- 2 days ago
Iran's new 'Supreme Leader' is the oldest son of its previous leader. Motjaba Khamenei, reportedly is "obessed with the end of days." Might he hold to the Shiite Islam view he is the Seyed Khorasani who will turn Jerusalem over to a Muslim leader known as the Imam Mahdi? According to Twelver Shia – the largest branch of Shia Islam studied by Khamenei at Qom – the 12th Imam, is Muhammad al-Mahdi, who was born in the year 869. Do some Shiites believe US President Donald Trump is the Dajjal/Antichrist who the Imam Mahdi will kill? Do biblical or Sunni prophecies support that the Imam Mahdi will implement global governance or do they teach that he will be betrayed by a European leader who will reign with the Antichrist for 3 1/2 years? If he lives long enough, might he try to conquer/cause great damage to "the City of David" as prophesied in Isaiah 22:6-9? Could the current attack by the USA and Israel against Iran result in the fulfillment in this age of prophecies in Ezekiel 37 and 38 as some Protestant ministers believe? Could Ezekiel 38 even possibly happen soon? Why or why not? Steve Dupuie and Dr. Thiel address these matters.
A written article of related interest is available titled 'Iran’s Mojtaba Khamenei wants to bring in the Imam Mahdi? What about Ezekiel 38?' URL: https://www.cogwriter.com/news/prophecy/irans-mojtaba-khamenei-wants-to-bring-in-the-imam-mahdi-what-about-ezekiel-38/
A written article of related interest is available titled 'Iran’s Mojtaba Khamenei wants to bring in the Imam Mahdi? What about Ezekiel 38?' URL: https://www.cogwriter.com/news/prophecy/irans-mojtaba-khamenei-wants-to-bring-in-the-imam-mahdi-what-about-ezekiel-38/
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LearningTranscript
00:04Greetings, friends. This is Steve Dupuis for the Bible News Prophecy Program with Dr. Bob Thiel,
00:09bringing you news and analysis of world events in light of Bible prophecy.
00:13Dr. Thiel, could there be any prophetic ramifications of the current war in Iran?
00:19Oh, absolutely. Now, yesterday, Michael Snyder published something. I'd like to read parts of it.
00:27Quote, for a lot of people, this war with Iran is not just another war.
00:31Millions of Shiite Muslims all over the world are convinced this war will lead to the rise of a leader
00:37called the Mahdi.
00:38In fact, most of Iran's key leaders are eagerly watching for the appearance of the Mahdi.
00:43So why would they give up if they actually believe the Mahdi is going to show up at any moment?
00:48Then it wouldn't make any sense at all.
00:49Now, according to someone who once knew Mojtab al-Khamenei very well, Iran's new supreme leader,
00:57he's obsessed with the end of days and is more dangerous than his father's.
01:01The man making that claim is Jabbar Rajavi.
01:06He studied with this new supreme leader at the Qombs Seminary,
01:12the most highly regarded center for Islamic scholarship in Iran.
01:16Rajavi described him as obsessed with the end of days,
01:20that he believed that he himself will have a special part in hastening humanity down that path.
01:27According to 12-er Shia, the largest branch of Shia Islam, studied by Khomei at Qombs,
01:34the 12th Imam, Muhammad al-Mahdi, who is believed to be in hiding,
01:39will return at the end of time to establish a period of global justice in which oppression will be eradicated.
01:47Islamic apocalyptic traditions describe major conflicts happening before this era,
01:52including the Mahama al-Khudra,
01:57a great battle sometimes interpreted as a confrontation with the West.
02:02So if the supreme leader and other leaders of Iran are convinced this war with the United States
02:07is actually the Muhammad al-Khudra, why in the world would they give it up?
02:12From their perspective, it would be unthinkable.
02:15According to 12-er theology, a very evil figure must appear on the scene before the arrival of the Mahdi.
02:23That evil figure is known as the Dajal, end quote.
02:29So, is that evil figure presently on the scene?
02:33No. However, many Shiite Muslim leaders have been convinced that Donald Trump is the Dajal.
02:39No.
02:40And the 12-er Shiites also believe the Mahdi is supposed to kill the Dajal once he arrived.
02:46Now, getting back to Michael Snyder, he added,
02:49are you starting to understand why the Iranians view this war completely differently than we do?
