TURKEY IN BIBLICAL END TIMES PROPHECY

The Ottoman Empire, also known as the Turkish Empire, began more than 700 years ago, eventually controlling Southeast Europe as well as parts of West Asia, North Africa and the Middle East up to the early 20th century. After World War I, the Allied powers partitioned the Ottoman Empire, including what the British then called Palestine.

Dr. Hay Eytan Cohen Yanarocak, Middle East Expert at the Moshe Dayan Centre for Middle Eastern and African Studies, says that December’s fall of Syrian President Bashar Assad opened the door for Erdogan, the president of Turkey to implement his goal of reviving an empire beginning with Syria. “We all witnessed that since the beginning of the Syrian civil war, the Turkish president did all he could to support the Syrian opposition. And he sees the current Syrian administration as his core ally. By providing some civilian services like paving the roads, railways, providing radar, and repairing airports and other facilities, Turkey is creating here a very important dependency from the Syrian side,” Yanarocak explained. He adds that Turkey is the only country declaring an intention to build up the new Syrian army, which the US has demanded that it destroy its chemical weapons and renounce terrorism.

On paper, Israel and Turkey have shared diplomatic relations since 1949, although Erdogan’s recent moves put that at risk. “The Turkish president, at the end of the Muslim Eid el-Fitr celebrations, he wished for the destruction of Israel. And for Israel, especially after October the 7th, you know, we cannot tolerate some future threats,” he said. Since the Assad regime fell, Israel has bombed weapons stockpiles and strategic military locations while establishing a buffer zone along its border with Syria.  Israel is concerned both with those who control Syria and with Turkey’s involvement. “They are already building governmental facilities to show sovereignty in the Syrian land as well. You see Turkey building post offices, Turkish post offices, banks, Turkish banks that are using Turkish currency, and schools,” Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister Sharren Haskel told CBN News. Haskel says Israel has two priorities regarding Syria: the safety of Israel and the protection of minorities, including the Christians, Druze, and Kurds. Then there’s Turkey.

“Turkey is a great concern in what is happening in Syria now, not just that we need to hear their declarations and their speeches of their leadership. And that’s really concerning – in particular, statements concerning this force in regard to Jerusalem. There are declarations which are a red line in regard to Israel, but it shows their intention,” Haskel said. Haskel adds that intention goes beyond Israel. “I think that after what had happened in Syria, they feel like they’re on a high horse. But that should be a great concern to all the neighbouring countries around,” she added.  President Trump recently offered to smooth out any difficulties between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Erdogan. “Any problem that you have with Turkey, I think I can solve, I mean as long as you are reasonable. You have to be reasonable. We have to be reasonable,” Trump said in a statement. Yanarocak says it’s also the first time the US could have access to Syria, which used to be under Russia’s thumb and is now being influenced by Turkey, a NATO member.

Biblical prophecy reveals in Daniel 8 that Turkey (the Goat and Sunni) puts down Iran (the Ram and Shia) in its attempt to re-establish a revived Ottoman Empire. However, we are also told that it is broken up into four, probably by the United Nations, which would not countenance the re-establishment of an Ottoman Empire that once threatened the world.

And the goat (Turkey) had a conspicuous horn between his eyes. He came to the ram (Iran) with the two horns, which I had seen standing on the bank of the canal, and he ran at him in his powerful wrath... And there was no one who could rescue the ram from his power. Then the goat became exceedingly great, but when he was strong, the great horn was broken, and instead of it there came up four conspicuous horns toward the four winds of heaven.Daniel 8:5-8

We are also told the little horn (Antichrist) comes out of one of these Muslim nations. God has given us this information, so we should use it in our efforts to evangelise unbelievers.

Out of one of them came a little horn, which grew exceedingly great toward the south, toward the east, and toward the glorious land. It grew great, even to the host of heaven.” Daniel 8:9-10

TURKEY’S NEO-OTTOMAN REVIVAL AND BIBLICAL END TIMES PROPHECIES

Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has revived Turkey’s Islamic identity. Public expressions of Islam are once again widespread, and the state increasingly invokes Ottoman imagery and imperial nostalgia. Erdoğan has even referenced aspirations toward leadership in the Muslim world, echoing the role the Ottomans once held. The transformation of Hagia Sophia from a museum into a mosque in 2020 was a watershed moment, seen by many as symbolic of Turkey’s return to its Islamic imperial roots.

