Julia Duin, the Religion Correspondent for the Washington Times has a blog entry up that’s pretty chilling. Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad believes in what’s called the 12th Iman. The 12th Iman according to Duin:
Many are not sure this imam – said to be born in Iraq in 868 AD – was a real person. Tradition has him performing miracles as a child, living his life in hiding from his enemies, but never dying. Instead, sometime around 941 AD, he was caught up into heaven, somewhat like the Old Testament prophet Elijah. Islamic tradition says both the mahdi and Jesus Christ will return to Earth, both to correct corrupted practices done in both of their names.
Jesus – whom Muslims believe was not crucified but was caught up into heaven with another man dying in His place – will also marry, then die again, but the mahdi will establish peace, justice and truth throughout the world.
The Golden Mosque, bombed in February in Samarra, Iraq, was constructed to honor this mahdi. An attack on it was seen as an attack on the whole idea of a Muslim messiah held dear by many Iranians, including the president of Iran.
What makes this scary is that in order to bring about this particular doomsday scenario Ahmadinejad is willing to bring the catyclysm that will bring the return of the 12th Iman. The critical point here is that Ahmadinejad believes that a Hell of Nuclear War could bring a Messiah back to Earth, and why not light the match? Troubling times, indeed.
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