By George Whitten, BosNewsLife Senior Middle East Correspondent reporting from Israel
JERUSALEM, ISRAEL (BosNewsLife)– Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has called on Muslims around the world to mobilize their troops alongside Iran against Israel and the United States to prepare for the coming of the “Mahdi” seen as “the savior of Islam”.
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei urged all Islamic countries to unite in anticipation of Mahdd al-Montazar, Arabic for the “awaited one”, according to statements obtained by BosNewsLife Friday, August 28.
“We still have a long way to go in order to achieve this. We have to train honest forces that can stop the obstacles that may hinder the coming of the Mahdi like the United States and Israel,” said Ali Saeedi, a spokesman for the Iranian leader in statements distributed by Arabic media.
He described Iran’s supreme leader as “a direct representative” of the Mahdi and said following his orders is like “obeying the guided one.”
ARMED FORCES
“Since the armed forces are commanded by the Supreme Leader, they are thus obeying the orders of the awaited Mahdi,” Saeedi explained. He said Iran’s Revolutionary Guards and armed forces “hold religious authority to prepare for the appearance of the Mahdi.”
The Mahdi is believed by Muslims to be arriving before Judgment Day to rid the world of injustice.
Several Evangelical scholars view developments in the Middle East as signs of the Biblical “last days” before Christ’s return to take away “the Body of Christ”, describing everyone who believes in Him. (BosNewsLife’s NEWS WATCH is a regular look at key news developments in the world impacting the Church and/or compassionate professionals).
Mahdi = Anti-Christ