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REMARKABLE: Signs & Wonders of All Kinds

Oh, the signs we are being blessed to witness! They not only fill the figurative heavens and earth, but the literal as well! Both will be the subject of this letter.

BREAKING: Israel and Iran to Go Head-to-Head?

For years, we have wondered why Persia is not a Psalm 83 confederate nation, yet they still appear in the later conflict of Ezekiel 38. Their sponsorship of many of the Psalm 83 nations would naturally lead us to conclude that Iran will actively and directly be involved in such a war, yet the black and white text remains: Persia is nowhere to be found in the Psalm, nor are they mentioned in any other war-prophecies except for Ezekiel 38. As all Scripture is written as it is for a Divine purpose and there are no accidents, we conclude that there must be a reason why Iran is not involved in this first conflict even though the current circumstances would naturally cause us to conclude that they would be.

Although we can’t know for sure at this moment why this is the case, it has been our thinking that the most likely scenario would be a brief, head-to-head conflict between Israel and Iran involving an Israeli attack on Iranian soil which would temporarily render Iran incapable of direct warfare. Iran would then have no other option than to exact vengeance through their proxies (something which they are already doing), and the regional war of Psalm 83 would therefore officially commence. As prophecy often gives us a “snapshot” of the future, this is a scenario that not only seems likely, but fits perfectly with the text. This would explain how Iran could be involved in the sense of influence, but as they are not the ones actually the firing missiles and bullets, only Iran’s proxies are mentioned as they are the direct attackers.

This scenario now seems more likely than ever, and it’s thanks to Israel’s recent assassination of an Iranian general in Damascus. In response to the assassination, Iran clearly stated that “Iran had placed all its armed forces on full high alert and a decision had been made that Iran must respond directly to the strike attributed to Israel in Damascus” (Israel National News). They have also vowed the following:

Iran was happy to harm Israel from afar by using their proxies as puppets. But now, Iran is wanting to do something more. They’re now even more of a threat to Israel than before as they are actively seeking a way to strike back. Israel knows this, and The Jerusalem Post is now reporting,

“Israel can no longer make do with fighting Iran’s proxies but rather must target Iran itself in response to Tehran’s key role in the current attacks on Israel and destabilization of the region. Israel must now strike directly within Iran, while also taking further action against the Quds Force. Iran’s self-perceived shield of impunity must be pierced.”

A direct attack on Iran would have profound consequences, and this is something that many are realizing. The recent strike in Damascus has shown that Israel has incredible intelligence about Iran, and they also have the ability to strike in Iran itself (Reuters, The Jerusalem Post). It’s merely a matter of whether Israel sees fit to attack or not, and that is becoming more of a necessity for them. Axios just reported that “A direct Iranian strike on Israel would be unprecedented and could lead to a regional war in the Middle East.” Brothers, Sisters, and friends, is this not precisely what the Scriptures foretell? So many passages talk about a war between Israel and the “heathen/nations round about”, the result of which is the salvation of Israel and the establishment of the Kingdom of God in Jerusalem. Allow the following passage to suffice for now:

Joel 3:12, 16-17 – Let the heathen be wakened, and come up to the valley of Jehoshaphat: for there will I sit to judge all the heathen round about (note the distinction between nations who are “nigh” to Israel and “far off” – Deuteronomy 13:7, 20:15-17. The nations of Ezekiel 38 are not “nigh” and are therefore never called nations “round about”)…  (16)  The LORD also shall roar out of Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem; and the heavens and the earth shall shake: but the LORD will be the hope of his people, and the strength of the children of Israel.  (17)  So shall ye know that I am the LORD your God dwelling in Zion, my holy mountain: then shall Jerusalem be holy, and there shall no strangers pass through her any more. 

Although we certainly don’t know the day or hour, the prospects of this happening soon and likely as a domino-effect of Israel’s strike in Damascus are encouraging. Note how the other nations are talking about it:

Simply put, if Israel strikes Iran, it’s likely that the Psalm 83 war will soon commence, and as the Scriptures indicate that Christ and the saints save Israel from this conflict, it means that Christ is soon to reappear. What’s so exciting is that we do not need to bend or twist Scripture or the news headlines to make it fit a narrative and conclude that this could be at our very doorstep. It is right there, plain and clear for all to see.

UPDATE: Just hours after this Prophecy Letter was distributed, the following news was reported that was too important to leave unmentioned:

It says,

“Israel will launch devastating strikes against Iran’s sensitive nuclear development sites, should Tehran directly attack Israel, according to media reports.”

Now note this:

“However, U.S. intelligence indicated that the likelihood of Iran directly attacking Israel is low, because such a move would lead to a dramatic escalation in the ongoing shadow conflict between the two countries and possibly trigger U.S. intervention.” THEREFORE, “Tehran will likely activate its proxies, including Hezbollah in Lebanon and the Houthis in Yemen, to attack Israel.”

