The Christ in Prophecy Journal

ISIS and Israel in the End Times: Identifying ISIS

The focus of world politics today is on the nation of Israel in the Middle East. That focus is one of many signs that we are living in the season of the Lord’s return because all of end times Bible prophecy focuses on Israel.

Need proof? Just look at today’s newspaper headlines. The Middle East today is a cauldron of turmoil, and much of that turmoil has been stirred up by a mysterious group called ISIS that seems to have come out of nowhere. What is this group? What are they all about? And how do they relate to what the Bible says about Israel and the Arabs in the end times? I will answer these questions in this new series — “ISIS and Israel in the End Times.”

Identifying ISIS

Where in the world does ISIS fit into the end times picture?

ISIS is a Sunni Muslim group that has transformed rapidly from a terrorist group into a full fledge army. And I mean rapidly!

The group was founded by Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. He is a recluse, and so he keeps to himself. Likely he’s afraid of assassination. He never stays in the same place per night. He’s moving around all the time. He’s only made two public appearances since he formed ISIS. Because al-Baghdadi is a real recluse, there is very, very little known about this particular man.

What we do know about al-Baghdadi is that he became the leader of an Al Qaeda group that was called ISI, standing for the Islamic State of Iraq, because he began to launch terror attacks across Iraq with the idea of taking over Iraq and turning it into a pure Muslim State under Sharia Law. In 2013, he ventured into Syria and he changed the name of his group to ISIS, standing for the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria. He later changed it again to ISIL, meaning the Islamic State of Iraq and Levant. Levant is a French word which means the Middle East. So, you can see how he is expanding his reach. Al-Baghdadi started out with Iraq, then went into Iraq and Syria, and then expanded into Iraq and the entire Middle East.

Al-Baghdadi’s most important public appearance was in June 2014 where he made a public speech and for the first time declared the establishment of the Islamic State. So, today he calls his organization IS — I-S — for the Islamic State. He doesn’t call it ISIL or ISIS as some keep calling it.

What Motivates ISIS

Let’s consider for a moment what motivates those in ISIS.

Al-Baghdadi’s pronouncement was the most important pronouncement that had been made by a Muslim in many, many years. Keep in mind that no Muslim Caliphate, meaning no Muslim Empire, has existed since the dissolution of the Ottoman Empire in 1922. When he declared an Islamic State, he was instituting an Islamic caliphate. Radical Muslims all over the world became excited. They began to flood into the Middle East because they wanted to be part of the establishment of the next Muslim caliphate. In building the next Muslim empire, these Muslims hope their’s will be the empire that will take over the entire world.

In February 2015, Marie Harf, a State Department spokeswoman, made the most incredible proclamation I think that has ever come out of the mouth of a government employee. She said that the motivations behind ISIS is their desire to get jobs. She believes these are people who need jobs! Here is her actual words:

“We cannot win the War on Terror, nor can we win the war on ISIS, by killing them. We need to find them jobs. We need to get to the root cause of terrorism and that is poverty and the lack of opportunity in the terrorist community.”

This is liberal thinking gone to seed! It is just pathetic. Pathetic! What a perverse idea that ISIS is driven by poverty and the need for jobs. One of my own staff members, who doesn’t even know anything about her statement, when I told him about this he said, “Dave, this is insane. I haven’t heard one members of ISIS yet yelling, ‘Jobs, jobs, jobs!'” He said, “All they seem to be yelling is, “Allahu Akbar!” “Allahu Akbar!” “Allah is the greatest!”

David Reagan: What a perverse idea that #ISIS is driven by poverty and jobs instead of the commands of the #Quran! Click To Tweet

The real motivation that drives ISIS is of course religion, specifically the commands of the Quran. These are the verses right out of the Muslim holy book that they live by: “To fight non-Muslims until you exterminate all other religions, leaving Islam as the one and only religion in the world.”

What are they doing? They are following the dictates of their holy book. Mohammad is quoted in the Hadith as saying, “I have been ordered to fight with the people until they say, ‘None has the right to be worshipped except Allah.”

ISIS has become very quickly identified by their use of indescribable, widespread, radical terror, and this is all in accordance with the Quran. In addition to military force, the Quran orders Muslims to terrorize non-Muslims. Sura 8:60 reads, “Strike terror in the hearts of the enemies of Allah and in your enemies.” Allah then assures his followers that he will help them do this: “I will instill terror in the hearts of unbelievers. Smite them above their necks, and smite all their fingertips off them. It is not you who slay them it is Allah.”

Concerning jihad, or Holy War, Mohammad says the Quran guarantees Paradise to those who fight for Allah. In fact, in the Muslim religion, the only guarantee you have that you will go to Heaven is if you die in combat fighting for Allah. Otherwise, there is no guarantee whatsoever. Even Mohammad said he wasn’t sure whether he would go to Heaven or not.

