A Middle Path?
According to a recent report in the Jerusalem Post on April 14th a headline read “Ankara Seeks Middle Path Between U.S. and Russia on Syria.” The article went on to say; “At each turn, Turkey has sought to both urge caution and present itself as a peaceful partner…Turkey sees the Syrian conflict now as a place it can be an arbiter between the US and Russia. Erdogan spoke with both the Russian president and Trump, according to reports. The Arabic online publication Aljazeera seeks to portray Erdogan as the peace-maker in the region. According to the report on April 15th it stated that Erdogan backs the air strikes on the Syrian Chemical factories. Erdogan said “bombing by US and allies sent the Assad government a message that its massacres will not go unanswered.” He also said; “The innocent Syrian people should have been defended long ago. I am calling on the entire world here. Let’s discuss the future of all kinds of weapons of mass destruction, including chemical and conventional weapons in detail. Let’s use all resources for the sake of humanity instead of using them for nuclear and conventional armament projects.”
A fierce-looking king
Having said this, the prophet Daniels says of the Antichrist; “In the latter part of their reign, when rebels have become completely wicked, a fierce-looking king, a master of intrigue, will arise. He will become very strong, but not by his own power. He will cause astounding devastation and will succeed in whatever he does. He will destroy those who are mighty, the holy people. He will cause deceit to prosper, and he will consider himself superior. When they feel secure, he will destroy many and take his stand against the Prince of princes. Yet he will be destroyed, but not by human power. (Daniel 8:23-25) Clearly the Antichrist will be opposed to the Messiah and oppose Him by attacking Israel and the saints. However, he will meet his defeat at Jerusalem. (Daniel 11:45)
Hypocracy
I am persuaded the man from Turkey is “a master of intrigue” and one who “causes deceit to prosper” and is positioning himself to be viewed as one who can be a mediator of ‘peace’ between the super powers while in his deep mind Erdogan harbours other far more dark and sinister plans. He needs sovereignty over Syria but realizes that the Assad regime is a hindrance to his real agenda, namely a global Islamic caliphate, one which the Iranian regime would also fully support. Hence, he calls for reprisals against Assad. While sounding forth rhetoric about “the innocent Syrian people that should have been defended long ago” Erdogan himself is no ‘humanitarian’ when it comes to atrocities in the Middle-East. He has already shown himself to be a brutal dictator in the character of Adolph Hitler. In the New York Times online on March 10th 2017 it was stated that the United Nations in a report said; “Turkey’s military and police forces have killed hundreds of people during operations against Kurdish rebels in south eastern Turkey. The report listed summary killings, torture, rape and widespread destruction of property among an array of human rights abuses. The report by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, details how operations by the Turkish infantry, artillery, tanks and possibly aircraft drove up to half a million people from their homes over a 17-month period from July 2015 to the end of 2016.Though the report is focused on the conduct of security forces in south eastern Turkey, the 25-page document underscores the deepening alarm of the United Nations over the measures ordered by Turkey’s president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, since a failed coup attempt last July.”
The real agenda
President Erdogan needs to have control of Syria because it would give him immediate access to Israel on their Northern border with Syria. Of course the Iranian regime wants all of Iraq and would happily concede Syria to Erdogan. Once Iran has all of Iraq the entire region would come under the Caliphate banner. Iran, in league with Turkey, would form a formidable army that could attack Israel and as Erogan has stated ‘liberate Jerusalem for the Muslims.’ Of course He does not factor in God’s view of Israel. In reality Erdogan was calling for islamic supremacy in israel and Jerusalem and the Temple Mount when it was reported in The Times of Israel on April 17th 2017 that he publically urged Muslims to throng to the Temple Mount in a show of solidarity with Palestinians as he issued a string of challenges to Israel, which he called “racist and discriminatory.” He also said “We, as Muslims, should be visiting Al-Quds more often,” he said, referring to Jerusalem by its Arabic name… “Each day that Jerusalem is under occupation is an insult to us,” he added, at the opening ceremony of the International Forum on al-Quds Waqf in Istanbul.” Clearly he knows that the one who ‘liberates’ Jerusalem for Islam would be hailed by the whole Muslim world as the promised Mahdi of Islam. Such a move would jettison Erdogan into the spotlight and prepare the way for the revived caliphate. Of course anyone can guess who the Man from Turkey has in mind for the ‘top job’ for the role of the Supreme Caliph of the whole islamic world?
200 million
At present things have to be sorted out between the coalition of America, Britain and France opposed to Russia which backs of course Syria. Erdogan is undoubtedly aware of Israel’s weaponry and military prowess. Erdogan is hoping to gain control of Syria, possibly at the behest of America and with Russia also in agreement. When you consider the Islamic nations of Afghanistan and Pakistan and the Turkic speaking states of Georgia, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan along with Iran and Iraq, ‘General’ Erdogan could well field a 200 million strong Islamic army. (Revelation 9:13-19) This army we are told will destroy a third of mankind with missiles and possibly nuclear exchanges. Their description seems to indicate armoured vehicles and tanks with missile launchers and machine guns. This army will be God’s judgement on a world that hates God, hates the Lord Jesus, that hates the Holy Spirit and the Word of God and hates the blood of Jesus and the Jews and Christians alike, and a world steeped in idolatry, the occult, demonic worship, material wealth, sexual immorality, sodomy and occult practices and deceit of every kind.
The end of this age
There is no doubt we are living right at the end of this present age. This week Israel celebrates its 70th anniversary since it was declared a State in 1948 and the Muslims in Israel and their Islamic neighbours will not like it at all. While Israel celebrates their statehood tomorrow on Wednesday 17th and on Thursday 18th April 2018, they need to stay watchful. There is still some time to go before the end of thie present age comes but I am persuaded this generation will see the rise of the Man of Sin and that those in the world who survive the Time of Great Tribulation will see the Second Coming of our Lord Jesus the Messiah. The whole world is alarmed to a degree at the events in the Middle-East but is also in deep spiritual slumber unaware of what is going to come upon the whole world just before the Lord Jesus comes back.
Clothe yourselves
May we all as believers in our Lord Jesus take to heart what the apostle Paul wrote; “And do this, understanding the present time: The hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armour of light. Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh.” (Romans 13:11-14)
