Welcome back mates!  Hopefully you have digested the last two days of study and are prepared for today’s adventure.  Keep in mind that the Qur’an seems to teach that violence is not only condoned, but is encouraged against those who do not follow Allah.

We’ll set our sails toward Iran now, in order to get a glimpse of the violence being perpetrated there in the name of Allah.  A few Iranian leaders, such as the Ayatollah Khamanei and former Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, have identified Israel as the “little Satan” and the US as the “great Satan,” and have repeatedly stated ambitions to wipe Israel off the face of the earth.  Given that desire to wipe little Satan off the map, what do you suppose they wish to do to the great Satan?  Let’s be clear: With terrorist proxies surrounding and infiltrating Israel, and tens of thousands of rockets and missiles currently aimed at Israel, Iran already has enough firepower to wipe Israel off the map several times over.  Why do you suppose it is so important to Iran to continue development of nuclear and electro-magnetic pulse weaponry?

Most of the world, including America, seems oblivious to the eschatology driving the evil leaders in charge of Iranian foreign policy.  Iranian leaders such as Ahmadinejad (former president) fully believe Allah has appointed them to usher in the Islamic messiah…the Mahdi.  Moreover, the Ayatollah considers himself the Supreme Leader!

The apocalyptic nature of Iranian leaders is being recognized, even by secular journalists.   In 2012, NewMax.com published Ahmadinejad says Israel will be “Eliminated.” However, as believers, do we really “get it?”  Do we have any understanding of the mindset of Iranian leadership?

Continually, Iranian leaders launch hateful verbal attacks on Israel and her allies.  We’ll take a brief look at some Ahmadinejad statements from 2010, made on various occasions.  Read Ahmadinejad: Everyone’s Favorite Nut Job by Todd Strandberg.  (Though a bit more subdued and tactical, current Iranian President Hassan Rouhani maintains the same sentiment.)

Let’s turn now to a highly respected expert on today’s events in Iran and how they relate to Bible prophecy.  Joel Rosenberg is a New York Times best selling author who has experience as an advisor with top US officials in Washington, and with current Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.  With incredible insight, Rosenberg has authored books based on Biblical prophecy.  In a series of political thrillers, (The Twelfth Imam, The Tehran Initiative and The Damascus Countdown), he takes readers on a journey behind the secret walls of Iran.  I highly recommend the series.

Jamie Weinstein of “The Daily Caller” conducted an interview, 8 Questions with ‘Twelfth Imam’ Author Joel Rosenberg which sheds interesting light on the topic.  Please read the interview now.

Rosenberg is clearly of the opinion that Iran will certainly either use nuclear weapons once they get them, or will provide those weapons to proxies such as Hezbollah, Hamas or al Qaeda to use against Israel and America.  Then he states, “Worse, how do you successfully negotiate with, deter or contain someone who believes it is his God-given mission in life to annihilate you in order to bring about his messiah?”  What are your thoughts about that?

Good work, my friends!  Catch your breath because we’ve got two action-packed lessons to go this week!  Spend a moment to pray for the peace of Israel, and then plan to join me on deck tomorrow!