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We are a Christian Fellowship meeting in North London with a strong interest in teaching the Bible and understanding our time in
the light of Bible prophecy
Will Islam rule?
Khaled Mashal, leader of the Hamas movement which won the Palestinian
elections in January 2006 gave a speech in Damascus which was broadcast on
al-Jazeera TV on February 3rd 2006. He told the European nations to
apologise to Islam because: Tomorrow, our nation will sit on the throne of
the world. This is not a figment of the imagination, but a fact. Tomorrow we
will lead the world, Allah willing. Apologize today, before remorse will do
you no good. Our nation is moving forwards, and it is in your interest to
respect a victorious nation. His speech went on to say that the first phase
of the Islamic world conquest would be the elimination of Israel and the
defeat of the West in Iraq.
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad agrees. He said in Iran’s holy city of
Qom on 5th January, We must believe in the fact that Islam is not confined
to geographical borders, ethnic groups and nations. Its a universal
ideology that leads the world to justice. He believes his main mission is
to pave the path for the glorious reappearance of Imam Mahdi, may Allah
hasten his reappearance. According to Shiites, the 12th imam disappeared as
a child in the year 941. They believe he will return and be known as the
Mahdi and reign on earth for seven years, before bringing about a final
judgment and the end of the world.
At the same time the entire Islamic world has been roused to fury over
cartoons printed in a Danish newspaper. We have evidence (available on
request) which shows how the cartoons row has been cleverly manipulated by
Islamic radicals with the aim of uniting Muslims against the West in order
to create submission to Islamic demands and to defend Iran and Syria against
censure from the UN. It is not a co-incidence that Denmark is set to assume
the rotating presidency of the U.N. Security Council at the very time that
the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is expected to refer Iran to
the Security Council and demand sanctions. At the same time the Security
Council wants to question Syria and the regime of President Assad about the
murder of Lebanese President Hariri. To portray Denmark as an enemy of the
Prophet would be helpful to the Islamic world in creating the idea that all
censure of Muslim countries is part of an anti-Islamic western conspiracy.
In the UK, Islamic leaders are using the cartoons controversy to put
pressure on the government to limit what can be said in the press about
Mohammed. Patrick Sookdheo of the Barnabas Fund comments on this, If we
pass laws or even simply create a new code of practice for the press
specifically to protect Mohammed, I fear it could prove to be the thin end
of the wedge. From self-imposed censorship we could soon move to more
serious situations. In Pakistan there has been a mandatory death sentence
since 1991 for defiling the name of Mohammed. He goes on to show how the
Muslim Action Committee is using the cartoons furore to reverse the defeat
suffered by the Muslims when the House of Commons unexpectedly voted to pass
the Racial and Religious Hatred Bill in a form which does not provide the
protection for Muslims which the government had intended.
The cartoon controversy led to a demonstration in the streets of London with
slogans calling for infidels to be beheaded and showing support of suicide
terrorism. One said Europe you’ll come crawling when Mujahadeen come
roaring. There was widespread outrage at this demonstration and moderate
Muslims sought to distance themselves from it. However days later a poll of
British Muslims revealed that 45% favour the establishment of Sharia
(Islamic) law in Britain.
This is in line with the world vision of Islam which from the days of its
inception is to bring the world into subjection to Allah as defined in the
Koran. Mohammed’s mission was universal, with the aim of not only preaching,
but also changing all existing societies into an Islamic society governed by
the laws of Allah, known as the Sharia.
Therefore Islam grants radical Muslims a mandate to change the existing
society into an Islamic society, to make Islam supreme, and thus dominate
every aspect of society. This is not only the desire of fundamentalists like
Osama bin Laden, but would seem to be the desire of a large number of
Muslims all over the world.
This desire is reflected in a document written in 1980 entitled The Islamic
Movement in the West by Khurram Murad who was then the head of the Islamic
Foundation with branches around the world. He outlined his Islamic
revolution and the blueprint of how to bring it about in the West.
On page three of his document he posed the question: What is an Islamic
movement? He goes on to answer: An Islamic movement is an organised
struggle to change the existing society into an Islamic society based on the
Koran and the Sunna, and make Islam, which is a code for entire life,
supreme and dominant.
Such views can find ample justification in the Koran which teaches that
Muslims must be supreme over non Muslims and should be engaged in a jihad to
achieve this until the Day of Judgement.
