The Antichrist
Most people who haven’t even read the Bible have heard of the man known popularly as “The Antichrist.” Simply put, according to the Bible, the Antichrist will be Satan’s primary human agent on the earth in the last-days. Interestingly, in the Bible, the Antichrist is actually only referred to once by that specific name (1 John 2:18). Using other names however, there are numerous references to the Antichrist found throughout the Bible. Some of the various names that Scripture assigns to the Antichrist are “the Beast” (Revelation 13:4), “the abomination that causes desolation” (Matthew 24:15), “the desolator” (Daniel 9:27), “the man of sin,” “the man of lawlessness,” “the son of destruction” (2 Thessalonians 2) “the little horn” (Daniel 7:8), “the Assyrian” (Micah 5:5, Isaiah 10:5,14:25), “the oppressor’, “the king of Babylon” (Isaiah 14) and even the mysterious “Gog” (Ezekiel 38:1, Revelation 20:7). There are several other names that Scripture uses to refer to the Antichrist as well.
But beyond all of his unusual names, who exactly is the Antichrist? In this chapter we will review a few of the primary descriptions and actions that define just who the Antichrist is according to the Bible. Our examination will also focus on several very specific similarities between the Antichrist and the Mahdi.
A Powerful Political And Military World Leader.
From the Bible, we learn that in the last-days, the Antichrist will emerge as a man who will lead a very powerful world empire the likes of which history has yet to produce. This powerful leadership role of the Antichrist is first described clearly in the Bible by the prophet Daniel. In the Book of Daniel, in the seventh chapter, we find Daniel describing a vision of four very bizarre and gruesome “beasts”. After describing the first three beasts, Daniel says this of the fourth:
After that, in my vision at night I looked, and there before me was a fourth beast-terrifying and frightening and very powerful. It had large iron teeth; it crushed and devoured its victims and trampled underfoot whatever was left. It was different from all the former beasts, and it had ten horns. While I was thinking about the horns, there before me was another horn, a little one, which came up among them; and three of the first horns were uprooted before it. This horn had eyes like the eyes of a man and a mouth that spoke boastfully. Daniel 7:7,8
Then, in verses 15-16, Daniel asks an angel in his vision to explain the interpretation of the vision of the four beasts. The angel explains that the four beasts represent four very great kingdoms or empires:
I, Daniel, was troubled in spirit, and the visions that passed through my mind disturbed me. I approached one of those standing there and asked him the true meaning of all this. So he told me and gave me the interpretation of these things: The four great beasts are four kingdoms that will rise from the earth. Daniel 7:15-17
It’s actually pretty straightforward. Daniel again asks the angel specifically about the fourth beast, and in particular about the “little horn” that uprooted three horns. The angel again responds with a very direct and clear explanation:
He gave me this explanation: The fourth beast is a fourth kingdom that will appear on earth. It will be different from all the other kingdoms and will devour the whole earth, trampling it down and crushing it. The ten horns are ten kings who will come from this kingdom. After them another king will arise, different from the earlier ones; he will subdue three kings. Daniel 7: 23,24
Essentially, the angel explains that the fourth kingdom will be an empire that will cause great destruction to the whole earth. Initially, this kingdom will consist of ten kings. Then another king, an eleventh, will arise and will displace three of the previous kings. This eleventh king is the Antichrist first referred to as “the little horn”. Thus we see that based on the vision that Daniel was given, the Antichrist is a future king who will first gain control over three other kingdoms or nations, and eventually over ten, thus forming his future ten nation “Beast” empire. It will be an empire of unparalleled power and ferocity, which will “devour the whole earth, trampling it down and crushing it”.
In the last part of Daniel, chapter seven, the angel describes to Daniel the actions of this king as well as his end:
He will speak against the Most High and oppress his saints and try to change the set times and the laws. The saints will be handed over to him for a time, times and half a time. But the court will sit, and his power will be taken away and completely destroyed forever. Daniel 7:25-27
The king is said to oppress the saints of God for a period of time that most Bible scholars agree is three and a half years (a time, times and half a time). But eventually his dominion will be taken away, and replaced by the Kingdom of “The Most High” God.
Three hundred years later, in the Book of Revelation, the Apostle John likewise describes the Antichrist and his “beast” empire in very similar terms:
And I saw a beast coming out of the sea. He had ten horns and seven heads, with ten crowns on his horns, and on each head a blasphemous name. The beast I saw resembled a leopard, but had feet like those of a bear and a mouth like that of a lion. The dragon gave the beast his power and his throne and great authority… Men worshiped the dragon because he had given authority to the beast, and they also worshiped the beast and asked, "Who is like the beast? Who can make war against him?"
The beast was given a mouth to utter proud words and blasphemies and to exercise his authority for forty-two months. He opened his mouth to blaspheme God, and to slander his name and his dwelling place and those who live in heaven. He was given power to make war against the saints and to conquer them. And he was given authority over every tribe, people, language and nation. All inhabitants of the earth will worship the beast--all whose names have not been written in the book of life belonging to the Lamb that was slain from the creation of the world. Revelation 13:2,4-8
While the symbolic language here is fairly thick, if we understand the biblical usage of particular symbolic terms, then the picture is actually quite clear. The “beast,” again refers to the Antichrist who is a king over a ten-nation empire. The horns represent authority and power. Ten horns speak of both an extremely high degree of authority as well as the number of nations and their kings that will unite to form the beast’s kingdom. The “dragon” who gives the beast his authority is Satan. Satan is often spoken of in the Bible as a dragon or a serpent. The global impact of this beast-like empire is made clear by the phrase: “And he was given authority over every tribe, people, language and nation.” We see the specific question that the people of the earth ask is, "Who is like the beast? Who can make war against him?" It appears to those on the earth that the beast is absolutely beyond challenge. And again, we see the same specific period of time that was given to the beast to persecute the God’s people as forty-two months. Forty-two months is three and a half years. This same time frame was given in the previously cited passage of Daniel 7:25.
Thus, we have seen that the Bible prophecies that the Antichrist will be a political and military leader whose power will be unparalleled by any other world leader throughout history.
The Mahdi As World Ruler
As we have seen from the Islamic traditions and Muslim scholars, the Mahdi, like the Antichrist, is also prophesied to be a political and military world leader unparalleled by any other throughout world history. The Mahdi is said to “fight against the forces of evil, lead a world revolution and set up a new world order based on justice, righteousness and virtue.” 1 At this time, according to Islamic tradition, the Mahdi is said to preside over the entire earth as the final Caliph of Islam. And of course as we saw in the last chapter, the Muslims will, “take the world administration in their hands and Islam will be victorious over all the religions.” Without question, Islam views the Mahdi as one whose rule will extend over all of the earth. Clearly then, we see that the Antichrist and the Mahdi are both described as being political and military leaders the likes of which the world has never before seen. While many powerful leaders have arisen throughout world history, the descriptions given concerning both the Antichrist and the Mahdi surpass any that have yet arisen. But the Mahdi and the Antichrist are both described as being more than merely political and military leaders. They are both viewed as being supreme religious leaders as well.
The Antichrist As A Spiritual World Leader
The Bible establishes the fact that the Antichrist will be a spiritual leader whose authority will be acknowledged worldwide. After examining the Antichrist’s role as a universal religious leader, many Bible prophecy teachers have talked about the coming of the “One World Religion” or “the false church” which the Antichrist will both create and enforce upon the entire earth. This concept of a coming dominant and demonically inspired world religion is partly arrived at due to the frequent references to worship that are associated with the Antichrist throughout Scripture. In the Book of Revelation we read that the Antichrist will both inspire and demand worship. This worship will be directed at both Satan, who is referred to as “the dragon” and the Antichrist who is referred to as “the beast”:
Men worshiped the dragon because he had given authority to the beast, and they also worshiped the beast and asked, "Who is like the beast? Who can make war against him?"… All inhabitants of the earth will worship the beast–all whose names have not been written in the book of life belonging to the Lamb that was slain from the creation of the world. Revelation 13:4,8
Beyond the fact that the Antichrist establishes a worldwide worship movement, another reason to see him as a spiritual world leader is because the Bible says he will be assisted by a man whom it refers to as “The False Prophet.” Of course, the very title, False Prophet, assumes the religious nature of this man. One of the primary roles of the False Prophet is to specifically perform deceptive “signs and wonders” that will help persuade the inhabitants of the earth to worship the Antichrist/Beast:
But the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who had performed the miraculous signs on his behalf. Revelation 19:20
It is clear then, the Bible teaches that the Antichrist will be the leader of a worldwide religious worship movement that will attempt to displace and usurp worship from the God of the Bible. This worship will then be directed toward both himself and to Satan - the invisible spirit – the provocateur and puppet master that motivates, empowers and gives authority to the Antichrist to accomplish his worldwide task.
The Mahdi As A Spiritual World Leader
Likewise, it almost goes without saying, the Mahdi of Islam will also be the leader a worldwide worship movement. It will be a worship movement that will seek to cause anyone who practices any religion other than Islam to renounce their faith and worship Allah, the god of Islam. As we saw in the last chapter, the Mahdi, “will govern the people by the Sunnah of their Prophet and establish Islam on Earth.” 2 And, “Islam will be victorious over all the religions.” 3
Thus we see that the Mahdi is the leader of a world revolution that will institute a “new world order” that will be based on the religion of Islam. Islam will be the only religion that will be allowed to be practiced. Both the Antichrist and the Mahdi are said to be the unqualified leaders of a global religious movement that will draw worship away from the God of the Bible and His Son Jesus Christ. As we will see clearly in later chapters, inherent in the worship of Allah within the context of Islam is a direct denial of the God of the Bible and His Son Jesus Christ. In fact, this is the reason that some Muslims feel so strongly as to say that the Mahdi will, “eradicate those pigs and dogs” – the Christians and the Jews who refuse to convert to Islam. Which leads us to the next obvious similarity between the Antichrist and the Mahdi.
The Antichrist’s Targeted Campaign Against Jews And Christians
The Bible is very clear that Satan, through the Antichrist, will specifically target first Jews, and then Christians for death. In the Book of Revelation, chapter twelve and thirteen, we read another prophetic passage of Scripture that is rich with symbolic language. Initially it is slightly difficult to understand, but after the symbols are explained, it becomes very clear:
A great and wondrous sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet and a crown of twelve stars on her head. (Revelation 12:1)
The “woman” symbolically pictured here is the family or nation of Israel, the Jewish people. We see that she is crowned with twelve stars. This represents the twelve sons of Israel who became the twelve tribes that make up the family or the nation of Israel (Genesis 35:23-26).
