ISIS: What You Need To Know Series
Black Banners Rising (3 of 3)
April 26, 2015 CFBC Chester, IL Dr. Mike Fogerson, Speaker
Introduction:
A In Scripture we have seen that in the Last Days there will be a rising of the “Kings of the East” that will assemble against Israel.
1 13 And I saw coming out of the mouth of the dragon and out of the mouth of the beast and out of the mouth of the false prophet, three unclean spirits like frogs; Revelation 16:13 (NASB)
1 Then the sons of Israel did what was evil in the sight of the LORD; and the LORD gave them into the hands of Midian seven years. 2 The power of Midian prevailed against Israel. Because of Midian the sons of Israel made for themselves the dens which were in the mountains and the caves and the strongholds. 3 For it was when Israel had sown, that the Midianites would come up with the Amalekites and the sons of the east and go against them. Judges 6:1-3 (NASB)
a The “people from east” in the past were able to harass and overpower God’s people because Ancient Israel did “evil in the sight of the Lord.”
aa When a people break covenant with God, He hides his face from them, removes the hedge of protection, covering of blessing . . . allowing another presence to move in/lord over His people.
bb In Judges 6, this invading Arab coalition was allowed to oppress Israel for 7 years, devouring their crops/stealing their livelihood.
cc Judges 7.12 compares the invading armies as locusts; locusts consume the land and everything there in.
12 Now the Midianites and the Amalekites and all the sons of the east were lying in the valley as numerous as locusts; and their camels were without number, as numerous as the sand on the seashore. Judges 7:12 (NASB)
b In the Exodus account (Ex. 10.13) of the locusts devouring Egypt’s crops came from a very distinct direction; “So Moses stretched out his staff over the land of Egypt, and the LORD directed an east wind on the land all that day and all that night; and when it was morning, the east wind brought the locusts.” A wind coming from Saudi Arabia brings destruction upon a nation.
aa East of Israel are the nations of Saudi Arabia & Iraq, the direction that the wind blew to bring this assault.
bb It is from this same area that today we are seeing an incredible amount of distressing and destructive news coming from in ways of beheading, crucifixions, raping, & cruelty that hasn’t been seen since the 7th century.
c When we couple all the information we’ve learned in the last two weeks about ISIS with the information we find in Revelation 9 (cf. Rev. 9.1-11) describing locust-like creatures (Rev. 9.3,4) that harass and sting men for five-months and whose “king” is called Abaddon (Rev. 9.11) (or Destroyer) it seems possible that there is connection to the “people of the east” and Revelation’s “Kings of the east.”
3 Then out of the smoke came locusts upon the earth, and power was given them, as the scorpions of the earth have power. 4 They were told not to hurt the grass of the earth, nor any green thing, nor any tree, but only the men who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads. Revelation 9:3-4 (NASB)
11 They have as king over them, the angel of the abyss; his name in Hebrew is Abaddon, and in the Greek he has the name Apollyon. Revelation 9:11 (NASB)
aa If there is still doubt, consider what happens at the conclusion at the battle between Gideon’s 300 and the battle against the people of the east . . . “So Gideon arose and killed Zebah and Zalmunna, and took the crescent ornaments that were on their camel’s necks.”-Judges 8.21 (NASB).
bb It seems plausible that what we forming in the Middle East today is the embryonic stages of the coalition that Scripture calls “the kings from the east”; Syria, Iraq, and other nations being gobbled up by the ISIS system.
cc When this coalition becomes a reality, it will be presided over by none other than the Antichrist, a person who seeks to steal, kill and destroy anything & everyone associated with the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
B ISIS is growing and taking shape in the heart of the ancient kingdom of Babylon, the kingdom described by Daniel & John the Revelator.
1 These prophets describe this future Beast as being terrifying, dreadful and having “iron teeth” with which it devours and breaks everything it encounters.
a 7 "After this I kept looking in the night visions, and behold, a fourth beast, dreadful and terrifying and extremely strong; and it had large iron teeth. It devoured and crushed and trampled down the remainder with its feet; and it was different from all the beasts that were before it, and it had ten horns. Daniel 7:7 (NASB)
aa According to John, it will violently overthrow nations, and no one will be able to prevail against it (Rev. 13.4).
4 they worshiped the dragon because he gave his authority to the beast; and they worshiped the beast, saying, "Who is like the beast, and who is able to wage war with him?" Revelation 13:4 (NASB)
bb President Obama said in September 2014, in regards to a US response to ISIS, “I don’t want to put the cart before the horse. We don’t have a strategy yet.”
b John gives us more insight to the Last Days coalition of “The kings of the east” when he wrote, “. . .And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony of Jesus and because of the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received the mark on their forehead and on their hand; . . .” Revelation 20:4 (NASB)
aa This week ISIS beheaded over two dozen Christians in Libya.
bb There is little doubt in my mind that what we are seeing today in the Middle East is that kingdom of the Beast is Islamic and may be taking shape right now where it is supposed to . . . in the heart of ancient Babylon.
