Thursday, May 16, 2019

Global SITREP B8-19: SCALING UP THE WAR

Patriot PAC-3, B-52H Stratofortresses, 100,000+ Combat Troops, Naval Armada

FINAL UPDATE 16 May 2013: This will be the final update for SITREP B8-19. A lot has taken place in these past two weeks, most of it from Gaza to the Arabian Peninsula. 

However, a question must be posed: Are we in a crisis? The Eschatology Today answer is, no, we're not in a crisis. It is the Islamic Republic of Iran that is in the midst of a serious crisis, and how it attempts to extricate itself from its self-made crisis will determine how severe this crisis will become for the abhorent Twelver regime and whether or not literal fulfillment of Jeremiah's and Isaiah's relative prophecies occur within a relatively short span of time. Remember, Jesus said, "these things must take place, but the end is not yet."

What will take place next is a classified briefing to the members of the U.S. Congress next week regarding what Iran has done this past week, what it has done via its proxies, and what the potential responses will be should further attacks take place. The United States took the leadership role only it can provide by surging significant military power into the Middle East. Even more will move if that becomes necessary and that depends entirely on how foolsih the clerics in Tehran decide to become. They are a seriously apocalyptic-minded lot, so no one's going to hold their breath in the hope they suddenly become peacemongers.

14 May 2019: As the title of this SITREP attests, the situation in the Middle East is being significantly scaled up. The reason for this can be stated in one word: Iran. Take a cold, hard, objective look around the whole of the Middle East and one thing becomes blatantly obvious from the Bible prophecy perspective: none of the ongoing conflicts or areas of military tension have abated one iota. To the bold contrary, the over-riding theme of "wars and rumors of wars" has only increased; scaled up, in every imaginable and even unimaginable way.

There was a very high-level meeting of all the significant players of the US National Security apparatus at CIA HQ Langley last Thursday. Speculation was rampant on what the meeting was about. Now we know, and again, it's a one word answer: Iran. To the mix of American military forces and capabilities being surged into the Middle East in the past week, the meeting also pushed forward the high potential for a 120,000-strong combat force of US soldiers to deploy into CENTCOM build-up of American combat force projection.

This projection of American power clearly focused against the Iranian Twelver regime's regional aspirations of dominance over Sunni Arab nations, but mostly against the State of Israel, has had a curious effect. It has shown how weak in the knees our European NATO allies are. They, meaning nations like the UK and Spain most notably, appear to prefer a path of appeasement towards the apocalypse-minded clerical regime in Tehran rather than stand firm and hold a line drawn in the sand. 

As of yesterday, following a weekend (Sunday morning actually) where Iranian forces clandestinely attacked four oil tankers of the coast of Al-Fujairah port in the UAE, causing significant damage (big holes) to those vessels, but without creating oil spillage or injury to the crews. A prompt US investigation issued a preliminary assessment just yesterday that Iran was responsible for the apparent limpet mine attacks against the four oil tankers. As the U.S. bristled over these attacks, a Spanish frigate sailing as a part of the Lincoln CSG which had just entered the Gulf of Aden, was ordered by its government authority to withdraw itself from the CSG operations. In the UK that government began expressing fears that another Iraq-like war was in the offing. Fear and trepidation are not signs of leadership in the face of clear aggression.

So much, at this point, for the prophecy-based theory circulating that an all-powerful all-EU, without the United States, will be the beast empire military juggernaut of the 70th Week. We would do well to read again the text of Daniel 2; not to mention chapters 7 through 12, to refresh once more about the "Ten Toes" and the rise of the "Little Horn." Prophecy theorems that do not begin with these texts, plus Ezekiel 38:13, will miss the mark, first time, every time.

We have our Lord's assurance that "these things," that is the several signs He gave in the Olivet Discourse, "must take place." We emphasize this a great deal here on Eschatology Today, and it's for good reason. While no one can foretell specifically what will happen in the next day, next week or next month, we can understand the "big picture" that has been given to us in Scripture. Eschatology Today interprets the Lord's prophets, it is not one of them.

