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US General gives warning on Iraq

April 25th, 2009 Kevin McDaniel No comments

General Petraeus says the US withdrawal from Iraq is still set to happen on schedule.

Petraeus, the head of U.S. Central Command, addressed the lingering extremist threat in Iraq as he outlined his approach to the escalating campaign against extremists in Pakistan and Afghanistan.

“There has … been substantial progress in Iraq, but numerous challenges still confront its leaders and its people, and we have seen some of those in the last couple of days,” Petraeus said. He said Al Qaeda in Iraq and other extremist groups still threaten security and stability in the country.

Those challenges, combined with ethnic and political tensions and other problems, “remind us that the progress there is still fragile and reversible, though less so than when I left Iraq last fall,” Petraeus said.

Iraq might be part of the Russian and Arab coalition that marches against Israel (Psalm 83:4-5) at the midpoint of the Tribulation (Daniel 9:26-27), breaking the peace contract fostered by the Antichrist (Daniel 9:27). We know that Iran will be part of this cabal because Ezekiel 38:5 mentions Persia, and Iran was called Persia before changing its name in 1932.

In the Bible, Iraq is usually identifiable with Mesopotamia or Babylon, but Mesopotamia was part of the Persian Empire before the Ottoman’s took over in the late 13th century. So Iraq may join with its Arab brothers, including: Egypt (Daniel 11:40); Syria (Isaiah 17:1,Psalm 83:8); Iran (Ezekiel 38:5); Ethiopia (Ezekiel 38:5); Libya (Ezekiel 38:5); Turkey (Ezekiel 38:6); Jordan (Psalm 83:7); Lebanon (Psalm 83:7); and a newly formed Palestinian state (Psalm 83:7).

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Will the US forces withdraw from Iraq?

April 10th, 2009 Kevin McDaniel No comments

The Times (UK) reported yesterday that al-Qaeda activity in Iraq could delay the US military’s withdrawal from two major cities, putting a crimp in President Obama’s plan to have all troops out of Iraq by August, 2010.

Generally speaking, modern day Iraq is referenced by Mesopotamia and Babylon in Scripture, while Persia refers to Iran (Persia became Iran in 1932). There are some, however, who believe that Iraq is part of the Persia who joins with Russia to attack Israel in Ezekiel 38:5. This dates back to Mesopotamia being considered part of Persia prior to the Ottoman Empire in the late 13th century, at which time Iraq was annexed. The capital of Iraq, Baghdad, still uses its Persian name.

This theory is plausible. While historically the Iraqi’s have been at odds with the Persians because of the ruling Baathist political sect, Iraq is actually majority Shiite. Since the ouster of Saddam Hussein, the Shiites–who have strong ties to Iran–have ascended in power. The Iranians have been heavily involved with the Shiites for a long time, and they have ramped up their influence since Iraq embraced free elections.

It is very conceivable that if US troops depart from Iraq, the nation will become Iran, Jr. and join in the Russian-led march against Israel (Psalm 83:4-5; Ezekiel 38:16).

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