STAND FIRM: Undetected Signs of the Rise of the Final Empire

      Teaching Bible prophecy and encouraging others to stand firm makes it easy to get swept up in the endless stream of “end-times” topics to chase down. I recently wrote about UFOs and aliens, which I never thought I’d do. But among all the distractions we could toss into the “Great Deception hopper,” we can’t lose sight of what Scripture clearly lays out about the end of the age.

      Every Old Testament prophet spoke about it. The New Testament epistles address it. Jesus lays it out directly, and the Book of Revelation devotes itself to the topic. The core narrative points to a regional conflict in the Middle East that escalates into a global campaign against Israel, led by a Gentile ruler — most likely from Turkey. This conflict will engulf a world already reeling from the chaos of a unified end-times entity called Mystery Babylon and the judgments described in Revelation’s seals, trumpets and bowls.

      Amid all this, the Bible gives us signs to watch for, like the return of Jews to the land of Israel, escalating conflict, a temporary but notable peace, a return to sacrifices and a power shift to the Middle East through a coalition resembling the empires of old. Watching Israel’s story unfold is relatively straightforward if we resist interpretations dismissing its modern significance. Most Christians I encounter recognize Israel’s prophetic importance. But watching for the rise of the final empire of the beast or the antichrist is more challenging.

      Through passages like Revelation 17, I’ve become convinced that the Antichrist’s empire will be a revived Ottoman Empire — a caliphate ruled from Turkey that once spanned the Middle East, North Africa and parts of Europe. Its governance intertwined politics and religion, with Islam as the unifying force. Today, we see hints of this revival in Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and his ambitions to restore the Ottoman legacy. Movements like the Arab Spring in 2011 and the rise of ISIS point to this political desire for a caliphate.

      Now, as I write this, a conference is scheduled in Mississauga, Ontario, organized by Hizb ut-Tahrir, a group advocating for a global caliphate. Set for January 18, 2025, the conference focuses on “eliminating the obstacles that are delaying the return” of the caliphate. The fact that such efforts are happening openly in Canada is mind-blowing.

      But the push for a caliphate isn’t limited to political ambitions. It’s also woven into everyday headlines. On New Year’s Day in New Orleans, Hamsud-Din Jabbar, an Army veteran with alleged ties to radical Islamic ideology, drove a truck into a crowd, killing 14 people and injuring many more. Reports of an ISIS flag at the scene suggest domestic Islamic terrorism. This followed a now-viral interview on The Shawn Ryan Show, where Sarah Adams, a former CIA officer and counterterrorism expert, warned of sleeper cells within the U.S. and the potential for coordinated attacks like the October 7 assault on Israel.

      In England, scandals have surfaced involving grooming gangs — organized groups, primarily from Muslim backgrounds, exploiting vulnerable young girls. These crimes, often ignored for fear of political backlash, highlight the societal challenges posed by unchecked immigration. Across Europe, the Muslim population has grown significantly due to immigration, reshaping cultural and political landscapes.

      These patterns are not coincidental. Islamist groups have long promoted immigration as a strategy to influence and reshape the West. It’s staggering to think how much the Muslim population in America and Europe has grown since 9/11. While fighting wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, Western governments simultaneously worked to appease domestic Muslim communities. It seems naïve, but within the broader context of end-times prophecy, it begins to make more sense as part of a spiritual deception.

      The Western mindset plays a significant role here. Unlike most of the world, the West separates faith and daily life, creating a blind spot. This division doesn’t exist in Islam, where religion and governance are deeply intertwined. Western nations, unable or unwilling to acknowledge this reality, struggle to respond effectively. The same mindset often hampers Christianity in America, where we create a great dichotomy in belief and actions.

      The defense always comes up — “Islam is a religion of peace.” While many Muslims live peacefully and practice a version of Islam reflecting that, the core teachings of Islam, as laid out in the Quran, tell a different story. I’ll explore this more in future articles.

      I share all this because these trends are setting the stage for the end of the age, though the exact timeline is unknown. I also share it because I do see the reality of the increasing possibility of an October 7-style attack happening in America. The mainstream narrative will likely spiral into speculation and confusion if such events occur. I hope to help you navigate these developments with a biblically informed perspective.

      The world may feel chaotic, but Scripture gives us a framework for understanding our times. Let’s stay watchful, grounded in truth and ready to stand firm.