Church of God News

It should be pointed out that this is not the first time this century that a caliphate has been declared to start.  When the Ennahda party one in Tunisia a couple of years ago, 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, many thought this was a start of the sixth caliphate, but that government was overthrown last Summer.

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).

As far as the newly declared caliph of the ‘Islamic State’ goes, his previous name has Islamic historical significance.  He apparently was named after an 11th century Islamic teacher.  Here is some information about that leader:

Abu Bakr Ahmad ibn `Ali ibn Thabit ibn Ahmad ibn Mahdi al-Shafi`i, commonly known as al-Khatib al-Baghdadi (Arabic: الخطيب البغدادي‎) or the lecturer from Baghdad (10 May 1002 – 5 September 1071; 392 AH-463 AH), was a Sunni Muslim scholar and historian…

At the age of 20 his father died and he went to Basra to search for hadith. In 1024 he set out on a second journey to Nishapur and he collected more hadith in Rey and Isfahan. It is unclear how long he traveled but his own accounts put him back in Baghdad in 1028. While he was an authority on hadith it was his preaching that gave him fame that would help him later in life. (Al-Khatib al-Baghdadi, Wikipedia, viewed 06/30/14).

As far as the 21st century ISIL leader himself, here is some information about his group and him:

Ibrahim Awwad Ibrahim Ali al-Badri al-Samarrai (Arabic: ابراهيم عواد ابراهيم علي البدري السامرائي‎), most commonly known as Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi (أبو بكر البغدادي), and also as Dr. Ibrahim, Abu Dua (أبو دعاء), and Caliph Ibrahim, is the leader and so-called caliph (head of state) of the Islamic State controlled by the militant Islamist group, the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), alternatively translated as the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS).

The formation of the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant was announced on 8 April 2013 in a statement by al-Baghdadi. It is the successor to the Islamic State of Iraq (ISI) militant group (aka Al-Qaeda in Iraq or AQI), which was the Iraqi division of the international Islamist militant organization al-Qaeda…

On 29 June 2014, the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant was renamed the Islamic State and al-Baghdadi was named its Caliph,using his actual name, Ibrahim…

Al-Baghdadi is believed to have been born in Samarra, Iraq, in 1971. Reports suggest that he was a imam at around the time of the US-led 2003 invasion of Iraq.

He holds a PhD in Islamic studies from a university in Baghdad…

In 2014, it was reported that Al-Baghdadi was in US custody in 2005, and was held at Camp Bucca, a US-controlled detention facility in Iraq, until he was transferred to Iraqi control in 2009 and released later that year under an agreement signed by President George W. Bush the previous year…

Al-Baghdadi was announced as the leader of the Islamic State of Iraq on 16 May 2010, following the death of his predecessor Abu Omar al-Baghdadi in a raid the month before…When the formation of ISIS was announced in April 2013, al-Baghdadi stated that the Syrian Civil War jihadist faction, Jabhat al-Nusra, had been an extension of the ISI in Syria, and was now to be merged with ISIS. (Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, Wikipedia, viewed 06/30/14)

So, US President George Bush released Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, and he (now called Ibrahim Awwad Ibrahim Ali al-Badri al-Samarrai) is now a threat.  According to a retired four-star general I saw on the news last night, if Ibrahim Awwad Ibrahim Ali al-Badri al-Samarrai’s government stays in place, the USA will be at risk of terrorist strikes from it in a few months.  Terrorism from Iraq is something that I expect (see Iraq, the King of the South, Armageddon, and Prophecy).

Could Ibrahim Awwad Ibrahim Ali al-Badri al-Samarrai become the final King of the South of Daniel 11?  That is too soon to say, though as an Iraqi Arab, he personally probably will not be, though IF he survives long enough, he would be expected to support such a leader.  The King of the South will likely be some type of a strongman from further south.   The King of the South will have certain military diplomatic abilities (cf. Daniel 11:27) that Ibrahim Awwad Ibrahim Ali al-Badri al-Samarrai may or may not possess.

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

Ultimately, a confederation of Arabs, Nubians, and Turks will form for a time and cause damage (cf. Psalm 83:4-8; Daniel 11:40)–but it will not last (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.