What is the Significance and Justification of the War with Iran?

What is the significance and justification of the war with Iran?

That is the topic we'll discuss today right here on the Christian Reel View Radio program

where the mission is to sharpen the biblical worldview of Christians and to proclaim the

good news of Jesus Christ.

I'm David Wheaton, the host.

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After weeks of a massive U.S. military build-up in the Middle East, and after several rounds

of failed negotiations with the Islamist Iranian regime to abandon their nuclear weapons

program, Americans woke up on Saturday, February 28th to learn that their country and Israel

had begun a joint war against Iran.

A short time ago, the United States military began major combat operations in Iran.

President Trump delivered a message in the middle of the night outlining the justification

for attacking Iran, which centers around eliminating the regime's ability to construct nuclear

weapons and ballistic missiles.

The first day of the war had the stunning result of killing Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah

Ali Kamani, and 50 high-level leaders through an airstrike as the regime gathered to meet

in the capital city of Tehran.

Now just one week into this war, the U.S. and Israel have systematically degraded Iran's

military leadership and infrastructure, even as Iran has launched hundreds of missiles

and drones at Israel in American naval ships, military bases, and other U.S. interests

in the region.

There have been six American casualties so far.

While many Americans support the demolishing of Iran's capability to follow through on

its long-time objective, I'll quote, death to America and death to Israel, others, including

almost all on the political left, and many on the political right even, are against this

war for a variety of reasons.

As they assert, the U.S. is fighting another war for Israel.

There is little strategic interest for America in Iran halfway across the world.

Or this is illegal without a congressional declaration of war.

Or Trump promised to not get us into wars, and we have bigger problems at home.

Or there's no way to bomb our way to peace in the Middle East.

From a biblical standpoint, this is not just another war between nations who are at odds

with each other.

This is a war between two of the nations, Israel and Iran, historically called Persia, who

are explicitly referenced in Scripture to face off in the lead-up to the return of Jesus

Christ to earth.

And so this weekend on the Christian worldview, we will discuss the significance and justification

of this war and why Christians should be paying very close attention.

So what are some reasons this war is significant?

Number one is that this war may impact the balance of superpower influence in the world.

And the U.S. and China are the world's superpowers.

And to some degree, Russia.

They all have huge militaries, nuclear weapons, economic power to varying degrees.

Now China is aligned with Russia, Iran, Venezuela, all in opposition to the United States.

So now with the U.S. dismantling Iran, and then having previously decapitated Venezuela

with Nicolas Maduro being extracted out of that country and brought to the United States,

the superpower influence in the world may be altered in ways we don't even know yet.

It looks like the U.S. may be ascending, at least while we have strong leadership, or

circumstances could go sideways in this war, or in somewhere else around the world, where

the U.S. becomes spread out and somewhat weakened.

That reason this war in Iran is significant.

This may impact not only the balance of superpower influence in the world, but it will likely impact

the balance of power in the Middle East.

So before October 7th, 2023, when Hamas and Gaza came across their border and attacked

Israel, killing 1200 people, Israel had been in their decades-old position of being

isolated from their Arab, Muslim, neighboring countries, and threatened in their own historic

homeland in Israel, whether it was Hamas and Gaza or Hezbollah to the north in Lebanon

or was the Houthis in the country of Yemen.

All of them were plotting and exacting pain on Israel and taking away Israel's ability

to live in peace.

And Iran was the home base of it all, instigating these attacks, funding them, arming these groups.

So what's notable is that these groups hold two different branches within Islam, just

like there's different beliefs within Christianity, it's the same within Islam.

But these groups, these Islamic groups, are united in their hatred and their mission

to destroy the Jews and Israel.

So Hamas is Sunni Muslim, that's the largest sect of Islam.

Hezbollah in Lebanon is Shia Muslim, that's the minority sect in Islam.

And they're specifically part of what's called the 12-vershia, which I'll explain in

the minute.

The Houthis in Yemen are also Shia, but they're a distinct sect known as Zedism.

And I went to just an online summary of this just to get an explanation, a basic explanation

of this.

And it said that Islamic eschatology, so their view of the future, shares core elements

across these sects.

Key differences emerge in the role of the Madi, who's called the Messianic Redeemer, the

Dajal, who is a deceptive false Messiah akin to the Antichrist, and the return of Jesus,

who they call Issa.

It's incredible, but do you see the similarities here to biblical eschatology and how the

world would be so easily deceived?

