blog.Tribulationperiod.com

The BEST Laid PLANS Of Obama And Friends Have OFT Times Gone Astray

Obama’s PLANS Have Put Jerusalem Up For Grabs AFTER He Departs Office

Palestinian PLANS never included to Acknowledge Israel’s Right to exist as an Independant Nation 

The long Crisis in the Peace Talks was Pre-Planned by an extremely corrupt Palestinian Authority

Israel and The West have been Saying Mid-East “Peace and safety” for 66 Years

But there Is Coming a Time of Sudden Destruction AFTER Obama leaves Office

When Forces of Islam will be Organized Enough to Attack Israel from the North

And the Final Great Middle East War of the Gentile Age shall Begin its Slaughter

That Won’t end Until 2nd Advent as He returns to End Final Armageddon Battle

April 14, 2014

http://www.tribulationperiod.com/

I Thessalonians 4:13 to 5:11 – But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. [14] For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. [15] For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. [16] For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: [17] Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. [18] Wherefore comfort one another with these words.  [1] But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. [2] For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. [3] For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. [4] But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. [5] Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. [6] Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober. [7] For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night. [8] But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation. [9] For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, [10] Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him. [11] Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.

Words That Are Laid Out To Describe an End Time Mystery!

I Corinthians 15:51,52 – Behold, I SHEW (LEGO) you a MYSTERY; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, [52] In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the LAST (HESCHATOS) trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

SHEW – LEGO – This is the only place in the Bible that LEGO is translated as SHEW.  LEGO means “to lay out before.”  In this context it would mean “to lay out before the listener in words.”

LAST – HESCHATOS – In reference to time, it means the last thing that completes an action or event.  The use of the word, in this context, means that other trumpets had sounded before it, probably in a lengthy series, for if there had only been say one, two, or three, then saying the second or third would have been the normal pattern exhibited in scripture, such as the second or third woe in Revelation.

Paul was “laying out with words” the events of a MYSTERY that would be FULFILLED when the LAST TRUMP sounded.

More than 20 years after Paul’s death, John described the FINISH of the MYSTERY that Paul had previously LAID OUT WITH WORDS, which described some of the events associated with it.   

Revelation 10:7 – But in the days of the VOICE of the SEVENTH angel, when he shall BEGIN to sound, the MYSTERY of God should be FINISHED, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets.

When the LAST TRUMP, in a series of seven trumpets, BEGINS to sound, the MYSTERY of God will be the action that COMPLETES the gathering of all the saved into a place we call heaven.  For the first time all the saved will be in heaven, gathered from the earth, both the dead and the living. 

Revelation 11:15 – And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.

Christ will descend with the VOICE of the archangel, which I believe to be the highest angel in the seven trumpet series, whose sounding begins the final action Paul LAID OUT IN WORDS, and then John announced TIME OF COMPLETION when the SEVENTH TRUMPET SOUNDS.

I Thessalonians 4:16,17 – For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the VOICE of the archangel, and with the TRUMP of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: [17] Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

The completion of the MYSTERY will place all of the saved of all the ages before the judgment seat of Christ in heaven, while the ones who morally corrupted the earth feel the wrath of the seven vials poured out on the earth.

Revelation 11:18 – And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which DESTROY the earth.

The very fact that the saved will not suffer the wrath of God’s seven vials is a very comforting thought.

I Thessalonians 4:18 – Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

I Thessalonians 5:9 – For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,

Now consider the last phrase found in Revelation 11:18, “Them with DESTROY (DIAPHTHEIRO) the earth” – The Greek word translated “destroy” is “diaphtheiro,” which literally means “to make rotten to the core.” At one time I thought this meant they had, and were, in the process of physically destroying the earth because that is the common usage of the English word “destroy,” so I did not even bother to examine the Greek meaning for the word “diaphtheiro.”  Since doing so I have changed my mind.  I now believe it means they have been, and still are, “morally” corrupting the earth as lost men and women, and that God’s wrath will be poured on them as the consequence of rejecting his Son, while all of the saved are being judged in heaven.

DESTROY – DIAPHTHEIRO – to corrupt throughout, to bring to a worst state of depravity, to make rotten to the core.

The word can be used to mean a physical destruction of the earth or a moral destruction of the earth, so one does have a choice, and I have chosen to interpret a double use of the same word in Revelation 11:18 to be the physical destruction of those morally destroying the earth by the one who created the earth.  The same word is translated as “corrupt” in other Scriptures in the New Testament, inferring moral or spiritual adultery – One by Paul, inferring spiritual adultery for false teaching concerning the proper way to worship God, is found in I Timothy 6:5 – Perverse disputings of men of CORRUPT minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.

The following Scriptures show when the saved are going to be caught out in proximity to Revelation events, but no one at the present time knows when the sounding of the seventh trump will occur.  When it does occur, all the saved will be taken up to heaven to be judged for the works done in their bodies for rewards, or the lack of them.  For the first time since God created man, all the believers of God’s kingdom will be in heaven in body, soul, and spirit, and all the lost will be in, and on, this present earth. 

Revelation 11:15,18 – And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever. [18] And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth.

“And the nations were angry” – But Armageddon is five chapters away – Revelation 16:16 – And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon.

“And thy wrath is come” – God’s wrath does not come until the saved have been caught out –  I Thessalonians 5:9 – For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,

“And the time of the dead” – The saved dead experience resurrection and living saved are instantly changed – I Corinthians 15:51 – Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,

I Thessalonians 4:16,17 – For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: [17] Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

“That they should be judged” – The saved of all the ages are judged by the PROMISED SEED in heaven – Genesis 3:15 – And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her SEED; IT shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise HIS heel.

