Iran’s Breaking Point: Liberty or Fire?

Iran’s Breaking Point: Liberty or Fire?

The streets of Tehran are no longer just a site of protest; they have become a battlefield for the soul of a nation. With at least 544 lives lost and over 10,600 citizens behind bars (i24 News), the Iranian regime has reached a desperate tipping point. As President Trump weighs “very strong” military options against a regime taunting the U.S. with “overwhelming firepower,” the world watches a historic collision between a people’s cry for liberty and a dictatorship’s threat of fire.

A Regime’s Ultimatum: Silence or Death

The crackdown has entered a chilling new phase. Tehran’s prosecutor has officially escalated the stakes, announcing that any protester accused of “sabotage” or clashing with security forces will face the death sentence (The Jerusalem Post). This is no longer just a police action; it is a state-sanctioned execution of dissent.

Despite the shadow of the gallows, the Iranian people continue to flood the streets. In a remarkable shift, many are now looking toward the West, specifically viewing the U.S. administration as a potential “symbol of peace” capable of halting the state-sponsored slaughter (i24 News).

Trump’s Red Line: “Strong Options” on the Table

From the cockpit of international diplomacy, President Trump has issued a stark warning. The U.S. military is currently reviewing “very strong options,” signaling that further bloodshed will trigger a direct American response (The Times of Israel). “They’re killing a lot of people,” Trump noted, warning that the regime has crossed a line the world cannot ignore (Axios).

While the military prepares, a shadow game of diplomacy is unfolding. Reports indicate that Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has reached out to White House envoy Steve Witkoff in a frantic bid to de-escalate (Axios). Trump himself observed that the regime appears “tired of being beat up” and may finally be ready to talk (The Times of Israel).

Defiance and Desperation

Tehran is not backing down quietly. The regime’s rhetoric has turned apocalyptic:

  • The Russian Gambit: Ayatollah Khamenei has bypassed traditional channels, using his Russian-language social media to warn the U.S. against “miscalculation,” signaling a tight alignment with Moscow (Fox News).
  • “Come Be Burned”: State media and regime hardliners have issued vitriolic taunts, boasting of their military might and daring the U.S. to intervene in a conflict they claim will leave the West “burned” (Breitbart).
  • Preemptive Strikes: Iran’s National Defense Council warned they will not wait to be hit, claiming they will strike U.S. or Israeli targets at the first sign of a threat (The Jerusalem Post).

The Shadow of Intervention

As the U.S. weighs its move, regional neighbors are pleading for restraint. Turkey has cautioned that foreign military intervention could ignite a wider regional inferno (Reuters). Yet, for the protesters on the ground, the risk of intervention is weighed against the certainty of the regime’s brutality.

The situation remains a powder keg. While a potential meeting is being arranged to explore a diplomatic exit (Axios), the question remains: will the regime choose the path of negotiation, or will they force the world to watch as Iran reaches its final, fiery breaking point?

Please join me in praying for Israel and the people of Iran during this critical moment, that the Gospel of Jesus Christ will set the captives free (Acts 26:18).

by Dr. Matthew Dodd | January 12, 2026

Global Crisis Point: Iran’s Regime, Protests, and the Looming Threat of Conflict

The Islamic Republic of Iran is facing what Israeli intelligence officials describe as its “most fragile point in more than two decades, since 1999,” as nationwide anti-government protests escalate into a violent standoff with international consequences (i24NEWS). This domestic turmoil has rapidly elevated geopolitical tensions, drawing direct threats of intervention from the United States and counter-threats of retaliation against Israel from Tehran.

The humanitarian cost of the regime’s crackdown is stark. According to the U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency, the death toll has tragically spiked to at least 538 people, with more than 10,600 people detained (The Times of Israel). Another rights group, the Norway-based Iran Human Rights, confirmed the killing of at least 192 protesters (The Times of Israel). Eyewitness accounts cited by the U.S.-based Center for Human Rights in Iran describe a “massacre” unfolding, with many protesters allegedly shot in the eyes as a “deliberate tactic” (The Times of Israel).

Opposing the clerical establishment, Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi urged citizens to maintain the demonstrations, claiming the mass presence had “severely weakened [Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali] Khamenei’s repressive apparatus and his regime” (The Jerusalem Post). Pahlavi asserted that authorities were facing “a severe shortage of mercenaries to confront the millions of people in the streets” (The Jerusalem Post).

In response to the unrest, Iranian officials have rejected any domestic culpability, instead directing blame outward. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian accused foreign powers of instigating the violence, stating, “The US and Israel are sitting there, giving instructions – saying, ‘Go ahead, we are with you.'” He called on Iranians to distance themselves from “rioters and terrorists” (The Jerusalem Post). Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf sent a stern warning to protesters, saying “the people of Iran should know that we will deal with them in the most severe way and punish those who are arrested” (JNS).

The gravest threats, however, have been directed at the U.S. and its ally, Israel.

The U.S. has repeatedly warned the regime against further bloodshed. President Donald Trump posted on social media that “Iran is looking at FREEDOM, perhaps like never before. The USA stands ready to help!!!” (The Jerusalem Post). He also issued a direct military threat, stating that if the regime forces “start killing people,” the US will “hit them very, very hard where it hurts” (The Times of Israel).

Tehran’s response was swift and menacing. Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf warned the United States against “a miscalculation,” declaring: “Let us be clear: in the case of an attack on Iran, the occupied territories [Israel] as well as all US bases and ships will be our legitimate target” (The Times of Israel, The Jerusalem Post, JNS). This threat was met by lawmakers in Tehran’s parliament shouting, “Death to America!” (JNS).

