Iran’s Mojtaba Khamenei wants to bring in the Imam Mahdi? What about Ezekiel 38?

March 13, 2026

Mojtaba Khamenei
(Official photo per Wikipedia)

A reader sent me a link to the following by Michael Snyder:

Iran’s New Supreme Leader Is “Obsessed With the End of Days”

March 13, 2026

For a lot of people, this war with Iran is not just another war. Millions of Shiite Muslims all over the world are convinced that this is the war that will result in the rise of the Mahdi. In fact, most of Iran’s key leaders are eagerly watching for the appearance of the Mahdi. So why would they give up if they actually believe that the Mahdi is going to show up at any moment?

To them, that wouldn’t make any sense at all. …

According to someone that once knew Mojtaba Khamenei very well, Iran’s new supreme leader is “obsessed with the end of days”…

It comes as another source, a former study partner of Mojtaba, revealed that the new Supreme Leader is said to be ‘obsessed with the end of days’ and is ‘more dangerous’ than his father.

The man that is making this claim is an exiled Iranian official named Jaber Rajabi.

He says that Mojtaba truly believes that his destiny is to “have a special part” in ushering in the return of the Mahdi…

While studying with Mojtaba at The Qom Seminary – the most highly regarded centre for Islamic scholarship in Iran – Rajabi described him as ‘obsessed with the end of days’ and that he believed ‘he himself will have a special part in hastening humanity down that path’.

According to Twelver Shia – the largest branch of Shia Islam studied by Khamenei at Qom – the 12th Imam, Muhammad al-Mahdi, who is believed to be in hiding, will return at the end of times to establish a period of global justice in which oppression is eradicated.

Islamic apocalyptic traditions describe major conflicts happening before this era, including the Malhama al-Kubra – a great battle sometimes interpreted as a confrontation with Western powers.

If Mojtaba and other Iranian leaders are convinced that this war with the United States and Israel is actually “the Malhama al-Kubra”, why in the world would they ever give up?

From their perspective, that would be unthinkable. …

According to Twelver theology, a very evil figure must appear on the scene before the arrival of that Mahdi.

That very evil figure is known as “the Dajjal”.

As I discussed in a piece that I published earlier this month, many Shiite leaders have become convinced that Donald Trump is “the Dajjal”. …

And Twelver Shiites also believe that the Mahdi is supposed to kill “the Dajjal” once he arrives.

Are you starting to understand why the Iranians view this war completely differently than we do? … the Shiite Muslims that are running Iran believe that when the Mahdi shows up it will guarantee their victory over the United States and Israel. … For many Shiite Muslims, this is the big one. https://basedunderground.com/irans-new-supreme-leader-is-obsessed-with-the-end-of-days/

There are basically two major groups of Muslims–Shiites and Sunnis.

The Shiite view of the Mahdi and Dajjal are further away from the Bible than the Sunni view.

Basically, the biblical and Sunni views say a leader will arise in Muslim lands, make a peace deal with a European leader, who will break the deal. Then he and the Antichrist will reign for about 3 1/2 years and Jesus will return.

But that is not the Shiite view.

Furthermore, the Shiite view teaches that the the 12th Imam, Muhammad al-Mahdi, who was born in 869, has basically been hidden and in suspended animation for over 1100 years. Christians and Sunni Muslims do not believe that.

However, presuming Mojtaba Khamenei does believe that, he (if he lives long enough) would be expected to take extreme actions that others would tend to consider illogical.

Like, for example, leading a coalition that will cause great damage to Jerusalem–not only is that consistent with biblical prophecy, it is also consistent with the Shiite view that their prophecies state that a Seyed Khorasani will turn Jerusalem over to the Imam Mahdi.

It has been asserted that Mojtaba Khamenei:

… believes himself to be the prophesied figure paving the way for the Quranic “Messiah” – Mahdi

Mojtaba Khamenei & supporters think he is the ‘Khorasani’ tasked with conquering Jerusalem & Mecca. 03/11/26 https://www.prophecyrecon.com/news/experts-warn-irans-new-leader-is-obsessed-with-end-times?utm_source=chatgpt.com

If Mojtaba Khamenei does believe that, then he may very well help fulfill the following:

6 Elam bore the quiver With chariots of men and horsemen, And Kir uncovered the shield. 7 It shall come to pass that your choicest valleys Shall be full of chariots,And the horsemen shall set themselves in array at the gate.

8 He removed the protection of Judah. You looked in that day to the armor of the House of the Forest; 9 You also saw the damage to the city of David, That it was great; (Isaiah 22:6-9)

We will see if Mojtaba Khamenei lives long enough to have this done.

Let me add that Shiite Muslims believe that their Imam Mahdi will essentially conquer the world and implement a world-ruling Islamic government.–that is not consistent with biblical prophecies, hence will not happen.

More on Islamic and biblical prophecies can be found in our free eBook: Islamic and Biblical Prophecies for the 21st Century.

Now, some Protestants think that the current conflict is related to Ezekiel 38 as Michael Snyder also reported:

March 13, 2026

… there are millions of Christians all over the world that believe that this war with Iran is a fulfillment of Bible prophecy. Of course there is a tremendous amount of debate within Christian circles about which passages of the Bible are actually being fulfilled. But if this war with Iran is a fulfillment of Bible prophecy, we should expect other major events to soon follow.

Here in the western world, many Christian leaders are starting to link this current war with Iran to Bible prophecy.

In an article that was just put out by the Daily Mail, they quoted Pastor Jeff Cramer of Westminster Calvary in Colorado…

Pastor Jeff Cramer at Westminster Calvary in Colorado said the current moment carries ‘biblical significance’ because ‘Iran is ancient Persia,’ arguing that ‘there are prophetic issues that are with them for sure.’

He pointed to Ezekiel 38, which names Persia among the nations aligned against Israel, and said recent developments in the Middle East have caused some Christians to believe those prophecies could be moving closer.

‘We’re living in the prophetic timeline somewhere close to chapter 37 and the opening of chapter 38,’ Cramer said.

He argued that Israel remains central to biblical prophecy, saying, ‘Israel is always God’s timepiece when it comes to prophecy,’ and suggested modern conflicts involving Iran should be viewed through that lens.

Of course Pastor Cramer has a lot of company. …

For many Christians, this war has Biblical importance.

Personally, I fully agree that this war is extraordinarily important.

But I also think that things are going to play out differently than most people are anticipating.

Yes, the matter will turn out different than most people are anticipating.

And this in NO WAY is the fulfillment of Ezekiel 37, which has to do with the second resurrection (see details in our free eBook: Universal OFFER of Salvation, Apokatastasis: Can God save the lost in an age to come? Hundreds of scriptures reveal God’s plan of salvation) or Ezekiel 38.

What does the Bible actually teach? Notice the first 7 verses from Ezekiel 38:

1 Now the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 2 “Son of man, set your face against Gog, of the land of Magog, the prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal, and prophesy against him, 3 and say, ‘Thus says the Lord God: “Behold, I am against you, O Gog, the prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal. 4 I will turn you around, put hooks into your jaws, and lead you out, with all your army, horses, and horsemen, all splendidly clothed, a great company with bucklers and shields, all of them handling swords. 5 Persia, Ethiopia, and Libya are with them, all of them with shield and helmet; 6 Gomer and all its troops; the house of Togarmah from the far north and all its troops — many people are with you.

7 “Prepare yourself and be ready, you and all your companies that are gathered about you; and be a guard for them.

Verses 1-7 talk about a group getting ready to battle. Various nations such as Russia, Iran, Asians, and others are included here.

What does the Bible actually teach about the timing? Notice the next two verses from Ezekiel 38:

8 After many days you will be visited. In the latter years you will come into the land of those brought back from the sword and gathered from many people on the mountains of Israel, which had long been desolate; they were brought out of the nations, and now all of them dwell safely. 9 You will ascend, coming like a storm, covering the land like a cloud, you and all your troops and many peoples with you.”

Verses 8-9 refer to a regathering of Israel. Why do certain prophecy watchers say that it is for now?

Because certain Protestants believe that the creation of the nation of Israel in 1948 fulfills verse 8.

Yet, this is not really the fulfillment for several reasons (watch also the video Israel, 1948, and Prophecy).

One is that even today most Jews do not live in the nation of Israel. The Jewish diaspora is scattered throughout the world. But the other problem is that many do not realize that there are multiple millions of the descendants of Israel that are not of the tribe of Judah. The Bible shows that Israel split into the kingdoms of Judah and Israel after the reign of Solomon and that later the ten tribes that were part of Israel (cf. 1 Kings 11:31,35; 12:16-17; 12:20-23) were carried into captivity (2 Kings 17:21-23). Those tribes represent hundreds of millions of people currently alive, and as there are less than 6,000,000 Jews in Israel, most simply have not been regathered (more information on the tribes of Israel is in our free eBook: Lost Tribes and Prophecies: What will happen to Australia, the British Isles, Canada, Europe, New Zealand and the United States of America?).

Furthermore, pay close attention to the part of verse 8 about people dwelling safely. That is NOT the case in Israel today.

Additionally, notice verses 10-13:

10 ‘Thus says the Lord God: “On that day it shall come to pass that thoughts will arise in your mind, and you will make an evil plan: 11 You will say, ‘I will go up against a land of unwalled villages; I will go to a peaceful people, who dwell safely, all of them dwelling without walls, and having neither bars nor gates’ — 12 to take plunder and to take booty, to stretch out your hand against the waste places that are again inhabited, and against a people gathered from the nations, who have acquired livestock and goods, who dwell in the midst of the land. 13 Sheba, Dedan, the merchants of Tarshish, and all their young lions will say to you, ‘Have you come to take plunder? Have you gathered your army to take booty, to carry away silver and gold, to take away livestock and goods, to take great plunder?’”‘

Israel has its walls and “iron dome” and military weaponry. Notice that it is against a ‘peaceful people’ in unarmed villages that the prince of Rosh is going against. This cannot happen until AFTER the return of Jesus. Furthermore, there simply is not a plan to take a lot of gold and silver out of Israel right now by the power of the far north, nor does the current nation of Israel have enough of it to likely justify an attack for that purpose (unless perhaps some hidden gold/silver mines or remaining treasure of David).

Notice the following:

Israel holds no gold reserves at all, according to a Bank of Israel spokesman. (Kopf S. Jerusalem of Gold. Jerusalem Post, February 16, 2011. http://www.jpost.com/Jerusalem-Report/Israel/Jerusalem-of-Gold viewed 07/21/14)

Israel Gold Reserves was reported at 0.000 USD mn in Feb 2019

This stayed constant from the previous number of 0.000 USD mn for Jan 2019

(https://www.ceicdata.com/en/indicator/israel/gold-reserves viewed 07/02/24)

According to Index Mundi, the nation of Israel was not amongst the top 48 producers of silver in the world, so its supply of this would also seem to be limited–it also confirmed that Israel does not have gold reserves (though there is some gold and silver in coins, etc. in Israel). Israel in the early 21st century is NOT the target of Ezekiel 38.

Ezekiel was further inspired to write:

14 “Therefore, son of man, prophesy and say to Gog, ‘Thus says the Lord God: “On that day when My people Israel dwell safely, will you not know it? 15 Then you will come from your place out of the far north, you and many peoples with you, all of them riding on horses, a great company and a mighty army. 16 You will come up against My people Israel like a cloud, to cover the land. It will be in the latter days that I will bring you against My land, so that the nations may know Me, when I am hallowed in you, O Gog, before their eyes.” (Ezekiel 38:14-17)

So, a power from the far north, which would seem to have to be Russian-led as it is the only major military power in the far north now, and may be the only one also in the future, will come. But again, notice that this happens when Israel is dwelling safely.

Notice the following observation by the old Worldwide Church of God:

The events of Ezekiel 38 and 39 are without question still future – for the “latter days” (38: 16) and “latter years” (38:8). Moreover, Ezekiel 38:14 describes the time setting as being “in that day when my people of Israel dwelleth safely.” This is certainly not the situation in the State of Israel to- day! The Israel described by Ezekiel is a nation that dwells in security, in unwalled villages, totally unprepared for war (38:8, 11, 14). (Southeast Asia in Prophecy. Ambassador College Press, 1985)

And while Ezekiel 38 does mention Russia and Iran, the tiny nation of Israel is not now a “land of unwalled villages” with “a peaceful people who dwell safely” (Ezekiel 38:10-11). We are not particularly close to the fulfillment of Ezekiel 38. Those who believe otherwise are in error.

UPDATE 03/16/26: We just uploaded the following related video:

14:50

Motjaba Khamenei, the Imam Mahdi, and Ezekiel 38

Iran’s new ‘Supreme Leader’ is the oldest son of its previous leader. Motjaba Khamenei, reportedly is “obsessed with the end of days.” Might he hold to the Shiite Islam view he is the Seyed Khorasani who will turn Jerusalem over to a Muslim leader known as the Imam Mahdi? According to Twelver Shia – the largest branch of Shia Islam studied by Khamenei at Qom – the 12th Imam, is Muhammad al-Mahdi, who was born in the year 869. Do some Shiites believe US President Donald Trump is the Dajjal/Antichrist who the Imam Mahdi will kill? Do biblical or Sunni prophecies support that the Imam Mahdi will implement global governance or do they teach that he will be betrayed by a European leader who will reign with the Antichrist for 3 1/2 years? If he lives long enough, might he try to conquer/cause great damage to “the City of David” as prophesied in Isaiah 22:6-9? Could the current attack by the USA and Israel against Iran result in the fulfillment in this age of prophecies in Ezekiel 37 and 38 as some Protestant ministers believe? Could Ezekiel 38 even possibly happen soon? Why or why not? Steve Dupuie and Dr. Thiel address these matters.