She was pregnant and cried out in pain as she was about to give birth. Then another sign appeared in heaven: an enormous red dragon with seven heads and ten horns and seven crowns on his heads. The dragon stood in front of the woman who was about to give birth, so that he might devour her child the moment it was born. She gave birth to a son, a male child, who will rule all the nations with an iron scepter. And her child was snatched up to God and to his throne. (Revelation 12:2-5)
The woman - Israel becomes pregnant and gives birth to a “man child, who will rule all the nations with an iron scepter”. This is a clear reference to Jesus the Jewish Messiah (See Psalm 2:9). The Dragon mentioned here is identified in verse 9 as, “that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray.” We see that Satan desires to kill Jesus, but instead Jesus is, “snatched up to God and to his throne.” This is a reference to Jesus’ ascension to heaven after the resurrection (Acts 1:8). After this:
The great dragon was hurled down--that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him…He (The Dragon) pursued the woman who had given birth to the male child… The woman was given the two wings of a great eagle, so that she might fly to the place prepared for her in the desert, where she would be taken care of for a time, times and half a time, out of the serpent's reach. Then the dragon was enraged at the woman and went off to make war against the rest of her offspring--those who obey God's commandments and hold to the testimony of Jesus. Revelation 12:1-6,9,13,14,17
We see that Satan is, “enraged at the woman (Israel) and went off to make war against the rest of her offspring--those who obey God's commandments and hold to the testimony of Jesus.” Israel’s “other offspring” are those Christians who indeed “obey God's commandments and hold to the testimony of Jesus.” This is the only passage that makes specific reference to Satan making a direct target of both Jews and Christians together. And we know that this passage is speaking specifically of the end-times, because it mentions twice the three and a half year period (1260 days and “a time, times and half a time”) that the Antichrist will have authority to war against the saints:
The beast was given a mouth to utter proud words and blasphemies and to exercise his authority for forty-two months. He opened his mouth to blaspheme God, and to slander his name and his dwelling place and those who live in heaven. He was given power to make war against the saints and to conquer them. And he was given authority over every tribe, people, language and nation. Revelation 13:5-7
The prophet Daniel also saw that the Antichrist would have this authority to wage a successful war against “the saints”. Saints is also translated as “holy ones” in some translations. It speaks primarily of the true followers of Jesus who know and serve the One True God.
He will speak against the Most High and oppress his saints and try to change the set times and the laws. The saints will be handed over to him for a time, times and half a time. Daniel 7:25
Again here we see the reference to the three and a half year period that Antichrist will persecute those who resist him.
The Bible is clear then, the Antichrist will specifically target those who resist his attempts to establish his religion all over the earth. From the book of Revelation as well as the Prophet Daniel, we see that the two groups that Satan is most enraged against are the Jews and the Christians.
The Mahdi’s Targeted Campaign Against Jews And Christians
Interestingly enough, Islamic tradition speaks much of the Mahdi’s special calling to convert Christians and Jews to Islam, yet speaks very little specifically of conversions from other faiths. It seems as though converting Christians and Jews to Islam will be the primary evangelistic thrust of the Mahdi. The following quote from Ayatollah Ibrahim Amini clearly articulates this vision:
The Mahdi will offer the religion of Islam to the Jews and Christians; if they accept it they will be spared, otherwise they will be killed. 9
And of course we cannot forget the infamous Hadith that has become a favorite of many Muslim anti-Semites. Again, note that it is speaking specifically about “The last hour”:
The last hour would not come unless the Muslims will fight against the Jews and the Muslims would kill them until the Jews would hide themselves behind a stone or a tree and a stone or a tree would say: Muslim, or the servant of Allah, there is a Jew behind me; come and kill him; but the tree Gharqad would not say, for it is the tree of the Jews. 10
After commenting on this particlar Hadith, several Muslim authors will be quick to point out the very “interesting” fact that this particular tree, “the Gharqad” (apparently the boxwood tree) is presently being planted in abundance by Jews in Israel. The point is that this final holocaust is expected by Muslims to take place within the present state of Israel. This of course corresponds to another very specific similarity between the biblical Antichrist and the Mahdi.
A Military Attack Against Israel And The Establishment Of The Temple Mount As The Seat Of Authority.
The Bible teaches that The Antichrist, with his multi-nation coalition will attack Israel, and specifically Jerusalem to conquer it:
I will gather all the nations to Jerusalem to fight against it; the city will be captured, the houses ransacked, and the women raped. Half of the city will go into exile, but the rest of the people (who submit to Antichrist’s rule) will not be taken from the city. Zechariah 14:2
"You (Gog - Ezekiel’s name for the Antichrist) will go up, you will come like a storm; you will be like a cloud covering the land, you and all your troops, and many peoples with you." 'Thus says the Lord GOD, "It will come about on that day, that thoughts will come into your mind and you will devise an evil plan, and you will say, 'I will go up against the land of unwalled villages. I will go against those who are at rest, that live securely, all of them living without walls and having no bars or gates, to capture spoil and to seize plunder, to turn your hand against the waste places which are now inhabited, and against the people (Israelites) who are gathered from the nations, who have acquired cattle and goods, who live at the center of the world. Ezekiel 38:9-12 NASB
According to the Bible, after this attack, the Antichrist will specifically set up his “throne” in “God’s Temple”. The Apostle Paul lays this out quite clearly:
He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God's temple, proclaiming himself to be God. 2 Thessalonians 2:4
The location of the Jewish Temple has always been on Mt. Moriah in Jerusalem. Today, the Temple that once stood on Mt. Moriah does not exist; it was destroyed by the Roman Emporer Titus in 70 A.D. according to the prophecy of Jesus:
Jesus left the temple and was walking away when his disciples came up to him to call his attention to its buildings. "Do you see all these things?" he asked. "I tell you the truth, not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down." Matthew 24:1,2
Today, Mt. Moriah, sometimes known as the Temple Mount or in Arabic as Haram Ash-Sharif, is the location of two Mosques and is considered to be the third holiest site of Islam. There is endless speculation about the Temple Mount regarding issues such as exactly where the Jewish Temple once was located on the Mount or whether or not there will be a Jewish Temple rebuilt there in the future. Based on the above verse from the Apostle Paul, it certainly seems to indicate that there will indeed be a rebuilt Jewish Temple in Jerusalem. The Apostle Paul says that the Antichrist will “set himself up in God’s Temple,” or more literally, “he takes his seat in the temple of God”. This speaks not so much of a literal sitting down as it does of a taking a position of authority. Thus we see that the Antichrist will make Mt. Moriah, and more specifically, the rebuilt Jewish Temple, the specific location of his rule. Jesus warned of this event two thousand years ago. Referring to the Antichrist having set himself up in the Jewish Temple, and the events that will immediately follow, Jesus said:
"So when you see standing in the holy place 'the abomination that causes desolation,' spoken of through the prophet Daniel--let the reader understand-- then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. Let no one on the roof of his house go down to take anything out of the house. Let no one in the field go back to get his cloak. How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers! Pray that your flight will not take place in winter or on the Sabbath. For then there will be great distress, unequaled from the beginning of the world until now--and never to be equaled again. If those days had not been cut short, no one would survive, but for the sake of the elect those days will be shortened. Matthew 24:16-22
Here we see Jesus referring to the Antichrist’s occupancy of the temple as, “the abomination that causes desolation.” The desolation is a reference to the chaos and severe persecution against the Jews and Christians that will immediately follow when the Antichrist’s true identity is revealed. After his military campaign against Jerusalem, the Antichrist will make his base of authority, the Temple Mount itself. At this time, it is clear that the Antichrist’s malevolent feelings toward Israel will become fully manifest. So much so that Jesus warns the inhabitants of Jerusalem to straight away flee to the mountains.
The Mahdi’s Attack Of Jerusalem And The Establishment of the Islamic Caliphate From Jerusalem
Likewise the Mahdi is said to attack Jerusalem and re-conquer it for Islam in order that the new Islamic rule over the earth will be established from Jerusalem:
"(Armies carrying) black flags will come from Khurasan (Iran). No power will be able to stop them and they will finally reach Eela (Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem) where they will erect their flags." 11
Jerusalem will be the location of the rightly guided caliphate and the center of Islamic rule, which will be headed by Imam al- Mahdi 12
Also, as we just saw in the section above, the Mahdi will not end his campaign against Jerusalem in a peaceful way. For the Jews, the Islamic version of the last-days ends with the last few surviving Jews hiding behinds rocks or trees from the sword of Islam. The military campaign against Jerusalem and the establishment of the Islamic caliphate there likewise will not result in a benevolent rule over the Jews by the Mahdi, for as we have already seen, the last quote above continues:
…That will abolish the leadership of the Jews… and put an end to the domination of the Satans who spit evil into people and cause corruption in the earth. 13
In relation to the above attack against the inhabitants of Israel, there is quite interestingly, another very specific correlation between the actions of the Mahdi and the actions of the biblical Antichrist. While the similarities between the Antichrist and the Mahdi that we have already discussed are quite astonishing, I believe that the specificity of this next parallel is just simply incredible.
The Antichrist’s Seven Year Treaty With Israel
After rising to power, and as a prelude to his invasion of Israel, the Antichrist is said to initiate a treaty with the nation of Israel for seven years.
He will confirm a covenant with many for one 'seven.' In the middle of the 'seven' he will put an end to sacrifice and offering. And on a wing of the temple he will set up an abomination that causes desolation, until the end that is decreed is poured out on him. Daniel 9:27
In context, this verse shows us that the Antichrist will establish a “covenant” with Israel for seven years. The specific Hebrew word used in this verse that is translated merely as “seven” is shabuwa. It literally means a week, but can mean either a “week” of days or years. In Hebrew thought, a seven-year period is similar to our decade. We in the West tend to measure years through a decimal system based of increments of tens, while we measure days in terms of seven (a week). The Hebrews measured both days and years in increments of seven. The word translated as “seven” in Daniel 9:27 is referring to seven years. This is the specific amount of time that the Antichrist will set for his peace treaty with Israel. Then, in the middle of the seven years, the Antichrist will renege on his treaty and stop the offerings and sacrifices in the Jewish Temple and then he will proclaim himself to be not only the ruler of the world, but also God himself. Isaiah the Prophet makes mention of this “covenant” and rebukes Israel for making it: He actually refers to it as a “covenant with death” (Isaiah 28: 14-15). In this covenant, the Israelis find a false sense of security.