9 May 2019: A flight of B-52H Stratorfortresses departed Barksdale AFB in Louisiana yesterday on their deployment to Al-Udeid Air Base in Qatar. The "Buffs" were topped off with fuel for their intercontinental transit by KC-10 Extenders flying out of Joint Base McGuire Dix Lakehurst, New Jersey. The "Buffs" are joined in this expedition by the USS Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group which is currently in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea. The Lincoln CSG will probably not enter the Gulf without an extensive US de-mining of those shallow waters.

 
B-52H being refueled over Atlantic by JB-MDL KC-10A 8MAY19.
Image courtesy USAF AMC.



Barksdale AFB B-52H on the tarmac at Al-Udeid AB Qatar late yesterday.
This is real power projection. Image via CENTCOM.

7 May 2019:There's a very good reason why the Netanyahu government has paused operations against the terrorists in Gaza: Iran. Both President Trump and PM/DM Netanyahu are completely aligned in what is about to take place. 

The US/Israel plan of action has been developing for the past few weeks, with only glimpses of its scope hinted at in statements made prior to this past weekend. An interuption was caused by the assassination attempt on an IDF Colonel and another soldier on the Gaza border by a PIJ sniper on Friday. Israel retaliated for this action and resumed heavy rocket fire following the IAF's retaliation strike. Both assassination attempt and high-volume rocket fire were ordered to take place by Iran which hoped the resulting combat would derail the US-Israel action plan. 

Israel did great damage to HAMAS and the PIJ through Saturday and Sunday (4/5 May), and also assassinated the critical HAMAS-Iran money man in very tight quarters on a busy Gaza street in broad daylight with a precision missile strike. Even the terrorists have acknowledged this in a statement early today saying they needed the current respite from combat to lick (heal) their wounds. Netanyahu has told the Israeli people point-blank that the Gaza combat is not over and will be resumed soon.
Standing by on Gaza border...

So what took place about 8 weeks ago? Israel provided to the US the intelligence its Mossad had collected indicating that that Iran was in advanced stages of tasking the IRGC and its proxy forces throughout the region to launch wide-scale attacks on US forces in Syria, Iraq and in the Gulf. In the ensuing week or so the US detected these preparations first-hand for itself. A military response was ordered. 

As background, in March the B-1 bomber group that had deployed to Al-Udeid Air Base in Qatar concluded its deployment and returned home to Dyess AB in Texas. This left the Middle East without a combat bomber group in the CENTCOM CJTF-OIR AOR. The announced deployment of a new bomber group (either B-52 or B-1, or a mix of both) fills this void. Concurrent with the new bomber group deployment the US has also rerouted the USS Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group (Lincoln CSG) to the the Gulf and operations within 5th Fleet. These two combined are part of the "unrelenting force" promised to Iran by NSA Bolton should Iran follow through on its attacks.

Updates as they occur. This situation should develop rapidly over the next day or so, and there is sporadic firing along the Gaza border as you read this.

5 May 2019: The Eschatology Today expectation forecast of the previous B7-19 SITREP hit the proverbial nail on its head - the Twelver regime of Iran has commanded its Gaza proxies to launch a rocket war (500+ and counting) against the civilians of southern and central Israel just as Israel prepares to celebrate its 71st anniversary of modern-day existence. 

This time there is a mounting death toll in Israel, and the Israeli response has all appearances of being a more lethal and expanded or upscaled set of military actions. The IDF even struck and destroyed a mosque adjacent to the beach area of al-Shati (NW of Gaza city) that the PIJ was using as a Command and Control (C2) facility. 

Israel has also begun targeted assassinations of the HAMAS and PIJ leadership in Gaza. Israel will also go after this leadership cadre in Beirut, Lebanon and wherever else they may hole themselves. No quarter is to be given, vehicular movement is also no guarantee of avoiding death from above as HAMAS' senior field commander Hamed Hamdan el-Hadary just learned while driving his Toyota. Before his death this morning El-Hadary was the Iran-to-Gaza money transfer official for HAMAS and the PIJ according to IDF sources.

