Ishmael and the middle east crisis

[mere5]

I've been studying about Ishmael and his descendants because someone told me that the prophesy of the Bible was coming true from everything going on with Hamas in Gaza and Israel and ISIS. Has anyone else heard of this? "He will be a wild donkey of a man. His hand will be against everyone and everyone's hand will be against him..." His descendants settled to the West of the Jordan which now is Syria, Iraq and Saudi Arabia. My heart can't help but to break for the Christians over there but even more for those groups that are going to be separated from Jesus for eternity! How awful it will be!

 

[james1523]

I've been studying about Ishmael and his descendants because someone told me that the prophesy of the Bible was coming true from everything going on with Hamas in Gaza and Israel and ISIS. Has anyone else heard of this? "He will be a wild donkey of a man. His hand will be against everyone and everyone's hand will be against him..." His descendants settled to the West of the Jordan which now is Syria, Iraq and Saudi Arabia. My heart can't help but to break for the Christians over there but even more for those groups that are going to be separated from Jesus for eternity! How awful it will be!

It's very complicated.. I think the arabs are descended from the Ishmaelites. It's hard to know if ISIS is a literal fulfillment of prophecy, a partial fulfillment, a spiritual (i.e. non-literal) fulfillment etc, From what I read the arabs are supportive (complacently) of ISIS because the arabs are mostly Sunni muslim. Who makes up ISIS I don't know, Iraqi, Syrian, aren't these from the Assyrian ethnic group? But then the arabs did invade Assyria at one stage, so they are all kind of mixed in. Tell us what you find out, anyway, is interesting.

 

[just-a-servant]

Mark 13:8 (KJV) For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be earthquakes in divers places, and there shall be famines and troubles: these are the beginnings of sorrows.

The Strong's definition of the greek word "ethnos" translated as "nation" is as follows:
nation(s) G1484 ethnos

1. a multitude (whether of men or of beasts) associated or living together
   1. a company, troop, swarm
2. a multitude of individuals of the same nature or genus
   1. the human family
3. a tribe, nation, people group
4. in the OT, foreign nations not worshipping the true God, pagans, Gentiles
5. Paul uses the term for Gentile Christians

Things we know:
Abraham had two sons, Isaac and Ishmael.
Isaac is the lineage the Jewish nation came from.
Ishmael is the lineage the Muslims came from.
God promised Hagar (Ishmael's mother) that her son would be a great nation.
There was enmity between the nations created by Isaac and Ishmael and there still is.

Fast forward to today:
Using the scripture in Mark above (also found in Matt 24:7 and Luke 21:10) it is shown that "nation," defined as a tribe, people group, and/or a multitude of individuals of the same nature or genus, shall rise against "nation." Now insert the names of the tribes, Isaac and Ishmael or their descendants, the Jews and Muslims, and you see exactly what Jesus was talking about. There can be other nations and tribes substituted, but the emphasis of the scripture is on the history of the people of Isaac therefore the natural choice of Ishmael would be the most likely.
Putting it in a "religious" sense, I believe you can make these associations:

• The Jews are the chosen people through Isaac
• Jesus is the Christ, born into the tribe of Judah, son of Jacob, son of Isaac
• The "Gentiles" (also G1484, ethnos, in Strong's) are the "offspring" of Jesus in a figurative sense
• Christianity is the true "religion"
• Jesus is the Christ

• Islam is the anti-chosen people through Ishmael
• Muhammed is the false-Christ born into the nation of Ishmael
• The "Muslims" are the "offspring" of Muhammed in a figurative sense
• Islam is the "false religion" spoken of in Revelation
• Muhammed is the "false prophet" also spoken of in Revelation

These associations are only a small sample of the many examples in the scripture. Once you begin to see and recognize that Islam is the false religion of Revelation, the scripture you quoted in your OP begins to make perfect sense:
Gen 16:12 (NIV) He (Ishmael and his descendents) will be a wild donkey of a man; his hand will be against everyone and everyone’s hand against him, and he will live in hostility toward all his brothers.” (emphasis added)