The Mahdi’s Seven Year Treaty
Again, similarly the Mahdi is said to be one who will initiate Islam’s fourth and final treaty between “the Romans” and the Muslims. (Again, Romans should be interpreted as Christians or the West in general – the executioners of Nicholas Berg in their pre-execution statement addressed President Bush as, “You, O dog of the Romans”) Interestingly enough, this fourth treaty is said to be made with a descendant of Moses’ brother Aaron the Priest. Such a descendant would be a Cohanim. That is to say, he would be a priest. Only Cohanim are allowed among Jews to officiate the priestly duties of the Temple. This is important in light of the fact that many Christian prophecy teachers and theologians have speculated that the treaty that the Antichrist will initiate with Israel will include an agreement to allow the Jews to re-build their Temple. But probably the most amazing aspect of this treaty that the Mahdi makes with this Jew of priestly lineage is its time frame. The specific time frame given for the treaty is exactly the same as the Antichrist’s peace treaty - seven years! Citing Hadith which speak of the Mahdi’s emergence and rule, Muhammad Ali ibn Zubair relates this amazing tradition:
The Prophet said: There will be four peace agreements between you and the Romans. The fourth will be mediated through a person who will be from the progeny of Hadrat Aaron (Honorable Aaron, the brother of Moses) and will be upheld for seven years. The people asked, “O Prophet Muhammad, who will be the imam (leader) of the people at that time?” The Prophet said: He will be from my progeny and will be exactly forty years of age. His face will shine like a star... 14
Changing The Laws And The Times
Another of the Antichrist’s goals according to the Book of Daniel is said to be that he will “try to change the set times and the laws”:
He will speak against the Most High and oppress his saints and try to change the set times and the laws. The saints will be handed over to him for a time, times and half a time. Daniel 7:25
This is actually quite a big hint into the person of the Antichrist. For by his actions, we see a hint of his origin. It is said that he will desire to change two things; times and laws. Now we have already seen that the Mahdi will change the law by instituting the Islamic Shariah law all over the earth, but we have not seen any evidence in Islamic apocalyptic literature of him changing the “times.” The simple question however is, who else other than a Muslim would desire to change the “times and laws”? Besides the Gregorian calendar used by the West, there is also a Jewish, a Hindu and a Muslim calendar among others. Jews or Hindus however are not a people who would desire to impose their religious laws or calendars onto the rest of the world. Islam however, does have both its own laws and its own calendar, both of which it would desire to impose onto the entire world. The Islamic calendar is based on the career of Muhammad. It begins at the migration (Hijra) of Muhammad from Mecca to Medina. The Muslim calender is viewed as being mandatory for all to observe. Dr. Waleed Mahanna, articulates the Islamic position regarding the Islamic “Hijra” Calendar:
It is considered a divine command to use a (Hijra) calendar with 12 (purely) lunar months without intercalation, as evident from… the Holy Qur'an. 15
Not only does Islam view as a divine imperative the use of a unique religious calendar, it also has its own week. Unlike the western rhythm of a week; Monday through Friday being the body of the workweek followed by Saturday and Sunday as the weekend with Judaism and Christianity using these two days for their respective days of worship, Islam holds Friday as its sacred day of prayer. This is the day that Muslims meet at the Mosque to pray and listen to a sermon.
Thus it quite plausible that the biblical reference to the Antichrist who will “try to change the set times and the laws” is a Muslim. As we look at the full picture, only Islam fits the bill of a system that has its own unique calendar and week based on its own religious history and a clear system of law that it wishes to impose onto the entire earth. Surely if a Muslim ever emerges who is as powerful as the Mahdi is described as being, then he will certainly attempt to institute both the Islamic Law worldwide, and the Islamic calendar and week as well.
The Rider On A White Horse
The final similarity between the Antichrist and the Mahdi that we will discuss in this chapter is the fact that both the Antichrist and the Mahdi are identified with a biblical passage that describes a rider on a white horse. While this could be literal, it is most probably a symbolic picture of the two men. The amazing thing is that the origin of the biblical tradition of the Antichrist on a white horse and the origin of the Islamic tradition of the Mahdi on a white horse are both attributed to the same passage in the Bible.
The basis for the symbolic picture of both the Antichrist and the Mahdi on a white horse is the sixth chapter of the Book of Revelation. Here the Apostle John is describing his vision of the release of the events that mark the beginning of the end-times. The picture is of Jesus holding a scroll - on the outside of the scroll are seven wax seals. As each seal is broken a specific and distinct end-time event is released:
I watched as the Lamb (Jesus) opened the first of the seven seals. Then I heard one of the four living creatures say in a voice like thunder, "Come!" I looked, and there before me was a white horse! Its rider held a bow, and he was given a crown, and he rode out as a conqueror bent on conquest. Revelation 6:1-2
The seals that follow this rider are:
1. Peace is taken from the earth
2. Famine
3. Plagues and death
4. Persecution and Martyrdom of God’s people
5. A great earthquake
6. The wrath of God
So we see that after the rider appears on the scene, the world essentially freefalls into the chaos that defines the Last Hour. The interpretation that many Bible scholars apply to this passage is thus:
The rider is given a white horse, which is an attempt to be an imitation of the white horse that Jesus is said to ride when He returns (Revelation 19:11). Thus the rider is an imitation Christ, an imposter - an Antichrist. The bow (without any arrows) that the rider carries is a false peace. The rider is pictured as one who emerges carrying with his rise to power a false promise of peace. This is in alignment with and may be a direct reference to the false peace treaty that Antichrist makes with Israel at the start of the seven-year period of his rule. The crown on his head is obviously a reference to the position of authority and leadership that will be given to him. And we see that the true motivation and bent of the rider is to conquer. In light of the identity and activity of the rider then, we are not surprised to find out that the events that follow his emergence onto the world scene are not in keeping with an age of peace, but rather an age of apocalyptic chaos. Apparently this is not a problem for the Islamic scholars who generally adopt a very arbitrary pick and choose approach to the Bible. For in seeing the Antichrist on the white horse with a crown and conquering, Muslim scholars see a clear picture of the Mahdi. As mentioned in the earlier chapter on the Mahdi, the early Muslim transmitter of Hadith, Ka’b al Ahbar is quoted as saying:
I find the Mahdi recorded in the books of the Prophets… For instance, the Book of Revelation says: “And I saw and behold a white horse. He that sat on him…went forth conquering and to conquer.” 16
So in conclusion, we see that several of the most unique and distinguishing aspects of the biblical Antichrist’s person, mission and actions are matched to quite an amazing degree by the descriptions of the Mahdi as found in the Islamic traditions. And now, even further, we see that Muslim scholars actually apply Bible verses about the Antichrist to their awaited savior, the Mahdi. This must be seen as quite ironic, if not entirely prophetic.
Notes:
1. Ayatullah Baqir al-Sadr and Ayatullah Muratda Mutahhari, The Awaited Savior, (Karachi, Islamic Seminary Publications), prologue, pp. 4,5
2. Sunan Abu Dawud, Book 36, Number 4273, Narrated by Umm Salamah, Ummul Mu'minin
3. Al-Sadr and Mutahhari, prologue, pp.4,5
4. Shaykh Muhammad Hisham Kabbani, The Approach of Armageddon? An Islamic Perspective (Canada, Supreme Muslim Council of America, 2003), p. 228
5. Sunan Abu Dawood
6. At-Tabarani, as quoted in Muhammad Ibn ‘Izzat and Muhammad ‘Arif, Al Mahdi and the End of Time, (London,Dar Al-Taqwa, 1997), p. 15
7. Sunan Abu Dawud, Book 36, Number 4271
8. Sunan Abu Dawud, Book 36, Number 4273
9. Izzat and‘Arif, p. 16
10. Sideeque M.A. Veliankode, Doomsday Portents and Prophecies (Scarborough, Canada, 1999) p. 358
11. Ayatollah Ibrahim Amini, Al-Imam Al-Mahdi: The Just Leader of Humanity, translated by Dr. Abdulaziz Sachedina, available online at: http://al-islam.org/mahdi/nontl/Toc.htm
12. Sahih Muslim, Book 041, Number 6985
13. Signs of Qiyamah by Mohammed Ali Ibn Zubair Ali translated by M. Afzal Hoosein Elias from the original (with references): "Aalalaat-e-Qiyyamat aur Nuzul-e-Eesa." http://members.cox.net/arshad/qiyaama.html
14. Izzat and‘Arif, p. 40
15. ibid.
16. Tabarani as quoted by Mufti A.H. Elias and Muhammad Ali ibn Zubair Ali, Imam Mahdi, online article from, http://www.islam.tc/prophecies/imam.html
17. Dr. Waleed A. Muhanna , A Brief Introduction ToThe Islamic (Hijri) Calendar, http://fisher.osu.edu/~muhanna_1/hijri-intro.html
18. Izzat and‘Arif, p. 15
In Psalms 83, we read about TEN nations that seek to wipe Israel off the face of the earth in the last days. These TEN Islamic Muslim nations I believe are the TEN kings in Revelation chapter 17 and the TEN horns in Daniel chapter 7 which we will take a look at shortly.
Psalm 83:1-8.
“Keep not you silence, O God: hold not your peace, and be not still, O God.
2. For, lo, YOUR enemies make a tumult: and they that hate YOU have lifted up the head. (These enemies are against the only true God because they hate God's people the Christians and the Jews. But they sincerely believe that they are doing what their god wants them to do not realize that their god is NOT the God taught in the Bible.)
3. They have taken crafty counsel against your people (The children of Israel, the Jewish people particularly in the land of Israel and the surrounding countries in the Middle East), and consulted against your hidden ones. (Speaking of the Christians and more particularly the Christians in the Middle East)
4. They have said, Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation; that the name of Israel may be no more in remembrance.
5. For they have consulted together with one consent: they are confederate against YOU: (Muslims use the term Caliphate which means the same thing as a confederate united company of people or troops or armies. And the TEN nations or the TEN kings are named in the following verses.)
6. The tabernacles of EDOM (Modern day Palestinians and southern Jordan), and the ISHMAELITES (The seed of Ishmael or modern-day Saudi Arabia); of MOAB, (Central Jordan) and the HAGARENES (The seed of Hagar or the Egyptians or northern Africa);
7. GEBAL, (Northern part of Lebanon) and AMMON, (The northern part of Jordan) and AMALEK;(Sinai) the PHILISTINES (The Gaza Strip) with the inhabitants of TYRE; (Southern part of Lebanon)
8. ASSUR (Syria and Iraq which is ancient Assyria) also is joined with them: they have holpen (Or helped or joined together with) the children of Lot. Selah.”
Selah means to PAUSE and CONSIDER CLOSELY what has just been said or prophesied in this Psalm that was inspired by the eternal Holy Spirit to be written down and then prophesied by the prophets and servants of the only true God, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
Notice that Assyria is joined with or as one of these ten kings that will seek to wipe Israel off the face of the earth during the great tribulation. Now let us read some verses speaking of this Assyrian.
Please read Isaiah 10:5-6.
“O Assyrian, the rod of mine anger, and the staff in their hand is mine indignation.
6. I will send him against a hypocritical nation, and against the people of my wrath will I give him a charge, to take the spoil, and to take the prey, and to tread them down like the mire of the streets.”
Here we see that God will USE the king of Assyria in the last days to pour out his wrath upon the children of Israel. Then in verse 24 of this same chapter we see God telling his people to not be afraid of this Assyrian king and his confederate of armies.
Isaiah 10:24.
“Therefore thus says the Lord GOD of hosts, O my people that dwell in Zion, be not afraid of the Assyrian: he shall smite you with a rod, and shall lift up his staff against you, after the manner of Egypt.”
