>> Joel will discuss Inside The Revolution, Bible prophecy, and the threat of a global pandemic — followed by an extended Q&A session — at McLean Bible Church on Friday, May 1st, at 7:30pm. Click here for more details and to register. 

President Truman meeting with first Israeli Prime Minister David Ben Gurion at the White House on May 8, 1951

>> Come with Joel and The Joshua Fund to visit the Holy Land on a “Prayer & Vision Tour” — what we’re calling the “Come bless Israel, come what may, tour” — this November 5-17, 2009

UPDATED: On the Western calendar, Israel was reborn as a nation on May 14, 1948.  But this year, April 28 marks the 61st birthday of the modern Jewish State on the Jewish calendar. Curiously, despite looming threats from Iran and Radical Islam, Israelis this year are overwhelmingly positive and optimistic about the future, feeling more peaceful and secure today than at any other time in the last 61 years. The “War and Peace Index,” for example, “finds that nation’s 61st Independence Day has Israelis seeing reality through rose-colored glasses, as 90% are happy with State’s accomplishments,” reports Ynetnews.com.

Earlier this week, I read the fascinating inside story of how President Truman — a strong Bible believer — chose to recognize the new State of Israel immediately upon David Ben Gurion’s pronouncement of the new Jewish State, despite President Roosevelt’s opposition, the intense opposition from within his own Cabinet, and the opposition of many in the Jewish community at the time. The story is a must-read in full, but here are a few excerpts from the memoirs of Clark Clifford, a senior advisor to Truman:

• President Truman regarded his Secretary of State, General of the Army George C. Marshall, as “the greatest living American.” Yet the two men were on a collision course over Mideast policy. Marshall firmly opposed American recognition of the new Jewish state.
• Officials in the State Department had done every­thing in their power to prevent, thwart, or delay the President’s Palestine policy in 1947 and 1948. Watching them find various ways to avoid carrying out White House instructions, I sometimes felt they preferred to follow the views of the British Foreign Office rather than those of their President.
• At a meeting in the Oval Office on May 12, 1948, I argued: “In an area as unstable as the Middle East, where there is not now and never has been any tradition of democratic govern­ment, it is important for the long-range security of our country, and indeed the world, that a nation committed to the democratic system be established there, one on which we can rely. The new Jewish state can be such a place. We should strengthen it in its infancy by prompt recognition.”
• Since at the time a significant number of Jewish Americans opposed Zionism, neither the President nor I believed that Palestine was the key to the Jewish vote. As I had written in 1947, the key to the Jewish vote in 1948 would not be the Palestine issue, but a continued commitment to liberal political and economic policies.

>> Click here to listen to part 2 of Dr. James Dobson’s interview with Joel C. Rosenberg about Inside The Revolution, and a discussion about the critical importance of building a global movement of Christians to pray for Israel, bless Israel, visit Israel, and stand with Israel, come what may.

>> Click here to listen to part 1 of Dr. Dobson’s interview with Joel

HEADLINES TO TRACK:

• Netanyahu set to meet with President Obama May 18
• New study focuses on how Russia is complicating U.S. policy towards Iran
• President Peres to meet Obama in Washington next week
• Obama congratulates Israel on turning 61
• Turkey set to boost trade with Iran
• EU president: Europe blind to scale of Iran threat
• North Korea threatens nuclear tests
• Abbas Rejects Calling Israel a Jewish State
• Barak: Turkish-Syrian drill ‘disturbing’
• Israeli Deputy Defense Minister: Israelis should be prepared for war any day
• Learn more about The Joshua Fund and how you can pray for Israel and bless the people of the epicenter
• Join nearly 100,000 people around the world receiving Joel’s email updates on events in Israel and Joshua Fund project updates and prayer requests
  

>> Joel will discuss Inside The Revolution and have an evening of Q&A at McLean Bible Church on Friday, May 1st, at 7:30pm. Click here for more details and to register.

On the Monday and Tuesday broadcasts of the Focus on the Family radio show, Dr. James Dobson discussed Inside The Revolution, the Iranian nuclear threat and how followers of Jesus Christ can and should pray and respond to be a blessing to Israel and her neighbors during this growing crisis. During Monday’s program, Dr. Dobson said author Joel Rosenberg reminded him of the “sons of Issachar,” described in the Bible as “men who understood the times and knew what Israel should do.” He added: “I recommend the book and hope that people will get a copy of it [and] understand that revolution and what’s going on.” He recommended that people watch the Epicenter documentary film on DVD that he and his daughter recently viewed. He also encouraged people to learn more about how they could be a part of The Joshua Fund, an educational and charitable organization to bless Israel and her neighbors in the name of Jesus.

