Antisemitism at Princeton University. . . Again?

In an August 7, 2023 Jewish News Syndicate (JNS) article, Menachem Wecker reports on an all-too-familiar antisemitic activity, this from one of America’s most prestigious universities, Princeton, which is apparently allowing one of the most outrageous anti-Jewish accusations to be propagated. And it is not the first time this has happened at Princeton. In fact, these experiences are too common on liberal university campuses in the United States.

In what is described as a “modern-day antisemitic blood libel,” one of many spread through the centuries, a forthcoming Princeton University course reading list includes The Right to Maim: Debility, Capacity, Disability by Jasbir Puar, a Professor of Women’s and Gender Studies and Director of the Graduate Program in Women’s and Gender Studies at Rutgers University.

Published in 2017 by Duke University Press, the book won the National Women’s Studies Association’s Alison Piepmeier Book Prize in 2018. The book is part of a sample reading list for an upcoming Princeton University Humanities course.

The book promotes “queer”/homosexual/transgender, progressive liberal agendas along with Black Lives Matter propaganda and other social justice themes. The book blames nearly all of the world’s ills on the United States and Israel. 

Arsen Ostrovsky, CEO of the International Legal Forum, a network of lawyers, wrote a letter to Christopher Ludwig Eisgruber, President of Princeton, and Behrooz Ghamari-Tabrizi, Chair of Princeton’s Near Eastern Studies Department.

In the letter he writes, “The book in question contains a number of very serious and defamatory accusations, primarily that the Israel Defense Forces is harvesting the organs of Palestinians, including by ‘shooting to maim, rather than to kill,’ in order to create a ‘mass debilitation of Palestinian bodies.’ This charge is not only demonstrably false, but a modern-day antisemitic blood libel.”

Ostrovsky reminds that Princeton hosted a lecture in February by Mohammed El-Kurd, who he describes as “a notorious Jerusalem-based Palestinian activist, whom the Anti-Defamation League has called an ‘unvarnished, vicious’ antisemite, and who himself has also sickeningly accused Israelis of harvesting and eating the organs of Palestinians.”

Ostrovsky told JNS that his group requests the book be removed because it lacks educational value and scholarly merit, and because of the “potential for incitement to racial hatred and violence against the Jewish community by the use of age-old antisemitic blood libels.”

As reported in the JNS article, Morton Klein, National President of the Zionist Organization of America (ZOA), Susan Tuchman, Director of the Center for Law and Justice, and Jonathan Ginsburg, Managing Director of ZOA Campus, also wrote to Satyel Larson, Assistant Professor of Near Eastern Studies at Princeton, and the Professor for the course The Healing Humanities: Decolonizing Trauma Studies from the Global South, listed as an offering in fall 2023-24, stating “Puar’s book is filled with anti-Israel falsehoods. Mandating your students to read this antisemitic book will likely lead them to unwarranted animosity toward Israel and Jews.” They added, “We strongly urge you to replace Puar’s book with a book that is based on the facts.”

They urge Princeton to rethink the “misguided and dangerous decision,” suggesting “If the goal is to educate, rather than indoctrinate Princeton students with false anti-Israel propaganda, then there are accurate books about the Israeli-Palestinian Arab conflict to include on your syllabus.” They conclude “Puar’s book is not worthy of a place on any reading list at Princeton and should be removed from yours.”

In a follow-up JNS opinion article, Davis Suissa summarizes “In his book Israel Denial, scholar Cary Nelson asserts that Puar’s work ‘suffers from basic flaws in the principles and practices that guide it—her methodology, her standards of evidence, her style of argumentation, her lack of interest in opposing views, her penchant for drawing conclusions unsupported by facts, and her willingness to let political convictions guide every aspect of her anti-Zionist project.’”

Blessors’ Key Takeaways

  • Antisemitism is on the rise in colleges and universities across the United States (See “Anti-Semitism on College Campuses across US”).
  • Books that lack educational value and scholarly merit should not be part of an educational curriculum.
  • Books passed-off as scholarly works should be reviewed by educational institutions, especially when they are grossly antisemitic and when they make outrageous claims that have no substantiation, which is the “luxury” of Israel’s enemies, who regularly fabricate stories, alter events, misreport, or purposely mislead receivers of their messages/reports.
  • Efforts to indoctrinate students in discredited conspiracies should be challenged, and blatant antisemitic propaganda promoted by any institution should be exposed and rejected.

