Church of God News

Because this leader rarely shows his face, it is hard to get a recent photo of him.  This may change.

Here are parts of a press release from this “Islamic State’:

This Is the Promise of Allah

Praise be to Allah, the Mighty a nd Strong. And may peace and blessing s be upon the one sent with the sword as a mercy to all creation. As for what follows: Allah (the Exalted) said: {Allah has promised t hose who have believed among you and done righteous deeds that He will surely grant them succession [to authority] upon the earth just as He granted it to those before them and that He will surely establish for them their religion which He has preferred for them and that He will surely substitute for them, after their fear, security, [for] they worship Me, not associating anything with Me. But whoever disbelieves after that – then those are the defiantly disobedient} [An-N ū r: 55]. Succession, establishment, and safety – a promise fr om Allah reserved for the Muslims, but with a condition. {They worship me [Allah] and do not associate anything with me} [An-N ū r: 55]. Having faith in Allah, keeping far from the gateways to shirk ( polytheism) and its various shades, along with submitting to Allah’s command in everything bi g and small, and giving Him the level of obedience that makes your lusts, inclinations, and desires to be in compliance with what the Prophet (peace be upon him) came with – only after this condition is met will the promise be fulfilled. For by fulfilling this condition comes the ability to build, reform, remove oppression, spread justice, and bring about safety and tranquility. Only by meeting this condition, will there be the succession, which Allah informed the angels about. Without this condition being met, authority become s nothing more than kingship, dominance and rule, accompanied with destruction, corruption, oppression, subjugation, fear, and the decadence of the human being and his descent to the level of animals. That is the reality of succession, which Allah created us for. It is not simply kingship, subjugation, dominance, and rule. Rather, succession is to utilize all that for the purpose of compelling the people to do what the Sharia (Allah’s law) requires of them concerning their interests in the hereafter and worldly life, which can only be achieved by carrying out the command of Allah, establishing His religion, and referring to His law for judgment. This succession, along with the aforementioned reality, is the purpose for which Allah sent His messengers and revealed His scriptures, and for which the swords of jihad were unsheathed…

Here the flag of the Islamic State, the flag of tawh ī d (monotheism), rises and flutters. Its shade covers land from Aleppo to Diyala. Beneath it, the walls of the taw ā gh ī t (rulers claiming the rights of Allah) have been demolished, their flags have fallen, and their borde rs have been destroyed. Th eir soldiers are either killed, imprisoned, or defeated. The Muslims are honored. The kuff ā r (infidels) are disgraced. Ahlus- Sunnah (the Sunnis) are masters and are esteemed. The people of bid’ah (heresy) are humiliated. The hud ū d (Sharia penalties) are implemented – the hud ū d of Allah – all of them. The frontlines are defended. Crosses and graves are demolished. …

It is a dream that lives in the depths of every Muslim believer. It is a hope that flutters in the heart of every muj ā hid muwahhid (monotheist). It is the khil ā fah (caliphate). It is the khil ā fah – the abandoned obligation of the era. …

Know that your leaders will not find any arguments to keep you away from the jam ā ’ah (the body of Muslims united behind a Muslim leader), the khil ā fah, and this great good, except for two false and weak excuses. ..

So let those leaders be ruined. And let that “ummah” they want to unite be ruined – an “ummah” of secularists, democrats, and nationalists… an “ummah” of murji’ah (a sect that excludes deeds from faith), ikhw ā n (the “Muslim Brotherhood” party), and sur ū riyyah (a sect influenced by the ikhw ā n claiming to be Salaf ī ). {Satan promises them and arouses desire in them.

But Satan does not promise them except delusion} [An- Nis ā ’: 120].

The State will remain, by Allah’s permission.  https://ia902505.us.archive.org/28/items/poa_25984/EN.pdf

Basically this document says that part of the purpose of being a Muslim is to participate in jihad in order to establish an Islamic state and hence eliminate corruption.  Yet, perhaps it should be mentioned that the last ‘caliphate’ (which ended officially in 1924) was known for some of its corruption.  It also states that the Sunnis are now in charge as they supposed were intended to be.  It also denounces other groups with similar goals, like the Muslim Brotherhood, so it does not seem like this ‘caliphate’ in Iraq will be the final one unless it can learn to get along better with other Sunni groups.

As I mentioned before, this is not the first time this century that a caliphate has been declared to start. When the Ennahda party won in Tunisia in 2011, its leader declared the start of the the sixth caliphate (see Tunisia’s Expected Prime Minister Claims to be part of the Sixth Caliphate). But that really did not happen. Also, when the Muslim Brotherhood won in elections in Egypt and gained its presidency in 2012, many thought this was a start of the sixth caliphate, but that government was overthrown last Summer.  But with those two, no one really declared themselves as the expected caliph.  The group in Iraq is different, but in some ways, not too different.

