Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan is facing what looks to be the biggest challenge of his 11 years in office. Embroiled in a massive corruption scandal, the prime minister’s cabinet has undergone major reshuffling, and the calls for Erdoğan to step down are resonating in cities across the nation.

The prime minister isn’t the only one who needs to pay close heed to the cries of the masses. Turkey is destined to play a crucial role in the fulfillment of prophecies that will shape the world and affect you personally.

The corruption charges date back to December 17, when at least two sons of high-ranking politicians were arrested as part of a larger operation aimed at stemming corruption within the nation. The two sons are facing accusations of bribery, tender-rigging and illicit money transfers to Iran. The prime minister’s own son, Bilal Erdoğan, has been called on to testify, making the scandal even more personal to Erdoğan.

There is still speculation as to what the immediate ramifications will be for Turkey’s longstanding leader. Erdoğan is a survivor. After more than a decade in office, the prime minister has shown that he has the determination to face opposition. It was only last year that he initiated a brutal police crackdown on protesters in Istanbul in which at least seven protesters were killed. The incident received international attention and condemnation, but Erdoğan held on.

In his 11 years in office, Erdoğan has built Turkey’s economy into one of the most powerful economies in the region. The Turkish lira fell steeply on news of the corruption charges, but it remains far stronger than it was pre-Erdoğan.

The strong-willed prime minister is showing his usual defiance, but is undoubtedly perturbed by the charges and subsequent rioting. When he took office, Erdoğan was seen as the solution to years of corruption under the rulership of then Prime Minister Abdullah Gül. Now the same people who put Erdoğan in office may be wondering if he has now gone the way of his predecessors. There are already rumors that an early election will be called.

Business Insider remarked, “To his conservative followers, corruption allegations could prove more damaging than accusations of authoritarianism.” Erdoğan could now face added pressure from his former supporters in the population and former political allies, aside from the vocal opposition forces.

This is what makes the current crisis much more serious than the protesting and riots in May last year. The prime minister is no longer facing pressure from without on the streets, but within the government as well.

While Erdoğan might swear he won’t be toppled, there are tell-tale signs that he is under great pressure. For one, his defiant speech against opposition was given late at night from the airport, because downtown Istanbul was full of protestors ducking and dodging as police fired tear gas to disperse the mob.

For the government, damage control began immediately after the first arrests. Numerous police and judicial officials have been removed from their offices, and three politicians from the Justice and Development Party (akp) have resigned over the scandal, with other authorities saying that they “have never come across such blatant government meddling with the judiciary before.” There are more signs that Erdoğan’s efforts to keep the corruption charges under wraps are failing. For one, courts blocked a government decree that ordered the police to inform their supervisors before launching investigations.

On December 25, Erdoğan introduced 10 new members to his cabinet, but it may not be enough to convince the public—and more importantly the military—that the corruption has been stifled. Turkey has a history of military takeovers, but the years under Erdoğan’s control have weakened the military’s popularity and ability to interfere. Yet the military still poses a credible threat to Turkey’s strongman.

As tensions rise in Turkey, the threat to Erdoğan’s rule grows. But 11 years of history show that this man isn’t one to go down easily. What’s more, prophecy specifically tells us what is about to happen in Turkey—with Erdoğan in power or not.

Turkey is right between Europe and the Middle East. The Turks hang in the balance between the two regions. A pro-European leader may be all that is needed to tip the nation into European influence. A large-scale government reshuffle could have a similar effect. The eventuality that Turkey allies with Europe despite heavy Islamic influence is surer than most in this world realize.

Bible prophecy tells us that Turkey will take on a strategic partnership with the Europeans. As a literal land bridge between the European continent and the Middle East, Turkey will play a vital role for Europe in securing control of the Middle East (Daniel 11:40).

If this notion seems far-fetched, read Psalm 83:5-8. It states that the Europeans are prophesied to be in an alliance with the Turks, along with a number of other Arabic nations. You will notice the names Edom and Assyria are mentioned. The modern descendents of Edom are the Turkish people, and those of the Assyrians are the Germans. Germany is undeniably the leader of the European Union today and will lead the European power into the Middle East. (Read our booklet Germany and the Holy Roman Empire for more on this subject.)

This alliance may be formed in the Middle East, but its repercussions will be felt across the world. Psalm 83 is written in the context of the destruction of Israel. This is not just referring to the modern nation of Israel in the Middle East, but to the lost 10 tribes of Israel. The identity of these nations is revealed in our book The United States and Britain in Prophecy. The book is so named because the United States and Britain make up a large part of these lost 10 tribes!

That is why you should keep your eyes on Turkey. God says that the Turks will join with Europe in a terrible alliance. Every revolt in the nation should be watched, because Turkey will eventually find itself in a situation conducive to an alliance against old partners such as the U.S. and Britain. So keep watching, and see for yourself the power of Bible prophecy, as piece by piece, the puzzle comes together, precisely as God said it would.