Blessors’ Bottom Line

  • All forms of antisemitism have Satan as their source (See “What’s at the Heart of Anti-Semitism?”). 
  • Though Satan’s future is sealed, he has not given up the fight. He wants to destroy Israel to prevent the return of Jesus Christ and the establishment of His Millennial Kingdom (Revelation 19-20).
  • Christians must understand what is behind all forms of antisemitism and reject whatever form antisemitism takes.

Geoff Hetrick and Dr. Matthew Dodd

August 11, 2023

One of the most hotly debated topics concerning Israel is the question of Israel’s claim to the land it currently occupies. Specifically, “Does Israel have a legitimate claim to the Promised Land?” To answer this question, we are going to turn to the most authoritative source for the answer, the inspired, inerrant Word of God, the Holy Bible.

We’re told in Genesis 12:1-3, that God promised three things to Abram: a son, land, and a blessing. But when we come to Genesis 15, God’s promise was still unfulfilled, Abram had no son and he was troubled by the prospect of having someone other than his own flesh and blood be his heir.

God’s response to Abram’s concern is nothing short of amazing. To reassure Abram that He would give him a son and the land upon which his foot had trodden, the Lord enacted a covenant with Abram.

Genesis 15:7-10, 12-18 states, “He said to him, ‘I am the Lord who brought you out of Ur of the Chaldeans, to give you this land to possess it.’ He said, ‘O Lord God, how may I know that I will possess it?’ So He said to him, ‘Bring Me a three year old heifer, and a three year old female goat, and a three year old ram, and a turtledove, and a young pigeon.’ Then he brought all these to Him and cut them in two, and laid each half opposite the other; but he did not cut the birds. . . .

Now when the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram; and behold, terror and great darkness fell upon him. God said to Abram, ‘Know for certain that your descendants will be strangers in a land that is not theirs, where they will be enslaved and oppressed four hundred years. But I will also judge the nation whom they will serve, and afterward they will come out with many possessions. As for you, you shall go to your fathers in peace; you will be buried at a good old age. Then in the fourth generation they will return here, for the iniquity of the Amorite is not yet complete.’

It came about when the sun had set, that it was very dark, and behold, there appeared a smoking oven and a flaming torch which passed between these pieces. On that day the Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying, ‘To your descendants I have given this land, from the river of Egypt as far as the great river, the river Euphrates. . .’”

Let’s breakdown the elements of this covenant to help us answer the question regarding Israel’s claim to the land.

In that day there were three types of Covenants:

  • Suzerain-Vassal Covenant
  • Grant Covenant
  • Parity Covenant

For our purposes, we will focus on the first two types of covenants, the Suzerain-Vassal Covenant and the Grant Covenant.

Suzerain-Vassal Covenant

The Suzerain-Vassal Covenant was imposed by a king upon his subjects, the vassal(s), usually individuals who had been defeated in war. The covenant oath was taken by the inferior party, the vassal. It was a unilateral covenant which means the inferior party was bound to keep the terms of the covenant. It was also a conditional covenant which means the vassal was blessed for obedience and cursed for disobedience according to the terms of the covenant.

Grant Covenant

Unlike the Suzerain-Vassal Covenant, with a Grant Covenant the king promised to give land and/or privileges to his subject, the vassal. The king took an oath, not the vassal. The Grant Covenant was unilateral, meaning the superior party, the king, bound himself to the terms of the covenant. And the Grant Covenant was unconditional which means the fulfillment of the covenant’s terms was not dependent upon the vassal’s obedience.

Suzerain-Vassal Covenant or Grant Covenant?

Question: Was the covenant that the Lord made with Abram in Genesis 15 a Suzerain-Vassal or a Grant Covenant?

Answer: The Abrahamic Covenant was a Grant Covenant.

