Iran Next and Then What?

By Dene McGriff 

 

Experts in our own military and the state department agree now on one thing.  One of the unintended consequences of the war in Iraq is that it has awakened a hornets nest of extremists and greatly increased and exacerbated the number of terrorists in the world.  Iraq has become the focal point and training ground for terrorism.   But we are about to see a switch in emphasis from Iraq to Iran.

 

This just came in from today’s Jerusalem Post:

 

“Predicting that Iran will obtain a nuclear weapon within three years and claiming to have a strike plan in place, senior American military officers have told The Jerusalem Post they support President George W. Bush's stance to do everything necessary to stop the Islamic Republic's race for nuclear power.

 

A high-ranking American military officer told the Post that senior officers in the US armed forces had thrown their support behind Bush and believed that additional steps needed to be taken to stop Iran.

 

Predictions within the US military are that Bush will do what is needed to stop Teheran before he leaves office in 2009, including possibly launching a military strike against its nuclear facilities.”

 

 

History is rushing toward a conclusion foretold by the Bible thousands of years ago.  Iran is intent on a nuclear program and the American President is equally intent on stopping him.  One of the unintended consequences of this coming conflict will be the Gog-Magog War as predicted in Ezekiel 38 and 39 and the final end of democracy as we know it in America.

At least one fourth of the Bible is “end times” prophecy and according to Daniel 12:8-9, these prophecies are sealed up until the “time of the end.”  Only then will it be revealed.  So even though theologians have been trying to unravel the prophetic mystery for many years, their efforts are largely in vain because the Bible prophecies will only be clear to those who have a “need to know” who are living in the end and who have an open heart and mind to fresh revelation from God.  He will reveal these things to anyone who will seek Him with their whole heart, who will read those prophecies anew and ask for fresh revelation.   It is not that hard.  It is not that difficult to understand if the Holy Spirit reveals the meaning to you.

 

In this article we are going to look at why this conflict is being set up between Iran and the U.S. – and its ally in the Middle East – Israel.  But before getting into those details, let us ask why this conflict is necessary?  If you read Ezekiel 38 and 39 or any of the many articles on this site about the Gog-Magog War , you will see that it is the final conflict against Israel to once and for all wipe it off the map as promised again recently by the President of Iran.  But in order to unite all of the nations named in the Bible – from Turkey and Iran in the north to Libya, Ethiopia and Egypt in the south – plus various other countries from the Islamic world so enraged against Israel that they will carry out a massive coordinated attack against it, what precipitates it?

 

There are a number of things that lead up to this final war between Abraham’s children.

 

1.      Israel continues to be a thorn in the side of the Islamic world which has never even recognized her right to exist.  Iran showed that the Hezbollah faction they support in Lebanon, the West Bank and Gaza that they can stand up to the Israeli military might (just as rag tag militia in Iraq continually pick away at overwhelming U.S. military superiority).  These forces, with Iranian support, are becoming difficult for Israel to control as they once did.

2.      The U.S. war in Iraq has done more to mobilize Islamic extremists than anything else and daily we see that Iran is behind attacks on U.S. forces.

3.      In 1981, Israel did not hesitate to pre-emptively bomb Iraq’s Osirik nuclear reactors.  There is little doubt that whether America helps or not, Israel will act alone if necessary.

4.      A joint US/Israeli air campaign against Iraq is a certainty.

 

Such an attack will galvanize the Islamic world like nothing else against the two nations although Israel represents a tiny target and the greatest thorn in their side by its very presence.  Who knows how long it will take to unite and mobilize against Israel, but this preemptive attack on Iran will do it.  Now, let’s look at why this attack is inevitable.

 

OIL SUPPLY

 

One thing we have to realize is that all of the oil producing nations are lying about their reserves.  We don’t see production increasing in the OPEC nations such as Nigeria, Indonesia, Venezuela, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Iran and the less oil, the harder it is to get out of the ground and more costly.  In the past 35 years only one gigantic oil field has been discovered – the Kashagan oil discovery in 2000 in Kazakhstan.  The super giant oil fields of Saudi Arabia discovered decades ago are mature and despite tripling the number of wells in recent years, production is the same.  Experts are concerned that Saudi estimates are way over stated. 

