Benjamin Netanyahu
(Official portrait via Wikipedia)
Israel’s Prime Minister reportedly has been interested in more attacks on Iran:
Netanyahu pushes for new strikes against Iran before Israeli election
21 October 2026
Benjamin Netanyahu is pushing for new strikes on Iran as he faces growing pressure before next week’s Israeli elections.
The Israeli prime minister, who faces probable defeat in voting on Tuesday, ordered his military to prepare for a multi-day bombing campaign targeting civilian infrastructure as well as energy and nuclear facilities.
The mission, slated for the weekend of Oct 10, did not go ahead owing to Donald Trump‘s reluctance to reignite the conflict before next month’s midterm elections, …
Mr Netanyahu and Mr Trump have repeatedly threatened a new offensive against Iran, declaring they must “finish” the job against the regime. The renewed desire for strikes reflects growing political pressure on the Israeli prime minister and a last-ditch effort to regain voters’ support. …
Senior Iranian officials told Reuters that Iran was convinced the US president was ready to continue attacks to break the stalemate in the war, …
One of the officials said: “Iran is preparing for renewed Israeli and US attacks, not for a deal with America to end the war. The clerical establishment is determined not to give Trump a political victory.”
Anna Kelly, the deputy White House spokesman, told the FT that “Iran is in very bad condition, both economically and militarily” and “the United States will not be attacking Iran at any time prior to the midterm elections”. https://www.yahoo.com/news/politics/articles/netanyahu-pushes-strikes-against-iran-120621369.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly9uZXdzLmdvb2dsZS5jb20v&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAABfPO7GFEanQqxFo2d9e1-5R79XFDyvsk59hBgewImibscJdyuXQmILwC7lvEbFWsmPLqnz1LZXao8fXE-WwPPvZR_qIIXRyMjU2urIzIujBzvzWAVjzwN9OnC2H8166acWHDw3_vKEtZzzu9ZyUcgHK7GM1rrODcnKoGjz_ea2x
During this lull in fighting, I believe that Iran has been preparing.
It remains my belief that Hezbollah and Iran will one day reign a volley of bombs on Israel. Those in Jerusalem, and not just in the northern portion of Israel, should be concerned. I also believe that at least some Syria will become more directly involved against Israel.
The Bible shows that God will allow the nation of Israel to be hit as shown in the Israel Bible translation:
5 For my Lord God of Hosts had a day Of tumult and din and confusion— Kir raged in the Valley of Vision, And Shoa on the hill; 6 While Elam bore the quiver In troops of mounted men, And Kir bared the shield— 7 And your choicest lowlands Were filled with chariots and horsemen: They stormed at Yehuda‘s* gateway.
8 And pressed beyond its screen. You gave thought on that day To the arms in the Forest House,9 And you took note of the many breaches In the City of David. And you collected the water of the Lower Pool; 10 and you counted the houses of Yerushalayim and pulled houses down to fortify the wall; and you constructed a basin between the two walls for the water of the old pool. But you gave no thought to Him who planned it, You took no note of Him who designed it long before. (Isaiah 22:5-10)
Yehuda above means Judah, which is the modern nation called Israel. And Yerushalayim is commonly known as Jerusalem.
The old Worldwide Church of God published the following related to Elam:
Iranians comprise nearly 70 percent of the country. Iranians, though Islamic, are totally distinct from the neighboring Arab peoples of the Middle East. They are a mixed people of the remnants of Media and Elam and other ancestors of Semitic and Hamitic stock. (Stump K. South Asia in Prophecy. Plain Truth, July/August 1986, p. 5)
Let me add that, according to the late Dr. Hoeh of the old Radio/Worldwide Church of God:
Madai is the father of the Medes. The Medes used to be associated with the Persians. You will read about them especially in the book of Daniel. But by the time of Nehemiah the Persians were much more prominent. Today there are no Medes left in Persia. (Hoeh H. The TRUTH about the Race Question! Plain Truth, July 1957)
Persia, the modern Iran, (Hoeh H. Compendium of World History – Volume 2. 1969)
Hence, this seems to support more being from Elam than Media in Iran.
Kir looks to include Syrians and others in the region. For example, the Bible tells that after Tiglath-Pileser king of Assyria took over Damascus, he moved Syrians to Kir. While this does not mean that Kir must (or must only) be a reference to Syria, the fact that Syria is an ally of Iran is interesting. Some believe Kir is an area in the south of Iran (which could then include some in Iraq), while others suggest closer to the Black Sea (which Turkey borders). God’s word has the expression “the Syrians from Kir” (Amos 9:7), which is basically confirmation that Kir of Isaiah 22 would include Syrians. The prophecy that “Kir uncovered the shield” suggests that Syria will have somehow reduced the effectiveness of Israel’s ‘Iron Dome’ and/or other defensive equipment the nation of Israel will use.