They have their own Messiah, called the Madi.

They have their own Antichrist, called the Dajal.

They have their own unbiblical, wrong, false version of Jesus, called Issa.

It goes on to say this, all three of these sects share belief in ultimate divine judgment,

the defeat of evil, and Jesus' role.

But differ sharply on the Madi, their Messiah.

Soonies see a future leader, not a hidden leader, while the 12th Messiah, the 12th Imam, they

wait for the Madi, they will wait their supernatural 12th Imam's return as the central eschatological

event.

That's what the Iranian regime believes.

In the Zadis, the Houthis, what they believe, downplay a singular hidden Madi in favor

of ongoing righteous leadership.

Little confusing, but the point here is that distinct Islamic groups in the Middle East,

Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis, and the source of it all, Iran, are united in their

death mission against the Jews and Israel, which perfectly aligns with the satanic mission

to destroy God's chosen people that we've seen throughout all of history from ancient

Egypt with Pharaoh trying to kill the Jews, to Persia with Queen Esther saving the Jews

from Hamas' plot there to kill them, to their Russian pogroms, to Nazi Germany, to Iran

screaming death to America and death to Israel.

Now since October 7th, 2023, Israel has largely defeated Hamas in Gaza, they've greatly diminished

Hezbollah to the North and Lebanon, and the Houthis in Yemen, and now with a U.S. partnership,

they are dismantling the Iranian military capability in Iran.

Meanwhile Israel is co-existing at least with other Arab Muslim countries in the Middle

East, such as Saudi Arabia, Jordan, United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and others.

And some of these countries, by the way, are even supporting their fight against Iran because

Iran has been firing missiles at these neighboring countries trying to attack American interest

there, and these Arab countries do not like that.

You have to remember that Iranians are Persian, not Arab, and Iran is the second largest

country in the Middle East by landmass after Saudi Arabia take a look on your map.

It has a second largest population at 90 million plus people, after Egypt and before Turkey.

So even though it seems like things are going well for the U.S. and Israel in this war

after one week, we don't know how this will turn out, but it will have major effects on

the Middle East.

It looks like Israel will be living in a much less dangerous Middle East, at least for

a time.

The third reason that this war has significance is that this war may impact life and economies

around the rest of the world.

Twenty percent of the world's oil and twenty percent of liquid natural gas goes through

the strait of Hormuz, which is just off the west coast of Iran.

So U.S. taking action over there may lead to major disruptions if we don't have protection

for that sort of shipping lane.

All kinds of global trade goes through this region.

And interruptions to that will have impacts, not only on fuel prices, but on semiconductors

and shipping vessels and all the products they carry.

So beyond the significance of super power, geopolitics, the Middle East balance of power,

and the economic impact in the world, there is one issue that towers above the significance

of these, and it is this.

There are two events that are tied as the most significant events in human history.

One of the events has already occurred, and that was the first coming of Jesus Christ,

the Son of God, to live, to die in the cross, for sin, to rise again, and then ascend to

the right hand of the Father in heaven.

The other most significant event has not occurred yet, and that is the second coming,

or the return of Jesus Christ, to save, to judge, and to reign.

Revelation 19 describes that return of Christ.

And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse, and he, Jesus, who sat on it is called

faithful and true, and in righteousness he judges and wages war.

His eyes are a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems, and he has a name written

on him which no one knows except himself.

He is clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and his name is called the Word of God.

And the armies which are in heaven clothed in fine linen, white and clean, were following

him on white horses.

From his mouth comes a sharp sword, so that with it he may strike down the nations, and

he will rule them with a rod of iron, and he treads the winepress of the fierce wrath

of God, the Almighty.

And on his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings, and Lord of lords.

Skipping down to verse 20 of Revelation 19, and the beast, the Antichrist, after Christ

returns, was seized, and with him the false prophet, the religious leader, who performed

the signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast

and those who worshipped his image.

These two were thrown alive into the lake of fire which burns with brimstone, and the

rest, those that followed them, were killed with the sword which came from the mouth of

him, Christ, who sat on the horse, and all the birds were filled with their flesh.

And this is the prophecy about the return of Christ coming to defeat the kingdom of

the beast, to defeat them, to put them in the lake of fire for a thousand years, and

then for Christ to begin his literal one thousand year reign on this earth, in righteousness

and in justice.

This is why this war is significant, and why we need to pay attention.