So lose no heart, nor fall into despair. For you must gain mastery, if you
are true in faith. Fight those who believe not in Allah nor the Last Day,
nor hold that forbidden which hath been forbidden by Allah and His
Messenger, nor acknowledge the religion of Truth, (even if they are) of the
People of the Book (i.e. Jews and Christians), until they pay the Jizya
(poll tax to be paid by non Muslims living in a Muslim society) with willing
submission, and feel themselves subdued. Sura At-Tawba 9:29 (Yusuf Alis
Translation).
So will Islam rule the world? Of course expressing the aim of world
domination and achieving it are two different things. Hitler promised 1000
year Reich but in 1945 Berlin lay in ruins and the Nazis were shattered. The
Communist Manifesto spoke of the inevitability of world revolution and
Communist dominance, but in 1989 the Berlin Wall came down and in 1991 the
Soviet Union fell. I remember talking to wild eyed Maoists at Speakers
Corner in London during the 1970s who said their brand of Communism would be
victorious and the thoughts of Chairman Mao would last 10,000 years. Now
capitalism has come to China and Mao’s Red Book is a collectors item. Will
the same thing happen to the Islamic radicals? Can we find any clue about
this in the prophecies of the Bible?
What the Islamists have going for them is the wealth generated by oil
reserves in Middle Eastern countries which has financed much of the spread
of Islam worldwide. It also provides a powerful means of exerting pressure
on the rest of the world. Dont upset us if you want a regular supply of
the oil necessary to keep your system going. They also have a world wide
network of mutual support groups through the mosques and Muslim
organisations and the concept of umma which ties Muslims to each other and
means that if one is offended all are offended.
There are a number of things they do not have going for them however. While
it is true that the West is dependent on oil most of which comes from Muslim
countries, the Muslims are also dependent on the West to supply technology
and trade. If they destroy the West they also will be destroyed in the
process. It also needs to be said that despite the concept of umma the
Muslim world is divided along many lines Sunni and Shia, moderate and
radical, Arab and non Arab. In fact the biggest killers of Muslims in the
world today are other Muslims. Amongst non Muslims terrorism and the kind of
agitation unleashed by the cartoon controversy has increased a feeling of
fear and hostility towards Islam in much of the world.
When we come to the Bible there are two major issues we need to look at
relevant to this question. Firstly the issue of Israel and the surrounding
nations. There are a number of passages in Bible prophecy which show that at
the end of this age the Jewish people will return to Israel and make the
once desolate land a fertile one again (Ezekiel 36). Jerusalem will be focal
point of world attention (Zechariah 12.2-3).
The surrounding nations will be hostile to Israel and fulfil the words of
Psalm 83.4, Come let us cut them off from being a nation, that the name of
Israel may be remembered no more. In verses 6-8 of this Psalm there is a
list of nations, which can be identified with Jordan, Egypt, Lebanon, Gaza,
Syria and Iraq. In 1948, 1967 and 1973 Israel has had to fight wars for
survival against superior armies from these countries bent on pushing the
Jewish state into the sea.
In this Psalm there is a reference to Zeba and Zalmunna, who said, Let us
take for ourselves the pastures of God for a possession (v 12). We find
reference to Zeba and Zalmunna in Judges 8. They were kings of Midian,
leaders of the army, which came against Israel in the days of Gideon. In
Judges 8.21 we read: Gideon arose and killed Zeba and Zalmunna and took the
ornaments that were on their camels necks. The Hebrew word used for
ornaments is ha saharonim, an unusual word, which is correctly
translated in the New King James Version as crescent ornaments. The
crescent ornament showed dedication to the moon god of paganism. Today there
is a world religion, which also uses the crescent as its symbol Islam.
Islam embodies everything spoken of in this Psalm in its attitude towards
Israel. It is the dominant religion of the countries, which surround Israel.
Nevertheless the countries which come against Israel in Psalm 83 are
defeated and are not successful in their aim.
The prophecy of Ezekiel 38-9 goes further and brings in a great power to the
uttermost north leading the armies of Gog and Magog which include Persia in
their number. While there is much debate amongst commentators as to the
identity of the nations involved there is no doubt where you get to if you
go to the uttermost north of Israel Russia. Russia today is emerging from
the humiliation of the collapse of the Soviet Union to become a major player
in world affairs with its huge oil and gas reserves and its growing arsenal
of weapons. Russia has a large Muslim population within its borders and the
Asia republics of the former Soviet Union have Muslim majorities. Although
Russia became unpopular with the Islamic radicals over its policy in
Chechnya, it has historically favoured the Arab states hostile to Israel.
