The
Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) attack on Iraq has brought into
focus some of the most prophetic events in recent history, and according
to one prophecy scholar, the events could lead to the rise of the
antichrist. The largely Sunni caliphate-building organization backed by
al Qaeda is moving to take over the Shiite dominated government in
Baghdad. The United States, whose historic policy has been to not
negotiate with terrorist sponsoring states, indicated it will consider
working with Iran in a military response to ISIS. Both US Secretary of
State John Kerry and Iranian president Hassan Rouhani have indicated
they may work together to bring stability to Iraq.
Kerry
told Yahoo News' Katie Couric, "We're open to discussions. I think we
might be open to any constructive process that could minimize the
violence, hold Iraq together, the integrity of the country, and
eliminate the presence of outside terrorist forces." Rouhani said,
"Whenever the United States makes a move on the ISIS, then we can think
about cooperation with them in Iraq." Meantime, Turkey's government held
an emergency meeting to discuss ISIS's mass taking of hostages at the
Turkish consulate in Mosul, Iraq. The UK Telegraph reports Turkish
Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said Turkey would "retaliate in the
strongest way" if the hostages are harmed. He said, "No one should test
Turkey's resolve. These events could launch an extraordinary and
significant prophetic season.
While most prophecy watchers are keying these events from an Ezekiel 38-39 perspective,
prophecy scholar and author Joel Richardson points to the book of
Daniel. In a World Net Daily article, Richardson focuses on the Daniel Chapter 8:3-19 discussion of the "little horn, which waxed exceedingly great, toward the south, and toward the east, and toward the pleasant land (v. 9)."
It also waxed great "even to the host of heaven; and it cast down some
of the host and of the stars to the ground, and stamped upon them (v.10)."
The historical interpretation is that these verses speak of Antiochus
IV Epiphanes, fulfilling prophecy in part historically and representing a
future event such as the antichrist/beast of Revelation.
Richardson
says, however, that Antiochus did not cause any heavenly events and
that the angel Gabriel tells Daniel that the vision was for "at the time of the end." He writes: "When
we actually read the explanation of Gabriel, the truth is that he does
not make any such break in the vision, placing some of it in history and
some of it the future. He simply says that the vision pertains to the
time of the end." Richardson writes that there could be two regional
wars--the first, Iran "butting" to the west, the north and south--Iraq,
Syria, Lebanon, possibly as far as Israel--the second, a counter
offensive by Turkey. Richardson writes: "...it appears as though
out of the ashes of these wars, in the region stretching from Nineveh
(Mosul) to Turkey, we should expect to see the Antichrist arise." While not definite, it is certainly, something to consider.
Have a Blessed and Powerful Day!
Bill Wilson
www.dailyjot.com
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