Keep a prophetic eye on Turkey
A key player in end time prophecy has made a move toward authoritarianism that could see the very beginnings of a new Islamic caliphate taking shape. The concept of an Islamic caliphate has been forwarded with the violent and barbaric Islamic State. Turkey has aided and abetted the IS through many actions from medical care to turning a blind eye to IS activity in Turkey. But Turkey could leverage its contemporary reputation as a democratic Islamic state to become the more reasonable of caliphates, establishing the foundation for the appearance of the end time antichrist figure. This is made possible by the election of a new prime minister that will solidify Turkey’s president’s political authority.
Reuters reports “As Turkey’s incoming prime minister prepares to name his new cabinet, there is little doubt that its primary role will be to rubber-stamp what has already become reality: a shift to a full presidential system with Tayyip Erdogan firmly in charge. Erdogan on Sunday confirmed Binali Yildirim, a close ally for two decades and a co-founder of the ruling AK Party, as his new prime minister, ensuring government loyalty as he pursues constitutional change to replace Turkey’s parliamentary democracy with an executive presidency….skeptical Western allies, fear growing authoritarianism.” European Parliament President Martin Schulz said the power shift is a “breathtaking departure from European values.”
The Jerusalem Post reported in April 2012, “Turkey has been one of the biggest winners of the Arab revolts, as people around the Muslim world look to its ruling Justice and Development Party as a model for combining Islamic values with economic growth.” The New York Times wrote in January 2012, “Supporters credit Erdogan with elevating Turkey’s profile in the Middle East, turning the country into an increasingly assertive regional player at a time when several of its neighbors are locked in sometimes violent struggles for democracy.” That was four years ago. Erdogan’s plan of assuming full power is now nearly complete. His use of anti-Israel rhetoric grew progressively in currying favor among Turkish voters.
The US “president’s” foreign policy of supporting the Muslim Brotherhood in Arab Spring accelerated the advance of the Islamic State, allowed it to solidify as a major force, and nicely positioned the “president’s” ally Erdogan as a seemingly moderate successor to the IS. Turkey figures in as an important piece of the prophetic end time puzzle. In Ezekiel 38:3-8, the Lord says, “Behold, I am against thee, O Gog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal: and I will turn thee back, and put hooks into thy jaws, and I will bring thee forth, and all thine army…Persia, Ethiopia, and Libya with them…against the mountains of Israel…” These areas coincide with modern Turkey, Iran, Sudan, Libya, and parts of Iraq, even Saudi Arabia.
