China and Russia Support Iran’s Attack on Israel. . . What’s Next?

China and Russia Support Iran’s Attack on Israel. . . What’s Next?

On Saturday, April 13, Iran launched its first-ever direct attack against Israel with approximately 185 drones, 110 surface-to-surface missiles, and 36 cruise missiles launched at Israel (The Times of Israel). Iran said that Saturday’s attack was in retaliation for an April 1 airstrike in Damascus on a building located near the Iranian consulate which left seven officers of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps dead, including commander Mohammed Reza Zahedi. It is being reported that Zahedi was involved in the planning of the Hamas terrorist strike on Israel last October 7. To date, Israel has not taken responsibility for the April 1 attack.

While the sheer volume of military hardware launched by Iran at Israel last Saturday was overwhelming, it also revealed the inferiority of Iran’s military technology and the superiority of Israel’s defense systems which were enhanced by support from the United States, Great Britain, and France. “None of Iran’s 185 Shahed 238 drones launched against Israel reached the country, nor did any of the 36 cruise missiles fired in Tehran’s historic attack. . . Only a small number of Iran’s 110 Kheibar Shekan ballistic missiles struck the country, and an even smaller number exploded” (Ynet News).

Yet, Iranian President Ibrahim Raisi was quick to dismiss the facts about Iran’s military shortcomings during his speech yesterday at a military parade marking Iran’s Army Day. Raisi declared that Iran’s drone and missile attacks on Israel “toppled Israel, proving that it is weak as a spiderweb. . . This operation was precise and calculated, and it announced to the entire world and to the alleged armed superpowers, to America and to the supporters of the Zionist regime, that Iran is in the arena, and that our armed forces are prepared and waiting for the command of the Supreme Commander. Operation ‘Honest Promise’ was limited in scope. Had it been broader, they would have seen that nothing would have remained of the Zionist regime” (MEMRI).

In an effort to control the narrative and voice their support for the newest member to their BRICS alliance, Communist China and Russia have heaped praise upon Iran for their attack of Israel. On Tuesday, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi held a phone call with Iran’s Foreign Minister and accepted Iran’s justification for the attack. In fact, he described Iran as “good-neighborly and friendly” (Breitbart). And Wang Yi’s spokesman also noted that the absence of a Palestinian state is “the most persisting injustice in [the] modern-day world” (Breitbart).

Russian President, Vladimir Putin, also praised Iran’s failed strike against Israel. According to the propaganda arm of the Iranian government, PressTV, Putin described the attack as “tactful and wise,” noting, “What the Islamic Republic of Iran did in response to what happened criminally and in the light of the inaction of the [UN] Security Council, was the best way to punish the aggressor and represented the tactfulness and rationality of Iran’s politicians” (Breitbart).

Fearful of Israeli retaliation, earlier today, Iran threatened “to advance its nuclear weapons program and to attack American targets in the Middle East if Israel strikes its nuclear facilities” (Israel National News). It is also reported that “the Iranians warned the US and European countries not to tighten the sanctions against them, because this would lead to taking steps in the nuclear field such as raising their level of uranium enrichment” (Israel National News).

Not fearing Iran’s threats, today, the White House announced that it is “holding Iran accountable – imposing new sanctions and export controls on Iran” (WhiteHouse.gov). The press release concluded by stating, “Let it be clear to all those who enable or support Iran’s attacks: The United States is committed to Israel’s security. We are committed to the security of our personnel and partners in the region. And we will not hesitate to take all necessary action to hold you accountable.”

According to Axios, “Israel considered conducting a retaliatory strike against Iran on Monday night but eventually decided to postpone it.” Yesterday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told “two foreign ministers that Israel will respond to the Iranian attack but will do it in a ‘thoughtful and calculated way.’”

It is important to note that we are witnessing the drawing of clear battle lines. In fact, we are witnessing the alignment of nations against Israel in preparation for what was prophesied by the prophet Ezekiel in Ezekiel 38-39, the Battle of Gog and Magog.

As I have shared in articles, podcasts, and during prophecy updates with Pastor Rich Jones, Russia and Iran will play significant roles in the events leading up to the Great Tribulation. It is also clear that Russia and Iran feel empowered to move against Israel and her Western allies because of the support they receive from Communist China.

During the Battle of Gog and Magog, there will be an alliance of nations against Israel which will be led by the leader of Russia, “Gog, prince of Rosh” (Ezek. 38:4). “Persia,” modern-day Iran, and Turkey 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).