In light of the rising threat of Radical Islam — and particularly the Iranian nuclear threat to Israel and the U.S. — Dr. Dobson specifically urged his millions of listeners to:

•  pray for the President of the United States and our leaders in Washington to have wisdom and courage to effectively confront this crisis and protect our families;
• pray for the peace of Jerusalem and the nations of the epicenter, that the Lord would intercede and be merciful “because we are facing some very, very difficult days”
• pray for the spiritual revival of our nation, and participate in the National Day of Prayer;
• learn “10 ways to show the love of Christ to your Muslim neighbor” (adapted from Inside The Revolution)

To listen on-line to Dr. Dobson’s two-part interview with Joel C. Rosenberg on the nationally syndicated Focus on the Family radio program, please click here.

>> To join nearly 100,000 people around the world receiving Joel’s email updates and praying for the peace of Jerusalem according to Psalm 122:6, please click here

>> To help The Joshua Fund educate the world about the threat of radical Islam and God’s love, plan and purpose for Israel and the people of the epicenter; bless Israelis with food, clothing, and medical supplies and preposition supplies ahead of the coming war; as well as produce and distribute 300,000 copies of the evangelistic film, “Damascus,” in the Muslim world, please click here.

>> To learn more about joining Joel and The Joshua Fund on a “Prayer & Vision Tour” of Israel this November 5-17 — to bless Israel, pray for peace, and stand with the Jewish people come what may — please click here.

Israeli leaders and citizens are feeling very much alone these days. They see the Radical Islamic world — led by Iran — preparing to annihilate the Jewish State. And they see very few, if any, around the world willing to stand with them against the forces of barbarism. Historically, an Israeli Prime Minister and his people could always count on the strong friendship and strategic support of the United States. But that is no longer the case. As I noted last week on the Glenn Beck show, a train wreck is coming between the U.S. and Israel over the Iran issue. The White House and State Department do not seem to understand the eschatology that is driving Tehran, and thus do not understand how high the stakes are. Worse, they are getting dangerously close to being appeasers of the Ahmadinejad regime.

An editorial this week in a major Israeli newspaper, Yediot Aharonot, notes the applause with which many delegates at the Durban II conference in Geneva greeted Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s speech and asserts that, “The harsh conclusion is that more than one country in the world, more than ten, and not all of them Islamic, are ready to support wiping the State of Israel off the map.”  The author declares that, “Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was absolutely right when he said and says that we are alone,” and believes that, “The Americans will not lift a finger unless it becomes clear that the main target is America.” The paper says Israel should “prepare for war in an arena and at a time not to our liking.”

On Monday and Tuesday, I am scheduled to appear on the nationally syndicated Focus on the Family radio program, hosted by Dr. James Dobson. He recently interviewed me in his Colorado Springs studios on Inside The Revolution, the Iranian nuclear threat, the rise of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the future of U.S.-Israel relations, and the importance of building a global alliance of Christians committed to blessing Israel and praying for the peace of Jerusalem. The program is heard on over 3,000 radio facilities in North America. Please check local listings for the time and station in your area.

>> To join nearly 100,000 people around the world receiving Joel’s email updates for free, please click here

>> To help The Joshua Fund produce and distribute 300,000 copies of the “Damascus” film, please click here.

UPCOMING SPEAKING SCHEDULE:

• April 24-25 — Worldview Weekend conference in Branson, MO
• April 27-28– Interview on Dr. Dobson’s Focus on the Family radio program
• April 27 — Congressional Prayer Caucus in Washington, D.C. (private)
• May 1 — Inside the Revolution discussion and Q&A at McLean Bible Church (free and open to the public, but registration required)
• May 16 — Fundraising banquet for Dr. T.E. Koshy’s ministry in Syracuse, NY
• May 19 — Calvary Chapel Northeast Pastors Conference (private)
• May 30-31 — Shadow Mountain Community Church w/Dr. David Jeremiah, San Diego, CA

HEADLINES TO TRACK:

• Inside The Revolution hits New York Times best-seller list for sixth week, now #3 on NYT’s political books list
• Haaretz: Clinton: Israel risks losing support on Iran
• Haaretz: Is Netanyahu really on a collision course with Obama?
• BBC: Netanyahu invited to visit Egypt
• MEMRI: Islamic leader says, ‘The Mujahideen Today Are in Great Need of Chemical, Biological and… Even Nuclear Weapons… To Defend What They Have Achieved and What They Will Achieve’
• AFP: Syria says Ahmadinejad speech reflected Arab views
• Jerusalem Post: Israelis would trust NATO in W. Bank

Amy Knapp, a founding Joshua Fund board member, in Israel, a country she loved dearly.

The Joshua Fund has just lost a dear friend, a founding board member, a true prayer warrior, and a woman who truly loved Israel and her neighbors and wanted to bless them in the name of Jesus. Amy Cheree Knapp, 41, went home to be with the Lord Jesus Christ on Friday night, April 17th, after a long battle with cancer. Her wisdom, her generous spirit, her cheerful heart and her passion for the Lord will be so missed. She was, as the Apostle Paul encouraged us to be in Romans chapter 12, always “joyful in hope, patient in affliction, and faithful in prayer.”

Lynn and I have been friends with Amy for more than a decade. She traveled with us often to Israel and the Muslim world. When we founded The Joshua Fund in the summer of 2006, Amy was right at our side with wise counsel and a compassionate heart. She loved the people of Israel unconditionally and was absolutely committed to blessing the Jewish people in every possible way. At the same time, she loved Israel’s neighbors and was absolutely convinced that one of the greatest ways to bless Israel was by helping Muslims hear the gospel and come to know Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace, as their personal Savior and Lord. She was, therefore, gently insistent from the beginning that TJF be committed to loving Israel’s neighbors in real and practical ways, because that’s what Jesus commanded us to do. We completely agreed and loved her for her deep convictions. She had, after all, personally taken the good news of God’s love and mercy to several Muslim countries, and trained many other women to do the same.

In Amy’s honor, therefore, The Joshua Fund is raising $300,000 to produce 300,000 copies of the new DAMASCUS film for distribution in Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, and the Holy Land. The film is a powerful docudrama about Saul of Tarsus, a religious extremist and persecutor of the Church, who came to faith in Christ in the first century A.D. through a vision on the road to Damascus, and then went on to become known as the Apostle Paul, writer of nearly half the New Testament and one of the greatest leaders in Church history. The film, made by Arab Christians, was recently seen and endorsed by Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, and premiered in Assad’s personal theater in the Syrian capital. The film will premiere at the Vatican on May 16th. It will then be shown in theaters and distributed on DVD throughout the Islamic world. Because of the film’s message of peace, redemption and hope, The Joshua Fund is proud to stand with the producers of the film and assist with its distribution, and we do so in honor of Amy Knapp who gave her life to lift up the name of Jesus in the epicenter.

>> To learn more about Amy, more about the “Damascus” film, and/or to read excerpts from Joel’s remarks at her memorial service, please click here

>> To make a tax-deductible contribution to The Joshua Fund for projects such as this one to distribute the Damascus film, please click here

HEADLINES TO TRACK:

• Obama Invites Mubarak, Netanyahu, Abbas To White House
• Israel criticizes U.N. chief for meeting with Ahmadinejad on Holocaust memorial day
• Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu insists Palestinians recognize Israel as a Jewish state: “We are currently formulating security-diplomatic policy.  This process will conclude ahead of my trip to Washington in four weeks.  In the framework of these deliberations, we will hold Cabinet and Government discussions.  I would like to set one thing straight in advance simply because it was reported incorrectly in the media today.  We insist that the Palestinians – in any diplomatic settlement with us – recognize the State of Israel as the national state of the Jewish people.  The entire international community demands that we recognize the principle of two states for two peoples, and we are discovering that this is two states not for two peoples but two states for one people, or two states for a people-and-a-half.  That is to say, there is no doubt that we are being asked to recognize the Palestinian state as the national state for the Palestinian  people, but there is doubt – and not just doubt; it is clear that the Palestinians have no intention of recognizing the national state of the Jewish People.  Of course, this is completely unacceptable. I will not now respond to the question of what the nature and components of the settlement will be and what authority the Palestinians will have.  We reiterate that we have no intention of ruling over the Palestinians.  We want them to have self-rule , excluding areas of authority that could threaten our security and our existence.  But we insist that they recognize the State of Israel as the national state of the Jewish People.”
  