It involves Israel, God's chosen people, who he has not forsaken, whom he will save

as a nation, and many of them he will save spiritually in the lead-up to the return of

his son.

It involves Iran, a nation who will come against Israel before the coming of Christ.

It involves America who is helping and partnering with God's chosen people to defeat a shared

enemy.

So how will this turn out?

Will it lead to peace in the Middle East, and with Israel, and set the conditions for

the future invasion of Gog and May Gog and God's rescue?

Or will it just inflame further conflict in the Middle East?

We don't know yet, but we need to be paying attention and praying.

After this short break, we'll discuss why Christians view the significance of this war

very differently.

I'm David Wheaton, and you are listening to the Christian worldview radio program.

This is where the left has really discovered the one-two punch.

If they can define empathy and compassion according to their definitions, and in this next

step it is, they can accuse you of not having it unless you go along, then they've got

you.

You don't want to be called a hater, you don't want to be called callous and heartless,

because you think I want to be known as a compassionate person.

But you're not using the Bible's definition of compassion.

You've now adopted this progressive, leftist, worldly definition, and you're being steered

by it.

What was Pastor Joe Rigny explaining how the left manipulates Christians through twisting

empathy?

For a limited time, you can order his book, Leadership and the Sin of Empathy, for a donation

of any amount to the Christian worldview.

The book is hardcover, 164 pages, and retails for $22.

To order, go to TheChristianWheelview.org or call 1-88646-2233 or write to box 401, excels

your Minnesota 55331.

The March-April issue of the Christian worldview journal features a special section on Easter

in the resurrection of Christ, an article by Pastor Joe Rigny on how untethered empathy

is used to manipulate and advance leftist power.

Journalist Alex Newman writes about the godless, globalist tentacles of the Jeffrey Epstein

scandal.

The Christian worldview journal is a bi-monthly, print and digital publication designed to

sharpen your biblical worldview on current events and issues of the faith.

It also includes a resource catalog and ministry updates.

The journal is sent to Christian worldview partners as a thank you for their support

of this radio ministry.

To become a Christian worldview partner or order an individual issue of the journal, go

to TheChristianWheelview.org or call 1-88646-2233 or write to box 401, excels your Minnesota 55331.

Welcome back to the Christian worldview, I'm David Wheaton.

Be sure to visit TheChristianWheelview.org where you can sign up for our weekly email and

the Christian worldview journal, print publication, order resources for adults and children

and support the ministry.

Our topic today is what is the significance and justification of the war with Iran?

Now every true Christian believes that Christ is coming again as he promised.

But what precedes the return of Christ or the events leading to the second coming of

Christ is debated amongst Christians and there are three main views.

There's the Amalennial view, there's the Post-Malennial view and there's the Pre-Malennial

view.

The Amalennial view means no, so there's no future 1,000-year reign of Christ, Amalennial.

The Millennium to Amalennialist is a symbolic long period of time.

They will consider that the age we're in right now, the age of the church right now.

And Christ is actually reigning spiritually now in the spiritual millennium.

And so they believe there's a mix of the advance of the church and the gospel at this

time and there's opposition of the church faces right now.

And then Christ will at some point return for final judgment.

There's no seven-year tribulation period that precedes that time.

The Post-Malennial position is that Christ returns after post the Millennium.

And the Millennium again is a symbolic long time right now that we're in during which Christianity

increasingly advances in the world through the church, in nations, in laws, in institutions.

There's a growing influence, maybe even a dominance of Christianity in the world.

And then Christ eventually returns to judge.

Again, there's no seven-year tribulation.

Now both of these views, Amalennial and Post-Malennial, do not see Israel as prophetically significant.

They see Israel as just another people group who can be saved spiritually through the

gospel, but promises that were made to Abraham of land, seed, and blessing are not relevant

for modern-day Israel.

And they see the church as the new Israel, consisting of both saved Gentiles and saved

Jews, who the church will be the object of God's blessing.

So there's not a separate entity of God's chosen people, the Jews, that have a future

purpose and plan by God for them.

The last prophetic view, generally speaking here, is the pre-Malennial view.

This is where Christ returns before pre a literal 1,000-year millennial reign on earth.

And in this view, the lead up to his return, there is increasing tribulation in the world,

and there's particularly a seven-year period of time before his return called the tribulation.

In during this tribulation, there's a rise of the Antichrist, the one who is inspired

by Satan and he opposes the Jewish people, the Jewish nation.