Hamed Hamdan el-Hadary's Toyota destroyed in IAF precision missile strike
Israel has reinforced the IDF envelope around Gaza with the deployment of an additional armored brigade. The closure envelope announced by PM/DM Netanyahu extends outwards from Gaza by 40km (25 miles). Netanyahu and his Security Cabinet has also issued the order this morning ti intensify the IAF airstrikes in Gaza as well as a general mobilization of deploying ground forces. It is a near certainty the IDF inject itself into Gaza at some point. Whether these insertions are hit-n-run strikes are rocket launch sites or a campaign to seize territory remains to be seen. 

Going Forward: Eschaology Today's focus will be whether or not this round of warfare becomes a fulfillment of Isaiah 11:14 and Ezekiel 28:24-26 as the culmination of the Psalm 83 prophecy, meaning an armed conflict which begins in Gaza but comes to involve Lebanon, Jordan, Sinai, Syria and Iran. Ongoing rapid and fluid developments wil be covered in the next update.

67 comments:

  1. The IDF has updated the ID of the terror funding official who was killed to Hamed Hamdan KHODARI. Either either name he is no more.

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  2. As of 10:00 EDT 5MAY19: 600+ terror rockets from Gaza; three (3) dead in Israel.

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  3. The IDF Golani brigade now rolling into its Gaza deployment positions.

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  4. After 1900 Israel time and it has been a very rough day for Iran's allies in Gaza, with more to come. Terror HQ, C2 and primary CyberWar HQ destructions plus targeted assassinations account for serious damage inflicted by the IAF today.

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  5. Appreciating the rolling updates. Thanks Sean.

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  6. 1 AM in Israel. Terrorist rocket fire continues. IAF airstrikes continue. IDF artillery is working over sections of Gaza. The war will continue, or so the Netanyahu government says.

    However, the real news to relay at this point is the near universal rejection by the Israeli public to talk of a ceasefire Egypt is trying to broker.

    The public is letting it be known loudly that a complete loss of confidence in the government will occur should it accept any ceasefire with the Gaza terrorists. Blood has been spilt, blood is required of the enemy. If a ceasefire is agreed to it would make the Netanyahu/Likud victory very short lived.

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  7. The world is in turmoil it seems and not many places that is being spared. Mankind against man in wars and weather seems to be at war in areas all over the world. Sun is shining bright and beautiful where I live and yet just a few miles from us there has been huge storms that have shaken all of the surrounding population.

    Maybe this is the beginning of another "shaking" but my prayers are still with and for Israel. Thank you brother and friend for all that you do to keep us all informed. Praying for your peace and continued safety.

    GG5/SHALOM,SHALOM

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  8. Amen GG5. Rmembering our Lord's words that "these things must take place."

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  9. Praying that God of the Angel Armies, the Lord Almighty, bless, guide & protect the IDF & Israel.

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  10. Following clear and increasing I&W collected by US intelligence assets that Iran has been preparing to attack US forces in the Middle East, NSA John Bolton revealed late Sunday night that the USS Abraham Lincoln CSG and a US Air Force bomber group were deploying to send an unambiguous message to Tehran on what the consequences of an attack would entail.

    Bloomberg Report

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  11. The terrorists in Gaza continue sending ballon bombs into Israel. Only the rocket fire and IAF retaliation strikes have come to a temporary halt.

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  12. As expected, the Israeli public and media are lambasting PM/DM Netanyahu today; his weakness in the face of wanton aggression is astounding.

    Southern Israel is on fire from terrorist balloon bombs. Some caesefire!

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  13. Sean,
    I don't blame those citizens of Israel for their response to PM Netanyahu's weakness in the face of the enemy. Maybe our prayers should be for Almighty YAHWAH to arrest and conquer the fear factors taking place in the PM and his staff of advisors. Open rebellion can easily be lit under the feet of the Israeli people and it wouldn't be hard to accomplish.