2 The prophet Isaiah warns us that the beginning tells us the end, “Declaring the end from the beginning, And from ancient times things which have not been done, Saying, 'My purpose will be established, And I will accomplish all My good pleasure'; “ -Isaiah 46:10 (NASB)
a It only makes sense that in the end, the last empire will also arise in ancient Babylon and will be ruled by a rebel and tyrant . . . you won’t find Rome in the begging, but you do find Babylon.
b While many believers are looking for the rise of a united Europe/Rome to take shape in the West, radical Islam is on the move in the East.
aa Every year tens 10,000 Christians are martyred at the hands of Muslims in places like Nigeria, Kenya, Syria, Egypt, Iran, Libya, and now Iraq.
bb Many are crucified, tortured before they’re murdered.
cc 2/3 of the Christians of the world are living in the path of ISIS and radical Islam this morning.
dd It has been reported that more Christians are being killed today around the world more than any other time in modern history.
C The stated goal of ISIS is to resurrect a Sunni-led Islamic caliphate. (Anyone who stands in its way is forced into submission or death)
1 A major cheviot of the caliphate is that it enforces sharia law, the most brutal, barbaric law that has ever existed; sharia usurps any/all customs & laws that had been in the land before.
a Daniel speaks of one of the things that the Beast (system) is expected to do, “He shall speak pompous words against the Most High, shall persecute the saints of the Most High, and shall intend to change times and law.” -Daniel 7.25
aa The first thing sharia does is ban all other faiths and respective days of worship, including holidays.
bb In parts of Syria/Iraq, if an ISIS inquisitor asks you a question and you fail to answer it correctly, you wind up in a ditch or on the side of a road with a bullet in your heard, or with their head on a pike in the village square.
b Another attribute of the caliphate is that is ruled by one man, the Caliph.
aa If you live in any nation under the Islamic State, you would be a subject to the rule and whims of one man.
bb His word would be law because Islam believes that this man has been granted supreme authority by Allah.
cc The Caliphate/Caliph system seems to match what the Bible calls the Antichrist; in Islam he is called al Mahdi (Islamic Messiah).
2 The tradition of among many Sunnis in Syria & Iraq is that when the Mahdi arrives, the people will submit to him because Allah has sent him to establish a universal government of peace & prosperity . . . and it will only be achieved after a terrible war.
a The place where the Mahdi is to come from is the very places today where ISIS is attempting to unseat governments & dissolve the borders in Iraq & Syria to create one Islamic state.
b ISIS is calling Muslims to join their cause with Abu Bakr al Baghdadi leading, heralding the rise of the caliphate and the arrival of the Mahdi.
D It is alleged that Mohammad foretold of black banners coming from the east and that the Islamic warriors who fight for this banner will have hearts “as firm as iron.”
1 This army, comprised of “mighty men with long hair and beards” is the one that is supposed to subdue many lands and, eventually, march successfully into Jerusalem under the leadership of Mahdi, who according to their tradition, is followed by none other than Jesus.
a I can’t tell you with 100% certainty that ISIS is a fulfillment of Biblical prophecy or Islamic prophecy.
b I can tell you these are very violent men, highly committed to Islam, and they are waging war to resurrect the Islamic caliphate.
aa Subdue anyone who gets in their way.
bb Coming out of the very place the Bible foretold that the Beast would rise . . . in the very heart of ancient Babylon.
2 ISIS determination for global domination for Islam, the killing and beheading helpless victims as advertisements for recruiting more soldiers is unlike anything the world has ever seen.
a Last summer (2014) ISIS soldiers in Iraq seized control of a chemical weapons storage facility at the Al-Muthanna complex in which was stored tons of saran gas (left overs from the Saddam Hussein era and classified as useless but too dangerous to move), however, the fact is ISIS now has control of it.
b Rev. 13.1-4 tells us that one day Babylon will be resurrected and the Beast will rise from among the nations.
1 And the dragon stood on the sand of the seashore. Then I saw a beast coming up out of the sea, having ten horns and seven heads, and on his horns were ten diadems, and on his heads were blasphemous names. 2 And the beast which I saw was like a leopard, and his feet were like those of a bear, and his mouth like the mouth of a lion. And the dragon gave him his power and his throne and great authority. 3 I saw one of his heads as if it had been slain, and his fatal wound was healed. And the whole earth was amazed and followed after the beast; 4 they worshiped the dragon because he gave his authority to the beast; and they worshiped the beast, saying, "Who is like the beast, and who is able to wage war with him?" Revelation 13:1-4 (NASB)
aa We can’t be sure the present situation where ISIS is concerned.
bb There are other issues brewing the same region (Iran, Gaza) but the point is what can and will happen when a people-a nation- raised up by God to be a light allows the light to flicker and go out.
cc We can expect The God of the Universe to take notice and we’ll suffer the consequences.
c I fear the locusts may already be coming from the East to cover the land with darkness & desolation.