There's a turning against Israel halfway through this tribulation.

There are these judgments of the seals, the trumpets, and the bowls during this time of

the tribulation gets increasingly worse.

Two-thirds of the Jews die in judgment during the tribulation, but one-third are spiritually

saved during the tribulation.

And then Christ returns to defeat the Antichrist, to judge unbelievers and begin a literal

1,000-year reign.

So those are the prominent eschatological views within Christianity, and there are others

subsets of those, but those are the main ones.

Now what about Iran?

I'd like just to read a passage from Ezekiel 38 and 39 to give us some insight as to why

Iran is such a significant country.

Both in the past, they've been around for millennia, but also in the future when it comes

to eschatology or God's promise of the end times.

Ezekiel 38 talks about this prophecy of the future invasion of Israel by Gog and Magog.

And the word the Lord came to me saying, this is Ezekiel, the prophet writing, son of

man, set your face toward Gog of the land of Magog, the prince of Rosh, Mishek and

Tubal.

In prophesy against him and say, thus says the Lord God, behold, I am against you, O Gog,

prince of Rosh, Mishek and Tubal, I will turn you about and put hooks into your jaws and

I will bring you out and all your army, horses and horsemen, all of them, splendidly

attired, a great company with buckler and shield, all of them wielding swords, Persia,

Iran, Ethiopia and put with them.

All of them was shield and helmet, gomer with all its troops, bet Togarma and the remote

parts of the north with all its troops, many peoples with you.

So the first paragraph saying that God is going to draw all these different nations against

his people, Israel.

Verse 8, after many days you will be summoned in the latter years, you will come into the

land, that's the promised land, that is restored from the sword whose inhabitants have been

gathered from many nations to the mountains of Israel.

So the Jews are back in the land here, they've been re-gathered, which had been a continual

waste as it has been.

But its people were brought out from the nations and they are living securely, notice this,

all of them, you will go up, you will come like a storm, you will be like a cloud covering

the land, you and all your troops and many peoples with you.

Verse 10, thus says the Lord, it will come about in that day that thoughts will come into

your mind and you will devise an evil plan and you will say, I will go up against the

land, this is Israel, of unwalled villages, I will go against those who are at rest that

live securely, all of them living without walls and having no bars or gates to capture

spoil and to seize plunder to turn your hand against the waste places which are now inhabited

and against the people who are gathered from the nations and you will come up against

my people Israel like a cloud to cover the land.

Which will come about in the last days that I will bring you against my land so that

the nations may know me when I am sanctified through you before their eyes, O God, with

pestilence and with blood.

I will enter into judgment with Him and I will reign on Him and on His troops and on

the many peoples who are with Him a torrential reign with hailstones, fire and brimstone,

I will magnify myself, sanctify myself and make myself known in the sight of many nations

and they will know that I am the Lord.

So there is a little longer passage but as you read through that it is just unmistakable

that Israel has been gathered back into the land and God draws these enemies of His people

to come against Israel and then He miraculously saves them.

Why is this more significant back to our original question?

Well Persia Iran is part of the Gog and May Gog coalition that invades Israel and this

probably takes place in the early to mid-portion of the seven-year tribulation and this coalition

is supernaturally defeated by God and everyone knows that God did it.

Even the Jews start turning to God as a result of it.

Now leading this invasion, Gog, I believe that's a reference to the Antichrist, the beast,

this human who's satanically inspired during this time of tribulation.

Apparently he survives this invasion of Israel because at the midpoint of the tribulation

he sets up an image of himself in the temple to be worshipped and then later in the tribulation

he returns to lead the armies of the world against Israel known as the Battle of Armageddon

and that is the point at which Christ returns to earth to save Israel, to judge the world

and to begin reigning in the millennium.

Now let's bring this to modern day.

The rise of Israel currently in the Middle East, the great reduction of their enemies,

Hamas, Hezbollah, Houthis, and then most importantly Iran.

Perhaps the signing of the Abraham Accords, the peace agreement, amongst the nations of the

Middle East. This could be leading to a time of peace and security for Israel, heading into

the time of the tribulation and then this invasion of Gog and Megag comes.

In other words, we might be heading toward a more peaceful time in the Middle East

because that is what the Bible says precedes this invasion of Gog and Megag.

