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In My Control vs Out of My Control
Out of My Control = Persecution and Criticism
The dictionary defines a martyr as “a person who is killed because of his religious or other beliefs.” Interestingly enough, the English word martyr is really a word transliterated from the original Greek martur, which simply means “witness.” The reason why this word became synonymous with dying for one’s religious beliefs is that the early Christian witnesses were often persecuted and/or killed for their witness.
As evidence of this, consider the story of the first Christian martyr, Stephen, recorded in Acts 6:8–7:53. After being anointed as one of the first deacons in the church, Stephen immediately began doing mighty works among the people. As is usually the case when the Holy Spirit is mightily at work and the gospel is going forth, the forces of darkness arise to hinder the work of the kingdom. In this case, several men came to dispute what Stephen was saying, but Stephen, filled with the Holy Spirit, was able to refute their criticisms. Rather than accept what Stephen was teaching, these men brought false charges against him to the Jewish leaders (Acts 6:11-14). Most of Acts 7 consists of Stephen’s speech to the Jewish leaders in which he essentially summarized the history of Israel up to their rejection of their Messiah.
At the end of the speech, Stephen utters these words, which seal his fate: “You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always resist the Holy Spirit. As your fathers did, so do you. Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? And they killed those who announced beforehand the coming of the Righteous One, whom you have now betrayed and murdered, you who received the law as delivered by angels and did not keep it” (Acts 7:51-53).
Now, there was nothing untrue in Stephen’s words. The Jewish leaders were indeed responsible for turning Jesus over to the Romans for execution. Despite Jesus’ miracles and authoritative teaching, the hardness of the Jewish leaders’ hearts kept them from seeing the truth about Jesus. The Jewish leaders, upon hearing Stephen’s words, were enraged and immediately arranged for Stephen’s execution by stoning (v. 58). Stephen was, therefore, the first Christian martyr recorded in Scripture.
The Bible places a premium on faithful believers who pay the ultimate price for their witness. Stephen was granted a glorious vision of heaven before he died, and in this vision, he saw Jesus standing at the right hand of the Father (Acts 7:56) as though waiting for Stephen in an attitude of honor for Stephen’s faithful service. As further evidence that martyrs are considered precious in God’s sight, the apostle John saw in his vision of the millennium those martyred for their faith reigning with Christ for a thousand years (Revelation 20:4). The apostle Peter, who wrote the most about martyrdom and suffering for one’s faith, said, “If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you….However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name” (1 Peter 4:14, 16). There is also the word of our Lord who pronounced a blessing upon those who are persecuted for His name: “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me” (Matthew 5:11).
Clearly, the biblical evidence points to the fact that those who are persecuted and suffer for their witness to Christ (up to and including death) are pleasing in God’s sight. Given that, two additional questions arise. First, what if I’m not asked to make the ultimate sacrifice for the cause of Christ? God doesn’t call everyone to make the ultimate sacrifice, but the Bible calls all Christians to be prepared to give a defense of the hope within us (1 Peter 3:15). The key to this passage lies in preparedness. Consider this analogy: those enlisting in the armed services should do so with the understanding that they may be called into battle and may be called upon to die in the service of their country. This is (or should be) the mindset of everyone who joins the military. Clearly, not all enlisted men and women die in the service of their country, and not all are even called into battle. Despite this, they are trained daily to be prepared for battle. The same goes for the Christian. We are in a state of “warfare” (Ephesians 6:12-20), and our Lord may call upon any of us to witness and even be martyred for our faith. Thus, we must be prepared!
The second question that can be asked is, given martyrdom’s “special” status in God’s eyes, should we actually seek martyrdom? Biblically, we can’t make a case for seeking to be martyrs for the cause of Christ. Martyrdom is a great privilege if it is inevitable, but it is not to be sought. Jesus said, “When they persecute you in one town, flee to the next” (Matthew 10:23). Furthermore, reading through the book of Acts, we see that the early church continually fled from intense persecution (Acts 8:1; 9:25, 30; 14:6; 17:10, 14). In each of these biblical examples, we see the early Christians fleeing persecution and taking all necessary precautions for survival. When Jesus says, “Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it” (Matthew 10:39), He is not calling for people to make an attempt to lose their lives. Rather, He is calling us to be willing to lose our lives for His sake. Those who actively seek the path of martyrdom are not seeking it for the glory of God, but for their own glory. As the old saying goes, the blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church. God’s purpose in martyrdom is the glorification of His name and the building up of His church.
Bible Verse and Prayer for Today
Because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in our transgressions — it is by grace you have been saved.
