Dec 16, 2005

In ancient times, Persia conquered Babylon. Today, Persia is known by the name of Iran. Today, Babylon is no longer a single City-State, but is a worldwide system. Babylon today is almost synonymous with the word "Civilization." Not CHRISTIAN Civilization. Not even WESTERN Civilization. Just Civilization. The common ground of all nations is the banking system and the "global economy."

For many years we have believed that Iran would play a major role in the overthrow of this Babylonian system--modern civilization as we know it. Because Daniel 2:32 identifies Babylon as "the head of gold" and Medo-Persia as "the arms of silver," we have also been watching the prices of these metals as indicators of soon-coming prophetic events. Last September, I told people that we ought to begin to see the rise in price (particularly of silver) in November. Because that did happen quite dramatically, in fact, I take it as a confirming sign of the rise of Iran.

On October 29, an Associated Press article said this: "President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad declared Wednesday that Isarel is a 'disgraceful blot' that should be 'wiped off the map'--fiery words that Washington said underscored its concern over Iran's nuclear program."

As is so often the case, ideology based on hatred makes people do stupid things. They can't help themselves. As the line goes in one of the "Godfather" movies, "Don't hate anyone; it clouds your judgment." Wisdom would say that if you are going to do something violent to someone else, don't give them a warning first. Warnings just give them time to prepare a first-response. Which the Israelis are quite good at doing. On Dec. 11, 2005 The Sunday Times-World [www.timesonline.co.uk] ran an article, "Israel readies forces for strike on nuclear Iran."

The article says: "Israel's armed forces have been ordered by Ariel Sharon, the prime minister, to be ready by the end of March for possible strikes on secret uranium enrichment sites in Iran, military sources have revealed...."

"Defence sources in Israel believe the end of March to be the 'point of no return' after which Iran will have the technical expertise to enrich uranium in sufficient quantities to build a nuclear warhead in two to four years.

"Israel--and not only Israel--cannot accept a nuclear Iran," Sharon warned recently. "We have the ability to deal with this and we're making all the necessary preparations to be ready for such a situation." ....

"The March deadline set for military readiness also stems from fears that Iran is improving its own intelligence-gathering capability. In October it launched its first satellite, the Sinah-1, which was carried by a Russian space launcher." ....

The date set for possible strikes on Iran also coincides with Israel's general election on March 28, prompting speculation that Sharon may be sabre-rattling for votes."

COMMENT: I recall back in 1991 talking with an Iranian about Iran's call and role in the overthrow of Mystery Babylon. At the time, I did not have much sense of timing, but in 1999 received the revelation to pour out the 7 vials from 2000-2006. This I have done in the presence of many witnesses each year to date. The sixth vial was poured out last September to dry up the Euphrates. That's biblical code for a repeating pattern from 537 B.C. when the Medo-Persian army dried up (diverted) the Euphrates to conquer Babylon. And so we have believed since 1999 that the fall of 2005 would begin the final countdown toward the fall of Babylon.

Ultimately, God's purpose in all of this is (1) to cast out the bondwoman [i.e., Jerusalem, Gal. 4:25-30], (2) to destroy Babylon [Rev. 17], and (3) to establish the Kingdom of God upon the earth, a kingdom not based upon theft or violence, but upon the true Peace of the New Jerusalem.

It was not surprising to see the rise of Iran in the past couple of years. The same article above says, "A 'massive' Israeli intelligence operation has been underway since Iran was designated the 'top priority for 2005', according to [Israeli] security sources." So things are happening right on schedule, confirming our discernment of timing since 1999. It may be that President Bush will be the one who first orders an attack on Iran. I hope not--for America's sake. Perhaps his recent fall in the polls will de-fang him. But this will not stop the coming attack. Either us or the Israelis will attack Iran, and this will precipitate "a whole new world," as the song goes.

By the time the smoke clears, we will see Jerusalem destroyed, as Jeremiah, Isaiah, and Jesus prophesied. (See Jer. 19:10,11; Isaiah 29:1-6; and Luke 19:27.) But Jerusalem will not be the only city destroyed. Others will share her fate, such as Damascus (Isaiah 17:1), and probably others not mentioned in Scripture.

On the other side of this destruction, we will see the fulfillment of an interesting and positive prophecy from Isaiah 19:23-25,

23 In that day there will be a highway from Egypt to Assyria, and the Assyrians will come into Egypt and the Egyptians into Assyria, and the Egyptians will worship with the Assyrians.

24 In that day Israel will be the third party with Egypt and Assyria, a blessing in the midst of the earth,

25 whom the Lord of hosts has blessed, saying, "Blessed is Egypt My people, and Assyria the work of My hands, and Israel My inheritance."

One final note: Let no one think that I in any way support the violence ON EITHER SIDE. I am an ambassador of the Kingdom of God before anything else, and my capital city is the New Jerusalem, the City of Peace. I have no desire to see anyone killed or any city or nation destroyed. I am only reporting the correlation between current events and Bible prophecy.