3f. ISLAM’S LAST or FINAL JIHAD
PART 4 IN SERIES: SLEEPING GIANT OF ISLAM AWAKENS
By Dr. Earl Parvin
2015
INTRODUCTION: Thus far we have examined the…
HISTORIC JIHAD OF ISLAM, beginning with Mohammed’s troubled life & untimely death. Then his followers reconquered the Arabian Tribes & exploded from the Arabian Desert to subjugate the Christian world. This jihad was finally stopped by the dismembering of the Ottoman Empire by the European Powers at the end of WW1. Then the Muslim Giant went into hibernation. Second we examined…
The THEOLOGICAL BASIS OF THE MUSLIM JIHAD, discovering that the motivation for Jihad is premised upon Allah’s command to ‘submit’ the world to Islam. Third we noted…
ISLAM’S CURRENT APOCALYPTIC JIHAD in a terribly troubled world, as commanded in the Koran. Now we conclude with…
, I am particularly aware of the verse which states: “…we who teach shall be judged more strictly”. [James 3:1] This warning applies more particularly it seems, to the prophetic books of Daniel and the Revelation… both of which we look at just now.
Daniel, along with the Israelite nation was taken into captivity in Babylon. He was particularly capable and spiritually minded; therefore, he was trained and taken into the King’s service. One night Nebuchadnezzar had a dream ISLAM’S FINAL JIHAD may well be predict in the Word of God.
DANIEL 2. The study of God’s Word, the ‘Owner’s Manual’, is a wonderful privilege… to be in communication with the Master, Who by His Holy Spirit seeks to help us comprehend the text accurately. The great danger for me is to want to read-into the text, what I want it to say. In this studywhich troubled him, so he sent for the astrologers to tell the dream and interpret it. Only Daniel was able to interpret it through the power of his relationship with God. The dream which Daniel interpreted, I am suggesting, is important to our study of ‘Islam’s Last Jihad’. Daniel was able to prophetically see several kingdoms to come and satisfied the King’s troubled mind about the dream and its interpretation.
Daniel explained that the king had seen a huge statue with portions of the body denoted by significantly differing materials. Each portion of the body and its material indicated a different world empire. The king [gold] was Babylon. It was to be followed by Medo-Persia [Iran-silver], Greece [bronze] and Rome [iron].
The feet are clearly a ‘mixture of iron and clay. It is interesting that the MIXTURE of iron and POTTER’S CLAY is mentioned three times, using a unique Hebraism. This technique is often used to draw attention. Herein it seems to indicate a NEW Empire. but theologians have typically interpreted the feet to be a revival of the Roman Empire. Again I point out the little detail of the changed materials. There is a major difference between the Iron, indicating Rome and the change to ‘Iron and Clay’ of the final empire. It is further amazing the theologians can miss the fact that the Muslim Empire followed the Roman Empire by several hundred years and was far more extensive than the Roman ever was.
We continue the imagery of the Feet and Toes which were of Iron and Clay. The emphasis is clearly that ‘the mixture would not STAY UNITED”. ‘Stay United’ seems to clearly indicate that they would unite, but not stay united. Many instances in history could be marshaled to show that Muslim leaders have tried to unite the disparate tribes of Islam. There are too many divisive elements involved… linguistic, ethnic, national, religious and most of all tribal to let it happen. Perhaps Al Baghdadi’s call for submission to his Islamic State is an example. Islamiya has only known Dictator Ships through the years. A ‘strong horse’ would seek to demand allegiance… ostensibly with an appeal to their ‘religious’ nature.
I hasten to suggest that a new Muslim Empire will materialize, but only under the aegis of the Anti-Christ. It will be RELIGIOUSLY strong as iron, but POLITICALLY brittle. Daniel hastens to add “it will not remain united”. They are too tribal in their worldview. They are too ethno-linguistically divided, too ethnically divided and religiously splintered.
Daniel further notes that a great rock would hit the FEET and smash THEM. The debris would be blown away, indicating there would be no more ‘human’ empires. The question could be asked why the text indicates that the ‘whole image at the same time’ was broken to pieces. How could this happen, when all the previous empires did not exist at the same time. Perhaps this is a poetic way of saying that the countries representing the same geography of the empires would be involved in the destruction of that final empire. Later we will see a map of what Iran would like to reestablish in their desire to rule the world.
REVELATION 17. There is a lot of imagery in John’s depiction of the end times. He indicates that killer nations will come up against Israel. He speaks of Beasts, Prostitutes & Waters among other imagery. It is left to the exegete to seek to understand what Jn was seeking to reveal. History may clarify some things, but changing times suggest caution.
Thomas Cox in Friends of Israel Magazine, created a ‘Judgements of Revelation Poster’ in which he indicates that “the great harlot of earth represents a FALSE RELIGIOUS SYSTEM”. I choose to indicate that this could be the false religion of ISLAM. Let us seek to see if this might fit.
Ch17:1 One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and said to me, “Come, I will show you the PUNISHMENT of the great prostitute, who sits by many waters. 2 With her the kings of the earth committed adultery, and the inhabitants of the earth were intoxicated with the wine of her adulteries.”
3 Then the angel carried me away in the Spirit into a wilderness. There I saw a WOMAN SITTING ON A SCARLET BEAST that was covered with blasphemous names and had seven heads and ten horns. 4 The woman dressed in purple and scarlet, was glittering with gold, precious stones and pearls. She held a golden cup in her hand, filled with abominable things and the filth of her adulteries.
THE GREAT PROSTITUTE [v1]. Webster defines ‘prostitute’ as “submitting or selling oneself to an unworthy cause”. Thus, the great prostitute could be the RELIGION OF ISLAM. [Note, Islam in Arabic means to ‘submit’]. It is revealed that she sits by ‘many waters’. Jn explains in v.15 that the ‘waters’ refer to ‘peoples, multitudes, nations & languages”. It is obvious that this could be Islam which involves multitudes of nations.