—Ephesians 2:4-5
God is rich in mercy and generous with grace! Isn’t that wonderful for us? I don’t know about you, but I sure know I have failures, shortcomings, sins, and transgressions. Without God’s mercy, I would be lost in my sins (Romans 3:23-25). Without his grace, I would be cut off from the life God longs for me to have (Romans 5:6-11).
God is rich in mercy and generous with grace! He acted on our behalf when he sent Jesus to show us his love (1 John 4:9-10). Now, because of his rich mercy and generous grace, we are dead to that old sinful self, and our lives are now tied to Jesus’ glorious future (Colossians 2:12, 3:1-4). “God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ”!
Prayer
Father of all grace and mercy, thank you. Thank you for being who you are — the Father of mercy and the God of all grace (1 Peter 3:13, 5:10)! Thank you for extending your grace when we did not deserve it. Thank you for giving mercy when we most needed it. Thank you for blessing us with life when we thought our lives were doomed and hopeless. May we be rich in mercy. May we be people of grace. We desire to be wealthy in these ways, like you, more than being rich in earthly riches that are destined to perish (Matthew 6:19-20). Help us, O Lord, to be more like you, to be rich in mercy. In the name of Jesus, I pray. Amen and Amen
Bible Teaching of the Day
As Jesus opened His famous Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:3–12), He described a series of blessings granted to true servants of God, along with corresponding rewards they will experience in the kingdom of heaven. These blessings, known as the Beatitudes, formed part of Christ’s intensive discipleship training for His chosen apostles. In the eighth beatitude, Jesus declared, “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:10, ESV).
The word blessed was a familiar term for Jesus’ first-century audience. Rather than a fleeting happiness dependent on current circumstances, the blessedness that Jesus spoke of is deep, abiding, unshakable joy rooted in the assurance of God’s blessing, both in the present and in the future. Life in our Lord’s kingdom is one of profound joy and inner well-being that no person and no circumstance can take away.
The persons labeled “blessed” by Jesus represent a counterculture exhibiting values not typically welcomed by people of the world at large. All the Beatitudes demonstrate God’s reversal of the world’s values, but perhaps none so markedly as this eighth one. How can being persecuted be “blessed”? Persecution is never pleasant but involves suffering and often severe pain. The key is Jesus’ qualification that the blessed persecution comes “for righteousness’ sake.”
Some people suffer for doing evil, but that is punishment, not persecution. And some are persecuted for reasons unrelated to righteousness. But Jesus wasn’t offering a general blessing to all victims of persecution for any cause. No, He offered it only to those who were persecuted for actively pursuing the kingdom of righteousness and because of their faith in Jesus Christ (Matthew 5:11). Peter put it this way: “If you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God” (1 Peter 2:20).
Righteousness means more than just “being a good person.” It refers to a complete orientation of life toward God and His will. This kind of righteousness is highly visible: “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:14–16).
To endure persecution for the sake of righteousness requires uncompromising faithfulness to God despite every threat and pressure. The Old Testament prophets were considered heroes for facing this kind of abuse (Matthew 5:12; see also 2 Chronicles 36:16; Acts 7:51–53; James 5:10). Both the prophets of old and New Testament saints serve the same cause (the advancement of the kingdom of God) and the same King (Jesus Christ). Jesus promised that both would suffer mistreatment, but both would also receive inexpressible rewards in heaven.
In this eighth beatitude, Jesus expanded the “blessed are those” formula to add “rejoice and be glad” (Matthew 5:11–12). Rather than feeling discouraged, dismayed, enraged, or depressed, believers who find themselves persecuted for openly living for Christ and His kingdom have good reason to rejoice and be glad—for their reward in heaven is great. Our Lord offered this potent dose of hope and encouragement to those whose tenacious and brilliant pursuit of righteousness makes the enemies of God’s kingdom try to thwart and extinguish it.
True believers in Christ are righteous in God’s eyes (Romans 3:21–22; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Philippians 1:11). Our confession of faith in Jesus Christ and the moral way we live our lives prove to be offensive to the world, resulting in persecution for righteousness’ sake. Jesus faced persecution and was hated by the world, and so will all those who belong to Christ and boldly live for Him: “If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you” (John 15:19).
Today’s Devotional
Redaction criticism and higher criticism are just a few of many forms of biblical criticism. Their intent is to investigate the Scriptures and make judgments concerning their authorship, historicity, and date of writing. Sadly, most of these methods end up attempting to destroy the text of the Bible.
Biblical criticism can be broken into two major forms: higher and lower criticism. Lower criticism is an attempt to find the original wording of the text since we no longer have the original writings. Higher criticism deals with the genuineness of the text. Questions are asked such as: When was it really written? Who really wrote this text?
