Think about it; according to Jesus, man's traditional unscriptural teachings make the Word Of God powerless! In the perilous times ahead, we are going to need this power to be able to endure until the end.
Some day myself and all born again believers in Christ are going to stand in front of the Judgment Seat of Christ and be held accountable for every action, thought, and spoken word that comes out of our mouths after salvation. When it's my turn, I do not want the Lord to take away my rewards and say I worshiped him in vain, because I taught the word of men as truth, in place of the Word of God! Therefore, acknowledging the terror of the Lord associated with the the Judgment Seat of Christ in 2 Corinthians 5:11, I present to you THE WATCHMAN'S TIME.
In the fall of 1994, after intensely studying the book of Daniel and in particular the eighth chapter; as I was comparing the map of Alexander the Great’s Kingdom against a modern Middle East Map, suddenly I noticed a cat like figure appeared imbedded within the political borders of the Middle East Arab Nations surrounding Israel. I was shocked and awed at what was revealed to me. Today, twelve years later, I now understand what this composite beast represents, and am even more so in awe of this hidden beast kingdom.
As of this writing (11/2006), Jacob’s people Israel have been back in the land of Palestine as a nation almost sixty years since May 14, 1948, and have taken back control of Jerusalem almost forty years since June 7, 1967, thus fulfilling the 2600 year prophecy of the times of the gentiles as far as Jerusalem is concerned in Luke 21:24. In other words, it is time for “the time of Jacob’s trouble” to commence, which will bring back King Jesus to the earth some 3 ½ years later to initiate the 1000 year millennial reign of Christ on earth!
When Jesus was asked about the timing of his “second coming” by his disciples in Matthew 24:3, his immediate reply was…Take heed that no man deceive you in verse 4, implying deception would be the greatest obstacle facing believers alive at the time of Christ’s second advent.
After receiving Christ as my own personal Savior almost 29 years ago, I am 100% convinced Jesus knew what he was talking about, and I am thankful he has opened my eyes to some of the end time deceptions that have been fed to this modern day Laodicean Church which I also am a member.
Very few Christians alive today are actually watching for Christ’s return, as we are commanded to do in Mark 13:37. Of those few that are watching, most are looking in the wrong direction according to Scripture. Paul plainly tells the church in 2Thessalonians 2:1-9, that two things must happen before the rapture (gathering in Vs.1) will occur. First, a great falling away or apostasy must occur, and second the man of sin (antichrist) will be revealed in verse 3: Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition.
Today, we are taught in the great evangelical Churches and by many prophecy teachers, and countless prophecy books, that we should not concern ourselves with the antichrist and the great falling away, because the pre-tribulation rapture will remove us from this earth just before the antichrist signs a “seven years” peace treaty with Israel, thereby exempting the body of Christ from any type of tribulation, whether small or great. However, a careful study of Daniel's prophecy of the seventieth week, clearly reveals 3 ½ years have already been fulfilled by Jesus earthly ministry, thereby leaving only 3 ½ years still future to be fulfilled. Paul says we are not appointed to wrath in 1Thessalonians 5:9, and Jesus himself suggests a pre-wrath rapture occurring as in the days of Lot.
These same traditional prophetic teachings also focus the body of Christ’s attention on the Revived Roman Empire (E.U.) around Rome as the area the antichrist will rise up from. In contrast, the Scripture clearly tell us the future beast (antichrist) will arise out of the Arab kingdom from the area of Syria/Iraq north of Israel. Micah 5:5 even names him the Assyrian!
The articles, maps and pictures on this website are my way of explaining some of the hard to understand end-time prophetic occurrences which will come to pass in the not too distant future. Please be a Berean and study these things out for yourself, and see if these things be so. Or in other words, Paul admonishes us to Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. 1Thessalonians 5:21 King James Bible.
In His Service,
Watchman
In many of my articles I have presented the Antichrist as an ethnic Assyrian who would rise out of a newly established Assyrian independent state in Northern Iraq. In this article I would like to present not a contradictory but an alternate view on the subject of the Antichrist’s nation of origin.
In other articles I have taken the title ‘’the Assyrian’’ given to the Antichrist in various passages in a literal sense. By that I mean that the Antichrist will be literally an ethnic Assyrian. In this article I will take the title not as an ethnic but as a political designation because the Antichrist carries other political designation such as ‘’the king of Babylon,’’ ‘’the king of the North,’’and ‘’the king Tyre.’’ These political and geographical designations refer to the Antichrist as the leader of these respective areas which in modern terminology would be as follows:
King of Babylon – Ruler of what is today’s Iraq
King of the North – Ruler of the Seleucid portion of the Grecian Empire which basically covered what is today Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, Iran, Pakistan and Afghanistan
King of Tyre – Ruler of what is today’s Lebanon
By considering these titles, we would have to take into consideration that the Antichrist could be an Iraqi or a Lebanese, yet it is not likely that he will hold both citizenships, therefore the title ‘’the Assyrian’’ could also be another political designation instead of an ethnic designation as I have presented in my other articles.
