A significant change of power took place in Iran this week. Ayatollah Mohammad Reza Mahdavi Kani, friend of Ahmedinejad, ousted Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, head of the powerful clerical body charged with choosing or dismissing Iran’s supreme leader, Ali Khamenei, leader of the Twelvers who claim to be in personal contact with their Mahdi. Rafsanjani was an enemy of Ahmadinejad who supported Ahmadinejad’s rival in the bitter 2009 presidential elections.
Who is Ayatollah Mohammad Reza Mahdavi Kani? Well…He despises Israel and the west, particularly America, and was one of the organizers of the movement that overthrew of the Shah of Iran. He was Acting Prime Minister of Iran from September 2, 1980 until October 29, 1981. Now he is the current leader of the Combatant Clergy Association.
These “combatant clerics” are exactly what their name implies and they are now united behind Ahmedinejad. What is the significance of that? They are working to bring the Mahdi to global power. In Kani’s own name is the word “Mahdavi ‘ which in Arabic means “someone belonging to the ‘Mahdi’”.
Their Mahdi is our Antichrist. We often hear reference to the 12th Imam. We often hear reference to the 12 Imam, as well. But, the 12th Imam and the Mahdi are the same person. As Christians look for Jesus’ 2nd coming and the Jews await the Messiah, the Muslims await the Mahdi. According to Shi’ite Muslim teaching, the Mahdi will return at the end of time to rule for 7 years. We call this period “the Tribulation”.
The Mahdi demands a violent path to conquer the world and his rule comes about by the efforts of others. This rise to power of the Antichrist comes from the Beast of Revelation which rises out of the sea, or the people. (Review Deciphering The Middle East for an explanation about the meaning of “the sea” in Revelation 13.) Yeshua needs no help for His return. He brings Himself to the earth. But, the Mahdi requires the help of evil humans.
Ahmadinejad and his cabinet say they have a ‘signed contract’ with Mahdi in which they pledge themselves to his work. What does this work involve? The wiping Israel off the map and conquering the entire globe.
The American Edomite usurper in the White House, Obama, also believes in the Mahdi. Obama is a Sunni Muslim, but part of the fight between Obama and Ahmadinejad, or between Sunnis and Shi’ites, has to do with the differences in the details of the Madhi. What are those differences?
1) Sunnis (Obama’s folks) believe Mahdi’s name will be Muhammad Ibn Abdullah
2) Shias (Ahmadinejad’s folks) believe that Mahdi’s name is Muhammad Ibn Hasan Ali
3) Shias and Sunnis both believe that Mahdi is a descendant of Muhammad
4) Sunnis (Obama’s folks) believe that Mahdi is yet to be born. Shi’ites (Ahmadinejad’s folks) believe that he is living amongst us in this world.
Both Sunnis and Shias believe that their Mahdi will emerge with Jesus to bring tranquility and justice to the world. Yeshua, on the other hand, will return when the last shofar sounds at the end of the Tribulation. Both Muslims and Christians are confused about the timing of the return of the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. It doesn’t happen at the beginning of the Tribulation, but at the end.
But for now, we have to understand that another step has been taken toward bringing the Mahdi into the world. With the possible final crushing of the opposition in Iran comes the prospect that Ahmadinejad and Kani will achieve their goal of bringing the Mahdi out of hiding and into the light of day. Eventually, if both Obama and Ahmadenijad stay in their respective offices, this is going to spark a war between the America and Iran, between Obama and Ahmadinejad. The world is just going to get caught in the middle.
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