The 20th century bore witness to two world wars initiated by Germany and its allies, which unleashed unparalleled destruction upon the Judeo-Christian world.

Behind these political upheavals lies a deeper, spiritual dimension, seen through prophetic Scripture and ancient symbols like the Seat of Pergamum, which some theologians associate with satanic opposition to God’s kingdom on earth.

One of the most chilling spiritual symbols associated with Germany’s role in these conflicts is the Pergamum Altar, often referred to by theologians as “the Seat of Satan.”

In Revelation 2:12-13, Jesus says to the church in Pergamum: I know where you live — where Satan has his throne. Yet you remain true to my name…”

Pergamum, an ancient city in Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey), was a centre of pagan worship and imperial cult. The Great Altar of Pergamum, built in the 2nd century BC, was dedicated to Zeus and stood as a monument to idolatry and emperor worship.

In the late 19th century, German archaeologists dismantled this altar and transported it to Berlin, where it was reconstructed in the Pergamon Museum. Some Christian scholars and intercessors believe that this relocation was more than coincidental — that Germany had, quite literally, brought the “throne of Satan” into its heart.

The timing is striking: within a few decades, Germany became the epicentre of unprecedented evil, culminating in the Holocaust and a world war that left tens of millions dead.

Adolf Hitler even delivered some of his most infamous speeches on a stage modelled after the Pergamum altar during Nazi rallies in Nuremberg. The resemblance is undeniable — and disturbing.

Could this altar be more than symbolic? Could it represent a spiritual stronghold — one that moved from Pergamum to Berlin, and which now seeks another seat?

Turkish politicians, including the mayor of the city of Izmir near the excavation site, have called for the altar’s return. In 2022, Saraya Gomis, Berlin’s state secretary for diversity and anti-discrimination at the time, weighed in to support returning the altar, as well as the Nefertiti bust.

Erdoğan’s revival of Ottoman identity involves more than cultural pride. He seeks to reclaim influence across former Ottoman territories — Syria, the Balkans, North Africa, and even Jerusalem. He speaks of the Muslim ummah (community) and positions himself as a protector of Islam globally.

This aligns ominously with Ezekiel 38–39, where Turkey (often identified with “Meshech, Tubal, Gomer, and Togarmah”) is part of a northern confederacy that comes against Israel. This war, led by “Gog of Magog,” is interpreted by many Christians as a major prophetic event that precedes Christ’s return.

The spirit behind such ambitions — whether Nazi fascism or Islamic imperialism — may be the same: the spirit of antichrist that seeks to replace God’s authority, oppress His people, and erect a counterfeit kingdom on the earth.

Watch to see how this unfolds. Will the Seat of Satan (Pergamum Altar) be returned to Turkey?

TURKEY INTENT ON REESTBLISHING ITS OTTOMAN EMPIRE

Turkey just delivered a major blow to Russia, putting Putin in a tight spot over Crimea and shifting the balance in the Black Sea region. Erdogan’s recent call for Crimea’s return to Ukraine is a strategic move, one Putin didn’t see coming. This isn’t just about land—control of Crimea is crucial for dominance in the Black Sea. With a long history of rivalry and Erdogan’s assertive neo-Ottoman vision, Turkey is challenging Russia like never before. Will Erdogan’s power play pay off?

A significant Biblical end-times prophecy is that Turkey (the Goat of Daniel 8) will be successful in re-establishing a revived Ottoman Empire but only for a short period and then it will be broken into four nations. My guess is that it will be the United Nations that will not countenance a revived Ottoman Empire that they do not control so it breaks it up into four nations.