Why? Because it was God who determined and declared the covenant’s terms and then bound Himself by an oath to keep the terms of the covenant. Genesis 15:18 states, “On that day the Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying, ‘To your descendants I have given this land, from the river of Egypt as far as the great river, the river Euphrates. . .’”

This also means that the Abrahamic Covenant is unilateral because only God was bound to the terms of the covenant, not Abram. Please notice that Abram did not recite the terms of the covenant nor did God decree that Abram was obligated to keep any term of the covenant in order to receive an heir or the Promised Land. In fact, according to verse 12, Abram had fallen into a deep sleep which means he was the passive recipient of the blessings promised by God through this covenant.

What About Israel’s Failure to Keep the Mosaic Covenant?

When Israel failed to keep the Law of Moses and was sent into exile, did Israel lose its claim to the Promised Land? To answer this question, we need to determine the type of covenant that God established with Israel on Mount Sinai in Exodus 20 and then compare it to the covenant that God established with Abram in Genesis 15.

Question: Is the Mosaic Covenant a Grant or Suzerain-Vassal Covenant?

Answer: The Mosaic Covenant is a Suzerain-Vassal Covenant.

Why? Because Israel was bound by the terms of the covenant. For confirmation, please look at the terms of the covenant in Exodus 20:

  • “You shall have no other gods before Me” (3)
  • “You shall not make for yourself an idol” (4)
  • “You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain” (7)
  • “Remember the sabbath day” (8)
  • “Honor your father and your mother” (12)
  • “You shall not murder” (13)
  • “You shall not commit adultery” (14)
  • “You shall not steal” (15)
  • “You shall not bear false witness” (16)
  • “You shall not covet” (17)

Question: Did Israel know it was a Suzerain-vassal Covenant and agree to its terms?

Answer: Yes.

In Exodus 24:3-4 we read, “Then Moses came and recounted to the people all the words of the Lord and all the ordinances; and all the people answered with one voice and said, ‘All the words which the Lord has spoken we will do!’”

Question: When Israel failed to keep the Mosaic Covenant, did their failure nullify the Grant Covenant that God established with Abram?

Answer: No.

Remember that God bound Himself by an oath to keep the terms of the Grant Covenant that He established with Abram in Genesis 15. Therefore, the terms of the Abrahamic Covenant remain intact even though Israel failed to keep the terms of the Mosaic Covenant.

This point is confirmed by the fact that God promised to restore Israel back to the Promised Land even after they have been sent into exile according to Deuteronomy 30:1-3, “So it shall be when all of these things have come upon you, the blessing and the curse which I have set before you, and you call them to mind in all nations where the Lord your God has banished you, and you return to the Lord your God and obey Him with all your heart and soul according to all that I command you today, you and your sons, then the Lord your God will restore you from captivity, and have compassion on you, and will gather you again from all the peoples where the Lord your God has scattered you.”

Did Israel Lose Its Claim to the Promised Land When the Jews Rejected Jesus Christ?

When it comes to the Promised Land, it’s been suggested that Israel forfeited or lost its claim to the Promised Land when the Jews rejected Jesus Christ. Is that so?

Question: Did Israel lose its claim to the Promised Land because the Jewish leaders at that time rejected Jesus Christ?

Answer: No.

Why? Because the covenant that God established with Abram in Genesis 15 is a Grant Covenant.

While it’s true that the Jewish leaders rejected Jesus Christ as Israel’s Messiah, it’s also true that their rejection of Jesus did not negate the oath that God took when He swore to give the Promised Land to Abram and his descendants forever.

It’s also important to note that Jesus pronounced judgment upon the generation that rejected Him, a judgment that was fulfilled when Jerusalem fell in AD 70. Jesus prophesied about the fall of Jerusalem when He lamented, “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, the way a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were unwilling. Behold, your house is being left to you desolate! For I say to you, from now on you will not see Me until you say, ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’ Jesus came out from the temple and was going away. . . And He said to them, ‘Do you not see all these things? Truly I say to you, not one stone here will be left upon another, which will not be torn down’” (Matthew 23:37-Matthew 24:1-2).

