The current war between Israel, the United States, and Iran will likely end with Iran being crushed both militarily and politically. Israel will certainly emerge as the big winner, but there will be others, not the least of which is Turkey. While Turkey has tolerated and even supported Iran and its proxies in its quest to annihilate Israel, it has been competing with Iran to become the dominant “power” in the region. Also, it is diametrically opposed to Iran as Iran is the leading Shia dominated country (at least the leadership), where Turkey is Sunni. These two branches of Islam clash with each other as enemies. Turkey under Erdogan is the main driver of the Muslim Brotherhood, seeking to reestablish the Caliphate over all of Islam as it was in the Ottoman Empire over a century ago. Iran being crushed and diminished in this current war gives Turkey the upper hand as the dominant Islamic power and a boost to Erdogan’s Muslim Brotherhood. This will vastly enhance Turkey’s influence in the region and likely have huge prophetic implications.
A few years ago, I wrote an article about keeping an eye on Turkey. I’m copying it in its entirety below with some editing. I think you’ll see the reason Turkey’s gain in this current conflict is important prophetically.
Keeping an Eye on Turkey
Many times I’ve prompted my Christian friends and fellow Bible students interested in prophecy to keep an eye on developments in the nation of Turkey. There are many scriptural reasons for this, the focus of the rest of this article.
The current geography of Turkey constitutes the probable origin of the antichrist – otherwise referred to as the “beast” or the “man of sin” or the “little horn”. One, he is said to be an “Assyrian”. (Micah 5:5&6, Isaiah 10:5&12). The ancient lands of Assyria lay primarily to the north of Israel encompassing modern day Turkey. Two, he comes from the breakup of the Grecian empire after Alexander the Great, specifically the northeastern part known as “Yavan” or Asia minor; again, modern day Turkey. (Daniel 8: 8&9, 21&22). Three, he is called the “king of the north” in Daniel Chapter 11 as typified by Antiochus Epiphanes, who came from the area of Turkey. Four, he is described as Gog – chief prince of Meshech and Tubal. (Ezekiel Chapters 38 and 39). Ezekiel describes the land of Gog and Magog being in the “north quarter” directly north of Israel, clearly describing Turkey.
Since the location of the antichrist’s origin seems to be clear, what else is there about the nation of Turkey that indicates its connection to the Beast? Much, it seems. Turkey, till 1923 was the leader of the Muslim world under a Caliphate based out of Istanbul. This Caliphate was known as the Ottoman Empire that rose out of the ashes of the Eastern Roman Empire. This Caliphate dominated the entire middle east and northern Africa including Israel during its second exile. The book of Revelation in Chapter 17:7-18 describes the Beast to be the 8th following 7 prior kingdoms that historically ruled over Israel. They are also termed “heads or mountains”. These 7 kingdoms can be listed as follows; Egyptian, Assyrian, Babylonian, Medo-Persian, Grecian, Roman, and the Ottoman. Revelation Chapter 13:3 states that one of these “heads” was mortally wounded but came back to life. None of the other kingdoms has come back to life, but, in our day, one is likely. The Ottoman Empire. (Note- The “mortal wound” may be an actual physical wound to human antichrist.) The antichrist is himself “of the seven” (Rev. 17:11) and is also the eighth kingdom. I believe we are about to witness the rebirth of the Ottoman Empire before our very eyes!
In the 1920’s The Ataturk revolution and WW1 ended the Ottoman Empire and the Caliphate with Turkey becoming a secular state. Shortly thereafter, The Muslim Brotherhood was formed in Egypt with a primary goal of restoration of the Ottoman to its former glory complete with a Caliphate ruling the Muslim world. The brotherhood has been working in the background ever since without wavering from its goals. Just a few years ago a man named Recep Erdogan was elected president of Turkey. He was of the AKP party, an extension of the Muslim Brotherhood. Since his election, the transformation of Turkey has been nothing short of remarkable. He has quickly purged the politicians, journalists, and military leaders that stood in the way of the Islamization of Turkey. He has engineered a constitutional change that effectively makes him dictator for life. Erdogan has not hidden the fact that he desires the restoration of the Ottoman Empire, and is honored that many followers are ready to declare him Caliph. Militarily, He has expanded his reach into Iraq, Libya, Afghanistan and now Syria. He has been a closet supporter of ISIS and Al Qaeda and is a virulent hater of Israel and all she stands for. He openly supports Iranian proxies Hezbollah, Hamas, and the Houthis, all enemies of Israel. He is openly shunning NATO (of which Turkey is a member) and most western nations. He has recently converted the Hagia Sophia, once the largest Christian church in the world, along with another historic church into Mosques. Erdogan himself is fascinated with Sufi Islam, a mystical form of Islam that could unite both Sunni and Shia Muslims. He is in complete opposition to the “satanic” state of Israel. He is currently nearly at war with Greece and Cyprus over rights to Mediterranean gas. He is at odds with Egypt’s Sisi for the overthrow of Egypt’s former leader, a member of the brotherhood.
Revelation Chapter 17 states that the beast will form a ten-nation alliance that will crush “Mystery Babylon”, war with Israel and her allies and, ultimately, with Christ Himself at the battle of Armageddon. If you’ve been watching, it’s not difficult to see this alliance taking shape in our day. I believe this alliance will all be Muslim nations surrounding and to the north of Israel including Iran, Syria, Lebanon, Yemen, Ethiopia, Libya, and others led by Turkey. Interestingly, in recent news we see an opposing alliance (Abraham Accords) forming with UAE, Bahrain, Jordan, possibly Saudi Arabia, and other potential Arab states signing peace agreements with Israel.
In conclusion, I am not saying that Recep Erdogan is the prophesied antichrist, but, perhaps, a successor of his will be. He certainly fits the biblical profile of the beast and propagates the most anti-Christian belief system that has ever existed.
That’s why we need to keep an eye on Turkey.
Maranatha, Jim