Iran raises threat level.

Recently, when a U.S. aircraft carrier passed through the Strait of Hormuz, an Iranian top commander “stated that Iran’s submarines are able to ambush and hit enemy vessels specially US Aircraft carriers from the seabed throughout the Persian Gulf.”  This could be done using its Russian-made, sonar-evading, diesel-electric submarines.  A Major General followed up by threatening, “We are not in the habit of repeating the warning and we warn only once” (TheBlaze.com, January 18, 2012).  Now with oil sanctions imposed on Iran, a U.S. aircraft carrier, flanked by French and British warships, passed through the Strait of Hormuz, in open defiance of Iran’s threats.

There are also “clear statements coming from Saudi Arabia and the UAE (United Arab Emirates) saying, indirectly, that they will replace Iran’s oil” (Reuters, January 25, 2012). In response, Iran is threatening to close the Strait to all ship traffic (msnbc.com, January 23, 2012).  Iran’s actions appear to be causing the nations of the Middle East to coalesce, but not around Iran.  Instead, Iran’s threatening actions appear to be pushing them together, “away from” Iran.

Bible prophecies indicate at the end of the age, a King of the South will arise and “push” against a European Beast power, or King of the North (Daniel 11:40, KJV).  God uses different peoples and nations to bring about His will (Daniel 2:21), and it appears that Iran may be used by God to bring together nations that will make up the King of the South.