The growing financial influence of Islam

According to the following article Islamic banking systems are gaining popularity in the world. I think this is an interesting trend to keep an eye on. There are a couple of reasons why.

First, the growing popularity and influence of Islamic banking fits well with the theory that the Antichrist will be a Muslim. Should an Islamic banking system come to world-wide prominence due to oil wealth, major economic meltdown of the other economies of the world, or any other reason it is not unreasonable to believe the leader of such a system could require a "mark" to buy or sell within that system. It is forbidden in Islamic law for one Muslim to charge another Muslim interest. A dominant Islamic banking system could cause numerous people to convert to "one-world-religion" to avoid interest.

Second, the article mentions the Vatican's support of Islamic banking principles. As mentioned in an early post, some scholars believe the false prophet of Revelation will be an apostate pope. Couple that with the possibility of an Islamic Antichrist and any news item involving the Vatican and Islam becomes worth tracking.

http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/banking/2010-10-19-islamicbank19_ST_N.htm