The little horn

Iranian president as one of 'little horns' arising out of Persia and serving a god of war.

By MALCOLM HEDDING
iran (photo credit: AP)
iran
(photo credit: AP)
“I was considering the horns, and there was another horn, a little one, coming up among them, before whom three of the first horns were plucked out by the roots. And there, in this horn, were eyes like the eyes of a man, and a mouth speaking pompous words.” Daniel 7:8
The so-called peace process has stalled again because what Israel is required to give is a ‘bridge too far.’ The idea of a two-state solution is seemingly dead. Adding to the instability in the region has been Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s recent visit to Lebanon, where – with Hitler-style ranting – he once again called for the removal of Israel from the regional map.
He even visited the border with Israel to express his contempt for the nation and deliver his call for jihad. There, he lauded Hizbullah as a shining example of “resistance,” and hailed Lebanon as the world’s training ground for jihad.
If the truth be known, there never was a real agenda for two states living sideby- side. As far back as 1994, PLO chief Yasser Arafat declared that, “piece by piece, we will destroy Israel with peace!” This took place mere months after he shook hands with Yitzhak Rabin on the White House lawn. Thus, there has been and is a “no-state” solution – meaning no Jewish State. It is to be replaced with another totalitarian Islamic dictatorship.
This is the goal, and the Iranian axis will not give up until it is realized.
So Ahmadinejad stood on the border of Israel and proclaimed, in the name of Allah, the imminent disappearance of Israel. This is the same man who is tolerated by much of the global community and welcomed at the UN.
He deems its sanctions weak, and anyway believes that the Iranians must expect difficulty in order to defeat the “Zionist infidel.” So while the world watches, Iran has entrenched itself to the north, south and east of Israel. It has proxies in Syria, Hizbullah and Hamas, and has now forged a new alliance with Turkey. This means Israel is being encircled by a predator.
Sadly, Israel’s only real ally, the United States, has been weakened by war, and its present Administration is “blowing colder than usual” in its relationship with Israel. On the ground then, things are not looking good, and while the prospect of war is an unthinkable one, it is becoming more probable every day.
There is no doubt that Israel’s enemies are feeling emboldened, given the failure of the international community to effectively rein in Iran’s nuclear ambitions or the growing menace of Hizbullah in Lebanon and Hamas in Gaza. Between them they now have some 50,000 missiles aimed at Israel.
Together with Syria, this Iranian axis poses a clear and unmistakable threat.
Some 2,600 years ago, the Hebrew prophet Daniel saw a vision of a “little horn” arising out of Persia. This “horn” depicted a vile person who spoke blasphemous words and challenged the very existence of Israel (Daniel 8:9-10).
As Daniel watched, this evil figure was cast down without human agency and the kingdom was assured to Israel (Daniel 8:25).
While the original “horn” coming out of Persia (Iran) was Antiochus IV Epiphanes, about 167 BCE, it is true that this individual served as an archetype for “little horns” to follow. Daniels’ unique vision appears to embrace our times, and thus serves as a warning to those who would seek to destroy Israel.
They may prosper for a time, but in the end they will fall and the purpose of God for and through Israel will triumph.
According to Daniel, one of these “horns to follow” will serve a god of war, or jihad! (Daniel 11:37-39) It is therefore a comfort to know that the God of the Bible watches over Israel day and night, and that no weapon formed against Israel will prosper.
This just means that there is nothing bigger than Israel’s God in the universe! Once you know this, faith is just a small step!
Rev. Hedding is Executive Director of the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem; www.icej.org/