The escalating rhetoric has prompted heightened readiness across the region. Israel is reported to be on a “high-alert footing” for any potential US intervention (The Times of Israel). While the IDF stated it is maintaining high operational readiness, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s approach is internally described as “monitoring, supporting, hoping,” with Israel “keeping a careful distance” to prevent the protest movement from being publicly linked to Jerusalem (i24NEWS). Meanwhile, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar has urged the European Union to designate the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organization (The Times of Israel).

Amidst the growing tension, the US administration is reportedly contemplating its next steps, with President Trump scheduled to be briefed on options including military strikes, deploying cyber weapons, and applying more sanctions (The Jerusalem Post). However, senior U.S. defense officials have reportedly cautioned Trump that the military needs more time to “consolidate US military positions and prepare defenses” before launching any strikes that could trigger Iranian retaliation (The Jerusalem Post).

A senior US intelligence official described the current dynamic as an “endurance game,” where the opposition attempts to maintain pressure while authorities try to quell the demonstrations without providing the US justification for military intervention (The Jerusalem Post).

Please join me in praying for Israel and the people of Iran, that the light of the Gospel will penetrate the darkness and set the captives free (Acts 26:18).

by Dr. Matthew Dodd | January 11, 2026

Iran is facing one of the most volatile moments since the 1979 Islamic Revolution. While Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei publicly projects confidence and predicts the downfall of Western leaders, the Islamic Republic is simultaneously grappling with mass protests, an economic collapse, a deepening water crisis, and intense international scrutiny. Recent reporting across Israeli, American, and international outlets paints a picture of a regime under extraordinary strain.

Khamenei’s Defiance vs. Iran’s Reality

On Friday, January 9, 2026, in a rare public address following days of silence, Ayatollah Khamenei blamed Iran’s unrest on “foreign mercenaries,” accusing the United States and Israel of fomenting chaos, even as he predicted the eventual fall of United States President Donald Trump and Western power more broadly (Breitbart; i24News). Yet these declarations contrast sharply with realities on the ground, where the Iranian regime has shut down communications nationwide, imposed violent crackdowns, and reportedly caused dozens of deaths since the protests began in late December of 2025 (Breitbart; i24News).

Despite the blackout, protests have swept major cities including Tehran and Mashhad, with demonstrators openly chanting against the Supreme Leader and the Islamic Republic itself (The Times of Israel; World Israel News). Nobel Peace Prize laureate Shirin Ebadi warned that the internet shutdown could be a precursor to mass killings, noting, this is “not a technical failure. . . it is a tactic” used by the regime (The Times of Israel).

Protests, Crackdowns, and International Alarm

The cost of the uprising has been high. The Jerusalem Post and i24 News report that at least 45 people, including eight minors, have been killed by security forces, with over 2,300 detainees. In Tehran, the prosecutor has already threatened protesters who damage government property with the death sentence (The Jerusalem Post). Despite the violence and the deployment of the Revolutionary Guard, citizens remain defiant, with one protester telling AFP (via The Times of Israel), “We know that if we go out there, we might not survive, but we are going… for a better future.”

Western governments have begun to respond: France, Britain, and Germany publicly condemned the killing of protesters, while reports suggest the United States is reassessing earlier assumptions that the unrest did not threaten regime stability (The Times of Israel).

President Trump issued a direct warning to Tehran, stating Iran would face “hell” if it continues killing demonstrators—remarks that resonated strongly among protesters chanting slogans supportive of outside pressure on the regime (The Times of Israel).

A Population Turning Away from the Regime—and Toward Israel

One of the most striking developments is the growing evidence that many Iranians differentiate sharply between their rulers and Israel. Reports indicate that protesters have expressed admiration for Israel and even Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, whom they see as a symbol of strength against the clerical regime (World Israel News). As one protestor reportedly said, “The people of Iran are not Israel’s enemies. The regime is.” This phenomenon underscores how deeply the regime has lost legitimacy among its own people.

Strategic Implications for Israel and the Region

As Iran destabilizes internally, the question of external conflict looms large. U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee emphasized that Israel will decide independently whether to strike Iran, underscoring Jerusalem’s sovereign security calculus (World Israel News; i24News). Israeli officials have also signaled a desire for greater strategic independence, including a reduced reliance on long-term U.S. military aid frameworks (The Times of Israel).

The Regime’s “Day After” Problem

Even analysts skeptical of imminent regime collapse acknowledge that Iran faces a severe “day after” dilemma. Decades of mismanagement by what locals call the “water mafia” have depleted aquifers and left millions without reliable access to water. Analysts warn that even if the regime falls, any successor government will face a massive humanitarian and environmental crisis that “will not magically reboot” with the lifting of sanctions (World Israel News).

A Turning Point?

Iran’s leadership continues to speak the language of revolution and resistance, but the streets tell a different story. Millions of Iranians are no longer demanding reform—they are demanding an end to the regime itself. As protests grow, international scrutiny intensifies, Iran stands at a historic crossroads. This moment is a sober reminder: tyranny often appears strongest just before it breaks.

Please join me in praying for the people of Iran, that the light of the Gospel will penetrate the darkness and set the captives free (Acts 26:18).

by Dr. Matthew Dodd | January 9, 2026

The tensions between Israel and Iran continue to rise with no end in sight, marked by a concerning paradox: while the Iranian regime escalates its war rhetoric on the global stage, its foundations are simultaneously crumbling under the weight of internal revolution. For those who stand with Israel and pray for the peace of Jerusalem, this moment is a call to watchfulness, discernment, and intercession.

War Talk and Quiet De-Escalation

On the global stage, the Islamic Republic maintains a defiant and aggressive posture. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi recently declared the regime “ready for war,” even while signaling openness to negotiations with the United States (World Israel News). This aggressive stance is a clear attempt to project strength while masking the fragility within its borders.

