By far, the single most important sign of Christ’s return is the rise of the “Islamic Empire”. Islam is God’s hand of judgment, first against his apostate people, and then, ultimately, against an unbelieving world as well. God has already sent Islam against apostate Christendom twice before, in 711 AD and 1453 AD. Make no mistake! It is because of the “Apostasy” of God's people that God will unleash this final terrifying world kingdom. (Daniel 8:12) “And it is because of transgression that the host will be given over to the horn…”
In the “Book of Revelation” the apostle John is told of seven empires, and that six have already ruled in the Middle East. In John's day, Rome was the current and last of the first six. (Revelation 17:9-10) “And there are seven kingdoms, five have fallen (Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Persia, and Greece), one is (Rome)…” The fall of Rome marks the beginning of the Christian era, and God turning his attention to the Church.
Despite what you may have been taught, the seventh empire is not a revived Rome. Rome, after its fall, has never been a Middle Eastern empire, and it never again will be. The seventh Middle Eastern empire is clearly Islam. It could be no other! (Revelation 17:10-11) “and the other has not yet come, and when it comes, it must remain a little while. And the beast which was and is not, is itself also an eighth, and it is of the seventh, and it goes to destruction.”
Islam, in our present day, is the resurrected seventh empire, and the eighth and final empire of God’s judgment. Islam was dealt a fatal wound when the Ottoman Empire was defeated and totally crushed by Allied forces in 1919. However, this fatal wound was suddenly healed, when in 1948 Islamic countries joined forces again to attack the re-established nation of Israel. (Revelation 13:3-4) “And I saw one of his (seven) heads as if it had been slain, and his fatal wound was healed…”
Since 1948, the revived Islamic Empire has continued to gain strength and power. Today, it seems that from America on down, no nation is willing to seriously confront the “Beast”. (Revelation 13:3-4) “…And the whole earth was amazed after the beast… saying, “Who is like the beast, and who is able to wage war with him.”
The Book of Revelation is a prophetic book specifically given to the apostle John to reveal God’s final judgments against an unbelieving world. The “Seven Churches” mentioned as examples for us, are all located in what is now Turkey. Therefore, all seven of these churches would be under Islamic control today.
Is this just a coincidence? I don’t think so. I believe that God chose these specific first century churches as a clear warning to the apostate Christian Church of the Last Days. Islam will control the world!
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