It is Thursday, April 16, 2020. It is now Day 99 of the grace period extended to the US military in the Middle East.
The stillness of the Iranian regime and IRGC was broken yesterday with news of both a tanker being harassed, and a number of speedboats coming very close to a US Navy warship. Still, in terms of the things done in the last several months, these things are relatively minor.
It seems the Covid-19 pandemic and lockdown is a double-edged sword. Yes, it may prove to break the economies of the West and other developed nations, but it is a stage prior to the full onslaught of the Second Signpost. The lockdowns, on the other hand, are also allowing many to have isolation and quiet so God can move them closer to Him just before this same Second Signpost makes things worse.
The lockdown may be shutting down the economy, but there is still transportation and money (for many people) and there is still a banking system with governments maintaining order. The Second Signpost will take these things away.
God is taking away half our stuff now, so to speak, allowing us to get ready in stages, with the Second Signpost taking away everything later. We may not be able to prep anymore, but we can sit still for longer periods of time and ask Him what is his mind, what would He have us pray for, and better learn how to hear his thoughts in our hearts. What would he have each of us do?
Better to get closer to Him now when things are rough but not too rough, than to try to get closer to Him when things get really rough. I am reminded of Jeremiah 12:5 (NIV 1984):
“If you have raced with men on foot and they have worn you out, how can you compete with horses? If you stumble in safe country, how will you manage in the thickets by the Jordan?”
Now is the time to repent of your sins if you haven’t already been doing so. Now is the time to learn to hear his thoughts if you haven’t learned already.
God is good and merciful. He is allowing us to sink economically in stages so we are forced to get closer to Him.
Use this time wisely and don’t waste it.
“Be very careful, then, how you live–not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.” Ephesians 5:15-17 (NIV 1984)
Categories: Preparation, Signpost #2: Iran
THE FOUR SIGNPOSTS 
Amen Brother.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts on this historic moment and for using it to drive people back to God.
There is a 2020-04-17 update on the numbers of American travelers stranded abroad by coronavirus travel restriction who have been brought home by the State Department:
https://www.state.gov/coronavirus/repatriation/
From that list I have compiled the number of American travelers repatriated from countries that are probably in the path of the second signpost invasion:
Iraq 316
Jordan 512
Kuwait 382
Lebanon 129
Saudi Arabia 655
Turkey 196
United Arab Emirates 107
Bahrain, Israel, Oman, Qatar, Syria, Yemen are not listed.
Iran is repatriating its citizens from Bahrain:
https://www.tasnimnews.com/en/news/2020/04/14/2243166/bahrain-says-operating-direct-flights-to-iran-to-repatriate-citizens
Is this only because of coronavirus, or is it also pre-invasion maneuvering?
Concerning Bahrain-Iran relations, Wikipedia states: “Since the 1979 Iranian Revolution, relations between the two countries have been strained over various geopolitical issues such as the interpretations of Islam, aspirations for leadership of the Islamic world, and relations with the United States, Europe and other Western countries. In addition, Iran has been severely critical of Bahrain for hosting the United States Fifth Fleet within the Persian Gulf at the Naval Support Activity Bahrain base.”
Yes he is merciful.
We should not be wasting a minute, the writing is on the wall.
Letting us down gently.
Prove he time.
Praise the I AM
Amen Mark – despite the lockdown, it has been great spending time with the kids and freeing up time to discuss the future with God.
Feeling nauseated however that the world talks about our NZ PM’s ‘tremendous leadership qualities’ during covid19, while in the midst of the crisis she signs into nz history legislative permission for the wholesale slaughter of our unborn babies.
On a side note – check out the oil historical chart. Negative territory for the first time possibly. This will send major exporters/producers broke…what then when the world starts ticking back into life?
https://www.macrotrends.net/1369/crude-oil-price-history-chart
It will either be something else (current cv crisis?) that gets Iran going, or the lack of oil production when the world gets back on its feet.
It would appear that everywhere the sophisticated service dominated intricately connected economies of the West are coming apart at the seams. I understand that at the very least a 2008 style recession is likely but many fear a 20’s style Depression. Will countries then wish to engage in a far flung war of attrition in the middle east which will, no doubt, cost trillions ? Will America become Fortress America who perhaps doesn’t need the ME and would rather concentrate on problems at home causing civil unrest, backed by the fact that they have their shale supplies of oil ?
With no one to oppose them Iran will go West, South and east with impunity.
Motivated by Sunni versus Shia and the spoils to be had Turkey will then be in a position to overcome Iran in the say Syrian Iraq regions rather than the mountains of Iran, an easier nut to crack perhaps, they can be helped/supplied by the other Nato partners and Sunni Arab Nations and providing Russia ‘does a deal’ and sits on the sidelines Turkey could prevail.
the stage is increasingly taking shape ….all this could happen in tens of months not years..???