Many redaction critics and higher critics do not believe in the inspiration of Scripture and therefore use these questions to dispel the work of the Holy Spirit in the lives of the authors of Scripture. They believe that our Old Testament was simply a compilation of oral traditions and were not actually written until after Israel was taken into captivity to Babylon in 586 B.C.
Of course we can see in the Scriptures that Moses wrote down the Law and the first five books of the Old Testament (called the Pentateuch). If these books were not really written by Moses, and not until many years after the nation of Israel was founded, these critics would be able to claim the inaccuracy of what was written, and thereby refute the authority of God’s Word. But this is not true. Redaction criticism is the idea that the writers of the Gospels were nothing more than final compilers of oral traditions and not actually the direct writers of the Gospels themselves. Redaction critics hold that the purpose for their study is to find the “theological motivation” behind the author’s selection and compilation of traditions or other written materials within Christianity.
Basically what we are seeing in all these forms of biblical criticism is an attempt by some critics to separate the Holy Spirit’s work in the production of an accurate, reliable written document of God’s Word. The writers of the Scriptures explained how the Scriptures came to be. “All scripture is inspired by God” (2 Timothy 3:16). God is the one who gave to men the words He wanted to be recorded. The apostle Peter wrote, “No prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one’s own interpretation, for no prophecy was ever made by an act of the human will” (2 Peter 1:20, 21). Here Peter is saying that these writings were not dreamed up in the mind of man, created simply by men wanting to write down something. Peter continues, “But men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God” (2 Peter 1:21). The Holy Spirit told them what He wanted them to write. There is no need to criticize the authenticity of the Scriptures when we can know that God was behind the scenes directing and guiding men in what to record.
“But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and BRING TO REMEMBRANCE ALL THAT I SAID” (John 14:26). Here Jesus was telling His disciples that soon He would be going away, but the Holy Spirit would help them to remember what He taught here on earth so that they could later record it. God was behind the authorship and preservation of the Scriptures. Redaction criticism and higher criticism are trying to force the limitations of human beings onto the God of no limitations.
Bible Prophecy, Signs of the Times and Gog and Magog Updates with Articles in the News
Is Europe Ready For The Antichrist? One In Five Already Want Someone Like Him
Europeans don’t want the Antichrist — at least, not by name. But a recent poll conducted by AboutPeople reveals a disturbing willingness among citizens to embrace strong, decisive leadership that could bypass democratic processes if it promises stability and results. One in five Europeans say they would prefer a dictatorship in certain circumstances, and a quarter admit they would not mind if a capable leader limited democratic rights and acted without accountability — provided he was effective.
This is the paradox behind the title: Europe may not be consciously seeking the Antichrist, yet what millions of Europeans desire — a unifying, powerful, and decisive leader who can represent the continent boldly and even stand firm against global powers like the United States — mirrors the qualities Scripture attributes to the end-time ruler. They long for unity where there is division, authority where there is gridlock, and decisive action where there is hesitation. And that desire, however well-intentioned, may be the very opening the Antichrist needs to rise.
Across Europe, citizens are frustrated by political stagnation, waning trust in parties and institutions, and the inefficiency of coalition-driven governance. From Brussels to Berlin, Paris to Warsaw, there is a palpable hunger for someone who doesn’t merely manage the status quo but leads decisively, unites fractured electorates, and delivers tangible results. People want a leader strong enough to speak with one voice for Europe in a world of shifting alliances — someone who can negotiate firmly, protect European interests, and even confront other global powers without hesitation.
A Hunger That Prophecy Warns About
This yearning is more than a political preference; it is a spiritual and cultural vulnerability. Scripture consistently portrays the Antichrist not as a tyrant who seizes power by brute force, but as a charismatic, capable figure who emerges when societies are frustrated, divided, and desperate for order. In Daniel, we read of a “little horn” that grows in power, subdues others, and unites multiple kingdoms. In Revelation, the Beast commands the allegiance of nations and wields authority so total that the world marvels at his might and follows willingly.
Christian interpreters for centuries have argued that the stage for this emergence will be a revived European-centered political union, reminiscent of the Roman Empire in its scope, coordination, and influence. The continent’s nations, linked economically, politically, and culturally, provide fertile ground for a leader who promises unity, stability, and global influence. The poll’s results indicate that millions of Europeans are psychologically and culturally primed to support exactly this type of figure — a leader who embodies the qualities of decisiveness, charisma, and unifying authority.
