Millions of Muslims believe the Mahdi will one day return to save humanity. But before he can appear, Israel and America must be destroyed.

"With the grace of god, and thanks to the resistance of nations, the new Middle East will be realized soon without the American and the Zionist regimes," Ahmadinejad said.

"The final move has begun," he continued, supporting his belief that the chaos in the region was organized by the Mahdi. "We are in the middle of a world revolution managed by this dear (the Mahdi)."

"A great awakening is unfolding," he said. "One can witness the hand of Imam in managing it."

An Islamic Savior

Ahmadinejad's messianic and end-time beliefs can be traced to a mosque in the small village of Jamkaran tucked in a corner of Iran.

Behind the mosque is a well that, according to Ahmadinejad and millions of Shiite Muslims, the Mahdi or 12th imam will one day emerge from.

Author Joel Rosenberg talks about the phenomenon in his book, "The Twelfth Imam."

"It was believed that this Islamic leader was going to come back one day at the end of time and bring justice to the earth," he explained.

Anticipating the End Times

According to Shia scholars, the Mahdi -- a descendent of the prophet Mohammed -- vanished in the middle of the 9th century.

"Shia Muslims expect the 12th Imam to return at the end of history, at the end of days, when there's a time of great genocide, warfare, and chaos in the world,"

Shia Muslims believe the 12th Imam is alive and will reappear before the day of judgment.

"All Muslims are required to believe in the end times. Despite these theological differences between Shia and Sunnis on the Islamic messiah, belief in the last days is mandatory," he said.

Committed to the Mahdi

Since becoming the president of Iran in August 2005, Ahmadinejad has emerged as the Mahdi's most influential follower.

In almost all his speeches, whether at home or traveling abroad, the Ahmadinejad begs Allah to hasten the return of the Mahdi.

"Oh, god, hasten the arrival of Imam Mahdi and grant him good health and victory and make us his followers," he once said before a speech.