Tonight on The Hal Lindsey Report

In a move that stunned some analysts and even members of Congress, Russia, Iran, Syria, and Iraq announced they would form an intelligence-sharing unit headquartered in Baghdad. 

In 2003, the United States went to war in Iraq to stop Saddam Hussein from building, acquiring, and using weapons of mass destruction. After winning the war, we stayed and helped rebuild Iraq at a cost of hundreds of billions of dollars, and many U.S. lives. 

Out of that sacrifice, Iraq gained a new, representative government and a real chance at prosperity. 

When the U.S. left Iraq without leaving a significant troop presence, ISIS filled the vacuum. And the Iraqi forces crumbled before their new enemy. 

America and some of its allies went back in with an air campaign that has been ineffective, to put it mildly. 

In the past, U.S. and Iraqi forces have worked in close consultation, including in the areas of intelligence gathering and sharing. But now, any U.S. intelligence shared with Iraq will be passed on to Russia, Iran, and the military forces of Syrian strongman Bashar al-Assad. 

How did this happen? The U.S. has been fighting Iraq's enemies, propping up its economy, building schools, hospitals, and power plants in Iraq for more than a decade. If America should have leverage with any nation, it should be Iraq. 

But Iraq has obviously sold out U.S. interests in favor of Russia and Iran. 

Why? 

I think two reasons present themselves rather quickly. 

First, America's allies have found her to be less than trustworthy over the last few years. Just ask the Kurds, Ukraine, the children of Afghanistan, and Israel. 

The other reason that Iraq has turned to Iran is something that American policymakers, even those on the right, fail to grasp. In that region, religion is stronger than politics. 

Shia Muslims constitute a majority in both Iraq and Iran, making them natural allies. And though most Syrians are Sunni, Assad himself is an Alawite, a form of Shia Islam. 

Now, to many observers, Russia's involvement presents a mystery, perhaps one that even Vladimir Putin himself doesn't understand. By allying itself with Iran and moving into Syria to prop up al-Assad, Russia has aligned itself with the Shi'ites and against the Sunni population of Syria. 

In fact, against 85% of Muslims worldwide, because Shia Islam comprises only 15% of all Muslims. 

While there may be short-term advantages to Russia's new involvement in the Middle East, in the long run, it makes no sense. 

Unless... 

Unless it's a hook being slipped into Putin's jaw. 

Ezekiel wrote that God said, "Behold I am against you, O Gog (the leader of Magog - modern Russia), prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal. And I will turn you about, and put hooks into your jaws." This means that Russia will ally itself with Persia (modern Iran) and will be drawn into a climactic war with Israel during the Tribulation. 

Russia and Iran have been fierce enemies since the 18th century. But now, just as the Bible predicted, near the end, they are forming a new and deadly alliance. 

Last week, the United Nations General Assembly convened. As usual, the heads of state from across the world made the pilgrimage to New York to appear before the delegates and speak their minds. 

Vladimir Putin defended Russia's entrance into the Middle East and chided the U.S. and the West for arming ISIS and al-Qaeda, thus causing the mess in that region. 

Mahmoud Abbas (though he is not a head of state since the West Bank is not a state) announced that the Palestinian Authority would no longer observe the agreements they had signed with Israel. 

But the most dramatic appearance by far was that of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Frankly, no surprise there. He seems to be the only world leader with something to say and the nerve to say it. 

He confronted the member nations of the UN for sitting idly by while the West signed a nuclear pact with Iran. He chastised them for not speaking up when Iran openly threatens to destroy Israel and the Jewish people. 

He said: "...the response from nearly every one of the governments represented here has been absolutely nothing! Utter silence! Deafening silence!" 

Then, in one of the most powerful and unforgettable moments in the UN's history, the Prime Minister stood silent, staring at the audience for a full 45 seconds. 

No one spoke up. No one clapped. You could hear a pin drop. 

The Prime Minister reminded the members that other empires throughout history had tried to destroy his people. He proclaimed, "Yet the empires of Babylon and Rome are not represented in this hall of nations. Neither is the thousand year Reich. Those seemingly invincible empires are long gone. But Israel lives. The people of Israel live.Am Yisrael chai!" 

Wow! Is this prophecy in living color, or what? 

And the tragic shootings at Umpqua Community College in Roseburg, Oregon further confirm that we are in the last days. 

The shooter, who was obsessed with Satan and "serving darkness," targeted Christians during his rampage. That means real, literal, deadly persecution has come to America. Folks, this isn't just about "political correctness" anymore. Witnesses say that if a victim identified himself or herself as a Christian, they were shot in the head. If not, they were shot in the leg or elsewhere. 

This is precisely what the ancient prophets predicted for these days -- that true followers of Christ would be hated (and eventually killed) for simply being followers of Christ. 

Folks, we are seeing daily now the setting of the last-days' stage as described by the Bible prophets. It is time to make certain you are ready to hear Jesus call to His true followers, "Come up here!" 

It cannot be long now. 

Don't miss this week's Report here Sunday.

God Bless,

Hal Lindsey