The Appeal of a Strong Leader
Why is this appeal so powerful? Because Europeans are tired of division. They are fatigued by fractured politics and institutional inefficiency. They want solutions that cut through red tape, not endless debate. They long for someone who can represent Europe cohesively, negotiate with power on the world stage, and protect the continent’s interests without compromise. In other words, they want a leader who acts boldly, leads decisively, and delivers results — all while appearing infallible.
The Antichrist, according to prophecy, will exploit precisely this human inclination. He will arrive during a period of disillusionment and desperation, presenting himself as the answer to societal paralysis. Those who long for a strong, unifying figure may follow him eagerly, mistaking temporary order for lasting righteousness.
Why the Poll Matters
The poll’s significance is not in showing that Europeans are openly seeking the Antichrist — they are not — but in revealing how ready a society can be for a leader who exhibits the very traits described in prophecy. A fifth of the population is already willing to trade democratic accountability for decisive governance. Add in those who admire competence and unity without yet questioning civil liberties, and it becomes clear that a critical mass of support could emerge rapidly under the right conditions.
A Warning Of What Is To Come
Scripture makes it clear that the Antichrist’s rise is facilitated not only by his cunning but by human desire: the yearning for order, unity, and effective leadership above all else. Europe today shows that yearning in stark numbers. Political dissatisfaction, institutional distrust, and a hunger for strength and unity are creating the conditions foretold in biblical prophecy.
Europe may not consciously seek the Antichrist, but in wanting a leader like him — someone strong, unifying, and decisive — citizens may unknowingly prepare the path for his emergence. The warning is clear: societies that prioritize results and stability over freedom and discernment risk opening the door to leaders whose ultimate intentions will bring moral, spiritual, and social catastrophe.
And that is the lesson these poll results impart: Europe may not be asking for the Antichrist, but in the currents of frustration and desire for strong leadership, the continent may already be ready for him to arrive.
Scenarios For War With Iran As Deadline Approaches
The Middle East has shifted toward the precipice of conflict, as evidenced by a historic U.S. military mobilization. This buildup comes as diplomatic efforts in Geneva disappointed U.S. policymakers, with Vice President JD Vance saying that the Iranians were “unwilling to acknowledge” President Donald Trump’s “red lines.”
On Thursday, Trump issued an ultimatum for a “meaningful” nuclear agreement. “I would think that would be enough time, 10, 15 days, pretty much maximum,” he said. Speaking at the inaugural meeting of the Board of Peace, he warned that if a deal is not reached, “bad things happen.”
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt later emphasized that while “diplomacy was always the president’s first option,” the administration remains prepared to act if negotiations fail to produce a verifiable halt to enrichment.
IDF Maj. (res.) Alexander Grinberg, an expert on Iran at the Jerusalem Institute for Strategy and Security, told JNS, “The chances for a deal are very low. It is clear from the recent behavior that the Iranians are again trying to stretch out the negotiations and get more time.
“This time, no one believes the Iranians, and I think it’s very likely that we’re heading toward a military conflict,” he added.
The US buildup
Unlike the limited scope of the U.S.’s “Operation Midnight Hammer” in June 2025, current contingency planning is configured for a sustained campaign, with two American officials confirming to Reuters that the Pentagon is preparing for “sustained, weeks-long operations against Iran” if so ordered by Trump. To support this, the United States has assembled its largest concentration of air and naval strike power in the Middle East since the 2003 Iraq invasion.
The foundation of this buildup is two aircraft carrier strike groups, both of which Trump ordered to the region in recent weeks.
The USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) arrived in the Arabian Sea on Jan. 26, leading a strike group that includes the guided-missile destroyers USS Frank E. Petersen Jr., USS Michael Murphy and USS Spruance.
This world’s largest aircraft carrier, the USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78), which redeployed from the Caribbean with its own complement of four destroyers equipped with Tomahawk cruise missiles and advanced air defense systems, entered the Mediterranean Sea through the Strait of Gibraltar on Friday and is headed eastward.
Maritime security is further bolstered by a surface patrol in the Strait of Hormuz, including the destroyers USS McFaul and USS Mitscher and the littoral combat ships USS Canberra, USS Tulsa and USS Santa Barbara, which are specifically suited for the minesweeping operations necessary to keep the waterway open in case of a sudden mining operation by the Iranians.
Airstrike capabilities have been similarly expanded across the theater, with CBS News and The War Zone reporting the movement of dozens of fourth- and fifth-generation fighter jets. This includes six F-22 Raptors that arrived at RAF Lakenheath in Suffolk, England, on Feb. 17, alongside E-3 AWACS and BACN communication aircraft, which analysts view as the strongest signals of preparation for a major conflict.
