On February 2, 2024, the USA launched a massive attack against what it claimed were Iranian-back militias in retaliation for strikes against USA troops and other interests. Iraq and Iran condemned these attacks. Is this the start of World War Three? Who will be the protagonist for WWIII? What about a larger regional conflict in the Middle East? Does Iran have any theological reasons for attempting to cause chaos in the region? Could Iran damage the USA militarily through dirty bombs, electromagnetic pulse weapons, biological agents, and/or chemical weapons? If the USA were to have a direct war with Iran that it loses, could the USA be subjected to increased terrorism according to biblical prophecies? Dr. Thiel and Steve Dupuie address these matters.

A written article of related interest is available titled ‘Iraq warns Middle East is now on ‘brink of the abyss’ after 16 killed in US revenge strikes on Iranian-backed militias’

BNP Youtube video link: USA Attacks! Terror will come!

‘Iraq warns Middle East is now on ‘brink of the abyss’ after 16 killed in US revenge strikes on Iranian-backed militias’

COGwriter

The USA launched military attacks last night:

Iraq warns Middle East is now on ‘brink of the abyss’ after 16 killed in US revenge strikes on Iranian-backed militias
3 February 2024
IRAQ has slammed US airstrikes following Friday’s attack – warning that the “aggressive strike” puts the region “on the brink of the abyss”.
America launched missiles against more than 85 targets in Iraq and Syria on Friday, including Iranian-backed militias, killing 16 people.
The White House said Iraq was warned ahead of the blitz – which targeted militia “command and control headquarters” and ammo stores.
America also aimed at targets in the countries linked to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard’s Quds Force and associated groups.
Iran has repeatedly been tied to the ongoing conflict exploding in the Middle East, and are believed to finance and provide weapons to groups like Hamas, Hezbollah and the Houthis.
Leaked documents suggested the American blitz was coming after three American troops were killed in Jordan by an Iranian-made drone piloted from Iraq. …
While Iran-linked targets were hit – Iran itself was not.
US Central Command revealed that the strikes used more than 125 munitions, delivered by numerous aircraft, including long-range bombers.
US President Joe Biden said on Friday: “Let all those who might seek to do us harm know this: If you harm an American, we will respond.”
Britain expressed support on Saturday and said the US had a “right to respond” to the attacks on American troops.
A Government spokesperson said: “The UK and US are steadfast allies. …” https://www.the-sun.com/news/10277033/iraq-iran-middle-east-strikes-america-ww3/
February 3, 2024
Iran’s foreign ministry Saturday condemned overnight U.S. air strikes in Iraq and Syria as “violations of the sovereignty and territorial integrity” of the two countries.
In Tehran’s first response to the U.S. strikes, ministry spokesperson Nasser Kanaani said in a statement they represented “another adventurous and strategic mistake by the United States that will result only in increased tension in instability in the region.” https://www.newsmax.com/world/globaltalk/iran-airstrikes-iraq/2024/02/03/id/1152130/
3 February 2024
The strikes have caused damage and death, but on a relatively limited scale. ..
There was no element of surprise. The clock began counting down last Sunday after the killing of three US troops in Jordan.
The attacks were carefully calibrated and telegraphed in response. Key figures in Iranian-backed militias had plenty of time to get away from obvious targets.
The militias had a chance to safeguard weapons and ammunition.
Iraq’s military has warned the US bombing raids could lead to ‘dire consequences’ for the region. https://www.bbc.com/news/live/world-68144478?src_origin=BBCS_BBC

It should be noted that the USA intends to continue other attacks.

It hopes to discourage Iran from continuing to back proxies who will attack the USA or Israel.

So, are we at the “abyss”? A downward spiral with no end?

Not quite, yet some see this as another move towards World War Three.

Various ones have been warning of WWIII:

February 3, 2024
Two days ago, The Telegraph was headlining:
World War Three is approaching fast, and too few are willing to admit why
Two days before that, the Mirror went with:
World War 3: 5 chilling signs UK and US are heading for all out conflict amid global unrest
Yesterday, Spiked! asked simply:
Are you ready for World War 3?
Before adding, “Our sabre-rattling elites need to take a deep breath.” …
Trump is trumpeting that Biden’s carelessness has left the world “on the brink of World War Three.” https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/world-war-3-really-horizon

Anyway, no, this is not WWIII.

