructions for these last days:

"...and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead - Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath."

and this:

"Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come upon the whole world to test those who live on the earth" (Revelation 3:10)

How many times do we have to be told?

As a follower of Christ Jesus - we are afforded the incredible grace that Christ Jesus gave us on the cross. We won't experience God's coming wrath to an unrepentant world - Christ already did that for us. Additionally, we've just seen three specific scriptures which confirm that important point.

How will the church saints be delivered from this coming wrath?

That's easy:

"For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a loud command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.

After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever." (1 Thessalonians 4:16-18)

And the beauty of this study is this: Jesus described the exact same scenario in John 14:1-3

"Do not let your hearts be troubled.
Trust in God; trust also in me.

In my Father's house there are many rooms;
if it were not so, I would have told you.

I go there to prepare a place for you.

And if I go and prepare a place for you,
I will come back and take you to be with me
that you also may be where I am."

God's wrath is most definitely coming to this earth and this entire process is described in Revelation 6-18. Fortunately, God's wrath was already taken on the cross, by Jesus, for all who believe.

The scriptures above describe the plain fact that Jesus will come and gather up His bride prior to this wrath that is coming upon an unrepentant world - a world of darkness - a world that we will be "rescued" from according to the scriptures.

We can only thank God for His incredible grace and mercy.

Maranatha! He is coming soon!

(ref. "Maranatha Our Lord, Come! A definitive Study of the Rapture of the Church" Renald Showers. 1995 by The Friends of Israel Gospel Ministry, Inc. Fifth Edition 2002.)

In the news:

Ahmadinejad: UN should stop West's 'interference' in Mideast

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad told UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon that the UN should stop the "interference" of Western governments in Middle Eastern affairs, Iranian news agency ISNA reported on Monday.

In a phone call with Ban, Ahmadinejad said: "The time is ripe for the UN Secretary General to play a historic and important role inresovling problems to avoid another catastrophe as those in Iraq and Afghanistan."

The Iranian president also said his country "is ready to play an active role in ending regional problems."

Radiation in Japan Seas: Risk of Animal Death, Mutation?

If radioactive material from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant—disabled by the March11 Japan earthquake and tsunami—continues to enter the ocean, marine life could be threatened, experts say.

In the past week, seawater samples taken near the nuclear power plant, on Japan's eastern coast, have shown elevated levels of radioactive isotopes, including cesium 137 and iodine 131, according to the New York Times. (See "Japan Tries to Avert Nuclear Disaster.")

Japan Nuke Plant Water "Leaking Into sea"

Highly radioactive water has been found leaking from Japan's crippled Fukushima nuclear power plant into the Pacific Ocean

The contaminated liquid was seeping from a crack found in the concrete pit of the facility's reactor number two.

"The crack was apparently caused by the quake and may have been leaking since then," said Osamu Yokokura of Tokyo Electric Power Company (Tepco), which runs the plant.
Workers were now pouring concrete into the eight-inch fracture, Tepco added.
Sky News correspondent Holly Williams said radiation in the sea near the plant was currently more than 4,000 times the legal limit.

Frightened residents flee as 7.1 quake hits Java

Indonesia has cancelled a tsunami warning after a powerful earthquake struck in the Indian Ocean south of the island of Java.

Coastal areas in parts of Indonesia had been on alert for a small tsunami after the quake struck at 3.06am local time (8.06am NZT) on Monday.

Indonesian authorities reported the quake as being a magnitude 7.1 and striking at a depth of 10km, with its epicentre 293km southwest of Cilacap in central Java.

There are lingering fears in Indonesia after a massive 2004 earthquake which triggered a tsunami that devastated much of the western coast of Aceh, on the northern tip of the island of Sumatra.

Earthquake felt in Israel

Earthquake shakes Israel Friday afternoon, as residents across nation flood Ynet with reports of tremors. Quake's epicenter apparently near Crete, tremors felt in Cairo. No initial reports of injuries following quake

The tremors in Israel coincided with reports of an earthquake measuring 5.9 on the Richter Scale near the Greek island of Crete. The quake struck in the sea 76 miles (120 km) east-northeast of Iraklio, a town on Crete, on Friday, the US Geological Survey said. It was felt as far as Cairo.

West braces for Gadhafi's terror counterpunch

Whether he remains in Libya in some semblance of power or whether he eventually gains asylum in another country, Gadhafi could work through proxies to instigate terror attacks inside Libya – and against Western targets, the analysts fear.