By extension, the references to the false Christ, anti-christ, man of lawlessness, false prophet, etc., begin to come alive. There need be little speculation as to who these personages are - in a general sense. Obviously, the exact identity of the living breathing person who will be the anti-christ is unknowable at this time, but you certainly know where to look for the answer.
It has been my experience that God uses what he has available to accomplish his needs - whether it is a reluctant person (i.e. Jonah), an animal (donkey), a nation (Egypt, Assyria), or a religious caliphate (ISIS). There is no need for him to create a false religion or false prophet (as in Revelation) when one already exists. Simply because they have existed since the 7th century is no reason to exclude them in the overall prophecy of the end time. In fact the fight has been going on for millennia and what better way to accomplish his plan.
Compare the methods used by the adherents of Islam to convert Christians - submit or be beheaded. Sounds just like the methods used by the false prophet and anti-christ in Revelation - I don't believe this description is a coincidence.

 

[mere5]

Mark 13:8 (KJV) For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be earthquakes in divers places, and there shall be famines and troubles: these are the beginnings of sorrows.

The Strong's definition of the greek word "ethnos" translated as "nation" is as follows:
nation(s) G1484 ethnos

1. a multitude (whether of men or of beasts) associated or living together
   1. a company, troop, swarm
2. a multitude of individuals of the same nature or genus
   1. the human family
3. a tribe, nation, people group
4. in the OT, foreign nations not worshipping the true God, pagans, Gentiles
5. Paul uses the term for Gentile Christians

Things we know:
Abraham had two sons, Isaac and Ishmael.
Isaac is the lineage the Jewish nation came from.
Ishmael is the lineage the Muslims came from.
God promised Hagar (Ishmael's mother) that her son would be a great nation.
There was enmity between the nations created by Isaac and Ishmael and there still is.

Fast forward to today:
Using the scripture in Mark above (also found in Matt 24:7 and Luke 21:10) it is shown that "nation," defined as a tribe, people group, and/or a multitude of individuals of the same nature or genus, shall rise against "nation." Now insert the names of the tribes, Isaac and Ishmael or their descendants, the Jews and Muslims, and you see exactly what Jesus was talking about. There can be other nations and tribes substituted, but the emphasis of the scripture is on the history of the people of Isaac therefore the natural choice of Ishmael would be the most likely.
Putting it in a "religious" sense, I believe you can make these associations:

• The Jews are the chosen people through Isaac
• Jesus is the Christ, born into the tribe of Judah, son of Jacob, son of Isaac
• The "Gentiles" (also G1484, ethnos, in Strong's) are the "offspring" of Jesus in a figurative sense
• Christianity is the true "religion"
• Jesus is the Christ

• Islam is the anti-chosen people through Ishmael
• Muhammed is the false-Christ born into the nation of Ishmael
• The "Muslims" are the "offspring" of Muhammed in a figurative sense
• Islam is the "false religion" spoken of in Revelation
• Muhammed is the "false prophet" also spoken of in Revelation

These associations are only a small sample of the many examples in the scripture. Once you begin to see and recognize that Islam is the false religion of Revelation, the scripture you quoted in your OP begins to make perfect sense:
Gen 16:12 (NIV) He (Ishmael and his descendents) will be a wild donkey of a man; his hand will be against everyone and everyone’s hand against him, and he will live in hostility toward all his brothers.” (emphasis added)

By extension, the references to the false Christ, anti-christ, man of lawlessness, false prophet, etc., begin to come alive. There need be little speculation as to who these personages are - in a general sense. Obviously, the exact identity of the living breathing person who will be the anti-christ is unknowable at this time, but you certainly know where to look for the answer.
It has been my experience that God uses what he has available to accomplish his needs - whether it is a reluctant person (i.e. Jonah), an animal (donkey), a nation (Egypt, Assyria), or a religious caliphate (ISIS). There is no need for him to create a false religion or false prophet (as in Revelation) when one already exists. Simply because they have existed since the 7th century is no reason to exclude them in the overall prophecy of the end time. In fact the fight has been going on for millennia and what better way to accomplish his plan.
Compare the methods used by the adherents of Islam to convert Christians - submit or be beheaded. Sounds just like the methods used by the false prophet and anti-christ in Revelation - I don't believe this description is a coincidence.

Oh absolutely! If you don't mind I'm going to share what you wrote with my husband. We've been talking about this for months. Thanks for your input!
Meredith