These are supported by F-15E Strike Eagles relocated from the U.K. to Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan and A-10C aircraft detected at regional bases by Chinese satellite imagery in mid-February. Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri, from where the planes for “Operation Midnight Hammer” were launched, has also seen increased activity.
According to a recent report, the B-2 Spirit stealth bomber fleet is being maintained at “abnormally high readiness” to deliver the 30,000-pound GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrators (MOPs). This bunker-buster is the only conventional weapon capable of penetrating the 80- to 100-meter granite shielding that Iran has used to protect several of its more sensitive sites.
Israel’s New Threat: The Turkish Noose Replacing The Iranian Crescent
While much of the world’s attention remains fixed on Iran and its Shi’ite axis, another geopolitical realignment is taking shape — more quietly, more pragmatically, and potentially just as consequential for the US, Israel and the Middle East.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has launched an ambitious diplomatic offensive aimed at unifying the Sunni world under Ankara’s leadership. The objective is not merely reconciliation with former rivals. It is the construction of a Sunni diplomatic and strategic “wall,” or “noose,” around Israel, replacing the Iranian “Shi’ite crescent” with a new configuration of Sunni power.
In early February 2026, Erdogan embarked on a Middle East tour that signaled a turning point. On February 3, he visited Saudi Arabia. On February 4, Egypt. On February 7, Jordan’s King Abdullah II was received in Istanbul. These meetings were not symbolic. They marked the culmination of a “normalization” process that has been unfolding since 2022, as Turkey repaired relations that were damaged by its earlier ideological support for the Muslim Brotherhood and confrontations with Gulf monarchies.
The Turkish-Saudi reconciliation is particularly significant. Following years of tension after the 2018 murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in Istanbul, Ankara and Riyadh have now moved decisively toward strategic cooperation. Discussions with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman produced major agreements, including a $2 billion Saudi investment in renewable energy projects in Turkey, targeting 5,000 megawatts of solar capacity. Defense cooperation was expanded to include technology transfers for Turkish drones and air defense systems. Bilateral trade is expected to reach $50 billion.
Erdogan has emphasized “growing strategic trust” in confronting regional instability — from Syria to Gaza. Turkish and Saudi officials increasingly frame Israel as a destabilizing actor in these theaters. The emerging partnership is not merely economic; it reflects coordinated positioning against perceived external threats, with Israel explicitly cited.
Egypt represents an even more dramatic shift. After a decade of hostility — triggered by Turkey’s support for the Muslim Brotherhood following the 2013 ouster of Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi — Erdogan’s visit to Cairo marked the end of a long freeze. Turkey and Egypt have now signed a $350 million military framework agreement covering joint weapons production, intelligence sharing, and military exercises. Turkish air defense systems and munitions are slated for delivery, and bilateral trade is projected to reach $15 billion.
Strategically, Egypt’s participation transforms the coalition’s scope. As the guardian of the Suez Canal and a dominant actor in North Africa, Egypt provides logistical leverage capable of influencing maritime routes critical to Israel’s economy. Discussions between Erdogan and President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi reportedly included Gaza, Syria, and Africa–regions where both countries share concerns over the influence of Israel and the United Arab Emirates.
Jordan, long a security partner of Israel despite persistent political hostility at home, has also been drawn into closer alignment with Turkey. Joint statements have emphasized peace in Syria and Gaza and highlighted “common concerns” about regional stability. A future Erdogan visit to Amman is under discussion, underscoring Jordan’s integration into Ankara’s growing network.
On February 9, 2026, the foreign ministers of Turkey, Egypt, Indonesia, Jordan, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates issued a joint communiqué condemning what they called “Israeli expansionist policies in occupied territories” and calling for Islamic unity. Israeli media outlets such as Ynet interpreted the statement as evidence of a “coalition of interests against Israel,” with Turkey playing the unifying role.
Some analysts describe an emerging “Sunni axis,” or noose, influenced by Muslim Brotherhood ideology; backed by Turkish military power, financed by Qatar and Saudi Arabia, and designed, by expanding into Gaza, to encircle and finish off Israel. The isolated Turkish-Qatari alignment of 2017-2021 appears to have evolved into a broader strategy of economic and diplomatic influence, channeling of neo-Ottoman ambitions.
A few structural limits do remain. Saudi Arabia acts as the guardian of Sunni Islam’s holiest sites and is unlikely to surrender religious leadership to Ankara. Egypt retains unmatched demographic and military weight in the Arab world.