Why is the world giving a leader who calls for the annihilation of Israel and the U.S. a platform for his hatred?

“Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad unleashed a blistering attack Monday against Israel and the United States, calling the Jewish state ‘racist’ and lashing out at Americans for their support,” reported Fox News. “Ahmadinejad called Israel the ‘most cruel and racist regime.’ He followed by blaming the United States, Europe and Israel for the world’s financial crisis, but shrugged off a question later about whether the U.S. not attending the conference would further hurt relations between the two countries.” 

Excepts from Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s tirade at the U.N. Racism Conference:

• “Following World War II, they resorted to military aggression to make an entire nation homeless under the pretext of Jewish suffering. They sent migrants from Europe, the United States and other parts of the world in order to establish a totally racist government in the occupied Palestine. In fact, in compensation for the dire consequences of racism in Europe, they helped bring to power the most cruel and repressive racist regime in Palestine.”
• “It is all the more regrettable that a number of Western governments and the United States have committed themselves to defend those racist perpetrators of genocide, while the awakened, conscious and free-minded people of the world condemn aggression, brutalities and bombardments of civilians of Gaza.”
• Ladies and gentlemen: Who is responsible for the current global economic crisis? Where did the crisis start from? From Africa? From Asia? Or was it first from the United States?”
• “Dear friends, today, the human community is facing a kind of racism that has tarnished the image of humanity. In the beginning of the third millennium, the world Zionism personifies racism that falsely resorts to religion, and abuses religious sentiment to hide their hatred and ugly faces. However, it is of great importance to bring into focus the political goals of some of the world’s powers and those who control huge economic resources and interests in the world, and mobilize all their resources, economic and political influence, and world media to render support in vain to the Zionist regime, and maliciously to diminish to indignity and disgrace this regime.”

>> To join nearly 100,000 subscribers to Joel’s email alerts, please click here

>> To better understand Ahmadinejad and go “Inside The Revolution,” please click here

HEADLINES TO TRACK:

• Netanyahu vows not to allow second Holocaust
• Israeli minister compares Iran to Nazis
• UN chief condemns Ahmadinejad speech on Israel
• U.S. Officials Condemn Ahmadinejad’s Anti-Israel Address
• Israel commemorates Holocaust victims: National Holocaust Remembrance Day opens as sirens wail throughout country and Israelis stand up for two minutes of silence to remember victims of Nazis. Central state ceremony commences in Yad Vashem
• IDF chief of staff says, We can strike the farthest enemy: “We still face hate, Holocaust deniers and leaders who call for our extermination,” IDF chief of staff says at Holocaust remembrance ceremony in thinly-veiled reference to Iranian president’s incendiary speech
• Israeli political figure: “If I were PM, I’d rebuild the Temple”
• Jerusalem Post: Israel’s historic development in natural gas

SUNDAY, APRIL 19, 10am EASTERN ON C-SPAN 2: “From the 2009 Epicenter Conference held in San Diego, Joel Rosenberg presents his latest book, Inside the Revolution.  In the book, Mr. Rosenberg takes a look at the people and groups that are competing for power in the Middle East.” (This program ran Saturday night on Book TV as well. Sorry not to be able to let you know sooner. I didn’t know when it was going to run and I’m speaking in Edmonton, Canada this weekend and didn’t get to see it myself.)

>> To join nearly 100,000 subscribers to Joel’s (free) email newsletter, tracking geopolitical events and trends and Joshua Fund projects and prayer requests, please click here