“And that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great” – The saved are judged by Christ for the works they performed in their bodies, whether they were wrought by and in Christ, or by the old fleshly nature – II Corinthians 5:10 – For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.

Galatians 6:7 – Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.

Revelation 22:12,14 – And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be. [14] Blessed are they that DO his commandments, that they may HAVE RIGHT to the tree of life, and may ENTER IN through the gates into the city.

Revelation 21:7 – He that overcometh shall inherit ALL things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.

The real question that a believer needs to consider, after becoming the child of God through faith in his Son Jesus, is simply this:  How much am I going to submit myself to the indwelling Spirit of Christ, to let him continue what he has started, once again overcoming the world, but this time he overcomes it in me.  The degree to which you allow him to again overcome in you determines two things:  (1) Whether you receive ALL of the reward he has waiting for you at his Son’s judgment seat, and (2) How close a relationship you will have with him in heaven, that is to say, where you abide in heaven in proximity to where he positions himself.  All the saved remain forever in heaven, and all will be happy in glorified bodies, but those who served him after salvation will be happier than all the many that did not.  Salvation is by grace through faith, and once it is received it is eternal, and does not need works to maintain it, but make no mistake, our salvation is a workmanship of the Spirit of God, and he created us for the purpose of being able to perform his works of his Spirit, and if we do not, we will be judged by Christ for not having done so.

Ephesians 2:8-10 – For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: [9] Not of works, lest any man should boast. [10] For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that WE SHOULD WALK IN THEM.

Ephesians 3:21 to 4:4 – Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen. [4] I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that YE WALK WORTHY of the vocation wherewith ye are called, [2] With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; [3] Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. [4] There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;

Ephesians 2:22 – In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.

Revelation 3:4 – Thou hast a FEW names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall WALK WITH ME in white: for they ARE WORTHY.

Begin Series of Excerpts from Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs/Daily Alert

April 10, 2014

Excerpt 1 – Washington Post

U.S. Needs to Plan for the Day after an Iran Deal

David H. Petraeus and Vance Serchuk

Washington Post

In the aftermath of a negotiated settlement with Iran over its illicit nuclear activities, the lifting of economic sanctions on Iran would lead to the economic empowerment of a government that is the leading state sponsor of terrorism. Indeed, even under crippling sanctions, Iran has managed to provide robust support to extremist proxies as part of its broader geopolitical agenda across the Middle East and beyond – activities antithetical to U.S. interests and to those of our closest allies.

While it is possible that a nuclear deal would pave the way to a broader detente in Iran’s relations with the U.S. and its neighbors, it is more plausible that removing sanctions would strengthen Tehran’s ability to project malign influence in Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, the Arabian peninsula and the Palestinian territories. Rather than marking the end of our long struggle with Iran, therefore, a successful nuclear deal could result in the U.S. and our partners in the Middle East facing a better-resourced and, in some respects, more dangerous adversary.

Preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons ought to be our foremost priority, and a diplomatic agreement that truly bolts the door against that danger is worth potential downsides. But we need to recognize there are genuine trade-offs involved in even the best possible nuclear deal.

Rather than freeing Washington to reduce the U.S. footprint in the Middle East and focus elsewhere, a nuclear agreement with Tehran is likely to compel us to deepen our military, diplomatic and intelligence presence in the region in order to help partners there balance against increasing Iranian power. David H. Petraeus is a former director of the CIA and a former commander of U.S. Central Command. Vance Serchuk is an adjunct senior fellow at the Center for a New American Security. (Washington Post)

Excerpt 2 – Israel Hayom

Jerusalem Is Not Up for Grabs

Efraim Inbar

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry declared that Israel’s plans to build additional apartment houses in Gilo, a southern Jerusalem neighborhood beyond the Green Line, are partly responsible for the current impasse in the peace negotiations between Israel and the Palestinian Authority.

This indicates profound American misunderstanding of the situation, because Gilo, with more than 40,000 residents, is to be part of Israel under any agreement. Moreover, the peace negotiations have little chance of succeeding as long as the Palestinians demand to partition Jerusalem.    All polls show that over two-thirds of Israelis feel that Jerusalem should remain the united capital of Israel, while only 20% favor its division. Moreover, polls show clearly that a large majority of Jerusalem Arabs oppose being subject to Palestinian rule.

Keeping Greater Jerusalem, which includes the settlement blocs that President George W. Bush recognized as realities that must be accommodated in a future settlement, is a strategic imperative. The writer is director of the Begin-Sadat Center for Strategic Studies and a professor of political studies at Bar-Ilan University. (Israel Hayom)

Excerpt 3 – Institute for Contemporary Affairs-Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs

The Crisis in the Peace Talks Was Pre-Planned by the Palestinians

Jonathan D. Halevi

Institute for Contemporary Affairs-Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs

In March 2014, Saeb Erekat, the head of the Palestinian negotiating team, prepared a 65-page document that surveys the diplomatic process and offers a list of recommendations for the PA to achieve Palestinian sovereignty in the territories demarcated by the 1967 lines. PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas has recently implemented some of these recommendations.

The recommendations include submitting a request to immediately join the Geneva Conventions; declaring the impossibility of extending the negotiations after the end of the nine-month period on April 29, 2014; and opposing the Israeli proposal that the settlement blocs become part of Israel in any final agreement.