Then the goat became exceedingly great, but when he was strong, the great horn was broken, and instead of it there came up four conspicuous horns toward the four winds of heaven.
Out of one of them came a little horn, which grew exceedingly great toward the south, toward the east, and toward the glorious land.
Daniel 8:8-9

Before the above, we are yet to see in Biblical prophecy Turkey (Sunni) putting down Iran (Shia, the Ram of Daniel 8). Iran is already doing what Biblical prophecy says it will do push westward, northward, and southward with its proxies Hezbollah, Hamas, Houthis, and groups Iraq, Syria, and Bahrain. So next in Biblical prophecy is Turkey exerting its dominance in the Muslim world by putting down Iran.

I saw the ram (Iran) charging westward and northward and southward. No beast could stand before him, and there was no one who could rescue from his power.” Daniel 8:4

And the goat (Turkey) had a conspicuous horn between his eyes. He came to the ram (Iran) with the two horns, which I had seen standing on the bank of the canal, and he ran at him in his powerful wrath… And the ram had no power to stand before him, but he cast him down to the ground and trampled on him. Daniel 8: 5-7

It is out of one of these four nations that the little Horn (Antichrist) arises. “Out of one of them came a little horn, which grew exceedingly great toward the south, toward the east, and toward the glorious land.” Daniel 8:9

We can use these prophecies to evangelize (apocalyptic evangelism). God has revealed these future events so that we know He is in control but also to use this information to bring others to a knowledge of Him and the truth.

PROPHESIED CHRISTIAN CHURCH IN THE END TIMES

Caucasus Heritage Watch has released images that reveal the recent demolition of St. John the Baptist Church, a 19th century structure in Nagorno-Karabakh’s Susa area, and the razing of a village known in Armenian as Karintak. The church and village, both with significant Armenian heritage, were under Azerbaijani control after Baku captured Susa from ethnic Armenian forces in November 2020.

The Armenian-built church in Susa, dating back to the 19th century, was taken over by Azerbaijan. It was wrapped in scaffolding for most of the time it was under Azerbaijani control, suggesting ongoing construction or restoration. But satellite images from Caucasus Heritage Watch show that the church was demolished during the winter of 2023-24, reported Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty.

Located just 2 kilometers (roughly 1.2 miles) south of the demolished church, the Karintak village, known as Dasalti in Azeri, was also razed to the ground. Satellite images released this month show that the entire village was destroyed. A large mosque is now under construction on the site, where the church was previously visible to the right of the new construction.

Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name’s sake. And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. Matthew 24:9-12

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev visited the construction site of the new mosque in the razed village, indicating the ongoing transformation in the area, according to RFE/RL. In contrast, Azerbaijani Parliament Member Jala Ahmadova had in July 2021 posted images of a prayer session inside the St. John the Baptist Church on Twitter to demonstrate an “atmosphere of ethnic and religious tolerance.” However, satellite images suggest a different narrative with the church’s demolition and the village’s razing.

Husik Ghulyan, a lead researcher at Caucasus Heritage Watch, who published the satellite images of Karintak, told RFE/RL that the goal of Azerbaijan was to completely demolish the settlement to rebuild a new village for Azerbaijani internally displaced people or other resettlers. Ghulyan also noted that the village’s church was a legally protected heritage site, which is probably why it was left intact during the mosque’s construction.

Lori Khatchadourian, an associate professor at Cornell University and the co-founder of Caucasus Heritage Watch, pointed to a broader pattern of destruction within Azerbaijan’s retaken territory since 2020.

The group has documented the destruction of 10 heritage sites and is beginning a new survey of hundreds of heritage locations.

Khatchadourian suggested that the virtually complete erasure of Armenian heritage in the Azerbaijani exclave of Naxcivan could be a harbinger of what might lie ahead in Nagorno-Karabakh.

Ali Mozaffari, an Iranian academic of Azerbaijani descent, said this cultural destruction might extend beyond a conflict between Baku and Yerevan. Turkey is spearheading a push to create a unified and connected Turkic World, extending from Turkey to China, where Turkic languages and cultures are prevalent, Mozaffari said, explaining that heritage plays a crucial role in justifying this geostrategic vision.

Turkey’s push to reestablish its former Ottoman Empire is prophesied in Daniel’s vision of the ram and goat in Daniel 8. The prophecy reveals that Turkey (Sunni Muslim) will first establish its dominance by defeating Iran (Shia Muslim) and I believe we will see this play out on the world stage soon.