Please notice that when Jesus pronounced the future fall of Jerusalem, He also promised to return because a remnant of Jews will one day confess Jesus as their Messiah saying, “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!” This will take place at the end of the Great Tribulation when Jesus Christ returns to deliver the remnant of Messianic Jews from the anti-Christ.

Question: Why will there be a remnant of Messianic Jews at the end of the Great Tribulation?

Answer: Because God swore to give Abram and his descendants the Promised Land in Genesis 15. Descendants and the Promised Land; God swore to give Abram both, and God cannot lie.

The Bible makes it clear that the Abrahamic Covenant is immutable. Hebrews 6 declares, “For when God made the promise to Abraham, since He could swear by no one greater, He swore by Himself, saying, ‘I will surely bless you and I will surely multiply you’. . . For men swear by one greater than themselves, and with them an oath given as confirmation is an end of every dispute. In the same way God, desiring even more to show to the heirs of the promise the unchangeableness of His purpose, interposed with an oath, so that by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have taken refuge would have strong encouragement to take hold of the hope set before us” (Hebrews 6:13-14, 16-18).

So, even though the Jews failed to keep the Mosaic Covenant and rejected Jesus, Israel has not lost its claim to the Promised Land because the Abrahamic Covenant is still intact.

Dr. Matthew Dodd
July 6, 2023

Earlier this month, The Media Line reported that China welcomed delegations from Iran and Pakistan to Beijing for joint counterterrorism talks. The talks are expected to yield positive results in the fight against extremism, according to experts aligned with China, Pakistan, and Iran. They say the new initiative will likely lead to increased peace and stability in the wider Middle East region as well as within the borders of the involved countries.

Other security experts in the region believe the meeting represents China’s ambition to replace the US as the main player in the Middle East and beyond. In April, China brokered a peace deal between Saudi Arabia and Iran, two countries that had not had diplomatic relations since 2016. That same month, China also inserted itself into the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians with Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang offering to facilitate peace talks.

Azeem Khalid, an expert on China-Pakistan relations and professor of international relations at COMSATS University Islamabad, noted that China’s role in these talks, as well as in the rapprochement between Saudi Arabia and Iran, consolidates China’s power in the region and positions the country as “a credible alternative to the United States in effectively managing regional affairs.” Khalid notes, “This paradigm shift has profound systemic implications, as China appears to be gradually assuming the role of the region’s primary power broker.”

Adrian Calamel, Middle East and global security expert agrees. He believes China is seeking to undermine the US by increasing its role in the Middle East. According to Calamel, “The notion of China acting as a mediator in the Israeli-Palestine conflict is ridiculous. . . . China has been effectively challenging American primacy without drawing into open hostilities. . . . When there is an economic, political, and diplomatic vacuum, China will try to fill it.”

Amer Al Sabaileh, a Jordanian strategic analyst and a nonresident fellow at the Stimson Center in Washington, also views China’s moves in the Middle East as part of an overall strategy to promote China’s interests. Al Sabaileh said, “China managed to build good and steady relations with various countries in the Middle East by offering cooperation and investment. . . . The role of China in the Middle East cannot be compared to the US, but definitely it represents for many a new chance and a new vital partner.”

The Blessors’ Bottom Line

The United States must reengage with the nations of the Middle East and recapture the ground it has recently forfeited.

China has one goal, global domination by 2049, the 100th anniversary of the People’s Republic of China. In light of China’s professed agenda, its influence in the Middle East is of serious concern. China does not have allies, only pawns that it manipulates to achieve its objective. Therefore, a realignment of nations under China’s leadership will not serve to promote peace in the Middle East. Rather, it will promote China’s agenda at the expense of the nations of the Middle East, especially Israel. China is no friend of Israel.

Dr. Matthew Dodd and Geoff Hetrick
June 22, 2023

Recent headlines have been filled with more troubling news concerning Israel and the Middle East.

  • Iran to increase attacks on US by arming groups in Syria” (Jerusalem Post)
  • “U.S. offers Israel-Saudi normalization for silence on Iran deal” (i24 News)
  • “Iran claims to test hypersonic missile that can breach all defense shields” (The Times of Israel)
  • “Netanyahu: Israel will do everything necessary to prevent Iran from getting nuclear weapons” (i24 News)

It should come as no surprise that many of the alarming headlines involve Iran since Iran is committed to ridding the world of Israel and her people.