 

Most oil producing nations are facing declines  For example, the second largest oil field in the world is the Cantareel oil field in the Gulf of Mexico.  It was generating 2.1 million barrels per day last spring but has fallen to 1.74 million barrels and the Mexican government forecasts a fall to as little as 520,000 barrels per day by 2008.  On the demand side, the average American consumes 25 barrels of oil per year compared to 2 barrels in China and one in India.  All oil producing nations are overstating their reserves.   So what about Iran?

 

According to Dr. Ali Morteza Samsam Bakhtiari,  the retired senior advisor of the National Iranian Oil Company, oil reserves in Iran are reported to be at 132 billion barrels but the number is really between 35 and 45 billion.  Soon, Iran will only have enough oil for her own use and nothing to export.  According to experts, Iran needs nuclear power for her own future oil needs alone – whether they are using it to produce nuclear weapons or not. 

 

TWO IMMOVABLE FORCES

Iran’s President Ahmadinejad may not appear to be the most rational leader on the block, but look at his position.  He is the President of the largest Islamic fundamentalist nation in the world with over 71 million people – 12 million in Tehran alone.  He is surrounded on all sides by nuclear powers: Russia to the north, Israel to the south, Pakistan to the east and U.S. naval forces to the west.  So he declares he is completing his nuclear program and shows no signs of backing down.  The nuclear program is a source of national pride – and possibly, the truth be known, of necessity.  Just a few days ago President Ahmadinejad said it is too late to stop him.

 

President Bush recently discussed a war of destiny between Islam and infidelity and Christianity.  It is no secret that Iran is considered to be part of the axis of evil and not only a nation seeking to become a nuclear power but a supporter of terrorism, of Hezbollah, and Shia extremists in Iraq.  It is no secret that the U.S. is bracing itself for an air war with Iran.  In late May a gigantic flotilla, including two aircraft carriers entered the gulf.  So when is the battle going to begin?

 

Bush may be discredited and wounded politically, but he is still commander in chief.  Just today on CNN, retired generals were laying out the options for an air war (realizing there is no army to commit to Iran).  With the elections in 2008, it is nearly inevitable to occur between now and the fall of 2007.  Former CIA counter terrorism chief, Vincent Cannistraro, said that planning is going on in spite of public disavowals… and planning is quite advanced.  The Pentagon is conducting second stage planning for air strikes.

 

I wouldn’t say that either president is very clear on prophecy, but they both seem in a hurry to set up their own version of Armageddon.  Or see the article titled, “Iran, Bush and the Second Coming.”  Both leaders seem to be intent on fulfilling prophecy!

 

CONSEQUENCES AND REPERCUSSIONS

 

Iran is no Iraq.  Iraq was a secular state less than half the size and population of Iran.  Iran is the center of radical Islam bent on the destruction of Israel and everything else non-Islamic.  In 2004, the “Center for Strategic and International Studies” reported:

 

"Nevertheless, Iran is still a significant military power by Gulf standards.  It has some 540,000 men under arms and over 350,000 reserves.  They include 120,000 Iranian Revolutionary Guards trained for land and naval asymmetrical warfare.  Iran's military also includes holdings of 1,613 main battle tanks, 21,600 other armored fighting vehicles, 3,200 artillery weapons, 306 combat aircraft, 60 attack helicopters, 3 submarines, 59 surface combatants, and 10 amphibious ships."

 

Iran’s nuclear facilities are deep underground, plus it has the means to retaliate in more ways than one – against the U.S. in Iraq, against Israel or against the whole world by disrupting almost half of the world’s oil supply.

 

Foreign Policy sizes up the navy:

 

“Iran is no naval power, but it does have enough capabilities to play the spoiler. In the event of war, Iran would likely try to jam up waterways by conducting unconventional operations, including deploying small attack boats to strike at shipping tankers. Nearly a quarter of the global oil supply is shipped through the Strait of Hormuz every day. But shipping lanes would grind to a halt if Iran put its seven mine warfare ships to work.”

In April, the Iranians tested what was reported to be the world’s fastest underwater missile, capable of eluding radar and traveling up to 233 miles per hour. Most experts scoffed at the announcement as little more than chest-thumping. More seriously, Iran’s navy has purchased three Russian Kilo-class submarines, whose quiet diesel engines could make them dangerous to Western warships. As with so much else about Iran’s military, however, there is a catch: The subs don’t seem to run well in the warm waters of the Persian Gulf.”