How incredible is this!!! It’s being said that for fear of US involvement, Iran will not attack Israel directly, but will do so through their proxies. This would perfectly explain why Persia is not mentioned in Psalm 83! We wait to see what will happen, but this is beyond exciting!

All of this is made more exciting by

The Further Decline in US-Israel Relations

Tensions between the US and Israel stem from many points, but the two most prominent lately are Israel’s prevention of aid that’s headed to Gaza and Israel’s planned operation in Rafah. The rift between the two allies continues to grow as prophecy suggests. As I mention so often, I’m expecting something to occur that will cause the US to abstain from helping Israel when the Arab “heathen round about” come against her. We’re looking for Israel to be isolated from all allies. In light of this, consider the following headlines which have been posted since last Prophecy Letter, all from secular sources:

There are many more besides these which we could include, yet they paint a clear enough picture. The rift is growing, and Israel is increasingly on their own.

Now, surprising news was posted the other day which indicated that Israel might finally be caving to US pressure. Israel announced that they had opened more aid routes to allow it to reach Gazans (NBC). They also announced that the IDF was halting the invasion in the Gaza Strip and withdrawing troops from southern Gaza (The Jerusalem Post). At first thought, I wondered if Israel was giving into Biden’s pressure and might end the war, and then things might “calm back down”.

But it’s not what it seems! Instead of withdrawing to end the war and therefore make an invasion of Rafah unnecessary, they’re withdrawing specifically to prepare the Rafah operation. World Israel News reports that “The IDF’s recent withdrawal of forces from the southern Gaza Strip is a prelude to other major operations in the coastal enclave, including the much-anticipated Israeli ground incursion into Rafah, Israel’s defense minister said Sunday.”

Instead of softening his stance on the Rafah invasion, Netanyahu has taken it to the next level and declared in a public video address that “This victory requires entering Rafah and eliminating the terrorist battalions there. This will happen; there is a date” (The Jerusalem Post). If anyone wonders whether he is serious or is simply trying to have a loud bark, it’s worth noting that his support in the government has been made contingent upon a Rafah operation, for Ben-Gvir and others have threatened to withdraw their support of him if Israel doesn’t invade Rafah (The Jerusalem Post). If Netanyahu is to retain the hold on the Prime Minister’s office, he must enter Rafah. Adding fuel to this flame is that Israelis in general fully support the war! It was just reported that “Fully 83% of the public thinks the fighting should continue until nothing is left of the terror organization and all the hostages are returned” (World Israel News). The world looks on and scoffs at Israelis for wanting to eliminate the terrorist, but it’s interesting that the nations who voice the loudest criticism rarely, if ever, have their day interrupted by a stabbing attack or a rocket. This is a normal occurrence for Israelis.

Although we don’t know what date Netanyahu has set, we need to be watching this carefully, for there is no telling what the US or the other Arab states will do once Israel commits to this. Should Isael carry it out, I really feel that this operation could be one that we will look back on as a critical point in latter-day prophecy. Looking back at history, it was the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand – just one man – that is considered the start of WWI. It was the invasion of Poland by Germany that is considered the opening act of WWII. It could well be that Israel’s invasion of Rafah sets in motion the events that would cause the final Arab-Israeli war which saints have been awaiting for many years.

We eagerly wait to see, but we must remember that we, meaning those who have entered into covenant through baptism, may not see the Arab nations come against Jerusalem. At least, we may not see it as mortals. If Christ and the immortalized saints are indeed the saviors of Israel from this conflict as the Scriptures teach (Joel 3:16-17, Zechariah 12:5-7, 14:5, Jeremiah 23:5-6, Ezekiel 28:26, and others), then we cannot stress enough the necessity that we be gathered and judged before we come to Israel’s aid. We do not know how long the judgment will take or whether it will even take place on man’s timetable, and the prophecies of the final Arab-Israeli war seem to indicate that the Arabs’ movements might be sudden as in the Yom Kippur War. It therefore seems logical (and perhaps necessary) that we be gathered before the Arab confederacy even comes against Israel, or perhaps even before the confederacy itself is fully mature. We simply don’t know, but we do know for a fact that we must be gathered and judged before we are immortalized. The message is clear: we could be gathered at any moment now.

Earthquakes and “Natural” Phenomena

If one can scroll past all of the news concerning Israel, they will see that the earth and the heavens are joining in chorus, all singing to the tune of “THE REDEEMER IS SOON TO RETURN!”

During a UN Security Council meeting in New York, the earth visibly shook and halted the meeting. The speaker was forced to stop for a moment as the cameras shook. You can watch the video from The Associated Press. There was also an earthquake in Taiwan that is the largest the area has suffered in 25 years (NBC). Nine were killed.

But the most incredible spectacle that’s been on most people’s minds was the total solar eclipse that was visible from the central US. My family and I were just barely outside the line of totality, but it was as close as it could get.

