Last month, Iranian forces in southern Lebanon flew a drone into northern Israel. The Israelis shot it down. The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) then launched air attacks on at least a dozen Iranian and Syrian targets, including the air base from which the drone flew.
The Iranians and Syrians were able to shoot down an Israeli F-16. Though the pilots ejected, one was seriously injured. It was the first combat loss of an Israeli warplane since 1982.
Last September, Israel destroyed a precision-missile factory the Iranians were building in Syria. They’re building another one in Lebanon under the auspices of Hezbollah — Iran’s wholly-owned subsidiary terror organization.The Weekly Standard described Hezbollah’s arsenal of 130,000 missiles as “an offensive arsenal bigger than that of all Western Europe.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with Russian President Vladimir Putin a few months ago. He told him that the presence of Iran’s missile factory in Lebanon could cause war to break out in the region.
Israel is also determined that Iran will not be allowed to acquire nuclear weapons or solidify its military presence in Syria. Netanyahu recently said, “We will not allow that regime (Iran) to entrench itself militarily in Syria, as it seeks to do, for the express purpose of eradicating our state.”
After the drone incident and Israel’s retaliation, Russia, Iran, and Syria released a joint statement saying that from now on there will be a “severe and serious” response to Israel’s “terrorism.” By calling Israel’s defensive actions “terrorism,” they can justify almost any response.
I doubt we will see any sort of major reversal of the present face-off. You see, Iran arrogantly views Syria as “belonging” to them. In 2013, one of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Kahmenei’s closest advisors explained. Mehdi Taeb said, “Syria is our 35th province, and is a strategic province for us.”
Now, why does Taeb think Syria is so important to Iran? Because it shares a border with Israel. Iranian leaders exhibit an irrational fixation on and hatred for Israel. Their speeches show a rage toward the Jews which has no basis in reason. It’s a mania and it infects all of their thoughts and plans. That’s why the Iranian army keeps moving its operations in Syria closer and closer to the border with Israel.
Last week, the Israeli army released a statement which warned that “Iran and Syria are playing with fire.” The Bible describes a future war in which Russia, Iran, and several other nations invade Israel. It will not go well for the invaders. God Himself will intervene to destroy them.
Finally, Jesus said that in the end times, the world would be darkened by war, plague, and famine. We are eyewitnesses to the fact that the world is experiencing all of these calamities. When Jesus laid out the signs that would mark the approach of the end of this age, He pulled no punches. He said bad things will happen.
But He also told us not to be discouraged. He said, “When these things begin to take place, straighten up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.” (Luke 21:28 NASB) You can’t get any plainer than that! Any reasonable person must admit that all of these things have begun to take place. So it’s time to look up!