Nor will WWIII start for at least 3 1/2 years based on prophecies such as Daniel 9:27.

That said, we are in the time Jesus referred to as the “beginning of sorrows.” Note the words of Jesus:

6 And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. 7 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these are the beginning of sorrows. (Matthew 24:6-8)

Yes, there are wars and rumors of war–but the end is NOT yet.

But, we may see a lot more military conflict BEFORE WWIII starts, which would begin at the time of the start of the Great Tribulation (Matthew 24:21-22).

Now consider:

February 3, 2024
US Central Command confirmed in a statement that airstrikes were carried out in Iraq and Syria “against Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) Quds Force and affiliated militia groups.”

Related to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) Quds Force, note the following from the USA:

February 2, 2024
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “For years, the IRGC and its Qods Force have been instrumental in the Iranian regime’s violent suppression of political dissent, targeting of Iranian dissidents living abroad, and support of international terrorism — including groups like Hamas, Hizballah, and Palestinian Islamic Jihad. Today’s charges show how, as alleged, the IRGC’s Qods force built a sprawling international network of front companies to launder sanctioned Iranian oil using lies, forgery, and threats of violence. This alleged scheme to finance the Qods Force succeeds through the complicity of wealthy businessmen in countries like Turkey who are eager to turn a corrupt profit from supporting terror groups. The Qods Force oil-laundering network allegedly delivered millions of barrels of Iranian oil to government-affiliated buyers in Russia, China, and Syria, and transferred billions of dollars through the U.S. financial system. This Office has long served at the forefront of law enforcement efforts to fight terrorism and terror finance and to protect the integrity of the U.S. banking system. I commend the tireless and outstanding efforts of our law enforcement partners in unraveling and disrupting the IRGC’s scheme.” https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdny/pr/us-attorney-announces-terrorism-and-sanctions-evasion-charges-against-leaders-billion

Yes, Iran has involvement with terror. Yet:

February 3, 2024
Iran says the attacks by the United States inside Iraq and Syria are a “strategic error” that will only add to tensions and instability in the Middle East … https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/2/3/strategic-error-iran-condemns-us-attacks-on-iraq-syria

As far as military matters go, Iran has been financing and supporting various militaristic groups in the Middle East and elsewhere.

Some of them have directly attacked USA troops or other USA interests.

For the Iranians, some of this is actually theological.

Some in Iran believe that causing chaos is a necessary step for a leader known as the Imam Mahdi to arise and make much of the world Islamic–and they hope that will be under Iranian leadership. Yet, biblically, Iran is NOT prophesied to lead the Islamic world, but a different leader from likely North Africa is (cf. Daniel 11:40-43).

Yet, furthermore, consider that Isaiah 22:1-10 shows that a time is coming when God will take away the protection of Judah and the City of David (Jerusalem, cf. 2 Kings 9:28) and that Iran and Syria will be involved in attacking the current state of Israel. We have a video on that: Iran and Israel Conflict.

It is likely that a broader regional war will be a factor in the temporary peace that will come to the Middle East (cf. Daniel 9:27, see also The ‘Peace Deal’ of Daniel 9:27). We continue to see steps that look to be leading towards that.

As far as the USA itself goes, yes it is militarily superior to Iran. But soon, Iran may have a working nuclear weapon, if it does not have one (or more) already.

If so, Iran may be inclined to use it/them. That could hurt the USA or Israel.

The USA, despite its military strength, is vulnerable to being hurt by terrorist forces as well as EMP weapons as well as chemical weapons, dirty bombs, terrorism, and biological weapons that Iran and/or its ally Syria possess. It has been shown in a test that EMPs can basically work as advertised, and this may give the Iranians more reason to look further into using them if they feel pressed.

Now, let’s assume that the USA and Iran do more directly fight and Iran looses. Will its proxies give up?

Probably not.

Furthermore, Iranians with terrorist ties have been captured trying to enter the USA in recent months.

Certainly, though, there are already some in the USA.

