Showdown at Al Nuri Mosque
Photo courtesy of the Library of Congress
ISIS last stand
By Craig C. White
The Iraqi Army is approaching the Great Al Nuri Mosque. This may be the last stand for ISIS before Mosul is flooded. The Al Nuri Mosque is located on the west side of the Tigris River in downtown Mosul in northern Iraq. ISIS is fiercely defending the Mosque. The Al Nuri Mosque was where ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi announced the creation of his Islamic Caliphate. The Al Nuri Mosque was built in 1172 AD and is famous for its 148 foot tall leaning minaret.
The Iraqi Army has surrounded ISIS in Mosul and is corralling them towards the heart of the city. The center of Mosul is much more densely populated than the areas that have already been taken back from ISIS. The downtown streets are narrower making it difficult to maneuver armored vehicles inside of the city.
There are an estimated 600,000 civilians still trapped in Mosul. There is now a concerted effort to evacuate civilians out of Mosul before a full scale attack is launched against the Al Nuri Mosque and the city center. The evacuation of civilians may be a demonstration of God’s grace because I believe that the Prophet Nahum predicted the flooding of ISIS in Mosul. According to Nahum, the flood will come when they are gathered closely together. The verse below says that ISIS will be wrapped up like brambles ready to be burned in a fire.
Nahum 1:10 For while they be folden together as thorns, and while they are drunken as drunkards, they shall be devoured as stubble fully dry.
The Prophet Nahum predicted the flooding and destruction of the ancient Assyrian capital city of Nineveh. Nineveh was flooded and completely ransacked in 612 BC. Today the northern Iraq city of Mosul is built around the ruins of Nineveh. Mosul is still called Nineveh by local Iraqis. Bible prophecy often has multiple fulfillment. Nahum may have also predicted the flooding and destruction of ISIS in Mosul.
Nahum 1:8 But with an overrunning flood he will make an utter end of the place thereof, and darkness shall pursue his enemies.
History reports that In 612 BC water from the Tigris River rose up to the city gates of Nineveh. The flood waters washed out a nine hundred foot long section of the city walls along the Tigris River. Afterward the Babylonians, Persians and Medes ransacked the city for two months until nothing was left. Today the same three armies are besieging Mosul.
Getting back to the Mosque; Nahum also predicted that Nineveh’s palace (or large meeting place) would be dissolved in the flood. Back in 612 BC the palace of Assyrian King Sennacherib was plunged into the flood waters. Amazingly the ruins of Sennacherib’s palace have just now been rediscovered for the first time since Nineveh was flooded. ISIS is making a stand at the Al Nuri Mosque. Nahum may also be identifying the Al Nuri Mosque as “the palace” in the following verse.
Nahum 2:6 The gates of the rivers shall be opened, and the palace shall be dissolved.
In the verse below, Nahum identifies a certain wicked person that has come out of the city. This may be identifying Assyrian King Sinsharishkun who was in the city of Nineveh when it was destroyed. However, there have been unconfirmed reports that ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi has recently fled Mosul and is now hiding in nearby desert towns to the west. Al-Baghdadi may be better described here.
Nahum 1:11 There is one come out of thee, that imagineth evil against the LORD, a wicked counsellor.
Nahum describes an overrunning flood that will cover the city. He says that the city will look like a water reservoir for many days (Nahum 2:8). Nahum’s prophecy was fulfilled in 612 BC but the magnitude of the flood that he described may point to a future event. Many of the circumstances in Mosul echo Nineveh’s destruction. Today the Mosul dam is in danger of bursting. If the dam brakes it could send a seventy five foot high wave of water over downtown Mosul.
Jesus promised the Jewish religious leaders that he would give them one sign that he was truly their Messiah. He promised to give them the sign of the Prophet Jonah. Jonah spent three days inside of the belly of a fish. After Jonah was spit out he went directly to the city of Nineveh.
Matthew 12:38-41 Then certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees answered, saying, Master, we would see a sign from thee. 39 But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas: 40 For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale’s belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. 41 The men of Nineveh shall rise in judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: because they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater than Jonas is here.
The flooding of Mosul may be the one and only sign that will be given to Israel before their time of tribulation begins. Jesus is the true Messiah of Israel. Repent! Turn away from your unbelief and humble yourself before Jesus Christ.
לפנות את הכפירה שלך צנוע עצמך לפני ישוע המשיח.
UPDATE June 21, 2017: ISIS has blown up the Al Nuri Mosque in the Old City neighborhood of western Mosul. They have also blown up my theory that Nahum identifies the Al Nuri Mosque as “the palace” in the following verse.
Nahum 2:6 The gates of the rivers shall be opened, and the palace shall be dissolved.
The Prophet Nahum predicted the flooding and destruction of the ancient Assyrian capital city of Nineveh. Today Mosul is Nineveh. The Prophet Nahum may also predict the flooding of ISIS in Mosul. The Prophet Nahum says that the gates of the Tigris River will be opened and the palace will be dissolved. The Al Nuri Mosque was my candidate for being the palace mentioned by Nahum. Perhaps ISIS in Mosul will yet be destroyed by a flood of water but it doesn’t look like the Al Nuri Mosque is the palace that Nahum spoke of. Assyrian king Sennacherib’s palace was just rediscovered for the first time since it was buried by the flood of 612 BC. Archeologists from around the world are eager to excavate the site. Perhaps Sennacherib’s palace will be completely dissolved when the flood hits Mosul. Or perhaps there is another large capacity building where ISIS will make its last stand. If Nahum’s prophecy applies today then Mosul will food soon. Keep watching.
One thing is for sure, God made certain that we didn’t identify the Al Nuri Mosque as the palace in Nahum 2:6. If God washes away Sennacherib’s palace then he will be making a broader condemnation about the Assyrian Empire and not just about ISIS.
Is Kenya in the bible prophecy, what is the Lord speaking about my nation? am born again and crying for our nation. Thanks
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Hi Irene. Kenya isn’t mentioned by name in the Bible. But Turkey will lead Libya and Sudan throughout northern Africa. Turkey will invade Egypt and even come into Israel (the glorious land). It sounds like Turkey will conquer all of Northern Africa and the Middle East except for Jordan. Edom, Moab, and Ammon all represent today’s Jordan.
Dan 11:40 And at the time of the end shall the king of the south push at him: and the king of the north shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, and with horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter into the countries, and shall overflow and pass over. 41 He shall enter also into the glorious land, and many countries shall be overthrown: but these shall escape out of his hand, even Edom, and Moab, and the chief of the children of Ammon.
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