It was similar to Iraqi President Saddam Hussein's approach after his military defeat during Desert Shield/Desert Storm in 1990. Saddam targeted Americans by working closely with jihadist organizations throughout the Middle East. He also collaborated with known al-Qaida affiliates and associated Islamic terror groups.

Gadhafi has been a master at working these groups, which included not only Middle East organizations but the FARC in Latin America and the Irish Republican Army in Ireland.

Following the March 1986 destruction of his SAM sites, for example, Gadhafi the following month had the Abu Nidal Organization plant a bomb on board TWA Flight 840. The bomb tore a hole in the fuselage of the aircraft, killing four Americans and injuring a number of others.

Then on April 5, 1986, he orchestrated the bombing of the LaBelle disco in Berlin, Germany. That blast killed two American servicemen and a civilian, injuring some 200 other people. The U.S. knew Libya was responsible, since it had intercepted communications between the Libyan embassy, called the Libyan People's Bureau, in East Berlin at the time, and Tripoli.

Soros to remake entire global economy

Many people are now watching Mr Soros and his actions to reform the world according to his view. What is somewhat alarming about this effort is the fact that he actually may succeed. This current article just bolsters what we have already observed:

Unreported Soros Event Aims to Remake Global Economy

Two years ago, George Soros said he wanted to reorganize the entire global economic system. In two short weeks, he is going to start – and no one seems to have noticed.

One could argue that Mr Soros has already started this endeavor - but lets see what the article brings to light:

On April 8, a group he’s funded with $50 million is holding a major economic conference and Soros’s goal for such an event is to “establish new international rules” and “reform the currency system.” It’s all according to a plan laid out in a Nov. 4, 2009, Soros op-ed calling for “a grand bargain that rearranges the entire financial order.”

The event is bringing together “more than 200 academic, business and government policy thought leaders’ to repeat the famed 1944 Bretton Woods gathering that helped create the World Bank and International Monetary Fund. Soros wants a new ‘multilateral system,” or an economic system where America isn’t so dominant.

More than two-thirds of the slated speakers have direct ties to Soros. The billionaire who thinks “the main enemy of the open society, I believe, is no longer the communist but the capitalist threat” is taking no chances.

The more you dig, the more you see Soros influence:

While INET claims more than 200 will attend, only 79 speakers are listed on its site – and it already looks like a Soros convention. Twenty-two are on Soros-funded INET’s board and three more are INET grantees. Nineteen are listed as contributors for another Soros operation – Project Syndicate, which calls itself “the world’s pre-eminent source of original op-ed commentaries” reaching “456 leading newspapers in 150 countries.” It’s financed by Soros’s Open Society Institute. That’s just the beginning.

Have no doubt about it: This is a Soros event from top to bottom. Even Soros admits his ties to INET are a problem, saying, “there is a conflict there which I fully recognize.” He claims he stays out of operations. That’s impossible. The whole event is his operation.

And what are the overall goals of this planning meeting?

“Reorganizing the world order will need to extend beyond the financial system and involve the United Nations, especially membership of the Security Council,’ he wrote. ‘That process needs to be initiated by the US, but China and other developing countries ought to participate as equals.”

Soros emphasized that point, that this needs to be a global solution, making America one among many. “The rising powers must be present at the creation of this new system in order to ensure that they will be active supporters.”

And that’s exactly the kind of event INET is delivering, with the event website emphasizing “today’s reconstruction must engage the larger European Union, as well as the emerging economies of Eastern Europe, Latin America, and Asia.” China figures prominently, including a senior economist for the World Bank in Beijing, the director of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, the chief adviser for the China Banking Regulatory Commission and the Director of the Center on U.S.-China Relations.

The Soros empire is silent about this new Bretton Woods conference because it isn’t just designed to change global economic rules. It also is designed to put America in its place – part of a multilateral world the way Soros wants it. He wrote that the U.S. “could lead a cooperative effort to involve both the developed and the developing world, thereby reestablishing American leadership in an acceptable form.”

That’s what this conference is all about – changing the global economy and the United States to make them “acceptable” to George Soros.

The undeniable fact is that Mr Soros world view is highly consistent with what we know is coming during the Tribulation. The world will see a global financial system, a single currency and a world governance - exactly as Soros envisions. How interesting.

One has to wonder if Mr Soros also has a world leader in mind - after all it was only a few weeks ago that he described the fact that we need a "Global Sheriff". Now that is certainly worth pondering.