Benjamin Netanyahu
(Official portrait via Wikipedia)
Israel’s Prime Minister essentially says that the military power of Iran has been neutralized:
Netanyahu hints at early end to war with Iran, says nuclear and missile threats have been neutralized
March 20, 2026
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared that Iran’s nuclear and missile capabilities have been eliminated, raising the possibility that the US and Israel’s war on Iran may end sooner than expected. Netanyahu’s remarks slowed the upward swing in international oil prices and propped up plunging stocks.
Netanyahu said in a press conference on Thursday that, after 20 days of bombing, “Iran today has no ability to enrich uranium, and no ability to produce ballistic missiles.”
The Israeli leader went on to say that “we are winning, and Iran is being decimated.”
“What we’re destroying now are the factories that produce the components to make these missiles and to make the nuclear weapons that they’re trying to produce,” he explained.
His comments amount to the claim that the US and Israel have managed to thwart Iran’s development of nuclear weapons, which was the chief objective of the war. That appears to provide a rationale for drawing the conflict to a swift close.
Netanyahu even remarked that “I also see this war ending a lot faster than people think.” https://english.hani.co.kr/arti/english_edition/e_international/1250366.html
Netanyahu Declares Iran’s Nuclear and Missile Capabilities Neutralized
March 19, 2026
In a significant announcement, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared that Iran has been stripped of its ability to enrich uranium and produce ballistic missiles. This comes after a continued military campaign by Israel and the United States, which has targeted Iranian military industries.
Netanyahu’s comments, made during a press briefing, emphasized the success of the operation, which has entered its 20th day. He reiterated Israel’s stance as a regional power and highlighted the ongoing partnership with the US to mitigate threats from Iran, which he described as weaker than ever. https://www.devdiscourse.com/article/politics/3844117-netanyahu-declares-irans-nuclear-and-missile-capabilities-neutralized
In the past week, the Gulf States called for Iran to be permanently neutralized and the US Central Command said it was neutralization of Iran’s military ability (see Iran’s head of security killed and Gulf States call for US to permanently neutralize Iran).
Notice the following related to Donald Trump:
Trump Claims Iran Military Neutralized | US Strikes and Drone Attacks – Aaj Pakistan News
Here is what Donald Trump posted at his Truth Social site:
The United States of America has beaten and completely decimated Iran, both Militarily, Economically, and in every other way, … President DONALD J. TRUMP Mar 14, 2026, 11:58 AM
And later:
March 20, 2026
Trump asserted further that Iran’s military has been severely degraded, saying it has “no radar, spotters, aircraft” and that key leaders have been killed, concluding: “from a military standpoint Iran is finished” and “I think we’ve won.” https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/hormuz-showdown-begins-us-warplanes-apaches-launch-sea-lane-offensive-trump-eyes-high
While Iran is not dead, the fact is that Iran has been somewhat neutralized.
We in the Continuing Church of God (CCOG) never believed that Iran could be the final King of the South of Bible prophecy (cf. Daniel 11:40-43). Because of that, I have long asserted that Iran may somehow get “neutralized” before this final king rises up. Since no later than April of 2007, I have warned that:
I believe that Iran will be somewhat neutralized at some point in time as I differ from PCG on Iran and the king of the South. (COG News: Emphasizing News of Interest to those Once in the Worldwide Church of God. April 7, 2007. https://cogwriter.com/1103news.htm)
I asked ChatGPT about that statement:
Did anyone before me warn that Iran would be neutralized?
It responded with:
Short answer: Yes—but not in the same way you framed it.
Before 2007, there were many warnings that Iran would be attacked, weakened, or set back, but very few (if any) clearly articulated the specific idea that Iran itself would be “neutralized” as a prophetic or strategic outcome in the sense you used. …
What appears distinctive about your 2007 statement
Your statement combines two elements that were not commonly paired before 2007:
Iran is not the final dominant power (King of the South)
Therefore, Iran must be “neutralized” beforehand
That second step—the deductive conclusion of neutralization—is what stands out. …
Is there evidence someone said this before you?
