MAHMOUD AHMADINEJAD: Mojo and the Antichrist

Maybe you've heard the saying: "It's not the end of the world, but you can see it from here." Well, it's a bit like that with Iranian leader Mahmoud "Mojo" Ahmadinejad: He may not be the Antichrist, but he might well be the Antichrist's advance man.

Maybe you've also heard something about Mojo's involvement with an apocalyptic strain of Shi'a Islam devoted to the coming of a mysterious character called the 12th Imam and wondered what that was all about. It's true. Last September when President Mojo addressed the United Nations General Assembly, something remarkable happened. The "Hidden Imam," he said afterward, "drenched the place in a sweet light."

[Insert otherworldly Twilight Zone sound file.]

Here's the account in Mojo's own words:

"The last day when I was speaking before the (U.N. General) Assembly, one of our group told me when I started to say, 'In the name of God the Almighty, the Merciful,' he saw a light around me, and I was placed inside this aura and I felt it myself. I felt the atmosphere suddenly change, and for those 27 or 28 minutes the leaders of the world did not blink. When I say they did not bat an eyelid, I am not exaggerating because I was looking at them and they were rapt."

Mojo is reputed to draw away on occasion and commune in some fashion with this 12th Imam, a.k.a. Mahdi. So, who is this mysterious character? Here's a brief rundown, taken from The Christian Family Guide Explains the Middle East Conflict (Alpha Books, with author's permission):

The Shi’ite Mahdi was born in 868 A.D. and became imam [chief religious leader] while a small child in 874 A.D. upon the death of his father, Hasasn al-Skari, the eleventh imam. He disappeared entirely in 939 A.D. and is believed to exist in a supernatural state while awaiting the time of his return.

Other characteristics of the Mahdi:

o Will return on Judgment Day to fight evil, save the world and usher in equality and justice.
o Has the ability to appear and disappear at will.
o Will do battle with evil forces in one final, apocalyptic battle.
o Will repair the Mosque, reconstruct Mecca and bring a new Book with new teaching, restoring Islam to its original purity and integrity.
o Will rule the world under a perfect, universal government to guide humanity and bring about a perfect spirituality—including the conversion of Jews to Islam.

And, oh yes, he will crush all infidels (Christians and Jews). The key thing here is that Mojo considers himself the agent to orchestrate events toward the coming of this Mahdi. Those familiar with Christian eschatology should note some significant parallels—but more about that next time.