The children of Israel were taken captive in the land of Egypt and made slaves. And it is prophesied that the children of Israel will be taken captive again at the “end of days” right before Jesus returns to DELIVER them from their captivity. In the next chapter of Isaiah, we see the prophecies of the first and second coming of Jesus along with a peek at the world to come. I will just quote from verse 11 to the end of the chapter.
Isaiah 11:11-16.
“And it shall come to pass in that day, that the Lord shall set his hand again the SECOND TIME (Speaking of the second coming of Jesus as a mighty warrior King to recover the remnant of his people, which shall be left, from Assyria, (Syria and Iraq) and from Egypt, and from Pathros, (Upper Egypt) and from Cush, (Ethiopia) and from Elam, (Southern Iran) and from Shinar, (Babylon) and from Hamath, (Syria, Damascus) and from the islands of the sea.
12. And he shall set up an ensign for the nations and shall assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth. (Speaking of the Millennium or the 1000 year reign of Jesus in the world to come)
13. The envy also of Ephraim shall depart, and the adversaries of Judah shall be cut off: Ephraim shall not envy Judah, and Judah shall not vex Ephraim.
14. But they shall fly upon the shoulders of the Philistines toward the west; they shall spoil them of the east together: they shall lay their hand upon Edom and Moab, and the children of Ammon shall obey them.
15. And the LORD shall utterly destroy the tongue of the Egyptian sea; (The sea in Bible prophecy speaks of the wicked and Egypt sometime speaks of the world system. But notice the NAMES of all the countries. They are all Islamic Muslim countries today. Is this just a coincidence? What does the Muslim religion of Islam have to do with WHY they will be judged when Jesus returns?) and with his mighty wind shall he shake his hand over the river, and shall smite it in the seven streams, and make men go over dryshod.
16. And there shall be a highway for the REMNANT of his people, which shall be left, from Assyria; like as it was to Israel in the day that he came up out of the land of Egypt.”
One of the things I want my readers to see for themselves straight from the word of God is that there is NO mention of the United States of America or Great Britain or any other country for that matter outside of the Middle Eastern countries.
So WHY do some prophecy teachers seem to point to people like the US President as being the antichrist when there is no mention of the USA in the Bible itself?
Another thing that I want my readers to see it that after God uses the Assyrian king and his caliphate of TEN Islamic Muslim nations to punish the children of Israel in his wrath God will turn his wrath toward the Assyrian king and his confederate Muslim armies to destroy them and leave but only a remnant alive who surrender to Jesus.
Isaiah 14:22-27.
“For I will rise up against them, says the LORD of hosts, and cut off from Babylon the name, and remnant, and son, and nephew says the LORD.
23. I will also make it a possession for the bittern, and pools of water: and I will sweep it with the besom of destruction, says the LORD of hosts.
24. The LORD of hosts has sworn, saying, Surely as I have thought, so shall it come to pass; and as I have purposed, so shall it stand:
25. That I will break the ASSYRIAN in my land, and upon my mountains tread him under foot: then shall his yoke depart from off them, and his burden departs from off their shoulders.
26. This is the purpose that is purposed upon the whole earth: and this is the hand that is stretched out upon all the nations.
27. For the LORD of hosts has purposed, and who shall disannul it? And his hand is stretched out, and who shall turn it back?”
And then during the 1000 year reign of Jesus, those nations who persecuted and enslaved the children of Israel who are left alive after the WRATH of Almighty God shall SERVE the children of Israel.
Please read Isaiah 14:1-7.
“For the LORD will have mercy on Jacob, and will yet choose Israel, and set them in their own land: and the strangers shall be joined with them, and they shall cleave to the house of Jacob.
2. And the people shall take them, and bring them to their place: and the house of Israel shall possess THEM in the land of the LORD for servants and handmaids: and they shall take them captives, whose captives they were; and they shall rule over their oppressors.
3. And it shall come to pass in the day that the LORD shall give you rest from your sorrow, and from your fear, and from the hard bondage wherein you were made to serve,
4. That you shall take up this proverb against the king of Babylon, (Speaking of Satan) and say, How has the oppressor ceased! The golden city ceased! (Or how has that great city Babylon fallen?)
5. The LORD has broken the staff of the wicked, and the scepter of the rulers.
6. He who smote the people in wrath with a continual stroke, he that ruled the nations in anger, is persecuted, and none hinders.
7. The whole earth is at rest, and is quiet: they break forth into singing.”
So then, by now you should be seeing that all these Islamic Muslim nations that come against Israel shall suffer the wrath of God at the coming of Jesus. And their LEADER will be destroyed at the coming of Jesus.
2 Thessalonians 2:8-14.
“And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: (The Wicked one here is also called the son of perdition in this same chapter in verses 3, and 4. “Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;
2 Thessalonians 2:4 Who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sits in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.”)
9. Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,
10. And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received NOT the LOVE of the TRUTH, that they might be saved.
11. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:
12. That they all might be damned who believed NOT the TRUTH but had pleasure in unrighteousness. (The radical Muslims THINK that they are being righteous by killing the Christians and the Jews but this is NOT the WILL of the ONLY TRUE God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. So in Almighty God’s eyes they are UNRIGHTEOUS by doing the will of Satan.)
13. But we are bound to give thanks always to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:
14. Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
So then, since the Assyrian will be destroyed at the coming of Jesus the question being asked in this study in God’s word is this; “Is the Assyrian the antichrist, the man of sin, the son of perdition, that Wicked one seeing that he will be destroyed at the coming of Jesus?” Are they one and the same person?
Now let us go to Revelation chapter 17 and read about the TEN kings.
Revelation 17:12-14.
“And the TEN horns which you saw are TEN kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast.
13. These have one mind, (Or they will be united, be a confederate, become a caliphate) and shall give their power and strength unto the beast.
14. These (The beast and the TEN kings) shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called and chosen, and faithful.”
Before we get deeper into the context of this passage in the book of Revelation let us go to the book of Daniel 7:15-27 and read about the ten HORNS which are ten kings.
Daniel 7:15-27.
“I Daniel was grieved in my spirit in the midst of my body, and the visions of my head troubled me.
16. I came near unto one of them that stood by and asked him the truth of all this. So he told me and made me know the interpretation of the things.
17. These great beasts, which are four, are four kings, which shall arise out of the earth.
18. But the saints of the most High shall take the kingdom, and possess the kingdom forever, even forever and ever.
19. Then I would know the truth of the fourth beast, (The final antichrist kingdom) which was diverse from all the others, exceeding dreadful, whose teeth were of iron, and his nails of brass; which devoured, brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with his feet;
20. And of the TEN horns that were in his head, and of the OTHER which came up, and before whom three fell; even of that horn that had eyes, and a mouth that spake very great things, whose look was more stout than his fellows. (So then is that horn, the little horn that will rise up out from the TEN horns the ASSYRIAN?)
21. I beheld, and the same horn made war with the saints and prevailed against them; (Speaking of the little horn that came out from among the TEN horns)
22. UNTIL the Ancient of days came, and judgment was given to the saints of the most High; and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom. (Speaking of the 1000 year reign of Jesus where we will rule and reign with Jesus for 1000 years. So this little horn the FINAL antichrist MUST rise up at the very end of day’s right before the coming of Jesus. Revelation chapter 13 teaches us that he will be given power for FORTY TWO MONTHS no more and no less. So this all but eliminates the Roman Catholic Church from being Mystery Babylon and the antichrist system. According to the Bible ITSELF, the antichrist system is a League of Nations and their king is the king of ASSYRIA or an ASSYRIAN.)
23. Thus he said, The fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdom upon earth, which shall be diverse from all kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth (Or the whole LAND in that region of the world that was ruled by the Roman Empire and not the entire earth), and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces.
24. And the TEN horns out of THIS kingdom are TEN kings that shall arise: and ANOTHER shall rise after them, and he shall be diverse from the first, and he shall subdue three kings.
25. And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time. (Speaking of the great tribulation which will be forty-two months, 3 ½ years or 1260 days no more and no less. And these 1260 days must occur just before the return of Jesus. In other words, Jesus will return on the 1261st day because it will be Jesus who will break the Assyrian which the sword of his mouth.)
26. But the judgment shall sit, and THEY (Jesus and his armies of angels and the saints) shall take away his dominion, to consume and to destroy it unto the end.
27. And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven shall be given to the people of the saints of the most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him.”
So here in this passage of Scripture, we see that the TEN HORNS are TEN kings but we also see a LITTLE HORN that will arise out from the TEN kings. Remember that we read in Psalm 83:8 that Assur or ASSYRIA joined with them speaking of the TEN kings.
Psalm 83:8.
“ASSUR (Syria and Iraq which is ancient Assyria) also is joined with them: they have holpen (Helped or joined together with) the children of Lot. Selah.”
The descendants of Lot are the Moabites and the Amorites which are already mentioned as being part of the TEN nation confederacy. So we can see that Assyria is not number 11 but rather is a part of the TEN. This agrees with Daniel where the LITTLE HORN will rise up among the TEN and then subdue THREE of the TEN kings to become the leader of the TEN kings.
And we can see this DIVISION among the Muslims today where the radical Muslims going under many different names such as Wahhabism, Isis, radical Islam, and Salafist are trying to force the peaceful Muslims to take up arms and join their interpretation of the Quran to convert people to Islam by the power of the SWORD. The Salafists are formerly peaceful Muslims who are being persuaded to join radical Muslims but they do not agree totally with their method. Their goal on the surface seems to be a “righteous” goal in their eyes which is to destroy all idols and force people to serve their one god Allah under Sharia law.
They are killing their own people if they refuse to take up the sword with them. Now consider that after two or three whole Muslim countries are subdued by these killings do you not think that the rest of the peaceful Muslims will take up the sword even if they are not fully converted to radical Islam just to save their lives and the lives of their families?
Let us go to Revelation chapter 13 and read about the IMAGE of the beast in this light of the radical Muslims reviving Islam to the OLD way of converting non-Muslims to Islam by the SWORD. In other words, let us restore Islam to the IMAGE that it was in Muhammad’s day.
Revelation 13:11-15.