But equally concerning were some other headlines because they involved the United States and its relationship with Israel.

  • “First Lady Jill Biden to Skip Israel on Trip to Middle East” (Breitbart)
  • “US Secretary of State Antony Blinken cancels planned Israel visit” (Jerusalem Post)
  • “US Secretary of State Antony Blinken meets Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman” (AP News)

Question: What’s behind these headlines involving the United States and Israel?

Answer: Judicial Reform.

Since taking office, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has sought to reform Israel’s judicial system so that elected officials may select Israel’s justices in a manner that is similar to how federal judges are nominated and approved in the United States.

But the White House has repeatedly voiced its opposition to Netanyahu’s attempt to reform Israel’s judiciary. In fact, as a sign of his disapproval, on March 29, 2023, President Joe Biden said that he will not invite Prime Minister Netanyahu to the White House (The Times of Israel). Netanyahu has yet to receive an invitation from the White House.

Israel’s Ambassador to the United Nations, Gilad Erdan, recently said that the United States is making a “serious mistake” by withholding an invitation to Netanyahu to Washington. Erdan observed, “This is without a doubt problematic. . . This is not the way to behave between friends, even when they disagree on issues. We are one of the closest allies the Americans have. There are always disputes, even within a family, but in the end everyone gets together at the holiday table. The visibility of such a situation has great importance.”

Erdan is correct. The United States is sending the wrong message to Israel and to her enemies. In these volatile times, words and actions matter. The United States has no better ally in the Middle East than Israel. And Israel has no stronger ally than the United States. Unity will send the right message and help restore stability to an unstable region. Please pray for the United States and Israel.

Those who bless Israel will be blessed (Genesis 12:3).

Dr. Matthew Dodd
June 7, 2023

Question: What’s at the heart of anti-Semitism?

Answer: Spiritual Warfare.

The Apostle Paul wrote, “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 6:12).

All forms of anti-Semitism have Satan as their source. Ever since the Fall of Adam and Eve, Satan has attempted to destroy the Messianic line that would ultimately defeat him (Genesis 3:15). Bible scholar, Arnold Fruchtenbaum rightly observes,

“[A]ll anti-Semitic campaigns throughout Jewish history have been instigated by Satan. . . . Satan works on the principle that whomsoever the Lord loves, he will hate. God, throughout the Prophets and the New Testament, spelled out His eternal love for the people of Israel; therefore, Satan has had a perpetual war against the Jews, seeking to destroy them at every possible opportunity” (Arnold Fruchtenbaum, The Footsteps of the Messiah, third edition, Ariel Ministries. Kindle, loc. 8852).

Prior to the first advent of Jesus Christ, Satan tried to rid creation of Israel through repeated attacks. For example, Satan attempted to exterminate the Jews through Pharoah’s order to kill all male infants born to Hebrew families (Exodus 1:15-16; 22). Later, Satan sought to end the Hebrew people through Haman’s nefarious plot against the Jews as recorded in Esther 3. Satan also tempted Jesus Christ in order to disqualify Him from being our Savior (Matthew 4:1-11). But on the cross at Calvary, Jesus Christ not only sealed our victory over sin and death, He sealed Satan’s fate forever. The Apostle Paul triumphantly declared, “When He disarmed the rulers and authorities, He made a public display of them, having triumphed over them through Him” (Colossians 2:15).

Though Satan’s future is sealed, he has not given up the fight. He wants to destroy Israel to prevent the return of Jesus Christ and the establishment of the Millennial Kingdom. Through anti-Semitic warfare, Satan seeks to remove Israel from the face of the earth so that there will not be a remnant from Israel for Christ to rule over. But again, Satan’s future is sealed. Jesus Christ will return as the “KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS” (Revelation 19:16). And after the thousand-year reign of Christ, Revelation 20:10 states, “And the devil who deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are also; and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.”

As Christians, it is important for us to understand what is behind all forms of anti-Semitism. The truth is, we are in a real battle. This is spiritual warfare. The Apostle Paul recognized there is a real war and that Satan is trying to eternally destroy those whom God loves. In his last letter to Timothy, Paul did not say, “I have danced the good dance.” Paul said, “I have fought the good fight” (2 Timothy 4:7).