The plan also includes activating bilateral committees with Russia, the EU, and the UN, and cooperating with the monitoring committee of the Arab Peace Initiative, to muster support for the Palestinian anti-settlement position; urging the states of the world to uphold the European Union’s guidelines regarding settlement activity; and escalating the peaceful popular struggle against settlements and the [security] fence.

The PA’s latest moves reflect the long-term strategy Abbas has been implementing, which involves using diplomatic means to obtain international recognition of a sovereign Palestinian state along the 1967 lines without the Palestinians having to make concessions on the fundamental issues of the conflict, particularly the refugee issue and what is called the “right of return.”

The signing of the 15 international conventions is part of a gradual Palestinian move to statehood which, unlike a unilateral declaration of statehood, does not occur with one move. Abbas has previously made political moves in defiance of the United States and Israel without fearing the pressures and threats directed at him, as in his November 2012 appeal to the UN General Assembly for an upgrade of the PLO’s status to UN nonmember observer state. Now, too, he feels confident in his ability to take unilateral steps without incurring serious damage.

The Palestinians believe they can use the diplomatic-legal arena to overcome Israel’s power and gradually subject it to diplomatic and economic pressures to unilaterally withdraw from the West Bank in a way similar to Israel’s unconditional withdrawal from Gaza in 2005.

FAIR USE NOTICE: This site contains copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. We are making such material available in our efforts to advance understanding of environmental, political, human rights, economic, democracy, scientific, and social justice issues, etc. We believe this constitutes a ‘fair use’ of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material on this site is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. For more detailed information go to:

http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml.

You may use material originated by this site.  However, if you wish to use any quoted copyrighted material from this site, which did not originate at this site,  for purposes of your own that go beyond ‘fair use’, you must obtain permission from the copyright owner from which we extracted it.

Lt. Col. (ret.) Jonathan D. Halevi is a senior researcher of the Middle East and radical Islam at the Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs.

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“The best security that Israel has had in a number of years” is in Place

Now And the “Iron Dome missile defense system and Security Barriers

Have Shielded Israel From Many Of the Attacks And Suicide Bombers”

It has Caused Israel reason to Say “Peace & safety” in False Confidence 

That Islam cannot defeat her after Numerous attempts to accomplish It!

April 13, 2014

http://www.tribulationperiod.com/

I Thessalonians 5:3-11 – For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. [4] But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. [5] Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. [6] Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober. [7] For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night. [8] But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation. [9] For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, [10] Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him. [11] Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.

Begin Harvard Crimson Excerpt via Jerusalem Center for PublicAfairsDaily Alert

 April 10, 2014

 Intelligence Experts: Mideast Status Quo Sustainable, But Not Preferable

Forrest K. Lewis

 (Harvard Crimson)

Former director of the CIA David H. Petraeus and Meir Dagan, former director of Israel’s intelligence service, the Mossad, analyzed the prospects for future peace in the Middle East at the John F. Kennedy Jr. Forum at Harvard University on Monday.

Dagan asserted that the Palestinians are unwilling to make any immediate compromises, a result of what he calls the “legacy of [Yasser] Arafat.”

For a lasting settlement, he said, Saudi Arabia, Morocco, Jordan, and other surrounding countries would have to come to an agreement about the rights to holy places.

According to Petraeus, the once widely held Israeli view that the current situation is not sustainable has become less prevalent due to Israel’s strengthening security forces.

Petraeus said that Israel’s Iron Dome missile defense system and security barriers have shielded Israel from many of the attacks and suicide bombers that were a daily occurrence a decade ago.

“I’m not so sure the status-quo from Israel’s perspective is not sustainable. You have now the best security that Israel has had in a number of years, if not longer,” Petraeus said.

Dagan and Petraeus agreed that although increased security measures could allow the status-quo to be sustainable, it is not preferable.

“There is a real desire from both sides to reach eventually a peace agreement,” Dagan said.

FAIR USE NOTICE: This site contains copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. We are making such material available in our efforts to advance understanding of environmental, political, human rights, economic, democracy, scientific, and social justice issues, etc. We believe this constitutes a ‘fair use’ of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material on this site is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. For more detailed information go to:

http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml.

You may use material originated by this site.  However, if you wish to use any quoted copyrighted material from this site, which did not originate at this site,  for purposes of your own that go beyond ‘fair use’, you must obtain permission from the copyright owner from which we extracted it.

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Countless 4-Blood-Red-Moons Episodes have occurred Since God destroyed Man

This Episode Now coming in is being used to Excite man to watch for Many Signs

So those who watch for signs will point to Many that aren’t signs During 4-Moons

As 4-Blood-Episode ends without Major Signs some shall fall away from the Faith

But at a Point in Time after Obama leaves office 10 Islamic toes shall attack Israel

Then a great earthquake will occur in the Jordan River Valley to begin a process of turning the Moon Blood Red.

April 12, 2014

http://www.tribulationperiod.com/

II Timothy 3:1-4 – This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. [2] For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, [3] Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, [4] Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;

Genesis 6:11-13 – The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence. [12] And God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth. [13] And God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is come before me; for the earth is filled with violence through them; and, behold, I WILL DESTROY THEM WITH THE EARTH.

Luke 17:26-30 – And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man. [27] They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all. [28] Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded; [29] But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all. [30] EVEN THUS SHALL IT BE IN THE DAY WHEN THE SON OF MAN IS REVEALED.

Luke 21:11 – And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and FEARFUL SIGHTS AND GREAT SIGNS SHALL THERE BE FROM HEAVEN.

When these signs first begin it will still be possible to be saved!

Acts 2:19-21 – And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke: [20] The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come: [21] And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.

But after the 7 vials of God’s wrath begin only His remnant will be spared.