In the midst of this great opposition, God will come to Israel’s rescue and pour out His “blazing wrath” upon her foes in order to deliver Israel from certain destruction through a series of four cataclysmic judgments (Ezek. 38:18-23).

First, God will send a “great earthquake in the land of Israel. . . and all the men who are on the face of the earth will shake at My [God’s] presence; the mountains also will be thrown down, the steep pathways will collapse and every wall will fall to the ground.”

Second, the invading armies will turn against each other because God will “call for a sword against him on all My [God’s] mountains. . . Every man’s sword will be against his brother.”

Third, God will send a deadly “pestilence” upon Israel’s enemies and “with blood I [God] will enter into judgment with him.”

Finally, God will rain down upon the invading armies “a torrential rain, with hailstones, fire and brimstone.”

God’s judgment against Israel’s enemies will be so severe that it will take Israel seven months to bury their enemies and seven years to gather and destroy their weapons (Ezek. 39:9-16).

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, the developments between Russia and Iran are setting the stage 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).

Please also note, the destruction of Russia, Iran, and Turkey at the end of the Battle of Gog and Magog will create a geopolitical void which will be filled by a revived Roman Empire, whose leader will be the Antichrist (Daniel 7:7-8, 20-27).

Blessors of Israel is closely monitoring the developments between Israel and Iran. Please join me in praying for Israel and her people during these difficult days.

by Dr. Matthew Dodd | April 18, 2024

Can Syria Be Trusted With Nuclear Energy?

Just when you think that tensions can’t get any higher in the Middle East, Reuters reports that the United Nations nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has reignited “high-level dialogue” with Syria “focusing on building confidence in the peaceful use of nuclear energy in Syria.” Evidently, the Director General of the IAEA, Rafael Grossi, accepted an invitation from Syria’s President Bashar al-Assad and met with him yesterday in Damascus.

In light of what we know about the Assad regime in Syria, Israel’s enemy on her northeastern border, can it be trusted to use nuclear energy for peaceful purposes? What does history have to tell us?

Well, the last time IAEA inspectors visited Syria was in 2011, the year civil war broke out in Syria due to street protests against Assad’s violent regime. At that time, “they were seeking to revive a stalled IAEA investigation into activity at a site in Syria’s eastern desert that U.S. intelligence had deemed to be a nascent, North Korean-designed reactor intended to produce plutonium for atomic weaponry.” But Syria’s endeavor to build atomic weaponry came to a screeching halt when Israel bombed the site and reduced it to rubble in 2007. And contrary to U.S. intelligence, the Syrian authorities claimed that it was a “non-nuclear military site, but the IAEA concluded in 2011 that it was ‘very likely’ to have been a reactor that should have been declared to nuclear non-proliferation inspectors.”

Now, as we consider Syria’s willingness to restrict atomic energy to just keeping the lights on in homes and businesses, we must also keep in mind that Syria has developed closes ties with China and Iran, enemies of Israel and the United States. For example, last September, just days before Hamas terrorists barbarically attacked Israel, China’s President Xi Jinping declared his support for the Assad regime when he said, “In the face of the unstable and uncertain international situation, China is willing to work with Syria to firmly support each other. . . and jointly safeguard international fairness and justice.”

And this last Sunday, the Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, Ali Akbar Ahmadian met with the Syrian Defense Minister, Ali Mahmoud Abbas, in Tehran. Ahmadian said, “The empowerment of Syria is in the interest of regional security and stability, and the development of relations can benefit the peoples of both countries and the region” (Islamic Republic News Agency). The Islamic Republic News Agency also noted that “Iran’s security chief commended the resilience of the Syrian nation and government as part of the Axis of Resistance against both the Israeli regime and terrorist groups in the region.”

So, based on recent history and Syria’s ties with China and Iran, it is clear that if Assad is given the green light, he will weaponize atomic energy and make Syria a nuclear power in the Middle East. And that is an unacceptable scenario for Israel and the West.

Now, for those who will argue that the IAEA will monitor Syria to ensure it is only using nuclear energy for peaceful purposes, I ask, “How successful has the IAEA been in monitoring Iran’s nuclear program?” Perhaps we shouldn’t put too much confidence in U.N. nuclear watchdog’s ability to monitor a nuclear-powered Syria either.

Will you please join me in praying for Israel and her people at this critical time?

by Dr. Matthew Dodd | March 20, 2024