Jn. further reveals that all these nations are ‘drunk with her wine. Could the wine be depicting the oil which the nations need and want?
In verse 3 notice she sits on a Scarlet Beast covered with BLASPHEMOUS NAMES. Islam blasphemes the Word of God, for it teaches that Jesus is but a Prophet, and that God has no Likeness. It teaches that Ishmael was offered by Abraham. This is blasphemy.
In verse 4 we are told she is dressed in Purple, etc, which suggests leadership. The name on her forehead is: MYSTERY v.5. Is it possible that the Mystery of Islam is that it is a RELIGIO-POLITICAL system? Islam is not only a Religion but also a State or Caliphate. So there are two leaders vying for suzerainty. We will see more of this amazing dualism.
Finally in v. 6 John’s heart must have broken when he had to reveal that this Prostitute would be “drunk with the blood of God’s holy people. The blood of those who bore testimony to Jesus”. There has been a lot of Muslim bloodshed in history. This year is the anniversary of the genocide of the Armenians in Turkey. Muslim seek to deny the holocaust of Jews. But recently I read that this is the worst century of martyrdom of Christians.
John now is told to explain the mystery of the woman and the beast she rides. I am suggesting that the ‘woman’ is Religious Islam while the Beast is Political Islam or Empire [the Mystery]. Note that v. 7 indicates this Beast has 7 heads. V. 10 reveals these are 7 Kings: five have fallen, one is and the other has not come, and that one must remain only a little while.
Historically we know that before John’s time there were 5 kings or empires which ‘HAD FALLEN’: 1. Egypt [3000BC], 2. Assyria [1100BC], 3. Babylon [600S BC], 4. Medo-Persia [500S] & 5. Greek [300S]. The ‘ONE THAT IS in John’s time would be 6. Rome [27BC-395-1453 AD] and the ‘one which has not come & will remain a little while is # 7. Ottoman [622-1914].
Now if we refer back to Rev 13:1-3, John mentions that a Beast comes up out of the sea with 10 horns [with crowns on horns] and seven heads. One of the heads [v3]… had a fatal wound [#7 Ottoman Empire] , but the fatal wound had been healed. [restored Muslim Caliphate]
John then reveals the purpose of this final empire in v14 “THEY WILL WAGE WAR AGAINST THE LAMB, BUT THE LAMB WILL TRIUMPH OVER THEM BECAUSE HE IS LORD OF LORDS AND KING OF KINGS—AND WITH HIM WILL BE HIS CALLED, CHOSEN AND FAITHFUL FOLLOWERS
In verse 16 a new development is revealed. When this final Caliphate comes to pass, it will not be a peaceful coalition. The ten kings involved will probably be the fulfillment of God’s promise to Ishmael [Arabs] that he would become a Great Nation. But the Mysterious Ummah with two heads, the Prostitute or Religious Islam [the Ayatollah] and the Beast or Political Islam [President] will not survive. John reveals that the 8th. King [Revived Ummah] will hate the Prostitute [Religious leader] and “bring to ruin”.
Yet Political Islam will “…accomplish God’s purpose, until His Words are fulfilled.” [v 17 God’s purpose is revealed by Daniel as “to finish transgression [of Israel] an end to sin, atone for wickedness” [Dnl 9:24].
John reveals that the Beast [Political Islam] will be Satanic [Rev. 13:2].
Micah warns Israel that her enemies will invade the land. He says, there will be SEVEN shepherds and EIGHT commanders. They will rule the land of Nimrod [Iraq] and invade the land of Israel with sword. [5:5-6]
Where will this Final Caliphate be headquartered? Rev 17:5 talks about Babylon the Great, which is Iraq, where it all began with the Tower of Babel. Babylon is called, “mother of prostitutes” appropriately. It is a “home for demons and a haunt for every evil spirit…”. Mohammed you recall, was sure he was Demon possessed. How else do we understand the horrors being enacted in the name of Allah?
Zechariah mentions a Woman in a Basket with a lead cover filled with the iniquity of the people of the land. The woman is Wickedness [the GREAT Prostitute?]. He said she was being taken to BABYLONIA… “to build a house for IT… the Basket. When the house is ready, the BASKET will be set in its place. Some how this all seems to be reminiscent of the “House of Islam” headquartered in Iraq.
John tells us that Babylon will be destroyed in one hour. [18:19]. He next explains why it is to happen, “Rejoice over her, you heavens! Rejoice, you people of God! Rejoice, apostles and prophets! For God has judged her for the way she treated you”. [v.20] “In her was found the blood of the prophets and the saints” [v.24]. “He has condemned the GREAT PROSTITUTE…He has avenged the blood of His servants” [19:2].
IN CONCLUSION: May I illustrate the 8 historical nations which have ruled the land of Israel with a series of slides: 1. Egypt, 2. Assyria, two Assyrian deportations, 3. Babylon, 4. Medo-Persian, 5. Greek, 6. Rome at the time of John’s writing, 7. Ottoman. 8. Revived Arab Caliphate with headquarters in Babylon.
Daniel makes it clear that God is not finished with Israel and has not transferred His promises made to Abraham to the Church, but Israel would still need to be cleansed. The Anti-Christ would arise by Satanic power and be duped into thinking He could destroy Israel through Isaac’s brother Ishmael and the Arab Nation.
Islam’s Final Jihad comes to an inglorious end as the Deceivers are Deceived by God Himself. The Rock destroys the Image and His feet will stand upon the Mount of Olives in Victory. Israel will indeed look on Christ whom they pierced and grieve bitterly. Zech 12:10.
Then, we will reign with Him.