HEADLINES TO TRACK

• Inside The Revolution hits New York Times best-seller list for fifth straight week
• U.S.: Palestinians need not recognize Israel as Jewish state before talks
• Lieberman: Israel will attend Moscow peace parley
• Missile deal with Russia on track, says Iran
• Russia, Libya sign warship contract worth up to $200 mln: “Russian-Libyan military cooperation was unfrozen when then-President Vladimir Putin visited Tripoli last April, with relations further strengthened by Muammar Gaddafi’s subsequent visit to Moscow. During Putin’s visit, the two countries signed a deal to write off $4.6 billion of Libya’s debt in exchange for a host of new deals, including $2 billion in arms agreements.”
• Russia’s Arms Sales to Sudan a First Step in Return to Africa: “Flush with petrodollars and beset by regional insurgencies and a possible resumption of the North-South civil war, Khartoum has become an important consumer of foreign arms despite a widely ignored international embargo. The Sudanese military is embarking on a massive modernization campaign and appears to have found a willing partner in Russia, which seeks to extend its influence in Africa and find new customers for Russia’s active arms industry as sales to China drop off dramatically.”
• Presidents of Russia, Turkey adopt strategic declaration: “The presidents of Russia and Turkey adopted a joint declaration following talks in Moscow on Friday to promote ties and enhance bilateral friendship and partnership. Turkish President Abdullah Gul arrived for his first four-day visit to Russia [in February]….They also vowed to move quicker in settling issues related to defense cooperation….Turkey receives about 65% of its gas from Russia, which is pumped via Ukraine and the Blue Stream pipeline that passes directly from Russia to Turkey under the Black Sea. Russian Energy Minister Sergei Shmatko told reporters on Friday that Russia could sign an energy contract worth more than $60 billion with Turkey on the construction of a nuclear power plant and power supplies to the country for the next 15 years. He said four reactors for a potential nuclear plant in Turkey could cost $18 billion-$20 billion….’I believe my current visit will open up a new page in the history of Russian-Turkish ties,’ Gul said.”
• New York Times: Gaza War Created Rift Between Israel and Turkey
• FLASHBACK: Report: Russia plans navy bases in Libya, Syria,Yemen

U.S. Special Envoy George Mitchell (left) met this week with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu.

“The Israeli military is preparing itself to launch a massive aerial assault on Iran’s nuclear facilities within days of being given the go-ahead by its new government,” reports the London Times.

“Among the steps taken to ready Israeli forces for what would be a risky raid requiring pinpoint aerial strikes are the acquisition of three Airborne Warning and Control (AWAC) aircraft and regional missions to simulate the attack. Two nationwide civil defence drills will help to prepare the public for the retaliation that Israel could face. ‘Israel wants to know that if its forces were given the green light they could strike at Iran in a matter of days, even hours. They are making preparations on every level for this eventuality. The message to Iran is that the threat is not just words,’ one senior defence official told The Times.”

“Officials believe that Israel could be required to hit more than a dozen targets, including moving convoys. The sites include Natanz, where thousands of centrifuges produce enriched uranium; Esfahan, where 250 tonnes of gas is stored in tunnels; and Arak, where a heavy water reactor produces plutonium….Colonel Hilik Sofer told Haaretz, a daily Israeli newspaper, that the drill would ‘train for a reality in which during war missiles can fall on any part of the country without warning … We want the citizens to understand that war can happen tomorrow morning.‘”

Officials in Jerusalem believe time is rapidly running out to deal with Iran’s nuclear weapons program decisively. They would certainly prefer that diplomatic initiatives and economic sanctions work, but there is no evidence whatsoever that such initiatives are working. This is why the Netanyahu administration is steadily preparing for war, bringing in his political rival Ehud Barak to be Defense Minister, making former IDF chief of staff Moshe Ya’alon his Deputy Prime Minister, accelerating the Israel missile defense testing program, and warning about the apocalyptic death cult running Iran today.

It is critical that President Obama and Prime Minister Netanyahu sit down and discuss the Iran crisis immediately. The best case scenario would be for the U.S. and Israel to be united in a realistic plan to stop Tehran’s nuclear program. Thus far, however, the White House does not even appear to have invited the new Israeli Prime Minister to come to Washington. U.S. Special Envoy George Mitchell met with Netanyahu in Tel Aviv this week and tried to pressure him to divide Jerusalem and giveaway the West Bank, but Mitchell did not apparently  extend a specific invitation to Netanyahu to meet the President.

Why not? Israel has historically been America’s strongest ally in the Middle East. But the White House appears to be shifting allegiances to the Muslim world and is engaging in an aggressive effort to court the Muslim world. A few examples:

• President Obama gave his first TV interview on coming into office to al-Arabiya, an Arab-Muslim satellite network
• President Obama recently bowed to the King of Saudi Arabia
• President Obama delivered a major address to the Muslim world in Turkey, and is rumored to be planning another major address in a Muslim-majority country soon.
  
• President Obama has invited Jordanian King Abdullah II to Washington on April 21.