“And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth, and he had two horns like a lamb (Came in peaceably at first claiming to be a religion of peace), and he spake as a dragon. (But then turned to hatred and dominating and conquering others by the sword. This is the little horn, the Assyrian, the Mahdi, and the twelfth Imam)
12. And he exercises all the power of the first beast before him, (Or he conquered by flatteries, then united and controlled the same land area that the Islamic Muslim Ottoman Empire conquered and controlled.) and causes the earth (Or causes the LAND in that region of the world) and them which dwell THEREIN to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed. (I think that it is reasonable to assume that all humans dwell on the earth so the Greek word translated as “earth” also means LAND or that REGION of the world and NOT the WHOLE world)
13. And he does great wonders so that he makes fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men,
14. And deceives them that dwell on the earth (LAND or THAT RELIGION of the world) by the means of those miracles which he had the power to do in the SIGHT of the beast (And NOT in the sight of the WHOLE world); saying to THEM that dwell on the earth (Or the LAND in that REGION of the world which is the Middle East Islamic Muslim DOMINATED countries), that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live. (So the IMAGE here is not some statue but rather it is this new leader saying to the Muslim people to unite and be LIKE Muhammad and the Ottoman Empire to go about CONQUERING with the SWORD or with WAR to force the infidels to convert to Islam or DIE)
15. And he had power to give life (Or spirit or zeal) unto the image of the beast (Radical Islam), that the image of the beast should both speak (Or that these newly converted peaceful Muslims will continue promoting radical Islam along with him, the ASSYRIAN, the antichrist, the son of perdition, that Wicked one), and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast (Bow down to radical Islam to worship Allah) should be killed.”
And this is happening right now before our eyes setting the stage for the 3 ½ years of great tribulation right before the return of Jesus. Open your eyes to the TRUTH my dear brothers and sisters in the Lord and my dear Muslim readers before it is too late! Let us take a look at some verses in the Old Testament that CLEARLY and PLAINLY show us the NATIONS that Jesus will fight AGAINST when he comes to fight FOR his chosen people of Israel, the JEWS will be the Islamic Muslim nations and not the Pope or Vatican city in Rome. Jesus may destroy Vatican City as well but that is not specifically written in PROPHECY of the last days.
Please read Ezekiel 30:3-6 which is speaking of the DAY of the Lord when the WRATH of Almighty God will be poured out upon these Muslim nations.
Ezekiel 30:3-6.
“For the day is near, EVEN the DAY of the LORD (Speaking of the BATTLE of the great DAY of God we just read about, when Jesus comes back to fight the NATIONS that are KILLING God's people, the Christians, and the Jews, EVEN the DAY of the LORD) is near, a cloudy day; it shall be the time of the heathen.
4. And the sword shall come upon EGYPT, and great pain shall be in ETHIOPIA when the slain shall fall in EGYPT, and they shall take away her multitude, and her foundations shall be broken down.
5. Ethiopia, and Libya, and Lydia, and all the mingled people (Possibly speaking of the Arab people of Saudi Arabia and other parts of the Middle East seeing that the word Arab means mingled people), and Chub, and the men of the LAND that is in league, (Confederacy or caliphate) shall fall with them by the sword.
6. Thus says the LORD; They ALSO that uphold Egypt (Or whoever SUPPORTS Egypt financially, or with arms or with troops) shall fall; and the PRIDE of her power shall come down: from the tower of Syene shall they fall in it by the sword, says the Lord GOD.”
All these nations EGYPT, ETHIOPIA, LIBYA, make up most of Northern Africa, and LYDIA is part of the world that today is know as TURKEY, which again today at this present time are ALL nations that are Islamic Muslim dominated nations. Who is more PROUD than the radical Muslims today who speak of dominating the whole entire world with ISLAM?
Let us now read Ezekiel 32:21-30 which teaches us that the Muslims who take up the sword to fight against God’s people the Christians and the Jews are cast into HELL. Quite the OPPOSITE of what the Quran teaches, which is to FIGHT for the cause of ALLAH and KILL all those who do NOT submit to ISLAM that you MAY find mercy and not suffer the Day of Judgment!
But yet the Quran teaches Muslims to read and obey the Holy Bible. Just pay ATTENTION to the NATIONS that are NAMED in the Holy Bible as the NATIONS that will be cast into the FIRE of judgment! You will clearly see that they are ALL these NAMED nations where the dominant faith of the people is Islam who believe that they are serving the true “god” by killing the Christians and the Jews. Every nation named in the Bible that Jesus will fight against are ALL Islamic Muslim nations that shall be judged by Almighty God to suffer the WRATH of God.
Ezekiel 32:21-30.
“The strong among the mighty shall speak to him out of the midst of HELL with them that help him: they are gone down, they lie uncircumcised, slain by the sword.
22. ASSHUR is there and all her company: (Remember that Asshur is ancient Assyria which is Syria and Iraq and all her company are the TEN kings or the ten Islamic countries or nations that are NAMED specifically in Psalm 83 which we already read at the very beginning of this study in God’s word) his graves are about him: all of them slain, fallen by the sword:
23. Whose graves are set in the sides of the pit, and her company is round about her grave: all of them slain, fallen by the sword, which caused TERROR (Or TERRORISM) in the land of the living.
24. There are ELAM and all her multitude (Which is modern-day Iran) round about her grave, all of them slain, fallen by the sword, which are gone down uncircumcised (Which means NOT having a covenant with the ONLY TRUE God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. And that means that they will have NO HOPE of eternal life and the lake of fire is their destiny) into the nether parts of the earth, which caused their TERROR (Or TERRORISM) in the land of the living; yet have they borne their shame with them that go down to the pit.
25. They have set her a bed in the midst of the slain with all her multitude: her graves are round about him: all of them uncircumcised, slain by the sword: though their TERROR (Or TERRORISM) was caused in the land of the living, yet have they borne their shame with them that go down to the pit: he is put in the midst of them that be slain. (The ONLY circumcision of the covenant that God accepts today is the NEW COVENANT taught in the New Testament of the Holy Bible which all Muslims peaceful or radical REJECT)
26. There are MESHECH, TUBAL, and ALL her multitude: (Which is modern-day Turkey.) her graves are round about him: all of them uncircumcised, slain by the sword, though they caused their TERROR (Or TERRORISM) in the land of the living.
27. And they shall not lie with the mighty that are fallen of the uncircumcised, which are gone down to hell with their weapons of war: and they have laid their swords under their heads, but their iniquities shall be upon their bones, though they were the TERROR (Or TERRORISM) of the mighty in the land of the living. (This means dear Christians to NOT fear death for you are CIRCUMCISED IN Jesus Christ and whether you live or die you shall live and REIGN WITH Jesus in the world to come)
28. Yea, you shall be broken in the midst of the uncircumcised, and shalt lie with them that are slain with the sword. (Meaning that if you live in that region of the world and you are a Christian then you will be killed or imprisoned for your faith in Jesus. This is why Jesus warns us to flee Judea and the surrounding countries when we see Jerusalem surrounded by armies)
29. There is EDOM, (Which is modern-day Jordan bordering Israel on the east and southeast) her kings, and all her princes, which with their might are laid by them that were slain by the sword: they shall lie with the uncircumcised, and with them that go down to the pit.
30. There be the princes of the NORTH, (Speaking north of Israel which is Syria and Turkey and Tyre and Lebanon) all of them, and all the ZIDONIANS (Which is modern-day Lebanon), which are gone down with the slain; with their TERROR (Or TERRORISM) they are ashamed of their might; and they lie uncircumcised with them that be slain by the sword, and bear their shame with them that go down to the pit.”
The Bible foretells that Jesus will return to Jerusalem from out of the EAST.
Matthew 24:23-27.
“Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not.
24. For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; (Remember that Satan will be giving the antichrist power to do great signs and wonders. And according to the context, the antichrist will claim that he is the Messiah, the Christ) insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.
25. Behold, I have told you before.
26. Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; (Mecca is in the desert of Saudi Arabia) go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers (Or a PRIVATE place and right now ONLY Muslims can go to Mecca); believe it not. (Muslims are also awaiting the return of Jesus but their Isa is prophesied to UNITE the Muslim world to force the Christians and the Jews to become Muslims. So their Isa is the Christian’s ANTICHRIST.)
27. For AS the lightning comes out of the EAST, and shines even unto the west, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.”
Here we see that when Jesus returns everyone will know it at the same time and no one will need to be told that Jesus has returned. But my main point right now is that Jesus will come into the land of Israel out of the EAST.
Isaiah 41:2.
“Who raised up the righteous man from the EAST, called him to his foot, gave the nations before him, and made him rule over kings? He gave them as the dust to his sword, and as driven stubble to his bow.”
The WHO that will perform his word to accomplish all his prophecies is Yahweh the only true God and the righteous man is Jesus his Messiah his firstborn Son whom he has ordained to be the King of kings and the Lord of lords over the earth during the FIRST DOMINION. But again my main point right now is that Jesus will be seen by Israel as entering from the EAST.
Ezekiel 43:1-4.
“Afterward he brought me to the gate, even the gate that looks toward the EAST:
2. And, behold, the glory of the God of Israel came from the way of the EAST: and HIS voice was like a noise of many waters: and the earth shined with his glory.
3. And it was according to the appearance of the vision which I saw, even according to the vision that I saw when I came to destroy the city: and the visions were like the vision that I saw by the river Chebar, and I fell upon my face.
4. And the glory of the LORD came into the house by the way of the gate whose prospect is toward the EAST.”
Remember that Jesus is coming to execute the WRATH and vengeance of Almighty God and to deliver God’s people the Christians and the Jews and that he will enter into Jerusalem from the EAST. This is important because it identifies again WHO Jesus will be fighting AGAINST and WHO Jesus will be DELIVERING.
Isaiah 63:1-4.
“Who is this that comes from Edom, (Which is modern-day Jordan that is EAST of Israel) with dyed garments from Bozrah (A city in Jordan)? This that is glorious in his apparel, traveling in the greatness of his strength? I that speak in righteousness, mighty to save.
2. Wherefore are you RED in your apparel, and your garments like him that treads in the wine fat? (Then Jesus answers why his garments are all covered with the BLOOD or the Muslims who have taken up the sword to kill God’s people the Christians and the Jews.)
3. I have trodden the winepress (The battle of Armageddon) alone; and of the people, there was none with me (Meaning that Jesus will have no allies of the people on earth): for I will tread them in mine anger, and trample them in my fury; and their BLOOD shall be sprinkled upon my garments, and I will stain all my raiment.
4. For the day of vengeance is in my heart, and the year of my redeemed has come.”
Zechariah 14:1-3.
“Behold, the day of the LORD comes, and your spoil shall be divided in the midst of you.
2. For I will gather all nations (Speaking of all the Islamic Muslim nations surrounding Israel with their armies which Jesus defines for us in Luke 21:20 as the abomination of desolation spoken by the prophet Daniel) against Jerusalem to battle; and the city shall be taken, and the houses rifled, and the women ravished; and half of the city shall go forth into captivity, (And taken to Assyria and Egypt and other surrounding Muslim countries) and the residue of the people shall not be cut off from the city.
3. THEN shall the LORD go forth, and fight against THOSE NATIONS (Who are making war with Israel seeking to wipe Israel and every last Christian and Jew in their land off the face of the earth), as when he fought in the day of battle.”
Zechariah 12:8,9.
“In that day shall the LORD defend the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and he that is feeble among them at that day shall be as David; and the house of David shall be as God, as the angel of the LORD before them.