In contrast, Israel has demonstrated restraint and strategic prudence. Reports indicate that Jerusalem has utilized diplomatic channels, specifically through Russian President Vladimir Putin, to assure Tehran that it has “no interest in another round of military exchanges and certainly will not initiate one” (Israel Hayom). This measured approach suggests Israel is keenly observing the internal crisis in Iran, recognizing that its greatest leverage may be patience. Israel is allowing the internal pressures—the “swamp” of domestic unrest—to run its course, trusting that the turmoil shaking the regime from within will continue.

A “True Revolution” Shakes Tehran

The most compelling reason for the regime’s panic is the genuine popular uprising sweeping across Iran. Fueled by an unprecedented economic collapse—with the rial’s value plummeting—and widespread protests over the rising cost of living, the unrest has evolved into a movement explicitly rejecting the Islamic Republic.

  • Internal Turmoil: The scale of the unrest has prompted President Masoud Pezeshkian to call for “utmost restraint” in handling the demonstrations, urging officials toward “dialogue” and “listening to the people’s demands” (The Times of Israel).
  • The Regime is “Trembling”: A report citing an interview with Middle East specialist Emmanuel Razavi claims the regime is facing a “true revolution” and is “trembling.” He noted that a study by the Gaman Foundation found that 81% of Iranians no longer want the Islamic Republic (Israel Hayom).
  • Insiders Seek Escape: The desperation among the ruling class is evidenced by a shocking revelation: senior officials, particularly from the “reformist clan” close to the president, are reportedly seeking French visas for their families as a potential escape route (Israel Hayom).
  • Information Warfare: The regime has attempted to suppress dissent through nationwide internet blackouts (The Jerusalem Post). However, the exiled Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi has urged protesters to maintain their presence, warning the regime that “the world and [US President Donald Trump] are closely watching you” (The Jerusalem Post).

The crisis reveals the deep disconnect between the ruling elite and the Iranian people, whose desire for freedom is mounting.

The God Who Overturns Nations

Throughout the Bible, God sovereignly raises and lowers nations (Daniel 2; Isaiah 40:15). Persian empires loom large in biblical history, from the liberation of Israel under Cyrus the Great (Ezra 1) to the story of Esther, where King Ahasuerus and the villain Haman plotted against God’s people (Esther 3–8). These verses remind us that God is ultimately over the affairs of the nations and that He watches over His covenant people, Israel.

“Behold, He who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.” (Psalm 121:4)

Will you please join me in praying for Israel and her people along with the people of Iran, that the light of the Gospel will penetrate the darkness and set the captives free?

by Dr. Matthew Dodd | January 8, 2026

Few issues in our generation demand spiritual discernment as urgently as the mounting threat posed by Iran toward the State of Israel. While geopolitical analysts frame the danger in terms of missiles, proxies, and nuclear ambition, Scripture invites us to see deeper—through the lens of the covenants, prophecies, and the enduring purposes of God.

This is not merely a regional conflict. From a biblical perspective, what confronts Israel today touches the heart of God’s redemptive plan for history.

God’s Covenant with Israel Is Irrevocable

The Bible is unmistakably clear: Israel exists because God willed it so.

“I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse. And in you all families of the earth will be blessed.” (Genesis 12:3)

God’s covenant with Abraham—and reaffirmed through Isaac and Jacob—was not conditioned on Israel’s perfection, but on God’s faithfulness. Throughout Scripture, Israel stumbles, repents, is disciplined, and restored. Yet never once does God revoke His covenant.

The modern rebirth of Israel on May 14, 1948 stands as a profound testimony to this truth. After nearly 2,000 years of dispersion, persecution, and attempted annihilation, the Jewish people returned to their ancestral homeland—just as the prophets foretold (Isaiah 66:8; Ezekiel 37).

Any force that seeks Israel’s destruction, therefore, is not merely opposing a nation. It is contending with the declared purposes of God.

Iran’s Stated Aim: The Erasure of Israel

Iran’s leadership has repeatedly and openly called for the elimination of Israel—not a policy dispute, not a border disagreement, but the eradication of the Jewish state itself. This language is chillingly familiar to students of history and Scripture alike.

Psalm 83 describes a coalition of nations conspiring with a singular goal:

“Come,” they say, “let us destroy them as a nation, so that Israel’s name is remembered no more.” (Psalm 83:4)

The pattern is unmistakable. The desire to erase Israel’s very existence is ancient—and persistent.

Iran’s support of armed proxies surrounding Israel, combined with its pursuit of advanced weapons, elevates this threat from rhetoric to existential reality.

The Spiritual Roots of the Conflict

Scripture teaches that our struggle is not merely against “flesh and blood” (Ephesians 6:12). Behind the hostility toward Israel lies a deeper spiritual enmity.

Why has Israel, a nation smaller than New Jersey, been the focal point of disproportionate hatred for millennia?

Because Israel is central to God’s redemptive story:

  • Through Israel came the Scriptures (Romans 3:2)
  • Through Israel came the Messiah, Jesus Christ (Romans 9:5)
  • Through Israel God promises future restoration and blessing to the world (Romans 11)

Satan’s opposition has always targeted the line through which God brings salvation. From Pharaoh’s infanticide, to Haman’s plot, to Herod’s massacre, the enemy’s strategy has been consistent: destroy the people, silence the promise.

Iran’s obsession with Israel cannot be fully understood apart from this spiritual backdrop.

The Church’s Responsibility: Clarity, Not Silence

Christians are not called to fear-mongering, nor to blind allegiance to any government. But neither are we permitted the luxury of silence when Scripture speaks plainly.

The Apostle Paul warns Gentile believers:

“Do not be arrogant toward the branches. . . remember that it is not you who supports the root, but the root supports you.” (Romans 11:18)

To bless Israel is not to deny compassion for others. It is to align ourselves with God’s revealed purposes, while praying fervently for peace, repentance, and the salvation for all peoples—including Iranians, many of whom live under a regime they did not choose.