As I wrote here several days ago, I see a train wreck coming in U.S.-Israel relations. We are fast approaching the worst season in the relationship between our two countries diplomatically in 61 years. All the more reason we need to pray for peace, but prepare for war.

>> INSIDE THE REVOLUTION now available as an audio book

• Jerusalem Post: ‘IAF readying swift strike on Iran’
• MEMRI: Ahmadinejad to West: You Are Weak, Your Hands Are Empty, And You Can’t Force Us to Do Anything; Nearly 7,000 Centrifuges Are Spinning Today at Natanz, Mocking You
• Haaretz: What would be the timetable for Israel strike on Iran?
• Australian newspaper: Obama’s stance worries Israelis
• Egyptian state paper: ‘Axis of evil’ tried to overthrow regime
• Haaretz: Hezbollah and Iran have become Egyptian target
• Who will represent Israel at May’s AIPAC conference? (probably not Netanyahu)

Last night, Glenn Beck had me on his TV show to discuss Iran’s nuclear program and the future of U.S.-Israel relations. Here is the transcript:

GLENN BECK: Something else happened today which was our stance now on Iran has dramatically changed yet again. Just a few months ago under Bush, no talks ever. It has always been that way since 1979. Then President Obama said, “Well, let’s start with some conditions.” And now, the Obama administration is about to drop even that condition. “Well, let’s just talk, even if you have a nuclear thing, whatever. Let’s sit down and talk.” Joel Rosenberg is here. Joel Rosenberg is the author of “Inside the Revolution.” Joel, I don’t even know where to start with this one other than I guess maybe with an interview that I did with Benjamin Netanyahu about two years ago and I said, “You guys are being set up.” And he said, “What do you mean?” I said, “I think the world is going to start pushing towards, `Oh, let’s just be friends with Iran.'” This was way before Barack Obama. And I said they’re going to lose the window. Everybody is going to push for peace, and then you’re going to have to go in because you can’t let these nut jobs have these weapons. And you guys are going to be deemed the bad guys and the rest of the world will pound you. And he said, “Well, be it as it may but we have a right to survive.” Do you think that scenario is coming true?

JOEL ROSENBERG, AUTHOR, “INSIDE THE REVOLUTION”: It is coming to fruition. I think this is a very bad scenario right now, Glenn. Yet the prime minister of Israel Netanyahu understands that there is an apocalyptic, genocidal death cult running Iran right now….They are determined to get the nuclear weapons and destroy Israel. As we talked about before, Israel is only the little Satan. The United States is the great Satan. And as I quote extensively in the book, the president of Iran and top leaders of Iran want to annihilate the United States. And the idea that we will drop this pre-condition and not force Iran to stop enriching uranium before we sit down and talk is a huge mistake. I would describe it as appeasement.

BECK: How did you describe — an apocalyptic what?

ROSENBERG: An apocalyptic, genocidal death cult is running Iran today.

BECK: No, that’s weird, because I think that’s the way that NBC News the media describes my audience. I’m not really sure. You know, people don’t  —

ROSENBERG: But you’re not building nuclear weapons. There’s a difference, see.

BECK: Not that you know. Joel, here is the thing that I don’t think people understand. It was about three years ago that I read someplace about the 12th imam. And I went — wait a minute. Wait a minute. Who’s the 12th imam? And I started looking into it because Ahmadinejad always ends his speeches at the United Nations with “Oh, Allah, give me the strength to hasten the return of the promised one.” When you say apocalyptic, genocidal death cult, you’re not kidding. I want you to explain that and then explain why people in our country – the state department seem to have a problem with religion except over in the Middle East with crazy people. More on that next.

BECK: Author of “Inside the Revolution,” Joel Rosenberg, is back with us. OK. We were talking about why we can’t let Iran get nuclear weapons. And most people will say, “Oh, come on. France has nuclear weapons.”

These people aren’t French. At least, the people currently running it. You say, they’re apocalyptic genocidal maniacs. Is that what it was?

ROSENBERG: Yes….death cult leaders.

BECK: Yes, that’s right. Death cult….

ROSENBERG: Death cult leaders.

BECK: Right. Explain what that means.