So what happens to Iran in this war, whether it's a complete defeat in regime change to a more

favorable regime or even just reducing their power for a time, this is very significant

because someday they're going to revive to join in that Gog and Megag invasion of Israel.

Now we don't know the timing yet, but we do know this.

Every day, God is moving circumstances around the world toward His plan of snatching up

of His church at some point, saving Israel physically and even spiritually and the return

of His Son. Now most of the world doesn't know about this and certainly doesn't believe any of this.

Most Christians don't even believe this. Most Christians are either a millennial or post-millennial

and don't see the significance of the nation of Israel and Iran. They just think it's about the

church and the propagation of the gospel at this point and then Christ will return at some

undefined point in the future. Now there may be some post-millennial Christians who see this war as

a Christian war against Islam and that's certainly how Muslims are seeing it as a Christian war

against them and they actually see this favorably as Christians taking dominion perhaps in the

Middle East and the world. I don't think the Bible teaches that, but I think it's unmistakable

that Israel, God's chosen people is His special object of affection and blessing despite the fact

that they're an unbelief and even in a kind of judgment right now for rejecting their God.

But will God utterly reject His chosen people? Well let's let the Bible answer that question.

Romans chapter 11, it's so clear. I say then Paul writes, God has not rejected His people has He

may it never be? That's the strongest way of saying no way. For I too am an Israelite,

a descendant of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin Paul writes, God has not rejected His people

whom He forenew. Or do you not know what the scripture says in the passage about Elijah?

How Elijah pleads with God against Israel? Lord, they have killed your prophets, they have torn down

your alters and I alone and left and they are seeking my life. Elijah thought He was the only one.

Verse 4, but what is the divine response to Elijah? God says, I have kept for myself 7,000 men

who have not bowed the knee to bail. In the same way, verse 5, then there has also come to be at the

present time a remnant according to God's gracious choice. Now skipping down to verse 25 of that

chapter, for I do not want you brethren to be uninformed of this mystery. And what is that mystery?

That a partial hardening has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in.

What that means is yes, the Jewish people are largely in rejection of God and their Messiah,

Jesus Christ. And that has been open to door of opportunity for the Gentiles to be grafted in

to salvation. And then he says in verse 26, and so all Israel will be saved just as it is written,

the deliverer will come from Zion. He will remove ungodliness from Jacob. This is my covenant

with them. When I take away their sins, then he says this in verse 28, from the standpoint of the

gospel, Paul writes, they, the Jews, the unbelieving Jews, they are enemies for your sake, enemies of

the gospel, but from the standpoint of God's choice, they are beloved for the sake of the fathers,

for the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. They cannot be changed what God established

and shows for his people in the Old Testament. They were disobedient. A lot of the time in the

Old Testament, they were disobedient during the time when Christ was here. They were primarily

responsible for the rejection of their Messiah along with the Romans, the crucified Christ.

They have rejected him across the ages since them. They were cast out of their land in 8070.

They have been miraculously regathered in 1948, and they are still in a state of a hardened

rejection of Christ as their Messiah, but it won't last forever. God's plan is irrevocable,

and this is why this war is significant. It doesn't mean that the tribulation begins tomorrow,

but I think it doesn't take very much imagination to see that this is a major move that is going

on, a restructuring of the Middle East that could be putting Israel in a position of peace and

prosperity and strength that may go forward to having some peace in the Middle East, and then

everything changes with his Gog and May Gog invasion when Israel is not expecting it. The next segment

we'll talk about whether this war with Iran is even justified. So stay tuned, I'm David Wheaton,

you are listening to the Christian Realview Radio Program.

The March-April issue of the Christian Realview Journal features a special section on Easter

in the resurrection of Christ, an article by Pastor Joe Rigny on how untethered empathy is used

to manipulate and advance leftist power. Journalist Alex Newman writes about the godless,

globalist tentacles of the Jeffrey Epstein scandal. The Christian Realview Journal is a

bi-monthly, print and digital publication designed to sharpen your biblical worldview on

current events and issues of the faith. It also includes a resource catalog and ministry updates.

The Journal is sent to Christian Realview Partners as a thank you for their support of this

radio ministry. To become a Christian Realview Partner or order an individual issue of the journal,

go to theChristianRealview.org or call 1-88646-2233 or write to box 401 Excelsior Minnesota 55331.

Knowing all that we know about God, his beauty, his value, were headed to eternity. Our sins have

been taken care of. My greatest problem in life is my sin and it's been taken care of forever.

