Prophecy Letters
"Blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear. For verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them." Matt. 13:16-17
The Prophecy Letter is a circular letter that we send out relating to the development of latter-day prophecy.
July 2022
The Decline of the US - Iran Now Nuclear? – Gog the Guardian
TGP Prophecy Letter – July 22, 2022
The Decline of the US
While we will not delve deeply into this topic at this time, it is nevertheless an important one to discuss. It is no surprise that the United States is plummeting from its stance as the world’s “greatest superpower” (by man’s standards, at least). What was once revered as a beacon of light by the world has, in many ways, turned into a laughing stock. This is due partly to the declining mental and physical ability of the President and partly to the bitter division within the country. The controversy and disarray show no signs of easing, and so it appears that the US will continue its descent.
While many are distressed and perplexed at the country’s staggering, students of the Lord’s Word have been expecting such a decline. The primary reason for this is that the prophetical scene shows that Israel is ALONE in the latter-day wars. They will not have the help of other countries, but will be forced to face their Arab aggressors alone. The only entity to come to their aid and salvation will be the multitudinous Christ composed of Jesus and his immortalized saints. These alone will appear to their salvation and destroy Israel’s enemies round about (see Isaiah 63:1-6, Habakkuk 3:12-13, Zechariah 12:2, 7, Obadiah 15-21, Psalm 118:10-14).
The United States has been Israel’s greatest ally since its rebirth in 1948, but this has been quickly changing. The election of Joe Biden kicked this into high gear. While we find many headlines that boast of a “warm” relationship between the two countries (like this one - 'True friendship': US, Israel sign historic 'Jerusalem Declaration' - World Israel News), this is mere political talk, and the President’s actions tell a very different tale. The following headlines testify to his anti-Israel and pro-Palestinian stance; one which we believe is certainly Divinely ordered to isolate Israel and cause her to stand alone:
Biden dodges questions on Iran's nuclear program as Israel's leader calls for action - ABC News
Biden’s multiple snubs to Israel during his visit - Israel365 News
Biden administration funds anti-Israel curricula, hate messages - World Israel News
Biden removes Israeli flag for E. Jerusalem meeting with Palestinians - Israel365 News
US still seeking to open Jerusalem consulate for Palestinians - Sullivan - The Jerusalem Post
And many, many more…
The point is, US support for Israel is waning, and we believe it this is an important development in the Lord’s prophecy leading up to the return of our Lord. Our Master told the Jews at his first coming, “…I say unto you, Ye shall not see me, until the time come when ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord” (Luke 13:35). This will be the attitude of Israel when Christ returns to them. They will rejoice to see him and will welcome him as their King (Matthew 21:9).
Does this sound like the Israel of today? If Christ were to return at this moment, would Israel accept a King? Not quite. Israel is presently a very proud nation, and the idea of a Theocratic Monarchy, which will be the government of Christ, is hissed at by democracies. Therefore, we believe that something must occur to abase and humble Israel in order for them to welcome their Messiah.
We believe that this will be accomplished through their near destruction by the hand of her Arab neighbors (and possibly an Iranian strike). Israel, being weakened, vulnerable, and therefore humbled, will realize their dependence on the Lord and will cry unto their Messiah for salvation. He, with his tried, faithful, and recently immortalized multitude, will then go “forth for the salvation of thy people” and rescue Israel (Habakkuk 3:13).
The souring of US-Israel relations says to us that this event might well be nigh upon us, for if the United States does not stand firmly with Israel, the tiny country is essentially on their own. This is yet another cause for us to trim our lamps and prepare for our Bridegroom! Seeing the decline of the United States is also a stark reminder that we are not to be true citizens of any country now. Our citizenship lies not in any temporal nation here, but in that “city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God” (Hebrews 11:10).
We certainly ought to be grateful to live in places that allow us to worship our Lord freely (though this may change), but we are neither to be patriotic nor pledge our allegiance to any temporal power. Rather, we are to dedicate and pledge ourselves to the Lord and assume the dispositions of the fathers who saw the promises “afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embrace them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims in the earth. For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country. (15) And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned. (16) But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city” (Hebrews 11:13-16).
Iran Now Nuclear?