Hope Beyond the Threat

The Bible does not minimize the danger Israel faces in the last days—but neither does it end in despair.

Zechariah 12 declares that though nations will come against Jerusalem, God Himself will be her defender. Paul assures us that Israel’s story ends not in destruction, but in redemption:

“And so all Israel will be saved.” (Romans 11:26)

This gives us confidence—not in military might alone, but in the faithfulness of God.

A Call to Prayer and Faithful Action

At Blessors, we believe that now is a time for:

  • Prayer for Israel’s protection and peace
  • Moral clarity in recognizing existential threats against Israel for what they are
  • Biblical courage in standing with God’s covenant people
  • Gospel compassion for all caught in the turmoil of the Middle East

History has shown that those who curse Israel ultimately bring judgment upon themselves, while those who bless her find blessing. This is not political ideology—it is biblical reality.

May, we, the Church be found faithful, watchful, and aligned with the purposes of God as history moves toward its appointed culmination.

“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: ‘May they prosper who love you.’” (Psalm 122:6)

by Dr. Matthew Dodd | January 7, 2026

What are the Borders that God Determined for Israel?

On August 12, 2025, Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu shared with Sharon Gal, from i24 News, that he is “very” attached to the vision of a “Greater Israel” (The Times of Israel). The term “Greater Israel” was used after the Six Day War of June 1967 to refer to Israel and the areas it had just conquered which included East Jerusalem, the West Bank (i.e., Judea and Samaria), the Gaza Strip, the Sinai Peninsula, and the Golan Heights.

Gal further asked Netanyahu if he believes he is on a mission on behalf of the Jewish people. Netanyahu declared that he is “on a mission of generations – there are generations of Jews that dreamt of coming here and generations of Jews who will come after us.” Netanyahu continued, “So if you’re asking if I have a sense of mission, historically and spiritually, the answer is yes.”

Netanyahu’s comments touch upon one of the most hotly debated topics concerning Israel, specifically, the question of Israel’s claim to the land it currently occupies. This question has received even greater press after Netanyahu announced on August 10, 2025 his plan to end the war with Hamas along with his plan for the Gaza Strip the day after Hamas is defeated. Netanyahu summarized his five principles for concluding Israel’s war with Hamas as follows:

“One, Hamas [is] Disarmed. Second, all hostages [are] freed. Third, Gaza is Demilitarized. Fourth, Israel has overriding security control. And five, Non-Israeli, peaceful civil administration, by that I mean a civilian administration that doesn’t educate its children for terror, that doesn’t pay terrorists, and doesn’t launch terrorist attacks against Israel, that’s what we want to see in Gaza. So, it’s neither Hamas or the PA” (Prime Minister’s Office).

On the international front, there has been significant opposition and even outrage towards Netanyahu’s plan. Additionally, France, Australia, Canada, and the United Kingdom, nations who have historically claimed to be Israel’s allies, have recently stated they will recognize a Palestinian State at the United Nations General Assembly in September of this year.

But while men fret and nations scheme about this issue, what is needed is the counsel from God’s Word, the Bible. From the Bible it is clear that God has something to say about Israel’s borders.

What are the borders that God determined for Israel?

Recently, I shared on Episode 93 of the Blessors of Israel Podcast, “Does God Approve of a Two-State Solution?”, that in Genesis 15, God established a Grant covenant with Abram which means God bound Himself by an oath to unilaterally and unconditionally give the land to Abram and his descendants forever.

In verse 18, God declared what the borders of the Promised Land would be: “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.”

God later confirmed the Promised Land borders to Moses in Deuteronomy 1:6-8 and then to Joshua in Joshua 1:4.

Let’s identify the borders that God promised to Israel through His covenant with Abram in Genesis 15:

The western boundary is the “Great Sea” which is the Mediterranean Sea (Joshua 1:4). The southern border is the Nile River in Egypt. The eastern border is the Euphrates River. And, the northern border is Lebanon.

In today’s context, what countries would be included in the borders that God determined for Israel in Genesis 15?

  • First, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.
  • Second, a portion of Egypt to the south.
  • Third, some of Saudi Arabia to the southeast.
  • Fourth, all of Jordan to the east.
  • Fifth, a portion of Iraq to the east.
  • Sixth, some of Syria to the north.
  • Lebanon to the north.
  • And possibly the southeastern portion of Turkey as you follow the Euphrates River north by northwest.

When you put it all together, this means that God’s plan for Israel’s borders is far greater than Netanyahu’s vision of a “Greater Israel.”

Question: Has Israel ever fully occupied the boundaries determined by God in Genesis 15?

Answer: No. Some of the regions were controlled by King David and King Solomon but they were never fully possessed or occupied by Israel.

Question: Why didn’t Israel fully occupy the Promised Land according to the borders of Genesis 15?

Answer:  Because Israel failed to obey God’s command and allowed her enemies to remain in the Promised Land which ultimately tempted them to sin against God by worshiping idols.

Question: Will Israel’s borders ever extend to what God promised Abram in Genesis 15?

Answer: Yes. Please remember that since God bound Himself by an oath, His promise to Abram must be fulfilled and it will be fulfilled when Jesus Christ returns to establish His Millennial Kingdom. During Jesus Christ’s 1,000-year reign, the Promised Land will experience peace, tranquility, and blessings as Jesus reigns on the throne of David in keeping with God’s promise to David in 2 Samuel 7.

So one day, in the Millennial Kingdom of Jesus Christ, God’s plan for a “Greater Israel” will be fully realized because God is faithful to keep all of His promises. God said it, so He will do it.

Please join me in praying for the salvation of Israel and her people.

Dr. Matthew Dodd | August 13, 2025

Does God Approve of a Two-State Solution?