I'm no longer a child of the devil. God has given me so much and blessed me so much. How could I

possibly return to what the devil likes or what the devil loves? How can I give my life

to that which reflects the evil one rather than God? That was Pastor Jared Moore exhorting

Christians to love God more than their own lusts. For a limited time you can order Pastor Moore's

devotional book 33 Days to Freedom from Lust for a donation of any amount to the Christian Realview.

The book is softcover 246 pages and retails for $15. To order, go to theChristianRealview.org

or call 1-886-646-2233 or write to box 401 Excelsior Minnesota 55331.

Thanks for joining us on the Christian World View. I'm David Wheaton.

Today's program and past programs along with transcripts and short takes are available at

theChristianRealview.org. While there you can also sign up for a weekly email and the Christian

Realview Journal print publication, order resources and support the ministry. Our topic today is

what is the significance and justification of the war with Iran and in this final segment

in light of all the opposition to this war from the left, and even many on the right,

let's discuss whether there is justification for this war. As we heard earlier in the program,

this is what Americans woke up to on Saturday, February 28th, just a week ago that our nation

partnering with Israel had begun a war with Iran. President Trump gave a very carefully

worded eight-minute message to the nation that started this way.

For short time ago, the United States military began major combat operations in Iran.

When a president announces a military action, their statement is dissected because it reveals

the justification for war. Now, there may be further motivations beyond what stated, but at least

this is the official purpose. So here's what the president went on to say.

Our objective is to defend the American people by eliminating

imminent threats from the Iranian regime, a vicious group of very hard, terrible people.

It's menacing activities directly in danger. The United States, our troops, our bases overseas,

and our allies throughout the world. For 47 years, the Iranian regime has chanted death to

America and waged an unending campaign of bloodshed and mass murder, targeting the United States,

our troops and the innocent people in many, many countries. Among the regime's very first acts

was to back a violent takeover of the U.S. Embassy in Iran, holding dozens of American

hostages for 444 days. In 1983, Iran's proxies carried out the Marine barracks bombing in Beirut

that killed 241 American military personnel. In 2000, they knew and were probably involved with

the attack on the USS Cole. Many died. Iranian forces killed and maimed hundreds of American

service members in Iraq. The regime's proxies have continued to launch countless attacks against

American forces stationed in the Middle East in recent years, as well as U.S. naval and commercial

vessels and international shipping lands. It's been mass terror and we're not going to put up with

it any longer. Did you hear the justification? Quote to defend the American people by eliminating

imminent threats from the Iranian regime. Unquote. That's a loaded sentence. In other words,

Americans are in danger whether they know it or not from this Iranian regime. And then he said,

well, here's why for 47 years, the Iranian regime has chanted death to America and waged an

unending campaign of bloodshed and mass murder targeting the United States. And he then he listed

many of the aggressions of Iran against the U.S. And this has been the case. I remember as a

child when Iran held U.S. hostages for well over a year during the Jimmy Carter administration.

And the Carter administration failed to get them out in a botched rescue attempt. And then Ronald

Reagan came in and was able to bring the hostages home. And then President Trump gave further

justification that involved our ally Israel. From Lebanon to Yemen and Syria to Iraq,

the regime has armed, strained, and funded terrorist militias that have soaked the earth with blood

and guts. And it was Iran's proxy Hamas that launched the monstrous October 7th attacks on

Israel, sluttering more than 1,000 innocent people, including 46 Americans while taking 12 of our

citizens hostage. It was brutal. Something like the world has never seen before.

So here's another justification that we need to support our key ally in the Middle East,

Israel. And this is what anti-Israel people jump on that we are going to war for Israel.

Well, Genesis chapter 12, when God speaks to Abraham and gives him this covenant promise,

he says, Go forth from your country and from your relatives and from your father's house

to the land. This is the promised land, which I will show you and I will make you a great nation.

And I will bless you and make your name great. And so you shall be a blessing. And I will bless

those who bless you and the one who curses you, I will curse. And in you, all the families of

the earth will be blessed. So scripture says God's blessing comes to those who protect and support

and bless the nation of Israel. Now, this doesn't mean that anyone has to support his current

sinful culture or its rejection of God in Christ. It means to support and bless their existence

in the land. And you could easily make the case that that is what the U.S. is doing by helping

Israel in this war against Iran, not only protecting ourselves, but protecting Israel as well.

