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SCHOLARS: MUSLIM 'END-TIMES' BELIEFS FUEL MIDDLE EAST CONFLICT
Middle East experts say that Muslim beliefs about the "end times" are fueling the conflicts in the region. Scholar William Wagner, a professor at Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary, says, "Both Islam and Christianity have a very well-defined eschatology, or period of the last days. Both of them cannot be correct."
A majority of Muslims believe the "12th Iman" or Mahdi, an Islamic messianic figure, was placed in hiding until the day of judgment. There is much dissent among Muslim factions as to who this savior figure will be and where and when he will return. Some factions even believe this Mahdi may be Jesus. However, almost all Muslims agree that in order for this day to arrive, Israel must be destroyed.
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has been cited by various news sources as not only believing in the eventual return of the Mahdi, but that the return is near and that it is the responsibility of the Iranian government to prepare the country for his return. To this end, Ahmadinejad has vowed to rid Iran of Christianity and all other offensive non-Islamic influences and practices. Persecution against Christians has increased under his direction.

REFLECTION
When we see the threats from UK and the crisis in Middle East we have to consider also the thoughts about End times, according William Wagner. - What we know from the Bible is that we live in the days  with  a lot of signs telling us that Christ is  on his way back to us...

Foot Note
Source: Intercessors Network, SHORT NOTES-mailing # 481August 10, 2006
BILD: http://www.al-mahdi.org/images/wafat_alaskaryiain/alaskaryain1c.jpg