Story Time:

[Dennis1209]

My, my; how prophetic times have changed. I'd like to share a little story that's partially related to the topic of this thread, and what the Bible predicted.

In 1970 I was inducted into the Army, the military occupational skill I selected was (67N) helicopter maintenance. I spent a year in Viet Nam and three years in the active Army. Upon discharge in 1973 from active duty, I was an Army active reservist for 17 years, in the same occupational field, aircraft maintenance. 

In 1973 I obtained full time civilian employment (civil service) with the Department of Defense, Army aviation. At the very same place, doing the very same thing, on the same aircraft, at the very same hanger where our Army Reserve drills and meeting were conducted. But for much better pay and benefits. I was making about $10.50 / hour; not bad for 1973. 

During this time, I attended many Army sponsored training courses, went to junior college and obtained my A&P license and commercial pilot's license. With experience, education and training; I was pretty good at what I did.

So, now comes along 1978 A.D., and I see an advertisement in an aviation journal. Bell helicopter - Textron is hiring aviation mechanic teachers and instructor in Iran; $80,000.00 per year to start. Long story short; they flew me down to Dallas, TX., put me up in a nice hotel, paid me per diem, etc. They were honest with the environment and working conditions, and the only guaranteed continued employment would be overseas somewhere.

They showed pictures of everything; the environment, people, and the housing you would be living in. People going there to work for them were divided into two groups; single and married. The married people generally got the best housing near a city or civilization. The single people were requested to be placed out in the boondocks, with nothing around and nothing to do. Guess which group I fell into?

In addition, there were many no-noes. No Playboy magazines, no Bibles, no alcohol or drinking anywhere, no activities, no nothing. But for the hardship, they paid you about $10,000.00 more per year. Then they got around to showing an example of the "house" a single person would be living in. You got to be kidding me? 

And finally, not to be crude or graphic, and I will not expound; they showed a camel, with a wooden ladder propped up at the rear of the camel. I suppose just in case anyone had any ideas? I thought long and hard; 3-4 years of that pay, nothing and nowhere to spend any of it, the bank account I would have in just a few years, etc.

So, what does all this personal information have to do with anything? Had I accepted the job and went to Iran, six months later in 1979, I would have had a big problem. Remember the overthrow of the Shaw, the 444 hostages, Muslim radicals taking over? 

The major point I wanted to make is; just how fast things changed with biblical prophecy aligning. Prior to 1979, people couldn't understand how Iran (Persia-1935) could be a major player in the Gog-Magog invasion of Israel? Iran was and ally and helped Israel tremendously during Israels 1967 & 1973 war. The world could not understand how Turkey, another Gog-Magog participant, could turn on Israel? Most Israeli's took vacations to Turkey. 

Saudi Arabia and UAE were a long-time staunch enemy of Israel, no one understood how Sheba-Dedan could be a bystander, and protest the invasion of Israel. They wanted nothing more or less than the complete destruction of the state of Israel and drive them into the sea.

Just since 1979, look at how quick everything and the players, have turned around and aligned with prophetic scripture. And I didn't even mention Syria, what and who is now there on Israel's northern border. 

My, my, how times have changed...