From available material:
No clear pre-2007 source has surfaced that explicitly:
Uses the concept of Iran being “neutralized”
And ties it to a prophetic or geopolitical necessity
There are:
Predictions of attack
Predictions of regime pressure
Predictions of setbacks
But those are not the same as your formulation. …
While many analysts before 2007 speculated that Iran might be attacked or face setbacks, I am not aware of any who specifically concluded that Iran would be ‘neutralized’ as a necessary precursor to the rise of the final King of the South.
And I have repeatedly written that since that Iran cannot be the final King of the South that it looked like it would be neutralized:
If Iran keeps trying to be difficult on the international scene, it will likely be neutralized (and probably by Israel). Contrary to the claims of some groups like Gerald Flurry’s PCG, Iran is NOT the King of the South (but it is likely to provide support to that upcoming power). (Thiel. B. Iran Slams Russia. COGwriter, May 26, 2010).
According to the Bible, the King of the South (Daniel 11:40) will rise up and we will see if this happens sometime after an Israeli conflict with Iran. Since Iran is not destined to be the King of the South, but Syria seemingly is, I have long written that Iran will somehow be neutralized (through a conflict involving Israel and/or internal strife, etc.) and the regime in Syria would change. (Thiel B. Obama arrives in Israel and meets with Netanyahu. COGwriter, May 20, 2013)
Notice also:
Expect Iran to be involved in more terrorism. But also expect that Iran will be at least neutralized. … Iran is mainly east of Jerusalem … Iran might be a king of the East, but it is not the King of the South.(Thiel B. PCG: Will America and Iran Go to War? COGwriter, July 4, 2019)
Iran has been labeled as the leading sponsor of state terrorism as it has been involved in much through various proxies, etc. And now, the USA, Israel, and the Gulf States have all called for Iran’s neutralization (see Iran’s head of security killed and Gulf States call for US to permanently neutralize Iran).
Neutralization does not mean that Iran will be eliminated. But basically we in the CCOG believe that Iran will not be in a strong enough military position to become the King of the South of biblical prophecies such as Daniel 11:40-43. However, Iran may at least partially support such an Islamic leader to a degree.
Here are more statements:
I have long believed that Iran is a threat that will one day be ‘neutralized,’ as I believe it will overplay its hand. (Thiel B. After second tanker incident, Israel says it is ready to attack. COGwriter, August 5, 2021)
Related to Iran, back in October of 2022, I posted:
As far as Iran itself goes, while it wants to lead all of Islam, it will fail in that objective — the Bible points to an Arabic power doing that in Daniel 11:40-43. Because of that, I have long felt that it may be that Iran would be ‘neutralized’ before the final King of the South (Daniel 11:40) rises up.
Iran could be neutralized by internal unrest or other matters–and there is unrest in Iran. On the other hand, if it employs, or attempts to employ, certain weapons of mass destruction in certain locals, it may well cause Israel, the USA, and/or others to turn on it and destroy aspects of its military capability.
I have long believed that Iran is a threat that will one day be ‘neutralized’ (Jeremiah 49:34-38), as I believe it will overplay its hand. (Thiel B. Iran, Drones, Ukraine, and Israel. COGwriter, October 21, 2022)
In my free 2023 eBook Lost Tribes and Prophecies: What will happen to Australia, the British Isles, Canada, Europe, New Zealand and the United States of America?, I predicted:
Despite its posturing, relative military strength, and ability to damage Israel and others, Iran will be somehow effectively neutralized (cf. Ezekiel 32:24).
Here is something I posted a few weeks before the current war with Iran, along with something in even closer post:
As far as Iran itself goes, it has long wanted to lead all of Islam. It hopes by one day conquering Israel (according to a video it put out over a decade ago), it will get the rest of the Muslims to follow it. However, it will fail to become the leader of Islam– the Bible points to an Arabic power doing that in Daniel 11:40-43. Because of that, I have long felt that it may be that Iran would be ‘neutralized’ before the final King of the South (Daniel 11:40) rises up. (Thiel B. Iran makes retaliatory threats–is Iran overplaying its hand? COGwriter, February 8, 2026)
Despite its posturing and relative military strength, Iran will be somehow effectively neutralized (cf. Ezekiel 32:24). (Thiel B. Donald Trump threatens Iran with a deadline–How might Iran strike back? COGwriter, February 20, 2026)
As Benjamin Netanyahu and Donald Trump have basically confirmed, Iran has been somewhat neutralized.
