Iran " the Goat" is back

In Daniel's prophecy chapter 8 there is a description of a battle between a Ram and a He-Goat. In the prophecy Daniel is shown that the Ram represents Persia, the ancient kingdom that ruled much of what we call the middle east. In history we know that the ancient Persian kingdom was conquered by Alexander the Great (the he-Goat's horn). That was in the 330's BCE. Iran never cease to exist and is one of the oldest continously existing nations. Daniel's prophecy shows that Persia's day of rule over the middle east is past, but today there is a resurgent Iran under being stirred to life and influence over much of the Islamic world and it's a direct threat to Israel. Daniel's prophecy describes a terrifying leader who would arise in his distant future. The prophecy describes the long period of the 2300 prophetic days of rule by the nations over G_d's sancturary, over Jerusalem and the holy people (the people of Israel). That is an historic fact that is the process of being terminated, at points of recent history, 1917 Balfour declaration, 1948 the State of Israel and 1967 taking back Jersualem in the 6 day war. But it may not be over. In the last days another king or ruler will arise that has designs on the region. He is the enemy of G_d's people. I have thought this may be referrring prophetically to Mohammed or his followers through history since 637 AD, but it may be focused more exactly on an end time ruler like we see in Iran today.

Iran is approaching critical milestones of nuclear capability that greatly amplify it's military power. It is making direct threats to destroy Israel and all the the Jewish people who live there. It is using terrorist forces in Lebanon and Syria in a proxy war already begun. It subscribes to the conspiracy theories of Jewish world domination and counters with it's own threat of world domination for Islam. Of course this reflects the course chosen by the leadership, what the common person in Iran believes won't affect the short term direction their religious and political leaders have taken. They have chosen a path of hate and destruction towards Israel and all Jews. It is said some of them believe in the coming of the hidden imman, a code word for total war under an ancient Islamic leader. Islamic eschatology has expectations of a great leader also called the Mahdi and they expect an anti-Christ figure as well. These expectations are intoxicating the peoples of the region and will constitute tinder for the fire.

See the article at Arutz Sheva concerning the scope of the threat as understood by a conservative Jewish publication. Europe and America are only partially aware of this threat and really don't know how to deal with it. American actions in the middle east are partially blocking some of that influence, but political trends suggest that at some point it will have to withdraw. That will leave the field open to Iran.

http://www.israelnationalnews.com/news.php3?id=111586


Prophecies like Ezekiel 38 prophesy that Persia will lead a group of other nations against the land of Israel while other nations stand by and watch. Others will ask "have you come to take a spoil?" and to conquer "those that inhabit the waste places?" The Jews of Israel are that people, they revitalized the land of Israel and they have become one of the most prosperous nations of the earth. Persia and other neighboring countries are jealous, they have an unreasoning hatred towards Israel. Isran is receiving techical and material help from Russia, Ukraine and China. Ezekiel 27 describes some interesting background concerning the interconnected relationships of Tyre, Lud, Put and Persia. While Ezek 27 may not be a last day prophecy it does tell us about how their fates are linked. All of those nations are doomed. What they have done towards Israel is wrong. What they plan and clearly state today against Israel is wrong.

I believe it should be stated that other peoples of the earth are responsible for what is happening there. It should be stopped. Instead the militancy spreading through the Islamic world is the fire that will destroy the present world systems. The UN, the EU and USA should help Israel, but they will perish in the same approaching trouble that will engulf Israel. Trends are clearly against Israel. These circumstances suggest a mood similar to that preceding WW2 and the holocaust. Israel is losing the battle for the hearts and minds of the world's free peoples (including many Christian people and a good part of secular Jews as well). But G_d will bless his people in due time, but for now trouble is occuring and will increase.

Zephaniah said hopefully to Israel (and negatively to the Palestinians).

3 Seek the LORD,
All you humble of the earth
Who have carried out His ordinances;
Seek righteousness, seek humility
Perhaps you will be hidden
In the day of the LORD'S anger.
4For Gaza will be abandoned
And Ashkelon a desolation;
Ashdod will be driven out at noon
And Ekron will be uprooted.

Pray for the peace of Jerusalem.