The “House of the Forest” was anciently located in Lebanon (e.g. 1 Kings 7:2, 10:17,21; 2 Chronicles 9:16,20)–see also A Discourse on the House of the Forest of Lebanon, pp: 111-134 in Bunyan J. Stebbing H. The Entire Works of John Bunyan, Volume 4. Virtue and Company, 1860.
Here is the Catholic Public Domain Version translation of Isaiah 22:8:
8 And the covering of Judah will be exposed, and in that day, you will see the weaponry of the forest house. (Isaiah 22:8, CPDV)
A way for Judah to “see the weaponry of the forest house” would be a massive attack by Hezbollah. In Isaiah 22:8, “Judah” is a reference to those in the land commonly called Israel–God will allow Israel to be attacked!
In Isaiah 22:1-14, the Bible shows that God will allow something that appears to be an Iranian-Syrian-Southern Lebanese confederation, to strike the nation of Israel.
In my view, Iran, Hezbollah, and Syria are most likely consulting with each other to determine how and when to launch a major attack against Israel.
Israel’s ‘Iron Dome’ and other defenses will not be able to protect Jerusalem against enough of the coming attack to prevent great damage.
I have been reporting that for years on this COGwriter Church of God News page (e.g. Thiel B. ‘Israel Reveals it is Now Targeting Iranian Forces Militarily’. COGwriter, February 20, 2020 and Thiel B. ‘Hezbollah chief vows retaliation for future Israeli strikes in Lebanon’ ‘Bennett: Israel won’t accept rocket attacks from Lebanon’. COGwriter, August 8, 2021).
In other Middle East news, Turkey took steps to militarily support Saudi Arabia:
Turkey plans mandate to send military personnel to Saudi Arabia, ruling party official says
October 21, 2026
ANKARA, Oct 21 (Reuters) – Turkey will submit to parliament a mandate allowing for military personnel to be deployed to Saudi Arabia under its joint defence pact with Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, a lawmaker from the ruling AK Party told Reuters on Wednesday. The lawmaker, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the mandate would be sent to parliament once a bill ratifying the accord has been approved.Turkey submitted the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement — signed by the three countries in August — to parliament for ratification on Tuesday, moving NATO’s second-largest army closer to a formal mutual defence pledge with Riyadh as it faces Houthi attacks. https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/turkey-planning-mandate-send-military-personnel-saudi-arabia-under-mecca-pact-2026-10-21/
Let me add that Turkey, Pakistand, Qatar, and Indonesia just signed a mutual defense pact:
ANKARA, Oct 21 (Reuters) – Turkey, Qatar, Pakistan, and Indonesia signed an agreement on Wednesday to boost defence cooperation and strengthen defensive capabilities, the Turkish Defence Ministry said. In a statement, the ministry said the countries signed the “Badr Memorandum of Understanding” in Doha as a sign of their desire to further deepen cooperation and develop partnerships. (see https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/turkey-qatar-pakistan-indonesia-sign-defence-cooperation-accord-ankara-says-2026-10-21/).
The Bible tells of the rise of a power of nations in the Middle East and North Africa which are basically now Islamic. Turkey is prophesied to be part of this ‘King of the South’ alliance (cf. Daniel 11:40-43).
Secular sources have pointed to something called an Islamic NATO–and we continue to see steps towards something like that.
The Continuing Church of God (CCOG) put together the following Bible News Prophecy video on our Bible News Prophecy YouTube channel related to that:
14:57Islamic NATO? The King of the South?