Iran’s military forces are now prepared for major military operations. Their ground forces have just been supplied with upgraded drones and tanks. Two new advanced radar systems are now active, which are able to monitor all USA bases surrounding Iran and also detect all military objects moving toward Iran. Iran has increased the range of its missiles and just launched into orbit a satellite, which it acknowledges has military purposes.
“The late founder of the Islamic Republic of Iran Imam Khomeini, in a decree to the Revolution Council on April 22, 1979, officially announced the establishment of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps.” On the anniversary of this event, “Chief of Staff of Iran’s Armed Forces Major General Mohammad Bagheri lauded the great role of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) in defending the Islamic Republic in all fronts, calling on the elite force to preserve the high status of its readiness in the face of ‘major events’.” “The IRGC has played a major role in the doctrine of defense based on deterrence and firm response to aggressors. This institution has also proved its strategic and decisive role in dealing with security and military threats beyond the geography of Iran.”
Zerohedge reports that Trump has just order the Navy to shoot at any Iranian boats that approach our vessels. https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/trump-orders-navy-shoot-down-and-destroy-iranian-gunboats
So at a glance, we have a convergence, Iran fizz boats buzzing US Navy, Trump says shoot at them, Oil going minus, huge debts world wide, extreme corruption world wide, plandemics….world locked down and that was easy done wasn’t it, at huge costs… lots going on!!!!
Just saw this article a few minutes ago, Mark. Wondering what Iran is up to?
https://www.bbc.com/news/amp/world-middle-east-52380507
Gary,
The regime has announced such things before. This one didn’t make orbit.
I saw your reply a few days ago but just happened to catch a report saying it was successful, (also double checked it with another report to be sure.) I usually try to catch parts of the John Haller’s prophecy report over the weekend. It’s at the 1hr7min15s mark.
Gary,
It looks like reports of the satellite failing to make orbit were just wishful thinking.
Mark:
So the satellite is up? Is it a normal lateral orbit or is it a polar orbit?
While looking for reliable information about the Noor satellite, I found SpaceWatch.Global, published by ThorGroup GmbH, headquartered in Bern, Switzerland. “In the true Swiss spirit, neutrality, ethics and integrity are at our core. SpaceWatch.Global abides by the Society of Professional Journalists’ code of ethics; we seek truth and report it.”
Their first report on the Noor satellite has some detailed information.
https://spacewatch.global/2020/04/irans-military-satellite-launch-full-of-surprises
“An image from the U.S. Government shows that the Qassed SLV was launched in a southerly direction from its launch pad in Northern Iran placing the Noor satellite into a Sun-synchronous orbit (SSO). An SSO orbit lends further credence to speculation that Noor is an Earth observation satellite as the orbit will allow it to pass over every part of Earth several times a day for the duration of its (unknown) operational lifetime.”
Their second report confirms that Noor is in orbit.
https://spacewatch.global/2020/04/iran-unveils-military-space-command-new-details-on-satellite-launch/
“… amateur satellite operators around the world have since been able to track Noor-1 in its Sun-synchronous orbit (SSO) at 425 kilometres altitude, and have reported that they have detected radio signals transmitted from the satellite suggesting that, for now at least, it is operating.”
As for the relationship between Noor and the second signpost invasion, the first article reported: “Speaking to the Tasnim and Fars news agencies, Major General Hossein Salami, the head of the IRGC, said, “We have made a leap in the field of expanding territory and strategic intelligence….Today, we can see the world from space, and this means expanding the strategic intelligence of the powerful defense force of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.”
Karl,
Don’t know. Occupied with other things right now.
Did a little searching on drones and satellite systems.
The following article caught my attention especially the fourth paragraph.
https://i-hls.com/archives/100476
Gary,
Very good. And the IRGC drone capability was proven with the attack on the Aramco facility last September.
The Greek word “proton” (Strong’s 4412) meaning “first” is used in some key New Testament prophecies.
“For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise FIRST” (1 Thessalonians 4:16 NASB).
“Let no one in any way deceive you, for it will not come unless the apostasy comes FIRST, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction” (2 Thessalonians 2:3 NASB).
These uses of “proton” are in both Received and Critical texts. In Thayer’s Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament, the meaning of “first” that 2 Thessalonians 2:3 is listed under is “before something else.” The recognition of Antichrist cannot happen until a recognizable apostacy has already occurred.
Those aware of the signposts know that we are on the brink of the second, and that the rise of Antichrist will be during the fourth. So between now and the fourth signpost, we should expect a recognizable apostacy from the Christian faith. In Joel Richardson’s book “The Islamic Antichrist,” chapter 17 quotes 2 Thessalonians 2:3, and suggests that the prophesied apostacy will happen when people abandon a sinking Christianity for a rising Islam.
Second signpost Iran will become great (Daniel 8:4). The third signpost Sunni confederacy will become “very great” (Daniel 8:8). A rise in Islamic greatness may seduce Christians into thinking that the future belongs to Islam. Here is good advice for us: “sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence” (NASB).
