Turkish President Erdogan erects image of a revived Ottoman Empire
Image of the beast
By Craig C. White
The end time is marked by the revival of the last world empire. Most Bible teachers identify this world empire as Rome but they overlook the only other world empire to exist since Rome fell. Between 1299-1923 the Turkish ruled Ottoman Empire conquered territory from western Europe to India. There have been other empires but none of them were world empires. To qualify as a “world empire” a nation must rule a contiguous land mass covering multiple quadrants of the old world; namely Europe, Russia, Africa, and western Asia. Turkey is right in the middle of all of these regions. The revival of the Turkish ruled Ottoman Empire marks the end time, and Turkish President Erdogan is ambitiously rebuilding it. To celebrate the one year anniversary of the failed military coup in Turkey, Erdogan has erected a giant statue commemorating the rise again of the Ottoman Empire. He also hinted at reunification of all Islamic nations under Turkish rule. Tek Devlet “One State” the image read. Sounds like the tower of Babylon all over again. Please notice that this statue does not honor the god of Islam but is does honor the god of Turkish military conquest (the god of forces).
Turkish President Erdogan poses with Ottoman era soldiers in front of monument dedicated to a revived Ottoman Empire
Dan 11:38 But in his estate shall he honour the God of forces: and a god whom his fathers knew not shall he honour with gold, and silver, and with precious stones, and pleasant things.
The Bible tells us that an image will be made representing the next world empire. Revelation 13:14 seems to suggest that the “False Prophet” will command that this image should be made. Anybody who does not worship the image will be killed. The beast in Revelation 13:15 is the end time world empire. The beast can also describe the ruler of the next world empire. Is Erdogan’s statue the image of the beast mentioned in Revelation? Maybe. Turkish President Erdogan’s pillar certainly qualifies as an image of a revived Ottoman Empire.
Rev 13:15 And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed.
Remember when Erdogan gave a speech as a nine foot tall hologram? That also qualifies as an image that represents the ruler of a revived Ottoman Empire. The hologram could also speak. Any way that you slice it, Erdogan is on the move to reestablish a Turkish ruled empire.
So many Christians balk when I identify the Antichrist. They say that nobody can know, and that we shouldn’t be looking for the Antichrist. What a mistake. The Bible gives us a lot of information about the identity and actions of the Antichrist. We ought not neglect its warnings. It is especially important to warn Israel of its coming time of trouble. If we love Israel then we should be concerned about their welfare. It is shameful that this never enters the minds of so many Christians. When asked about the timing of the Rapture and the Tribulation period, the Apostle Paul said that the Antichrist would rise before the Tribulation begins. Recognizing the identity of the Antichrist warns us that the Tribulation on Earth is about to begin. It also warns believers that they are about to meet their Lord and savior.
Turkish President Erdogan is the Antichrist. The Bible tells us that he will invade Hamah and Tell Rifaat in northwestern Syria, destroy Damascus, lead an invasion into northern Israel, invade Egypt by many ships and much more. Erdogan has already promised to do all of these things. It is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed (Rom 13:11) .
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