God's War on Terror: Islam, Prophecy and the Bible

by Walid Shoebat

  Messiah In Person Defeats Muslims Led By The Mahdi

  All in all, we have clearly seen that Islam is the Antichrist religion, but the evidence that Islam is the Antichrist religion? Well, more shocking facts are yet to come. Previously we have presented much circumstantial evidence, now in Part III we will examine hard-hitting DNA-conclusive arguments to support our theory.

  When comparing Old Testament heroes with Messiah, it is common to focus on Joseph as the suffering Messiah and David as King Messiah. Joseph’s rejection by his brothers signifies Israel’s rejection of Christ. David is a type of King Messiah because Christ’s kingdom will be established in Jerusalem. But the one character in the Bible, that is virtually never focused upon when searching for types of Christ is Gideon—the warrior Messiah. Gideon is crucial if we want to understand what the Messiah will do during His war expeditions after He sets foot on the Mount of Olives to fight for the Battle of Jerusalem. Though it is rarely discussed, Christ, like Gideon will fight against “Midian.” The Bible refers to Midian as Ishmaelites (Judges 8:22). They are the descendants of Abraham’s fourth son with his concubine Keturah.

  Like Gideon, the Bible portrays Christ as fighting against the inhabitant’s of Arabia: “God came from Teman, the Holy One from Mount Paran. His glory covered the heavens and his praise filled the earth. His splendor was like the sunrise; rays flashed from his hand, where his power was hidden” (Habakkuk 3:3-4). Jesus in person is returning from battle out of Teman in Arabia. How often is this discussed in churches? Jesus will physically return and will judge not only the inhabitants of Arabia, but also Cush, which includes the modern day Islamist nations of Sudan and Somalia: “I saw the tents of Cushan in distress, the dwellings of Midian in anguish” (Habakkuk 3:5-6).

  Midian refers to the regions east of the Jordan River and southwards on into modern Saudi Arabia. This is the heart of Islamic territory. Portrayals of battles like this, with Christ fighting against Muslim nations, are actually found throughout the Old Testament. The enemies that come against Christ are described as this: “They come for violence; their faces are set like the east wind. They gather captives like sand. They scoff at kings, and princes are scorned by them” (Habakkuk 1:9-10). The enemies like the east wind are the locusts of Arabia and the kings of the East.

  And in case someone thinks that this is simply one minor war expedition by Messiah against Muslims, but that the real showdown is with an European Antichrist, consider the context of Habakkuk. It is the final battle of Messiah against the Antichrist who is described as, “the most proud,” (Habakkuk 2:4) who breaks the peace treaty and proclaims war in the name of his god. “Then his mind changes and he transgresses; He commits offense, ascribing this power to his god” (Habakkuk 1:11). He breaks the treaty claiming this is not an offense; for such has been sanctioned by his false god who promotes violence—exactly what Islam permits in its Hudna. The context of Habakkuk’s vision is for the End-Times: “For the vision [is] yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry” (Habakkuk 2:3). Antichrist always changes his mind and cannot be trusted. He also uses wine (oil) to pressure the nations (Habakkuk 2:5).

  Though Antichrist is strong, his weapons will not help him, because God will allow his missiles to be used against him for his own destruction: “You thrust through with his own arrows the head of his villages. They came out like a whirlwind to scatter me; their rejoicing was like feasting on the poor in secret” (Habakkuk 3:14). Like Daniel, Habakkuk is asked to write this vision for an appointed time (Habakkuk 2:3), which is in the End-Times, at the coming of the Messiah.

  But in case you are still not convinced that Christ wars with Muslims, or that this passage is only a minor passage out of so many others, the Book of Numbers, in one of the earliest, clearest and most direct Messianic prophecies in the Bible, also speaks about the coming of the Messiah to specifically destroy and conquer these same peoples. This prophecy was made by Balaam and was given to Balak, the King of the Midianites: “A star will come out of Jacob; a scepter will rise out of Israel. He will crush the foreheads of Moab, the skulls of all the sons of Sheth. Edom will be conquered; Seir, his enemy, will be conquered, but Israel will grow strong. A ruler will come out of Jacob and destroy the survivors of the city” (Numbers 24:17-19). The Messiah is portrayed as descending from Jacob and possessing the “scepter”—a clear reference to his future rule over Israel. But what is it he will accomplish when he rules over Israel? He will utterly destroy his enemies which consequently are also the enemies of Israel. These three names Moab, Edom, and Seir are all referring to the same general people and the same general region. It is the peoples who lived to the east and southeast of Israel. Is Europe located immediately to the southeast of Israel? Or is this the location of Arabia?

