This nutjob actually believe the 12th imam is the "messiah" who is ready to return. They believe Jesus will come back also and admit he was wrong and will kill all the Jews. They really believe this and are setting up the circumstances for the great return.
Their version of events is similar to mine EXCEPT in my version THEY are the Antichrist and false prophet. My Jesus will come back and knock their socks off.
Daniel Chapter 7...........
Amen!
Yes, RB, you should read their eschatology - interesting stuff. One very interesting element is that they say that in addition to the Mahdi (who forms a new Caliphate and conquers the world for Islam) and their version of Jesus (who denounces Judaism and Christianity and says Islam is the one true religion), a false Jesus - called the dajjal, their version of the antichrist - shows up with a whole bunch of Jewish followers to fight against the Mahdi.
I agree with you, jackv - I believe their versions are the AC and FP also, and their "false Jesus" is the real one. And as you said, Ahmadinejad et al are trying to set up the circumstances necessary for the appearance of the Mahdi, and since his harbinger in their eschatology is major war, Ahmadinejad is truly gunning for it.
One more interesting thing - Muslim eschatology says that the Mahdi will make a seven year treaty with non-Muslims.