02:54The Shiite Muslims that are running Iran believe that when the Mahdi shows up,
02:59it will guarantee their victory over the United States and Israel.
03:03For many Shiite Muslims, this is the big one, end quote.
03:08Forgive my ignorance, but why the emphasis on Shiite Muslims?
03:13Is there another Muslim faith?
03:15Well, there are several, but the two basic major groups of Muslims are Shiites and Sunnis.
03:21And the Sunnis are the vast majority.
03:24The Shiite view, though, of the Mahdi and the Dajal are further away from the Bible than the Sunni view.
03:31Both the biblical and Sunni views say that a leader is going to rise up in Muslim lands,
03:37make a peace deal with a European leader, we'll break that deal.
03:41Then he and the Antichrist will reign for about three and a half years, and Jesus will return.
03:45We actually have a free book on Islamic and biblical prophecy for the 21st century
03:51that people can go to ccug.org to access this.
03:57But anyway, but that's not the Shiite view.
04:00The Shiite view, I think, is really weird.
04:03They teach that the 12th Imam, who is Muhammad al-Mahdi,
04:08he was born in the year 869.
04:11He's basically been hidden in what I would call suspended animation for over 1,100 years.
04:18And, of course, Christians and Sunni Muslims don't believe that.
04:24However, presuming that Lechaba Khamenei does believe that,
04:30he, if he lives long enough, would be expected to take extreme actions
04:35that others might consider to be illogical.
04:39What extreme actions might he be considered to take?
04:43He may lead a coalition that will cause great damage to Jerusalem.
04:47Not only is that consistent with biblical prophecy,
04:50it's also consistent with the Shiite view of their prophecies
04:53that someone who's going to rise up, called the Sayyid Khorosani,
05:00will turn Jerusalem over to the Imam Mahdi.
05:03And it's been asserted that Lechaba Khamenei
05:07believes himself to be the prophesied figure
05:09paving the way for the Quranic Messiah, the Mahdi.
05:15Lechaba Khamenei and supporters think he's the Khorosani
05:19tasked with conquering Jerusalem and Mecca.
05:23Now, if Lechaba Khamenei does believe that,
05:27then he may very well fulfill a prophecy
05:29you can read in Isaiah chapter 22, starting in verse 6.
05:37So, Elam, which in this case looks to be a ran,
05:43bore the quiver with chariots of men and horsemen,
05:45and Khor, probably some in Syria, uncovered the shield.
05:50It shall come to pass that your choicest valley
05:54shall be full of chariots,
05:56and horsemen set themselves array at the gate.
05:58Now, verse 8.
05:59He, this is God, removed the protection of Judah,
06:03which we call the nation that calls itself Israel.
06:07You looked in a day to the house of the forest,
06:10like the Hezbollah is located.
06:13You also saw the damage to the city of David,
06:17that it was great.
06:19Now, the city of David is Jerusalem.
06:22And we'll see if Lechaba Khamenei lives long enough
06:27to have this done.
06:29So, you know,
06:30Shiite Muslims basically believe that the Imam Ali
06:33will conquer the world
06:34and implement a world-ruling Islamic government.
06:36But that is not consistent with biblical prophecies,
06:40so it won't happen.
06:41And again, I mentioned we have a free e-book
06:44on ccog.org.
06:47Now, what about other faiths?
06:49Some Protestants think the current conflict
06:52is related to Ezekiel 38.
06:55Michael Snyder posted about that.
06:57Here's what he wrote.
06:59There are millions around the world
07:01that believe that this war with Iran
07:02is a fulfillment of biblical prophecy.
07:04Of course, there's a tremendous amount of debate
07:06within Christian circles
07:07about which passages of the Bible
07:09are actually being fulfilled.
07:12But if this war with Iran
07:15is a fulfillment of biblical prophecy,
07:16we should expect some major events
07:17soon to follow.
07:19In the Western world,
07:20various leaders are starting to think
07:22the current war is connected.
07:25And then he quotes something from the Daily Mail.
07:28They quoted a pastor, Jeff Cramer,
07:31of Westminster Calvary in Colorado.
