Iranian journalist Amer Taheri, interviewed September 2nd on the Wall Street Journal's weekly Saturday night program on the Fox News channel, bluntly reminded his audience that World War III started in 1979, when the Shah of Iran was overthrown and replaced by a radical Islamic regime dedicated to the Islamization of the whole world.

The leader of the Iranian revolution, Ayatollah Khomenei, pledged: "We will export our revolution throughout the world...until the calls 'there is no god but Allah and Muhammed is the messenger of Allah' are echoed all over the world." ("Islamic Imperialism" by Efraim Karsh, page 1.)

Osama bin Laden, head of the al-Qaeda organization, declared two months after the 9/11 attacks: "I was ordered to fight the people until they say there is no god but Allah, and his prophet Muhammed" (ibid). Subsequent statements have called upon Americans, including the president, to convert to Islam.

It is not surprising, therefore, that the US Administration refused to meet with former Iranian president, Muhammed Khatami, during a two week visit to the United States, during which he will attend the United Nations and address Harvard University.

Mr. Khatami also spoke to an audience at the National Cathedral in Washington, DC. There he addressed an overflow crowd, anxious to avert a conflict with Iran over the country's decision to develop nuclear weapons. Only in this age of multiculturalism was such a visit possible. Previous generations of Episcopalians would not have invited an Islamic leader to speak in their church.

The irony of the invitation to speak at the National Cathedral seemed lost on the listeners. No such invitation has been extended to a church leader to address attendees at a major mosque in the Middle East where Christians have been suffering a great deal of persecution in recent decades. It should also be pointed out that should Iranian leaders achieve their goal of world domination, the National Cathedral will suffer the same fate as the former St. Sophia's Cathedral in Istanbul, converted overnight into a mosque at the fall of Constantinople in 1453.

The current president of Iran, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, also will soon address the UN General Assembly—on the same day as President Bush—thereby effectively giving him the debate with the US president that he has been wanting. Further division in the US may follow.

Newt Gingrich, former speaker of the US House of Representatives, observed in the Wall Street Journal that the US has divided into three factions since 9/11. There are those who are in denial, feeling that "the war [is] too hard, the world too dangerous". These people choose to ignore the threat from radical Islam.

A second faction is in semi-denial, arguing that "the system is doing the best it can and that we have to 'stay the course'—no matter how unproductive."

A third group realizes the seriousness of the threat from radical Islam and feels the need to totally reorganize society to focus primarily on victory. American survival is at stake, writes Mr. Gingrich (article: "Bush and Lincoln", WSJ, 9/7/06).

These same three factions were apparent in the early days of the American Civil War. It wasn't until the Lincoln Administration opted for choice #3 that victory became possible.

It will be harder today to opt for the third choice. This would require great sacrifice on the part of every member of society.

Jesus Christ said Matthew 12:25 that a house divided against itself cannot stand.

So it is not surprising that the Iranian leadership feels assured of victory over "the Great Satan", the United States of America. At some point in time, the US and Coalition forces will withdraw from Iraq and Afghanistan, possibly leaving a vacuum that neighboring Iran is prepared to fill. Iran's Empire then could be extended from the Mediterranean coast where it supports Hezbollah, across the Palestinian territories controlled by Hamas and on through Syria, both bankrolled by Iran.

Iran is quite capable of taking advantage of divisions within the United States. Those who are in favor of appeasing radical Islam gained a victory four days short of the fifth anniversary of 9/11. British Prime Minister Tony Blair, a staunch supporter of the wars against Islamic fundamentalism, is being forced out of office, primarily because of his foreign policy.

For a much more comprehensive explanation of what Bible foretells for the Middle East request or download our free booklet, The Middle East in Bible Prophecy.