I - The Sunni-Shiite Schism
The following is an observation that I, as a student of the Bible, have made. It is not a prediction, for I have not been given those powers.
As Westerners we are, or should be, aware of the rise of Islam in our world. We should also be aware that Islam means “submission” and the goal of Islam is world dominance. Because we look at Muslims as a group, most Westerners are not aware of a great division within Islam. This division is based upon theology and presents a very interesting geopolitical picture.
About eighty-five percent of Muslims are Sunnis. We hear this word frequently in the news today. The remaining fifteen percent of Muslims are of the Shia’ sect, or are Shiites. Again, this is a familiar name from the news. The Shiites are considered the fundamentalist Muslims, which seems to translate into the more violent Muslims.
Shia’ Islam has at least one major difference from Sunni Islam. Many Shiites are “Twelvers,” which means they believe that there will be twelve imams, or religious leaders, from the time of Mohammed until the End Times. So you see, Shiites believe there will be an End Time. Further, they believe that today we are in the time of the Twelfth Imam and he is alive and somewhere in the world.
To make matters more interesting, Shiites believe they can create the turmoil necessary to cause the Twelfth Imam to appear and to take action to bring the world into final submission. In his book God’s War on Terror, Brother Walid Shoebat, born a Palestinian and obviously familiar with Islam, makes a very good case for the Twelfth Imam to be the same person that Christians call the Anti-Christ.
Therefore, the Shiites believe they can stir the pot and cause the last imam, possibly the Anti-Christ, to make himself known and finish the Islamic goal of complete control of the world.
The Islamic countries that are Shiite are Iran, the majority of Iraq, Azerbaijan and a portion of Turkey. In addition, the eastern desert region of Saudi Arabia is heavily Shiite. I have colored these countries and regions bright orange on a map of the Middle East. I chose that color for no significant reason other than to make the region of Shiite influence stand out. You will see that the area of Shiite dominance forms a core within the Islamic world. Afghanistan and Pakistan are east of this Core, the Islamic former Soviet republics, what I call the “Stans”; Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and Kazakhstan are northeast of the Core, and the remainder of Islamic countries are south and west of the Shiite Core.
Surely, you have heard the rantings and threats of the Iranian president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, against the West and specifically against Israel. He says Israel should be wiped off of the map, and he is just the guy to do it. Iran is also known to be developing a nuclear weapon and has produced a missile capable of delivering such a weapon not only to the Middle East and Israel, but also to Europe and Africa.
Ahmadinejad is a “Twelver.” He not only expects the Twelfth Imam soon, he spent several million dollars building a mosque specifically for this person.
I will add another level of concern to this picture. Iranians are not Arabic. They are Persian and view themselves as a little different from other Muslims. Persians are not the children of Ishmael as are many Arabs. This country was known as Persia until early in the 20th Century when a German philosopher and mystic showed them that they were Aryan and convinced them to change the name of their country to Iran.
II - Current Events
The evil, Mystery Babylon that rules the world as described in the Revelation, consists of three parts. If you study the Revelation chapter 18, you can see this division. The three sets of “woes” in this chapter are against Commercial, Political and Spiritual Babylon.
During the Jewish Fall Feasts of 2008, about the end of September, the entire world experienced a great commercial and/or financial disaster. Many economists have stated that the world was at the brink of financial collapse. It is very possible that this reflects the first woe against Commercial Babylon.
The Spring of 2011 saw what has become known as the “Arab Spring.” While the media spoke in glowing terms of the advancement of democracy in the affected countries, the reality is that Islamic extremists, primarily the Muslim Brotherhood, gained control of the countries. And the countries affected are largely on the perimeter of Israel. The Muslim Brotherhood seeks to destroy Israel. We are currently watching the possibility of a political disaster, and the second woe against Political Babylon. And Iran and the Shiite Muslims are at the center.
The third woe will be against Spiritual Babylon, and the world is in the process of witnessing that event.
III - Daniel’s Chronology of the End Times
The prophet Daniel provides us with possibly the best chronology of End Time prophecy. The Revelation is so complex and multi-layered it is difficult to determine the actual sequence of events. Daniel chapter 11 is a clear chronology of End Times. Like so much of Old Testament prophecy, this chapter deals with prophecy fulfilled in the near term when it was written, and it also prophesies events that will occur in the long term or in the End Times.
Although all of Daniel 11 may prophesy End Time events, beginning with verse 21 the End Time chronology is easier to determine. Daniel chapter 11 describes the actions of the king of the North and the king of the South. Verse 21 describes the king of the North and speaks of a vile, contemptible person, who is not royalty. He will invade “the kingdom” (Israel) when its people feel secure. (First Thessalonians 5:3) In verse 28 the king of the North takes action against the Holy Covenant. He invades the South but Western naval forces oppose him, so he turns and vents his anger against Israel. His armies set up what Daniel (11:31) and Jesus (Matthew 24:15) call “the abomination that causes desolation.” This appears to be the mid-point of the Tribulation. (Daniel 9:27) The king of the North will then continue to do as he pleases until the “time of wrath,” or Tribulation, is completed. (verse 36)
Part of understanding Daniel chapter 11 is identifying the characters. The king of the North appears to be the person Christians know as the Anti-Christ. The land by the Euphrates River, part of the region of Shiite influence, is described as the “Land of the North” in Jeremiah 46:10.