The UAE, under the impressive leadership of Sheikh Mohamed ben Zayed al Nahyan, pursues a technocratic, anti-political Islam agenda that diverges sharply from Erdogan’s ideological sympathies. Turkey’s continued affinity for the Muslim Brotherhood remains a source of friction. Coordination may be pragmatic, but ideological fusion is far from complete. Still, the coalition’s ultimate aim, apart from the UAE, unmistakably seems to be “containing” Israel.
Turkey-Israel relations oscillate between harsh rhetoric and pragmatic cooperation. Erdogan has publicly compared Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to Hitler and accused Israel of Nazi-like policies. Economic ties, however, persist, and Eastern Mediterranean energy interests have occasionally aligned. Erdogan instrumentalizes the Palestinian cause to bolster his Islamic leadership credentials, even as Ankara avoids direct military confrontation with Israel.
The broader coalition presents more complex dynamics. Saudi Arabia had been in advanced discussions with Washington regarding conditional normalization with Israel. Those talks appear to have stalled or, most probably, collapsed. Recently, Saudi media have featured openly anti-Israel and antisemitic headlines not seen in years. The kingdom appears to be totally aligning itself with anti-Israel countries such as Qatar and Turkey, while “tensions with the UAE explode.”
Egypt, Israel’s chilly peace partner since 1979, has reportedly expanded military infrastructure in the Sinai Peninsula in ways that should, under the supposed peace treaty, raise serious questions. Jordan continues close coordination with Israel, even as domestic political hostility remains intense.
Would these states risk overt military alignment against Israel? Perhaps not this minute, but Erdogan’s strategy does not require immediate war. It requires gradual encirclement. Nowhere is this more evident than in Africa, especially along the Red Sea coast. From Libya to Sudan to Somalia, Turkish and Egyptian intelligence services are reportedly coordinating efforts to counter rival influences and restrict Israel’s strategic access.
In Libya, once divided between Turkish-backed Tripoli and Egyptian-supported Marshal Khalifa Haftar, Ankara and Cairo are now aligning to stabilize the country and limit UAE-supported militias perceived as close to Israel. In Sudan, near Egypt’s southwestern border, the Sudanese civil war continues. Turkey provides logistical and intelligence support, aligning with Saudi Arabia to potentially threaten Israeli access to the Red Sea.
In Somalia, Egypt has increased its military presence to approximately 10,000 troops after Israel’s December 2025 recognition of Somaliland. Turkey maintains its largest overseas military base in Mogadishu, training Somali forces and developing military infrastructure. A Saudi-Somali defense agreement strengthens this axis, positioning it near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait — a chokepoint vital to global trade and Israeli shipping. The stated objective is securing the Red Sea against “foreign military presence.” The unstated implication is the containment of Israel.
This evolving configuration represents a transformation of what was once considered the “moderate Sunni camp” — historically aligned with the United States and tolerant, if not friendly, toward Israel — into a broader Islamic coalition capable of exerting diplomatic, economic and military pressure. Israeli analysts increasingly describe it as the replacement of Iran’s Shiite axis with a Sunni bloc influenced by the Muslim Brotherhood.
The ultimate goal appears twofold: diplomatic isolation through forums such as the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, where Turkey advocates economic sanctions, and economic leverage via control of energy routes and maritime corridors. The coalition presents itself as promoting regional peace. Yet “peace” may translate into the vaporization of Israel, especially should a future Israeli government prove more pliable.
Against this backdrop, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has taken a firm stand. On January 19, 2026, addressing the Knesset, he declared unequivocally that there would be “no Turkish or Qatari soldiers in the Gaza Strip.” His veto came days after the White House announced the creation of a U.S.-supervised “Board of Peace” to oversee Gaza reconstruction, reportedly including Turkish and Qatari representatives such as Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan.
Netanyahu did not hesitate to confront President Donald Trump publicly on the issue. He instructed Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar to convey Israel’s objections directly to Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The disagreement underscored a red line: Israel would determine which international actors, if any, operate in Gaza.
The refusal is consistent with earlier Israeli objections to Turkish military involvement in post-war Gaza planning. Erdogan’s participation in “stabilization” efforts would significantly expand Turkish influence within the emerging Sunni crescent. Ankara’s well-documented support for Muslim Brotherhood networks — which are Hamas’s patrons, ideologically and financially – should raise obvious concerns.
Netanyahu’s insistence that Israel determine which international actors, if any, operate in Gaza, serves multiple strategic purposes. It prevents Turkish entrenchment in Gaza, maintains Israeli control over post-war arrangements, and signals to Washington that Israel views Turkish expansionism as a long-term threat transcending personal or political relationships.