We must rise up and do likewise. We must rise up and pray for Israel. We must also rise up and proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ because it is only through Jesus Christ that Israel and her people will be truly blessed.

By Dr. Matthew Dodd
May 10, 2023

On February 24, 2022, Russian President Vladimir Putin authorized “special military operations” in Ukraine. Once his order was issued, Russian forces attacked Ukraine with missiles and artillery, assaulting Kiev and other major Ukrainian cities. Two days later, the United States and her Western allies responded with sanctions which included the cutting off of Russia’s central bank from US dollar transactions. By sanctioning Russia, the West had hoped to halt Putin’s advances against Ukraine, but over a year later, Russia continues to seize more Ukrainian territory even though NATO has doubled down on its commitment to support Ukraine. In many ways, the West’s response to Putin’s invasion has not isolated Russia on the world stage but has served to deepen the divide between Eastern and Western nations.

One alliance that is changing the fabric of our world is Russia’s relationship with China. Historically, the border-sharing nations have been at odds with one another but those tensions have thawed because both countries view the United States and her NATO allies as a threat. In a demonstration of solidarity, China and Russia pledged their commitment to a “no limits” friendship prior to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Since then, China has not only refused to denounce the Russian invasion, but in 2022, it increased its trade with Russia to a record-setting $190 billion dollars.

The two nations have also sought to strengthen their alliance by adding other nations, even forging partnerships through mediation if necessary. For instance, the world was stunned when Iran and Saudi Arabia announced they are “formally restoring diplomatic ties after a seven-year rift” because of the help they received from China’s President Xi Jinping. Then on April 4, 2023, it was reported that leaders from Russia, Syria, Turkey, and Iran met for two days in Moscow in order to “help broker a rapprochement between the Turkish and Syrian governments.”

The relationship between Russia and Iran has deepened as well. In July 2022, Putin praised Russia’s alliance with Iran, stating, “Our relations are developing at a good pace” because the two countries seek to “strengthen their cooperation on international security and contribute significantly to the Syrian settlement.” The strengthening of this alliance was further confirmed by a report that Russia has been using Iranian drones in its war efforts against Ukraine while Russia has been supplying Iran with advanced cyber weapons.

Another alliance of interest is between Russia and Turkey. While Turkey has been a NATO member since 1952, Turkey has not supported sanctions against Russia nor closed its airspace to Russian aircraft. And it appears that the ties between Iran and Turkey are strengthening as well, especially when it comes to Israel. Today, it was reported that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan told Iranian President Raisi in a phone call that “the Islamic world should be united against Israel’s attacks in Palestine.”

And earlier today, one of the objectives behind Russia’s invasion of Ukraine was also reported, a “new world order.” During a meeting with his counterpart in Turkey, Russian Foreign Minister, Sergei Lavrov, said that peace with Ukraine will be possible only if they achieve the establishment of a “new world order. . . What should be discussed are what the principles of the new world order. . . will be based on.” Lavrov observed, “Russia together with the overwhelming majority of other states is advocating that the new world order be based on the principles of the UN Charter, which, I emphasise [sic] once again, are directly violated by the collective West.” Lavrov added that Russia rejects a “unipolar world order led by ‘one hegemon.’”

What would this new world order potentially look like? Clearly, it would be a world order that is no longer led by the United States. Likely it would be a world order led by China and Russia and supported by Iran, and perhaps Turkey.