One of the most hotly debated questions concerning Israel involves a Two-State Solution, where Palestine is recognized as a sovereign state with Israel as its neighbor. Today it was reported that France will officially recognize a Palestinian state in September. French President Emmanuel Macron posted on X/Twitter, “True to its historic commitment to a just and lasting peace in the Middle East, I have decided that France will recognize the State of Palestine” (The Jerusalem Post).

Macron’s statement drew strong criticism from Israel and the United States. Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said, “Such a move rewards terror and risks creating another Iranian proxy, just as Gaza became. A Palestinian state in these conditions would be a launch pad to annihilate Israel – not to live in peace besides it. Let’s be clear: the Palestinians do not seek a state alongside Israel; they seek a state instead of Israel” (The Times of Israel).

Israel’s Immigration and Absorption Minister Ofir Sofer called for French Jews to move to Israel, stating, “The State of Israel welcomes the many immigrants from France who have chosen to return to their true home in Israel since October 7, despite the war. . . French Jews, this is your home – the State of Israel” (The Times of Israel).

United States President Donald Trump downplayed Macron’s plan to recognize a Palestinian state, saying, “What he says doesn’t matter. He’s a very good guy. I like him, but that statement doesn’t carry weight” (The Jerusalem Post).

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio called Macron’s statement a “reckless decision (that) only serves Hamas propaganda.” Rubio rightly observed on X/Twitter, “It is a slap in the face of the victims of October 7th” (The Times of Israel).

In order for there to be a Two-State Solution, it has been proposed repeatedly since the Six-Day War in 1967, that Israel must withdraw from Judea and Samaria, what some incorrectly call the West Bank, along with East Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip, and hand over control of these regions to the Palestinians.

In previous articles and podcasts, Blessors of Israel has made it clear by citing the leaders of Hamas, Hezbollah, and Iran, that Israel’s enemies do not want a Two-State Solution. Netanyahu’s assessment is correct, Iran, her proxies, and the Palestinians are violently opposed to a Two-State Solution because they only want a One-State Solution, which means Israel would cease to exist and the Jews would be annihilated.

And since October 7, 2023 when Hamas terrorists attacked Israel murdering approximately 1,200 people, raping women and young girls, beheading babies, and kidnapping over 250 people, the number of Israelis who are in favor of a Two-State Solution has decreased significantly because they recognize the existential threat a Two-State Solution would pose to Israel and her people.

But there is a question that some, like Macron, ignore, “What does God think about a Two-State Solution?” Or to ask the question more pointedly, “Does God approve of a Two-State Solution?” To answer this question, we will turn to the most authoritative source for the answer, the inspired, inerrant Word of God, the Bible.

We are told in Genesis 12:1-3, that God promised three things to Abram, the father of our faith: a son, land, and a blessing. But when we come to Genesis 15, the promise was still unfulfilled, Abram had no son and 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 God would give him a son and the land upon which his foot had trodden, the Lord enacted a covenant with Abram.

Here is the account of the establishment of God’s covenant with Abram:

“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. . .’” (Genesis 15:7-10, 12-18)

Let’s breakdown the elements of this covenant to help us answer the question regarding God’s view on a Two-State Solution.

In that day there were three types of Covenants:

  • Suzerain-vassal covenants
  • Grant covenants
  • Parity covenants

For our purposes, only the first two types of covenants are relevant, the Suzerain-vassal and Grant covenants. Below is a summary of each covenant:

Suzerain-vassal Covenant

  • The Suzerain-vassal Covenant was imposed by a king on his subjects, the vassal(s), usually those who were defeated in war.
  • The Suzerain-vassal Covenant oath was taken by the inferior party, the vassal.
  • The Suzerain-vassal Covenant was a unilateral covenant which means the inferior party was bound to keep the terms of the covenant.
  • The Suzerain-vassal Covenant was also a conditional covenant which means if the vassal obeyed the Suzerain-vassal Covenant, he or she would be blessed according to the terms of the covenant. But if the vassal disobeyed the Suzerain-vassal Covenant, he or she would be cursed according to the terms of the covenant.

Grant Covenant

  • According to the Grant Covenant, the king promised to give land and/or privileges to his subject, the vassal.
  • Under the Grant Covenant the king took the oath, not the vassal.
  • The Grant Covenant was unilateral, meaning the superior party, the king, bound himself to the terms of the Grant Covenant.
  • And the Grant Covenant was unconditional which means the fulfillment of the terms by the king were not dependent upon the vassal’s obedience.

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

Answer: The covenant that God enacted with Abram in Genesis 15 was a Grant Covenant 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.

Please observe what is written in verse 18: “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. . .’”

Also note 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 the land. In fact, according to verse 12, Abram had fallen into a deep sleep which means he was the passive recipient of the blessings enacted by God through this covenant.

This means the Abrahamic Covenant in Genesis 15 is unilateral because God bound Himself to the terms of the Grant Covenant, not Abram. And since the Abrahamic Covenant is a Grant Covenant, it is unconditional which means the terms of the covenant remain intact even though Israel might fail to keep the terms of future covenants made between God and Israel, like the Mosaic Covenant.

Back to our main question, “Does God approve of a Two-State Solution?” Clearly the answer is “No” because God gave the land to Abraham and his descendants, Israel, and bound Himself by an unconditional, unilateral oath.

So Macron can plot, others can scheme, and nations can propose all sorts of solutions to the problems between Israel and her enemies, but if God is opposed to a Two-State Solution, then so should we.

Please join me in praying for the salvation of Israel and her people.

Dr. Matthew Dodd | July 25, 2025

Has October 7, 2023 Set The Stage for the Fulfillment of Ezekiel 38:8, 11-12?