Meanwhile, the UAE’s stance for normalization with Israel may clash with Turkey’s drive for dominance. Egypt, having briefly fallen to Muslim Brotherhood rule after the 2011 overthrow of President Hosni Mubarak, remains deeply wary of a Brotherhood resurgence. Riyadh’s ambitions for Sunni leadership compete with Ankara’s neo-Ottoman vision.
Whatever the obstacles, Erdogan’s direction seems clear: a militarily and economically anchored Sunni alignment to constrict Israel’s strategic space. While Iran’s crescent may be weakening under sanctions and internal strain, another structure is rising in its place. The new structure is not overtly militant. It does not advertise itself as an alliance against Israel. But through energy pacts, defense agreements, intelligence coordination, and multilateral communiqués, it seems clearly to want to reconfigure the regional balance of the Middle East.
The coming years will determine whether this Sunni wall strengthens into a unified front or weakens under competing ambitions. For Israel, complacency is not an option. The encirclement may no longer be Shiite, but Sunni — and diplomatic, at first, rather than immediately military. In geopolitics, the form of pressure matters less than its cumulative effect.
SOME NEWS MEDIA HEADLINES
US Evacuates Embassy;
Iran Proxies Prepare for War
What a joint U.S.–Israeli strike on Iran would look like
Any such operation would be accompanied by a broad defensive coalition, with European and regional partners contributing to missile‑interception efforts.
The collapse of the Geneva negotiations has sharply increased assessments that a joint U.S.–Israeli air attack on Iran is no longer a distant contingency but a realistic scenario under active consideration.
With diplomacy stalled and Tehran continuing to expand its missile capabilities and regional operations, both Washington and Jerusalem now view coordinated military action as a credible option should Iran escalate further.
Analysts note that the failure in Geneva removed the last meaningful diplomatic buffer, raising the likelihood that long‑prepared joint strike plans could be activated.
While neither Washington nor Jerusalem has announced such an operation, both militaries have spent years preparing coordinated plans, and recent escalations have increased the probability that these contingencies could shift from planning rooms to execution.
A combined operation would begin with a massive effort to neutralize Iran’s air‑defense network. Establishing air superiority is considered essential before deeper strikes can begin.
The United States, with its stealth aircraft and long‑range bombers, would likely spearhead the dismantling of radar arrays, surface‑to‑air missile batteries, and command‑and‑control hubs across the country.
Israel would simultaneously target long‑range ballistic‑missile infrastructure capable of reaching its cities within minutes. The objective is to carve out a secure aerial corridor for repeated waves of bombers and strike aircraft.
Once air defenses are degraded, the operation would shift to Iran’s missile forces.
Israel is expected to focus on long‑range systems such as the Shahab and Sejjil families, while the United States would concentrate on medium‑ and short‑range missiles that threaten American bases in the Persian Gulf and regional partners.
A joint strike would also target the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps naval fleet to prevent any attempt to close the Strait of Hormuz.
American bunker‑buster munitions could be used against Iran’s underground “missile cities,” which house launch systems deep beneath reinforced layers of earth and concrete.
While nuclear sites at Natanz and Fordow remain strategically important, analysts suggest they are not the immediate priority in the opening phase.
Some assessments extend beyond military objectives, arguing that weakening Iran’s leadership structure could destabilize the regime’s ability to respond.
A leadership vacuum, they argue, would hinder the government’s capacity to suppress domestic unrest once its military infrastructure is damaged.
Any such operation would be accompanied by a broad defensive coalition, with European and regional partners contributing to missile‑interception efforts.
A critical factor shaping Israeli planning is Iran’s structural vulnerabilities.
Despite possessing an estimated 1,500 to 2,000 ballistic missiles, Iran reportedly operates fewer than 100 active launchers, creating a bottleneck in its ability to fire large salvos.
Many missiles rely on liquid fuel, leaving them exposed during lengthy fueling procedures that are vulnerable to pre‑emptive strikes.
In anticipation of a potential American‑Israeli operation, Iran has begun concentrating its remaining air‑defense systems around Tehran and other essential facilities, attempting to shield its most valuable assets from the opening wave of attacks.
Pope Leo Snubs Trump’s Board of Peace, Citing UN Concerns — But Vatican’s Anti-Israel Record Speaks for Itself
The Vatican has a long memory when it comes to blocking American-led peace initiatives — and a short one when it comes to recognizing Jewish rights in the Land of Israel. When Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican’s Secretary of State, announced Tuesday that Pope Leo would not be joining U.S. President Donald Trump’s newly formed Board of Peace, he framed the decision in procedural language about the United Nations. But for anyone who has watched the Holy See’s decades-long pattern of hostility toward Israeli sovereignty, the refusal carries a familiar echo.
