In the days of ancient Rome, the mighty Roman soldiers of the emperor were stationed throughout the world to “keep the peace.”  Eventually, the troops were so spread out and the tax burden on the rich became so burdensome, that farmers sold their farms to pay tax bills. Husbands and wives refused to have children (the cost of living was too high), and many citizens turned to the Roman “welfare system” just to have food. The Roman military was fighting wars on three fronts. This sounds a little like the road America is traveling on.

The United States has the greatest military on earth.  Our armed forces are in many nations helping to “keep the peace” and prevent border invasions (such as with North and South Korea). The national debt of America is actually estimated at $9 trillion, which includes interest owed to the Federal Reserve and other nations on the money our government borrows from them to pay bills. There is talk among certain political candidates of raising taxes on the rich, which is an echo of Rome. Presently, many are clamoring about government bailouts to help the many crises that seem to appear out of nowhere.

Recently, an Israeli defense minister stated that if Iran does not cease its nuclear program and enriching uranium, Israel would strike the reactors to remove the threat of Iran creating a deadly nuclear bomb capable of reaching Israel’s cities. Some now suggest an Iranian nuclear weapon could be completed within 18 months.

As the clock ticks and the sun sets in the West, Israel is running out of time by the day.  Are the Israeli Air Force and defense forces capable of taking on Iran? Without a doubt!  Israel has in their arsenal weapons that have never been used in a major war. Their survival has depended upon their science and military research teams developing high-tech weapons. The possible repercussions of a strike against Iran, however, reach beyond the Middle East.

The Arab nations have never connected with the Persians of Iran. The Persians do not consider themselves Arabs, and the Arabs blame the Persians for numerous difficulties throughout history.  Most Middle Eastern Arabs who are Muslims tend to be Sunni; however, the Iranians are 98% Shiite and while both groups are Islamic in their faith, they have several differences that have birthed wars between them for centuries.

If America started an Iranian attack, there would be one form of opposition, mostly from China and Russia who have close ties to Iran. Because a Jewish state may initiate the first strike, it may cause riots and anger in the Islamic nations. The twisted perception will be that the Jews are attempting to take over the Middle East. I recall in 1973 when the United States sent weapons to Israel assisting them in winning the Yom Kippur War. The Arab oil cartel retaliated by stopping shipments of oil into the United States. Prices soared, gas lines seemed endless, and a recession struck America like a lightning bolt in a summer storm.

Three main points are being considered as the drums of war begin to beat again in the Persian Gulf region:

1. Will Iran retaliate by attempting to block the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow waterway between the Gulf of Oman in the southeast and the Persian Gulf in the southwest?  Iran sits on the north and Iranian small ships can drop underwater explosives into the sea, thus preventing war ships and oil ships from entering and exiting the waterway.  Thirty percent of the world’s oil supply passes through this waterway, which is 21 miles wide in its narrowest point.   

2. The radical president of Iran, Achmadinijab, has begun filling up a huge oil tanker with oil. Much speculation has been discussed regarding his plans. I believe if a war begins, he will explode the ship, dumping tons of oil into the Persian Gulf and attempt to light oil creating black smoke to interfere with satellite photographs and war planes. Saddam filled ditches and ignited them during his war with America, creating dull, choking black smoke in the atmosphere.

3. Will the fanatic of Iran attempt to shoot missiles into Iraq, at the United States military bases? There is a real concern that, knowing he is being attacked, the Iranian dictator will attack oil wells, refineries and other important petrol facilities in the surrounding Gulf nations. In reality, it would be impossible to stop or shoot down the hundreds of possible missiles that could be released.

Be assured that every possible scenario has been discussed in the event of a pre-emptive attack. Based on two different night visions that I received several years ago, both may allude to an attack on Iranian nuclear facilities, or a possible terror attack in the United States. When this occurs, there will be a season of great difficulty to follow.  However, believers must rest in our faith that God is permitting a shaking of the nations, in hopes that sinners and backsliders will turn their unbelief into a searching faith for the only God who controls the destiny of the world.

As the news begins to break in the future, stay informed through our internet site, especially the Stone Report on the Internet at perrystone.org.