Last weekend, Iran and her allies – Iraq, Syria and Yemen – launched 170 drones, 30 cruise missiles, and 110 ballistic missiles at Israel, as tensions between the Iran and Israel boiled over (ref. 1). Almost all of the drones and missiles were shot down before they reached Israel. Israel also intercepted a number of missiles before they could hit their targets. Only a small number of ballistic missiles got through and did some damage (ref. 1).
The USA and the UK helped Israel by shooting down several Iranian drones and missiles. US Centcom used military assets in the region, and RAF fighter jets took off from Cyprus. France also contributed by patrolling the airspace.
But to the surprise of many, Jordan under King Abdullah II intercepted the Iranian drones and missiles that were flying through its airspace towards Israel.
Upset by this, Iran warned Jordan that Jordan would be the next target if it continued to cooperate with Israel (ref. 2). In turn, Jordan summoned the Iranian ambassador to insist that Iran should stop questioning Jordan’s position concerning Israel and Gaza (ref. 2).
In terms of Bible prophecy, although Edom and Moab and Ammon are to become very Islamic and very anti-Israel during the great tribulation (ref. Ezekiel 25), Daniel 11:41 prophesies that “the chief of the children of Ammon” will escape out of the hand of the Assyrian.
He shall enter also into the glorious land, and many countries shall be overthrown: but these shall escape out of his hand, even Edom, and Moab, and the chief of the children of Ammon.
Daniel 11:41
The chief of the children of Ammon must be King Abdullah II of Jordan because the capital city of Jordan is Amman.
I suppose this means, the Assyrian and the Islamists on his side, eg. ISIS and also eventually Iran, will not obtain the fealty of the king of Jordan. Nor for that matter will they arrest him or kill him. But rather he will “escape” from their hand, as the Bible prophesies.
Educated in the USA and the UK, graduating from Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, and having served as a commander of Jordan’s Special Forces, Abdullah II will probably make it to the UK at some point, and live there in exile.
Technically, Abdullah II is a Hashemite, a descendant of Islam’s Muhammad. But of course, the Assyrian (aka the Antichrist) will assume the position of caliph, and insist that he is the superior descendant of Islam’s Muhammad. Then, as leader of the prophesied Fourth Beast, the Assyrian will demand bayah, ie. the allegiance of all Muslims including potential rivals.
So, there are two takeaways from this news.
One is that even though the kingdom of Jordan has been pro-Gaza in these last few months, Jordan under this king will not necessarily choose to join with a caliphate that includes ISIS (ref. Revelation 13:3), Iran (bear, ref. Revelation 13:2), Iraq (lion, ref. Revelation 13:2), and Turkey (leopard, ref. Revelation 13:2).
And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority. And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast.
Revelation 13:2-3
The other takeaway is that if Islam is to do anything at all to Israel, it must do it through land forces. Evidently, standoff missiles and drones achieve nothing.
Remember, Zechariah 14:2 and Joel 3:2 reads that it is God, the LORD of hosts, who will gather the surrounding nations to battle against Jerusalem.
For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle…
Zechariah 14:2
I will also gather all nations, and will bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat, and will plead with them there for my people and for my heritage Israel…
Joel 3:2
So, the beast will form, and there must be war.
Proclaim ye this among the Gentiles; Prepare war, wake up the mighty men, let all the men of war draw near; let them come up: Beat your plowshares into swords, and your pruninghooks into spears: let the weak say, I am strong. Assemble yourselves, and come, all ye heathen, and gather yourselves together round about: thither cause thy mighty ones to come down, O LORD. Let the heathen be wakened, and come up to the valley of Jehoshaphat: for there will I sit to judge all the heathen round about.
Joel 3:9-12
This will be a winner-take-all type war.
Islam insists that it is greater. They have no idea. Great and terrible things await!
The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the LORD come.
Joel 2:31
References:
1. Tom Spender (15 April 2024), “What was in wave of Iranian attacks and how were they thwarted?”, bbc.com
2. Reuters (14 April 2024), “Jordan FM summons Iranian ambassador to protest interference in its affairs”, english.alarabiya.net