IRAN, THE RAM OF DANIEL 8

On September 22, 2022, Channel 1 (Iran) aired footage from an Iranian military parade marking the anniversary of the Iran-Iraq War. At the parade, the IRGC’s military academy cadets marched and chanted: “Death to America! We are the conquerors of Jerusalem, the destroyers of Haifa… Death to Israel! We are on our way to liberate Palestine.” The parade’s announcer praised the IRGC, particularly members of its Aerospace Force, for being a “constant nightmare” for Zionism, and he said that the day is near when they will annihilate Israel. He also said: “We will trample America underfoot. [It] is the Great Satan [and] we will bring Satan to his knees.” Later in the parade, various Iranian weapon systems were showcased, including the Khaybar Shekan (“Khaybar Crusher”) ballistic missile, the Rezvan ballistic missile, the Ghadr H ballistic missile, the Emad ballistic missile, the Sejjil ballistic missile, the Ra’d-85 suicide drone, and the Arash suicide drone.

And I (Daniel) saw in the vision; and when I saw, I was in Susa the citadel, which is in the province of Elam (Iran). And I saw in the vision, and I was at the Ulai canal. I raised my eyes and saw, and behold, a ram standing on the bank of the canal. It had two horns, and both horns were high, but one was higher than the other, and the higher one came up last. I saw the ram charging westward and northward and southward. No beast could stand before him, and there was no one who could rescue from his power. He did as he pleased and became great.Daniel 8:2-4

This Biblical “end times” prophecy is already playing out. We know that Iran is already charging westward and northward and southward with its proxies active in Bahrain, Iraq, Lebanon, the Palestinian Territories, Syria, and Yemen. However, this scripture indicates Iran will for a time do as it pleases and become great. Only then are we told that Turkey, the goat of Daniel 8 attacks Iran with its goal of re-establishing a glorious Ottoman Empire. Watch for these events, they will happen exactly as prophesied and therefore provide a great evangelism tool to prove God is in control of HIS story and His Word, the Bible provides a true history of His Cosmos.

TESTIMONY OF THE AUTHOR OF ARAB SPRING CHRISTIAN WINTER

How to Build a Faith That Will Withstand Any Persecution

I will close this book with a few words of hopeful wisdom to help you in case you are terrified of the future and wonder if you will be able to withstand the difficult days ahead. I do not claim in any way that I have a monopoly on how to build a solid Christian life, or some special secret to achieve rapid maturity, an oxymoron in itself. It would be impossible for you to have the same huge host of people build into your life that have built into mine. I’m very sorry for those of you who have had few, if any, people pour into your life by spending time with you, praying with and for you, and guiding your growth as a Christian. I have been hugely blessed in this regard. Because of that godly input over many years and forty-plus years of walking with the Lord, I have a few ideas on how to build an unshakeable faith. People often ask me if I have doubted my faith while serving the Lord abroad in overwhelmingly Muslim communities. My answer is always “No. Being the only Christian for miles around actually builds my faith stronger.” That is because I continually see the vivid contrast between the reality of Christianity and the Holy Spirit within us, and the deadness of religion, even one that calls for extremely high commitment. As I’ve said many times before in print and in person, ONLY the Holy Spirit can change a life, no one else. That’s the primary, on-the-ground difference between Christianity and every other faith out there. The longer you are among those other faiths, even as you find elements worthy of admiration in them, you will understand that none of them actually change the heart.

So let’s take a brief look at a few steps you can consider to build a faith that will remain true and strong, even if Islamists order you to forsake it. ​1. ​Get Into a Small Group(s). There is absolutely no need to build a strong faith through your own effort, gutting out daily Bible reading, going to church whenever you can, and trying to pray for longer and longer amounts of time each day. The modern, Western thought that we can walk with Jesus but not follow any “organized religion” is wrongheaded. This type of Lone Ranger Christianity is nowhere to be found in God’s Word. It is a Western, individualistic interpretation of a faith that grew out of small groups, as we see all over the Book of Acts. I am saying clearly that you cannot grow the type of faith you will need in the End Times by watching sermons on television or online and staying in your own home with no regular contact with other Christians. The Church will never stand strong if it’s built on survivalists who move as far away from others as they can and practice an isolationist Christianity. You should not want to dive into body life simply because it is commanded. You should do it because it is enjoyable and a necessary part of your growth. We all need that sharpening from one another, as Proverbs 27:17 says, As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.