    Closing with this word: Bibi is showing signs of the same sort of leadership that a former occupier of the White House in DC demonstrated to the American people not too many moons ago. Asking for a rod of steel iron to be supernaturally inserted in Bibi's back bone for the tasks ahead.

    GG5/SHALOM

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  14. GG5,

    Great prayer to ask of our Father. I join you!

    I believe He put Bibi in office to bring fulfillment to the prophecies we study, so for me it's not a matter of "if" but "when" Bibi tasks his generals to git'r'done.

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    1. I'm not sure. I hope you're right but I'm still having difficulty seeing Netanyahu acting in a "psalm 83 way" perhaps when he's backed into a corner it will change

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    2. I think your update answered my concerns

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    3. Good. Now we watch to see what takes place.

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  15. In response to Iran. https://www.foxnews.com/world/iran-john-bolton-uss-abraham-lincoln-middle-east-israel-hamas

    Abe Lincoln Carrier Group CVN 72

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  16. Another reason could be Bibi is in constant conversations with POTUS, right? Could Bibi’s I decision weakness be related to Pres. having too much authority in Israel’s business?

    Just trying to figure it all out like most grannies do!

    GG5/SHALOM

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  17. GG5,

    You're absolutely correct, and I'm going to say why in the 7 May update above.

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  18. BREAKING: SECSTATE Pompeo is on an unscheduled trip to Iraq. Will likely present his Iraqi counterpart intel on Iranian plans for Iraqi Shi'a militias to attack US forces in or passing through sovereign Iraqi territory.

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  19. The deploying Bomber Group now known to be comprised of B-52 Stratofortresses.

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  20. SECDEF Pompeo after meeting with Iraqi PM today: “You’ve all seen the reports...information that indicates Iran is escalating their activity. I wanted to go to Baghdad to speak with the leadership there, to assure them that we stood ready to continue to ensure that Iraq is a sovereign, independent nation.”

    Iraq today is nearly an Iranian colony.

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  21. Rumor is Avigdor Lieberman will resume the Defense Minister portfolio soon. He just issued a warning about an Iranian attack on Israel (other than Gaza).

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  22. One of the targets Iran has been preparing to strike are Saudi Arabian oil infrastructure.

    Suddenly Jeremiah 49:34 is looming before us as a possibility for near-term fulfillment.

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  23. It would be interesting if Saudi Arabia was the one to cause Iran to be scattered to the four winds by a wmd. I think they were trying to get there hands on them.

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  24. Is it just me or do things tend to heat up prophetically around this time of year? Between May and August?

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  25. Seeing chatter about USAF Global EAM traffic being heavier than normal today. (Emergency Action Messages).

    There's a B-52 group going to ME, so this has my attention.

    Coalition strikes on Iranian nuclear sites could scatter populations, and with Elam suffering major flooding lately fleeing anywhere could be problematic.

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    1. Now we know... the Buff's went wheels up from Barksdale AFB for Al-Udeid Air Base, Qatar. This occurred at the time noted above for the USAF EAMs traffic. Somewhere over the EU by now.

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  26. If the current situation were to be described as a chessboard, there's a whole bunch of pieces moving about. I'm on high alert...

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  27. I had to look it up, but for those of you who, like me, don't have Sean's military lexicon, "Buffs" stands for the B-52 Strats.

    My eye's are glued to the news. Thanks for the updates Sean.

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  28. Lincoln CSG transit of Suez Canal to Red Sea happening now. Within a day or so Lincoln CSG will take up station in the Arabian Sea. USS Kearsarge ARG (Amphib Ready Group) and its embarked Marines are already there.

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  29. Sean,

    They are working on a display of one of these beautiful kings of long range bombers at the Boeing air museum in the seattle area. The static was not complete as of April 20th but I will pay admission again as soon as it is ready!

    Ken B

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  30. Looks like another pause. I think Iran got the message with the B-52's and is hesitant to test President Trump's resolve.

