On Saturday, October 7, 2023 (22rd of Tishri, Shemini Atzeret, 8th Day of the Assembly), Hamas brutally targeted civilians of Israel, shot 6000+ missiles, massacred over 1,400, raped women and kidnapped 240+. This was the worst attack on the Jewish people since the Holocaust. Hamas (Islamic Resistance Movement) is a terrorist organization that governs the Palestine territory in Gaza but used by Iran to fight proxy wars with Israel. In April 2024, the war took an ominous turn when Iran directly attacked Israel. Small sparks can quickly expand a contained war in the Middle East into a world war.

Since Israel is the center of Bible prophecy, where does this war lead us? The answer is from the end of the Church Age to the Covenant and seven years of Tribulation. Here is an update of the war after six months including the first direct involvement between Iran and Israel.

After the October 2023 Hamas invasion supported by Iran and Russia, Israel focused on defeating Hamas in Gaza. When the initial bombing of Gaza City started, world opinion quickly turned against Israel. But Israel sent warnings to evacuate northern Gaza before sending troops to defeat Hamas, rescue the 240+ hostages and dismantle the maze of tunnels. Hamas used the Palestinian people as human shields. In November 2023, 105 people were released in hostage swaps with Hamas and seven others were released for 112 total. Without regime change, completely destroying the terrorists and a change of heart, Hamas and other Iranian proxies will continue to attack.

If you will not drive out the inhabitants of the land from before you; then it shall come to pass, that those which you let remain of them shall be [barbs] in your eyes and thorns in your side, and shall vex you in the land wherein you dwell (Numbers 33:55).

Iran Proxy Groups and Nations

Iran has a forty year history of supporting militant terrorist proxies that surround Israel. Sunnis focus on Mohamad's example while Shia's follow imams who are ancestors of Muhammad and more radical. Every proxy has similar beliefs.

[Your enemies] have said, Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation; that the name of Israel may be no more in remembrance. For they have consulted together with one consent: they are confederate against you. Let them know that you, whose name is the Lord-that you alone are the Most High over all the earth (Psalm 83:4-5, 18).

Behold, Damascus is taken away from being a city, and it shall be a ruinous heap. The nations shall rush like rush like [a flood]: but God shall rebuke them, and they shall flee far off … (Isaiah 17:1, 13).

We have liberated Gaza, but have we recognized Israel? Have we given up our lands occupied in 1948? We demand the liberation of the West Bank, and the establishment of a state the West Bank and Gaza, with Jerusalem as its capital but without recognizing [Israel]. This is the key without recognizing the Israeli enemy on a single inch of land.... We will not recognize the Israeli enemy.

April 2024 - Iran-Israel Conflict

Despite Hamas propaganda, Israel attacks Hamas and their allies by precision strikes against military targets. On December 25, 2023, Israel killed Iranian commander Razi Mousavi at home south of Damascus. On January 20, 2024, Israel killed Sadegh Omidzadeh along with four Iranian officials and a total of ten military personnel in Damascus.

On April 1, 2024, Israel attacked an Iranian consulate in Damascus, Syria killing Iranian Guard commander Mohammad Reza Zahedi, six additional Iranian military and total of sixteen people. The consulate was used as a war room for Iranian officials meeting with Palestinian proxy leaders.

On April 13, 2024, Iran retaliated with a direct attack of Israel with over 120 ballistic missiles, (rockets) missiles, 30 cruise missiles and 170 drones within a two hour period. Hezbollah in Lebanon shot 40 missiles into southern Israel but Israel responded by bombing a Hezbollah weapons manufacturing site in Lebanon. The Islamic Resistance and Badr Organization (Shia Islamists) in Iraq along with Houthis in Yemen shot missiles. Jordan and Saudi Arabia joined in by defending their air space. France and United States intercepted over 100 Iranian drones but some hit Israel, Judea and Samaria (West Bank) and Golan Heights. There were 33 civilians injured and damage to the Netavim and Ramon airbases in Southern Israel.

Israel's war cabinet planned their retaliation to Iran's attack. The United States refused to participate in offensive strikes on Iran and warned Israel to exercise restraint. Iran threatened to respond to Israel.

On April 19, 2024, Israel attacked three targets deep within Iran near the Isfahan Airport. Iran claimed air defenses shot down all missiles but satellite images showed damage to the air defense battery and radar system. Israel chose not to comment. Also, southern Syrian and central Iraqi airbases were targeted. Both sides chose to de-escalate the situation for now.

The United States is playing both sides of the war supporting Israel and Iran. After the failed withdrawal from Afghanistan; war in Ukraine and two-state solution, their foreign policy shows weakness to our allies and enemies. A small but loud group of Palestinian terrorist sympathizers on college campuses spew antisemitism against Jews and promote terrorist propaganda. Despite the contrary, the Iran-Israel War progresses slowly toward World War IV as Russia and radical Islamic nations (Iran, Libya, Turkey) united together against Israel (Ezekiel 38:4-5, 6, 8). All nations turn against Israel for World War V. Then God redeems the Jews, rescues the Tribulation Saints and judges the nations.

References: 21st Century Revelation: World Wars, Iraq Wars and End Wars Chapter 20 - Players in the Game, Chapter 25 - Iraq War III, Iran-Israel Nuclear War, 21st Century View, Tribulation Timeline, Seals, Trumpets, Bowls, Covenant, Tribulation, Revelation, Unholy Trinity, World War III, World War IV, World War V, Second Coming, Millennium, 21st Century View, Israeli-Palestinian Peace Process, 2014 Gaza War, 2023 Israel-Hamas War, 2024 Iran-Israel Conflict, Iran Attacks Israel