Approximately 2,600 years ago, the prophet Ezekiel was inspired by the Holy Spirit to pen the following words regarding the conditions that will precede an attack against Israel by a coalition of nations:

After many days you will be summoned; in the latter years you will come into the land that is restored from the sword, whose inhabitants have been gathered from many nations to the mountains of Israel which had been a continual waste; but its people were brought out from the nations, and they are living securely, all of them. . . . and you will say, “I will go up against the land of unwalled villages. I will go against those who are at rest, that live securely, all of them living without walls and having no bars or gates, to capture the spoil and to seize plunder, to turn your hand against the waste places which are now inhabited, and against the people who are gathered from the nations, who have acquired cattle and goods, who live at the center of the world.” (Ezekiel 38:8, 11-12)

These prophetic verses have troubled scholars and students of the Bible for years. At issue is the question, “When has Israel experienced the peace noted in Ezekiel 38 after it declared its reestablishment as a nation on May 14, 1948?” The answer to this question is essential for determining the prophetic and chronological placement of this battle recorded in Ezekiel 38-39, what has been called “The Battle of Gog and Magog.”

Some have suggested that Israel has never experienced the level of peace mentioned in verses 8 and 11. Therefore, this passage must refer to a future prophetic event, the first half of the Great Tribulation, when the antichrist will sign a seven-year covenant with Israel. During the first three and a half years of the Great Tribulation Israel will enjoy peace with her enemies, a peace brokered by the antichrist. But that peace will only last for short time because Gog, the prince of Rosh (Russia) will lead a coalition of nations from the north, east, and south to attack Israel, the “apple” of Lord’s eye (Ezekiel 38:2-6; Zechariah 2:8).

One weakness of this view involves the length of time that it will take Israel to dispose of the weapons used by her enemies to attack her. According to Ezekiel 39:9-10, Israel will need seven years to destroy all of her enemies’ weapons:

“Then those who inhabit the cities of Israel will go out and make fires with the weapons and burn them, both shields and bucklers, bows and arrows, war clubs and spears, and for seven years they will make fires of them. They will not take wood from the field or gather firewood from the forests, for they will make fires with the weapons; and they will take the spoil of those who despoiled them and seize the plunder of those who plundered them,” declares the Lord God.

Since it will take seven years for Israel to burn the weapons, this means the Battle of Gog and Magog must occur at least three and a half years before the beginning of the Great Tribulation so that Israel has plenty of time to burn the weapons. After three and a half years, the antichrist will break his covenant with Israel and seek to annihilate the Jews (Matthew 24:15-21). If the Battle of Gog and Magog occurs later in the prophetic timeline, then Israel will be inclined to use her enemies’ weapons in self-defense against the antichrist, not burn them.

Others have suggested that Israel is currently living in a relative state of peace and security, “a security due to confidence in their own strength” (Arnold Fruchtenbaum, The Footsteps of the Messiah (San Antonio: Ariel Ministries, 2020), Kindle, loc. 2422). According to this view, Israel’s peace will not require a covenant with the antichrist. Rather, Israel will experience a period of peace that precedes the Battle of Gog and Magog and the Great Tribulation.

Proponents of this view also believe the catalyst for the Battle of Gog and Magog will be the rapture of the Church. Ron Rhodes states,

The world will likely be in a state of chaos following the rapture. The rapture will have a devastating effect on the United States, which has a heavy population of Christians. Russia and her Muslim allies may well seize the moment, considering this the ideal time to launch a massive attack against Israel, which had been protected by the United States (Ron Rhodes, The End Times in Chronological Order: A Complete Overview to Understanding Bible Prophecy (Eugene: Harvest House Publishers, 2012), Kindle, p. 75).

The second view is to be preferred because it does not conflict with Ezekiel 39:9-10 and the seven years it will take Israel to burn her enemies’ weapons.

But after the horrific events of October 7, 2023, when Hamas terrorists stormed into Israel and murdered 1,200 people, raped women and young girls, burned and beheaded babies in front of their parents, and took over 250 people hostage, can it be said that Israel is still living in a relative state of peace and security? I submit that October 7, 2023 had an unintended consequence for Israel’s enemies, namely, Iran and her proxies Hamas and Hezbollah. What was the unintended consequence? In their demonically-inspired arrogance and hatred for Israel, Iran, Hamas, and Hezbollah never thought Israel would have been able to level devastating blows against all three of them in less than two years.

As I recently mentioned during the Blessors of Israel Podcast, Iran, Hamas, Hezbollah, and the rest of the world could never have imagined that Israel would have used the events of October 7, 2023 as a catalyst to declaw and de-fang Hamas, Hezbollah, and now Iran. And now, with the support of President Donald Trump, doors appear to be opening for peace in the Middle East between Israel and her Arab neighbors. Since October 7, 2023, there have been pivots with Lebanon after Hezbollah was decapitated by Israel in November of 2024. Syria is open to dialogue with Israel after the Assad regime fell on December 8, 2024 as well. And if Saudi Arabia opens the door to normalize relations with Israel, other Arab nations will likely follow.

What will this mean for Israel? Peace, but only for a season because the words of Ezekiel 38:8, 11 still need to be fulfilled and will be fulfilled, God’s Word never fails (Isaiah 55:11).

Please join me in praying for the salvation of Israel and her people along with her enemies (John 3:16).

by Dr. Matthew Dodd | July 11, 2025

What’s Missing from Egypt’s Postwar Plan for Gaza?

On Tuesday, March 4, 2025, Arab leaders met in Cairo, Egypt to show a united front as they endorsed Egypt’s postwar plan for the Gaza Strip. The catalyst for the Egyptian proposal was the announcement of President Donald Trump’s plan for Gaza during a press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on February 4, 2025. Trump’s plan sent shockwaves through the Middle East and the world when he announced that, under his plan, approximately 2 million Arab Muslims living in Gaza would be removed from the Gaza Strip, relocated to neighboring countries like Egypt and Jordan, so that the war-torn strip could be cleared of unexploded ordnance and the rubble from Israel’s war against Hamas and turned into the “Riviera” of the Middle East (The Jerusalem Post).