When Daniel refers to the king of the South, the Hebrew word used is negeb or negev (Strong’s 5045). This word means desert or parched, and is applied to regions in the south. The desert in the south of Israel is the Negev. When Daniel speaks of the king of the South he is referring to the desert lands; Arabia, Egypt, Sudan, Ethiopia, and possibly the African desert countries of Libya and Algeria.
Gentile countries are frequently called in the Old Testament“the coastlands” or “the isles.” When Daniel prophesies about the Western coastlands, he is referring to Europe, the United States, and Western allies.
IV - Daniel’s Chronology Applied to Current Events
When you look at the orange Shiite Core on the map above, you can see the king of the North, Iran and Iraq, as well as the king of the South, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and other African Muslim states. This picture aligns well with the political situation today. After the United States and Allies withdrew from Iraq, it has fallen under Iranian domination.
Not only is the picture obvious, it is frightening. We have an Islamic fundamentalist, Ahmadinejad, possibly possessing nuclear weapons, threatening genocide against Israel and destruction against the West. And this person not only believes that we are in the End Times, he thinks he can speed things up by his own destructive efforts.
And, let us follow the money. According to U.S. Energy Information Administration, in 2008 47.6% of all petroleum exports came from Iran, Iraq, Saudi Arabia and the Persian Gulf states. Notice that the Shiite Core envelopes all of these regions, including the Saudi oil fields. Also, the Persian Gulf choke point, the Strait of Hormuz is easily under the control of Iran. Several times Iran has threatened to mine this narrow body of water. Recently, the government of Yemen stated that Iran was providing weapons to Yemenite rebels. Is Iran planning a flanking movement against Saudi Arabia?
It is not unimaginable that the megalomania of Iran would include controlling or manipulating the world supply of oil. This would be a great temptation to someone seeking great power over others. And, this would explain the entrance of the kings of the East in the Revelation 16:12.
If you take the perspective that oil is the driving force for the gathering of all these various nations to the Middle East, the gathering called for in the Revelation 16:16 makes sense. Also, remember the Islamic hatred of Israel. During the Gulf War of 1991, the United States, Great Britain, Saudi Arabia and Egypt were the countries fighting against Iraq. And yet Iraq was firing missiles at Israel, an uninvolved third party!
I have often wondered why these various nations will gather in Israel. Some have conjectured that a great oil discovery will be made in Israel that will lure these countries. I think that it will be about the oil of the Middle East, but the hatred of Israel will cause the armies to gather in Israel and cause unprecedented devastation in that land. (Jeremiah 30:6-7) The prophet Zechariah says that all the nations of the world will be gathered at Jerusalem. (Zechariah 12:3)
North and East of the Shiite Core are Russia and Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Pakistan and Afghanistan. This seems to be the same group that is identified as Gog and Magog in Ezekiel 38 and 39. Although I do not believe that the “Rosh” found in some translations of Ezekiel is all of Russia, obviously that portion of Russia in the Caucasus region could easily be included with this group. Again, an excellent case can be made for Turkey to be a major player in “Gog and Magog.” This group of countries will alarm the king of the North who, according to Daniel, will be camped in Israel.
To summarize Daniel 11:40-45: at the Time of the End the king of the South will attack the king of the North. The king of the North will invade the beautiful land (Israel) and Edom, Moab and Ammon (Jordan). Also Egypt will not escape. Then reports from the North and East (Gog and Magog?) will alarm the king of the North. He will pitch his tents at the Holy Mountain (Mount Zion) and will meet his end with no one to help him.
In looking at this scenario, please consider that Bible prophecy deals with the neighbors of the Nation of Israel. Also remember the Islamic hatred of Israel. Out of the hundreds of thousands of square miles of land in the Middle East, why do the Islamic nations want to take over the little sliver of land known as Israel? There is little or no natural wealth there. The reason is supernatural hatred provided by Satan.
Why will the king of the North make his camp outside of Jerusalem? Because he hates Israel, and he has his military force together in war mobilization. Why will the other nations go to Israel? They go because the king of the North is there. That is who they are after. The opportunity to trash Israel in the process is just a bonus.
Of course, I have no knowledge of the course of future history. I see an obvious delineation within the Muslim world. The Iranian president has made numerous statements that fit the scenario of Persia (Iran) reasserting their power. Perhaps they seek to re-establish the glory of the ancient Persian Empire. Daniel says the king of the North will achieve what his forefathers were unable to do. (Daniel 11:24)
If this comes to pass, the Shiite Core will control almost one-half of world oil production and will apparently use that leverage to make demands of the world. Threatened with economic devastation, the world will respond. Most heavily involved, however, will be the Muslim neighbors of Israel. The result of all this military movement will be the amassing of nations in Israel. What an excellent opportunity for the Lord to show Who is in control, and exercise the wrath He has promised for millennia.
The pieces of the puzzle are all there. This scenario will come to pass if it is the Lord’s will and if it is His timing. May His name be praised forever!