Bingo. The competing self-perceived alpha-dogs of the region are beginning to size one another up. As a voice begins to rise throughout the Islamic world for Erdogan to restore the Caliphate, the Wahhabi power mongers are none too pleased. In the last days, this conflict will eventually result in Saudi Arabia being attacked and destroyed by Turkey and Iran, and the various nations that come under Turkey’s regional umbrella of power.
Wahhabi clerics are easily provoked upon hearing that other Muslims may entertain the idea of restoring the Muslim caliphate. They strongly believe that Muslims other than themselves are godless and unqualified to claim the honor of reviving the caliphate, a multi-ethnic transnational empire with Sharia and the bonds of faith as the basis of government.
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We are viewing first hand the toes of iron and clay of Nebuchadnezzar’s statue in Daniel 2.
41 Whereas you saw the feet and toes, partly of potter’s clay and partly of iron, the kingdom shall be divided; yet the strength of the iron shall be in it, just as you saw the iron mixed with ceramic clay. 42 And as the toes of the feet were partly of iron and partly of clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong and partly fragile. 43 As you saw iron mixed with ceramic clay, they will mingle with the seed of men; but they will not adhere to one another, just as iron does not mix with clay. 44 And in the days of these kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed. (Dan 2:41-44 NKJV)
The short term influences the medium term, and both influence the long term.
The showdown between Riyadh and Ankara continues, and only one will be standing, until that city kneels to the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
How has Islam affected, influenced or changed the eastern Orthodox church and its doctrines and way of worship and what it believes during the 700’s AD, during the Ottoman Empire and even today? In other words when Islam ruled Turkey, did it force the Orthodox religion to become similar to Islam?
Debbie,
I certainly wouldn’t say that. Not doctrinally of course. Many of the traditional believers have learned how to exist under Islam, most often being far less evangelistic than we would hope. The history of the iconoclasm and the work of John of Damascus is a fascinating one.
Is the Eastern Orthodox religion biblical? How is Eastern Orthodox antichristic?
I do not think it is Antichristic at all.
Might explain this unprecedented show of force today:
http://freebeacon.com/national-security/saudi-arabia-shows-off-chinese-missiles/
Elections in Iraq this week. Already it looks like al-Malaki’s coalition will lose some influence. One key aspect of the elections that I’m tracking is the potential breakaway of the Kurdistan in the North. Iraqi Kurds have been progressively moving towards self-determination since Saddam’s access to Northern Iraq was limited at the end of the First Gulf War. Here’s an interesting interview with the President of Kurdistan (Northern Iraq) on Wednesday, discussing Kurdish autonomy and a “re-organization of the region” away from the old Sykes-Picot boundaries. When the Beast Empire arises in the Middle East, it may arise around different national boundaries:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mvUI6inw5gg
With civil war and anarchy around the Kurdish region in Northeast Syria and Erdogan’s pandering to Kurdish leadership in Turkey build political support and make oil deals, the Kurds are in a better position than ever to seriously consider self-determination.
I don’t have a pet theory, scenario or timetable for the end times. But one people group that I am watching closely are the Kurds. Geographically, Greater Kurdistan is situated smack-dab in the middle of the territory from which the prophets say Antichrist will arise. They are a “small people” who do currently do not have a horn (sovereign government, leader), but from which a “little horn” could very well “come up” at some point. Another clue (for me, anyhow) is that the greatest king and general in Muslim history, Saladin, was a Kurd. He was the charismatic and ingenious general who united large portions of the Muslim world and re-conquered Jerusalem from the Crusaders. Of all historical Muslim figures, he is the one most closely associated by modern Muslims to the coming Mahdi. Children in Palestine and Egyptian schools put on school plays depicting his conquest and invoking his name in the hopes of re-conquering Jerusalem.
Not a prediction, just something I keep an eye on. 🙂
Gabe
Gabe,
Its certainly a possibility. I’ve often wondered the same thing. Perhaps after a larger regional war or two, there will emerge a new regional order. This is what I would lean toward.
I completely agree regarding the changing of the regional order. We already see it happening!! The borders of the 10 kingdoms may very well be very different from the national borders we see in the ME right now. Saying that AC will come from Turkey, Syria or Iraq may be a misnomer, because that assumes that those nations will exist in their current form. But the rapid destabilization of the old Sykes-Picot order would at least SUGGEST otherwise. Just reminds you that when this happens, it will probably happen in such a way that none of us could have possibly predicted. 🙂
That’s why Saudi is greatly supporting Egypt and the new president… Giving in a lot of Money with Dubai to Support Egypt. They know the only power that can stand Turkey and Iran in the Middle East is Egypt.
Lord have mercy on Egypt on the whole Middle East
Hi All:
Dubai airport is now the largest, busiest, and arguably the most luxurious commercial flight hub in the world:
http://www.vanityfair.com/business/2014/07/dubai-international-airport-emirates-airbus-a380
As I read this, I thought of Revelation 18.
In Him,
Gabe
BTW: I was just reading our previous comments on this post from May about regional wars and realignment. That was only 6 weeks ago. How quickly things are moving now…