Dying for Allah is presented as better than living. If you are killed or die in the way of Allah, forgiveness and mercy from Allah are far better than amassing all worldly wealth. It is a great thing to die for Allah.

Martyrs are also promised a sensual and luxurious life in Paradise. In short, the Muslim paradise is one of eternal decadence.

In the second part of this series on ISIS and Israel in the end times, we’ll learn what ISIS’s purposes are and just what they really respect.

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Dr. David Reagan

Dr. David Reagan is the Founder and Evangelist Emeritus of Lamb & Lion Ministries. He is a life-long Bible student, teacher, and preacher and he led over 45 pilgrimages to Israel. Dr. Reagan was the host of the radio then television program Christ in Prophecy for nearly 40 years.

12 CommentsLeave a Comment

  • It is good to read the article which clarifies what I believe to be a true interpretation. Thank you for your wonderful ministry.

  • Great piece. I have been teaching this scenario for several years now and with every day’s news I am even more convinced. What an awesome God we serve who through His omniscience has recorded the future of humanities actions so that we nee not be coughs by surprise.
    The trump is about to sound forth.
    God bless your ministry for our Lord and Saviour.

  • Others have described this scenario. Yours is the first I’ve read that is simple to understand, written without an urge to impress us with scholarship.

    I appreciate your article, and I am looking forward to the next part–both in your writing, and in the unrolling of the End Time events.

  • Great article and I believe an accurate reading of prophecy, but let me add a thought. With Israel defeating the Islamic Caliphate in this Psalm 83 war and greatly expanding her borders, the Muslim population of Europe will demand they be stopped.
    We will not know who the anti-Christ is until he presents a peace treaty with Israel. The only time two entities need a peace treaty is if there is a war first,
    This scenario provides that war. If Israel were losing the war and being pushed into the sea, the rest of the world would be dancing in the streets. The only impetus for the anti Christ to offer a peace treaty would be to stop Israel from conquering any more land and to appease a large and angry Muslim population in Europe. The preparation of that treaty will be done with great fanfare, identifying and launching the rise of anti Christ and the signing of the treaty will begin the period of peace and unwalled borders that opens the way for the following Magog war. I know the Rapture can occur at any time, but I believe it will happen within a few days before or after the signing of the treaty or, perhaps more likely, at the very moment of signing, as it will be televised and watched around the world as the most momentuous event of modern history. In Biblical history, God has shown a flair for the dramatic and these events, if played out in the above scenario, would be the biggest event in world history since the Resurrection of Christ. We indeed live in interesting times. Just my thoughts.

  • Have you considered that the rapture might be the event that shocks the Muslim world into signing the peace treaty and allowing the temple to be built in Jerusalem? The Anti-Christ may not be Muslim but he is probably an ally and cannot desecrate the Temple until it is rebuilt and he will do that three years after the treaty is signed.

  • Here is a fact ISIS was created by the US Government the CIA to be exact what do you think Bengazi was all about. Will they play a role in prophecy most likely I believe as all the surrounding nations come against Israel. Maybe Dr.Reagan you see no point in providing this information but being well informed is never a bad thing. Your readers would thank you for it I think. America is no longer a nation with a moral compass the apathy is so sad.Come Jesus.

  • I know someone who grew up Muslim in Iran and this person tells me that the brutality of ISIS and the oppression of the mullahs in Iran are the true face of Islam.

    With the true nature of Islam exposed, many Muslims are coming to Jesus. My prayer is that many more Muslims can be saved before these prophetic wars begin.

  • Umm. I’m sorry but I don’t agree with this at all. I have no idea where “To fight non-Muslims until you exterminate all other religions, leaving Islam as the one and only religion in the world.” comes from. Couldn’t find it anywhere. “I have been ordered to fight with the people until they say, ‘None has the right to be worshipped except Allah.” This is mistranslated. the word which is here translated into people actually meant the quraish. A tribe who tortured, ostracised, enslaved and oppressed the muslims. 8:60 is talking about the battle of Badr when there was a war between the Muslims who had moved to Madinah, and the Quraysh who had tortured them, beaten them, ostracized them and killed a number of them Surat Al-‘Anfal [8:9-15]. Allah is actually not even giving instructions to people at this point. If you read the verse it’s giving instructions to angels (and yes, I know many people have problems with the concept of angels; let’s leave that for another question).

    • The Koran says: “Fighting is prescribed for you, and [some of] you dislike it. But it is possible that you dislike a thing which is good for you, and that you love a thing which is bad for you. But Allah knows, and you know not” (Sura 2:216). And, “Fight and slay the pagans wherever you find them, beleaguer them, and lie in wait for them in every stratagem of war” (Sura 9:5). And, “Fight in the way of Allah… and slay them [the unbelievers] wherever you find them and drive them out… and fight them until… religion is for Allah” (Sura 2:190-193).