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    1. I hope you're right.

      I saw report that the US urgency was not due to a mere threat, but an authorization from highest level to attack at will.

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  31. Pentagon statement 10MAY19:

    "The Acting Secretary of Defense has approved the movement of USS Arlington (LPD-24) and a Patriot battery to U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) as part of the command’s original request for forces from earlier this week.

    These assets will join the USS Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group and a U.S. Air Force bomber task force in the Middle East region in response to indications of heightened Iranian readiness to conduct offensive operations against U.S. forces and our interests."

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  32. This morning Iran attempted a covert sabotage operation against commercial tankers at UAE Port al-Fujairah.

    The operation failed, but the Iranian media voice, Hezbollah's Al-Manar, mistakenly reported the expected result: 4 to 7 tankers attacked and on fire.

    This second failure exposed Iran as the perp of the sabotage operation on foreign oil transport in the Gulf.

    This will not go unanswered.

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  33. An Iranian senior official has today characterized the approaching USS Lincoln CSG as "an opportunity" for Iran.

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  34. Sean,
    Do you think the commercial tankers was the credible threat that we were acting upon?

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  35. No, the credible threat was specific to attacking US forces (al-Tanf, 5th Fleet, Kuwait and in Iraq).

    The "and our allies" applies here, so Iran should expect a response.

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  36. The US Embassy in Baghdad is issuing a warning to all US citizens not to visit Iraq in the light of the tension in Iraq, and those who are already visiting the country are advised to avoid being identified with American travelers, to maintain a low profile and to be alert in general.

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  37. I guess I just can't see Iran doing anything against the U.S. with a Republican President in office. They still have payback coming for the way they treated our Navy a few years back. But, I guess if the Iranian leadership wants to do something and spend the next year in hiding, that's their choice.

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  38. Iran killed 241 Marines in their Beirut barracks in 1983; they abducted, tortured and murdered former Green Beret Bill Buckley and the CIA Beirut station chief, whose remains were left in a garbage bag in the gutter of the Beirut Airport in 1985. Iran also maimed and killed a couple thousand US troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, many by EFP IEDs.

    Iran has 40 years of payback coming. It'll be something they'll never forget.

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  39. Only 1 of those reasons should have been enough to put an end to their rule. I certainly hope so.

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  40. The whole reason 40 years have been allowed for Iran to exist is a simple reason, or at least in my opinion! To Politically Correct to have the sense of correct historical knowledge that Rats don't change their habits until dealt with effectively!

    Not nice but check out the history of the Perps and learn how the enemies of Peace, decency and honor actual exist continually! If you see a cactus do you stick your nose near the thorns?

    GG5/SHALOM

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  41. One of the Saudi tankers attacked yesterday (the Al-Marzoqah) was enroute to take on a load for Saudi ARAMCO customers in the United States. The other Saudi tanker, a VLCC named Amjad< also suffered significant structural damage. Both tankers were within the UAEs EEZ near the port of Al-Fujairah, south of Strait of Hormuz. They were approximately 10nm apart when the attacks occurred.

    Suspect Iranian miniature subs conducted the attacks. UAE surveillance aircraft immediately went wheels up in search mode. SECSTATE Pompeo made an unscheduled detour to NATO this morning, very likely related to this attack.

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  42. "Iran commander: If US makes a move we'll hit them in the head"

    I don't think they understand the force their dealing with.

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  43. They saw OIF launch in 2003. They saw Saddam's vaunted Republican Guard divisions get crushed and the regime collapse in a couple of weeks. They have no idea what will come this time, 16 years later.

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  44. USAF F-15s, F-35s and B-52s are currently flying combat air patrols back and forth across the Iranian coastline.

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  45. I truly trust that "NOW IS THE HOUR AND THE DAY" when the God Appointed Time has already begun to tick down to HIS Moed and all any of us can do now is PRAY that wisdom and discernment to be granted to all involved in the whole purpose and direction! And please no more being weak and indecisiveness on our leaders part!

