* Originally written 7/19/2016
It's mid-July 2016 and radical Islamic terrorist attacks plague the world, including a recent truck attack on the waterfront promenade in Nice, France. Billionaire and presumptive GOP nominee Donald Trump named his running mate, Indiana Governor Mike Pence, and the Republican Convention is set to begin in Cleveland, OH on July 18th.
Meanwhile, over in Turkey (anciently referred to as Asia Minor), a military coup was attempted and then squashed by the government of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
News report over the weekend of July 15-17th, reported that the Obama Administration and many world leaders rushed to support Erdogan's democratically elected, but oppressive, government. However, security analysts like former UN Ambassador John Bolton and Montana's former Navy Seal Congressman Ryan Zinke, among others urged caution, questioning whether Erdogan was using this coup as a pretext to seize power and Islamize Turkey. The latter seems to be what is happening!
Modern Turkey was birthed by Kemal Ataturk. Ataturk birthed a secular Turkey, with a constitution that purportedly used the military as a safeguard to maintain the secular nature of the government in case an elected government veered to extremism.
In the days following the failed coup, Erdogan is systematically purging Turkey key institutions of secular leaders. He is purging, firing and/or arresting military officers, teachers, and judges. He has demanded that the US extradite a former rival, Fethullah Gulen, claiming he was responsible for the attempted coup. This is similar to what the radical Muslim Mohammed Morsi attempted to do in Egypt but was stopped by the military there. In my view, Barack Obama's support for Morsi and Erdogan is strong evidence of his Islamic sympathies and/ or adherence to the Muslim religion and his pervasively deceitful, Islamic character.
Such a purge by Erdogan could make Turkey as radical as Iran! The implications for the European Union are huge, given Turkey's desire to join the group. Likewise, the consequences for NATO are likewise quite problematical since Turkey is a current member of NATO. Finally, the implications for Turkey's continued assistance in the fight against Isis could likewise be in doubt, as well as the use of the airbase at Incirlik. The US stores tactical nuclear weapons at the base according to a 7/17/2016 web article by RT.com. Also, according to the same article, power was cut to the base forcing the U.S. military to switch to its own internal power supply in order to resume its anti-terrorist campaign in the region.
Finally, such an event in Turkey has prophetic biblical implications as well! The Revived Roman Empire noted in the books of Daniel and Revelation features 10 toes, five are iron (strong dictatorships) and five of clay (democracies). Could Turkey be a part of this group since it was part of the original Roman Empire? Also, I'd maintain that the Antichrist arises from Syria or is ethnically Syrian per Daniel chapter 8. Turkey's move to radical Islamic status paves the way for his introduction!