07:36He said that the current moment carries
07:38biblical significance
07:39because Iran is ancient Persia,
07:42arguing that there's prophecy issues
07:45that with them are for sure.
07:47He pointed to Ezekiel 38,
07:49which names Persia among the nations
07:51aligned against Israel,
07:53and said developments in the Middle East
07:55have caused some to believe
07:58that those prophecies can move closer.
08:00We're living in a prophetic timeline
08:03somewhere close to chapter 7
08:04and the opening of chapter 38,
08:06Cramer said.
08:07He argued that Israel remains central
08:10to biblical prophecy,
08:11saying Israel is always God's timepiece
08:13when it comes to prophecy
08:15and suggests that a modern conflict
08:17associated with Iran
08:18should be viewed through that lens.
08:21And the Daily Mail.
08:22Anyway, then Michael Snyder says,
08:26Pastor Cramer has a lot of company.
08:29For many Christians,
08:30this war has biblical importance.
08:32Personally, Snyder says,
08:34I fully agree that this war
08:36is extremely important,
08:37but I also think things
08:39are going to play out differently
08:40than most people are anticipating.
08:42By the way, I would agree with that.
08:44The matter will turn out
08:45very differently
08:46than most people are anticipating.
08:50Then do you agree, though,
08:52that this is heading
08:53toward the fulfillment
08:53of Ezekiel 37 and 38?
08:56There is no way
08:57this is a fulfillment
08:58of Ezekiel 37,
08:59which has to do
09:00with the second resurrection.
09:03We have a free book on that,
09:05e-book on that at ccog.org
09:08called Universal Offer of Salvation.
09:12So, what does the Bible say
09:14about those chapters in Ezekiel?
09:17Well, from Ezekiel 38,
09:21starting in verse 1,
09:22it says,
09:23The word of the Lord came to Ezekiel,
09:24saying,
09:25So the man set your face
09:26against Gog,
09:28the land of Magog,
09:29the prince of Rosh,
09:30Meshach, Tubal,
09:31prophesy against him,
09:32and say,
09:32Thus says the Lord,
09:33God, I'm against you.
09:35Verse 4,
09:36Turn around.
09:37I'm going to lead you out
09:40handling swords.
09:41Verse 5,
09:42Persia,
09:43Ethiopia,
09:43and Libya are with them.
09:44All of them with shield and helmet.
09:46Gomurth,
09:47all its troops.
09:48House of Togarmath.
09:49Verse 7,
09:49Prepare yourselves and be ready.
09:51All your companies
09:52are guarded about you.
09:56So this is talking about
09:57a group in battle
09:58and you see
09:59you've got the Russians,
10:00Iranians,
10:01various Asians are here.
10:02But what about the timing?
10:04It says,
10:05Verse 8,
10:06After many days you'll be visited.
10:07In the latter days
10:08you'll come to the land
10:09brought back from the sword
10:11and gathered from many peoples
10:12on the mountains of Israel,
10:13which had long been desolate.
10:15They were brought out of the nations
10:17and now all of them dwell safely.
10:21You'll ascend,
10:22coming like a storm,
10:23on the land like a crowd,
10:24you and all your troops
10:25and many peoples with you.
10:27Verses 8 and 9
10:28talk about a regathering of Israel.
10:31Why do certain prophecy watchers
10:33say about it now?
10:34Because certain Protestants
10:36believe that the creation
10:37of the nation of Israel
10:39in 1948
10:40fulfills verse 8.
10:42Yet that's not really
10:43the fulfillment
10:44for several reasons.
10:46Name one reason
10:48this is not the fulfillment
10:49of Ezekiel 38.
10:51Well, even today,
10:52most Jews don't even live
10:53in the nation of Israel.
10:54Okay, so that's
10:55one of them.
10:56Also, the Bible shows
10:57that Israel split
10:58the kingdoms of Judah
10:59and Israel
11:00after the reign of Solomon.
11:02And there's hundreds
11:03of millions of people
11:04around the world
11:06who descended
11:07from the other tribes
11:08of Israel.
11:08There's only 6 million Jews
11:10in Israel.
11:12We also have,
11:13for those who want
11:14more details
11:15about the different tribes,
11:16we have a free book
11:18also at ccg.org
11:20called Lost Tribes
11:21and Prophecy.
11:22People want more details.