For the Antichrist to carry all these titles, he must be able to rule over all these regions; namely, Syria, Lebanon, and Iraq among other nations. One thing that the Bible foretells about the Antichrist is that he will rise as the eleventh leader who will be outside of a confederacy of ten nations in the Middle East. This can be seen in Daniel 7:8 where the Antichrist being represented by a little horn that appears after ten horns have already become part of a confederacy of ten nations:
‘’I considered the horns, and, behold, there came up among them another little horn, before whom there were three of the first horns plucked up by the roots: and, behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of man, and a mouth speaking great things.’’
Notice that the little horn came up among the other ten horns. This means that the Antichrist will rise from among ten strong nations that will have formed a political and military alliance in the Middle East. In other articles we have speculated that the ten nations that will form a political and military alliance before the rise of the Antichrist will be:
1 Turkey
2 Syria
3 Iran
4 Iraq
5 Lebanon
6Egypt
7 Sudan
8 Libya
9 Pakistan
10 Afghanistan
The Antichrist is supposed to rise from among these ten nations, conquer three of them and later rule over all of them as they give him his power and authority as we read in Revelation 17:12-13:
‘’ And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast.
These have one mind, and shall give their power and strength unto the beast.''
The ten horns or ten kings are ten political leaders of ten nations that will agree to give their political and military power to this man who shall arise after the formation of the confederacy as he starts waging war against them during the beginning of his ascension to power conquering three of the ten nations militarily before all ten submit to his authority.
Daniel 8 and 11 reveal that the Antichrist will rise out of one of the four divisions of the Grecian empire. Daniel 11:21-45 specifically mentions him as the last ‘’king of the north’’ which is a geographical reference to the Seleucid portion of the Grecian empire which ruled over what is today Eastern Turkey, Syria, Iraq, Iran, Pakistan and Afghanistan. Daniel 8 specifically mentions that the time of this king’s rise to power is during the time of the end:
‘’ 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.’’ (Daniel 8:17)
‘’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.’’ (Daniel 8:19)
Notice that in verse 19 we are told that the vision is for the LAST TIME of the INDIGNATION, a reference to the last three and one half years of the tribulation. We also find something that is geographically very significant where the angel tells Daniel the following:
‘’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.’’ (Daniel 8:9)
Notice that the Antichrist as the little horn who rises out of one of the four horns or divisions of the Grecian Empire, more specifically the Seleucid division NORTH of Israel starts conquering the areas south and east of him besides conquering the pleasant land, a reference to the land of Israel.
As we combine the geographical and political designations given to the Antichrist, we can basically pinpoint the region where he will rise from and that would be as follows:
He is called ‘’the Assyrian’’ – This refers to the Antichrist as ruling over the area of Assyria which is today portion of Northern Iraq, Northern Syria and Eastern Turkey known in ancient times as Mesopotamia. This also included Lebanon. All of this is in harmony with his tile ‘’king of the north’’ which is a geographical reference to the ruler of the Seleucid portion of the Grecian Empire and Daniel 11:21-45 informs us that the Antichrist will be the last ruler of the Seleucid region.
The Antichrist is also called the ‘’king of Babylon’’ - In Isaiah 14:4 the Antichrist is called the ''king of Babylon'' and in Revelation 18 we see that Babylon becomes the center of his kingdom. This means that the Antichrist shall rule over what we know today as Southern Iraq.
When taking all of these facts into consideration, we learn that the Antichrist will rise out of the region NORTH of Israel, more specifically the region of ancient Assyria since he is labeled as ‘’the Assyrian’’ which is in harmony with the geographic designation ‘‘the king of the north.’’
Since Daniel 8:9 says that he conquers the regions south and east of him, we learn that he will rule over what is today Syria, Lebanon, and southern Iraq to the south and Iran, Pakistan and Afghanistan to the east. As Iraq and Lebanon come under his rule, he becomes the ‘’king of Babylon’’ and the ‘’king of Tyre,’’ for no one can be the king of Babylon and Tyre without first conquering Babylon (southern Iraq) and Tyre (Lebanon).
As he conquers Iran, Pakistan and Afghanistan, he then becomes the ruler of what was known as ‘’Persia’’ and interestingly enough, the beast in Revelation 13 has the feet of a bear, the bear being a reference to the Persian empire as seen in Daniel 7.
Below is a map of the Kurdish inhabited region. Notice that it is NORTH of Israel and basically covers the area of ancient Assyria.
Notice that the Kurds desire a state that will encompass parts of Eastern Turkey, Northern Syria, Northern Iraq and Western Iran. This area is what was known as the heart of the Assyrian empire. Here is what I am suggesting (not predicting) in this article:
The Middle East is moving toward what is being labeled as an ‘’Islamic Union’’ which Turkey, Syria and Iran wish to create after the European Union model. Other sources have labeled it as a ‘’Turkish-Led Islamic Union’’ Which will encompass the entire Middle East and the Islamic world.