Russian President Vladimir Putin, left, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, center, and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan pose for a photo prior to their talks at Saadabad palace, in Tehran, Iran, Tuesday, July 19, 2022. (Sergei Savostyanov, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)

For the students of Bible prophecy, the alliance that has emerged between Russia, Iran, and Turkey as a result of the invasion of Ukraine is of special interest. It appears that this alliance is setting the stage for the prophetic events recorded in Ezekiel 38-39, in what has been called “The Battle of Gog and Magog.” According to Ezekiel 38-39, Russia (Rosh) will lead a coalition of nations and attack Israel prior to the Great Tribulation, Iran (Persia), and Turkey (Meshach and Tubal)will be part of that alliance. These nations will “devise an evil plan” against Israel and with overwhelming force “come like a storm. . . like a cloud covering the land” (Ezek. 38:9-10). But God will pour out His “blazing wrath” upon Israel’s foes and deliver her from certain destruction through a series of four cataclysmic judgments (Ezek. 38:18-23). This divine deliverance will be in keeping with God’s promise to Abraham, “I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse” (Gen. 12:3). These events were prophesied by the prophet Ezekiel 2,600 years ago because our God knows the beginning and the end, in fact, He is sovereign over all, nothing catches Him by surprise. Through it all, God will reveal Himself to Israel and the many nations so that they will know that He is the Lord (Ezek. 38:23). May we be watchful and prayerful as these prophetic events unfold. May we say with the Apostle John, “Come, Lord Jesus” (Revelation 22:20).

By Dr. Matthew Dodd
April 7, 2023

While Europe is on edge with the escalation of nuclear threats due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, another layer of uncertainty has been added to the mix of global unrest in the Middle East with a warning from the United Nations’ top nuclear official that Iran has enough enriched uranium to build “several” nuclear weapons. According to Rafael Mariano Grossi of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Iran has “amassed enough nuclear material for several nuclear weapons. . . . They have 70 kilograms (155 pounds) of uranium enriched at 60%.” When enriched to 90%, uranium is considered weapons-grade.

Though Iran does not have a nuclear weapon yet and Iranian officials have long maintained that Iran would not pursue enriching uranium to do so, experts noticed a shift when Iranian officials began speaking openly about the prospects of building an atomic weapon in mid-July of 2022. During an interview with Al Jazeera TV, Kamal Kharrazi, an advisor to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khameni, said, “In a few days we were able to enrich uranium up to 60% and we can easily produce 90% enriched uranium. . . . Iran has the technical means to produce a nuclear bomb but there has been no decision by Iran to build one.”

Iran’s nuclear advancements are cause for deep concern for Israel because Iran has repeatedly declared its commitment to the total destruction of Israel. On October 26, 2005, at the “World Without Zionism” conference, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad quoted the founder of Iran’s Islamic revolution, Ayatollah Khomeini, who said that Israel “must be wiped out from the map of the world.” Ahmadinejad then added, “And God willing, with the force of God behind it, we shall soon experience a world without the United States and Zionism.” In 2015, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei took to Twitter and claimed “Increasing global hatred of #Israel is a sign of divine help.” An in response to a recent drone strike against a defense facility that Iran blamed on Israel, the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) displayed a ballistic missile with the Hebrew words “Death to Israel” inscribed down the side.

A long-range Ghadr missile is pictured at a defense exhibition in Isfahan, central Iran, on Feb. 8, 2023. (Morteza Salehi/Tasnim News/AFP via Getty Images)

In response to Iran’s ballistic missile message to Israel, retired Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Brig. Gen. Amir Avivi said, “The Islamic Republic of Iran is the world’s largest state supporter of terrorism, an agent of destruction and violence in the Middle East, Europe, Africa and the Americas, and openly calls for the annihilation of Israel and the destruction of the United States of America. Iran is a threat to regional and global stability.”

Why are these developments important when it comes to understanding the events of the latter days? According to the book of Ezekiel, “Persia,” modern-day Iran, will be part of an alliance that will attack Israel “in the latter years” (Ezek. 38:5, 8). These nations will “devise an evil plan” against Israel and with overwhelming force “come like a storm. . . like a cloud covering the land” (Ezek. 38:9-10). But God will pour out His “blazing wrath” upon Israel’s foes and deliver her from certain destruction through a series of cataclysmic judgments (Ezek. 38:18-23). This divine deliverance will be in keeping with God’s promise to Abraham, “I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse” (Gen. 12:3). So, it appears that the stage is being set for the events prophesied by the prophet Ezekiel 2,600 years ago. And through it all, God will reveal Himself to Israel and the many nations so that they will know that He is the Lord (Ezek. 38:23).

by Dr. Matthew Dodd | February 16, 2023