The author of the book Arab Spring Christian Winter – Islam Unleashed on the Church and the World, Ralph Stice has spent many years living, working, and ministering in Muslim countries. His time in Turkey (seat of the former Ottoman Empire) has led him to the same conclusion as Joel Richardson author of The Mid East Beast – The Scriptural Case for an Islamic Antichrist.

THE GOAT OF DANIEL 8: TURKEY’S ROLE IN THE END TIMES

Turkey’s Foreign Minister H. E. Ahmet Davutoğlu’s work, Strategic Depth: Turkey’s International Position, outlined the country’s aspiration to be the strategic nation of the twenty-first century. (http://www.amazon.com/Stratejik-Derinlik-T%C3%BCrkiyenin-Uluslararasi-Konumu/dp/B004LYNDEQ/)

Davutoğlu asserted this Turkish pride and confidence in his address to the Brookings Institution in Washington, D.C. in 2010. He said that if Turkey had been allowed to join the European Union in 2003, “I am sure today we would have a new Europe, a much more creative, dynamic Europe, even responding to the economic crisis in a much better way.”

Erdogan turning Hagia Sophia once again into a mosque is seen by a substantial segment of the Turkish population as part of the effort to reclaim their country’s history.

The joke in Turkey now is they are very glad that the EU did not allow them to join their club, because the economic crises of Greece, Spain, Portugal, and others would have simply dragged down Turkey’s explosive growth. Can you see the chutzpah of Davutoğlu’s statement, that Europe would be “much more dynamic” with Turkey included? Again, whether you consider him delusional or insightful, you need to notice the pride in his outlook. Regardless of what we think in the Western world about Turkey, Turks believe their country to be primed for world leadership, whether or not it is allowed into the good ol’ boys club of the G8 or EU, or any other group you want to pick. Turks are well aware of why Europe does not like them, but it will not let a barricade in Brussels stop them from finding what they believe to be their rightful place in the world. Turkey is determined to find its way in a new global order that is being shaken every day. Do not be at all surprised if Turkey leads an Islamic federation one day and says, “We tried to join with you in the West, but you ungraciously snubbed us. We have joined a new club now and demand an equal say in how the world will proceed.” Davutoğlu added that Turkey had representation in 221 nations, making it the seventh most widespread country in terms of foreign missions in the world, and of course, the only Islamic one in the top ten! “We will continue these openings because we want Turkey to be not only a regional power influential in surrounding regions but a global player everywhere in the world.” He wrapped up the final portion of his speech with these memorable lines:

Therefore, we will be everywhere, whenever we are needed. We will be active everywhere. Some people may think – they may try to imagine or force us to be busy only with Syria, but in the morning we wake up with Syria, and before noon our mind is in the Balkans, in the afternoon, in Africa, in the evening in UN or in Latin America. Nobody will or can limit our vision.” (Ibid)

Is there any question as to how Mr. Davutoğlu and other Turkish leaders see their role? “We will be everywhere.” “Nobody will or can limit our vision.”

Perhaps Davutoğlu was so bold because he was speaking just a few miles from the construction site of what will be the largest Islamic complex in the Western hemisphere, the $100 million mega-mosque being erected in nearby Lanham, Maryland. The Turkish American Community Center will feature an exhibition hall, amphitheater, library, cultural center, athletic fields, and a stunning mosque, among other structures.[229] Erdoğan has visited the construction zone and sees it as a bulwark to fight “Islamophobia” in the U.S.A

God tells us with the prophecy given to Daniel (Daniel 8) over 500 years before Jesus Christ that in the end times, Turkey (Goat) would establish a revived Ottoman Empire by crushing Iran (Ram) but it will be broken up into four nations and out of one of those the Antichrist will arise. We are already seeing Iran doing what the Bible said it would in the end times pushing westward, northward, and southward with its proxies in Lebanon, Syria, Bahrain, Iraq, Gaza and Yemen. It is only a matter of time before Sunni Turkey takes on Shia Iran for dominance of the Muslim Caliph.

