The resurgence of Islam really got under way in Iran, when a secular ruler, the Shah of Iran was overthrown by militant, fundamentalist Moslems loyal to the Ayatollah Khomeini. The Islamic revolution revival radically changed the entire nation. Iran is now an Islamic Republic and a key player in the Middle East. The Islamic Republic in Iran was prophesied in Daniel 11:2.
Three more kings will appear in Persia, and then a fourth, who will be far richer than all the others. When he has gained power by his wealth, he will stir up everyone against the kingdom of Greece.The Islamic Revolution in Iran is also described in Daniel 8. This chapter describes a vision that Daniel received while the people of Judah were in exile in Babylon. After the vision, the angel Gabriel appeared to explain its meaning to him. When Gabriel drew near, Daniel fell to the ground in fear, but the angel stood him on his feet and encouraged him. Gabriel first explained the timing of the vision's fulfilment.
Understand that the vision concerns the time of the end
I am going to tell you what will happen later in the time of wrath, because the vision concerns the appointed time of the end (Dan 8:17,19)
He makes it clear that the vision is not to be fulfilled in Daniel's time. It concerns the time of the end, and will be fulfilled in the later "time of wrath". In the RSV this phrase is translated as the "latter end of the indignation". Daniel 8 has not yet been fulfilled.
Two-Horned Ram
We are seeing the fulfilment of Daniel's vision in our time. The first part of the vision is described in Daniel 8:3,4.
I looked up, and there before me was a ram with two horns, standing beside the canal, and the horns were long. One of the horns was longer than the other but grew up later. I watched the ram as he charged toward the west and the north and the south. No animal could stand against him, and none could rescue from his power. He did as he pleased and became great.
This is what Daniel saw and the interpretation is given in verse 20. The two-horned ram represents the kings of Media and Persia. The people of Media and Persia now make up the nation of Iran. Daniel saw a future ruler of Iran, who would rise to power.
The fundamentalist Islamic revival has radically changed Iran. This culminated in the overthrow of the Shah of Iran, and the rise to power of Ayatollah Khomeini. Iran is now an Islamic Republic and a key player in the Middle East. The smaller horn on the goat is the Islamic Republic led by Ayatollah Khomeini.
It seems that Daniel's visions are being fulfilled in our own time. Over the last two decades, the Islamic revival has spread right across the world. The nation of Iran has been at the spearhead of this growth in fervour. The other more secular Moslem nations were frightened by what happened.
None can Stand Against Him
Daniel saw a ruler who would become great and do just as he pleases. This would be a good description of the Ayatollahs who have absolute power in Iran.
More interesting still, Daniel says that no nation would be able to "rescue from his power". When the Islamic revolution took place, over one hundred American hostages were held in their embassy. The United States, which is the greatest military power in the world, devised a plan called "Eagle's Claw" to rescue them. Despite elaborate planning and the best equipment that modern technology could provide, the rescue attempt ended in disaster.
US helicopters that entered Iran encountered unprecedented headwinds and unexpected dust storms. A helicopter crashed into a plane during refuelling in the Iranian desert and eight servicemen were killed. The United States was not strong enough to rescue its people from Iran, and had to beg for their return.
In the Iran-Iraq war, Iraq was unable to defeat Iran, despite intensive American support.
Daniel said that no animal could stand against the ram, and none could rescue from his power.
The destruction of Iraq has removed a major obstacle to Iranian power.
Iran now has a population of nearly 70 million, which is more than the United Kingdom. A quarter of the population is aged under 15, which gives it enormous vitality.
Iran has the world's second-largest proven natural gas reserves. In December 2005, Russia cut off natural gas supplies to Ukraine, placing supplies to Europe under threat. The only alternative source of gas for most of Europe is Iran, so the Russian ruckus strengthened the hand of Iran.
Iran also has about a tenth of the world's oil reserves, so the United Nations will be powerless against it. Any trade sanctions against Iran will increase the price of oil, the last thing that the world economy needs at this time.
As the United States puts more pressure on Iran, its credibility in the Islamic world increases.
Over the next few years, we will see a revival of Iranian power in a way that surprises the world. No nation will be able to stand against it (until the time when he is to be destroyed by the long-horned goat). Iran will do as it pleases and become a really important player on the world stage.
West North and South
Daniel saw the ram charging to the west, the north and the south.
I watched the ram as he charged toward the west and the north and the south. No animal could stand against him, and none could rescue from his power. He did as he pleased and became great (Dan 8:4).
The first two of these charges have already taken place. To the west of Iran is the nation of Iraq. In 1980 Iraq invaded Iran, and military strategists said that Iran would soon have to surrender. To their surprise, the Iranian troops forced the invading army back across their border and entered Iraq.
When the United States invaded Iraq to topple the government of Saddam Hussein, the position of Iran was strengthened further. When the United States withdrew all their military forces in 2011, Iran was left as the dominant influence in Iraq.
The nations to the north of Iran are Syria and Lebanon. There are already strong links between Iran and Syria, and Iranian power has been influential in Lebanon. A Shi-ite Moslem militia organisation has its headquarters in the Bekaa Valley at a place called Baalbek. In 1982, about 350 Iranian Revolutionary Guards set up headquarters there, and have a miniature Islamic Republic in place. Their numbers swelled to 600, and they managed to impose Islamic law on the once westernised residents of the area. Terrorist activity by this group was one of the factors forcing the United States peace-keeping forces to withdraw from Beirut. This is the fulfilment of the ram's move to the north. Iran also established Hezbollah, which led the resistance against Israel's invasion of Lebanon. Iran is now the main ally of the Assad government in Syria.
The nation to the south is Saudia Arabia.
Charging South
Iran has not yet advanced its power to the south. The only significant country south of Iran is Saudi Arabia and the Arab Emirates, which are only protected by the Persian Gulf. Although the Saudi King is a Sunni Moslem, most of the population of the Eastern Province where most of the oil is found are Shia. The majority of workers in the Aramco, the Saudi Oil Company, are also Shia. They have been subject to Wahhabi persecution and often much of their property has been seized.
Iran might attempt to expand its power by stirring up the Shia majority in Saudia Arabia. This could be the ram's charge to the south.
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