  Ezekiel 35 speaks of the judgment of Mount Seir (v. 1) and connects it with Edom: “As you rejoiced because the inheritance of the house of Israel was desolate, so I will do to you; you shall be desolate, O Mount Seir, as well as all of Edom—all of it! Then they shall know that I am the Lord” (v. 15). Greater Edom encompasses the land from Teman to Dedan which today is from Yemen to Saudi Arabia.

  When Jesus returns to take hold of his scepter and destroy “his enemies,” who are they? They are the Arab peoples to the east of Israel. In Isaiah, the theme is repeated: “[The Lord] will swallow up death forever. The Sovereign LORD will wipe away the tears from all faces; he will remove the disgrace of his people from all the earth. Jehovah has spoken” (Isaiah 25:8).

  Has this happened yet or is this referring to the period after Christ has returned? Unless death has already been swallowed up and I have missed it, this is clearly about the return of Christ. “The hand of Jehovah will rest on this mountain (Zion); but Moab will be trampled under him as straw is trampled down in the manure” (Isaiah 25:10). God doesn’t seem too worried about using polite or politically correct language here. Once again, the Messiah comes back to trample Moab. He is pictured as standing with His hand of blessings resting on Israel while his foot is pressing against the neck of Moab.

  For those who hold to the European Antichrist paradigm, why does God specifically mention Moab and not any nations from Europe? If you take a face-value approach to interpretation, which is more reasonable to conclude; that this passage is pointing to the final End-Time defeat of the modern day physical and spiritual descendants of Moab, or that this passage is allegorically pointing us to Europe? Let’s get real here. The Bible simply does not teach a European Antichrist paradigm.

  ISAIAH 63—A MOST AMAZING PROPHECY

  The Prophecy of Isaiah 63 concludes with the Messiah emerging out of Edom with his robes literally drenched with blood from the multitudes of those that he has slaughtered. That’s right. Have you ever seen Messiah portrayed this way? He left as a lamb, but he returns as a mighty conquering lion: “Who is this coming from Edom, from Bozrah, with his garments stained crimson? Who is this, robed in splendor, striding forward in the greatness of his strength? ‘It is I, speaking in righteousness, mighty to save.’ Why are your garments red, like those of one treading the winepress? ‘I have trodden the winepress alone; from the nations no one was with me. I trampled them in my anger and trod them down in my wrath; their blood spattered my garments, and I stained all my clothing. For the day of vengeance was in my heart, and the year of my redemption has come’” (Isaiah 63:1-4).

  Ezekiel 25 also reveals exactly how God feels about Edom: “Thus Says the Lord God; “Because that Edom hath dealt against the house of Judah by taking vengeance, and hath greatly offended, and revenged himself upon them. Therefore thus says the Lord God; I will also stretch out mine hand upon Edom, and will cut off man and beast from it; and I will make it desolate from Teman; and they of Dedan shall fall by the sword” (v. 13).

  Teman is in Yemen, while Dedan was an ancient city in central Saudi Arabia that is now known as Al-Ula. Because of the use of both Teman and
Dedan, we are to understand that the entire landmass stretching southward along the Red Sea and well into central Saudi Arabia is being highlighted. The Jewish Tanakh translates this verse; “from Teman to Dedan.” This is a massive area.

  The Book of Obadiah also focuses on the destruction of Edom: “Shall I not in that day,” Says Jehovah, “even destroy the wise men out of Edom, and understanding out of the mount of Esau?” (Obadiah 8) As in the previous passages, so also in Obadiah, this is clearly referring to the period preceding Christ’s rule over the earth: “And saviors shall come up on mount Zion to judge the mount of Esau; and the kingdom shall be Jehovah’s” (Obadiah 21).

  This next passage will no doubt infuriate many Muslims. After Jesus destroys the Muslim nations, the prophet Zephaniah makes it clear that the remaining Israelites will possess the Muslim lands: “Jehovah Almighty, the God of Israel [declares], ‘surely Moab will become like Sodom, the Ammonites like Gomorrah—a place of weeds and salt pits, a wasteland forever. The remnant of my people will plunder them; the survivors of my nation will inherit their land’” (Zephaniah 2:9).

