After these quieter years of reduced coverage of the Middle-East, it’s strange to remind ourselves of the Iranian regime’s ominous role, not only in directing its proxy terrorists against Israel but also its inhuman Shiite theology about the necessity of killing people in order to hasten the return of its false ‘messiah’ (click to read my many posts on this issue).

So I’m pleased to welcome and publish Neil Mackereth’s latest analysis (emphases mine):

THE  EXISTENTIAL  THREAT  AGAINST  ISRAEL – PART 1

Introduction

There seems to be a view that Jews should not seek to prevent their own destruction.

However great the evil atrocities perpetrated against them, it is not long after the event before Israel is being called upon to be proportionate and show restraint – the hypocrisy is staggering.

Furthermore, the recognition, in some cases mealy mouthed, that Israel has a right to defend itself is undermined by the immediate acceptance of Hamas claims of Israeli “atrocities”, without due diligence, appropriate caution, and certainly without equally loud coverage, if and when the claim turns out to have been a lie.

Mass rallies in support of the “Palestinian cause”, in reality, venerate terrorists and infer that genocidal Hamas’ behaviour is resistance, while Israeli resistance is genocide!

The media seem to miss the point that Hamas, the “government” of Gaza, shows no interest in the welfare of the Palestinians living in Gaza, pays no attention to the laws relating to the conduct of war, and seeks the annihilation of all Jews. For Israel to survive, Hamas needs to be expunged, and that may require a surgical strike on Iran, the “puppet-masters”; as well as a ground war in Gaza.

Background

I am convinced that the world faces an unprecedented, much misunderstood and, even now, barely acknowledged threat from both “Radical Islam” and “Apocalyptic Islam”.

I want to be clear; many Muslims are peace-loving, law-abiding and blameless.

However, it is an uncomfortable fact that jihadists and fundamentalists are still real Muslims. Furthermore, it is sad that, as our media shows, there are mass rallies and protests by Muslim extremists, but we do not hear much from the moderate peace-loving Muslims.

Recent events relating to Hamas, Hezbollah and Iran, have highlighted the dangers of complacency when looking at the rise of Iran and its terrorist proxies. Iran is, to a large extent, a hermit kingdom. Our western mindset and ignorance have blinded us to the truth of its intentions and methods. It hungers for genocide; its religious views make it constitutionally incapable of certain types of change, even if that change might ensure its survival; and it considers itself a herald of —and a likely headline player in — the imminent end of the world.

Iran follows a fundamentalist Islamic creed that it believes will lead to a final confrontation that precipitates the return of the Mahdi (the 12th Imam) the Islamic “messiah”. In this respect, Iran has a medieval religious fervour, commitment and mission that the West has difficulty understanding.

This ideology permeates the whole legal and political direction of Iran. There is no genuine recognition of, or negotiation with, any nation or person who has not given allegiance to Islam. In other words, recognition of other nations, international treaties, laws and so on, is only tolerated as a necessary expedient, or stepping stone, to its ultimate goal. In truth, it is duty-bound not to negotiate with infidels. Therein lies the challenge!

Most commentators agree that the Shi’a leaders of Iran are seeking to acquire nuclear weapons, by whatever means, and they make no secret of their ambition to destroy Israel. They seek to hasten the final world confrontation, precipitating the Mahdi’s return. They have also expressed their aim to rid the world of the United States, a country they refer to as “The Great Satan.” We have seen that the possibility of collateral damage to “friends” plays no part in the strategy and tactics of Iran and its proxies.

Israel is convinced that it faces a nation whose rulers are driven by an apocalyptic, genocidal, End-times eschatology which involves the annihilation of Israel.

The question for diplomats and negotiators operating on behalf of democratic western nations, is whether they can rely on there being any honest intent or integrity in any pledges made by those who actually see it as in their best interests to mislead and prevaricate?

The Return of the Mahdi

The Mahdi, or 12th Imam, is the anticipated saviour of Islam destined to lead Muslims to world domination. Some Muslim leaders see it as their duty to precipitate the return of the Mahdi by instigating world turmoil. The Muslim teaching, that Jesus was a prophet who will return, can cause confusion because of its apparent similarity with Christianity. However, the “Jesus” of Islam is not accepted as Son of God and is foreseen as returning as an assistant of the Mahdi, enforcing conversion to Islam.

The belief in the imminent return of the Mahdi is more prevalent amongst Middle-Eastern Muslims than might be expected.

According to a poll taken by the Pew Research Centre in 2012, a surprisingly large number of Muslims in Middle Eastern countries believe they will live to see the return of the Mahdi. The figures for this belief by Muslims of the Mahdi’s imminent return are: Egyptians 40%; Jordanians 41%; Palestinians 46%; Iraqis 72%.

Figures for those Muslims who believe Jesus will return as a deputy to the Mahdi are: Egyptians 39%; Jordanians 29%; Palestinians 46% and Iraqis 64%.

Christians need to be aware of this parallel and counterfeit version of the return of Christ and understand the political implications of this teaching about a false messiah and a false prophet. The leaders of radical and apocalyptic Islam are seeking to mobilise those who share their End-times views and to convert or destroy those who don’t.

Is what is happening in Israel and Gaza an End-times “sign”? The brutality of Hamas certainly fulfils Jesus’ general predictions of violence in the End-times. Radical and apocalyptic Islam might also be seen as contributors to the urgent need for a peace treaty which will, in fact, be the catalyst for the start of the time of tribulation.

I will look at the Biblical significance of Gaza in Part 2.

RB Footnote:

Jesus Freed Me – History & Theology of Islam:

• Who Is This Allah? C.J.O. Moshay
• I Dared To Call Him Father, Bilquish Sheikh
• The Jesus Visions; Miracles Among Muslims, Christine Darg
• From Jihad To Jesus; An Ex-militant’s Journey of Faith, Jerry Rassamni
• Mosques and Miracles; Revealing Islam and God’s Grace, Dr Stuart Robinson
• Islam and Terrorism, Dr Mark A.Gabriel (former professor of Islamic history at Al-Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt)
• A Wind In The House Of Islam – how God is drawing Muslims around the world to faith in Jesus Christ, David Garrison.
• Ex-Hezbollah Terrorist Encounters Jesus Christ in Prison, Afshin David.

PS