Parolin made the announcement on the sidelines of a bilateral meeting with the Italian government in Rome, at the Palazzo Borromeo — the seat of the Italian Embassy to the Holy See — on the anniversary of the signing of the Lateran Pacts. “The Holy See will not participate in the Board of Peace because of its particular nature, which is evidently not that of other States,” Parolin told journalists. He elaborated that the Vatican’s core objection was jurisdictional: “One concern is that at the international level it should above all be the UN that manages these crisis situations. This is one of the points on which we have insisted.”
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt called the decision “deeply unfortunate.”
The Board of Peace, chaired by Trump, was initially conceived to oversee Gaza’s demilitarization and reconstruction following the Hamas terrorist organization’s October 7 massacre. Its mandate has since expanded. Trump has said its work will “go far beyond Gaza.” The board’s charter names Trump as permanent chairman with no term limit, and permanent membership costs $1 billion. The executive board includes U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, and World Bank President Ajay Banga. To date, board members have pledged $5 billion toward Gaza humanitarian and reconstruction efforts. More than 20 countries are expected to attend Thursday’s inaugural meeting, and key Arab states — including Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Jordan — have signed on. Major European powers — France, Germany, Britain, and Spain — declined, as did New Zealand. The EU is sending its Mediterranean commissioner, Dubravka Šuica, to Washington as an observer without formally joining.
The Vatican’s absence is not surprising given Pope Leo’s track record. Since taking the helm of the Catholic Church last May, Leo has clashed publicly with Trump on immigration, foreign policy, and climate change. But the tension between the Holy See and pro-Israel American leadership runs far deeper than any single pope’s political instincts.
The Vatican only established full diplomatic relations with the State of Israel in 1993 — 45 years after Israel’s founding — and only after the Oslo Accords gave the Church political cover to do so without appearing to recognize Zionist legitimacy outright. For decades prior, the official position of the Holy See was that a Jewish state in the Land of Israel contradicted Catholic theological doctrine, specifically the teaching that Jewish exile was divine punishment and theological proof that the Church had replaced Israel as God’s covenant people — a doctrine known as supersessionism, or replacement theology.
The Vatican has consistently supported Palestinian statehood and the internationalization of Jerusalem. In 2015, the Holy See formally recognized “the State of Palestine” in a bilateral treaty — a move that Israel’s Foreign Ministry said was “unhelpful.” The Vatican has been a vocal opponent of Israeli sovereignty over Jerusalem, supporting a special international status for the city rather than recognizing it as Israel’s capital. These positions align far more naturally with the UN General Assembly’s perpetual anti-Israel majority than with any framework built around Israeli security and Jewish rights to the land.
The Vatican’s preference for the United Nations as the arbiter of Middle East peace is not a neutral procedural position. The UN is the body that birthed the “Zionism is racism” resolution in 1975 — a resolution so obscene it was eventually repealed — and whose agencies continue to fund, employ, and in some cases shield Hamas terrorists. UNRWA, the UN agency that has operated in Gaza for decades, had staff members who participated in the October 7 massacre. Deferring to that institution while rejecting Trump’s initiative is not a principled stand for international order. It is a political choice — one that consistently disadvantages Israel and rewards its enemies.
Pope Leo can cite procedural concerns about the Board of Peace’s structure all he wants. The Vatican’s record in the Middle East makes the real calculation clear. When an American president builds a framework that sidelines the UN — the primary institutional vehicle through which pressure on Israel has been applied for 75 years — and instead assembles a coalition that includes Arab states willing to work toward a non-Hamas Gaza, the Vatican walks away. That is not a commitment to peace. That is a commitment to a very specific, and very familiar, outcome.
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TruLight TV – Jesus is greater than anything we’ll ever face
When life gets difficult, we tend to forget what’s true about God’s faithfulness, character, and our standing in His family. We may start to question God’s love and power and believe the lies of the enemy. If you’re struggling to remember what is true, watch the video and be encouraged that Jesus is greater than anything we’ll ever face. Today’s guest artist on Gospel Music USA (The Inspirations) – The quartet began in 1964 when Martin Cook, a teacher at Swain County High School, invited several young men to his home for evenings of singing. Later they began traveling around the area and singing at various venues. They have been named “Favorite Quartet Of The Year” multiple times at the Singing News Fan Awards which is held in connection with the National Quartet Convention. In October 2012, This award is a lifetime achievement award and is one of the most prestigious awards given in Southern Gospel. Enjoy today’s show and thanks for watching.
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