9. And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem.”
So the Bible ITSELF prophesies the exact opposite of what Islam teaches. The Bible says that Jesus will DEFEND the children of Israel and fight AGAINST all the nations who fight against Israel and their city Jerusalem.
And every NATION is NAMED in the Bible that will fight against Israel in the last 3 ½ years right before Jesus returns. And every last one of those nations in the Bible is today the Islamic Muslim nations. And all the sound Biblical evidence points to the ASSYRIAN as being the little horn that will unite the radical Islamic Muslim nations together to form a caliphate to make all-out war against the land of Israel and the city of Jerusalem.
The following are the identifying marks of the antichrist. And ALL these identifying marks must fit the person, country, or system. And I myself do not see the Roman Catholic Church or the United States of America meeting all the prophecies concerning the Antichrist and his armies.
#1. He or it must lie against the truth and DENY Jesus as the Christ and as the Son of the living God.
1 John 2:22,23.
“Who is a liar but he that denies that Jesus is the Christ? He is an antichrist, that denies the Father and the Son.
23. Whosoever denies the Son, the same has not the Father: (but) he that acknowledges the Son has the Father also.”
#2. He or it MUST make WAR with the saints.
Daniel 7:21.
“I beheld, and the same horn (Speaking of the little horn) made WAR with the saints and prevailed against them;”
Revelation 13:7.
“And it was given unto him to make WAR with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.”
#3. He or it was given the power to kill the two witnesses in that PART of the world in the Middle East. The two witnesses are speaking of the Christians and the Jews in that part of the world. The Muslims will unite to make war against the Christians and the Jews in their land for 42 months or 1260 days right before the rapture of the church when he will be destroyed at the coming of Jesus.
Revelation 11:3-12.
“And I will give power (Revelation 12:10) unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth. (Ezekiel 9:4; Psalm 37:37)
4. These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth.
5. And if any man will hurt them, fire proceeds out of their mouth, (Meaning to prophesy the plagues and NOT take up the sword or weapon of man) and devours their enemies: and if any man will hurt them, he MUST in this manner be killed.
6. These have the power to shut heaven, that it rain not in the days of their prophecy: (The 3 ½ years of great tribulation) and have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to smite the earth with all plagues, as often as they will.
7. And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascends out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them. (This verse is speaking of TWO WARS; the war or battle of Armageddon BEFORE the 1000 year reign of Jesus which is described in Ezekiel chapter 39, and the final war will be AFTER the 1000 year reign of Jesus when Satan ascends out of the bottomless pit where he will be bound for 1000 years. And this final war is described in Ezekiel 38.)
8. And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified. (So then, the city of Jerusalem will be the epicenter of these two wars)
9. And they of the people and kindreds and tongues and nations shall see their dead bodies three days and a half, and shall not suffer their dead bodies to be put in graves. (This could mean that some Christians will be killed during the entire 3 ½ years of great tribulation and this war is so dominated by the enemy that it will not allow the burying of the dead saints and the Jews. Or it could mean a literal 3 ½ days right before the rapture of the church. Or it could mean a combination of both which would hide the literal 3 ½ days which would hide the exact day of the rapture.)
10. And they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoice over them, and make merry, and shall send gifts one to another; because these two prophets tormented them that dwelt on the earth.
11. And after three days and a half, the Spirit of life from God entered into them, and they stood upon their feet, and great fear fell upon them which saw them.
12. And they heard a great voice from heaven saying unto them, Come up hither. And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud, and their enemies beheld them.”
#4. He or it must be given power by Satan for 42 months or for 3 1/2 years, for a times, time, and dividing of time, or 1260 days right before Jesus returns to make war with the saints and with the Jews AND make desolate the city of Jerusalem.
Revelation 13:5.
“And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies, and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months.”
Revelation 11:2,3.
“But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months.
3. And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth.”
Revelation 12:6-14.
“And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days.
7. And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon fought and his angels,
8. And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven.
9. And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.
10. And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night. (I believe that one of the powers that God will give us is that our prayers will be answered the moment we pray because the hinderer to our prayers will be cast down out of the principalities and powers of the air.)
11. And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony, and they loved not their lives unto the death. (In other words, they did not take the mark of the beast.)
12. Therefore rejoice, you heavens, and you that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! For the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knows that he hath but a short time.
13. And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman (The children of Israel, the Jews) which brought forth the man child.
14. And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, (This could be speaking of an airlift to a safe place out of harm’s way of this war) into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent.”
#5. He or it must be destroyed by Jesus at the coming of Jesus. In other words, the final antichrist is still yet FUTURE because Jesus has not yet returned.
2 Thessalonians 2:1-11.
“Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, (Speaking of the return of Jesus and the rapture of the church)
2. That you are not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.
3. Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day (The day of the rapture of the church) shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; (So the rapture of the church will not come until that antichrist is revealed AND there is an apostasy)
4. Who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sits in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God. (This verse speaks of a leader of the antichrist system who is possessed and given power by Satan.)
5. Remember you not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things?
6. And now you know what withholds that he (Speaking of Jesus and NOT the antichrist) might be revealed in his time. (Again, speaking of Jesus because these two things must happen first before the rapture of the church.)
7. For the mystery of iniquity does already work: only he (Satan and his fallen angels the principalities and powers of the air) who now let will let (Or who now hinders will continue to hinder) until he is taken out of the way. (Literally reads cast out of the midst)
8. And then shall that Wicked be revealed, (When Satan and the fallen angels are cast down out of the midst of the first heaven, the air, down to the ground then Satan will know that his time is SHORT and that he only has 1260 days left to make war with God's people the Christians and the Jews) whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: (3 ½ years after Satan has been cast down from the principalities and powers of this present world to no longer be able to hinder our prayers and what we pray and prophesy will come to pass immediately)
9. Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, (So for 3 1/2 years this antichrist will be given power by Satan to perform signs and wonders to DECEIVE the people)
10. And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; (So these signs and wonders deceive the people to do that which is UNRIGHTEOUS before Almighty God but to THEM it will NOT be unrighteous in their eyes) because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. (So then, the TRUTH will be preached to them but they will not receive the truth so that they might be saved)
11. And for this cause (That they will hear the gospel of Jesus Christ and REJECT Jesus as the Christ, the Son of the living God then) God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:”
#6. He or it is given the power to kill the Christians and the Jews IN only ONE-FOURTH of the earth, as in, the LAND in that region of the world and NOT the entire world.
Revelation 6:8.
“And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over the FOURTH PART of the earth (Or one-fourth part of the LAND. Some prophecy teachers are interpreting this verse and the antichrist killing one-fourth of the population of the entire world. When you read Revelation 13 you can clearly see this verse is referring to one-fourth of the land in that region of the world conquered by the Roman Empire), to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth.”
Revelation 13:11-15.
“And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth, and he had two horns like a lamb (Came in peaceably at first), and he spake as a dragon. (But then turned to hatred and dominating and conquering others by the sword. This is the little horn, the Assyrian, the Mahdi, and the twelfth Imam)
12. And he exercises all the power of the first beast before him, (And not only all the power of the first beast and much much more to include the entire earth. The antichrist will conquer by flatteries coming in peaceably at first. Then he will unite and control the same land area that the Islamic Muslim Ottoman Empire conquered and controlled. I personally do not believe that he will take over Europe that was conquered by the Roman Empire but he will cause trouble there as well) and causes the earth (Or the LAND or that ONE-FOURTH part of the earth in that region of the world) and THEM which dwell THEREIN to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed. (I think that it is reasonable to assume that all humans dwell on the earth so the Greek word translated as “earth” also means LAND or that REGION of the world and NOT the WHOLE world. So the antichrist will exercise his power to kill ONLY in THEIR LAND which they have gained DOMINATE control to change the law of the land to Sharia law.)
13. And he does great wonders so that he makes fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men,
14. And deceives THEM that dwell on the earth (LAND or THAT RELIGION of the world) by the means of those miracles which he had the power to do in the SIGHT of the beast (And NOT in the sight of the WHOLE world); saying to THEM that dwell on the earth (Meaning THEM that dwell on the LAND in that REGION of the world which is the Middle East Islamic Muslim DOMINATED countries), that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live. (So the IMAGE here is not some statue but rather it is this new leader saying to the Muslim people to unite and be LIKE Muhammad and the Ottoman Empire to go about CONQUERING with the SWORD or with WAR to force the infidels to convert to Islam or DIE)
15. And he had power to give life (Or spirit or zeal) unto the image of the beast (Radical Islam), that the image of the beast should both speak (Or that these newly converted peaceful Muslims will continue promoting radical Islam along with him, the ASSYRIAN, the antichrist, the son of perdition, that Wicked one), and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast (Bow down to radical Islam) should be killed.”
#7. He seeks to change times and the law.
Daniel 7:25.
“And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.”
In other words, Satan will try and demand MORE TIME but the stated edict of the allotted time will stand as is and judgment will sit denying the antichrist any more time. This is what the literal translation reads.
The radical Muslims are seeking and will continue to seek a change in the land, of the land, they dominate to Sharia law. And Muslims have sought to change the prime meridian that runs through Greenwich that sets the times zones around the world to have it moved to run through Mecca.
#8. He or it will not regard the desire of women.
Daniel 11:37.
“Neither shall he regard the God of his fathers, nor (Shall he regard) the desire OF women, nor regard any god: for he shall magnify himself above all.”
This verse does NOT say that he shall have no desire for the women but rather says that he will not REGARD the desire OF women. In other words, the women in this antichrist system will be of LOW regard. The antichrist will NOT care what the women DESIRE. And radical Islam fits this description to the letter but the Roman Catholic Papacy does not fit this description.
Now some translations translate this verse as the god desired BY women which are saying the same thing seeing that the women under Sharia law do NOT DESIRE the Sharia law of Islam that has them beaten and treated like an animal.
Daniel 11:37 from the Common English Bible.
“He will give no thought to the gods of his fathers, nor to the god cherished by women. He will give no thought to any god because he will make himself greater than all of them.”
I am sure that if so be that the women of radical Islam had a choice without any consequences facing them from leaving Islam that they would cherish the true God of LOVE taught in the Holy Bible.
Also, notice that in this same verse the antichrist will exalt himself above all other gods and claim to be God. This brings us to the ninth mark or characteristic of the antichrist.
#9. He shall make himself to be God.
Daniel 11:37.
“Neither shall he regard the God of his fathers, nor (Shall he regard) the desire of women, nor regard any god: for he shall magnify himself above all”
First, we see that he will not be worshipping the ONLY TRUE God of the Holy Bible which his forefathers did INDEED worship. This is speaking of the antichrist system itself NOT worshipping the only true God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob which their forefather did INDEED worship all the way up to Muhammad the prophet they ACCEPTED. From then on they worship Allah who is the moon god and their symbol of the Baal Babylonian religion is the crescent moon and star that is on top of their place of worship.