Prime Minister Netanyahu appeared to warmly welcome Trump’s plan, calling it “visionary and innovative” (JNS). The same cannot be said for the rest of the world, especially the nations of the Middle East. Jordan’s King Abdullah rejected Trump’s suggestion for resettling the Palestinians in Jordan during his meeting with President Trump at the White House (Reuters). Egyptian President Adbel Fattah el-Sissi was scheduled to meet with President Trump at the White House shortly thereafter, but, according to reports, he canceled his meeting after Trump’s announcement and called an emergency meeting of the Arab nations instead. A month later, the Arab nations have put forth a $53 billion postwar counterproposal to Trump’s plan for Gaza.

According to the Associated Press, “Egypt’s plan foresees rebuilding Gaza by 2030 without removing it population.” During phase one, unexploded ordnance and more than 50 million tons of debris will be removed from Gaza while an international peacekeeping force keeps a watchful eye on Gaza and Judea and Samaria (“West Bank”). Here are some of the key details from the 112-page draft of the plan:

  • Hundreds of thousands of temporary housing units would be set up for Gaza’s population while reconstruction takes place. This phase will take six-month and cost approximately $3 billion (JNS).
  • In the following years, the strip will be reshaped and expanded to include housing, urban areas, agricultural lands, industrial zones, large park areas, an airport, a fishing port, and a commercial port.
  • By 2030, the plan envisions the construction of hundreds of thousands of new homes to accommodate up to 3 million people.
  • Hamas would cede power to an interim administration of political independents until a reformed Palestinian Authority can assume control (Associated Press).

President el-Sissi was pleased by the “consensus among the Arab countries to support the reconstruction plan for the Gaza Strip, which allows the Palestinian People to stay on their land without displacement.” He added in a social media post after the summit that he welcomed the opportunity to work with President Trump, other Arab nations and the international community “to adopt a plan that aims for a comprehensive and just settlement of the Palestinian Issue; ends the root causes of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, guarantees the security and stability of the peoples of the region and establishes a Palestinian State” (Associated Press).

Palestinian Authority (P.A.) President Mahmoud Abbas attended the summit and welcomed the notion that the Palestinian Authority will once again impose its will over Gaza. In similar fashion, Hamas expressed its support for the Egyptian plan, stating, “We welcome the Gaza reconstruction plan adopted in the summit’s final statement and call for ensuring all necessary resources for its success.” The Iranian-backed terrorist group also voiced support for the creation of a “Community Support Committee” to oversee “relief efforts, reconstruction and governance in Gaza, as outlined in the temporary administrative body proposed by the Arab League summit in Cairo” (JNS).

The United Nations (U.N.) Secretary-General Antonio Guterres backed Egypt’s plan, stating, “I strongly endorse this plan. The U.N. stands ready to fully cooperate in this endeavor” (JNS).

Antonio Costa, European Union Council President, also supports the plan and posted on X, “I welcome the plan on Gaza presented by Egypt and other Arab partners at the League of Arab States’ Summit in Cairo. It is important that it covers all strands— reconstruction, governance and security. The European Union is fully committed to contributing to peace in the Middle East and is ready to provide concrete support for the plan. The whole international community should work on its implementation” (X).

Question: If so many are in favor of Egypt’s plan, then what’s wrong with it? What’s missing?

First, as Oren Marmorstein, a spokesperson for Israel’s foreign ministry, rightly observes, Egypt’s plan “fails to address the realities of the situation” (Associated Press). To begin with, Marmorstein notes that the plan fails to mention or condemn Hamas’ attack Israel on October 7, 2023. This was not an oversight, it was intentional.

President el-Sisi and the Arab nations do not want to stir up a terrorist hornet’s nest by publicly blaming Hamas. Rather, Egypt and the other Arab states habitually redirect blame towards Israel by design because they believe Israel’s existence is the “root cause of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.” President el-Sisi’s social media post confirms it is so. To end the “root causes of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict” means the state of Israel must be removed from the face of the earth. For the Palestinians (and the rest of the Muslim world), there would not be a Palestinian conflict if Israel ceased to exist. They do not want a two-state solution. They want a one-state solution, a world without Israel and her people.

Second, Egypt’s plan does not remove Hamas from Gaza. It is important to observe that while the Egyptian plan states that Hamas will cede its power from Gaza, it does not declare that Hamas must surrender its weapons and leave Gaza. Why? Simply put, because Hamas will not leave or put down their weapons peacefully. Hamas wants to remain in Gaza so that it will have time to rebuild and eventually assume control over Gaza once again. So, while the Arab nations pour billions of dollars into Gaza, Hamas will be recruiting members to fill its ranks. It will also use the new airport and the new fishing and commercial ports to obtain more weapons. Then when everyone is saying “Peace, Peace!” Hamas will attack Israel in a manner that is far worse than October 7, 2023.

Israel understands this is so and that is why the defeat of Hamas is one of its three primary objectives for its war against Hamas. The two other objectives include the rescue of all hostages, living and dead, and the removal of all existential threats from Israel’s borders.

Third, the Palestinian Authority cannot be “reformed” and trusted to govern Gaza. Again, it is important to understand “the realities of the situation” when it comes to Mahmoud Abbas and his band of Palestinian Authority terrorists. JNS recently quoted Abbas, reporting. . .

The Palestinian Authority will not deduct a single penny from its “pay-for-slay” fund that rewards terrorists and their families for their attacks, P.A. chief Mahmoud Abbas told members of his ruling Fatah faction last week, according to translated remarks Palestinian Media Watch published on Thursday.

“We again emphasize that we are proud of the sacrifices made by the martyrs, prisoners and wounded [terrorists],” the P.A. leader said at the Feb. 21 gathering of the Revolutionary Council—Fatah’s second-highest body, which is chaired by Abbas—in Ramallah, Samaria.

