A New ISIS State

The Islamic militant group ISIS that recently took over cities in northern Iraq has “declared an Islamic ‘caliphate’ [state] in an area straddling Iraq and Syria” (The Guardian, June 30, 2014). One jihadist commented in a high tech video made to promote ISIS, “This is not the first border we will break, we will break other borders” (ibid.). “Later the fighter pledges that jihadists will free Palestine. ‘We are not here to replace an Arab cahoot with a western cahoot. Rather our jihad is more lofty and higher. We are fighting to make the word of Allah the highest’… ‘There is no army in the world that can withstand the soldiers of Islam,’ he said” (ibid.). 

While some neighboring nations dismiss the legitimacy of the new ISIS caliphate, the audacity of ISIS, its recent uncontested conquests and its stated ambitions are generating concerns. Should such a group gain more support and attempt to erase many of the national boundaries in the Middle East, there will be much more turmoil.

Bible prophecies indicate that before Christ’s return, a European Beast power will surround Jerusalem with armies (Luke 21:20-24). Those European forces could be sent to the Holy Land initially to stabilize the region and protect the Israelis in Jerusalem.  Bible prophecies also reveal that the Beast or King of the North will prevail over the Arab King of the South in the Holy Land (Daniel 11:40-43). Groups like ISIS may fade, but their actions could lead to the emergence of the King of the South and bring a greater European presence in the Holy Land.

For more on these events, view our telecast “The Middle East in Prophecy.”