E al-Baghdadi is leading ISIS on a conclusion course to trigger the Islamic apocalypse. (By establishing the caliphate, as a direct decedent of Muhammad, he is now the caliph, the global leader of Islam & demand that all Muslims accept him as their head.)
1 ISIS is following a strategy laid out in a book entitled, “Milestones” by Sayyid Qutb. (It’s the Mein Kempf/Communist Manifesto of Jihadist); it was the primer for Osama bin Laden into terrorism . . . and has greatly influenced al-Baghdadi was well.
a Milestones argues that everyone on earth deserves a chance to become a Muslim, but that is only if the person lives in a nation that is truly Islamic (governed by sharia).
aa The reason ISIS is toppling every government and impose sharia is to “evangelize” the people, and the people in that nation can have an opportunity to choose ISIS’ brand of Islam.
bb The goal of ISIS is to fulfill this commission, in Iraq, Syria, the U.S. and the entire world.
b There are seven key points of ISIS’ theology (drawn from the Quran) that has shaped their mandate:
aa Doctrine of abrogation: “Whatever communications we abrogate or cause to be forgotten, we bring one better than it or like it.” (2:106) (Changing of the laws)
bb Christians and “moderate” Muslims are to be attacked: “Strive hard against the unbelievers and the hypocrites and be unyielding to them; their abode is hell, and evil is the destination.” (9.73)
cc Christians are to be conquered: “Fight those who believe not in Allah . . . even if they are the People of the Book, until they pay the Jizyah with willing submission, and feel themselves subdued” (9.29).
dd Unbelievers who will not repent are to be killed: “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” (9.5).
ee How to punish enemies: “The punishment of those who wage war against Allah and His messenger and strive to make mischief in the land is only this, that they should be murdered or crucified or their hands and their feet should be cut off on opposite sides or they should be imprisoned; this shall be as a disgrace for them in this world, and in the hereafter they shall have a grievous chastisement” (5.33).
ff Women captives can be raped: “All married women are forbidden unto you save those captives whom your right hand possess. It is a decree of Allah for you” (4.24).
gg Those who die in jihad are guaranteed paradise: “Allah hath purchased of the believers their person and their goods; for theirs in return is the garden of Paradise: they fight in His cause, and slay and are slain: a promise binding on Him in truth . . . then rejoice in the bargain which ye have concluded; that is the achievement supreme” (9.111).
2 In our eyes, ISIS is just a group of murderous thugs, using Islam for it own nefarious ends. . . but we’re missing the group’s beliefs/intentions.
a Their brutality is nonsensical except in light of their true intentions: To return civilization to a 7th century legal environment, and ultimately bringing about the end of the world.
aa When we see a group of Christians being beheaded, read of 10 year old girls being raped . . . it’s not just them trying to make the news. THEY ARE PRACTICING THEIR RELIGION AS IT WAS IN 7TH CENTURY!
bb During the first 100 years of Islam, they overtook the entire Middle East (The crusades were a response to Islam killing Christians, Jews, and raping women, selling their captives on the world slave markets).
cc The 7th century displays of brutality caused the populace to submit to Islamic rule. (I don’t want my head cut off, daughter raped, lose my home, etc.,)
b ISIS is convinced that any Muslim who does not follow its strict legalism is not a true Muslim.
aa These people can either convert or be killed as apostates/heretics. (ISIS has marked for death all 200 million Shiite Muslims and most Sunnis too).
bb Every act of terrorism, violent butchery is an act of worship, meant to cause infidels to surrender & inspire other Muslims to join their cause.
c Their end game is to topple Baghdad, then the whole Gulf and Jordan. THEY claim they won’t stop until they reach “Rome.”
aa They are wanting to fight western armies (Rome) in the Syrian city of Dabiq. (The ISIS propaganda magazine is named after this town and they expect it host this great coming showdown.)
bb ISIS expects to sack Istanbul, Turkey in a battle with ad-Dajjal (Islamic Antichrist). . . leaving only 5,000 of their fighters cornered in JERUSALEM.
cc At that moment, they believe that the Mahdi, accompainied with Jesus, kill ad-Dajjal and lead them to victory.
d To summurize: IS believes it has reestablished the caliphate and is following the proper successor of Muhammad and leader of the global Muslim movement.
aa It will continue its military expansion, driven by 7th century brutality; fueled by social media and oil money, until it defeats its enemies, fights its anti-Messiah, and achieves global conquest.
bb It’s this vision that has caught the zeal of thousands of Muslims from around the world to come and join their cause.
