Iran Defies U.N. Resolution And Opens Nuclear Reactor

Defying U.N., Iran opens nuclear reactor
KHONDAB, Iran - An Iranian plant that produces heavy water officially went into operation on Saturday, despite U.N. demands that Tehran stop the activity because it can be used to develop a nuclear bomb.

Israel seeks troops from Muslim nations
JERUSALEM - Israel said Saturday it was encouraging some Muslim countries to send peacekeepers to southern Lebanon, a contribution that would lend credibility to the heavily European force.

Russia rejects sanctions against Iran...
MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia on Friday rejected any talk for now of sanctions against Iran and France warned against conflict with Tehran, raising doubt whether it will face swift penalties for not halting nuclear work by an August 31 deadline.

'Ahmadinejad would sacrifice half of Iran to wipe out Israel'
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, if he ever became the supreme decision maker in his country, would "sacrifice half of Iran for the sake of eliminating Israel," Giora Eiland, Israel's former national security adviser, told The Jerusalem Post on Thursday.

'Syria will try for Golan Heights'
Syria is satisfied with Hizbullah's performance against the IDF, and is encouraging the organization to oppose its disarmament, OC Military Intelligence Maj.-Gen. Amos Yadlin told the Knesset's Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee on Thursday.

He also said Damascus would try to recover the Golan Heights by any possible means, diplomatic or military, and was studying the recent campaign to learn how to conduct successful operations against Israel.

DEBKAfile reports Tehran and Syria jointly fan war tensions to undermine America’s Security Council positions on Iran’s nuclear program and the Lebanese ceasefire
Our Washington and Jerusalem sources report intelligence predictions of an impending revival of the Lebanon war and its spread to the Golan. Tehran and Syria are turning up the heat to obstruct Western moves to curb Iran’s advance on a nuclear weapon and nullify the embargo on arms for Hizballah.

A senior Iranian spokesman announced Wednesday night, Aug. 23 that his government was on the brink of a “dramatic” nuclear development.

S. Korea certain North has nuclear bombs: minister
SEOUL (Reuters) - South Korea is certain North Korea has nuclear weapons and Seoul's best estimate is Pyongyang has produced one or two bombs, its defense minister said on Friday, amid reports that the North may be preparing a nuclear test.

EU seen boosting Lebanon troop pledges
BRUSSELS (Reuters) - U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan said he was confident European countries would make major troop pledges for a 15,000-strong Lebanon peace force at an emergency meeting of EU foreign ministers on Friday.

Polls: Israelis Tired of Olmert, Shifting Back Toward Center
Following perceived mismanagement of the war, Israelis believe top government and defense officials Olmert, Peretz and Halutz should be replaced. Voting tendencies are shifting from left to center.

France says 15,000 UN troops for Lebanon too many
BEIRUT (Reuters) - France said on Thursday it was ready to send an extra 1,600 troops to bolster a revamped U.N. force for Lebanon, bringing the total French contingent to 2,000 and making...

EU ministers to meet Annan at emergency talks on Lebanon
EU foreign ministers will hold emergency talks on Lebanon on Friday with UN secretary general Kofi Annan also attending the meeting just before he is to announce who should lead the new international force to be sent to the region.

Hizbollah expected "limited damage"
BEIRUT (Reuters) - The magnitude of the Israeli response to Hizbollah's cross-border operation in July took the Lebanese guerrilla group by surprise, Hizbollah deputy leader Naim Qassem...

Comments
There is a growing concern within the Israeli defense that the United States will not participate in an attack on Iranian nuclear cites.  Israeli defense officials are unhappy that the U.S. has not done enough to stop Iran's race to produce a nuclear bomb.

"US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, he said (defense official), was leading the State Department in the direction of "appeasement."

"The only way, besides military action, to stop Iran is through tough economic sanctions," the official said. "But the only way to do that is for the US to overcome Russian opposition in the Security Council and to pass a resolution calling for sanctions against Iran."  http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1154525940706&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull

Israel is also keeping an eye on international reaction to Iran's August 22nd rebuff of the U.N. resolution to see if tough sanctions are handed down.  

I don't foresee sanctions making much of a dent in Iran's drive to become a nuclear power.  Like North Korea, Iran knows that it's only a matter of time before they slip, bob and weave their way into the nuclear club.  Isolation means very little to them and I don't see anyone in the U.N. stepping up (besides Israel) to force Iran to abandoned their program.  Besides, they have something the world needs badly...oil!

The question is, is it in God's plan for Israel to attack Iran?  I don't believe it is.  Israeli intelligence has estimated that they have between six and twelve months before Iran arrives at the research and development point of no return.  But many in the intelligence community believe Israel does not have the military capability of successfully pulling off this task without the help of the U.S.  

"In an article authored by Shlomo Brom, former head of air force strategic planning, the report said Israel's deep-strike air capability was based on the F-15I and F-16C/D aircraft. At a range of more than 600 kilometers, Brom said, Israel could not sustain an air campaign. Iran is about 1,000 kilometers from Israel.

"It is possible to determine that at long ranges — more then 600 kilometers — the IAF is capable of a few surgical strikes, but it is not capable of a sustained air campaign against a full array of targets," the report said.

An Israeli air attack on Iran must also include such support aircraft as air refueling, electronic countermeasures, support, communication, and rescue, the report said. The mission would also require precision intelligence."  http://www.worldtribune.com/worldtribune/WTARC/2005/ss_israel_12_05.html

While Iran is thumbing its nose at the U.N. resolution, Syria is training and rearming Hizbollah for a second wave this time aimed at taking back the Golan Heights.  

"Hizbullah does not intend to leave southern Lebanon or to disarm. At most, it would be willing to stash away its arms in the [south Lebanon] sector," said Yadlin.

It was important to note, said Yadlin, that Hizbullah had used more weapons provided by Syria than by Iran. While Iran provided training and funding, Yadlin said it was Syrian supplies that were enabling Hizbullah forces to remain active.

Large amounts of standard explosives are being smuggled in, which terror organizations plan to use to increase the impact of Kassam rockets," said Yadlin. "They are also working to increase the range of the rockets."  http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1154525939215&pagename=JPost/JPArticle/Printer

Certainly, I see a major war brewing in the Middle East but it probably won't take place until after the rapture of the church occurs.  How long away either event may be is anyone's guess but I wouldn't be surprised if they (rapture & war) happened within the next twelve months. 

One thing that should be brought out...world events can twist and turn all they want but the real signs won't start happening until after the rapture occurs.  Case in point, I don't believe the antichrist will be revealed until after the rapture.  Meaning it's likely nobody will  know who he is before the tribulation period begins.  Certainly, he's (antichrist) on the earth, but it's very possible that he doesn't know who he is.  

As you know from my previous articles I don't believe satan knows what the future holds, therefore, he is oblivious to the rapture, tribulation and millennial periods (see Article# 547 & Question# 10).  When the rapture takes place he (satan) will only see opportunity.  It is at this time that satan, through the divine guidance of God Almighty, will make his move.  One of his goals is to be the god of this world, and when the Holy Spirit stops withholding him, satan will begin to build his earthly kingdom starting with the selection of the antichrist and false prophet.

It's hard to say where we will go from here but it could be in one of four directions as outlined in my August 4, 2006 article titled Article# 564:No Solution In Sight; What Direction This War Could Take Next! 

Are you ready to meet the Lord?  If not, your time is running out!

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Pastor Malone