Iraq in the End Time Prophecy

And the beginning of his kingdom was Babel, Erech, Accad, and Calneh, in the land of Shinar. Gen 10:10

The land of Shinar is the area surrounding Babylon (Babel in Hebrew) and other towns (including Baghdad, Selucia, etc) in central Iraq.

then he said, "This is Wickedness!" And he thrust her down into the basket, and threw the lead cover over its mouth .... So I said to the angel who talked with me, "Where are they carrying the basket?" And he said to me, "To build a house for it in the land of Shinar; when it is ready, the basket will be set there on its base." Zech 5: 8, 10-11

When the time is ripe or end of the age, the Wicked One (Wickedness) or antichrist will be established in Central Iraq. He, also known as the `abomination of desolation', will arise and conquer Jerusalem. After building the Temple of God, he will sit there and require everyone, especially the Jews and Christians, to worship him (an abomination in the sight of God because he makes himself god). All those who worship him will lose their salvation (desolation - their salvation destroyed).

"Therefore when you see the 'abomination of desolation,' spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place" (whoever reads, let him understand),"   Matt 24:15

Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, 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. II Th 2:3-4

Note: Until 1978 AD, Babylon laid in ruins covered with the desert sand for 2000 years. Then, the President of Iraq - Saddam Hussein rebuilt Babylon on the actual historic site and in accordance to the original city's layout. By February 1990 AD over six million bricks had been laid in the reconstruction of the city originally built by King Nebuchadnezzar.

Iraq according to the Book of Daniel

After Iraq was defeated in the battle known as `Operation Desert Storm', he tries to make himself the champion for the Palestinians and creates the hatred of Muslim for the Christians. He is highly successful as many Muslims worldwide consider him a `hero' for the Islamic cause.

"... So he shall return and show regard for those who forsake the holy covenant."   Dan 11:30b

This time when he returns to fight the nations of the South (Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, etc.) he will be supported by the power of the people (Muslims).

Note: Christians are the people of the holy covenant. Islam is the religion taken from parts of the Old and New Testaments and the rest are against the Laws and Teachings of God. Jesus is just a prophet in the Quran. Allah is only the God of Abraham but not the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob. Therefore Allah is not Jehovah. Therefore, Muslims are those who forsake the holy covenant.

When will this war begins

"At the time of the end the king of the South shall attack him; and the king of the North shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter the countries, overwhelm them, and pass through."   Dan 11:40

When the nations of the South (Western nations supported by Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, etc. and possibly with the exception of Jordan) attack Iraq, Iraq will arise to fight back. The people in these middle Eastern nations will rebel and over throw their rulers. They will hand over their power to Iraq. Iraq will conquer all these nations. The Western nations will be attacked by terrorists worldwide and they will suffer tremendously. The destruction of the twin towers of the World Trade Centre in New York is nothing  in comparison with the coming terrorist attacks in these nations. Thus, they will be ineffective in their protection of the middle East nations.

"He shall come into the glorious land. And tens of thousands shall fall, but these shall be delivered out of his hand: Edom and Moab, and the main part of the Ammonites.  Dan 11:41   RSV

He will conquer Israel and Jerusalem. In these middle East many will be killed. All the Arab nations with the exception of Jordan (Edom, Moab and part of Ammon) will also be conquered by him.

"He shall stretch out his hand against the countries, and the land of Egypt shall not escape. He shall have power over the treasures of gold and silver, and over all the precious things of Egypt; also the Libyans and Ethiopians shall follow at his heels.   Dan 11:42-43

Countries in the surrounding areas (Lebanon, Syria, Sudan, etc.) will also be conquered by him. Egypt the arch enemy of Iraq and considered by him as the agent of the West will be ransacked. The Libyans and Ethiopians will submit to him.

"But news from the east and the north shall trouble him; therefore he shall go out with great fury to destroy and annihilate many.    Dan 11:44

Iran (East) and Turkey (North) will attack him but he will decimate them and will also conquer their neighboring countries.

"And he shall plant the tents of his palace between the seas and the glorious holy mountain; yet he shall come to his end, and no one will help him."   Dan 11:45

After having removed the Al Aqsa mosque, he will then proceed to build the Temple of God on the Temple Mount (glorious holy mountain) in Jerusalem, the city between the 2 seas (Mediterranean Sea and the Dead Sea). Because he (known as `Wicked' or `Wicked One') will be killed by the glorious coming of our Lord Jesus at Rapture therefore no one can help him. 

But with righteousness He shall judge the poor, and decide with equity for the meek of the earth; he shall strike the earth with the rod of His mouth, and with the breath of His lips He shall slay the wicked.  Isa 11:4

And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:   II Th 2:8 (KJV)

Iraq according to the Book of Daniel (cont..)

"... So he shall return and show regard for those who forsake the holy covenant. And forces shall be mustered by him, and they shall defile the sanctuary fortress; then they shall take away the daily sacrifices, and place there the abomination of desolation. Those who do wickedly against the covenant he shall corrupt with flattery;"   Dan 11:30b-32a

Immediately after the Western nations attack Iraq, he will return to fight the Southern nations. With the help of the Muslim public he will overrun all these Arab nations. He will conquer Jerusalem (sanctuary fortress). He will then remove the Al Aqsa mosque (daily sacrifices - place of worship). In its place he will then build the Temple of God so that the antichrist will sit there proclaiming himself god (abomination of desolation standing in the holy place). With deception he will convince the Muslim to remove the Al Aqsa mosque. He may tell them that God reveals to him that He wants to live among them and He has chosen the site where the Al Aqsa mosque is to build His Temple for He loves to dwell among His chosen people - the Muslims.

