The Iranian government have announced their intentions to put a satellite into orbit, following yesterday's successful launch of a rocket which is capable of carrying a payload into space. The news was met with criticism from Western nations, who believe that Iran could use the same technology to deliver a nuclear payload to another country such as Israel. Iran is facing a fourth round of economic sanctions after failing to abide by a United Nations resolution calling for a halt to its Uranium enrichment process. Israeli intelligence experts believe that Iran could possess enough Uranium to build a nuclear bomb as early as 2009 if the country is permitted to continue developing its nuclear programme. Israel recently carried out a massive air exercise in preparation for a strike on Iran's nuclear facilities. And last week the Iranian government announced that they had upgraded the range of their aircraft, bringing Israel within range of a possible counter-strike, although Israeli officials have downplayed those claims. 

Quote: ""The Safir (Ambassador) rocket was successfully launched. All its systems...are Iranian-made," Reza Taghipour, head of Iran's space agency, told state television, adding that a "test satellite was put into orbit." "We have paved the way for placing a satellite in space in future," state television said, showing images of the pre-dawn rocket launch which was attended by President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

Yesterday's launch of the Safir rocket also fell on the anniversary of the birth of the Imam Mahdi, who is said to have disappeared down a well in the 8th century and is prophesied to reappear as the Islamic messiah. President Ahmadinejad thinks it is his role to prepare Iran and the Muslim world for the appearance of the Mahdi, who he believes should arrive any time soon. Muslims believe that the Mahdi will appear during a time of great trouble on earth. According to Islamic tradition, the Mahdi is to come from a city in Iran, and will join an Islamic army that will march on Israel. The Mahdi will conquer Israel and many of the Jews will be killed. He will rise to prominence following a peace agreement between the Arabs and the West which will be mediated by a Jew, and he will rule over the world from his headquarters in Jerusalem for a period of seven years. 

Despite President Ahmadinejad's claims of peace, it is Islamic ideology that is the driving force behind Iran's development of nuclear power and its hatred for the Jewish people. And when the Antichrist does finally arrive on the scene, Muslims will welcome him with open arms, for he will appear to fulfill all their requirements. It's not that Islamic prophecies are accurate or should be trusted. These were originally Bible prophecies that Satan has twisted in order to deceive people into worshipping himself. When you examine the creation stories of other religions, you will find that in many cases the bad guy in the Judeo-Christian account becomes the good guy. Often you will find that the serpent that is honoured in these creation stories rather than being viewed as the deceiver. For example in Hinduism, there is Vishnu and the serpent, who helped to create the world. Likewise in modern gnosticism, it is Judas who is portrayed as the hero instead of the traitor. And it seems that in Islam, it is the Antichrist who is portrayed as the messiah figure rather than Jesus Christ. As you can see, the stage is being set for the appearance of the Antichrist. But we are not looking for him. We are waiting for Jesus Christ, who is coming to take all those who have trusted in Him for salvation, to be with Him in heaven. Are you ready to meet Him? Jesus Christ said that if we remain in our sins, where He is we cannot come (John 8:21). You need to have your sins forgiven if you ever intend to be in heaven. Jesus Christ bore God's punishment for your sins when He died upon the cross. And through His sacrifice on the cross, all who believe on Him for salvation can know the forgiveness of sins and have everlasting life. Trust in Jesus Christ for salvation today.

John 6:40
And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.

Source BreitBart, YNet News, Africa Asia, Answering Islam