Get Ralph Stice’s book for the full story on Islam’s role in the end times and the coming Antichrist’s rule. Also, check out my earlier post, Turkey’s Erdogan is intent on becoming Global Caliph.

WHO IS THE AL-MAHDI, THE RIGHTLY GUIDED ONE?

Following on from my recent post “AL MAHDI BEST CANDIDATE FOR ANTICHRIST”

Forty-two percent of Muslims in a recent survey believe the Islamic Superman will appear in their lifetime (www.mahdi-watch.org). His name is al-Mahdi, the “Rightly Guided One,” who has been discussed since the earliest days of Islam. This Islamic messiah was referred to by Muhammad’s grandson, Ali, who said that Islam would “prevail over all religions when the Messiah of this ummah (Islamic nation) makes his appearance.” (Ed Hotaling, Islam without Illusions: Its Past, Its Present, and Its Challenges for the Future (Syracuse, NY: Syracuse University Press, 2003), 102).

In Daniel 8 we are told that Antichrist will arise when a revived Ottoman Empire is broken up into four and out of one of these four the Little Horn, the Antichrist will arise. I can only surmise about who will break the revived Ottoman Empire into four nations. Candidates, U.N., Russia, USA, or a composite of these three. Certainly, most of the European nations would not want to see a powerful revived Ottoman Empire that wants to dominate the entire world.

Then the goat (Turkey) became exceedingly great, but when he was strong, the great horn was broken, and instead of it there came up four conspicuous horns toward the four winds of heaven. Out of one of them came a little horn (Antichrist), which grew exceedingly great toward the south, toward the east, and toward the glorious land. It grew great, even to the host of heaven. And some of the host and some of the stars it threw down to the ground and trampled on them. It became great, even as great as the Prince of the host.” Daniel 8:8-11

As for the horn that was broken, in place of which four others arose, four kingdoms shall arise from his nation, but not with his power. And at the latter end of their kingdom, when the transgressors have reached their limit, a king of bold face, one who understands riddles, shall arise. His power shall be great—but not by his own power, and he shall cause fearful destruction and shall succeed in what he does, and destroy mighty men and the people who are the saints.Daniel 8:22-24

Old Testament scholar Michael Heiser: “Gog (Numbers 23 and Ezekiel 38) would have been perceived as either a figure empowered by supernatural evil or an evil quasi-divine figure from the supernatural world bent on the destruction of God’s people. For this reason, Gog is regarded by many biblical scholars as a template for the New Testament, Antichrist.”

In both Numbers 24 and Ezekiel 38 Gog leads a coalition of Middle Eastern and North African nations, which confirms a Middle Eastern, not a Roman, Antichrist.

I am against you, O Gog, chief prince of Meshech and Tubal. And I will turn you about and put hooks into your jaws, and I will bring you out, and all your army, horses and horsemen, all of them clothed in full armor, a great host, all of them with buckler and shield, wielding swords. Persia, Cush, and Put are with them, all of them with shield and helmet; Gomer and all his hordes; Beth-togarmah from the uttermost parts of the north with all his hordes—many peoples are with you.Ezekiel 38:3-6

All of the nations Gog (Antichrist) leads are Muslim nations. Which makes the alMahdi the most likely candidate for the Antichrist.

BIBLICAL PROPHECY UNFOLDING IN OUR TIME

From WIN Israel News June 6th, 2022:

“The goal of Iran’s mullahs is to spread their control to as many countries as possible by using their terrorist proxies, including Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad in the Gaza Strip, Hezbollah in Lebanon, and the Houthi militia in Yemen.

The mullahs’ efforts, however, are not limited to the use of military force and terrorism in the four Arab countries. The mullahs have every reason to be satisfied. Their effort to stop Arabs from signing peace agreements with Israel scored an achievement when Iraq’s parliament voted in favor of a law to criminalize normalization with the “Zionist entity,” punishable with a death sentence.

