Tonight on The Hal Lindsey Report
The coming alliance between Russia and Iran represents one of the pivotal points in Bible prophecy. We've seen them flirting with one another for years, but it is now becoming something more.
Last year, the second most important man in Iran visited Russia. It wasn't the president, Hassan Rouhani. It was the leader of the notorious Quds Force, General Qassem Soleimani.
First of all, why did Vladimir Putin want to see the terrorist-in-chief of the world's chief terrorist nation? Second, why would Putin break an international law that he signed-off on to see this man?
The United Nations has sanctions in place to prohibit Soleimani from traveling outside Iran, yet Russia, who voted for the sanction in the UN Security Council, openly invited him to Moscow.
Could there be a clue in the English translation of the name of that notorious organization, Quds Force. It translates to "Jerusalem Force."
U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, Samantha Power, openly questioned why Soleimani was welcomed to Russia in violation of international sanctions.
This will get interesting. The Bible very specifically names an alliance between Russia and a group of Muslim nations led by Persia, or modern Iran, as an aggressor against Israel. Now, Russia and the leader of a terrorist organization from Iran apparently dedicated to the destruction of Israel are getting chummy!
Folks, this isn't just prophecy, these are today's headlines!
From time to time, I've mentioned the growing, insidious movement among those on the Left, even mainline churches, to punish Israel for not committing national suicide by surrendering itself to the Palestinians.
It's commonly referred to as BDS. That's Boycott, Divest, Sanction Israel.
But the concept is not always easily identifiable. In fact, it is often cloaked in subtle nuance, but the effect is the same: cripple Israel to the point it is no longer able to survive as a nation.
At the Republican candidates' first debate last summer, this diabolical scheme showed itself. And the gentleman who suggested it probably doesn't realize the implications of his proposal.
Responding to a question from Bret Baier, one of the evening's moderators, Kentucky Senator Rand Paul, who favors eliminating all U.S. foreign aid, said, "Each one of my budgets has taken a meat axe to foreign aid...."
When asked if that would harm Israel, Paul said, "...even Benjamin Netanyahu said that, ultimately, they will be stronger when they're independent."
Baier followed up by asking: "But you still say that Israel could be one of the countries that is cut from financial aid?"
Paul responded that "we cannot give away money we don't have."
Never mind that all U.S. foreign aid to all the countries of the world combined only amounts to much less than 1% of our nation's budget. We'd be better off if he took his meat axe to entitlement programs which account for more than two-thirds of the U.S. budget.
The point is that cutting off aid to Israel is a bad idea. Sometimes you have to spend money to save money.
Buying (and using) a toothbrush may save money on dental bills. Buying oil changes may prevent the need for later costly auto repairs.
U.S. aid to Israel, which is about half of what we give to Afghanistan, works the same way. Israel is the only stable democracy in the region. Of all the countries in the Middle East, only Israel's security needs coincide completely with those of the United States.
Several countries in the Middle East, Iran foremost among them, have vowed to wipe Israel from the map. They don't attempt it for one simple reason: Israel's military strength. So continuing to help Israel stay militarily strong saves money and lives by deterring those attacks.
A strong, stable Israel is far cheaper than a Middle Eastern war. One that we would have to spend billions of dollars and much blood to end.
To those who wish to end U.S. assistance to Israel, I say simply: Let's not be penny wise and pound foolish. The Bible says it stronger. God says that He will bless those who bless and protect Israel. He will curse those who curse or abandon her.
Finally, this week I want to debunk a notion that will be deadly to anyone who falls for it, even Christians. That's the idea that we can qualify for heaven by faithfully doing the things we are commanded to do and not doing the things the Bible prohibits.
It simply will not work. Man cannot qualify himself by the works of his hands. God does NOT grade on the curve!
The Law proves that.
Tune in this week to see what I mean.
Don't miss this week's Report here Sunday
God Bless,
Hal Lindsey