Prisms,
Don’t forget the apostasy started after Islam’s initial conquests. The entire Muslim realm today was filled with Christian nations. The great falling away started centuries ago, is ongoing, and will continue to the Antichrist. Only Europe, Russia, Ethiopia and the southern tip of India remained Christian. And then Europe fell away.
“First” doesn’t have to be in the end-times for it can be in past centuries as well.
Mark,
1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 teaches that the dead in Christ will be resurrected prior to the rapture of living Christians. We would not expect much time to elapse between resurrection and rapture. If there were to be long centuries between the apostacy prophesied in 2 Thessalonians 2:3 and the recognition of the end-time Antichrist, why mention them in the same sentence? That would leave critics of first century or later apostasies worrying about an end-time Antichrist that would never appear in their lifetimes. I think Paul was referring to an apostacy happening just before the end-time Antichrist is revealed. Apostasies are not just slow drifts away from sound teaching. They are organized rebellions against sound teaching led by persons of bad character. Before he goes public, the Antichrist may himself secretly encourage apostasy among potential critics of his activities.
Prisms,
Perhaps. However, and I haven’t checked this particular verse in 1 Thessalonians and I’m not necessarily disagreeing with you, but keep in mind the discussion of Revelation 16:19 in Chronicles, p. 436, as an example of God being the God of time and so his Word might just have something short and long right next to each other.
Mark,
I acknowledge that in Old Testament prophecies are passages where within a single verse are phrases fulfilled or to be fulfilled centuries or even millennia apart. Those are in poetic passages. It is the nature of good poetry to make use of multiple meanings of words, resulting in expressions that are difficult to translate. Paul’s epistles are written in prose, where unambiguous teaching is intended. He occasionally quoted poetic statements. I think that 2 Thessalonians 2:3 is a plain prose statement teaching that the rise of the Antichrist will be immediately preceded by an abandoning of Christian faith to embrace the religion of Antichrist.
Mark,
Concerning the apostasy mentioned in 2 Thessalonians 2:3, I went to https://biblehub.com/2_thessalonians/2-3.htm. After the displays of how numerous versions translate it, “Lexicon” displays the actual Greek text. The definite article “the” comes before “apostasy.” This is significant. The passage is not referring to apostasy in general, but to a specific apostasy that probably had been prophesied of. You may be right in saying “the apostasy started after Islam’s initial conquests.” The Muslims invading Christian lands taught that Jesus was only a prophet and was not crucified. Matthew 24:26 may have prophesied of the rise of Islam in the Arabian desert, which would put a time stamp on “the apostasy.” End-time falling away to Islam’s satanic doctrines would be simply repeating the apostasy during the Middle Ages.
Nostradamus (1503-1566) lived when the Ottoman Empire was conquering parts of Europe. More of a statement of faith than a prophecy is quatrain 5:53:
La loy du Sol, & Venus contendus,
Appropriant l’esprit de prophetie :
Ne l’un ne l’autre ne seront entendus,
Par Sol tiendra la loy du grand Messie.
Richard Smoley’s 2006 translation:
The law of the Sun and Venus contending,
Claiming the spirit of prophecy.
The one will not be understood by the other;
By the Sun the law of the great Messiah will prevail.
Sol = Sun = Sunday = Christians.
Venus = Friday = Muslims.
Prisms,
The falling way starting with the initial Muslim conquests could still be part of “the” great apostasy. Note that around AD 600 just before Islam came, Christendom covered all of North Africa and the Middle East. There were many full churches in Alexandria, Hippo, and Constantinople, and everywhere in between. They all fell away.
Prose or poetry, one danger we may face is setting rules that may keep us from the truth. Let’s just agree to disagree on this point.
Prisms, Daniel 9:27 contains a reference to the ‘wings of abomination.’ Some translations say it’s a reference to a statue or something set up in the wing of a temple building in Jerusalem, but Islam came out of the Arabian Peninsula, which is shaped like the wings of a fallen angel, with the Anatolian Peninsula as the head. Revelation 2:12-13 places Satan’s seat or throne at Pergamum, in the north of modern Turkey, which would be the top of the head. Crimea would be at the tip of the thumbs, roughly. It used to be the center of Islam’s reach into Medieval Christian Europe, cutting off the Church from spreading the Gospel farther East. Millions were taken in slave raids by the Crimean Khanate until Russia stopped them.
The Sun represents the Father. He dwells in unapproachable light (1 Timothy 6:16). You can’t look directly at the Sun. This is not to suggest backsliding into pagan nature worship any more than attending church on Sunday means someone practices Sun worship. The Moon shines with reflected sunlight, and is much closer to us here on the Earth. You can look at the Moon without getting blinded. God made Himself known through his Son, Jesus, who people could look upon. Jesus shows on the full Moon, head bent down over his hands together in prayer.
Latin translation of the Bible has the Greek gnoseos, knowledge, rendered as scientiae, the root word for science. 1 Timothy 6:20 cautions not to engage people who argue that science or other worldly sources of ‘knowledge’ can disprove the Truth.