But the antichrist himself will come to them as being the Christ. To THEM he will be the true Messiah that comes to THEM in the DESERT. But we as Christians have been warned by Jesus to NOT go out to see that Christ for he is a FALSE Christ.
Matthew 24:23-27.
“Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not.
24. For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.
25. Behold, I have told you before.
26. Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the DESERT; go NOT forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; (Or he is in Mecca at the Kaaba which is only for Muslims. Come and see for yourself and become a Muslim) believe it NOT.
27. FOR (Or BECAUSE) as the lightning comes out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.”
Now, IF SO BE, that the Pope has any connection whatsoever with the antichrist then the Pope MAY point to the antichrist and command all Roman Catholics to bow down and worship their Messiah who will NOT be the TRUE Jesus but rather a FALSE Christ.
I warn my readers about the many, many false teaching in Roman Catholicism and I agree that the Roman Catholic Pope is a FALSE Christ because Jesus did NOT give anyone man the authority to rule over his church. The popes have SELF-exalted themselves to this position. So while the Roman Catholic Church is an antichrist system I do not see it as being the FINAL antichrist system spoken of in the Bible itself.
#10. He of it will serve the god of FORCES.
Daniel 11:38.
“But in his estate shall he honor the God of FORCES: and a god whom his fathers knew NOT shall he honor with gold, and silver, and with precious stones, and pleasant things.”
The God of FORCES is the God of WAR which is how the New International Reader Version of the Bible translates this verse.
Here is Daniel 11:38,39 from the NIRV Bible.
“In place of them, he will worship a god of WAR. He will honor a god his people have not had anything to do with before. He will give gold and silver to that god. He will bring jewels and expensive gifts to it.
39. He will attack the strongest forts. A new god will help him do it. He will greatly honor those who recognize him as their leader. He will make them rulers over many people. And he will give them land as a reward.”
Remember that this will take place during the time leading up to the 3 ½ years of great tribulation and Jesus will destroy the antichrist AT his COMING. So then this is the FINAL kingdom that will rise to power, in that same region of the world, that the previous seven world empires ruled.
I myself do NOT see the Roman Papacy fitting ALL of these descriptions of the antichrist. But I can see very easily how the rise of radical Islam saying that they will DOMINATE the whole world fits every one of these descriptions of the antichrist system.
#11. He or it shall be called the king of the NORTH who will make war with the king of the SOUTH.
Who are these two kings according to the Bible itself?
Daniel 11:6.
“And in the end of years they shall join themselves together; for the king's daughter of the south shall come to the king of the north to make an agreement: but she shall not retain the power of the arm; neither shall he stand, nor his arm: but she shall be given up, and they that brought her, and he that begat her, and he that strengthened her in these times.”
Daniel 11:7.
“But out of a branch of her roots shall one stand up in his estate, which shall come with an ARMY, and shall enter into the fortress of the king of the north, and shall deal against them, and shall prevail:”
Daniel 11:8.
“And shall also carry captives into Egypt (Which identifies the king of the SOUTH) their gods, with their princes, and with their precious vessels of silver and of gold; and he shall continue more years than the king of the north.”
Daniel 11:11.
“And the king of the south shall be moved with choler, and shall come forth and fight with him, even with the king of the north: and he shall set forth a great multitude; but the multitude shall be given into his hand.”
So does Egypt the king of the south ever make war against the Roman Catholic Church? And did the Roman Catholic Church ever make war with Egypt? Do you even think this will be possible?
Daniel 11:13.
“For the king of the north shall return, and shall set forth a multitude greater than the former, and shall certainly come after certain years with a great army and with much riches.”
Daniel 11:15.
“So the king of the north shall come and cast up a mount, and take the most fenced cities: and the arms of the south shall not withstand, neither his chosen people, neither shall there be any strength to withstand.”
Daniel 11:40-45.
“And at the time of the end shall the king of the south push at him: and the king of the north shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, and with horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter into the countries, and shall overflow and pass over.
41. He shall enter ALSO into the glorious land, (Has the Roman Catholic Church ever attacked Israel or Jerusalem the glorious land?) and many countries shall be overthrown: but these shall escape out of his hand, even Edom, and Moab, and the chief of the children of Ammon.
42. He shall stretch forth his hand also upon the countries: and the land of Egypt shall not escape.
43. But he shall have power over the treasures of gold and of silver, and over all the precious things of Egypt: and the Libyans and the Ethiopians shall be at his steps.
44. But tidings out of the east and out of the north shall trouble him: therefore, he shall go forth with great fury to destroy, and utterly to make away many.
45. And he shall plant the tabernacles of his palace between the seas in the glorious holy mountain; yet he shall come to his end, and none shall help him.”
He shall come to his end when Jesus returns. Keep in mind that the Antichrist will be given power by his god Satan for only forty-two months right before Jesus RETURNS.
Also, keep in mind that the antichrist will only be given power over the FOURTH PART of the earth for 42 months or 1260 days.
Now take a look at the maps of the seven world empires which are Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Medo-Persia, Grecian, Roman, Islamic Muslim Empire, and the EIGHTH final kingdom will rule over either the SEVENTH world empire in that region of the world which is the Islamic Muslim Ottoman Empire. OR the antichrist kingdom will become the dominating force in ALL SEVEN previous kingdoms combined together. But they will NOT rule the entire world according to the Bible itself.
Thanks for reading and may God bless you richly as you continue to seek the truth of the whole word of God.
Clue Two: Ten Kings and the Little Horn
The next clue about this end time kingdom is found in Daniel chapter seven. In this chapter, Daniel tells us about his vision of the four great beasts that rose out of the sea: the lion with eagle’s wings, the bear with three ribs in its mouth, the leopard with four heads, and then the last beast—the end time beast with ten horns. The beasts represent Babylon, Persia, Greece, and the end time kingdom. Our clue about this end time kingdom is in the action of the ten horns in verse eight:
“I considered the horns, and, behold, there came up among them another little horn, before whom there were three of the first horns plucked up by the roots: and, behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of man, and a mouth speaking great things.”
The activity of the horns is interpreted in verse 24:
“And the ten horns out of this kingdom are ten kings that shall arise: and another shall rise after them; and he shall be diverse from the first, and he shall subdue three kings.”
This tells us there will be ten kings that will arise during the end times, and they will be connected to the last Gentile kingdom. Another king will rise up after they have been established as kings. The king that rises up after the ten kings will subdue three of the ten kings/nations. This is our first introduction to the personage that Daniel called the “little horn.” In the New Testament, he is called Antichrist. In the book of Revelation, he is called the beast.
Main Takeaway: In the dream of the metal man, we learned there would be one last Gentile kingdom in the end times. And in the vision of the four beasts, we learned about the ruler of this end time kingdom. He is a king that will subdue three kings, meaning he will militarily conquer three nations. At this point, we don’t know who these three kings will be.
Clue Three: Little Horn’s Kingdom Is in the Middle East
Our next clue is in Daniel’s vision of the ram and goat in chapter eight. In this vision, Daniel tells us about a goat with a large horn charging a ram with two large horns, symbolism for Greece attacking Persia. The goat, which symbolizes Alexander the Great, defeated the ram, which symbolizes the Persian King, by breaking off its horns. After the goat won his battle, he became very great, meaning his kingdom became large. And then the goat’s great horn broke off, which symbolizes Alexander’s death. In place of the goat’s great horn, four notable horns grew in its place. The four notable horns symbolize four of Alexander’s generals. When Alexander died, they divided up Alexander’s kingdom among them. Then verse nine says about the four generals, “And out of one of them came forth a little horn, which waxed exceeding great, toward the south, and toward the east, and toward the pleasant land.”
An angel gave Daniel the interpretation of the four horns saying “four kingdoms shall stand up out of the nation, but not in his power. And in the latter time of their kingdom, when the transgressors are come to the full, a king of fierce countenance, and understanding dark sentences, shall stand up” (vv. 22–23). This vision tells us the little horn will come out of one of the kingdoms ruled by Alexander’s four generals. The period of time that Antichrist will arise will be in the “latter time of their kingdoms,” meaning in the end times.
Main Takeaway: In the vision of the ram and goat, we learned Antichrist will come from an area of the world that was once governed by one of Alexander’s four generals. At this point in the book of Daniel, we don’t yet know which one of these four kingdoms the little horn will come from. But what we do know is that it will be from an area that fell within the boundaries of Alexander’s empire. Alexander’s entire empire covered the Middle East. This tells us, without a doubt, the kingdom of Antichrist will be located in the Middle East.
Clue Four: Military Action
The fourth clue has to do with the military actions of Antichrist. In the vision of the four beasts (Daniel chapter 7), we learned the little horn would uproot three kings, which means Antichrist will militarily engage with three nations and be victorious. However, it doesn’t give us a clue as to the identity of the three nations.
But in the vision of the ram and goat (Daniel 8), we are told a detail that both helps to identify the three horns and the nation from which Antichrist comes. Verse nine tells us the little horn “…waxed exceeding great, toward the south, and toward the east, and toward the pleasant land.” To “wax great” means the little horn will increase his kingdom; he will increase it to the south of him, to the east of him, and toward the pleasant land. The pleasant land is Israel. This verse tells us the location of two of the nations Antichrist will subdue: one will be south of the Antichrist nation and one will be east of the Antichrist nation. Israel, no doubt, is close by to these nations. This, yet again, confirms the kingdom of Antichrist and the nations he invades will be located in the Middle East.
Clue Five: An Ancient War That Continues into the Future
Our next clue has to do with the mysterious way in which Daniel chapter 11 is written. As you recall, chapter 11 is a detailed account of the back and forth wars between the Grecian kings of the north (Seleucid Empire) and the Grecian kings of the south (Ptolemaic Empire).
In verse 21, it begins to focus on the reign of a Seleucid king described as a “vile person.” This is Antiochus Epiphanes, the king that invaded Jerusalem and tried to force the Jews to adopt Greek culture and gods. Verses 21–32 describe the activities of Antiochus and his persecution of the Jewish people. Then verses 33–35 refer specifically to the Jewish people and how they endured this intense persecution. But then verse 36 begins with “And the king shall do according to his will…” It’s written in such a way that makes the reader think the chapter is still talking about the vile king, Antiochus Epiphanes. But it’s clear the last nine verses are not talking about Antiochus. The last nine verses are talking about the end time personage known as Antichrist, someone separated from Antiochus by well over a couple of millennia into the future.
The chapter is written in a way that makes the reader think these back and forth wars between the kings of the north and the kings of the south continue through to the end of the chapter. But the chapter fails to inform the reader that there is a tremendous gap of time between Antiochus Epiphanes and the end time Antichrist, yet it continues using the language of “the king of the north,” versus “the king of the south.” The chapter is written in a way to indicate a suspension of the events between the kings of the north and the kings of the south… a suspension of over two millennia. But then at the appointed time, the events between the kings of the north and the kings of the south pick up again right where they left off.