On August 6, 2026, 14 Sunni Muslim nations agreed to be part of a naval confederation. The next day, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan announced they signed to be part of the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement. Leaders from Turkey and Pakistan announced that more nations in the region are welcome to join this Mecca Alliance. Because of certain provisions in it, a government official from Turkey as well as various commentators have pointed to this agreement as a possible Islamic NATO. The idea of this being a Muslim NATO looks to have been endorsed by the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation which welcomed that trilateral defence pact between Türkiye, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan as a “historic” and strategically significant step for the security of the wider Muslim world. But could these military arrangements be consistent with biblical prophecies? If you are a student of the Bible, you may be aware of someone referred to as ‘the King of the South’ in Bible prophecy. Most the nations that have agreed to be part of these military arrangements are in lands that the Bible shows will support the coming King of the South. This leader will lead a confederation of peoples from the Middle East and North Africa–and leaders of a dozen nations in that region are part of one or more of the agreements announced in August 2026. Back in 2018, Dr. Thiel told of a coming ‘Arab NATO’ with support from Turkey. Are we now seeing this being formed? The Bible says that “the king of the South shall be stirred up to battle with a very great and mighty army” (Daniel 11:25). With 1.4 million troops part of the Mecca agreement and other nations expected to support it, such as very great army will relatively soon be formed. Turkey said that Egypt, which has been working towards a type of Sunni Muslim military alliance, is expected to join the Mecca agreement. Could an Egyptian be the man who will become the final King of the South of biblical prophecies? And as a student of the Bible, do you know who the King of the South goes to war against? If you don’t know he goes to war against, you won’t be able to understand how current world events are fulfilling Biblical prophecy right before our eyes. Did Dr. Thiel warn that the King of the South would arise after military actions against Iran? Is Israel concerned about these Islamic military agreements? Can you see that the foundations for the confederacy of the kingdom of the King of the South is forming right now? Watch this video as Dr. Thiel shines the light of Biblical truth on the identity of the King of the South, the countries of his kingdom, and who the rival king is that he goes to war with in the not-too-distant future.
Here is a link to our video: Islamic NATO? The King of the South?
Biblical prophecies are coming to pass.
Remember the Apostle Paul warned Christians:
20 Do not despise prophecies. (1 Thessalonians 5:20)
We in the Continuing Church of God are striving to “Watch” as Jesus told His followers to do (Mark 13:37) and report as a watchman like God told Ezekiel to do (Ezekiel 3:16-21, 33:1-9; watch also Who is your watchman?).
Some items of possibly related interest may include:
Is the Future King of the South Rising Up? Some no longer believe there needs to be a future King of the South. Might Egypt, Islam, Iran, Arabs, or Ethiopia be involved? Might this King be called the Mahdi or Caliph? What does the Bible say? Two videos of related interest are: The Future King of the South is Rising and he Rise and Fall of the King of the South. Here is a version the Spanish language: ¿Esta Surgiendo el Rey Del Sur?
Iran in Prophecy Is Iran in Bible prophecy? If so, what does the Bible teach? What names, other than Persia, may be used to describe Iran? There are also two related videos: Iran Neutralization Prediction Confirmed and Iran and Israel Conflict. Here is a video in the Spanish language: Irán en la profecía bíblica
The ‘Peace Deal’ of Daniel 9:27 This prophecy could give up to 3 1/2 years advance notice of the coming Great Tribulation. Will most ignore or misunderstand its fulfillment? Here is a link to a related sermon video Daniel 9:27 and the Start of the Great Tribulation.
Iran in Prophecy Is Iran in Bible prophecy? If so, what does the Bible teach? What names, other than Persia, may be used to describe Iran? There are also two related videos: Iran In Prophecy and Iran and Israel Conflict.
When Will the Great Tribulation Begin? 2026, 2027, or 2028? Can the Great Tribulation begin today? What happens before the Great Tribulation in the “beginning of sorrows”? What happens in the Great Tribulation and the Day of the Lord? Is this the time of the Gentiles? When is the earliest that the Great Tribulation can begin? What is the Day of the Lord? Who are the 144,000? A short video is available titled: Countdown to the Great Tribulation.
The Arab and Islamic World In the Bible, History, and Prophecy The Bible discusses the origins of the Arab world and discusses the Middle East in prophecy. What is ahead for the Middle East and those who follow Islam? What about the Imam Mahdi? What lies ahead for Turkey, Iran, and the other non-Arabic Muslims? An item of possibly related interest in the Spanish language would be: Líderes iraníes condenan la hipocresía de Occidente y declaran que ahora es tiempo para prepararse para el Armagedón, la guerra, y el Imán Mahdi.
Is the Future King of the South Rising Up? Some no longer believe there needs to be a future King of the South. Might Egypt, Islam, Iran, Arabs, or Ethiopia be involved? Might this King be called the Mahdi or Caliph? What does the Bible say? Two videos of related interest are: The Future King of the South is Rising and The Rise and Fall of the King of the South. Here is a version the Spanish language: ¿Esta Surgiendo el Rey Del Sur?
Islamic and Biblical Prophecies for the 21st Century This is a free online book which helps show where biblical and Islamic prophecies converge and diverge. Here are links to related sermons: Seeing Christianity Through Islamic Eyes, Imam Mahdi, women, and prophecy, and Terrorism, Iran, and Fatima, Dajjal, Antichrist, Gold, & Mark of the Beast?, and Jesus and God’s Plan for Muslims. Here is a link to a sermon in the Spanish language: El Imám Mahdi las mujeres y la profecía bíblica. Here is a link to the book in Spanish: Profecías islámicas y bíblicas para el Siglo 21°.