Sound The Trumpet : The Rise of ISIS and the Coming Mahdi

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“The Rise of ISIS and the Coming Mahdi”
by Prophecy New Watch
June 18th, 2014

In the continuing dismantling of the Iraqi government, a Sunni group known as ISIS has spread panic and fear in much of northern Iraq and continues to destabilize what once was a form of democratic government. Members of ISIS are led by Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, a fundamentalist Islamic leader who is said to have a far more organized and powerful military than existed under al-Qa’ida and Usama bin Laden. Their military attacks have proven effective, and they continue to take over major Iraqi cities, killing Shia Muslims and Christians in their path of terror.

ISIS is an acronym for the “Islamic State in Iraq and Syria" as the organization operates in both Iraq and Syria. Like many jihadist groups, its goal is to establish an Islamic state that is true to the teachings of Mohammed, with their current way being a fanatical military movement that is experienced and has a strong leadership directing the military strategy. Thus far, its exercise over northern Iraq and parts of western Syria make it the most successful jihadist movement in history.

This success is being watched closely by neighboring countries such as Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey who fear that the expanding military operations of ISIS may come to roost in their own backyard. ISIS recruits many of its members from untrained volunteers from other parts of the world, then trains them to be suicide bombers. For the neighboring countries, this means members of ISIS can act covertly within their own borders. The group is extremely violent and will use any means necessary to establish its Islamic state in Iraq.

Stepping away from the violence and media coverage, ISIS is one of several hundred splinter groups of Islam looking to unite its people before the return of Mahdi, a descendant of Muhammad who is to work in concert with Jesus Christ to conquer the world and convert the entire world to Islam. The ISIS way seems to be that this will take place through a violent and autocratic ascension to power. As they mercilessly kill all those who are not believed to be true Muslims, those who will be left are the faithful. Then the jihad can expand around the globe.

ISIS rose to power when Sunni influence and power in the political process was marginalized after the end of the Iraq war, even though promised otherwise by the Iraqi government. The idea of unifying the various Muslim sects in the country through a democratic government was turned to rubble by the majority Shia political group. It seems a political solution to the problems of Iraq are no closer to being resolved than at the end of the war.

These end times events are significant. One particular city often mentioned in the Bible concerning the last days is Babylon. For most of the world, it is an ancient city with little modern day influence. Yet in Revelation 17, Babylon is the woman on the beast who slays those who have given testimony to the truth of Jesus. Keep in mind this is the one world political system that emerges in the last days. So while much attention is being paid to the political interests of these individual jihadist groups, the critical location inside the country should not be overlooked. Is it here where the Mahdi appears or will rule from?

Should the Biblical perspective be considered, the country of Iraq remaining a somewhat democratic form of government for any length of time is a pipe dream. The dismantling of the current political system should not surprise anyone, particularly Christians. The focus of the political world has shifted to the Middle East where God wants it. The world may minimize the events there, but it is certain that this is where the end of history will unfold.

ISIS is one more piece of evidence that the warring factions of Islam which have been fighting for power over many centuries will only come together under a single Islamic ruler. The attacks of ISIS have spilled over into Turkey, a country once at the heart of the Ottoman Empire, and which is still heavily Muslim. The targets of attacks and suicide bombers in Turkey were Kurds, who are almost exclusively Sunni. Any ideas of peace among the various Islamic factions are more likely to resolve themselves in military rather than in political form. For the Muslim, that resolution will appear in the form of Mahdi.

Looking for His glorious appearing! Titus 2:13