Main takeaway: This tells us the same kings of the north and the kings of the south involved in these back and forth wars are the same nations that will be at war with each other during the end times. Some eschatologists erroneously believe Antichrist will come from Europe, specifically the European Union. But Daniel’s prophecies clearly tell us he will come from the Middle East.
Clue Six: Antichrist Will Arise From Area Known as the Seleucid Empire.
Now, we’re going to identify the specific nation Antichrist will come from. In the vision of the ram and goat (Daniel chapter 8), we were told that Antichrist will come from one of the kingdoms of Alexander’s four generals. Daniel chapter 11 tells us from which of Alexander’s four generals the Antichrist will come. In this chapter, we read about the wars fought between Alexander’s four generals and how, in the end, only two generals were left standing: the king of the north of the Grecian Seleucid Empire and the king of the south of the Grecian Ptolemaic Empire.
Out of the north came Antiochus Epiphanes, who is a type and mirror image of the end time Antichrist. It’s for that reason the Grecian Seleucid Empire ruled by Antiochus Epiphanes is deliberately placed back to back with the future end time kingdom of Antichrist, thereby identifying Antichrist as a king of the north. From this, we know the future end time Antichrist will come from the area that was governed by General Seleucus of the Grecian Seleucid Empire.
At some point in its history of existence, the Grecian Seleucid Empire covered a large portion of the Middle East. The empire waxed and waned according to the success and failure of its battles. However, both ancient and modern historians, refer to the Seleucid Empire as Syria because Syria was the center, or the heart, of the empire. No matter whether the borders of the Seleucid Empire waxed or waned, Syria was always the center of the empire. So what does that tell us?
Antichrist will arise out of Syria.
Clue Seven: The Identities of the Three Horns Antichrist Uproots
Now that we have ascertained that Syria is the nation from which Antichrist comes, we can now identify the nations Antichrist will uproot: those three nations are “toward the south, and toward the east, and toward the pleasant land” (Dan. 8:9). We already know the third horn referred to as the “pleasant land” is Israel. So let’s move on to ascertain the identity of the nation to the south of him. In the back and forth wars between the kings of the northern Seleucid Empire and the kings of the southern Ptolemaic Empire, it’s understood that the Ptolemaic Empire was basically Egypt. Therefore, we can conclude that Egypt is the nation toward the south. In fact, Daniel 11:42 confirms it by stating Egypt will not escape Antichrist. What is most interesting is that it says the king of the south, Egypt, will move against Antichrist. Not the other way around. Egypt will be the aggressor, but it is Antichrist that will prevail. This is another confirmation that Egypt is the nation to the south.
The only clue as to the identity of the third nation that Antichrist uproots is the phrase “toward the east.” The identity of the nation “toward the east” can be solved by simply looking at a map. What is directly east of Syria is Iraq. Other nations east of Syria are Iran, Afghanistan, and Pakistan. But Iraq is the only nation that shares a border with Syria. And if it’s the goal of Antichrist to increase his empire, the most logical way to do it would be to take out the nations that surround him. Therefore, the best informed guess as to the identity of the nation toward the east is Iraq.
There we have it. The three nations Antichrist uproots are Egypt, most likely Iraq, and Israel. In addition, I think we can conclude that the sequence in which Antichrist uproots these nations is reflected in the sequence of how they are listed: “toward the south [Egypt], and toward the east [Iraq], and toward the pleasant land [Israel]” (Dan. 8:9).
Clue Eight: Intermarriages of Royal Offspring
There is one last clue that confirms, yet again, that the area of the world Antichrist comes from will be the Middle East. The last clue is in Daniel chapter two in the dream of King Nebuchadnezzar, verse 43: “And whereas thou sawest iron mixed with miry clay, they shall mingle themselves with the seed of men: but they shall not cleave one to another, even as iron is not mixed with clay” (Dan. 2:43).
Our clue is in the phrase “they shall mingle themselves with the seed of men.” This phrase is referring to the kings of these nations intermarrying their royal offspring. These marriages weren’t about love; rather, they were for the purpose of forming political alliances. But these marriages didn’t achieve their intended purpose. We see that in the phrase “they shall not cleave one to another.” The intermarrying of the royal offspring failed to create alliances. These nations remained in constant war with each other.
In Daniel chapter 11, we see two examples of the fulfillment of the phrase “they shall mingle themselves with the seed of men.” The first one is in Daniel 11:6 when it says, “for the king’s daughter of the south shall come to the king of the north to make an agreement: but she shall not retain the power of the arm.” This verse was fulfilled when Ptolemy II, king of the south, secured an end to the war by marrying his daughter, Berenice, to his foe, Antiochus II (261–246 BC), king of the north.
The second one is in Daniel 11:17 when it says, “He shall give him [his] daughter to corrupt and destroy it [his league with Egypt] and the kingdom, but it shall not succeed or be to his advantage” (Amp.). This verse was fulfilled when the king of the north, Antiochus the Great (father of Antiochus Epiphanes), gave his daughter, Cleopatra, to Ptolemy V, king of the south. The plan of Antiochus the Great was for his daughter, Cleopatra, to spy on her husband for him. The plot didn’t work because Cleopatra was loyal to her husband.
These are just two examples of these ancient Middle Eastern nations trying to form alliances with each other. There were many other arraigned marriages that didn’t get included in Daniel’s prophecy. Take for instance, Ptolemy I, king of the south; he too tried to form alliances through marriage. He gave his daughter Arsinoe II in marriage to Lysimachus of Thrace. He gave his stepdaughter Theoxena to Agathocles of Syracuse. He gave his daughter Ptolemais to Demetrius Poliorcetes. He gave another stepdaughter, Antigone, to Pyrrhus of Epirus. These are just a handful of examples. There were many others.
The kings of these nations tried to create alliances with each other through the marriage of their children, thus fulfilling the prophetic word, “they shall mingle themselves with the seed of men.” The marriages failed in their intended purpose of creating alliances as prophesied: “they shall not cleave one to another….” No matter how many of their children they married off to other royals, they remained at constant war with each other. Over two millennia later, the relationships of these Middle Eastern nations hasn’t changed. They are not in alliance with each other. The only thing they are in agreement with each other today is their shared hatred of Israel.
Final Conclusion
For centuries, Christians have been looking at all the wrong signs. They should have been looking at the Bible, at Daniel’s prophecies. Here are the events to watch for that will bring about the beginning of end time events.
A king will arise in Syria; he is the little horn, a.k.a. Antichrist. He will militarily conquer three nations. We aren’t told the reasons why, but Egypt will move against Syria. Egypt will lose to Syria. Then the Syrian king will engage in a successful military campaign against the nation to the east of him, most likely Iraq. Next, the Syrian king moves against Israel and succeeds. At this point, he has successfully uprooted three of the ten horns/kings.
It’s when the little horn invades Israel that he will enter into a seven-year “covenant with many.” When the little horn, the Syrian king, enters into this covenant, the clock starts ticking on Daniel’s 70th week of seven years.
And isn’t it interesting that right now at this very moment, the Syrian King
The dragon stood on the shore," refers to Satan summoning the deep forces of evil who precipitate Armageddon. The "beast" is a collective of seven heads, or powers.
Because it wears 10 crowns, three of the powers have more than one crown.
Since Russia, the European Union and China (for example) each have one supreme ruler, those three heads would have just one crown. All Islamic countries have two ruling authoritarians, a political leader and a spiritual (imam) leader. Thus, an Arab League, for example, could have two crowns.
A collective of Persian Powers (Iran, Iraq, Syria) would comprise another case of one head and multiple crowns. The caliphate, the former Ottoman Empire, headed by Turkey, could also be represented as one head with multiple crowns.
Saudi Arabia was never a power under either the Ottoman (caliphate) or the Persian reigns. It stood alone. Thus, Saudi Arabia (along with some of her subjugated acolytes) could be classified as one head with one crown.
The dragon stood on the shore," refers to Satan summoning the deep forces of evil who precipitate Armageddon. The "beast" is a collective of seven heads, or powers.
Because it wears 10 crowns, three of the powers have more than one crown.
Since Russia, the European Union and China (for example) each have one supreme ruler, those three heads would have just one crown. All Islamic countries have two ruling authoritarians, a political leader and a spiritual (imam) leader. Thus, an Arab League, for example, could have two crowns.
A collective of Persian Powers (Iran, Iraq, Syria) would comprise another case of one head and multiple crowns. The caliphate, the former Ottoman Empire, headed by Turkey, could also be represented as one head with multiple crowns.
Saudi Arabia was never a power under either the Ottoman (caliphate) or the Persian reigns. It stood alone. Thus, Saudi Arabia (along with some of her subjugated acolytes) could be classified as one head with one crown.sn't present accompanying modifiers along with the words "fatal wound." One could surmise that one of the heads has lost its power over life-events rather than the assumption that it loses its life through a physical wound.
These assumptions are consistent with my belief that one head, in collusion with six other heads, taking orders directly from Satan, arises as a sovereign authority, directly coordinating eventual military onslaughts against the land of Israel and her small collection of allies.
Now let's consider Salman's rise to power and recent headlines surrounding his reign. His current involvement with the sanctioned execution of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi would certainly seem to be a wound that "kills" Salman's skyrocketing global influence as a bridge between the twinned worlds of East and West political and religious hegemony.
In my opinion, Salman seems now to be on his way out as titular leader of the Arab/Persian/Muslim world. But the public memory is notoriously fickle, and his continuing moderate stances on women's rights and attempts to otherwise modernize a continent stuck in 16th-century social, political and business habits could soon give him renewed traction.
Because of Salman's willingness to acknowledge the ancient Jewish right to a shared Jerusalem along with certifying much of the surrounding lands, stretching from Lebanon to the Red Sea, he could again emerge as an ultimate broker of peace, salving the planet's contagious and endless circuit of Israeli/Palestinian warfare.
This role as mediator (or interlocutor) could seem to all mankind the ultimate harbinger for a resolution to the world's longest-lasting and most intractable human dilemma: ownership of Israeli/Judean territories. With all this evidence, could Salman emerge as the primary ruling head of the beast, perhaps even the Antichrist incarnate?
We know from Bible prophecy that among the first public actions of the beast emerging from these tides of demonic derivation will be a seemingly munificent recognition of Israel's right to existence by the Arab/Muslim world. This action will disarm even the righteous, all those who fail to understand the ultimate goals of Satan.
And other world leaders are taking note.
At a recent ceremony in Paris acknowledging the 100th anniversary of the WWI armistice, The Economist magazine reports that French President Emmanuel Macron prophesied before a scowling President Trump and a poker-faced Vladimir Putin that "Old demons are rising again, ready to complete their task of chaos."
One can only wonder at the irony of the man's name, "Emmanuel." And, does he ... does anyone comprehend the great truth of which he speaks?
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