Luke 21:25-27 – And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; [26] Men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. [27] And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.

Revelation 6:12-15 – And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was A GREAT earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood; [13] And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind. [14] And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; AND EVERY MOUNTAIN AND ISLAND WERE MOVED OUT OF THEIR PLACES. [15] And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains;

All mountains and islands ride as passengers attached to the tectonic planets, and by the end of the tribulation period, they will have been moved away from their latitudinal and longitudinal coordinates by a few microseconds, such that the islands have fled to new coordinates, and the mountains will not be found at their old coordinates.  The plates begin to move in Revelation 6:12 with the first great earthquake, and stop moving noticeably in Revelation 16:20 following the last fantastic earthquake.  (See Archives – Birth Pang 3)

Revelation 16:18-21 – And there were voices, and thunders, and lightnings; and there was a GREAT earthquake, such as was not since men were upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake, and SO great. [19] And the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell: and great Babylon came in remembrance before God, to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath. [20] AND EVERY ISLAND FLED AWAY, and THE MOUNTAINS WERE NOT FOUND.

The tension and pressure buildups along the plate boundaries produce the world’s earthquakes.  They have been built up by the slow plate movements over a long period of time.  The vast majority of this tension and pressure buildup will be released between the opening of the sixth seal and the pouring out of the last vial.  This will mean a millennial reign of Christ that only shows minor earthquakes from time to time.    

The elasticity of the outer crust of the earth, when it was first created, was much greater than it is now, and was more than able to withstand the constant gravitational pull of the other heavenly bodies, which have caused it to daily pull outward, and then to relax inward, as it rotated around the sun, without causing the crust to phase into a worldwide readjustment of its tectonic plates.  I believe what begins in Revelation 6:14 and ends in Revelation 16:20 portrays such a readjustment, and will include all the phenomena of Isaiah 29:6.

Revelation 6:14 – And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places.

Revelation 16:20 – And every island fled away, and the mountains were not found.

Isaiah 29:6 –Thou shalt be visited of the Lord of hosts with thunder, and with earthquake, and great noise, with storm and tempest, and the flame of devouring fire.

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If At first or second or third or fourth or Ad Infinity You Don’t Succeed

By diplomatic dialog with Iran then try, try, try, try as it Grows Stronger

Stronger, Stronger in its ability to drive Israel into the Negev Wilderness

With a Goal of Killing ALL Jews at Armageddon some 3 and ½ years Later

Obama’s Foreign Policies are setting the Stage for a Great Middle East War

To start after he leaves office that will engulf the known Revelation World

 As It Was Known WHEN John Finished the Book Between 95 And 100 A.D.!

April 11, 2014

http://www.tribulationperiod.com/

SEE WHOLE NUMBERED ARCHIVE PROPHECY UPDATES 62 TO 69

I am prepared for an Antichrist that dominates the CURRENT PLANET WE KNOW AS THE EARTH, so I have no problem with anyone who believes it will be a worldwide Empire ruled by the MAN OF SIN.  But I am persuaded the man of Sin will indeed rule the largest Empire the Old World of which man was aware at the time John wrote the Book of Revelation.

Please consider the following Archive Prophecy Update 73A issued in 2002

SPECIAL PROPHECY UPDATE NUMBER 73A

USE OF THE HYPERBOLE IN PROPHECY

June 23, 2002

I am prepared for an Antichrist that dominates the CURRENT PLANET WE KNOW AS THE EARTH, so I have no problem with anyone who believes it will be a worldwide Empire ruled by the MAN OF SIN.  But I am persuaded the man of Sin will indeed rule the largest Empire the Old World of which man was aware at the time John wrote the Book of Revelation.

THE WORD HYPERBOLE COMES FROM THE GREEK – IT MEANS “TO DELIBERATELY THROW OUTSIDE OR INSIDE A MARKED LINE FOR EFFECT, MAKING THE AREA LARGER OR SMALLER THAN IT ACTUALLY IS, EXAGGERATION FOR EFFECT, NOT MEANT TO BE TAKEN LITERALLY, EXAGGERATING OR DIMISHING BEYOND THE FACT, EXCEEDING THE TRUTH.”  IT IS USED AT TIMES IN PROPHECY TO IDENTIFY A SMALL AREA AS ONE THAT IS MUCH LARGER.

IT IS NOT A LIE BECAUSE THE HEARER OR READER IS ACQUAINTED WITH THE USE OF HYPERBOLE AS AN EXAGGERATED STATEMENT.  THE EXPRESSIONS “THE WHOLE EARTH, ALL THE WORLD, WHERESOEVER MEN SHALL DWELL ON THE EARTH, ETC. ARE, AT TIMES, NOT REFERRING TO THE ENTIRE SURFACE OF THE EARTH FROM POLE TO POLE AND AROUND ITS EQUATOR.   I BELIEVE THIS HAS CAUSED MANY TO EXAGGERATE THE SIZE AND STRENGTH OF THE FINAL EMPIRE OF ANTICHRIST.

WE KNOW THAT NONE OF THE FOLLOWING EMPIRES OF THE OLD TESTAMENT EVER DOMINATED WHAT WE IDENTIFY AS THE WORLD OF TODAY.