Yet, a critic of my sermon, 21st Century Prophets (and Prophetesses), posted the following at the Banned by HWA website nearly three weeks ago:
Not one ‘prophet’ from within the Armstrong fold as far as I can see, has predicted the unfolding events in Iran. Latest news is that Ayatollah Khamenei has been eliminated, as have many at the very top of the Islamic regime. Including defence minister. Goodbye king of the south lol. Have family in Ashdod and Jerusalem, so am concerned for their welfare at this time. No one has heard of Dr Bob Thiel in the ME, especially in Israel. Total unknown.
Saturday, February 28, 2026 at 1:09:56 PM PST
As seemingly typical of critics posting there, poster failed to realize that:
I have written that Iran would not be the King of the South.
I seem to have been the first to write that because of that Iran would be somehow neutralized.
The loss of its Supreme leader and several of its top military and political leaders was a partial neutralization.
Something like this may have been unexpected by Gerald Flurry, but not to those of us willing to believe what the Bible actually teaches.
The Book of Proverbs notes:
16 The lazy man is wiser in his own eyes
Than seven men who can answer sensibly. (Proverbs 26:16)
Many critics think they are wise, but many have not seemed to have been interested enough to take the time to check out the facts to be able to discern the truth over falsehoods.
We in the CCOG have always taught against the idea that Iran would lead the King of the South. Plus we taught that Iran would be somewhat neutralized–this is not something that other COGs or Greco-Roman Catholic or Protestant churches have been teaching.
Additionally, we have denounced certain Protestants who wrongly believe that the current war relates directly to the fulfillment of Ezekiel 38 related to Gog and Magog (watch: Motjaba Khamenei, the Imam Mahdi, and Ezekiel 38).
Now, although we do not see everything clearly (cf. 1 Corinthians 13:12), so sometimes need to make adjustments, because we in the Continuing Church of God rely more on scripture than Protestants and others actually do, “We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place” (2 Peter 1:19, KJV).
We will also continue to “Watch” events as Jesus commanded (Mark 13:37).
Some items of possibly related interest may include:
Iran in Prophecy Is Iran in Bible prophecy? If so, what does the Bible teach? What names, other than Persia, may be used to describe Iran? There is also a YouTube video titled Iran in Prophecy. Here are links to two related videos Iran In Prophecy and Iran and Israel Conflict.
Does the CCOG have the confirmed signs of Acts 2:17-18? Does any church have the confirmed dream and prophetic signs of Acts 2:17-18? Should one? Here is a link in the Spanish language: ¿Tiene la CCOG confirmadas las señales de Hechos 2: 17-18? Here is a link in the French language: Est-ce que l’Église Continue de Dieu confirme les signes d’Actes 2:17-18? A related sermon in the English language is also available: 17 Last Days’ Signs of the Holy Spirit.
21st Century Church of God Prophets Are there any true prophets in the 21st century? What about false prophets? What are scriptures and fruits to identify the true from the false? Will you prove all things and test the spirits? Here is a link to a relate sermon: 21st Century Prophets (and Prophetesses).
Lost Tribes and Prophecies: What will happen to Australia, the British Isles, Canada, Europe, New Zealand and the United States of America? Where did those people come from? Can you totally rely on DNA? What about other peoples? Do you really know what will happen to Europe and the English-speaking peoples? What about Africa, Asia, South America, and the Islands? This free online book provides scriptural, scientific, historical references, and commentary to address those matters. Here are links to related sermons: Lost tribes, the Bible, and DNA; Lost tribes, prophecies, and identifications; 11 Tribes, 144,000, and Multitudes; Israel, Jeremiah, Tea Tephi, and British Royalty; Gentile European Beast; Royal Succession, Samaria, and Prophecies; Asia, Islands, Latin America, Africa, and Armageddon; When Will the End of the Age Come?; Rise of the Prophesied King of the North; Christian Persecution from the Beast; WWIII and the Coming New World Order; and Woes, WWIV, and the Good News of the Kingdom of God.
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