      The Hadith says: “The last hour would not come unless the Muslims will fight against the Jews and the Muslims would kill them until the Jews would hide themselves behind a stone or a tree and a stone or a tree would say: Muslim, or the servant of Allah, there is a Jew behind me; come and kill him; but the tree Gharqad would not say, for it is the tree of the Jews” (Sahih of al-Bukhari: Book 041, Number 6985).

      What a contrast to what God’s resurrected son, Jesus Christ, teaches:
      “Love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you.” – Matthew 5:44
      “Whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn to him the other also.” – Matthew 5:39
      “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” – Matthew 22:39
      “This is my commandment that you love one another.” – John 15:12,17

    • Koran 9:5. “So when the sacred months have passed away, then slay the idolaters wherever you find them, and take them captive and besiege them and lie in wait for them in every ambush, then if they repent and keep up prayer and pay the poor rate, leave their way free to them.”

      Koran 9:73. “Strive hard against the unbelievers and the hypocrites and be unyielding to them; and their abode is hell, and evil is their destination.

      Koran 2:191 “And kill them wherever you find them, and turn them out from where they have turned you out. And Al-Fitnah, disbelief or unrest, is worse than killing…And fight them until there is no more Fitnah, (disbelief in the Koran) and worship is for Allah alone.

      Koran 9:29. “Fight those who believe not in Allah nor the Last Day, nor hold that forbidden which hath been forbidden by Allah and His Messenger, nor acknowledge the religion of Truth, even if they are the People of the Book, until they pay the Jizya with willing submission, and feel themselves subdued.”

      Koran 3:151. “Soon shall We cast terror into the hearts of the Unbelievers, for that they joined companions with Allah,, for which He had sent no authority.”

      Koran 4:74. “Let those fight in the way of Allah who sell the life of this world for the other. Whoso eightieth in the way of Allah, be he slain or be he victorious, on him We shall bestow a vast reward.”

      Koran 4:104. “And be not weak hearted in pursuit of the enemy; if you suffer pain, then surely they too suffer pain as you suffer pain.”

      What the Koran commands is for Muslism to wage perpetual war against infidels and apostates until the end of time or until the entire world is under Islamic Sharia Law. There is no sense of a spirit of peace when reading the Koran, its replete with texts commanding violence and attacks.

      As Christ said: “By their fruits, you shall know them. Matthew 7:16. (The Word of the One True God)

  • This article on Isis is particularly relevant to me since I love Israel and I would like to see justice done to their enemies, and the Lord will deliver that judgment. In Ezekiel 39:21 after the Gog Magog War, God says And I will set my glory among the heathen, and all the heathen shall see my judgment that I have executed, and my hand that I have laid upon them. So the House of Israel shall know that I AM the Lord their God from that day and forward. And the heathen shall know that the house of Israel went into captivity for their iniquity: because they trespassed against me, therefore hid I my face from them, and gave them into the land of their enemies: so fell they all by the sword. This is exciting to me because God will be fighting Israel’s enemies and win. Ezekiel 39: 7 “I will make known my holy name among my people Israel, I will no longer let my holy name be profaned, and the nations will know that I the Lord am the Holy One in Israel. It is coming! It will surely take place, declare the Sovereign Lord. This is the day I have spoken of. I love these verses. God’s total victory over enemies, and Israel knows the true Messiah! It doesn’t get any better than that.

  • God said to Abraham, “I will bless those who bless you, and curse those who curse you. Genesis 12:3. Be careful not to put your hand against Israel, the Apple of God’s eye, you will invite the Judgment of God Almighty Himself.

    Ezekiel 38 and 39. Notice the three elements that become obvious in these scriptures. First of all we have demonic forces that are moving behind the scenes to influence human leaders to self-destruction. Secondly, we have the devastating attack as we read Ezekiel 38 and 39. The enemy sweeps in like a cloud over the land. It looks like Israel is going to lose. And then at the last minute, there is a divine intervention. God is really at work here, God is the one who resists the plan and purpose of Satan.

    “And I will turn thee back, and leave but the sixth part of thee…Ezekiel 39:2.

    “I will bring judgment upon you from the north parts.”
    4. “Thou shalt fall upon the mountains of Israel.”
    6. “I will send a fire on Magog, ” upon the homeland of the leaders of the invasion.
    7. “I will make my Holy name known in the midst of my people Israel.” And they will know that I am the Lord, the Holy One in Israel. Behold, it is come, and it is done, saith the Lord GOD; this is the day whereof I have spoken.” Ezekiel 39: 7-8.

    This is as decisive as you can make Bible Prophecy. It is not conditional. “God is saying in My mind, “I already see it as a completed fact.” That is why the prophet Ezekiel would speak of future events as though they had already occurred because he saw it in the eyes of prophecy that God has given us to determine the future.

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