  MESSIAH IN PERSON DEFEATS EGYPT

  Isaiah spoke much regarding the day when Messiah would return in glory in the clouds to execute judgment against His enemies: “See, the Lord, Jehovah Almighty, will lop off the boughs with great power. The lofty trees will be felled; the tall ones will be brought low” (Isaiah 10:33). Again, who are these enemies? Among the many listed, Isaiah specifically names both Egypt and Lebanon: “See, Jehovah rides on a swift cloud and is coming to Egypt. The idols of Egypt tremble before him, and the hearts of the Egyptians melt within them” (Isaiah 19:1). Who comes on the clouds? This is Messiah personally coming to defeat Egypt. Obviously Egypt is a Muslim nation.

  The “Mighty One” in Isaiah 10:33-34 who destroys Lebanon is the Messiah who fights on the day of the Lord: “So the light of Israel be for a fire, And His Holy One for a flame; it will burn and devour his thrones and His briers in one day” (Isaiah 10:17). Egypt will be largely destroyed: “The Lord will utterly destroy the tongue of the Sea of Egypt; With His mighty wind He will shake His fist over the River, and strike it in the seven streams” (Isaiah 11:15). The Nile empties itself into the Mediterranean Sea by seven streams. The Bible predicts: “they shall fly down upon the shoulder of the Philistines toward the West; together they shall plunder the people of the East; they shall lay their hand on Edom and Moab; and the people of Ammon shall obey them” (Isaiah 11:14).

  MESSIAH PERSONALLY JUDGES LEBANON

  In Isaiah 10:34 an amazing declaration is made that, “Lebanon will fall by The Mighty One.” This is the Messiah who will judge the anti-Israeli elements within Lebanon and all of Lebanon will bow before Him. I can see some argue that “The Mighty One” here is God the Father in heaven and not the Messiah on earth. Yet Isaiah 19:20 leaves no question: “He will send them a Savior and a Mighty One, and He will deliver them.” Who is the Savior? How is He sent? In the Psalms Messiah is portrayed as a soldier and a fighter with the same reference: “Mighty One” “Gird Your sword upon Your thigh, O Mighty One, With Your glory and Your majesty” (Psalm 45:3). In Zephaniah 3 this “Mighty One” is in physically present in Israel’s midst: “The LORD your God in your midst, The Mighty One, will save” (Zephaniah 3:17). It is clear that this is the Messiah. God the Father is utterly transcendent. He is not physically present in Israel.

  This prophecy regarding Lebanon is also the judgment against the Antichrist: “O my people, who dwell in Zion, do not be afraid of the Assyrian. He shall strike you with a rod and lift up his staff against you, in the manner of Egypt” (Isaiah 10:24-25). Antichrist will be responsible for the destruction of Lebanon: “For the violence done to Lebanon will cover you, and the plunder of beasts which made them afraid, Because of men’s blood and the violence of the land and the city, And of all who dwell in it” (Habakkuk 2:17). God will punish Islam for what they have done in Lebanon with rape and pillage of Christians in that nation.

  In the Book of the prophet Joel, we read about the judgment of the nations when Christ returns: “I will gather all nations and bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat. There I will enter into judgment against them concerning my inheritance, my people Israel, for they scattered my people among the nations and divided up my land.” (Joel 3:2) Do you see why Christ judges the nations? It is because of their sins against Israel. But which nations are specified as being guilty of this crime? “Now what have you against me, O Tyre and Sidon (Lebanon), and all you regions of Philistia (Gaza) are you repaying me for something I have done? If you are paying me back, I will swiftly and speedily return on your own heads what you have done.” (Joel 3:4) It is likely that even Hezbollah (Tyre) and Gaza’s Hamas (Philistia) are confronting the Messiah of Israel. Of course, at this point they have been duped by Satan to think that He is the Dajjal when in fact it’s the Muslims who are following the false Messiah.