Iran is the world's number one state sponsor of terror and just recently killed tens of thousands

of its own citizens on the street as they protested. It has always been the policy of the United

States, in particular, my administration, that this terrorist regime can never have a nuclear

weapon. I'll say it again. They can never have a nuclear weapon. That is why in Operation Midnight

Hammer last June, we obliterated the regime's nuclear program at Fordal, Natanz, and Isfahan.

After that attack, we warned them never to resume their malicious pursuit of nuclear weapons,

and we sought repeatedly to make a deal. We tried. They wanted to do it. They didn't want to do it.

Again, they wanted to do it. They didn't want to do it. They didn't know what was happening.

They just wanted to practice evil. But Iran refused just as it has for decades and decades.

They rejected every opportunity to renounce their nuclear ambitions, and we can't take it anymore.

Instead, they attempted to rebuild their nuclear program and to continue developing long-range

missiles that can now threaten our very good friends and allies in Europe, our troop stationed

overseas, and could soon reach the American homeland. Just imagine how emboldened this regime

would be if they ever had, and actually were armed with nuclear weapons, as they means to,

deliver their message. For these reasons, the United States military has undertaken a massive

and ongoing operation to prevent this very wicked, radical dictatorship from threatening

America and our core national security interests. We are going to destroy their missiles and

raise their missile industry to the ground. It will be totally again obliterated. We're going

to annihilate their navy. We're going to ensure that the region's terrorist proxies can no longer

destabilize the region or the world and attack our forces and no longer use their IEDs or

roadside bombs, as they are sometimes called, to so gravely wound and kill thousands and thousands

of people, including many Americans. And we will ensure that Iran does not obtain a nuclear

weapon. It's a very simple message. They will never have a nuclear weapon.

All right, here's further justification. Our own security, the US security, and our allies in

Europe and elsewhere will be at grave risk if we allow Iran to develop a nuclear weapon. And of

course, that's the case. It's like dealing with North Korea now. We have a very difficult time

trying to deal with them because they have nuclear weapons. This regime will soon learn that no

one should challenge the strength and might of the United States armed forces. I built and rebuilt

our military in my first administration. And there is no military on earth, even close to its power,

strength, or sophistication. My administration has taken every possible step to minimize the risk

to US personnel in the region. Even so, and I do not make this statement lightly, the Iranian regime

seeks to kill. The lives of courageous American heroes may be lost, and we may have

casualties that often happens in war. But we're doing this. Not for now. We're doing this for

the future. And it is a noble mission. We pray for every service member as they selflessly risk

their lives to ensure that Americans and our children will never be threatened by a nuclear

armed Iran. We ask God to protect all of our heroes in harm's way. And we trust that with his help,

the men and women of the armed forces will prevail. We have the greatest in the world,

and they will prevail. So here's the president's setting expectations. And he's asking for God's help,

good for him, and doing so. And then finally this portion at the end where he speaks directly to

the Iranians. To the members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard, the armed forces, and all of the

police, I say tonight that you must lay down your weapons and have complete immunity,

or in the alternative, face certain death. So lay down your arms. You will be treated fairly

with total immunity, or you will face certain death. Finally, to the great proud people of Iran,

I say tonight that the hour of your freedom is at hand. Stay sheltered. Don't leave your home.

It's very dangerous outside. Bombs will be dropping everywhere. When we are finished,

take over your government. It will be yours to take. This will be probably your only chance

for generations. For many years, you have asked for America's help, but you never got it.

No president was willing to do what I am willing to do tonight. Now you have a president

who is giving you what you want. So let's see how you respond. America is backing you with

overwhelming strength and devastating force. Now is the time to seize control of your destiny and

to unleash the prosperous and glorious future that is close within your reach. This is the moment

for action. Do not let it pass. May God bless the brave men and women of America's armed forces.

May God bless the United States of America. May God bless you all. Thank you.

I thought those are very powerful speech by President Trump that established

really an airtight justification for this war with Iran. Iran has been at war with us for 47

years and our chief ally Israel. And they can't be allowed to have a nuclear weapon. They're a

threat to us and others. And notice that he didn't mention regime change from Islamist as one

of the goals of the operation. But he's clearly hoping that will occur for Iran to have a new

governing leadership that is at least capable of working with the US and Israel. It's very hard to

do regime change without troops on the ground in a long occupation. I don't think the president

Americans want to get involved in that. The Iranian people don't have weapons while the most

radical Islamists do over there. So I'm very skeptical that regime change can happen.

