Will ISIS rule a revived Assyrian Empire?
By Craig C. White
The ancient city of Nineveh was the capital of the Assyrian Empire. Today the northern Iraq city of Mosul is built around the ruins of ancient Nineveh. Mosul in Iraq is the hometown and headquarters of ISIS. So ISIS represents the ancient Assyrians and a new Assyrian State.
Isaiah chapter 10 predicts an Assyrian invasion into Israel. This invasion happened in 701 BC. In Isaiah 11:1 the return of the Messiah is announced. He will rule in Jerusalem as king. According to Isaiah Jesus Christ returns just after this Assyrian invasion. Therefore Isaiah chapter 10 could also predict another end time invasion into Israel. Because of Isaiah “the Assyrian” is viewed as a prototype of the Antichrist. The Antichrist will rule over the next World Empire.
The rise of ISIS has led some to consider the possibility that the next World Empire may be a revived Assyrian Empire. That is a reasonable observation. ISIS is winning the allegiance of other Islamist terror groups. ISIS is also systematically gaining territory in Syria and northern Iraq. But I think that their power will be contained to those regions.
ISIS seems to be establishing a revived Assyrian State but will it establish an empire? Will ISIS rule a revived Assyrian Empire? Will the Antichrist be from Assyria (or Mosul)? Maybe but I don’t think so.
There is another well-known prototype of the Antichrist in the Bible. His name is Antiochus Epiphanes. He ruled over one quarter of the Grecian Empire. His throne was in Syrian Antioch (now in Turkey). Antiochus Epiphanes did many of the same things that the Antichrist will do. He stopped the temple sacrifice (Daniel 9:27). Antiochus Epiphanes also conquered Egypt and attacked Jerusalem (Dan 11:36-45). The Antichrist will do these same things in the future.
Antiochus Epiphanes is another prototype of the Antichrist. The Bible tells us that the Antichrist will do some of the same things that Antiochus Epiphanes did. In Isaiah chapter 10 the Bible also tells us that the Antichrist will do some of the same things that the Assyrian kings did. In these instances the Bible isn’t telling us where the Antichrist is from. It is telling us what he will do!
Still, the rise of ISIS makes the thought of a revived Assyrian Empire somewhat compelling. Will ISIS rule a revived Assyrian Empire? Is there any way that we can know for sure? Well if ISIS was to suffer an overwhelming defeat; that might cause us to look for another revived World Empire to fulfill Bible prophecy.
The book of Nahum is all about the destruction of the ancient Assyrian capital city of Nineveh. Nineveh was destroyed by a flood along with three plundering armies in 612 BC. Like I said earlier the modern day city of Mosul is built in the same place as ancient Nineveh. The ruins of Nineveh lie in the middle of Mosul. I think that Nahum’s prophecies apply to both the city of Nineveh as well as to the city of Mosul. So if God were to wipe out ISIS in the city of Mosul with a flood along with three plundering armies then he would be giving the world one giant clue that the next World Empire will not be Assyrian led!
Stay tuned!
Listen to my verse by verse Bible study through the Old Testament book of Nahum titled The End of ISIS is near!
https://www.spreaker.com/embed/player/standard?episode_id=8076847&autoplay=false
High Time to Awake 