President Putin has invited Hamas leaders to Moscow and the Russians are
supplying the material for the construction of the Iranian nuclear power
station in Busheir which is the cause of the current crisis. If the United
States or Israel attacks Iranian nuclear facilities it could bring Russia
into the fray of the Middle East powder keg.
Whether Russia is the subject of this prophecy is debatable (we have a tape
/ CD on the subject available on request at £3 including postage). What is
not debatable is that Iran / Persia is. Apart from the possibility of
Russia, the nations which come against Israel on this occasion are Islamic.
They come with the intention of wiping out Israel but they meet their doom
on the mountains of Israel as God intervenes directly and destroys those
armies. (Ezekiel 38.18-23).
The next question to ask is whether or not this event is the same as
Armageddon (Zechariah 14, Revelation 16 and 19). There are a number of
reasons why I believe it is not (given on the tape already mentioned). If it
comes some time before Armageddon one has to ask What would be the effect
on the Islamic world of such an event? Far from conquering the world by
first conquering Israel, Islam would suffer a humiliating defeat at the
hands of God not any human power. The Bible says that this event will cause
the Lord (i.e. the God of Israel) to be hallowed in the sight of many
nations (Ezekiel 39.27). The clear implication of this is that Islam will
not succeed in ruling the world.
The Bible teaches that the Antichrist is coming but also that many
antichrists have come (1 John 2.18). It is my view that the Islamists are
one of the many antichrists who will come before the end of days but not
the Antichrist. While they have many characteristics of antichrist denial
of Jesus as Son of God, persecution of Christians, a goal of worldwide
rule there are a number of features of the Antichrist which do not fit in
with Islam. The main ones are these.
According to 2 Thessalonians 2.3-4 the second coming of Jesus will be
preceded by the revelation of the man of sin … who opposes and exalts
himself above all that is called God or that is worshipped, so that he sits
as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God. In other words
he opposes not only the true God but all gods. This is also shown in Daniel
11.37 and Revelation 17.16-17. He also proclaims himself to be god (just as
the Roman Caesars did). Both of these aspects of the coming Antichrist are
entirely contradictory to Islam which believes in submission to Allah and is
wholly opposed to anyone claiming to be a god equal to Allah.
In Revelation 13 the false prophet sets up an image to be worshipped by all
and causes all to receive the mark of the beast without which they cannot
buy or sell. The worship of images is forbidden under Islam so how could an
Islamic leader bring in such a system? This also implies a highly
technological society which has developed the means to give everyone a
number and to control them by some kind of mark which gives them the ability
to buy or sell. This fits in much more with a society dominated by the
technology developed in the West.
The Bible teaches that at the end of days the Beast or Antichrist will rule
the world: And authority was given him (the beast) over every tribe, tongue
and nation. Revelation 13.7 and that he and the dragon (Satan) who gives
him his power are worshipped by all peoples. As we have seen Islam aspires
to world dominion. However in my opinion it lacks the ability to deliver on
this. You can threaten countries with terrorism and cause chaos but this
does not make you popular. The implication of Bible prophecy is that
initially the Antichrist will be popular offering people peace and safety
(1 Thessalonians 5.3) and be worshipped in return, just as Hitler was very
popular when he came to power and was worshipped by people raising their
hands and saying Heil Hitler. It is hard to see how Islam could ever be in
such a position worldwide.
Finally the prophecies of Daniel 9.27 and Isaiah 28.14-19 imply that at the
end of days the Antichrist will make a deceptive peace treaty with Israel.
If Islam succeeds in ruling the world it would simply snuff Israel out like
a child blowing out a candle. Why bother with a peace treaty?
Putting all this together in my judgement the most likely scenario goes as
follows. There will be a failed Islamic assault on Israel with many seeing
that God is not fighting for but against those who seek to destroy Israel.
Out of the fear created by this war which threatens the safety of the whole
world the Antichrist will arise offering peace and safety probably out of
the EU or the UN (or both). He will use the advanced technology of the West
to impose a one world economic system backed by an occult religious system
which will appeal to people disillusioned by the mess of contemporary
religions (including Islam and nominal Christianity). Once this is in place
the final period of the great tribulation will begin and a great time of
persecution will take place. The world will gather for the final battle of
Armageddon involving all nations led by the beast and the false prophet.
They will meet their doom when the Lord Jesus returns in power and glory
with the saints (believing Christians). As a result of this the kingdoms of
this world will become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Messiah and He
shall reign for ever and ever (Revelation 11.15). In that day The Lord
shall be King over all the earth. In that day it shall be The Lord is one
and His name one. Zechariah 14.9. Hallelujah!