We know from the Bible that it will be ten nations that will ultimately rule over a Middle Eastern confederacy of nations. The Antichrist will rise among these ten confederates, will establish his new independent state and will start waging war against the confederacy by conquering three of the ten nation in the beginning of his conquest.
Now if you pay attention to the Kurdish region map above, you will notice that the first three nations that would be immediately conquered by the Antichrist in case he rises from Kurdistan would be Syria, Iraq, and Iran as he ‘’waxes exceeding great toward the south and toward the east’’ according to Daniel 8:9. That is without counting that a newly established Kurdish state would already include portion of Syria, Iraq and Iran before the Antichrist even conquers the capital of these nations. Could it be that Syria, Iraq and Iran are the three horns that will be plucked out by the roots by the emerging little horn? It is a possibility.
As he conquers Syria, Iraq, and Iran, he then officially becomes the ‘’Assyrian’’, the ‘’King of Babylon’’, the ‘’King of the North’’ and the beast with the ‘’feet of a bear’’ . That is without mentioning that as he rules these regions, he automatically brings back to life the Seleucid Empire which according to Daniel 11 plays the major role in the end times as ‘’the king of the north.’’
As he advances toward the pleasant land (Israel), he will automatically conquer and rule over Lebanon and that will officially make him the king of Tyre. If you notice, the Kurdish region would also include the eastern portion of Turkey and for those who believe that the Gog of the land of Magog is not a reference to Russia but another political designation to the Antichrist as the ruler of the land of Magog which many believe refers to Turkey, I would like to suggest that as Turkey which desires to lead a ‘’Turkish led Islamic Union’’ and as one of the ten horns submits to the emerging eleventh little horn, the Antichrist then becomes the leader of the land of Magog as well turning him into the Gog of Ezekiel 38.
Side note
One of my readers who happens to be an ethnic Assyrian sent me an e-mail informing me that a prominent family in Kurdistan (Barzani family) involved in politics descends from ethnic Assyrians who were forced to convertto Islam in the past. In doing a search about this subject, I found the following information in an article written by an Assyrian named Nineb Lamassu:
‘’ Although I am an avid believer of Descartes' "I think, therefore I am"; in another words, if you believe you are a Kurd then you are even if your father was an Assyrian, and if I think I am an Assyrian, then I am an Assyrian even if my grandfather was a Kurd. But just for your information and please do not perceive this as derogatory: do you have an idea how many of the Kurds are of Assyrian origin, that were forcibly Islamised and Kurdified starting from the first influx of Kurds into Assyria, right to Bedirxan's massacres and the Kurdish proactive role in Seyfo, the genocide of 1915?
Why else would Kasimlo's mother be an Assyrian, why else Masut Barazani's (Kurdish president) ancestry is of Assyrian Christian stock. Why are there so many Kurds in Turkey today still called by the Kurds, "Musilmini", why not ask the Qashura tribe what is their origin?! What I am really trying to say is: I am Assyrian not only because I think that but because I know my grandparents were not Kurdish captives which were forced to become Christians and Assyrians, but how many Kurds can prove that their parents or grandparents were not captive Assyrians which were Islamised and Kurdified. Can you?!''
This writer confirms the Islamization and Kurdification of ethnic Assyrians in the past.
If this happens to be true, it is possible that the Antichrist could indeed be of Assyrian bloodline and a still be a Kurdish citizen. Daniel 11:37-38 says concerning the Antichrist:
''He shall regard neither the God of his fathers nor the desire of women, nor regard any god; for he shall exalt himself above them all. But in their place he shall honor a god of fortresses (Allah?) ; and a god which his fathers did not know (Allah?) he shall honor with gold and silver, with precious stones and pleasant things.''
This verse could very well fit a Muslim Kurd who is of Assyrian decent since many Kurds are believed to be descendents of Christian Assyrians who were Islamised and Kurdified in the past. A Muslim Kurd of Assyrian bloodline will literally show no regard for the God of his ancestors but will honor a god whom his Assyrian ancestors did not know, for the Assyrians are Christians of the Syriac church of the east.
Conclusion
If the alternate view presented in this article happens to be correct, we shall see a move toward a political confederacy of Middle Eastern nations that will create an Islamic Union which will ultimately be ruled by ten confederate nations. After this confederacy has been established, a leader from Kurdistan will step on the political stage of the Middle East, demand an independent state of his own and start fighting for supremacy against the nations around him as he enters into a covenant with Israel. This will trigger the beginning of the final three and one half years of history before Jesus Christ returns to put an end to the Middle East conflict once and for all.
God bless you!
Rodrigo Silva
10-25-09