Notice also the following:

So what do Muslims aspire to?

Officially, the Islamic state, or khilafa, only disappeared less than a century ago when Mustafa Kamal Ataturk started his modernization program in Turkey after centuries of stagnation and corruption brought about by the Ottoman’s khilafa. The majority of Muslims are aware of the corruption and intellectual decline associated with the Ottoman’s rule, but they still prefer it to other non-Islamic governments, just because it carries an Islamic title. …

So what golden age Muslims are talking about?

When Muslims think of an ideal Islamic state, they have something else in mind. They think of Islam as was implemented by what they like to call the four Rightly Guided Caliphs, Abu Bakr, Omar, Uthman and Ali who ruled after Mohammed. The four Caliphs were all close friends of Mohammed, who testified for them to have guaranteed places in paradise. Sunni Muslims do not fault those Caliphs and believe all of them truly followed the footsteps of Mohammed and consider their time, which only lasted thirty-one years, as the golden era of Islam.

The only problem is: Muslims do not read their history very well! For a start, with the exception of Abu Bakr, who died of natural causes, all the other three Caliphs were murdered in the most cruel and inhuman manner. Just imagine, if a country’s leaders are murdered in two thirds of the time!

Now, let us have a closer look at those thirty-one years of what Muslims describe as the glorious history of Islam. My main reference is Ibn Saad’s Al-Tabakat Alkubra, but other history books generally agree on the described events. It is also worth noting that the article only presents the Sunni point of view….

The glorious thirty-one years of perfect implementation of Islam were full with wars, corruption, rape, and murder and power struggles. That is apparently the best Islam could offer, and that what today’s confused Muslims are dying for. http://www.globalpolitician.com/print.asp?id=2797

The group in Iraq, like some of the groups it denounces, wants a multinational Islamic empire, a caliphate led by someone with an Islamic title.

Nearly three and one-half years ago, I wrote:

Whether he is called the Imam Mahdi or Caliph (or both), a Muslim leader is going to get power.

We will see if he and/or his ‘caliphate’ survives and ultimately expands as he is urging now.

That being said, some type of caliphate/confederation of Arabic/Nubian/Turkish peoples will form according to the Bible (Daniel 11:40-43; Ezekiel 30:1-8).

The goal of an Islamic state or caliphate is found in both Shi’ite and Sunni Muslim literature. The group in Iraq is Sunni as is the group called the Muslim Brotherhood, which it denounces.

The situation in Iraq will change.

Ultimately, a confederation of Arabs, Nubians, and Turks will form for a time and cause damage (cf. Psalm 83:4-8; Daniel 11:40).  Yet, it will not last nor turn out well for most of the participants (Daniel 11:40-43; Ezekiel 30:1-8). What is happening in Iraq will not end well for Iraq and many others.

Some items of possibly related interest may include:

