Iran, through direct attacks and its proxy empire, is at war with Israel. But it’s not the only country that concerns Iran. There is a world power backing Israel that is more and more on Iran’s mind: Germany. Recently, two of Iran’s major proxies made significant threats to Germany that suggest a deeper nervousness.

Hezbollah’s Ultimatum

On October 28, Al-Akhbar, a Hezbollah-connected outlet, published an article titled “Germany in Hostile Territory.” It claimed that Germany is “fully engaging in the war on Israel’s side,” and Germany’s involvement in Lebanon especially “quickly moved to new levels.” The author cited Germany sharing intelligence with Israel, as well as a German frigate intercepting a Hezbollah missile on October 17. The frigate was part of unifil, the United Nations’s peacekeeping force in Lebanon.

Al-Akhbar claimed Germany’s moves have “made Hezbollah reconsider its view of the Germany role.” Hezbollah has reportedly “decided to stop any communication with the Germans” and “reject any German role in any negotiations on the future of the work of the international forces in Lebanon.” Al-Akhbar claims Hezbollah is pushing for “the exclusion of Germany from participating in international forces.”

Forty-seven countries contribute peacekeepers to unifil. As of November 1, Indonesia contributed 1,230 peacekeepers to unifil. Italy contributed 1,044. Germany contributed 101. Germany is also far from the only country assisting Israel’s war effort. Some, like the United Kingdom, have helped Israel in far more high-profile ways. But it is Germany that is getting under Hezbollah’s skin.

It’s one thing for one proxy of Iran to single Germany out like this. It’s another thing when another proxy on the other side of the Middle East does the same thing.

The Houthis’ Ultimatum

Spiegel claimed on November 18 that the Houthis, Iran’s proxy that rules parts of Yemen, sent threatening emails to German shipping companies. The Association of German Shipowners (vdr) told Spiegel it and multiple associates received “targeted attempts at intimidation.” The Houthis directed their threats to shipping companies that call at Israeli ports and sail through the Red Sea via the Suez Canal, but all ships with Israeli connections are potential targets. The vdr has consulted with the German Navy about these threats. “We take these threats very seriously and are in contact with our members and the security authorities,” vdr board member Irina Haesler told media.

Any ship sailing through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait knows they are at risk of the Houthis’ rockets. Most Western shipping is taking precautions to avoid the Houthis’ line of fire, or at least coming with protection. German ships are no exception.

The Houthis knew the vdr would pass the threats to the authorities. The threat wasn’t only to the shipping association but to the German Navy. Perhaps, like Hezbollah, they took note of Germany’s frigate stepping in to defend Israel. This may be the Houthis’ way of warning Germany not to get involved in Yemen as it is in Lebanon.

But again, a lot of countries are already involved in Yemen. Why the specific jab at Germany?

Germany’s Ultimatum

Since August, Germany has approved over $100 million worth of weapons exports to Israel. It has been Israel’s second-largest arms exporter for decades.

But the United States exports way more to Israel. Hezbollah is still talking with the U.S. The Houthis have skirmishes with the U.S. and the UK. But it is apparently Germany worrying both groups.

The Houthis and Hezbollah, both Iranian proxies, are not going to do anything contrary to Iran’s wishes. They know where their funding and support comes from. They know better than to bite the hand that feeds them. These ultimatums then should be viewed as Iranian ultimatums.

Last year, Germany gave Iran an ultimatum of its own. Days after Hamas’s October 7 massacre, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz gave Hezbollah a stern threat. “Hezbollah must not intervene in the conflict,” he said on October 12. He said five days later, “I expressly warn Hezbollah and Iran not to intervene in the conflict.”

“Germany’s words and actions resonated with Hezbollah and other Islamic terrorists,” Trumpet editor in chief Gerald Flurry wrote for our January print issue. “Hezbollah’s chief terrorist, Hassan Nasrallah, scheduled a speech for November 3, and the world braced itself for him to declare war on Israel, as he had indicated he would do, especially if Israel invaded Gaza. But he did not. Hezbollah did little aside from a few scattered skirmishes. This puzzled people. Why did Hezbollah leaders back down so publicly when they had so many reasons to declare war?”

Mr. Flurry then asked: “Is it possible they are afraid of Germany?”

These events are now over a year old. Hezbollah has entered the conflict and even threatened the European Union. Scholz has done little and is mired in domestic crises. Scholz has shown himself weak, and Iran’s camp has taken advantage of this. But the two recent ultimatums show Iran still fears Germany.

At the moment, Germany also fears Iran. It would have backed up its tough rhetoric with equally tough action otherwise. But Germany is due for an election in a few months. We could see a new chancellor in Berlin who is more willing to confront Iran.

Bible prophecy states both Germany and Iran will make good on their threats. It also states which power will win.

The Future

Daniel 11:40 reads: “And at the time of the end shall the king of the south push at him: and the king of the north shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, and with horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter into the countries, and shall overflow and pass over.”

This prophecy dates to “the time of the end,” far into the future from when Daniel penned it. It features two geopolitical power blocs: “the king of the north” and “the king of the south.” Biblical and secular records show the king of the north to be a European power, led by Germany, forming now. (See here for more information.) Since the 1990s, Trumpet editor in chief Gerald Flurry has identified the king of the south as a radical Islamist bloc led by Iran.

Iran is prophesied to “push” at Germany. The root word, according to Gesenius’ Hebrew-Chaldee Lexicon, means “to push, strike with the horn, used of horned animals.” It can be “used figuratively of a victor, who prostrates the nations before him.” In other words, it means aggressive provocation. Germany responds with a “whirlwind”—an overwhelming counterattack.

More has to happen in the world before this “push” and “whirlwind” are ready to happen. But Iran and Germany are on each other’s minds. It won’t be long before this escalates into war.

To learn more, read Mr. Flurry’s article “As You Watch Gaza—Watch Germany.”