According to the Bible the seventh and final gentile kingdom before the return of Christ will consist of ten member nations.
“…And I (John) saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast…having seven heads and ten horns…the angel said to me… The ten horns which you saw are ten kings who have received no kingdom as yet, but they receive authority for one hour as kings with the beast. These are of one mind, and they will give their power and authority to the beast.’” Revelation 17:3, 7, 12-13
Bible students believe the prophet Ezekiel sheds light on the identity of these nations. For brevity we’ll identify three of them, i.e. Persia (Iran), Libya, and Togarmah (Eastern Turkey). Presently these nations are Islamic and are located in Northern Africa, which is south of Israel, Iran which is east of Israel, and Turkey which is north of Israel.
The ten horns representing the ten member nations of the final gentile kingdom are the same as the ten toes of the image in Nebuchadnezzar’s dream. They are also the same as the ten horns of the fourth great beast in Daniel’s dream. Both dreams speak of the federation of nations under the future leader’s rule during the prophet Daniel’s seventieth week, or seven years.
Recall also that the feet of the image in Nebuchadnezzar’s dream had been compromised, i.e. weakened because the iron toes were mixed with clay.
“Whereas you saw the feet and toes, partly of potter’s clay and partly of iron, the kingdom shall be divided; yet the strength of the iron shall be in it…and as the toes of the feet were partly of iron and partly of clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong and partly fragile.” Daniel 2:41-42
The above passage states the toes themselves are part iron and part clay. That would indicate that some or all of the member nations of that final federation will have compromising ideologies either within themselves or as national entities.
The current uprising in several Islamic nations is termed ‘Arab Spring’. The naïve believe that the end result will be the toppling of those authoritarian regimes and replaced with democratic governments. It is also believed by most that the uprisings were/are being spawned by young people demanding an end of oppression. That may have been the beginning spark; however, renowned scholar on Muslim affairs Walid Phares wrote an article recently entitled, ‘Muslim Brotherhood Riding the Crest of Arab Spring’. The Brotherhood is representing themselves as an unassuming stabilizing force and the answer to the unrest.
Consider further that Turkey’s Prime Minister Erdogan was touring Northern Africa’s Muslim nations recently and presenting Turkey’s model as the key for success for those Muslim nations. This model consists of an Islamic-based political party governing a secular democracy.
If Erdogan’s model is adopted in any of these nations it will definitely have the affect of compromise, i.e. iron mixed with clay. Or it may be that the nations representing the toes will wage war against each other during those final days.
“At the time of the end the king of the South shall attack him (the future leader of the ten nation federation); and the king of the North shall come against him like a whirlwind…But news from the east and the north shall trouble him; therefore he shall go out with great fury to destroy and annihilate many…” Daniel 11:40-44
No one can deny that there are exciting times ahead. Our response to that truth should include being informed so each individual can take a stand. In fact, the single most important decision that anyone will make in their lifetime is on which side their trust will be placed. And according to both Islam and Christianity, one must take a side. ‘Chrislam’ is not a viable option.
It is helpful to study Islam along with Biblical teachings so as to better understand future prophetic events. One issue common to both sources of information is that Turkey will definitely have a profound place in future world events. In several weeks we’ll do a column listing other specific major issues that both the Bible and Islam agree on.