Daniel 8:5,21,22 –And as I was considering, behold, an he goat came from the west ON THE FACE OF THE WHOLE EARTH, and touched not the ground: and the goat had a notable horn between his eyes. [21] And the rough goat is the king of Grecia: and the great horn that is between his eyes is the first king. [22] Now that being broken, whereas four stood up for it, four kingdoms shall stand up out of the nation, but not in his power.Daniel 2:32-34,38,39 – [This image’s head was of fine gold, his breast and his arms of silver, his belly and his thighs of brass, [33] His legs of iron, his feet part of iron and part of clay. [34] Thou sawest till that a stone was cut out without hands, which smote the image upon his feet that were of iron and clay, and brake them to pieces. [38] And WHERESOEVER THE CHILDREN OF MEN DWELL, the beasts of the field and the fowls of the heaven hath he given into thine hand, and hath made thee ruler OVER THEM ALL. Thou art this head of gold. [39] And after thee shall arise another kingdom inferior to thee, and another third kingdom of brass, which shall bear rule OVER ALL THE EARTH.

Daniel 7:3,23-27,11-14 – And four great beasts came up from the sea, diverse one from another. [23] Thus he said, The fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdom upon earth, which shall be diverse from all kingdoms, and shall devour THE WHOLE EARTH, and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces. [24] And the ten horns out of this kingdom are ten kings that shall arise: and another shall rise after them; and he shall be diverse from the first, and he shall subdue three kings. [25] And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time. [26] But the judgment shall sit, and they shall take away his dominion, to consume and to destroy it unto the end. [27] And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom UNDER THE WHOLE HEAVEN, shall be given to the people of the saints of the most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him. [11] I beheld then because of the voice of the great words which the horn spake: I beheld even till the beast was slain, and his body destroyed, and given to the burning flame. [12] As concerning the rest of the beasts, they had their dominion taken away: yet their lives were prolonged for a season and time. [13] I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him. [14] And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed. (Please note that his millennial empire of Christ will take in everything “UNDER THE WHOLE HEAVEN.”  This expression would include the earth as we know it today.)

I BELIEVE THE SCRIPTURES WHICH FOLLOW CONTAIN HYPERBOLE THAT MEAN THE KNOWN WORLD OF JOHN’S DAY, NOT ALL THE WORLD AS WE KNOW IT TODAY.

Revelation 13:1,2,5-12,16,17 – And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy. [2] And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority. [5] And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months. [6] And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven. [7] And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over ALL kindreds, and tongues, and nations. [8] And ALL THAT DWELL UPON THE EARTH shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. [9] If any man have an ear, let him hear. [10] He that leadseth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints. [11] And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon. [12] And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth THE EARTH AND THEM WHICH DWELL THEREIN to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed. [16] And he causeth ALL, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: [17] And that NO man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.

Revelation 17:12-18 – And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast. [13] These have one mind, and shall give their power and strength unto the beast. [14] These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful. [15] And he saith unto me, The waters which thou sawest, where the whore sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues. [16] And the ten horns which thou sawest upon the beast, these shall hate the whore, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and burn her with fire. [17] For God hath put in their hearts to fulfil his will, and to agree, and give their kingdom unto the beast, until the words of God shall be fulfilled. [18] And the woman which thou sawest is that great city, which reigneth over THE KINGS OF THE EARTH. AS INDICATED PREVIOUSLY, SCRIPTURES THAT USE THE HEAVENS TO DESCRIBE THE AREA OF THE EARTH INTENDED TO BE CONVEYED TO US, MEAN THE WHOLE EARTH AS WE PRESENTLY KNOW IT. THESE THREE SCRIPTURES WHICH FOLLOW ARE OF THAT TYPE:

Daniel 7:27 + Matthew 24:31 + Mark 13:27 – And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom UNDER THE WHOLE HEAVEN, shall be given to the people of the saints of the most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him. [31] And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, FROM ONE END OF HEAVEN TO THE OTHER. [27] And then shall he send his angels, and shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from the UTTER-MOST PART OF THE EARTH TO THE UTTER-MOST PART OF HEAVEN.BUT THE FOLLOWING FOUR SCRIPTURES MEAN THE WORLD AS IT WAS KNOWN WHEN JOHN WROTE THE BOOK OF REVELATION.

Romans 1:8 + Colossians 1:5,6 + Acts 19:27 + 24:5 – First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE WORLD. [5] For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel; [6] Which is come unto you, as it is IN ALL THE WORLD; and bringeth forth fruit, as it doth also in you, since the day ye heard of it, and knew the grace of God in truth: [27] So that not only this our craft is in danger to be set at nought; but also that the temple of the great goddess Diana should be despised, and her magnificence should be destroyed, whom ALL ASIA AND THE WORLD WORSHIPPETH. [5] For we have found this man a pestilent fellow, and a mover of sedition among all the Jews THROUGHOUT THE WORLD, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes:

Revelation 12:9,17 –And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth THE WHOLE WORLD: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. [17] And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.

Daniel 2:39-44 – [And after thee shall arise another kingdom inferior to thee, and another third kingdom of brass, which shall bear rule OVER ALL THE EARTH. [40] And the fourth kingdom shall be strong as iron: forasmuch as iron breaketh in pieces and subdueth all things: and as iron that breaketh all these, shall it break in pieces and bruise. [41] And whereas thou sawest the feet and toes, part of potters’ clay, and part of iron, the kingdom shall be DIVIDED; but there shall be in it of the strength of the iron, forasmuch as thou sawest the iron mixed with miry clay. [42] And as the toes of the feet were part of iron, and part of clay, so the kingdom shall be PARTLY strong, and PARTLY broken. [43] And whereas thou sawest iron mixed with miry clay, they shall MINGLE themselves with the seed of men: but they shall not CLEAVE one to another, even as iron is not mixed with clay. [44] And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever.The conclusions that I draw from all these Scriptures is as follows:

(1)  The Antichrist will only dominate the known world of John’s day.

