MAHMOUD AHMADINEJAD: 'The mushroom cloud is on its way'

Woe to the Man of Lawlessness, the one who threatens the apple of God's eye, who will be punished with everlasting destruction.

"The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with the work of Satan displayed in all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders, and in every sort of evil that deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness" (2 Thess. 2:9-12, NIV).

Can anyone, especially in the nearly five years since 9/11, have any doubt that radical Islam is that powerful delusion that causes millions to believe outrageous lies and many to commit acts of vicious savagery? Enter Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the man who would lead the Islamic "liberation" of Jerusalem and the final destruction of the Jewish nation.

"Like it or not, the Zionist regime is heading toward annihilation," Ahmadinejad told a recent conference in support of Palestinians. "Believe that Palestine will be freed soon."

Sympathizers in America held a rally a few days ago outside the Israeli consulate in New York City with chants in Arabic later translated, "The mushroom cloud is on its way! The real holocaust is on its way!" Demonstrators carried placards with pictures of an Islamic flag flying over the White House.

Like a moth to a flame, Scripture pictures the man of lawlessness as consumed with hatred for God's chosen people. Is Ahmadinejad that man? Probably not. But he is the self-professed advance man for one who does fit that description, the 12th Imam, a.k.a., the Mahdi, the Islamic End Times messiah. Ahmadinejad reportedly considers himself one of Mahdi's owtads—or nails, pinning the world together.

A recent speech by Ahmadinejad featured a poster showing time running out for America and Israel. On closer inspection, the picture shows America already smashed before Israel. Could that have any particular significance? We wonder.