End Times

30-Days of Prayer for the Muslim World

The Shi’a Expectation of the End Times

Shi’a (Shi’ite) Muslims are a minority within the Muslim community, making up about 10-15% of all Muslims worldwide. The Shia majority countries are Iraq, Iran, Azerbaijan and Bahrain.

The Shiite believe a Hidden Imam, a sinless leader (the Mahdi) will establish an Islamic empire of peace and justice at the end of time. The Mahdi will be aided by Jesus who is also supposed to return to earth when the Mahdi appears. Both the Mahdi and Jesus will be opposed by the Masih ad-Dajjal, an evil, one eyed, anti-Christ figure, who will eventually be slain and the whole world will submit to Islam. Some time after the victory of the Mahdi there will be a general resurrection of the dead followed by the last judgement.

Prayer Starters:

• There are possibly 200,000 Shia mullahs (religious leaders) in Iran alone and many thousands more in Iraq. They have a significant role in their communities and in society as a whole. They are teaching their people to place their confidence in the future Mahdi and to practice Islam with zeal. Pray for these leaders to come to know the living Messiah, Jesus (Acts 6:7).
• The Messiah is the ultimate hope for a world of peace and justice. Indeed the Bible promises us that one day the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the Lord as the water covers the sea (Isaiah 11:9 and Habbakuk 2:4). There will be a new heaven and a new earth in which righteousness dwells (2 Peter 3:13). Pray that the millions of Shi’a Iranians and Iraqis discover the living and reigning Messiah who is the true hope of the world.