(2)  His empire will be weak because of a composition of nations that don’t hold together well.

(3) When an expression is used referring to the size of his empire in the book of Revelation it is used as a hyperbole, and does not refer to all the world as we know it today.

(4)  I do not believe the mark of the beast will be put on residents of the western world.

(5) I do believe it will be put on in Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Russia, and parts of Asia.

The antichrist will certainly have influence in the nations of the western world, but he will not dominate them.I am certainly prepared to be wrong in my belief in the size of his empire and in the degree of his domination.  In other words, I know the popular teachings of many men and women on this subject, and I am prepared for their antichrist, but are they prepared for mine?Most of the believing world is prepared for an antichrist that arises in Europe and dominates the entire world as we know it today.  The area of the size of his empire, as it is taught today, arose in the early 19th century, and was then solidified by most writers in the 20^th century.

Begin Excerpt from Reuters via YNet News

Iran, world powers seek to narrow gaps in new round of nuclear talks

Two sides still don’t agree on key issues, but aim to begin drafting agreement in May.

Reuters

VIENNA – Iran and six world powers began a new round of negotiations on Tuesday aimed at settling their decade-old dispute over Tehran’s nuclear program by late July, despite wide differences on how to get there.

Chief negotiators from Iran, the United States, France, Germany, Britain, China and Russia started a two-day meeting around at the UN complex in Vienna, where they have held two previous such sessions since February.

Related stories

Iran hopes drafting of nuclear deal can start soon

Iran, six powers start expert-level nuclear talks in Vienna

US sees Iran nuclear talks difficult, success uncertain

Both sides say they aim to start drafting a comprehensive agreement in May, some two months before a July 20 deadline for finalizing the accord. Western official say, however, that the two sides are still far apart on key issues.

The powers want Iran to scale back its nuclear program to deny it any capability to quickly make an atomic bomb, if it decides to build one. Iran says its nuclear program is entirely peaceful and wants them to lift sanctions.

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The Obama Withdrawal Foreign Policy will form a Vacuum in Ezekiel’s Old World!

Obama’s policy will eventually lead to Ezekiel’s prophetical war that will begin after he leaves Office.

Ezekiel’s Land of Magog (Russia) is filling the Northern Old World vacuum left by the US.

Land of Persians (Iran) and Lands of Meshech & Tubal (Greater Syria) are filling the Southern US Vacuum.

Excerpt from the Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs is an outstanding summary of the Vacuums.

April 10, 2014

http://www.tribulationperiod.com/

Ezekiel 38:1-6 –  And the word of the Lord came unto me, saying, [2] Son of man, set thy face against Gog, THE LAND OF MAGOG, the chief prince of MESHECH AND TUBAL, Meshech and prophesy against him, [3] And say, Thus saith the Lord God; Behold I am against thee,  O GOG, THE CHIEF PRINCE OF MESHECH AND TUBAL:  [4] And I will turn thee back, and put hooks into thy jaws, and I will bring thee forth, and all thine army, horses and horsemen, all of them clothed with all sorts of armour, even a great company with bucklers and shields, all of them handling swords: [5] PERSIA, Ethiopia, and Libya with them; all of them with shield and helmet: [6] Gomer, and all his bands; the house of Togarmah of the north quarters, and all his bands: and many people with thee.

GOG is NOT the chief prince of MAGOG

GOG IS the chief prince of MESHECH and TUBAL

Ezekiel 39:1 – Therefore, thou son of man, prophesy against Gog, and say, Thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I am against thee, O GOG, THE CHIEF PRINCE OF MESHECH AND TUBAL:

Begin Excerpt from the Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs

Iran’s Fortunes Rising in a Middle East Vacuum

Lt. Col. (ret.) Michael Segall,

March 19, 2014 

Vol. 14, No. 7   

March 19, 2014

On March 12, 2014, Israel was hit by massive rocket fire from Gaza by Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ). PIJ is completely dependent on Iran for its funding and equipment, and some of its operatives have also undergone training in Iran for the manufacture of rockets and explosives and for guerrilla warfare. There have also been recurring attacks on IDF border forces in Israel’s north as well – including along the Syrian border – where Hizbullah’s ties with Iran are well-known. All of these attacks on Israel come in the wake of the green light given by Iran against the backdrop of changing power equations in the broader Middle East. 

Iran has been leading an “axis of evil” as it devises and implements an ambitious plan to increase its influence across the Middle East and mold it in line with its revolutionary Islamic ideology. Central to that plan is ejecting the United States and the West from the region, along with what remains of their influence.

 The change in Iran’s behavior reflects its growing self-confidence since the recent rounds of nuclear negotiations with the West began, along with America’s rapidly declining regional and international status (vivid in the Ukrainian crisis as well). The more the United States’ regional and international status sinks, the more Iran’s self-confidence rises.

Iran regards the U.S., and the West in general, as lacking the capacity to use military force to stop its nuclearization, or to curtail Iran’s assertive measures against the Gulf States and in the Middle East generally. Iran sees an opportunity to continue driving the U.S. and the West out of the region.

Iran views Hizbullah and the Palestinian terror organizations as major components in its national security strategy, part of its long arm. Iran acts ceaselessly to provide these actors with rockets and the knowledge to manufacture them, along with other weapons. The latest developments, coupled with Iran’s growing realization that it is immune to a Western military attack, could lead it to make even bolder moves by itself and through its proxies.