Iran’s rulers are also seeking to increase their political influence in all of these countries. They aim to turn Iran into a superpower and major player in the Middle East at a time when U.S. influence in the region appears to be dwindling.

Watching Turkey – Iran Prophecy Align

Iran which is Shia Muslim is fulfilling Bible prophecy as outlined in Daniel 8. It is pushing westward, northward, and southward with its proxies.

And I saw in the vision; and when I saw, I was in Susa the citadel, which is in the province of Elam (in Iran). And I saw in the vision, and I was at the Ulai canal. I raised my eyes and saw, and behold, a ram (Iran) standing on the bank of the canal. It had two horns, and both horns were high, but one was higher than the other, and the higher one came up last. I saw the ram charging westward and northward and southward. No beast could stand before him, and there was no one who could rescue him from his power. He did as he pleased and became great.Daniel 8:2-4

As I have mentioned before in a number of posts we need to watch for what comes next the goat (Turkey) which is Sunni Muslim will overcome the ram (Iran) and attempt to revive its Ottoman Empire.

As I was considering, behold, a male goat (Turkey) came from the west across the face of the whole earth, without touching the ground. And the goat had a conspicuous horn between his eyes. He came to the ram (Iran) with the two horns, which I had seen standing on the bank of the canal, and he ran at him in his powerful wrath. I saw him come close to the ram, and he was enraged against him and struck the ram and broke his two horns. And the ram had no power to stand before him, but he cast him down to the ground and trampled on him. And there was no one who could rescue the ram from his power.Daniel 8:5-7

Turkey has a brief moment of glory but then it is broken up into four probably by the United Nations and or Russia and out of one of these four comes the little horn (Antichrist).

Then the goat (Turkey revived Ottoman Empire) became exceedingly great, but when he was strong, the great horn was broken, and instead of it there came up four conspicuous horns toward the four winds of heaven.
Out of one of them came a little horn (Antichrist), which grew exceedingly great toward the south, toward the east, and toward the glorious land. It grew great, even to the host of heaven.
Daniel 8:8-10

LAST DAYS WARS AND RUMOURS OF WARS

In a stunning rout, the Taliban seized nearly all of Afghanistan in just over a week, despite the billions of dollars spent by the U.S. and NATO over nearly two decades to build up Afghan security forces. Just days earlier, an American military assessment estimated it would be a month before the capital would come under insurgent pressure.

Afghan president flees country as Taliban move into Kabul
Taliban fighters take control of Afghan presidential palace in Kabul after President Ashraf Ghani fled the country, Aug. 15, 2021.

The fall of Kabul marks the final chapter of America’s longest war, which began after the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks masterminded by al-Qaida’s Osama bin Laden, then harboured by the Taliban government. A U.S.-led invasion dislodged the Taliban and beat them back, though America lost focus on the conflict in the chaos of the Iraq War.

As the insurgents closed in Sunday, President Ashraf Ghani flew out of the country. Ghani later posted on Facebook that he had chosen to leave the country to avert bloodshed in the capital, without saying where he had gone.

The Taliban is a predominantly Pashtun, Islamic fundamentalist group that ruled Afghanistan from 1996 until 2001, when a U.S.-led invasion toppled the regime for providing refuge to al-Qaeda and Osama bin Laden. The Taliban regrouped across the border in Pakistan and has led an insurgency against the U.S.-backed government in Kabul for nearly twenty years.

There is little doubt that many Afghans who initially joined the movement were educated in madrassas (religious schools) in Pakistan. Pakistan was also one of only three countries, along with Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), which recognised the Taliban when they were in power in Afghanistan.

On Monday, August 23rd, Prime Minister Imran Khan praised Afghans for “breaking the shackles of slavery”. On social media, retired generals and other Taliban boosters hailed the triumph of Islam.

Exultant Pakistanis shared a video clip from 2014 featuring Hamid Gul, a former head of the army’s spy agency, Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI).

When history is written, it will be stated that the ISI defeated the Soviet Union in Afghanistan with the help of America,” Gul says to a fawning TV studio audience. “Then there will be another sentence. The ISI, with the help of America, defeated America.”

