According to this article called Is This The Middle East Map After World War III at http://www.rense.com/general70/mape.htm "Some Jewish leaders and students of the occult Kabalistic book "The Zohar" claim that it prophesies the coming of the Jewish Messiah (read the Zionist Anti-Christ) only after Muslim and Christian countries destroy each other in a great war, hence they are doing everythuing in their power to make such a war or a clash of two civilizations possible.While the Iranians believe that an apocalypse is needed in order for their Mahdi to show up.There is no need to mention that many Christians also believe that Jesus will not come unless an Armageddon is to happen."