By Walid Shoebat (Shoebat Exclusive)

Erdogan proclaimed himself God. You heard it correctly.

But before I break it to you, I was asked yesterday by a friend (Vinny Zee) if Erdogan ever declared himself to be God, that my article yesterday Vinny alluded that if others calling Erdogan “God” and “prophet,” does not qualify, since in 2 Thessalonians 2, it is the Antichrist who declares “himself” to be God and not just his followers.

This is a valid argument. But to answer it, is not something for a speedy Gonzales who wants a quick outline, it takes more than a thousand words and a keen eye to dig deeper than the surface. Read this, consume it, and prevent yourself falling into the grip of the devil.

When I published my article yesterday, I did not include most of the research I discovered thinking to wait for a more beefy Tostada and that folks would trust my track record on being cautious, so I gave only an example or two. So here it is, to all my pestering friends, I will start with the minor then to the major.

Today’s Zaman, a secular, not Christian, Turkish newspaper had this to say:

“An alleged supporter of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) welcomed President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan by chanting “Welcome, O Messenger of God,” a phrase commonly used to refer to the Prophet Muhammad, in the latest in a series of similar remarks attributing divine qualities to Erdoğan.”

Ok, I could hear the argument, “some crazy parlamentarian called  him ‘prophet’, so what”. But it is not only one, Zaman adds:

“In another example, AK Party Bursa deputy Hüseyin Şahin at one point said that touching Erdoğan is a form of prayer, while AK Party Düzce deputy Fevai Arslan said Erdoğan has all the attributes of God.”

Now these are not some ‘Joe-Schmo,’ these are AK Party deputies from the Grand National Assembly of Turkey and members of parliament.

AK Party Bursa deputy Hüseyin Şahin

A billboard  last month was erected for Erdogan’s birthday, February 26,  in the Gölbaşı district of adıyaman province inviting people to attend a “holy birthday” event to celebrate the birthday of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, except this celebration is not attributing the festivity for Erdogan as mere man, but as a prophet.

A billboard in the Gölbaşı district of Adıyaman province invites people to attend a “holy birthday” event to celebrate the birthday of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. (Photo: Cihan)

Zaman adds:

“Among the activities planned for the event — scheduled for 7 p.m. on Feb. 26 — are a religious talk from theologian Ömer Döngeloğlu; a concert of hymns (known as ilahi [my God] praising God and extolling the characteristics of the Prophet Muhammad) by Recep Aslan and Bilal Göregen; and a sema performance (whirling dervishes).”

“Religious talks, hymns and sema performances like those planned for the president’s birthday are common to religious celebrations held in honor of the Prophet Muhammad’s birth.”

This is not treating Erdogan as mere man, but prophet. Whirling dervishes is not just Turkish art, but the process of Fana, on how one can become God.

Erdogan is also proclaimed as “healer”. When Erdogan once addressed the crowd from the platform, a woman was seen fainting. Erdogan gesticulated as if saying “bring her over.” Instead of being taken away by ambulance, the allegedly sick woman was taken to Erdogan. The stretcher was elevated to the platform and Erdogan reached out to the woman. She grabbed his right hand with both hands, screaming what the dervishes you hear in the video: ‘Allah, Allah, Allahu Akbar'”.

Sleepy heads who are hung up on some Nicolae Jetty Carpathia, need to begin taking their heads out of the junk and need to begin to learn more about Sufism and how man can become divine:

ERDOGAN DEMANDS WORSHIP

Erdogan is hailed, not only as “prophet” or “healer” only, but as one who can change the laws of the universe: “Spring has come to Sanliurfa. Both nature and history are rising up to greet our prime minister,” says Finance Minister Mehmet Simsek on Erdogan’s visit to the southeastern province of Sanliurfa on March 9th. Yet the Finance Minister did not face any sanctions from Erdogan for declaration of divinity  and neither did AKP lawmaker Fevai Aslan who on January 16th when he said: “Erdogan is a leader who gathers all of Allah’s qualities in himself”. Neither did the Deputy Health Minister Agah Kafkas was reprimanded when on May 19, 2013 he said: “To do what Erdogan does is sunna”. “Sunna” which the Deputy Health Minister was referring to is the obedience to Muhammad. In other words, to obey Erdogan is to obey the Prophet himself! And neither was AKP lawmaker Huseyin Sahin on July 20, 2011 was reprimanded by Erdogan for saying: “Believe me, even touching our prime minister is worship to me.”