ROSENBERG: Yes. Well, as I describe it in “Inside the Revolution” in quite a bit of detail, the leaders of Iran believe that the end of the world is here. They believe that the Islamic messiah, the 12th Imam, is coming imminently – that’s the word they’re using, “imminent.” And they believe their mission in life is to hasten or speed up the coming of the Islamic messiah by destroying Judeo-Christian civilizations as we know it.

BECK: OK. So if I may put this in Christian terms, if you’re somebody who believes in end-times prophecy, you know, that Jesus is coming and the 7-year tribulation and everything else. And you’d be like, “You know, know what? I think we can get this done in two-and-a-half years if we just — we can make this happen. We’ll just hurry up and make things chaotic.” That’s what they believe, that there needs to be great chaos here, and –

ROSENBERG: That’s right.

BECK: And Muslim blood flowing through the streets, et cetera, et cetera.

ROSENBERG: That’s right.

BECK: And so they really, truly believe that it would be best for Islam and best for Allah if they would just hurry that up. Why wait?

ROSENBERG: That’s the problem. We’ve never had a nation’s leadership in any part of the world at any time in history have the death cult features that the Iran leadership has now.

BECK: True or false – go ahead.

ROSENBERG: Well, I was just going to say, Prime Minister Netanyahu understands this.

BECK: Yes.

ROSENBERG: I’ve talked to him about it.

BECK: I have, too.

ROSENBERG: I quote him in the book. But our administration does not. And I believe a train wreck is coming between the United States and Israel over how to handle Iran.

BECK: Thank you.

ROSENBERG: This is the worst moment in U.S.-Israel relations in 61 years.

BECK: I agree with you. America, we cannot abandon — I mean, just — you cannot abandon Israel on this one. You have to understand the religious zealots that are over there.

I don’t understand why in our country we have the left that are so afraid of anybody in a church even saying anything about – you can’t say “God” in schools because that is going to – but they will completely dismiss people.

And this isn’t all of the people in Iran. Understand this…

ROSENBERG: Exactly right.

BECK: These are people that are in charge right now, specifically Ahmadinejad, and even the Ayatollah Khomeini thought this cult which now controls the government, was so dangerous — true or false — he executed them. He wanted them wiped out because the ayatollah said they were too crazy.

ROSENBERG: He certainly wanted them banned. And look, I am an evangelical Christian. And I believe in end-times prophecy. But Jesus’ end-times prophecy is that we’re supposed to go out and share the gospel and try to save tens of millions of people.

Whereas apocalyptic Shia Muslim eschatology or end-times theology says to kill all the Jews and Christians or convert them to Islam. And that’s the danger is that the current administration doesn’t understand it.

BECK: So what do you do?

ROSENBERG: One of the reasons I wrote the book is to try to help Washington understand it.

BECK: So what do you do? What is the solution here?

ROSENBERG: Well, it depends if you’re talking about the American government.

BECK: The American government?

(CROSS TALK)

ROSENBERG: The American government has to understand who is across the table. And they have to make a choice. The top experts believe Iran will have nuclear weapons within a year – year and a half, tops.

BECK: Faster.

ROSENBERG: So if you ever talk to them, you better understand who you’re dealing with. But personally, I believe we’re out of time. And I believe North Korea is the evidence. We have been talking to North Korea in six-party talks for 10 years, and where are we?

They have their first nuclear weapon tested. They have an intercontinental ballistic missile that they have tested. Fifteen Iranian military advisors were at that launch last weekend. And now, they are restarting their nuclear arms program.

When you’re talking with two genocidal maniacs, talking won’t work. And unfortunately, we are headed into war with Iran. Either the United States will launch it to protect western civilization or Israel will …

BECK: Israel will.

ROSENBERG: … unless there is an act of God, there is a crisis coming of biblical proportions.

BECK: OK. Joel, you don’t have to end it that way, geez, for the love of — smile, lollipops — things are going to be great. Joel, thanks a lot. We’ll talk again.

Keep an eye on the Iran connection to North Korea

FYI: I’m scheduled to be on the Glenn Beck TV show on Fox tonight at 5:40pm eastern. Subject to change, of course. But hope you can join us.

• North Korea says to re-start nuclear arms plant
• North Korea vows to boycott 6-party nuclear talks
• U.S. May Drop Key Condition for Talks With Iran
• Ahmadinejad to attend Durban 2 anti-racism conference
• Iran vows to make new rockets, nuclear fuel — claims to have 7,000 nuclear centrifuges running