Don’t misinterpret Iran’s “goodwill” gesture By Bill Wilson
Praise God that Pastor Saeed Abednini was among the five Americans that the Iranian government released as a “goodwill” gesture. His plight at the hands of an Islamic government has been well documented and hats off to the American Center for Law and Justice for keeping his story in front of the American people. Prayers have been answered and families reunited. Notwithstanding, the “president” actually traded seven Iranians for the five Americans that he left in chains during his landmark negotiations with the Iranians that will likely help accelerate their nuclear weapons program, not deter it. A five for seven swap and $100 billion in assets to gain a nuclear weapon is not a bad day if you are Iran.
ACLJ’s Jay Sekulow reported Sunday, “For more than three years, Pastor Saeed – a U.S. citizen – has endured imprisonment in Iran. We can now officially confirm that Pastor Saeed has been freed. In addition there are reports that 3 other Americans imprisoned in Iran have also been released. News broke late last night that Pastor Saeed had been taken from his prison cell to Iran’s Central Intelligence agency. While the details are still coming in, we can confirm that this morning he was released. This is a major victory. We are incredibly grateful to the more than 1.1 million people who have joined us in fighting across the globe for Pastor Saeed’s freedom.
“We’re delighted this day has finally arrived. American Pastor Saeed Abedini spent more than three years in an Iranian prison. We’re grateful for the millions of people who have stood with us in our ongoing efforts – both in this country and abroad – to secure his release. We have worked and prayed that this day would finally arrive. And now, Pastor Saeed can return home.” According to Sekulow, Pastor Saeed’s wife Naghmeh, responded:”This has been an answer to prayer. This is a critical time for me and my family. We look forward to Saeed’s return and want to thank the millions of people who have stood with us in prayer during this most difficult time.”
Let us rejoice for Pastor Saeed’s and the others’ release. Let us not, however, begin to think that the Islamic government or America’s “president” are good guys in this story. The $100 billion in sanctions money that the “president” is allowing to flow into Iran will empower the country to boost its support of worldwide terror and will eventually enable it to have a nuclear weapon. The world has become a much more dangerous place as US leadership has embraced all things Islam in the past seven years. And let us be reminded that Persia, modern day Iran, is among those “beast” nations that attack Israel in the end time. But also be reminded that, as Ezekiel 38:23 says, the Lord, “will be known in the eyes of many nations and they shall know that I am the Lord.” The Lord has answered prayers for Pastor Saeed, and God will not be mocked.
