Days of Noah

And to the angel of the church in Pergamum write: ‘The words of him who has the sharp two-edged sword. I know where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is. Yet you hold fast my name, and you did not deny my faith even in the days of Antipas my faithful witness, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells.’

Revelation 2:12-13

In 1864 a German engineer and explorer, Carl Humann, was excavating the ancient ruins of Pergamum and discovered the colossal altar dedicated to the Greek god, Zeus. The pagan altar was perched atop the highest point in the ancient city as the centerpiece of the greater temple complex. Stone by stone the altar was unearthed and relocated to Berlin to be reassembled and put on display in its own museum.

By the 1930s, Adolf Hitler and his Nazi Party dominated Germany, yet they had much bigger ambitions. In order to increase national enthusiasm with Nazi propaganda, Hitler commissioned his chief architect, Albert Speer, to design the parade grounds for party rallies in Nuremberg. Speer spared no expense, and using the ancient altar of Zeus as inspiration, he designed Hitler’s own Zeppelin tribune as the grandstand for his most mesmerizing speeches. Most of Hitlers rallies took place at night under what was known as the “Cathedral of Lights.”

As we know, Hitler eventually would lead Germany and the Axis of Evil in an attempt to conquer to free world, murdering an estimated 11 million civilians, including 6 million Jews in the Holocaust. Hitler’s irrational bloodlust for Jews and Christians was so insatiable that by the end of WWII he re-concentrated most of his resources and manpower to the Nazi death camps, murdering as many as possible before his defeat.

Today, there is another superpower rising in the Middle East with identical ambitions of Nazi Germany. Under the leadership of Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Turkey has emerged as the most dominant and dangerous threat in the Middle East. Erdoğan unapologetically has expressed his desire to resurrect the Islamic Caliphate and the glory of Ottoman Empire that dominated the region for over 600 years (1299–1923 AD).

In just over a decade under Erdoğan, Turkey has expanded its military reach and influence into Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Libya, Kurdistan, and now Qatar. In a speech just last week, Erdoğan publicly claimed Jerusalem as “our city,” which echoes the anti-Semitic rhetoric of Hitler’s day.

In this city that we had to leave in tears during the First World War, it is still possible to come across traces of the Ottoman resistance. So Jerusalem is our city, a city from us.

Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, October 1, 2020

Hatred of Jews and Christians has always been at the heart of Islam and its teachings, since Mohammed beheaded 600 Jews at one time in one of his terror campaigns.

According to Ibn Ishaq, “The apostle went out to the market of Medina (which is still its market today) and dug trenches in it. Then he sent for [the men of the Qurayzah] and struck off their heads in those trenches as they were brought out to him in batches.” Ibn Ishaq puts the number of those massacred at “600 or 700 in all, though some put the figure as high as 800 or 900.”

(Ibn Ishaq 464) Ibn Sa’d says “they were between six hundred and seven hundred in number.” (Ibn Sa’d, vol. II, 93)

Muhammad said: “I will expel the Jews and Christians from the Arabian Peninsula and will not leave any but Muslims.”

Sahih Muslim 4366

Those who reject (Truth) among the People of the Book (Jews and Christians) and among the Polytheists, will abide in hell-fire, they are the worst of creatures.

Quran — Sura 98:6

Since Hitler’s Nazi Germany, no ideology has posed such a clear threat to God’s people than the radical teachings of Islam, and Erdoğan is leading the way in the resurrection of a Middle Eastern Islamic Empire. And if it weren’t strange enough that both Hitler and Erdoğan share similar ideology and hatred for Jews, they also share an uncanny physical resemblance.

The Throne of Satan

What are the chances that the dominant power in the Middle East is emerging out of Turkey? Well, students of Bible prophecy aren’t surprised to discover that the Bible predicted that the final end-times empire of the Antichrist would be Turkey (Javan). The prophet Daniel was shown a vision of the “latter days,” when the “little horn” would emerge out of modern-day Turkey (Javan) as the king of the north [see Daniel 8 and 11].

Furthermore, Ezekiel provides prophetic details about this evil end-times enemy of Israel named Gog of Magog, which also is modern-day Turkey [see Ezekiel 38-39]. For a more in depth study of Gog of Magog, you can read my series on the profile of the antichrist here.

To cap it all off, the Lord Jesus tells us precisely where the “throne of Satan” is. In His letter to the church in Pergamum, Jesus gives us a literal geographic location of Satan’s throne. Pergamum is “where Satan dwells.” And where is ancient Pergamum located?

You guessed it … modern-day Turkey.

The Bible informs us of the evil supernatural principalities and powers working behind every world government and empire, and it seems that Satan has concentrated his influence in Turkey. The same spirit of antichrist that was behind Hitler’s Germany is now behind Erdoğan and his emerging Islamic Caliphate. This should get our attention. It is no coincidence that Turkey is emerging in these last days as the greatest existential threat to Israel.

Now for the record … I DO NOT BELIEVE that Erdoğan is the final end-times Antichrist, but I do believe that he is one of the pivotal political leaders that Satan has in place to set the stage for the Beast kingdom. As we know, once the 10-headed Beast kingdom is established, all authority will be given to this one man — Satan’s superman, as even Satan himself will give his throne to the Beast.

And I saw a beast rising out of the sea, with ten horns and seven heads, with ten diadems on its horns and blasphemous names on its heads. 2And the beast that I saw was like a leopard; its feet were like a bear’s, and its mouth was like a lion’s mouth. And to it the dragon gave his power and his throne and great authority. 

Revelation 13:1-2

And the ten horns that you saw are ten kings who have not yet received royal power, but they are to receive authority as kings for one hour, together with the beast. 13These are of one mind, and they hand over their power and authority to the beast. 14They will make war on the Lamb, and the Lamb will conquer them, for he is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those with him are called and chosen and faithful.”

Revelation 17:12-14

As Satan maneuvers and schemes to deceive the whole world and attempts to establish his final kingdom here on earth, God’s people must pray without ceasing, preach the gospel without fear, and prepare to face the worst time in human history. And above all we must remember that Jesus will return on that Day to destroy Satan and his Beast and to establish His everlasting kingdom on earth.

The one who conquers and who keeps my works until the end, to him I will give authority over the nations, 27and he will rule them with a rod of iron, as when earthen pots are broken in pieces, even as I myself have received authority from my Father.

Revelation 2:26-27

Even so, come quickly Lord Jesus!