  This pattern is also found in the Book of Jeremiah who also very clearly describes Jesus pouring out his wrath against the enemies of Israel at the end of the age: “This is what Jehovah, the God of Israel, said to me: ‘Take from my hand this cup filled with the wine of my wrath and make all the nations to whom I send you drink it.’” (Jeremiah 25:15) So who are the nations God says on whom He will pour out his wrath? The list follows. As you read the list, ask yourself if the emphasis is on the Middle East or Europe: “Pharaoh king of Egypt, his attendants, his officials and all his people, and all the foreign people there; all the kings of Uz; all the kings of the Philistines—those of Ashkelon, Gaza, Ekron, and the people left at Ashdod, Edom, Moab and Ammon; all the kings of Tyre and Sidon; the kings of the coastlands across the sea; Tema, Buz and all who are in distant places; all the kings of Arabia and all the kings of the foreign people who live in the desert; all the kings of Zimri, Elam and Media; and all the kings of the North, near and far, one after the other—all the kingdoms on the face of the earth. And after all of them, the king of Sheshach will drink it too… for I am calling down a sword upon all who live on the earth, declares Jehovah Almighty” (v. 19-26, 29).

  Again, the word used for earth is “eretz” and need not literally refer to every last nation on the whole earth. If it were, then what would be the point of providing all of these names? The nations that are named however are all Middle Eastern Muslim nations. Is this a coincidence? Of course not!

  Whenever the sword of Messiah’s wrath is mentioned, the Muslim nations are always mentioned as suffering God’s judgment. For Isaiah also prophesied: “My sword has drunk its fill in the heavens; see, it descends in judgment on Edom, the people I have totally destroyed. The sword of Jehovah is bathed in blood, it is covered with fat—the blood of lambs and goats, fat from the kidneys of rams. For Jehovah has a sacrifice in Bozrah and a great slaughter in Edom…Their land will be drenched with blood, and the dust will be soaked with fat. For Jehovah has a day of vengeance, a year of retribution, to uphold Zion’s [legal] cause. Edom’s streams will be turned into pitch, her dust into burning sulfur; her land will become blazing pitch!” (Isaiah 34:3-9)

  The sword of Jehovah’s wrath is against whom? Once again, it is Edom—the Muslim enemies of Israel. Why is Jesus judging Edom? It is to “uphold Zion’s legal cause.” (Isaiah 34:8) Time and time again, prophet after prophet, God’s judgment is specified as being leveled against Muslim nations. Jesus himself is waging battle against the Muslim armies.

  WHY DID THE WEST MISS THIS?

  It is common in the West when someone initiates a prophecy discussion that the discussion is immediately turned to The Book of Revelation. Even on most prophecy documentaries they begin and revolve around allegorical passages from the Book of Revelation—the last book of the Bible. Why not start from the beginning? Why not start with the many literal references in the Bible regarding prophecy?

  Instead of jumping right into an examination of the various allegorical visions and dreams about beasts, horns, dragons, and so forth, why not start with what is cl
ear and straightforward? This would be a much more reasonable approach, would it not? When attempting to form a solid Biblical basis for understanding the Antichrist system, one needs to rely on the full counsel of Scripture, not merely the last and most mysterious book in the Bible.

  While the prophetic snap-shots found in Revelation or the Book of Daniel are very important, they are only a small part of the much larger pool of information that the Bible has given us. Too many interpreters begin with these few snap-shots and when their conclusions are not supported by the wealth of other prophetic passages, they usually either twist those passages to conform to their established presumptions or they just ignore them altogether.

  But we cannot take such a “pick-and-choose” approach. Again, in order to form an accurate and truly Biblical perspective on the End-Times, we must rely on the complete and full counsel of Scripture. In order for any theory or position to be convincing and more universally received by the Church, it is necessary that all of the passages be sufficiently reconciled—they must all come together cohesively in order to paint one consistent picture. In the following chapters we will show how all the prophetic Scriptures regarding the end of days will fit the scenario that is described in this chapter.

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  The Battle For Jerusalem What Will Christians Do Before And After The Rapture?

  THE PRO-ISRAEL CHRISTIAN FORCES

  Just the mention of the Christian “Zionist Lobby” has built such a stigma that any Christian group that supports Israel gets this label as a warning for everyone to stay away. Yet the ones that are the most rejected and tossed away by the world are the ones with a very important mission that Messiah collects on His Day. Instead of sending them as ambassadors, now they instantly enlist and obtain an immortal body to become His Great Army commissioned to do battle for Jerusalem. This concept is virtually undiscussed anywhere in the Church.