The IDF has deployed the Iron Dome anti-missile system in Tel-Aviv, Israel's most populace city. While the IDF is describing it as a mere routine training exercise that has been planned for some time, its deployment there does come as tensions in the Middle East reach new heights over Iran's nuclear programme. President Ahmadinejad announced during the week that Iran had successfully produced its own nuclear fuel rod, despite a raft of international sanctions now imposed on the nation. And today Iranian warships were again granted permission by Egypt to pass through the Suez Canal into the Mediterranean Sea, an act Israel previously described as a deliberate 'provocation'. The UK and US have publicly called on Israel not to strike Iran's nuclear facilities, fearing retaliatory attacks on Western interests from Hizbullah and Syria in the event of a conflict. Israeli officials also believe that Iran could order Hizbullah, which possesses an arsenal of thousands of rockets, to attack Israel in the event that conflict breaks out. The temporary deployment of the Iron Dome in Tel-Aviv may become a permanent fixture as long as that threat remains. It wouldn't be the first time the IDF has staged a "training exercise" in preparation for conflict. In 2007, when Israel successfully destroyed Syria's nuclear reactor in a surprise attack, the IDF had mobilized the biggest military drill in Israel's history on its northern border in case of retaliation.

Quote: "The IDF Spokesperson said in a statement that the Iron Dome system is currently being tested, and for this reason the battery is deployed in different areas throughout the country. "This week, as part of the military absorption plan, the battery is deployed in the area of Gush Dan for several days."

The Bible seems to indicate in Ezekiel's prophecy that a future war between Israel and the Gog alliance, which includes the nation of Iran, could possibly involve missiles and anti-missile systems. It is very interesting that Israel's long-range anti-missile system is called the Arrow-II. Old Testament writers may have found it difficult to describe visions they saw detailing modern warfare, but I believe that the end time prophecies mentioned in Scripture do seem to describe some sort of missile exchange during the last days. In Ezekiel 39:3-4, the Lord says, "And I will smite thy bow out of thy left hand, and will cause thine arrows to fall out of thy right hand. Thou shalt fall upon the mountains of Israel, thou, and all thy bands, and the people that is with thee: I will give thee unto the ravenous birds of every sort, and to the beasts of the field to be devoured". Prophecies in Joel, Ezekiel and Zechariah also seem to describe the effects of a possible nuclear exchange. In Joel 2:30 the Lord says, "And I will shew wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke". In Ezekiel 38:19-20, "For in my jealousy and in the fire of my wrath have I spoken, Surely in that day there shall be a great shaking in the land of Israel; So that the fishes of the sea, and the fowls of the heaven, and the beasts of the field, and all creeping things that creep upon the earth, and all the men that are upon the face of the earth, shall shake at my presence, and the mountains shall be thrown down, and the steep places shall fall, and every wall shall fall to the ground". Zechariah 14:12 also mentions the judgement of those nations that will come against Israel during the tribulation period, "And this shall be the plague wherewith the LORD will smite all the people that have fought against Jerusalem; Their flesh shall consume away while they stand upon their feet, and their eyes shall consume away in their holes, and their tongue shall consume away in their mouth".

Clearly the time of the Gog Magog war is drawing near. All the nations mentioned in Ezekiel's prophecy, Iran (Persia), Turkey (Togarmah), Sudan (Ethiopia), Libya and Russia, amongst others, are now allying themselves together against the state of Israel. That can only mean one thing, that Christ's return is also drawing near. Have your sins been forgiven? Have you trusted in the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation? Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation today.

Acts 2:21
And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.

Source Haaretz, Telegraph, Haaretz