The Middle East is a powder keg in search of a match.
The powder keg in the Middle East will explode again in the near future (months to years, It’s anyone’s guess). And Turkey just might be the one that puts the match to the fuse and ignites the region.
Iran made its push into Syria and Yemen but its efforts at military expansion have been stalled. Their economy is in full collapse and that weakened position has not gone unnoticed by enemies and friends.
Turkey has had its own economic issues recently but appears to be moving past them. And with all of the major players in the Middle East looking for a solution, Turkey is forcing itself into the center of the discussion.
See a few of the key issues in these articles below.
Middle East powder keg could explode again.
American thinker.com: fighting_the_muslim_reconquest_of_europe_on_the_greece turkey_border
Turkey refuses to accept U.S. decision on Kurdish protection
Bolton clashes with Turkey on Middle East plans
The U.S. to counter Iran’s efforts in the Middle East
The above articles are a small sampling of the tension that is ongoing. When the United States recently proposed to pull its troops out of Syria, Turkey could barely contain their excitement. Their military forces were made ready to march in and wipe out the Kurdish forces that would have been left behind.
The powder keg was seen by the prophet Daniel in a vision of the last days.
Daniel’s Vision of the Ram and Goat
1 In the third year of the reign of king Belshazzar, a vision appeared unto me, even unto me Daniel, after that which appeared unto me at the first.
2 And I saw in a vision; and it came to pass, when I saw, that I was at Shushan in the palace, which is in the province of Elam; and I saw in a vision, and I was by the river of Ulai.
3 Then I lifted up my eyes, and saw, and, behold, there stood before the river a ram which had two horns: and the two horns were high, but one was higher than the other, and the higher came up last.
4 I saw the ram pushing westward, and northward, and southward; so that no beasts might stand before him, neither was there any that could deliver out of his hand; but he did according to his will, and became great.
Daniel saw a ram with two horns. It came from the region of the Middle East where Iran and Iraq are today. He saw two horns. One was stronger than the other.
Daniel saw the powder keg in a vision.
5 And as I was considering, behold, a he-goat came from the west on the face of the whole earth and touched not the ground: and the goat had a notable horn between his eyes.
6 And he came to the ram that had two horns, which I had seen standing before the river, and ran unto him in the fury of his power.
7 And I saw him come close unto the ram, and he was moved with choler against him and smote the ram, and brake his two horns: and there was no power in the ram to stand before him, but he cast him down to the ground, and stamped upon him: and there was none that could deliver the ram out of his hand.
8 Therefore the he-goat waxed very great: and when he was strong, the great horn was broken; and for it came up four notable ones toward the four winds of heaven.
Daniel saw another nation confront the two-horned ram. That nation would rise from the region of Turkey. That country, the goat, crushed the first nation. I believe this passage indicates that Turkey will usurp power over Iran in an eventual clash. They currently cooperate militarily but that will change.
From where will the “fierce King arise?”
The Antichrist rises to power, exploding the powder keg
9 And out of one of them came forth a little horn, which waxed exceeding great, toward the south, and toward the east, and toward the pleasant land.
10 And it waxed great, even to the host of heaven; and it cast down some of the host and of the stars to the ground, and stamped upon them.
11 Yea, he magnified himself even to the prince of the host, and by him, the daily sacrifice was taken away, and the place of his sanctuary was cast down.
12 And a host was given him against the daily sacrifice by reason of transgression. And it cast down the truth to the ground, and it practiced and prospered.
13 Then I heard one saint speaking, and another saint said unto that certain saint which spake. How long shall be the vision concerning the daily sacrifice, and the transgression of desolation, to give both the sanctuary and the host to be trodden underfoot?
14 And he said unto me, Unto two thousand and three hundred days. Then shall the sanctuary be cleansed.
Unmistakable who this is.
This passage written by Daniel is about the Antichrist. No question about it. He is the little horn who will rise in the last days. And he will rise to power after the conflict between Turkey and Iran. He will stop the daily sacrifice in the temple. This means we will see a rebuilt temple and the return of animal sacrifices. We also learn that the temple will be trampled or controlled for at least 2300 days. That’s six years and about three months. I find that to be an interesting timing factor we should consider.
Gabriel Interprets Daniel’s Vision
15 And it came to pass, when I, even I Daniel, had seen the vision and sought for the meaning, then, behold, there stood before me as the appearance of a man.
16 And I heard a man’s voice between the banks of Ulai, which called, and said, Gabriel, make this man to understand the vision.
17 So he came near where I stood: and when he came, I was afraid, and fell upon my face. But he said unto me, Understand, O son of man: for at the time of the end shall be the vision.
18 Now as he was speaking with me, I was in a deep sleep on my face toward the ground. But he touched me and set me upright.
19 And he said, Behold, I will make thee know what shall be in the last end of the indignation. For at the time appointed the end shall be.
Please notice that these events will be at the appointed time. They will be at the end-of-days.
The angel Gabriel explains the powder keg explosion
20 The ram which thou sawest having two horns are the kings of Media and Persia.
21 And the rough goat is the king of Grecia. And the great horn that is between his eyes is the first king.
22 Now that being broken, whereas four stood up for it, four kingdoms shall stand up out of the nation, but not in his power.
23 And in the latter time of their kingdom, when the transgressors have come to the full. A king of fierce countenance, and understanding dark sentences, shall stand up.
In the latter days of this Grecian kingdom, the Antichrist will arise. Grecia is the region where Turkey sits today. The Bible does point to other regions from which the Antichrist might rise. But the base of his power will reside in this Grecian/Turkish region.
The Antichrist and his powder keg
24 And his power shall be mighty, but not by his own power, and he shall destroy wonderfully, and shall prosper, and practice, and shall destroy the mighty and the holy people.
25 And through his policy also he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand, and he shall magnify himself in his heart, and by peace shall destroy many: he shall also stand up against the Prince of princes, but he shall be broken without hand.
26 And the vision of the evening and the morning which was told is true: wherefore shut thou up the vision. For it shall be for many days.
27 And I Daniel fainted and was sick certain days. Afterward, I rose up, and did the king’s business. And I was astonished at the vision, but none understood it.
In this last section, we learn more about the expansion of the Antichrist’s control over the Middle East. His reach will stretch around the world but his primary focus and wars will be here. And specifically, he will make a final attempt to kill every Jew in Israel. He will fail, but not for a lack of trying.
Let me know what you think.