 

Iran could block the Strait of Hormuz, one of the most critical chokepoints for world trade with 40 percent of the world’s oil passing through it (Saudi Arabia, Iran, the UAI, Iraq and Kuwait)

 

It could be disaster for troops in Iraq.  Shiite militias in Iraq could cut off US supply lines and troops.

 

I think there is one other factor that the news isn’t discussing and that is the likelihood that Israel will join the U.S. – if not overtly, then covertly.  This will raise the wrath of Islam against both nations.  Israel is as motivated or more so than the U.S. in stopping Iran from getting nuclear weapons and in thwarting their support of Hezbollah and Hamas.

Consequences:  There is no way to remove Iran’s nuclear facilities without using tactical nuclear weapons ourselves which we claim are harmless to the population.  One can only imagine the ire the use of nuclear weapons will cause among the nations of the world against those nations – Israel and the U.S. – who would dare to be the first in 60 years to pull the trigger.

 

Thus we have the reason for the Gog-Magog War, which may lead to a defense treaty between the U.S. and Israel (Israel’s only real friend and protector) marking the beginning of the end – the beginning of the seventieth week of Daniel or the last seven years building up to the Battle of Armageddon and the return of Jesus Christ. 

 

 

Iran and Israel:

 

Twelve of the supposed 9/11 hijackers were Saudis.  None were from Iraq.  None were from Iran.  However, Iran and Saudi Arabia are among the nations that support terrorism – financially, logistically and by training.  Iran has a special connection to terrorism and the state of Israel.  It is the principle supporter of Hezbollah, “the Party of God”, a Shiite group of radicals in southern Lebanon.  They have the support of the people through their active social programs.  They withstood the Israeli army a year ago because of their heavily fortified positions and ability to destroy Israeli tanks.  This sent a shock through Israel who had considered its military to be far superior - even invincible.  Hezbollah is Iran’s army intent on the destruction of Israel.

 

Another Iran supported group, Hamas, is taking control of Gaza and the West Bank even as we speak from Fatah.  Hamas refuses to recognize Israel and is hell bent on her destruction.  Hamas has been warring with Fatah recently and it looks like they have won.  “As Gaza appears to fall to Hamas, EU halts aid, closes border crossing” reads the headline today.  Another headline, less than an hour old reads “Hamas Takes Fatah Stronghold In Gaza”.  Hamas is attacking Fatah forces in the West Bank. 

 

So Israel has a problem.  It is not only worried about Iran having nuclear weapons, it has the radical Islamic armies surrounding it destabilizing Israel, stirring up and radicalizing the Palestinians.  Hezbollah has already shown that it can stand up against the Israeli army, and Hamas is learning from Hezbollah with Iran’s help.  When the President of Iran declares that Israel should be thrown into the sea, he has the means to do it.

 

Consequences in America:

 

A nuclear attack on Iran would change the world for forever (or at least another 7 years or so).  Just as the war in Iraq became a rallying point for terrorists, a nuclear attack on Iran may unwittingly release terrorism on the world, but especially the U.S. and Israel.  One more 9/11 type attack or a small nuclear strike in the US would be enough to declare martial law in America.

 

This would give President Bush an opportunity to say “I told you so.”  It may have other unintended consequences – making the Patriot Act look like a jay walking law as martial law, the end of constitutional government, including the final demise of congressional power and the rise of an Imperial Presidency such as we have never seen before.  This would mark the end of the Republic and the beginning of Empire raising the question, could that great end times nation, prophetically called Babylon possibly be the United States of America?   Please see the book on line titled “In Search of Babylon.”  There is one consumer nation all the nations of the world get rich trading with (Revelation 18), one apostate supposedly “Christian” nation, one country that still spends more on her military than all the nations of the world combined, one nation with a vast network of military bases spread throughout the world.  There is only one nation that has befriended Israel and only one nation that signs a defense treaty with Israel marking the beginning of the end.   Please see the four part series beginning with the covenant with Israel.  The pieces are falling into place even as we speak.

 

Remember as kids when we were doing a book report and went to the last chapter of the book to see how it ends?  God wrote a Book and you can find out for yourself.  Just read it.  If you open your heart and mind, God will reveal His plan and purpose for the world and your life.  It’s all there.  You just have to do it.  Seek and you will find!

 

Dene McGriff

Sacramento, June 2007