It must be remembered that between 2002 and 2018, the US government gave Pakistan more than $33 billion in assistance, including about $14.6 billion in so-called Coalition Support Funds paid by the Pentagon to the Pakistani military. During the same period, Pakistan ensured the failure of America’s Afghanistan project by surreptitiously sheltering, arming and training the Taliban. One would think the Americans would have got the message when in 2011 US Navy SEALs killed Osama bin Laden in a safe house next to Pakistan’s premier military academy. But successive administrations — Republican and Democratic — refused to take measures that could have forced Pakistan to rethink its support for the Taliban.

At least for now, the Taliban’s victory fulfils the Pakistani army’s decades-old quest to gain “strategic depth” by controlling Afghanistan. But this will not sate the generals; it will whet their appetite.

The symbolic significance of an army of zealots humbling the world’s sole superpower is hard to exaggerate. In the Pakistani army it will strengthen the hand of those who view Afghanistan not merely in geopolitical terms, but as the fulfilment of a religious project rooted in an extreme interpretation of Islam that shuns all Western influence.

The same holds true in Pakistani society at large. If music-hating, anti-Western, anti-Shiite misogynists can seize power in Kabul, why can’t they do the same in Islamabad? At least one homegrown Pakistani jihadist group, the Tehreek-e-Taliban, is comprised of fighters already at odds with the Pakistani government.

In a phone interview from Islamabad, Afrasiab Khattak, a former Pakistani senator and Pashtun-rights activist, points out that Pakistan houses some 36,000 madrassas, or religious seminaries, some of which are militant. “The same places producing the Taliban are producing similar people in Pakistan,” he says. “They will contest for power in Pakistan too.”

In early 2009, when Afghan President Hamid Karzai pressed Vice President-elect Joe Biden to crack down on Taliban safe havens across the border, Mr Biden reportedly rebuffed him by pointing out that “Pakistan is 50 times more important than Afghanistan for the United States.” As president, Mr Biden may have ensured that Pakistan is 50 times more dangerous to the US and the world as well.

Watch as Bible prophecy plays out in the Middle East. The next big power play will come from Turkey (Sunni) in an effort to rebuild an Ottoman Empire. It will not tolerate Iran (Shiite) exerting its influence with proxies. Iran has built a network of proxies across the Middle East. At of beginning of 2020, Tehran had allies among more than a dozen major militias, some with their own political parties, that challenged local and neighbouring governments. Iran’s Revolutionary Guards and the elite Qods Force provided arms, training and financial support to militias and political movements in at least six countries: Bahrain, Iraq, Lebanon, the Palestinian Territories, Syria and Yemen.

Iran Proxy and Sanctions Map Dec 2020
“I saw the ram (Iran) charging westward and northward and southward. No beast could stand before him, and there was no one who could rescue from his power. He did as he pleased and became great.” Daniel 8:4

Turkey (Goat) in this next prophecy overcomes Iran (Ram) in its effort to re-establish its Ottoman Empire. It must be remembered that at least 80% of Pakistan’s Muslims are Sunni so it will support Turkey.

As I was considering, behold, a male goat (Turkey) came from the west across the face of the whole earth, without touching the ground. And the goat had a conspicuous horn between his eyes. He came to the ram (Iran) with the two horns, which I had seen standing on the bank of the canal, and he ran at him in his powerful wrath. I saw him come close to the ram, and he was enraged against him and struck the ram and broke his two horns. And the ram had no power to stand before him, but he cast him down to the ground and trampled on him. And there was no one who could rescue the ram from his power.Daniel 8:5-7

Bible prophecy then reveals that the re-established Ottoman Empire is short lived. It is broken up by the super powers into four and it is out of the four that the Little Horn (Antichrist) emerges.

Then the goat became exceedingly great, but when he was strong, the great horn was broken, and instead of it there came up four conspicuous horns toward the four winds of heaven.
Out of one of them came a little horn (Antichrist), which grew exceedingly great toward the south, toward the east, and toward the glorious land.
Daniel 8:8-9