Politicians and the media entirely ignore the reality of the religious aspects of certain nations’ policies. Such considerations would enable them (and us) to understand (to some degree at least) otherwise incomprehensible policies and actions. Iran is one of the major ‘players’ in recent events in Israel, Gaza and the Yemen. Its theocratic, Shia Muslim, government has one overarching aim which it has held since the revolution back in 1979 and which touches all its policies and actions. They want to bring about the arrival of the 12th Imam whose arrival will introduce the end times and the total victory of Islam. In order for this hero of Shia Islam to show himself, the faithful must fight to remove any barriers to his doing so and because the Q’ran specifically calls for the eradication of the Jews before the end times, the existence of Israel is understood to be the “greatest barrier” to the appearance of the 12th Imam. Iran’s government sees things entirely in apocalyptic terms and has absolutely no interest in the physical well-being of Gazans or any other ‘bystanders’ caught up in this mission to destroy Jews and Judaism since all the Muslim dead will be martyrs and go to heaven and so be much better off than dying a natural death and thereby risking hellfire. Just as worrying is the fact that both the Shia and the more numerous Sunni Muslims believe that the final victory of Islam will only come once Jews are eradicated and a situation of widespread warfare, revolutions, famines and general chaos has arrived. The Iranian government supports Russia against Ukraine and has openly stated that it is encouraging wars in an effort to create conditions for the 12th Mahdi’s arrival. Catholics, especially the traditional, are among the few capable of understanding an apocalyptic world-view and, while not sharing Islam’s appetite for the coming death and chaos, have a special responsibility to be aware of it and of mitigating its extent and effects through prayer, fasting and sacrifice.
I just read this post to my husband and he was very interested. I’ve never shared anything with him from MOG before. His response is that Iran’s drive towards nukes is no doubt indicative of this. If you’re right, Israel has to strike first. But then… Horrific to think of the aftermath. DH says Iran got the design for their nukes from North Korea, but if so, what’s in it for them? Money?
It is interesting that part of the iconography of Imam Mahdi depicts him riding a white horse, which may indicate some connection with the first horseman of the apocalypse. REVELATION 6:2 2 And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer.
