Tuesday, October 9, 2012

Iran's nuclear program and the prospects of Ezekiel 38
 
Persia, which is modern Iran, is specifically named as one of the nations that come against Israel in the Ezekiel 38 account of a colossal end time battle where the Lord's fury destroys the armies of Gog, the leader of the attack. Much has been speculated on how Iran's race to have a nuclear weapon plays into this end time scenario. A recent report by the Institute for Science and International Security indicates that Iran could be 2-4 months from producing a significant quantity of weapons grade uranium. If indeed, Iran obtained a nuclear weapon, what impact does this have in bringing the Ezekiel 38 scenario closer to reality?

The Institute says, "the estimates do not include the time necessary for the nuclear weaponization process...Iran would thus need many additional months to manufacture a nuclear device suitable for underground testing and even longer to make a reliable warhead for a ballistic missile." The Institute says this could take up to two years. The Institute recommends more of the same measures that have proven ineffectual to date: "...cap Iran's enrichment of uranium to five percent...avoid escalation of the Iranian nuclear crisis, first by negotiating such a confidence building measure and then by negotiating lasting agreements which ensure Iran will not build nuclear weapons."
 
Iran having a nuclear weapon is not in the best interest of any human being, including Iran. Iran's leadership has repeatedly stated it wished to eliminate Israel from the face of the earth. America is next on Iran's list. But what does this mean to the Biblical prophecy in Ezekiel. A coalition of the nations mentioned would have to be emboldened enough to join together and come against Israel "as a cloud to cover the land. (Ezekiel 38:15)." These nations, according to ancient maps and historic texts are: Magog, Meshech, Tubal, Gomar, Togarmah (all located in modern Turkey); Persia (Iran); Ethiopia (Sudan and North Eastern Africa) and Libya (Libya and North Western Africa).

Some believe that the Ezekiel 38 battle involves a man-made nuclear weapon. Ezekiel 38:21 says the Islamic aggressors turn on one another, "every man's sword shall be against his brother." In that case, it is possible that they nuke each other, but not likely. Ezekiel 38 says there will be a great earthquake in Israel, the mountains will be leveled, there will be rain, hailstones, fire, and brimstone. YHVH says he does these things "that the heathen may know me" and "I will be known in the eyes of many nations and they shall know that I am YHVH." Iran having a nuclear weapon may embolden the Ezekiel 38 coalition to attack Israel, but the world will know it is YHVH who defeats the coalition with His own power.
 
Have a Blessed and Powerful Day!
Bill Wilson