The Signpost message of Daniel Revisited shows us the signs of the end times leading up to the Tribulation. It tells us what nations are involved and what the major actions are. But of course it does not tell us dates. I believe that as long as we do not dwell on dates and try to predict the date of the coming of Christ, it doesn’t hurt to engage in some open speculation of the timing of the signs, as long as the signs themselves are the priority.
In this recent post I showed that Jesus’ words in Matthew 24 could be interpreted as the time from the start of the First Signpost until His physical return as occurring in one person’s lifetime. Recently I may have stumbled across another possible clock for the timing of the Third Signpost.
In this post and in Daniel Revisited I have written that the current Turkish president, Erdoğan, is an excellent candidate for the prominent horn on the goat. There really is no other politician alive today in Turkey that has the track record, popularity, and charisma to be the prominent horn, other than Erdoğan.
Turkish President Erdoğan: the best candidate so far as the goat’s first horn.
The Bible says,
“The goat became very great, but at the height of his power his large horn was broken off, and in its place four prominent horns grew up toward the four winds of heaven.” (Daniel 8:8, NIV)
That is the end of the Third Signpost – when the one great united nation, the four-headed leopard, under the leadership of the goat’s first horn fractures in to four nations. The breaking off of the horn could be due to the death of the leader or his removal from power. The latest of either event is of course his death.
If Erdoğan is indeed to be the first horn of the goat, when could we expect his death to occur? In other words, when might be the latest the Third Signpost could go? Erdoğan was born on February 26, 1954, making him almost 62 years of age. This website shows the life expectancy for a male living in Turkey, at progressive ages. The table on the site shows that a 62-year-old man could expect to live to the age of about 78.7, since a 60-year-old would live to 78.4 and a 65-year-old would live to 79.8.
So, when Erdoğan has his 62nd birthday next month, he will likely live to 78.7, which is 16.7 years still in the future. Though we cannot know his final year (only God knows that), statistically, we can be fairly certain Erdoğan has 16 years remaining. And if Erdoğan is indeed the first horn of the goat, that puts a rough estimate on the latest end of the Third Signpost – sixteen years from now, i.e. 2032.
Keep in mind we do not know when the Second Signpost will begin, so both the Second and Third Signposts could only take sixteen years at most if they start this year. Also, if this seems far in the future keep in mind this would be an outside date – the horn’s end of power could be sooner. But this also shows that the Third Signpost could be an enduring one. We will see soon enough.
What I find also interesting is that here is yet another qualification for Erdoğan as the goat’s horn. Not only is he in a position as the most charismatic of Turkey’s politicians to fill the role of the goat’s horn, he also seems to be the right age to linger for a while to fulfill Daniel 8:8a: “The goat became very great,” which suggests some passing of time. Erdoğan is young enough to allow that to happen. The possible lengthiness of the Third Signpost is also consistent with the message of this post.
Categories: Signpost #3: Four Nations
THE FOUR SIGNPOSTS 
I find it interesting that in Revelation 6:8 it says And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth. This seems to say that by the time the Pale horse rides they that set on him will have power over a fourth part of the earth. Islam is very close to being a fourth of the earth’s population today, by 2025 it is estimated to fully reach a fourth of the population and it is estimated to exceed a fourth by 2030 (26.4 percent) No date setting just find it interesting that this is close to the 2032 you said above.
Erdogan himself supports your opinion of becoming a prominent horn on a strong goat…
“Turkey’s President Erdogan cites ‘Hitler’s Germany’ as example of an effective form of government.
Mr Erdogan defends push for his own position as president to be strengthened ”
See http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/turkey-president-recep-tayyip-erdogan-cites-hitler-germany-as-example-of-effective-government-a6792756.html and many other news media.
Jlils05,
Have you read my book? What you say there is right in DR Chapter 7. And yes, Islam is one quarter of the earth counted in three separate ways.
Also, check out the Greek word for “pale”. It actually means “green” which is the holiest color in Islam.
Not really sure bout him yet being THE one ……he is definitely a type though. I for some reason I get this impression of a military leader that rises in power.
Gary,
Hitler and Saddam were “military leaders” but neither were good strategists. They wore military uniforms to make it look like they were military. I think we all have our presumptions. I presumed the Sunni Confederacy might have some benevolence. I think I was wrong. If the goat horn is not Erdogan, it will be someone who must have a meteoric rise at the last minute.