While antisemitism continues to grow on American college campuses, more and more unlikely spokesmen are stepping up to defend Israel. I recently read an interesting article about an Arab Israeli Bedouin touring US college campuses, doing just that!
I think you will enjoy it, too!
On a day filled with news about the latest phase of sanctions reimposed on Iran, the more encouraging news is out of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Saudi Arabia.
Indeed, on August 7, President Trump signed an Executive Order, vowing to reimpose sanctions on Iran. (State Department report, including the actual Executive Order can be found here.) The first phase occurred at that point, with the second round hitting Iran with economic force today.
Around the same time Trump was signing that document, a group of Evangelical Christians were making plans to visit the UAE, to discuss issues critical to peace in the region, freedom of worship for Christians, and understanding the needs of Sunni Arab citizens in the region.
The group of about a dozen evangelicals, led by Joel Rosenberg, made history last week when the Crown Princes of both the UAE and Saudi Arabia welcomed the entourage to their respective palaces. From all accounts the visits accomplished everything hoped for…and more!
Perhaps most amazing was both nations were willing to “go public” with the events, even amidst the extreme displeasure of the Iranian regime, who severely criticized and rebuked the leadership of both nations. (Read Joel Rosenberg’s report, along with links to international reports, here.)
Friends, there is a new thing happening in the Middle East. A new day has dawned, and though I would not say Arab countries are yet our greatest ally, the stage continues to be set for a major confrontation known as the War of Gog and Magog. Bible students, study carefully and you will find that Israel will not be attacked by the likes of Egypt, Saudi Arabia or any other Gulf Coast state, but rather by a coalition led by Russia and joined by Iran, Turkey, Sudan and Libya.
Indeed, the pieces on the chessboard are taking their rightful place and the Chess Master…our Lord Jesus Christ…is about to checkmate Israel’s enemies! Though God certainly doesn’t need media outlets to prove His Word is true, He is using even Arab media to confirm what He said through the prophets long ago!
Pray for our Christian leaders to lead us in righteousness, and pray for the eyes of Arab leaders to be open to the Gospel of Jesus Christ! After all, it is not about who’s side you take in earthly matters, but in who’s side you take in heavenly matters. Our Captain of Heavens Armies calls us to His side!
PS: If you are a US citizen, please vote tomorrow! We are in a battle to protect religious freedom and other Biblical values. Let’s all follow our Captain in that regard as well!
The Trump administration is reimposing crippling sanctions on Iran’s exports, oil and and financials sectors today. These follow restrictions on purchasing US dollars, exporting of oil, and sale and trade of gold, graphite and precious metals, handed down in August. President Trump calls them the “strongest sanctions our country has ever issued,” and Iran’s economy is reeling.
Timing of this round of sanctions not-so-coincidentally coincides with the anniversary date of the 1979 storming of the US Embassy in Tehran by angry Iranian students, resulting in 52 American diplomats held hostage for 444 days.
All this, just in time for mid-term elections here in America.
However, other less publicized, but perhaps just as critical, events are happening in the world. Just days ago, reports were released confirming Israel’s Mossad (intelligence agency) shared intel with Denmark, thwarting an Iranian terror attack. So, while the European Union (EU) continues to support the Iranian nuclear deal, Israel provides intelligence to EU nations preventing Iranian attacks!
This is putting stress on EU leadership to hold the union together. Denmark is now heading efforts to discuss sanctions on Iran. Denmark’s Foreign Minister declared that Iran’s behavior is not limited to Denmark, and is urging other EU nations to “stand up to Iran.”
If that’s not enough, there are rumblings that President Trump is proposing a NATO-like alliance with Arab nations. NATO is currently made up of several European nations, so this proposal has the implications of disregarding the EU and turning America’s interests in military partnership toward moderate Sunni Arab states, all equally committed to stopping Iran from becoming a greater military threat in the Middle East.
Add to that, the fact Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is aggressively pursuing partnerships with nations such as Greece, Croatia, Hungary, Bulgaria, Romania, Serbia and others, it appears clear that efforts are underway to rearrange alliances in Europe and the Middle East.
One of the things I find particularly interesting about developments in Europe is the growing division among EU members. Britain has already exited and others are suddenly awakening to the fact that support of Iran may not be the wisest move.
Biblically speaking, Daniel 2 and Daniel 7 describe the rise of one coming out of the revised Roman empire, widely recognized as the antichrist. Those chapters describe 10 horns (and 10 toes) that represent the European confederacy that will produce the evil one, and many believe the European Union appears to be the confederacy. (More about that here.) Currently, however, more than 10 nations belong to the EU.
But, if current attempts to realign confederacies in Europe and the Middle East are successful, we could easily see the EU stripped down to 10 nations, perhaps fulfilling Daniel’s prophecy! It is definitely too soon to know that for sure, but events in our world today, whether in Iran, Europe or the Middle East, seem to be aligning with God’s Word!
Continue to watch and wait, knowing and understanding the signs of the times. Our Lord is returning soon and everything we see points to that magnificent day!
Is it possible for an Arab Muslim to love Israel and serve in the IDF? Of course it is…and here is a great example of a proud new IDF soldier:
