Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad delivered his address before the United Nations General Assembly on Wednesday, saying that the return of Jesus Christ was soon to come, along with the Islamic end-time figure the 12th Imam.

"God Almighty has promised us a man of kindness, a man who loves people and loves absolute justice, a man who is a perfect human being and is named Imam Al-Mahdi, a man who will come in the company of Jesus Christ (peace be upon him) and the righteous," Ahmadinejad said, according to a transcript by PolicyMic.

According to Shi'a Muslim beliefs, which the Iranian president subscribes to, Jesus of Nazareth will return to Earth along with the above-mentioned Imam, and they together will solve many of the world's problems. more >>

On the heels of one of the bloodiest days Syria has experienced since fighting broke out last March, the regime of Bashar al-Assad has drawn the line in the sand in the city of Damascus, vowing to wipe out once and for all "terrorist" forces challenging the government. With residents getting a 48-hour warning to flee the capital and state forces promising to use all weapons at its disposal, many are wondering if the world is watching biblical prophecy unfold.

"See, Damascus will no longer be a city but will become a heap of ruins," reads the first verse of the 17th chapter of the prophetic book of Isaiah, believed by scholars to have been written between the late 8th and 7th centuries B.C. Although some critiques argue that the Damascus prophecy was fulfilled in 732 B.C. when the Assyrians leveled the city, others, also pointing to Jeremiah 49:23-27, insist this is an End Times event yet to come to pass.

Olive Tree Ministries shared a commentary on its website earlier this week from prophecy author Jack Kinsella, who expresses the opinion that, based on Scripture, it is quite possible that Syria might look to engage neighboring countries, such as Israel, Iran or Turkey, in the conflict. more >>

Correction appended

Grant Jeffrey, a Canadian Bible teacher known as an expert on Bible prophecies, an advocate of dispensationalism and host of TBN's "Bible Prophecy Revealed," passed away over the weekend after a cardiac arrest. He was 63.

"He is now without pain, he is healed and now with his Heavenly Father. He will be missed sorely," reads a statement published on the Grant Jeffrey Ministries website. The funeral will be held in Toronto, at a location to be announced soon, ministry officials said. more >>

A conference focused on the current hostile climate toward Israel in the Middle East has revealed that a number of prominent historians and theologians believe the world is witnessing biblical prophecies related to the End Times unfold before its very eyes. 

Israel, the Church and the Middle East Crisis conference took place March 23-24 at Biola University in La Mirada, Calif., and was organized by Messianic Jewish organization Chosen People Ministries. In February, The Christian Post sat down with Dr. Mitch Glaser, president of Chosen Ministries, who revealed that based on the Old Testament and the teachings of the New Testament, he believes Israel will become the focus of the world as the second coming of Jesus Christ nears.

"The Middle East will become the nexus or the focal point of what God is going to do in the very last days of planet Earth. All eyes will be on Israel and her neighbors and so it is important for those who are trying to decipher the times in which we live – not date setting, but knowing 'the times and seasons' in which we live," Dr. Glaser said in a recent follow-up interview with CP. more >>

The Book of Revelation has been the focus of ongoing discussion for those looking into what, if any, relevance the prophetic book might hold for present times, and an in-depth study by one author suggests that some views on the prophetic book, including the rapture and tribulation, may be misguided.

Revelation is commonly viewed as a prophetic book full of challenging imagery and descriptions that seem to tell of future events concerning the apocalypse, or the end of the world. While some scholars argue that the events described in Revelation have already occurred, many Christians believe the book, attributed to the apostle John, tells of a future apocalypse. 

A survey released last year by the National Association of Evangelicals revealed that a majority of evangelical Christian leaders believe that Jesus Christ will return to Earth and reign with his followers for 1,000 years, as described in the Book of Revelation. The theological stance, referred to as premillenialism, was shared by 65 percent of those surveyed. more >>

The Rev. Gerald Haug, author of Ortho-Millennialism: Bringing Order to End-Time Chaos, discussed in a recent interview with The Christian Post the eternal fate of believers, as well as unbelievers who have passed away, elaborating on why he thinks the Resurrection of the Dead mentioned numerous times in the Bible has already happened. In addition, Haug claims a desire to defend Scripture has led Christians to wrongly interpret many biblical prophecies. 

Chapters nine and 10 of Haug's Ortho-Millennialism are focused specifically on the Resurrection of the Dead and the fate of departed Christians – how, or when they are received, or brought together with Christ in heaven after their physical death.

Contrary to the evangelical Christian view that there will be a final judgment for all people, both believers and unbelievers, as theologians say is supported by Scripture, Haug does not believe that Christians are awaiting the coming of Christ to judge all of mankind. Instead, he argues, believers who pass away will be given a new body in heaven with Christ. Unbelievers, on the other hand, will be judged by Christ and all those who shared the Word of God with them after all of human history passes, and will be sent to the lake of fire, otherwise known as the "second death," where they will be eternally punished for their sins. more >>