U.S. policy is increasingly impelling states in the Middle East to alter their framework of alliances. They view the United States as less and less reliable, and are seeking an alternate power instead. Possibilities include Russia, China, or – closer to home – Iran.

A Green Light from Iran to Strike at Israel

The massive rocket fire from Gaza at Israel by Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) on March 12, 2014, under the rubric of “breaking the silence,” coupled with the detonation of explosive charges by Hizbullah along the northern border fence on Mt. Dov on March 14 and in the northern Golan Heights on March 18, suggests that Iran’s two main allies in the region were given a green light to step up the friction with Israel and gradually change the rules of the game that has been played so far. 

PIJ is completely dependent on Iran for its funding and equipment, and some of its operatives have also undergone training in Iran for the manufacture of rockets and explosives and for guerrilla warfare. The already well-known ties between Iran and Hizbullah are now reaching a new level as Iran involves Hizbullah in the effort to rescue the Assad regime in Syria. President Bashar Assad’s war on the numerous, fragmented opposition factions has entered its fourth year, while so far costing some 150,000 lives.

These recent attacks on Israel, whose timing is not coincidental, were preceded by Israel’s interdiction of the Klos C weapons ship with its cargo of forty Syrian-made M-203 long-range missiles, along with mortars. The intended recipient was PIJ in Gaza. These large-warhead, precision missiles were meant as a game-changer in Gaza, to give Iran’s client a strategic advantage over Hamas, which has been increasingly beleaguered, with Sinai and al-Sisi’s Egypt in turmoil.

Iran is also reestablishing its ties with Hamas after a two-year hiatus in the wake of disagreements over support for Assad in the Syrian civil war. According to Palestinian sources, a high-level Hamas delegation headed by Khaled Mashal, head of its political bureau, intends to visit Iran soon to discuss “important issues.” The same source denied that “Tehran has closed all its doors in Hamas’ face,” and emphasized that “the relationship between the two sides has started to be restored in a positive and gradual manner.”¹

According to the pan-Arab daily Al-Quds al-Arabi, Mahmoud al-Zahar, a Hamas co-founder and member of the political bureau, and Marwan Isa, deputy commander of Al-Qassam Brigades, Hamas’ military wing, played a crucial role in arranging the meeting in Tehran.² Ali Larijani, head of the Iranian Majlis, said recently that the relationship between Iran and Hamas has returned to the way it was in the past and that Iran supports Hamas since it belongs to the resistance front, and since “our Islamic duty commands us to support the resistance.”³

Improving Ties among Iran, Syria, and Hizbullah

The course taken by the Klos C cargo – from Syria to Iran to Iraq – again reveals the key points of the “axis of evil” and the tightening links between them. This axis is led by Iran, which has been devising and implementing an ambitious plan to increase its influence in the Middle East and mold it in line with its revolutionary ideology. Central to that plan is ejecting the United States and the West from the region, along with what remains of their influence.

Especially noteworthy in this context is the intensifying cooperation among the Iran-Syria-Hizbullah triangle. At Iran’s behest, Hizbullah has entered the struggle to salvage Iran’s strategic asset, the Assad regime. Despite growing domestic criticism, in part due to scores of Hizbullah casualties on Syrian soil, Nasrallah has been carrying out Tehran’s directives. He has been compensated with advanced weapons (some of them Russian-made) that have been transferred to Hizbullah from Syria (according to foreign reports, some of these weapons consignments have been destroyed by Israel). Among other weaponry, Yakhont (Sapphire) surface-to-sea missiles along with surface-to-air missiles could affect the IDF’s future operational range. In addition, Iran has generously paid off Hizbullah with UAVs for attacking and intelligence-gathering, as well as in funds. From Iran’s standpoint, Syria and Lebanon have somewhat coalesced.

The Decline of the West

 The change in Iran’s behavior reflects its growing self-confidence since the nuclear negotiations with the West began, along with America’s rapidly declining regional and international status (seen in the Ukrainian crisis as well). That decline was especially evident in Washington’s hesitant approach to the Syrian crisis after the regime’s use of chemical weapons was revealed, and in the adoption of the Russian diplomatic solution. Tehran saw this compromise as a victory for Iran in particular and for its resistance axis in general, and as clearly indicating the future deterrent capability of this axis vis-à-vis the U.S.-led West. The commander of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps, Mohammad Ali Jafari, said the United States had been defeated in Syria. “The scheme whereby they wanted to intervene militarily in Syria was defeated and their main plan failed, like the rest of their plans….This while the enemy said, ‘If we do not succeed to overcome Syria, we also will not succeed to overcome Iran.’”⁴

The more the United States’ regional and international status sinks, the more Iran’s self-confidence rises. That, in turn, will affect Iran’s approach to the nuclear talks and its willingness to compromise; the chances of its doing so were never high in the first place.

As Washington continues in its conciliatory course, which has come to be known as “leading from behind,” and Russia’s international status and power projection keep improving, Russia’s partners, including Iran, will take increasingly bold, subversive action in the region. Iran regards the United States, and the West in general, as lacking the capacity to use military force to stop its nuclearization, or to curtail Iran’s assertive measures against the Gulf States and in the Middle East generally (including supplying terror organizations with advanced weapons, promoting subversion, and aiding Islamic organizations). On the contrary, Iran sees an opportunity to continue driving the United States and the West out of the region.

Lessons for Iran from the Ukrainian Crisis

In that spirit, the Iranian Kayhan newspaper, which usually reflects the views of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, wrote that Iran should draw lessons from the Crimean crisis and learn from Russia’s conduct. The paper said Iran should rely on its military (implicitly, also nuclear) power and exploit evolving regional crises. Iran already seems to be applying these lessons.

