ISIS and Isaiah

[askandanswer]

The events and activities described in 2 Nephi 23: 7-18 and the current activities of ISIS in Iraq and Syria seem to have some similiarities. Both sets of events seem to be motivated by a powerful force indignant and angry at the people for failing to live in the way that the force thinks they should, and seeking to punish the people for this. Both sets of events seem to feature a lot of graphic and brutal violence. For both events, the perpetrators of the violence would come from a far country  - witness the large numbers of foreign fighters flocking to join ISIS. In both events, the Medes, an ancient Iranian people, are closely involved. Even the location – modern day Iraq, is the same.  In fact, if we read these verses and replace references to “the Lord” or “I” with ISIS, it seems to be a fairly accurate description of ISIS’s current activities. 

 

5 They come from a far country, from the end of heaven, yea, the Lord, and the weapons of his indignation, to destroy the whole land.

 6 Howl ye, for the day of the Lord is at hand; it shall come as a destruction from the Almighty.

 7 Therefore shall all hands be faint, every man’s heart shall melt;

 8 And they shall be afraid; pangs and sorrows shall take hold of them; they shall be amazed one at another; their faces shall be as flames.

 9 Behold, the day of the Lord cometh, cruel both with wrath and fierce anger, to lay the land desolate; and he shall destroy the sinners thereof out of it.

 10 For the stars of heaven and the constellations thereof shall not give their light; the sun shall be darkened in his going forth, and the moon shall not cause her light to shine.

 11 And I will punish the world for evil, and the wicked for their iniquity; I will cause the arrogancy of the proud to cease, and will lay down the haughtiness of the terrible.

 12 I will make a man more precious than fine gold; even a man than the golden wedge of Ophir.

 13 Therefore, I will shake the heavens, and the earth shall remove out of her place, in the wrath of the Lord of Hosts, and in the day of his fierce anger.

 14 And it shall be as the chased roe, and as a sheep that no man taketh up; and they shall every man turn to his own people, and flee every one into his own land.

 15 Every one that is proud shall be thrust through; yea, and every one that is joined to the wicked shall fall by the sword.

 16 Their children also shall be dashed to pieces before their eyes; their houses shall be spoiled and their wives ravished.

 17 Behold, I will stir up the Medes against them, which shall not regard silver and gold, nor shall they delight in it.

 18 Their bows shall also dash the young men to pieces; and they shall have no pity on the fruit of the womb; their eyes shall not spare children.

 

One surprising conclusion that this points to is that at first glance, it appears that there may be some similarities between the methodologies of ISIS and the Lord.

Edited March 17, 2015 by askandanswer

[pam]

Here's what gramps had to say about this:

 

http://askgramps.org/31881/think-isis-connected-biblical-prophecy

[askandanswer]

Thanks Pam. Interesting comments by President Hinckley about the fulfillment of Joel's prophecy. I'm one of those members who are surprised to learn that its been fulfilled, although I have seen a blood red moon several times, especially during dust storms and major bushfires.

[Roseslipper]

Very interesting... Also ty Pam to the link of that article.... I believe that most of everything is being fulfilled and will be.

[Traveler]

I posted this on another thread but no one seemed to realize the significance of the terms in scripture of Gog and Magog.   The term Gog is a geographical location.  It was the ancient country that was located north of Babylon.   This area would now be northern Iraq, North east Syria, South East Turkey and North Western Iran.  In essence the home territory of ISIS.  Magog was the ancient ruler of Gog – thus the terms refer to a person that rules over that area.  The area where ISIS is establishing themselves.

 

Islam has long been divided between Sunnis and Shias.  This division goes back to the successor of Mohammad and involves possible murder to gain control of Mohammad’s followers.   In short it is not just a division within a society of very similar beliefs but a bitter bloody rivalry firmly entranced in over 1000 years of opposition.    

 

The reason I bring all this up is because of the great and final war that is fought at two different times – just before the millennium and the return of Christ and at the end of the millennium.  In essence what we call the Last-days.  Gog and Magog play a role in the end times before Jesus returns.   My question is – Is ISIS Gog?