Iraq, the King of the South, Armageddon, and Prophecy What will happen to Iraq? Is it the prophesied Mystery Babylon? What is Armageddon and how does that have to do with Iraq? Here is a related video Iraq, Armageddon, & Prophecy.
Is the Future King of the South Rising Up? Some no longer believe there needs to be a future King of the South. Might Egypt, Islam, Iran, Arabs, or Ethiopia be involved? Might this King be called the Mahdi or Caliph? What does the Bible say? A YouTube video of related interest may be: The Future King of the South is Rising.
Iran in Prophecy Is Iran in Bible prophecy? If so, what does the Bible teach? What names, other than Persia, may be used to describe Iran? There is also a YouTube video titled Iran in Prophecy. Here is a related video Iran In Prophecy.
What Should You Know About Turkey in Prophecy Do you know the Turkish people descended from? Did the Ottoman Empire possibly fulfill a promise in Genesis? Will Turkey support the European King of the North or Arabic King of the South? Will it betray one of them? Will Turkey be involved in the encouraging the destruction of Israel? Is Turkey going to become Catholic? Is Turkey mentioned in Psalm 83, Daniel 11, and elsewhere in the Bible? This video provides answers.
The Muslim Brotherhood and the Rise of the King of the South The Bible tells of the formation of a power of nations that are in the Middle East and North Africa that are part of the final “King of the South” (Daniel 11:40-43) The Muslim Brotherhood wishes to have an Islamic empire with basically the same nations. This YouTube video explains what to expect from such a confederation.
The Arab and Islamic World In the Bible, History, and Prophecy The Bible discusses the origins of the Arab world and discusses the Middle East in prophecy. What is ahead for the Middle East and those who follow Islam? What about the Imam Mahdi? What lies ahead for Turkey, Iran, and the other non-Arabic Muslims? An item of possibly related interest in the Spanish language would be: Líderes iraníes condenan la hipocresía de Occidente y declaran que ahora es tiempo para prepararse para el Armagedón, la guerra, y el Imán Mahdi.
Egypt in Prophecy Does Egypt have a special role in end time prophecy? Will Egypt rise up and then be defeated. What does God teach will
What Should You Know About Turkey in Prophecy Do you know the Turkish people descended from? Did the Ottoman Empire possibly fulfill a promise in Genesis? Will Turkey support the European King of the North or Arabic King of the South? Will it betray one of them? Will Turkey be involved in the encouraging the destruction of Israel? Is Turkey going to become Catholic? Is Turkey mentioned in Psalm 83, Daniel 11, and elsewhere in the Bible? This video provides answers.
Damascus and Syria in Prophecy Will Bashar Assad hold power as he has it? Does the Bible show that Damascus, the capital of Syria, will be destroyed? What will happen to Syria? Will the Syrians support the final King of the South that the Bible tells will rise up? Which scriptures discuss the rise and fall of an Arabic confederation? Does Islamic prophecy predict the destruction of Syria. This is a YouTube video.
Is There an Islamic Antichrist? Is Joel Richardson correct that the final Antichrist will be Islamic and not European? Find out.
Why Were You Born? Why did God make you? Herbert W. Armstrong wrote this as a booklet on this important subject. You may also wish to read the article What is Your Destiny? or watch the video, also titled What is Your Destiny?
What is the Meaning of Life? Who does God say is happy? What is your ultimate destiny? Do you really know? Does God actually have a plan for YOU personally? There is also a video titled What is the meaning of your life?
Just What Do You Mean — Repentance? Do you know what repentance is? Have you truly repented? Repented of what? Herbert W. Armstrong wrote this as a booklet on this important subject.
Anglo – America in Prophecy & the Lost Tribes of Israel Are the Americans, Canadians, English, Scottish, Welsh, Australians, Anglo-Saxon (non-Dutch) Southern Africans, and New Zealanders descendants of Joseph? Where are the lost ten-tribes of Israel? Who are the lost tribes of Israel? What will happen to Jerusalem and the Jews in Israel? Will God punish the U.S.A., Canada, United Kingdom, and other Anglo-Saxon nations? Why might God allow them to be punished first? Here is a link to the Spanish version of this article: Anglo-América & las Tribus Perdidas de Israel. Information is also in the YouTube sermons titled Where are the Ten Lost Tribes? Why does it matter? and British are the Covenant People. A short YouTube of prophetic interest may be Barack Obama and the State of the Apocalypse.
Will the Anglo-Saxon Nations be Divided and Have People Taken as Slaves? Will the lands of the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand be divided? What about Jerusalem? What does Bible prophecy teach? Are there non-biblical prophecies that support this idea? Who will divide those lands? Who will end up with the lands and the people? Here is a link to a video titled Will the USA and other Anglo-nations be Divided and Their People Made Slaves? Here is a related item in the Spanish language ¿Serán divididas las naciones anglosajonas?
Barack Obama in Islamic Prophecy? There is actually a 17th century Shiite prophecy that some believe that Barack Obama will fulfill that will lead to a rising up of Islam.
Arabic Nazarenes May Have Kept Original Christian Practices Were their faithful Arabs who held to original Christianity?
Nazarene Christianity: Were the Original Christians Nazarenes? Should Christians be Nazarenes today? What were the practices of the Nazarenes.
Barack Obama, Prophecy, and the Destruction of the United States-Second Edition for Second Obama Term This is a 160 page book for people truly interested in prophecies related to Barack Obama and the United States, including learning about many that have already been fulfilled (which the book documents in detail) and those that will be fulfilled in the future. It also has a chapter about a Republican choice. This book is available to order at www.barackobamaprophecy.com. The physical book can also be purchased at Amazon from the following link: Barack Obama, Prophecy, and the Destruction of the United States: Is Barack Obama Fulfilling Biblical, Islamic Catholic, Kenyan, and other America-Related Prophecies? What About Republican Leaders? Second Edition for Second Obama Term.
Barack Obama, Prophecy, and the Destruction of the United States-Second Term-Amazon Kindle edition. This electronic version is available for only US$2.99. And you do not need an actual Kindle device to read it. Why? Amazon will allow you to download it to almost any device: Please click HERE to download one of Amazon s Free Reader Apps. After you go to for your free Kindle reader and then go to Barack Obama, Prophecy, and the Destruction of the United States-Second Term-Amazon Kindle edition.