So perhaps the best result we can hope for is that they're at least defeated for a time.

And so the bottom line is any nation that feels threatened by another nation like this has every

right to do whatever it takes to protect itself. Iran has been threatening death to America,

death to Israel for decades. They've been killing Americans, taking his hostage, attacking our ally

Israel. We tried to negotiate a deal that they wouldn't develop a nuclear weapon. We offered to give

them nuclear energy. They refuse that. This war is fully justified. Really the better question is

is the war a wise decision though. Because there are lots of risks here. American deaths and there's

already been some being taken hostage. All their countries getting involved. Russia and China

aggression elsewhere. Spurring Islamic attacks here in America. So the question is would it be

better to manage this as we've been trying to do for decades with with sanctions and subterfuge

and giving them cash and trying to negotiate with them? Well, that has been tried and nothing

changes with them. And frankly, it's a moot point now because we're into this war now and now we

must win. And it's going very well. A lot of their leadership have been killed. Their military

and navy have been devastated. Iran has alienated their neighboring Arab nations. But the outcome is

far from clear in the very early stages. Will a favorable leadership take over perhaps unlikely

or will another radical Islamist lead the country? Maybe worse than the one that was killed on

the first day? Well, Iran simply rebuild to fight another day because that's what all radical

Islamists live for to kill infidels to fight to destroy Israel and be martyred for Allah. Their

worldview is totally different than Americans. We need to understand this. We think about

you're raising families and having your kids be educated and get jobs and buying a home and

the recreational things we do and getting together with friends and traveling. They don't think

that way. These true Muslims dream about converting the world to their satanic religion of Islam

by whatever means necessary. That's their purpose in life. So the American mind and the Iranian

Islamist mind are like on completely different wavelengths and so are the minds of many Americans.

Minnesota congresswoman and Somali leftists Ilhan Omar said, President Trump is unilaterally

dragging this nation into an illegal and unjustified war with Iran without congressional authorization

without a clear objective and without any imminent threat to the United States. And her sentiments

are representative of almost the entire left in this country. Shane Clayborn, who is a

quote unquote progressive Christian. In other words, theologically liberal, he said,

killing is wrong. Attacking Iran is terribly wrong. We will never build a better world by killing

other people's children. Violence only gets more violence. When we live by the sword, we die by

the sword. Two wrongs never make a right. It is impossible to love our enemies as Christ commands

and simultaneously prepare to kill them. War no more. Unquote. By his reasoning, there's never a time

for war, which the Bible specifically says there is. It says in Ecclesiastes, there is a time for

war. God ordered Israel to militarily take over the Promised Land. And then there's Candace Owens,

anti Israel on the right who said, we will never forget that they murdered Charlie Kirk for this war.

And he knew they were going to do it. In honor of Charlie, I stand against Israel in capital

letters. She's saying that Charlie Kirk was beginning to understand that Israel is the problem,

that he was murdered because of that. There's no evidence of that. And by the way, those who

stand against God's chosen people, God will stand against them. So here's my exhortation.

Christians don't need to be pro-war to understand why degrading the threat of Iran

is justifiable for the US and our allies in Israel. I wish the conflict could have been solved

without war. Efforts had been made for decades and in the lead up to do that, but it didn't resolve

anything. So let's not be persuaded that there's no justification for this war because there is

plenty. And so let's pray to close today's program. I'm nipotent father in heaven. Your word says

you have established your throne in the heavens and your sovereignty rules overall.

We believe that that you are powerfully moving events toward the salvation of your people

and even more toward the return of your son. So help us to trust you as you work through

imperfect leaders and nations to bring about your plan. Let us not be drawn into opposing

your people. Instead, let us pray for their turning to you. Our nation is sinful and we don't

deserve your favor. But we pray for your favor, Lord, in our opposition to this Iranian regime,

which is even more evil, who desires to destroy us and your chosen people of Israel.

We pray that you will protect Iranian believers and open up many hearts in Iran to believe the

gospel. We pray for wisdom and salvation for President Trump and our other leaders,

and for the protection of peace and salvation of the members of our military and their families.

Help us, Lord, to be faithful as we eagerly anticipate the return of your son, to save Israel,

to judge those who reject you and to reign over the earth. And it's in his name we pray. Amen.

Thank you for joining us today on the Christian Wheel of View and for your support of this

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