Kayhan also claimed the events in Ukraine had again shown the effectiveness of military force, notwithstanding international relations theories about the supposed primacy of economic and media factors over military ones. “Military forces can decide, at a sensitive moment, the fate of a particular conflict…as long as they are under wise leadership. That is what happened in the Ukraine affair….We learn that the way to overcome a certain country, and stop its other kinds of power from functioning, is to weaken its military status.” For thirty-five years, Kayhan asserts, the West has striven to weaken Iran militarily, and is continuing to do so in the nuclear talks. And yet, the resolve of the Russians and the alacrity of President Putin have brought the West to passivity. The fact that the Western states are (again) talking of economic sanctions and the fact that NATO (despite having signed a defense pact with Ukraine) has not mounted a military response to Russia’s military move and maneuvers in Ukraine, instead settling (as is typical) for declarations – shows that the West is in a passive position.

Kayhan draws links between the West’s frictions with Iran and with Russia, and remarks:

From a national perspective, Russia is helped by Iran in addressing most of its security and diplomatic concerns, and in return Iran is helped by Russia’s support on the Syrian, Lebanese, Iraqi, Afghan, nuclear, and other issues. Furthermore, in this affair Russia is in conflict with our enemies, that is, the West. That in itself means we must be pleased with the defeat of our enemies, even if we have criticism of the Russian side.

Kayhan went on to criticize Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif for saying Iran was worried by the developments in Ukraine, and concluded that “it was Russia that had learned from Iran to stand firm against the West and cause it to be passive….We have to look at the benefits accruing from the Ukrainian crisis and use them to extend our power and influence.”⁵

Iran views Hizbullah and the Palestinian terror organizations as major components in its national security strategy, part of its long arm. Iran acts ceaselessly to provide these actors with rockets, missiles, and the knowledge to manufacture them, along with other weapons (antitank, antiaircraft, etc.). The latest developments, coupled with Iran’s growing realization that it is immune to a Western military attack, could lead it to make even bolder moves, sometimes through its proxies, than it has taken so far. The more confidence Iran feels, the more this tendency will grow, affecting its behavior toward its Persian Gulf neighbors as well.

Israel’s Destruction Is on the Islamic Agenda

Iran’s confidence is also apparent in its ongoing calls for Israel’s destruction. As the Supreme Leader and the Revolutionary Guard commanders move further from the “Rouhani effect” of Iran’s June 2013 presidential elections, even as Rouhani keeps winning international favor, they have been resuming their harsh anti-Israeli and anti-Western statements. For example, the Guard’s deputy commander, Hossein Salami, said recently at a conference on “The Islamic World’s Role in the Geometry of the World Power,” under a headline stating “Iran’s Finger on Trigger to Destroy Zionist Regime”:

Today, we can destroy every spot which is under the Zionist regime’s control with any volume of fire power (that we want) right from here….

Islam has given us this wish, capacity and power to destroy the Zionist regime so that our hands will remain on the trigger from 1,400 km. away for the day when such an incident (confrontation with Israel) takes place.⁶

He added, hinting at the aid Iran provides to states bordering Israel, that Iran is not the only state with such capabilities, since some of the other Muslim states’ artillery can reach targets within Israel.

There Is No Vacuum in the Middle East

In sum, if one connects the dots between the recent developments in the regional and international arenas, it emerges that the more America’s regional and international power wanes, the more Iran’s self-confidence grows. In the Middle East, Iran aspires to fill the void. The perception of American weakness makes Iran more self-assured and impels it toward more audacious moves on the Syrian-Lebanese and Palestinian fronts, as Iran makes use of the resistance camp in waging its ongoing anti-Israel struggle. If Iran continues to perceive American weakness, it will also step up its activities against its Persian Gulf neighbors.

One should view Iran’s reconciliation with Hamas against this background. It is not occurring due to ideology but as part of the wider struggle for influence that Iran is waging against Saudi Arabia in various parts of the Middle East as part of the broader Sunni-Shiite struggle. Iran seeks to benefit from the disagreements within the Sunni camp (such as between Qatar and the rest of the Gulf States) on various issues (such as the role of the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt). Iranian control in Gaza would enable it to more broadly influence its political associates as well as the newly reconstituted Egyptian arena.

Ongoing American weakness and mounting tensions with Russia will likely have negative implications in general and on the nuclear talks in particular. Russia, which so far has played a negative role in those talks and usually has shielded Iran from strong measures, will be even less prepared to countenance such measures as the talks approach the point of decision. Hence, the chances of the talks diverting Iran from its military nuclear path, which were quite low to begin with, will dwindle to nothing. Moreover, given U.S. behavior in the recent crises, Iran has concluded that it will be able to violate a nuclear agreement without incurring penalties.

As Iran and other regional states view the matter, the Ukrainian crisis is another in a long series of regional and international crises in which Putin has emerged as a resolute, decisive leader on regional issues, while Obama has appeared weak, indecisive, and passive. The region’s Arab leaders, especially those of states once considered U.S. allies (Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the Gulf States, and even Jordan), are not impressed by U.S. conduct in the Syrian crisis and are closely watching Obama’s moves in the Ukrainian predicament; they are likely to be disappointed once more.

U.S. policy is increasingly impelling these states to alter their framework of regional and international alliances. They view the United States as less and less reliable, and are seeking an alternate power instead. Possibilities include Russia, China, or – closer to home – Iran. In the Middle East, where change occurs at a dizzying pace, anything can happen.

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