As Israel has publicly warned on countless occasions, a nuclear Iran is the greatest threat not only to the region in general, but to Israel’s very existence. While President Biden has pledged to never allow Iran to obtain or create nuclear weapons, it seems that Iran may already have that capability:
Iran can already produce nuclear bombs, says Ayatollah's advisor - Arutz Sheva
Is this true? Can the world trust the words of Iran? Most of the time, no. However, with their own existence at stake, Israel can take no chances. With or without US support, Israel has made it clear that they will militarily confront Iran unless something is done:
Army Chief: Israel has 'moral obligation' to prepare for war with Iran - World Israel News
IDF chief Kohavi warns Israel might be required to act against Iran - The Jerusalem Post
'IDF continues to prepare for strike against Iran' - Arutz Sheva
Declining US support for Israel makes this war all the more likely. We have commented on the relevance of this possible event more extensively in a previous letter, so we will not discuss it in depth here (see The Destruction of Damascus On the Horizon? from the June Prophecy Letter). In essence, our current conviction is that Israel will pre-emptively strike Iran which might officially kick off the events of the latter-day wars. Israel’s Arab neighbors as listed in Psalm 83 would unite and attack, leading to Israel’s salvation by the hand of Christ and the saints.
While we can grow numb to headlines about a nuclear Iran, we must keep a sharp eye. In times past, the talk of the nations was about preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons. It was understood that they did not presently possess them. Now, however, it appears that they either might have nuclear capabilities or are close to it, creating greater urgency for Israel.
Gog the Guardian
Ezekiel 38 describes the future time when Russia and her allies will descend to Israel in an attempt to rob her of spoil and prey. This Gogian confederacy has been building and unifying over the past many years, but it seems that recent events are also fast-forwarding this process as well:
Echoes Of Ezekiel 38 - Putin Looks To Cement Ties With Iran & Turkey - Prophecy News Watch
Putin, Erdogan head to Iran for talks on Syria, future of Middle East - The Jerusalem Post
The Scriptures, however, tell us that Russia will be more than a mere ally to these nations. Note what we find in
Ezekiel 38:7 – Be thou prepared, and prepare for thyself, thou, and all thy company that are assembled unto thee, and be thou a guard unto them.
This seems to illustrate a protective or defensive role of Russia over her allies. This is incredibly important and helpful to us as we attempt to understand not only the sequence of latter-day events, but also the cause for that sequence.
As we have already noted, Israel and Iran are on course for a disastrous conflict which, we strongly believe, will result in Israel being weakened (Isaiah 17:3-7) and Iran being neutralized, but not destroyed (note that Persia is not named among the Psalm 83 confederacy, but is named in the later conflict of Ezekiel 38). We suggest that it is at this precise moment that the Proximal Arab nations of Psalm 83 will attack Israel. As we mentioned earlier, these Arab states will be destroyed by Christ and the saints, and the borders of the Kingdom proper will have been established as a result.
Now, as Iran’s ally and “guard”, how might we expect Russia to respond to Israel’s actions? Will they not feel entitled or responsible to avenge Iran of their Israeli enemy? It must be acknowledged that spoil and prey are the main alluring factors that bring Gog against Israel (Ezekiel 38:12), however, Gog’s role of a protector is relevant enough to the prophetical scene that the Lord decided to reveal this detail to us. If Russia is seeking Israel’s spoils from the Proximal Arab War (CP Zechariah 14:14, Isaiah 33:22-24), they will most likely do so under a guise.
With the Ukraine War, it seems that Putin’s true aim is merely to take back land that he believes belongs to Russia. How, though, did Putin justify the war? Before he invaded, he claimed that it was merely a military exercise. After he invaded, he blamed the Ukrainians and created false narratives of the Ukrainians striking first. Likewise, when the time comes for Russia to come against Israel, she will likely do so under the pretext of merely exacting justice on Israel for having harmed her ally Iran, though spoil and prey will be at the heart of her actions.
Russia-Israel relations have taken a souring turn, due in part to the outspokenness of interim Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid:
Taking all of these developments into account, it is not difficult to see that the pieces of the puzzle are being set in place! The question is, what does it mean for you and I, and how are we responding to it? Are we shrugging off these developments as mere “news”, or are we sincerely trying to lay them to heart and absorb the greater message: our Lord is nigh?
Although we personally believe that there is still some time before an Israeli-Iranian conflict explodes into full force, we continue to emphasize that we should not necessarily expect to see this event as mortals. Because it is Christ and the saints that will rescue Israel from her Arab enemies (Zechariah 14:5, Isaiah 63:1-6), it is our conviction that we will be gathered before the conflict officially begins.
Seeing, therefore, that these things are already well into their developmental stages, we could be and should expect to be gathered to our Lord at any moment. May these signs stir up our hearts and minds to fervently and lovingly petition our Master, “Return, O LORD, unto the many thousands of Israel” (Numbers 10:36).
Tanner Hawkins