The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved.   II Th 2:9-10

To deceive the Jews and Christians he will call the Jews back to build the Temple of God for the God of Abraham. With the middle East under his control, he will get all the various religions to worship only one God, the God of Abraham and to treat one another as brothers since they all worship the same God. Unknowingly, the Jews and Christians will worship Allah.

Note: Jehovah is the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob. He is not only the God of Abraham, which the Muslims proclaim Allah to be. Al or El means god and elah means moon. Thus Allah is the moon god and not Jehovah.

During this time when the Temple is being built there will be peace and security in the whole middle East and surrounding countries under his rule. Elsewhere the terrorist warfare will become extremely terrifying for weapons of mass destruction are used killing by the millions. This is the period of the beginning of sorrows or the period of the 4th Seal, whereby 1/4 of all mankind are killed. This period will be about 3-4 years.

"... but the people who know their God shall be strong, and carry out great exploits. And those of the people who understand shall instruct many; yet for many days they shall fall by sword and flame, by captivity and plundering. Now when they fall, they shall be aided with a little help; but many shall join with them by intrigue."    Dan 11:32-34

This will be a period of the great persecution of godly Christians or saints. These saints who oppose him and expose him as the antichrist will be killed. Martyrdom of saints enables the preaching of the Gospel to all nations via TV network and this is in accordance to God's will. They will receive little help from misled, worldly and sleeping Christians, who will compromise the message of the Cross, for they want peace and security in the One World Religion.

"And some of those of understanding shall fall, to refine them, purify them, and make them white, until the time of the end; because it is still for the appointed time."   Dan 11:35

After the completion of the Temple the antichrist will sit there proclaiming himself god. This will bring in the 5th Seal or the period of the Great Tribulation, which will only be a few weeks. With signs and wonders and the testimonies of the false christs and false prophets, many sleeping Christians will accept him as the Messiah or Prince of peace. The godly Christians (those with understanding of the End time events but not having enough faith to walk it out) who reject and expose him will be betrayed by these misled Christians for judgment and death. This is the refining process of these godly Christians so that they will be purified and found worthy to be partaker in the Rapture.

"Then the king shall do according to his own will: he shall exalt and magnify himself above every god, shall speak blasphemies against the God of gods, and shall prosper till the wrath has been accomplished; for what has been determined shall be done."   Dan 11:36

Immediately after the completion of the Temple of God, the antichrist will allow the Jewish priesthood to dedicate it to God in accordance to the commandments of God. During the dedication the Temple will be filled with cloud and glory so that the priests will have to run out for they can no longer minister there. This will be just as in the days of King Solomon. [Please read 1Kings 8:10-11; 2Chron 5:13-14; and also Rev 15:8]. The antichrist (not a member of the priesthood) will then walk into the holy Temple and when the cloud has clear the priests will find him standing in front of the throne of God. He will then proceed to sit on the throne of God proclaiming himself god. This will surprise the priests and immediately many of them will fall on their knees to worship him as the Messiah or god. They will also proclaim him as the Prince of peace for then the only places with peace and security are those under his rule or control. He will blaspheme Jehovah. Many Christians including church leaders will be deceived and will also worship him.

Note: Christians are the Temple of God and thus when the Temple is dedicated to Him, He will not be able to accept it. The Devil, knowing this, uses this wicked scheme to deceived the Jews and Christians.

"He shall regard neither the God of his fathers nor the desire of women, nor regard any god; for he shall exalt himself above them all."   Dan 11:37

This section describe the Islamic religion. His forefather's God is Jehovah (for they are also the descendants of Abraham). Jehovah is the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob and not Allah - the God of Abraham only. This religion puts womenfolk in the background and they have no say in society. They are the ones to cause men to sin thus they must cover themselves completely with the abaya. (http://www.answering-islam.org/women/place.html#islam)

Once again we are reminded that the antichrist wants to be worshipped just like Lucifer. 

"But in their place he shall honor a god of fortresses; and a god which his fathers did not know he shall honor with gold and silver, with precious stones and pleasant things."   Dan 11:38

In Mecca the black stone known as the `Kaaba Stone', which was decorated with gold, silver and precious stones, looks exactly like a little fortress. When the believers bow down to this rock it is just like they are worshipping this fortress as their god.

"Thus he shall act against the strongest fortresses with a foreign god, which he shall acknowledge, and advance its glory; and he shall cause them to rule over many, and divide the land for gain."   Dan 11:39

To fulfill Scripture, God allows the following to happen. In the name of Allah they will go forth to conquer and he will be very successful. He will conquer many countries for Allah. The land will be divided to these Islamic warriors to be their governors.

Immediately after this period of the Great Tribulation - an era of great deception, the great heavenly blackout will see our Lord Jesus coming in glory to gather His elect back to heaven. This event is called Rapture. Then, the antichrist will be destroyed by the brightness of our Lord's coming. All those Christians left behind will have to face the coming `wrath of Satan' for 3 1/2 years, when the mark of the beast and `666' will be introduced.

Please ensure that you are found worthy

to be with the Lord at Rapture.