Now, consider that terrorism is prophesied to happen to places like the USA:

5 They have corrupted themselves; They are not His children, Because of their blemish: A perverse and crooked generation. … 25 The sword shall destroy outside; There shall be terror within (Deuteronomy 32:5,25)
25 Because you disdained all my counsel, And would have none of my rebuke, 26 I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your terror comes, 27 When your terror comes like a storm, And your destruction comes like a whirlwind, When distress and anguish come upon you. (Proverbs 1:25-27)
6 You have forsaken Me,” says the Lord,
“You have gone backward.
Therefore I will stretch out My hand against you and destroy you;
I am weary of relenting!
7 And I will winnow them with a winnowing fan in the gates of the land;
I will bereave them of children;
I will destroy My people,
Since they do not return from their ways.
8 Their widows will be increased to Me more than the sand of the seas;
I will bring against them,
Against the mother of the young men,
A plunderer at noonday;
I will cause anguish and terror to fall on them suddenly. (Jeremiah 15:6-8)

The idea of “terror within” shows terror will occur within the borders, and suggests also that some of the terrorists are residents.

More terrorism is coming.

While many are cheering the USA attacks, and some have also said that they are too little too late, do not think that the military attacks from the USA will not have unintended consequences like terrorism.

That said, while WWIII is coming, it is not yet.

But, terrorist attacks, according to prophecies such as in Psalm 83, look to be related to its start not too many years from now.

Related Items:

Why Terrorism? Is Terrorism Prophesied? What does the Bible teach? Which nations may be affected? Here is a link to a related sermon: Terrorism, Christianity, and Islam.

The Arab and Islamic World In the Bible, History, and Prophecy The Bible discusses the origins of the Arab world and discusses the Middle East in prophecy. What is ahead for the Middle East and those who follow Islam? What about the Imam Mahdi? What lies ahead for Turkey, Iran, and the other non-Arabic Muslims? An item of possibly related interest in the Spanish language would be: Líderes iraníes condenan la hipocresía de Occidente y declaran que ahora es tiempo para prepararse para el Armagedón, la guerra, y el Imán Mahdi.

The Prophesied ‘Islamic’ Confederation Where is an Islamic caliphate prophesied? Will one happen? Should you be concerned about it? A related video is Will an Arabic Calphiphate Destroy the West?
World War III: Steps in Progress Are there surprising actions going on now that are leading to WWIII? Might a nuclear attack be expected? Does the Bible promise protection to all or only some Christians? How can you be part of those that will be protected? A related video would be Is World War III About to Begin? Can You Escape? does. Two related sermon are available: Identifying the USA and its Destruction in Prophecy and Do these 7 prophesies point to the end of the USA?

Who is the King of the West? Why is there no Final End-Time King of the West in Bible Prophecy? Is the United States the King of the West? Here is a version in the Spanish language: ¿Quién es el Rey del Occidente? ¿Por qué no hay un Rey del Occidente en la profecía del tiempo del fin? A related sermon is also available: The Bible, the USA, and the King of the West.

Could God Have a 6,000 Year Plan? What Year Does the 6,000 Years End? Was a 6000 year time allowed for humans to rule followed by a literal thousand year reign of Christ on Earth taught by the early Christians? Does God have 7,000 year plan? What year may the six thousand years of human rule end? When will Jesus return? 2031 or 2025 or? There is also a video titled: When Does the 6000 Years End? 2031? 2035? Here is a link to the article in Spanish: ¿Tiene Dios un plan de 6,000 años?

Might the U.S.A. Be Gone in 2028? Could the USA be gone by the end of 2028 or earlier? There is a tradition attributed to the Hebrew prophet Elijah that humanity had 6,000 years to live before being replaced by God’s Kingdom. There are scriptures, writings in the Talmud, early Christian teachings that support this. Also, even certain Hindu writings support it. Here is a link to a related video: Is the USA prophesied to be destroyed by 2028? In Spanish: Seran los Estados Unidos Destruidos en el 2028?

When Will the Great Tribulation Begin? 2024, 2025, or 2026? Can the Great Tribulation begin today? What happens before the Great Tribulation in the “beginning of sorrows”? What happens in the Great Tribulation and the Day of the Lord? Is this the time of the Gentiles? When is the earliest that the Great Tribulation can begin? What is the Day of the Lord? Who are the 144,000? Here is a version of the article in the Spanish language: ¿Puede la Gran Tribulación comenzar en el 2020 o 2021? ¿Es el Tiempo de los Gentiles? A related video is: Great Tribulation: 2026 or 2027? A shorter video is: Tribulation in 2024? Here is a video in the Spanish language: Es El 2021 el año de La Gran Tribulación o el Grande Reseteo Financiero.