The occurrence is, of itself, a testimony to the Creator. A total solar eclipse occurs when the moon perfectly blocks 100% of the sun. In order for a solar eclipse to occur, a number of specific criteria must be met. The moon must be proportional to the sun and placed at a distance between the earth and the sun so that, from earth, the moon appears to be the same exact size as the sun, and thus barely and perfectly blocks it out. It is not as if that moon appears much larger than the sun and easily blocks it out or is much smaller and therefore incapable of blocking the sun. It does so just barely. The orbit of the moon must also be so that it passes perfectly in front of the sun from our view – not partially. What’s even more remarkable is that this phenomenon doesn’t occur on just any planet; it occurs on the only planet that has only one moon. Saturn has 146 moons, but not a single one of them ever perfectly blocks out the sun and causes a total eclipse. Only earth experiences this wonder.

But perhaps the most meaningful thing is that it occurs from the only planet that has life. If it occurred on Mars, this does little for man. Big whoop. But as it occurs here and only here, this indicates that there is a purpose and message behind it, that being that “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork” (Psalm 19:1). The Lord created the heavenly hosts for many reasons, one of them being “for signs” (Genesis 1:14). The precision of the event is testament of a Creator, and the only logical explanation is that the Lord placed them there. Indeed, we’re told this very thing in

Psalms 8:3 (ESV) – When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place,

Yet beyond this wondrous message, it may be that the Lord has used the tools of nature to communicate other things to the kingdoms of men. In 2017, a total solar eclipse occurred which ran across the US. Now in 2024, it has happened again. What’s interesting is that the paths of these two eclipses together mark a giant X across the heartland of America. What’s even more interesting is that this has happened in the past, and cataclysmic events soon followed. Prophecy News Watch recently published the following article and comments:

“In 1811, a solar eclipse finished the giant ‘X’ over the heartland of America that a solar eclipse in 1806 had started, and meanwhile Tecumseh's Comet was making headlines all over the nation as it raced through the heavens. Approximately three months after the giant ‘X’ over America was completed, cataclysmic earthquakes began erupting along the New Madrid fault… To this day, we have never seen earthquakes of such destructive power in the continental United States...”

The earthquake was so great that it caused the Mississippi to run backward. The question remains, will a similar event occur later this year? While we are merely speculating, the Lord often uses His creation to execute His will, and it coincides perfectly with America’s efforts to rid the nation of God and wallow in moral depravity and filth. Perhaps a terrible earthquake will erupt along the New Madrid fault that will cripple the US. If this occurs, this could be another contributing factor to America abandoning Israel. Not only do they disapprove of Israel, but now they would have “bigger issues” at home they’re dealing with which require their full attention and resources. Time will tell.

The Meaning For Us

As always, there are many other things I wish we had time to discuss, but we simply don’t. By the time I write on other subjects, so many other things happen that another letter is already due. This is a wonderful problem to have as we watch for the signs of Christ’s return! While it makes it difficult to comment upon, we hope for so many signs that we can’t report on them all, and that is the situation we are now facing. But we can talk about the return of Christ as much as we want, yet it does us no good unless we lay it to heart.

Speaking personally, life for me is better than it has ever been. I have been blessed with a job that allows me to control my schedule and provide for my growing family so my wife can stay at home, and the temporal blessings continue to abound as we have another daughter on the way. To top it off, the long-awaited turkey season is just around the corner! My natural mind therefore thinks like the rich fool and says, “I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry” (Luke 12:20). These are good times, and it is this kind of life that I have hoped for. It is not the kind that I’d love to be spared from.

Yet I must continually remind myself that I am a stranger here who should look “for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God” (Hebrews 11:10). These blessings, however wondrous, are merely gifts of grace intended to “get us by” until the final outpouring of blessings at our Lord’s coming. When our Lord returns to gather his saints, I must be ready to drop what I’m doing and go without looking back. What can we do with the remaining time to examine ourselves and truly prepare for Christ’s return? Are there things that we have been “putting off for another day”? Do them now. Have we noticed that our spiritual vitality is not what it used to be? Immediately address it with a liberal dose of the Word.

These are all things that we should be doing on a regular basis, yet it is characteristic of our human nature to be lazy, half-hearted, and make excuses so we can kick our responsibilities down the timeline a little further. Yet the day will come when the Lord will return to require of his servants what is due unto him. Following the parable of the talents, he will enquire as to how we have increased that which was given to us, and our time to grow it will be up (Matthe 25:14-30). This day is fast-approaching, and while there is never an excuse which will truly justify our slothfulness, we of all people who have been so blessed to see so many signs will be even more without excuse. “Unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required,” and we, brethren, have been given a lot (Luke 12:48). Now truly is the time to “gird up the loins of our minds” and ensure that we finish this race with all of our strength (1 Peter 1:13).

Hebrews 10:35-37 – Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward.  (36)  For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.  (37)  For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry.

 

In the One Hope,

Tanner Hawkins

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