    GG5/SHALOM,SHALOM

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  46. Two Saudi oil pumping stations in the heart of the Arabian desert were attacked today by a pair of explosive laden drones. No big mystery who did it: the IRGC-QF,and likely by a team that infiltrated from Houthi-controlled Yemen.

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    1. The drones were the Iranian-made Qasef-1 "suicide UAV." 7 were used in the attack.

      Also, strong possibility the Iranian-made "Shark-33" drone watercraft was used in the 4 attacks on oil tankers last Sunday.

      This is my own assessment based upon OSINT data mining.

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  47. my brother in Isreal mentioned shields are in place in isreal not just for eurovision but as expected attacks, your president will show who is boss shortly, unless he has a last minute change off mind his first really big test

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  48. Don't think the US is bluffing, but when ground troops move that's a sure sign this is no bluff.

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  49. Happy birthday Israel! Pray for the peace of Jerusalem

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  50. FWIW...

    Israel's Yom Ha,atzmaut (Independence Day) began the evening of May 8 and ended 24 hours later on May 9, 2019.

    Quirk of the calendar.

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    1. Is that based on a 360 day calendar? I always have a hard time keeping track

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  51. No, it's the quirk vis a vis the Hebrew calendar as opposed to the civil calendar.

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  52. Today German and Dutch military trainers suspended all activities in Iraq based upon hard intel regarding imminent attack by Iranian proxy militias.

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  53. IRGC Commander today: "We are on the cusp of full-scale confrontation with the enemy."

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  54. Hi Sean, and still the left wing controlled media deny that there are problems developing in Iran, Iraq and the rest of the middle east? CNN even reported that there was no evidence of Iranian aggression and claimed that the Trump administration are making it up.....?? No mention about the 4 tankers damaged or about the drone attacks. The reference is that President Trump is another warmonger like all Republicans!

    It is shocking at how bias the media is against President Trump and anything leaning slightly to the right.

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  55. The known/unknown secret is that Israel is in the same situation as it was in 1991 when Saddam fired 39 Scuds into the country from Mt. Sinjar, Iraq.

    Guess who is controlling Mt Sinjar today? The Shi'a PMU under IRGC-QF command and control. IRGC-QF has been arming the PMU at Mt. Sinjar with ballistic missiles that are smuggled inside empty oil tanker trucks from Iran.

    This is where the proverbial 'rubber' of Jeremiah 49:34 meets the road today.

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  56. Some prophecy teachers are saying that America is about to be destroyed-that we are end-times Babylon. I believe that Babylon in the world system. Can you point me to a place to recommence my studies on this, Sean?

    Thanks, again, for what you do, here. Like many others, I check in many times a day!

    Blessings, all ~Lori

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    1. Hi Lori!

      You are, IMHO, 100% correct! The 'Megas Porne" Babylon is the world system of the 70th Week of years. It is not a literal brick, mortar, glass and steel city.

      How about this from 9 years ago:

      https://eschatologytoday.blogspot.com/2010/02/babylon-and-end-of-age.html?m=1

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  57. For Christina:

    Iran is not the antichrist regime for more Scripture based reasons than I have fingers to count them on.

    Dan. 9:27 speaks of the man (antichrist) confirming covenant among many. If the JCPOA is that covenant, and we know Implementation Day was 16 January 2016, and Scripture is specific about 42 months and what occurs within those months... there is no 3rd Temple, nor can A/C to halt the daily sacrifice in the middle of the week 42 months later on 16 July 2019.

    The 2 Witnesses ARE NOT in Jerusalem fulfilling their ministry for the past 40 months... nor are there 144,000 Jewish evangelists preach the Gospel around the world.

    Unfortunately, none of what you wrote in your comment is prophetically accurate, and cannot not be posted here.

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  58. Are we in a crisis? NO! We never were. The Lord Jesus Christ has EVERYTHING under control and knows everything that will happen. Only enemies of the Gospel are really in a crisis.

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