Christians who believe that events in Iraq signal the beginning of the end of the world often cite The Book of Revelation.

Here are some passages (from the King James version of the Bible) that these believers quote:

9:14: “Saying to the sixth angel which hath the trumpet, Loose the four angels which are bound in the great river Euphrates.”

16:12: “And the sixth angel poured out his vial upon the great river Euphrates; and the water thereof was dried up, that the way of the kings of the east might be prepared.”

Muslims who anticipate the world’s end from developments in Iraq commonly cite one of the hadiths, the written sayings attributed to the Prophet Muhammad and credited to Abu Huraira. As recorded in Sahih Bukhari’s Hadith collection:

Allah’s Apostle (Muhammad) said, “Soon the river “Euphrates” will disclose the treasure (the mountain) of gold, so whoever will be present at that time should not take anything of it.”