These are major figures and Erdogan as if he is Christ who did not denounce worshiping Him, Erdogan did not denounce worship either. And if one thinks that it’s only the followers who elevate Erdogan to prophet, healer, master of the universe and nature, or deity, think again. Just last week media from Istanbul, wrote this regarding Edrogan himself, firing anyone who denounces him being God:

“Turkey’s Religious Affairs Directorate fired an imam who is highly regarded as a hafiz — a person who has memorized the entire Quran — in İzmir on Feb. 23 because of posts on Facebook criticizing President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s use of religious terminology to praise himself. The imam, who asks that his name not be revealed because of the judicial process he has started against the directorate, told Today’s Zaman that directorate inspectors started an investigation against him when İzmir Mufti’s Office filed a complaint in May of last year regarding posts the imam had written, arguing that language used by Erdoğan and his followers goes against the principles of İslam. The anonymous imam insisted that it is a duty of religious officials to warn people when their behavior, attitude and language contradict religious mandates. In a speech in March of last year that many theologians found to be problematic, then-Prime Minister Erdoğan said, “Our mercy will prevail over our wrath,” to a crowd in Muğla province, using terminology from a hadith qudsi (sacred hadith), a category of the sayings of the Prophet Muhammad which are attributed to God. The hadith qudsi in question states: “When God decreed the Creation, He pledged Himself by writing in His book which is laid down with Him: My mercy prevails over my wrath.”

In other words, Erdogan Islamically proclaims himself as Allah. The statement “Our mercy will prevail over our wrath” in Islam only pertains to Allah himself.

But this is not only Erdogan using Islamic terminologies for such claims of deity. Speaking to the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) consisting of 57 member states from every Muslim nation on the globe, Erdogan uses termminology that only is known to have been said of Christ in the Bible. For example, God, in Zechariah calls Jerusalem “the apple of my eye” and Erdogan does the same in denouncing what Christ said that “Jerusalem is the apple of My Eye,” that is Christ’s eye. Erdogan said: “Jerusalem is the apple of every Muslim’s eye”.  Such biblical terminology belongs to Christ, God, regarding His Temple in Jerusalem. The prophet Zechariah prophetically declared what Jesus will proclaim regarding a temple that is prophetically built for Him in Jerusalem with use of this terminology:

Then I looked up, and there before me was a man with a measuring line in his hand. 2 I asked, “Where are you going?”

He answered me, “To measure Jerusalem, to find out how wide and how long it is.”

While the angel who was speaking to me was leaving, another angel came to meet him4 and said to him: “Run, tell that young man, ‘Jerusalem will be a city without wallsbecause of the great number of people and animals in it. And I myself will be a wall of firearound it,’ declares the Lord, ‘and I will be its glory within.’

“Come! Come! Flee from the land of the north,” declares the Lord, “for I have scattered you to the four winds of heaven,” declares the Lord.

“Come, Zion! Escape, you who live in Daughter Babylon!” 8 For this is what the LordAlmighty says: “After the Glorious One has sent me against the nations that have plundered you—for whoever touches you touches the apple of his eye—I will surely raise my hand against them so that their slaves will plunder them. Then you will know that the Lord Almighty has sent me.

How Erdogan knows this, or why he is using such blasphemy is unknown, or whether he manifests a demon or Lucifer himself remains to be seen. While Erdogan is the changer of Turkish laws, the dishonorer of women’s desires, the writing is on the wall, this man undeniably desires to be deified and Jerusalem is his focus. Must this not be a reason for all who are required to heed Paul’s instruction in 2 Thessalonians 2?

I believe it should. But we need all pieces to proclaim him The Antichrist. While he proclaims himself attributes of prophet and deity, he must enter the Temple of God making such declaration there. It is either Hagia Sophia, the Jewish Temple in Turkey or a rebuilt Temple in Jerusalem, only time will tell.

And it is not as if all of the sudden AKP party leaders have just come up with all this deification of Erdogan on their own. It is actually the reverse, their deification of Erdogan comes from him and through them they proclaimed him as God.

With a book written with his approval titled “Recep Tayyip Erdogan: The Sun of the Age,” which proudly gives him titles that only belong to deity which even to Wahhabist Muslims, would sound bizarre, if not heretical. But whoever said that all of Arabia will accept Antichrist misses Scripture, that in Ezekiel 38, Sheba and Dedan mock his invasion of Israel and as we see Libya’s Haftar and Egypt’s Al-Sisi, both hate Erdogan today, these are perfectly set up for the invasion by Antichrist in Daniel 11.

And to be amazed with God’s wonder, whoever wrote Daniel, had it not been God, as the naysayers deny, Daniel would have to have understood that Turkey being pro-Muslim Brotherhood and that Libya and Egypt are anti-Muslim Brotherhood, would be some genius who knew exactly the politics and demography of today’s situation. Indeed, it is for thousands of these biblical points I read from the Holy Scripture was the reason I left Islam, left Antichrist, repented and I believe in Thy Name O Lord Jesus The Christ, The Son of The Living God Who died on the Cross of Calvary and resurrected on the third day as written in Scriptures . It is Thee whom I prostrate, it is Thee whom I worship. For to Thee, every knee will bow, every tongue will confess that Thee alone is Lord over the universe. It is Thee who is the Healer, the Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. It is Thee whom every knee will bow, including Bel (Allah) and Nebo (the prophet) (see Isaiah 46:1).