“I told you once and I stand by my word: Even if we have [only] one penny left, it is for the prisoners and the martyrs,” he continued, echoing previous remarks made during a July 23, 2018, address in the Palestinian city.

The P.A. “will not agree to reduce any obligation, any interest, or any penny given to them,” Abbas said. He concluded, “They must receive everything, as in the past, and they are more precious than all of us.”

“Even if we have one penny left, it is for the prisoners… They must receive everything, as it was in the past, and they are more precious than all of us!”
~Abbas, Feb. 21, 2025 pic.twitter.com/A2VJ1n7qnI

— Pal Media Watch (@palwatch) February 23, 2025

Again, Israel understands “the realities of the situation” and that is why Israel has repeatedly said it will not permit the Palestinian Authority to regain control over Gaza.

Now, some might say, “But there will be international peacekeepers in Gaza, so Hamas and the Palestinian Authority will not be able to rebuild and attack Israel ever again.”

Question: Why will peacekeepers work this time when U.N. workers did not prevent the October 7th attack? In fact, workers from the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (U.N.R.W.A.) were complicit in Hamas’ October 7th attack on Israel (Fox News). Therefore, Israel must exercise great care and wisdom and never entrust its security to an international peacekeeping force.

Question: So what is missing from Egypt’s postwar plan for Gaza?

Answer: An honest acknowledgment about “the realities of the situation” in Gaza.

Please join me in praying for Israel and her people during these critical times.

By Dr. Matthew Dodd | March 7, 2025

What is the History of the Palestinian Refugees?

Recently, President Donald Trump has insisted that Egypt and Jordan should permit the Palestinians from the Gaza Strip to settle in their respective countries while Gaza is cleared and rebuilt after Israel decimated the region in response to the Hamas terrorist attack on Israel on October 7, 2023 (Breitbart). It is important to keep in mind that the conflict and tension in the Middle East has been one of the most difficult issues confronting world leaders since Israel became a nation on May 14, 1948. One of the greatest obstacles to Arab – Israeli peace is the issue of Palestinian refugees who trace their origins to the events before and after that date.

Tensions between the Arabs and the Jews in the area of Palestine increased when Jews began emigrating to the area in the early 1900s, fleeing anti-Semitism in Eastern and Western Europe.

Israel had been a people without a homeland since the Roman Empire defeated and destroyed Israel in the first century. Dispersed among the nations, the Jewish people longed to return to the land given to the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

The question, “What do we do with these Jews?” was answered by anti-Semitism and persecution throughout Europe, East and West. Jews came in waves of tens of thousands to Palestine, seeking a homeland. When Adolf Hitler proclaimed the “Final Solution” to the question “what do we do with these Jews?”, immigration to Palestine became a matter of life and death.

Tensions flared in Palestine as Arabs grew increasingly concerned with the sheer number of Jews making Aliyah; emigrating to Palestine. Riots and armed skirmishes increased. Efforts to find peaceful coexistence came to naught.

The conflict between the Arabs and Jews fell to the British Empire, who were given authority to govern Palestine by the League of Nations in 1917 when the British defeated the Turks of the Ottoman Empire in WWI.

Under the British Mandate, the conflict between the Arabs and Jews became untenable. Jews fled Nazi Germany only to encounter a British naval blockade. Ships filled with Jewish refugees were turned back or held in camps on Cyprus. The British were trying to appease the Arabs who objected to the sheer number of choose escaping Germany.

The British gave notice to the United Nations that they would terminate their mandate of authority over Palestine, giving a deadline of May 15, 1948. The United Nations responded with a plan of partition, giving Jews and Arabs distinct boundaries and borders for two new states, one Jewish, one Arab.

The Jews accepted the partition plan and declared themselves to be the State of Israel on May 14, 1948. The Arabs rejected the partition plan and immediately declared war on the newly formed State of Israel. The Arabs would not acknowledge Israel’s right to exist and declared the intent of the war to be total annihilation of Jews in Palestine.

War between five Arab nations, the Palestinian militias and Israel resulted in victory for Israel, expansion of its boundaries, and Palestinian refugees. Arabs to this day refer to it as Al Nakba, or, “the disaster.”

How these Palestinians became refugees has been debated by historians since the end of the war. There are in fact several factors that caused those Palestinians to become refugees.

Those Arab nations, who in 1948 were determined to destroy Israel, warned in advance those Arabs living in the war zone to remove themselves so as not to be collateral damage in the war. Arab leaders promised these Palestinian Arabs that they would be removed from their homes only temporarily. After the complete annihilation and defeat of Israel, they could return to their homes. To this day, the “right of return” of these Palestinian Arabs is a point of contention.

Other Palestinian Arabs who had the means, removed themselves voluntarily. They also wanted not to be collateral damage in a war. They also have made claims of the right to return.

As the fighting commenced, Israeli soldiers advanced swiftly. When they came to an Arab village, they would send delegates to the village leaders, asking, “Will you take up arms against us?” If they said they would not take up arms, they would be welcomed into the new state of Israel. If the Arab village leaders were determined to fight, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) would expel them to join the other Palestinian refugees. They could not have enemies within their borders.

Other Arab villages and cities would simply flee when defeat became certain. They were convinced that since the Arabs had determined to annihilate the Jews, they themselves would be annihilated if their city was taken by Israel. Reassurances by the IDF were rebuffed. Many Palestinian Arabs fled in the face of certain defeat and joined other Palestinian refugees.

The Arab/Israeli war of 1948 resulted in approximately 750,000 Palestinian refugees. The Six-Day War of 1967 brought further Palestinian Refugees. According to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine refugees in the near East, there are today approximately 5 million Palestinian refugees.

By Pastor Rich Jones and Dr. Matthew Dodd | January 30, 2025