F Does IS threaten the West? “I’ll see you guys in New York.”
1 Westerners who join ISIS come home, educated on how to build bombs/combat skills to mount major attacks on U.S. soil.
a “Lone Wolf” terrorists who are trained for missions in the US.
aa In May 2014, an American volunteer from Florida carried out a suicide attack in Syria on behalf of an al-Qaeda affiliate in that country.
bb Days after the Paris attacks, U.S. authorities announced they had arrested a man from Ohio who claimed to be an ISIS supporter and planned to bomb the U.S. Captiol.
b ISIS has encouraged individuals to attack uniformed military personnel/their families: use guns or their vehicles as weapons.
2 ISIS has presented a serious military threat to our allies in the Middle East and intends to take more land/destabilize countries in that region.
a The location of Libya is significant because it’s from here that it can launch attacks against Italy and across southern Europe.
b The growth of ISIS will continue to destabilize the global economy, directly affecting Americans.
3 House Intelligence Chairman Mike Rogers, R-Michigan warns: “This is a problem that we will have to face and we’re either going to face it in New York City or we’re going to face it in Iraq. These are sophisticated, command and controlled seasoned combat veterans who understand the value of terrorism operations external to the region, meaning Europe and the United States. That is about as dangerous a recipe as you can put together.”
a Retired Ben. Peter Chiarelli adds, “all Americans should be concerned by ISIS’s rise to power.”
b Sen. Lindsey Graham, “the seeds of 9/11s are being planted all over Iraq and Syria. They want an Islamic caliphate that runs through Syria and Iraq . . . and they plan to drive us out of the Mideast by attacking us here at home.”
Conclusion:
A When al-Baghdadi was released from a US instillation in 2009, he told the guards, “I’ll see you guys in New York.” Prophetic.
1 He know leads ISIS under a black banner that reads, “There is no God but Allah and Muhammad is his messenger.”
a They have pledged to fly this banner over the White House.
b Considering how vulnerable the White House has proven to be, we can’t afford to disregard the threat from ISIS.
2 What can we do as Christians?
a First, pray for those who are being victimized by ISIS.
aa In 2003, more than a million believers lived in Iraq.
bb At least half of them have left the country, thousands are being killed in Syria . . . our brothers & sisters in Christ.
cc Ask God to intervene on their behalf, protect them.
dd As God’s angel released Peter from Herod’s prison in answer to the church’s prayers, so his angels can protect His people today.
ee A.J. Gordon said, “You can do more than pray after you have prayed; but you can never do more than pray until you have prayed.”
b Secondly, pray for our national leaders and encourage them to defend believers and stop ISIS.
aa 4 Rescue the weak and needy; Deliver them out of the hand of the wicked. Psalm 82:4 (NASB)
bb 14 When we are attacked, He calls us to “fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your houses” Neh. 4.14 (NASB)
cc 1 First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, 2 for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity.1 Timothy 2:1-2 (NASB)
dd Pray for President Obama and other world leaders as they search for ways to effective options in responding to ISIS: Soldiers in harms way in the Middle East & around the world & their families as home (protection from terrorism & know peace from God.)
c Thirdly, pray for spiritual awakening to continue in the Muslim world.
aa As ISIS grows as a threat in the Middle East/world, we will begin to pray more fervently for the Holy Spirit to bring more jihadists to Jesus.
bb Today, Jesus is appearing to Muslims around the world in visions and dreams. As a result, more Muslims have come to Christ in the last 15 years than in the previous 15 centuries.
cc For every militant Muslim who finds Christ . . . that’s one less enemy to the world . . . and one more member of our eternal family.
B If Jesus is your Lord, you are on the front lines of this battle with “the cosmic powers over this present darkness” Eph. 6.12
1 The heavenly father is calling us to fight this battle on our knees.
a Prayer for spiritual awakening in the Middle East.
aa That Jesus would reveal Himself personally to Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi and other leaders of ISIS.
bb The Apostle Paul was a converted terrorist, what would happen if al-Baghdadi got saved?
b Pray for Christians to be protected and for their witness to be courageous and effective as you pray for your witness to be strong and joyful.
2 In February, 21 Coptic Christians were beheaded and the gruesome details were released by ISIS.
a Even under the blade, some were making their last prayers and as the blade came to their neck they all cried in unison “Ya Rabbi Yasou’” (O My Lord Jesus).
aa The caption by ISIS stated “these insisted to remain in unbelief”.
bb In other words, they were given the option to convert or die and everyone of them refused, even unto death.
b And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death. Revelation 12:11 (KJV)
c It is that kind of faith in Jesus that empowered the 21 Christians who refused ISIS’ demand to renounce their faith and gave their lives for Christ.
aa
d What price will you pay for following Jesus today?
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