New York Times Predicts War Between Israel & Iran in 2012

[mattfivefour]

NEW YORK TIMES PREDICTS WAR BETWEEN ISRAEL, IRAN IN 2012

Also: "The Handwriting on the Wall: Lessons from Daniel 5 on the future of America and the coming war in the Middle East."Joel C. Rosenberg

(Washington, D.C., February 2, 2012) -- The New York Times magazine on Sunday published a critically important story by Israeli journalist Ronen Bergman, one of the most respected Israeli journalists following the Iran story over several decades. It is headlined: "Will Israel Attack Iran?"

Bergman's conclusion: "After speaking with many senior Israeli leaders and chiefs of the military and the intelligence, I have come to believe that Israel will indeed strike Iran in 2012." I've posted the article on my blog. It's also posted on our "Epicenter Team" page on Facebook. Please read it, pray over it, share it with friends, and discuss the implications. I've posted some analysis but will be posting more in the days ahead.

Also, I just got back from preaching at a national pastors conference in Jacksonville, Florida. It was an exciting trip and I was deeply encouraged by the growing interest I found among pastors and lay people in Bible prophecy and the urgent need to pray for our country and for Israel and the people of the epicenter, especially in light of the Times story.

I've just posted on the blog my notes from the message I gave in Jacksonville: "The Handwriting on the Wall: Lessons from Daniel chapter 5 on the future of America and the coming war in the Middle East." These were notes I'd prepared for delivery on Sunday night. While I made some last minute changes and added some additional material that night, particularly on the importance of sharing the Gospel with Jews and Muslims here in the U.S. and in the Middle East before this horrific war begins, I hope you find the notes helpful. Please consider studying them as a family, or in your small group Bible study or home fellowship group. Feel free to pass them along to others. Are you seeing the "handwriting on the wall" right now? Do you know what God is trying to tell us, and what it all means? This is an important conversation for us to have here in the U.S. and around the world. May the Lord bless you as you seek Him more closely this week.

[Sean Osborne]

That is one extremely sensationalist headline that Joel Rosenberg is using. That headline has nothing to do with The New York Times magazine article last Sunday. The New York Times made no such prediction. The headline for the article was "Will Israel Attack Iran?" And what follows below that headline is Ronen Bergman's epic (I say epic because the article is very lengthy).

[mattfivefour]

I don't disagree that it is sensational, bro. However, in defense of Joel, I believe he based it on Bergman's own conclusion. As he himself writes:

The New York Times magazine on Sunday published a critically important story by Israeli journalist Ronen Bergman, one of the most respected Israeli journalists following the Iran story over several decades. It is headlined: "Will Israel Attack Iran?" Bergman's conclusion: "After speaking with many senior Israeli leaders and chiefs of the military and the intelligence, I have come to believe that Israel will indeed strike Iran in 2012."

[Meg]

It would seem that a lot of people want a final showdown over Israel and their right to exist. I think after so much "negotiating", world leaders just want it all to end one way or another...

[Kris762]

A very safe bet predicting war between Israel and any nearly any surrounding Arab or persian country isn't it?

It's a foregone conclusion that sooner rather than later it will erupt, Christians only need refer to the Bible to know this.

[Sean Osborne]

I don't disagree that it is sensational, bro. However, in defense of Joel, I believe he based it on Bergman's own conclusion.

Matt,

Bro, my point was and remains "The New York Times made no such prediction." I agree with Ronen Bergmann. In fact, he's kinda late to the party, so therefore he agrees with me.

[Everlasting Life]

Looking at Rosenberg's blog about the lessons from Daniel was really interesting. I thought the quote below was very good in particular. Keep in mind that God will give us guidance and strength as more difficult times come along....and blessings. :-)

That said, let’s take another look….are you really willing to be a Daniel? Consider the high price of his service to the Lord:
•He was taken captive from his homeland (Daniel chapter 1)
•Forcibly given a new home, new name, new diet, new education, new job in a brutal pagan empire (Daniel chapter 1)
•Arrested, convicted, imprisoned, sentenced to death (Daniel chapter 6)
•Yet he never faltered….he never wavered….he clung to the Lord….he knew His God….he listened to His God….he was a man of prayer….he understand the Word….he studied God’s Word diligently and carefully (chapter 9 he’s studying Jeremiah!)…..and when God told him to speak, he spoke boldly and without reservation…..he didn’t pull any punches….he did so at great risk, but with great faith and courage.
•In Matthew 24:15, Jesus calls Daniel “the prophet”….for that is what he was.

How about you?….are you clinging to Christ?….are you on you knees repeatedly throughout the day in prayer?….are you fasting?…..are you listening carefully to the voice of God?…..are you willing to teach God’s Word – all of it, including the prophecies of a future that is coming fast upon us?…..are you ready to stripped of all our worldly possessions…stripped of our identity….arrested…. convicted….imprisoned…. sentenced to death….all for being men faithful to pray and faithful to speak the Word of God in our pagan, corrupt culture? Let us not answer too quickly – let us consider the gravity of this calling in this moment…for these tests may be coming soon.