Two days ago, at a memorial of Qassem Soleimani in Kerman Iran, two bombs exploded that killed over a hundred and wounded many more. Yesterday, Iranian investigators figured out that the explosions were the result of suicide bombers. Today, ISIS claimed responsibility through a Telegram channel (ref. 1).
The first thing to be said is that America, under a Trump administration, killed Iran’s Qassem Soleimani through a drone strike in 2020. Soleimani had been fighting against ISIS in places such as Syria and Iraq.
The fact that ISIS has carried out this attack, two suicide bombings at a Soleimani memorial, goes to show that America and ISIS are actually aligned. It is Bible prophecy that eventually the two will openly be on the same side!
According to Afghanistan’s Hamid Karzai, ISIS and certain elements of America’s CIA have been working together covertly for years. At least, this was so in Afghanistan during his time (ref. 2). To be clear, some of the CIA, not everyone.
Daniel 11:30 addresses the connection in these last days between the intelligence profession and the Assyrian, also known as the Antichrist.
… he shall even return, and have intelligence with them that forsake the holy covenant.
Daniel 11:30
Next, it is Bible prophecy that Iran will be one of the ten horns of the beast of the sea. In Revelation 13:2, the leopard is Turkey, the lion is Iraq, and the bear is Iran. The mouth of the beast will be as the mouth of a lion because ISIS started in Nineveh Iraq, and the Assyrian himself was born in Iraq.
And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority.
Revelation 13:2
Even though Iran will fight for the beast, it won’t be the Shias that take the lead. Rather it will be the Sunnis.
ISIS is Sunni, and so is Al Qaeda, and so is Turkey, and so too is Hamas.
Today, both Iraq and Syria are controlled by Shias, Muslims aligned to Iran. The Alawites in Syria, such as Al Assad, are a part of Shia Islam.
The Assyrian, who leads ISIS, which stands for the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, is to have both Iraq and Syria, which essentially is ancient Assyria, and also at another time the ancient Greek kingdom of Seleucia.
And the rough goat is the king of Grecia: and the great horn that is between his eyes is the first king [Alexander]. Now that being broken, whereas four stood up for it, four kingdoms [incl, Seleucia] shall stand up out of the nation, but not in his power. And in the latter time of their kingdom, when the transgressors are come to the full, a king of fierce countenance, and understanding dark sentences, shall stand up.
Daniel 8:21-23
The book of Daniel explains that “the little horn”, an epithet of the Assyrian, will supplant three other horns, meaning he will topple three Muslim nations as part of his rise to power. Over the course of three and a half years, he will conquer many nations including Egypt, but he will take three in particular during his rise to the position of caliph.
I considered the horns, and, behold, there came up among them another little horn, before whom there were three of the first horns plucked up by the roots: and, behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of man, and a mouth speaking great things.
Daniel 7:8
Iraq and Syria must be two of the three. The Iran of Ali Khamenei might be the third.
Historically, Shia Muslims were the spiritual ones, and Sunni Muslims were more into realpolitik.
However, in these last days, despite the involvement of actual spirits, the meaning of “iron” (ref. Daniel 2:40-43), the beast will prefer the theology and tradition of Sunnis rather than Shias.
And whereas thou sawest iron mixed with miry clay, they shall mingle themselves with the seed of men: but they shall not cleave one to another, even as iron [demons] is not mixed with clay [humans].
Daniel 2:43
A significant country for the Assyrian is Turkey, which currently is the second best equipped military in NATO, second only to the USA. Turkey is “north” of Jerusalem (ref. Daniel 11:40) and also where “the seat” of Satan is located. It was Pergamos in antiquity (ref. Revelation 13:2), when the area was inhabited by the Greeks. Today, it is the town of Bergama.
And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write; These things saith he which hath the sharp sword with two edges; I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where Satan’s seat is…
Revelation 2:12-13
… and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority.
Revelation 13:2
Regarding Islam, Turkey is Sunni. For this reason alone, Sunni Islam is more important than Shia.
Yes, Iran has considerable missile technology and potentially even nuclear bombs.
But to conquer territory, conventional weapons and combat doctrine are more important. Because Turkey is a part of NATO, it has benefited from European technology and warfighting ideas.
From Islam’s standpoint, today, it is easier for the Sunnis to takeover the Shias, than the other way around.
So, Iran could conceivably be the third horn that ISIS will supplant. As far as states go, Iraq and Syria are already are on shaky ground, because of the deposing of Saddam Hussein and the war against Bashar Al Assad.
References:
1. France 24 (4 Jan 2024), “Islamic State group claims responsibility for deadly Iran bombings”, france24.com
2. Khaama Press (9 Oct 2017), “Karzai accuses US of aiding the ISIS militants in Afghanistan”, khaama.com