Latest Bible Prophecy Commentary
Psalm 83 War Scenario; Will Outcome Bring Rise Of Antichrist & Middle East Peace?
A couple of years ago, a well-respected US expert on the Middle East presented his research findings on what the outcome would be if nuclear war were to break out between Iran and Israel. This study caught my attention because it gives a good assessment as to Israel's immediate reaction toward surrounding neighbors, the death toll, and who would ultimately survive.
The analysis was researched and formulated by one of the foremost Washington insiders, Anthony Cordesman, who is the leading expert on the Middle East at the Center for Strategic & International Studies. "Cordesman may be the most influential man in Washington that most people have never heard of. A former director of intelligence assessment for the secretary of defense and director of policy and planning in the Department of Energy, he is now the top strategic guru at the Center for Strategic & International Studies. Most serious politicians and journalists have for some years based their analyses of the Iraq war and its aftermath on his universally respected research (UPI)."
The Psalm 83 war scenario is said to include modern day nations such as Hezbollah, Syria, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Hamas and the Palestinians. The Bible says that these nations will one day rise up against Israel in an attempt to finally destroy them once and for all. Of course, their attempt will fail miserably, but what could be the likely fallout, death toll, and survivability of the nations involved?
If a war of this magnitude broke out, Israel would likely target several major Arab countries, in particular Egypt and Syria. I have to believe if Syria is involved, Iran will be pulling the strings of both Hezbollah and Hamas in raining down simultaneous missile strikes on Israeli population centers. In the last few years, both Hamas and Hezbollah have amassed tens of thousands of rockets and hundreds of highly accurate SCUD missiles that are capable of striking all of Israel. There is no doubt their barrage will begin this epic war. But Israel has warned Syria, in the event of a Hezbollah attack, they would hold them responsible.
At the onset of this war, Cordesman notes that Israel would have various options, including a limited nuclear strike on the region mainly inhabited by the Alawite minority from which come the ruling Assad dynasty (if indeed Assad is still in power when this attack takes place). A full-scale Israeli attack on Syria would kill up to 18 million people within 21 days; Syrian recovery would not be possible. A Syrian attack with all its reputed chemical and biological warfare assets could kill up to 800,000 Israelis, but Israeli society would recover.
An Israeli attack on Egypt would likely strike at the main population centers of Cairo, Alexandria, Damietta, Port Said, Suez, Luxor and Aswan. Cordesman does not give a death toll here, but it would certainly be in the tens of millions. It would also destroy the Suez Canal and almost certainly destroy the Aswan dam, sending monstrous floods down the Nile to sweep away the glowing rubble. It would mean the end of Egypt as a functioning society.
Cordesman also lists the oil wells, refineries and ports along the Gulf that could also be targets in the event of a mass nuclear response by an Israel convinced that it was being dealt a potentially mortal blow. Being contained within the region, such a nuclear exchange might not be Armageddon for the human race; it would certainly be Armageddon for the global economy (UPI).
If this is the end result of Syria and Egypt, there is little doubt Hamas, Hezbollah or the Palestinians would not survive. The remaining two countries listed in the Psalm 83 scenario, Jordan and Saudi Arabia, are not mentioned in Cordesman's analysis, but just there involvement would send oil prices sky high. I have to believe they would also suffer the same disproportionate fate as Syria and Egypt given Israel's superior air and missile defense system.
The fact that this war would strike a fatal blow to the world economy, leads many to believe it could be a scenario that could bring about the rise of the Antichrist. This could be the time when he confirms a peace accord between the nations of that region.
Whether or not this is the correct scenario for which Psalm 83 will play out is still yet future. However, it does illustrate, from an expert point of view, the real world devastation if such a war were to take place. It also makes plain that Israel would survive and continue forward as a functional society while other major Arab countries would in all likelihood cease to exist as a functional state.
With this information in hand, it is not out of the question that Israel would acquire some new territory. It would also lead one to believe, as part of the peace process, an international force would be necessary in order to restore order to critical areas where global interests are involved, such as oil wells, refineries and ports.
Such an outcome would possibly allow Israel to rebuild their Temple but would not eliminate the threat of ongoing terrorism. It also would not eliminate Israel's number one existential threat-- Iran. Of course, this show of force against Israel's Islamic neighbors and the promise of guaranteed security by the Antichrist, could finally convince Iran to submit to the wishes of the international community fearing they may be next. This could mean Iran coming to terms and allowing their nuclear facilities to be monitored by the International Atomic Energy Agency.
There are many questions that must be addressed before this war can be properly placed in the future of prophecy. Whether it will be a part of the battle of Gog and Magog, the Apocalypse, or its own separate war is anyone's guess. One thing we do know, all of Israel's enemies will be defeated once and for all when Christ comes back to rule and reign at the end of the tribulation period. Even so, come Lord Jesus (Revelation 22:20).
Are you ready to meet the Lord? If not, your time is running out!
Terry Malone
Calvary Prophecy Report
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