Islam vs. the West

Mosque in Damascus

In his commentary today, Wyatt Ciesielka of the Living Church of God wrote:

Islam vs. the West: Final Conflict Ahead?

Militant Islam continues to strengthen its hold across the Middle East…Can Islam find a peaceful place of co-existence with Western culture? Or will its spread lead to increasing tensions and ultimately a final violent conflict against the Western nations?…

The Qur’an proclaims (Surah 5:19–32) that a prophet named Muhammad, more than 600 years after Jesus Christ’s resurrection, came as “Apostle” to the “People of the Book” (chiefly Jews and Christians), calling upon them to replace their previous religions and holy books with Islam and the Qur’an (Surah 5:15).

Understandably, many professing Jews and Christians resisted Muhammad’s call, since many of the Qur’an’s teachings are contrary to what is found in the Old and New Testament Scriptures. For example, the Qur’an asserts that Islam was the religion of Abraham, and that Jesus’ disciples “bowed to God as Muslims” (Surah 5:111)! Although Islam professes respect for Christ as a prophet, it denies the divinity of Christ, claiming that He was actually conceived by Gabriel (Surah 19:19–22), and that He was not in fact crucified; instead someone took His place (Surah 4:157). Furthermore, Islam teaches that Christians “blaspheme” when they proclaim that “Christ is the Son of God” (Surah 5:72).

More than 90 verses of the Qur’an describe war against the infidels (e.g. Surahs 4:101; 9:29), and prescribe that for those who wage war against Allah and Muhammad, their punishment in this life is “execution, or crucifixion, or the cutting off of hands and feet from opposite sides, or exile from the land” (Surah 5:33). Those who remain unrepentant will receive no mercy in the after-life, and they will never escape hell fire (Surah 5:36–37).

This is an especially harsh punishment when we consider that Muslims believe Allah could bring every person to salvation, but chooses not to. The Qur’an teaches that Allah, “could have brought every soul to true guidance, but the word from me will come true: ’I will fill hell with demons and men altogether’” (Surah 32:13). This is a stark contrast to John 3:16–17: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.”

While the Western world may comfort itself talking about a supposed Middle East movement toward Western-friendly democracies, the reality in the region appears quite different. For example, in Egypt (for decades a staunch U.S. and Israeli ally) the Muslim Brotherhood—a militant Islamist group—has become a legitimate Egyptian political party for the first time since it was outlawed in 1954 (JPost.com, June 7, 2011), and it is now considered Egypt’s “best organized political movement” (The New York Times, June 19, 2011). It is currently promoting a candidate to become Egypt’s first president since the ouster of Hosni Mubarak.

Jesus warned that at the end of the age, “nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom” (Matthew 24:7). Tensions between the Western world and the Arab world will temporarily ebb and flow, but there will be a final clash between Islam and the Western “Christian” nations. To the surprise of some, however, Scripture foretells that the final clash will not be between Islam and the United States or the United Kingdom. Instead, in an epic confrontation, a final “king of the South” will war against the ruler of a final “Holy Roman Empire”—also called “Babylon the Great” or the “king of the North” (Daniel 11:40–42; Revelation 17:5; 18:2). Shortly thereafter, Christ will return as Lord of lords to rule over the entire earth, bringing peace and blessings to all nations (Revelation 11:15).

For much more detail about this coming conflict, please read the Tomorrow’s World articles, “An Islamic Europe?” and “Shadows Over Europe.” Read more

While some see Islam as no threat and others consider that the biblical Antichrist will represent Islam. Yet, the reality, as the above commentary points out, is that followers of Islam will be the main group supporting the final King of the South. A leader that Islamic prophecy tends to call the Imam Mahdi.

The Muslim Brotherhood, which is now gaining power throughout the Arab world, wants to establish a caliphate. This caliphate is to cross current national Arab borders and essentially result in an Islamic confederation–an attempt to greatly increase Islamic influence in the world.

Interestingly, on the news last night, I saw that prior to his recent death, Osama bin Laden had wanted to rename al-Qaeda. And one of the two names I saw used a term for caliphate. Another news source translated it as “Restoration of the Caliphate Group” . Hence, it would seem that at least part of al-Qaeda’s goal seems similar to that of the Muslim Brotherhood, as well as consistent with Bible prophecy.

As I have been writing here for some time, the current uprisings in the Arab world (called the Arab Spring by many sources) will likely lead to temporary semi-secular leaders ultimately being replaced by less secular, even more extreme Islamic leaders. And while this will result in some peace and other deals with the West (Daniel 9:27; 11:27), it will not end well for the USA/UK/Canada/Australia/New Zealand/Israel (Psalm 83) nor for many of the Arab nations (Daniel 11:40-43).

For more information, please check out the following articles:

Is There A Future King of the South? Some no longer believe there needs to be. Might Egypt, Islam, Iran, Arabs, or Ethiopia be involved? Might this King be called the Mahdi? What does the Bible say?
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?
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.
Is There an Islamic Antichrist?Is Joel Richardson correct that the final Antichrist will be Islamic and not European? Find out.
Anglo – America in Prophecy & the Lost Tribes of Israel Are the Americans, Canadians, British, Scottish, Welsh, Australians, Anglo (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 nations? Why might God allow them to be punished first?
Will the Anglo-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?
Canada in Prophecy: What Does Bible Prophecy, Catholic Prophecy, and other Predictions Suggest About the Future of Canada? There are prophecies that suggest involvement with Canada. And many are not positive about its future.
Who is the King of the West? Why is there no End-Time King of the West in Bible Prophecy? Is the United States the King of the West?
Who is the King of the North? Is there one? Do biblical and Roman Catholic prophecies for the Great Monarch point to the same leader? Should he be followed? Who will be the King of the North discussed in Daniel 11? Is a nuclear attack prophesied to happen to the English-speaking peoples of the United States, Great Britain, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand? When do the 1335 days, 1290 days, and 1260 days (the time, times, and half a time) of Daniel 12 begin? When does the Bible show that economic collapse will affect the United States?