11:24Now, getting back
11:25to Ezekiel,
11:26if we go to
11:27verses 10 through 13,
11:31it says,
11:31Thus says the Lord God,
11:33On that day
11:34I will cause
11:35that you come to pass
11:36that thoughts
11:37will rise in your mind
11:38and you will make
11:39an evil plan.
11:39You'll say,
11:40I'm going to go against
11:41the land of unwalled villages.
11:42I'll go to a peaceful people
11:44who dwell safely,
11:45all of them dwelling
11:46without walls
11:47and not having
11:47either bars
11:48nor gates,
11:49to take plunder,
11:50to take booty
11:51and stretch out
11:52your hand
11:52against the waste places
11:53that again inhabited
11:55the people gathered
11:56from the nations
11:57to gather their livestock
11:58who dwell in the midst
11:59of the land.
12:00Sheba,
12:01Dedan,
12:01the merchants of Tarshish
12:02and all their
12:05young lions will say,
12:07Have you come
12:08to take plunder?
12:08Have you gathered
12:09your army
12:10to take booty,
12:11to carry away
12:13silver and gold
12:14and take away
12:16livestock,
12:16goods,
12:17and great plunder?
12:18This isn't talking
12:19about modern Israel.
12:20It's got its walls
12:21and iron domes,
12:22military weaponry.
12:23It's supposed to be
12:24a peaceful people
12:25in unarmed villages.
12:26That's not Israel
12:28right now.
12:28This can't happen
12:29until after return
12:30of Jesus.
12:31Furthermore,
12:32there's no plan
12:33to take a lot of silver
12:34and gold out of Israel
12:36from the far north,
12:37nor does Israel
12:38have enough of that
12:39to justify an attack.
12:41Now,
12:42perhaps in the future
12:42they'll find some
12:43hidden gold mines
12:44or remaining treasure
12:46from the time of David.
12:48But the fact is,
12:50and I'm going to read
12:50a quote here,
12:52quote,
12:52Israel holds no gold
12:54reserves at all
12:55according to Bank
12:56of Israel.
12:58Okay?
12:58They don't have
12:59any gold reserves,
13:00so why would people
13:01come to plunder it
13:02now for all their gold
13:04that they don't have?
13:06I also decided to say,
13:08well,
13:08maybe they got
13:09a lot of silver.
13:10No,
13:10they're not significant
13:12for that either.
13:13So the reality is,
13:15this is not possibly
13:16for our time.
13:19When we suffer from
13:21the old ambassador
13:22college,
13:23the events of
13:24Ezekiel 38 and 39
13:26are without question
13:27still for the future,
13:28for the latter days.
13:30It's not the situation
13:32of the state of Israel
13:32today.
13:34Israel,
13:35described by Ezekiel,
13:36is a state of security.
13:38Unwalled villages,
13:39totally unprepared
13:40for war,
13:41and Ambassador
13:43College didn't mention
13:43they don't have the
13:44silver or gold anyway.
13:46So look,
13:47while Ezekiel 38
13:49does mention
13:50Russia and Iran,
13:52the tiny Israel,
13:53nation of Israel,
13:54called Israel now,
13:55does not have all
13:56descendants of Israel.
13:57It's not a land
13:58of unwalled villages
14:00to the peaceful
14:00people who dwell
14:02safely.
14:03We're not particularly
14:04close to the fulfillment
14:05of Isaiah 38
14:06or Isaiah 37
14:08for that matter,
14:09because that's
14:10over a thousand years
14:11away.
14:11Those who believe
14:12otherwise
14:13are in error.
14:14But we are in a time
14:16of wars and rumors
14:17of wars,
14:17Jesus foretold.
14:19But no Muslim leader
14:20is about to take
14:21over the world.
14:23So don't be taken
14:24in by the hype
14:25of those
14:26who simply
14:26don't understand
14:27prophecies
14:28despite their
14:28personal beliefs.
14:30Thank you,
14:31Dr. Thiel.
14:32For more interviews
14:33with Dr. Thiel
14:34in addition to
14:34written as well
14:35as audio articles,
14:36visit our website
14:37at BibleNewsProphecy.net.
14:39This is Steve Dupuis
14:40for the Bible News
14:41Prophecy Program.