Nabi or Nebo is prophet. This false prophet claims himself as god. To all Turks, “touching Erdogan” as “a form of worship,” and proclaimed that Erdogan “carries all the attributes of Allah in himself” is a great blasphemy.  There is only one who is to be called “The Sun of the Age,” who “carries all the attributes of God in himself”, that is Christ.

So lets wait and see if Erdogan “takes his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God.” – 2 Thessalonians 2 1-4

AKP deputy Duzce Miletvekili Feavi Arslan proclaimed that Erdogan “carries all the attributes of Allah in himself.”

Shoebat.com predicted this will be the outcome last year and even explained it theologically from a Muslim perspective (read here). Sufism is key, which we illustrated, before Erdogan’s coming out of the closet, this very issue, by quoting the most infamous of Islamic Sufi writers who is praised by Erdogan, Jalal al-Din Rumi, who wrote of how the goal of the Sufi is to become divine via Fana (eliminating the self to become God):

Remember the famous utterance of al-Hallaj, “I am God.” People think that to say “I am God” is a claim of great pretense and spiritual arrogance. It is actually a claim of extreme humility. “I am God” means “I do not exist.” He is all, everything is He, existence is God’s alone. I am without existence, pure non-existence. I am nothing.” “I am God” is not a claim of great pretension, it is a claim of extreme humility. There is more humility in this than any supposed claim to greatness, but people do not understand the inner meaning. When a man acknowledges his servitude to God, he is aware of his being a servant. He may see himself as a devoted servant of God, but he still sees himself and his own actions as apart from the one reality of God. He is not drowned in the Ocean of Divine Unity. Drowned is he in whom there is not separate motion or mobility. Drowned is he whose movement is the movement of the water. And so it is with the enlightenment ones, those who declares, “I am God.” Anyone who says “I am the servant of God” asserts the reality of two existences, one for himself and the other for God. But he who says “I am God” — and has realized the deepest levels of unity within his being — has seen through the illusion of his existence. He knows from the experience of unity that his own separate existence is nothing but an illusion. Knowing that, he casts its former selfhood upon the winds of oblivion. (Rumi, Hearts bear witness one to another, in The Complete Discourses of Jalal al-Din Rumi, discourse 11, p. 75, ed. Louis Rogers)

The deception is so immense that even Joel Richardson, who writes in both of his books not only praised the foremost Muslim scholar behind Sufism, Jala al Din al Rumi complementing him and asking his readers to learn from the Antichrist religion’s positive aspects stating that Rumi, the father of Sufism and Antichrist theology, as the essence and beacon for such transformation to God:

“Jalal al Din al Rumi was one of Islam’s greatest mystics. He practiced a mystical form of Islam known as Sufiism. Rumi often spoke of God as “the Beloved” or “the Friend.” Sufis’ such as Rumi also placed far more emphasis on Jesus as their model for life than other Muslims. One cannot read many of Rumi’s writings without feeling as though he was very close to being a Christian. There is at least one quote of Rumi’s that I have truly come to appreciate. Rumi said, “One day I was going along looking to see in people the shining of the Friend, so I would recognize the Ocean in a drop.”

How this shows love for Jesus by Rumi is astounding, he continues in his admiration of Rumi:

Rumi attempted to see God in all of His creation, and particularly in every one of His creatures.

Richardson’s fascination with Rumi goes too far to even admire the very religion of Antichrist’s peaceful form of Islam, Sufism:

Maybe you say that we cannot find any goodness and light in the religion of the Antichrist. But believe it or not, you can. And here’s the reason: Islam is made of Muslims. And Muslims are people who are created in the image of God. And many of them are genuine God seekers. As such, even in Islam there are things that Christians can learn from.”

Even Christians who claim serpentine wisdom, fall, how will it be for the rest?

Erdogan is a master of great deception. This is the first time in history that this connect was made. And it is not as if Erdogan is unaware of Rumi’s theology. Far from it. It was no surprise to us that the president of Turkey, Erdogan even praised Rumi’s work, revealing that he himself is not only Sufi but that he also believes in Fana “the art annihilation and becoming God himself”. Why else would Erdogan praise Rumi’s work The Masnavi, saying:

“A work can live for more than seven centuries only if it is written with love”.

The Masnavi is amongst Rumi’s most popular works, and it is in this very book that the idea of man becoming divine is adulated. He praises the Sufi declaration “I am the Truth!” saying, “Mansur’s ‘I am the Truth!’ was purest light” (Masnavi, 2.307, trans. Mojaddedi)

When Christ said “I am The Truth” He was declaring Himself to be God Almighty. Likewise in Sufi Islam, this also exists, yet mimicking Christ. In Sufi Islam for one to exclaim, “I am the Truth,” is to say “I am God!”