The Mahdi and the Anti-christ and Muslim Prophecy Concerning Dabiq

Consider the following:
The anti-christ

1.  Signs a 7 year Middle East peace treaty

2.  Changes times and laws

3.  Rules from the Temple Mount in Jerusalem

4.  Honors his false god with gold & silver

5.  Does not honor women’s rights

6.  Honors a god of war

7.  Advances his god through war

8.  Beheads his opponents      

9.  Demands a mark be placed on the forehead or arm

10. The Bible says the anti-christ comes from the East and the Mahdi comes from the East in Islamic tradition

The Mahdi

1.  The Mahdi Signs a 7 year Middle East peace treaty

2.  Changes times and laws

3.  Rules from the Temple Mount in Jerusalem

4.   Honors his false god with gold & silver

5.  Does not honor women’s rights

6.  Honors Allah, the god of war

7.  Advances Allah’s cause through war

8.  Beheads his opponents

9.  Demands a badge be placed on the forehead; (note see the image below, mujahideen already wear the mark on their foreheads)

God says in Micah 5:5 When the Assyrian, AC, invades our land we will raise against him seven shepherds even eight leaders of men.

God says in Isaiah 10:24-27 Therefore, thus says the Lord God of hosts, “O My people who dwell in Zion, do not fear the Assyrian who strikes you with the rod and lifts up his staff against you, the way Egypt did. For in a very little while My indignation against you will be spent and My anger will be directed to their destruction. The Lord of hosts will arouse a scourge against him like the slaughter of Midian at the rock of Oreb; and his staff will be over the sea and He will lift it up the way He did in Egypt. So it will be in that day, that his burden will be removed from your shoulders and his yoke from your neck, and the yoke will be broken because of fatness.    

Many people are asking questions about a word they hear the media use when referring to ISIS and other Islamist jihadists. That word is apocalyptic, which is used when specifically referring to the fatalism of Islamists.

People wonder, why do so many Muslims (both Sunni and Shi'ite) operate with such an "apocalyptic," end-of-world mindset?

Our secular society, however, coupled with the media's carelessness, is bandying about words like apocalyptic without using them properly and without explanation. That creates a great deal of confusion for some, many of whom just throw up their hands in resignation and say, "I don't understand this."

The word apocalypse does not, in fact, refer to a disastrous, catastrophic, end-of-world event. It's a Greek word, the root of which means revelation, or revealing things that are hidden. For instance, we know the last book of the Bible as Revelation, but in the original Greek language, it is Apokalupsae. It reveals what is happening in the heavenly realm, as well as events in the future.

The Concept of the Antichrist

Both the Old Testament and New Testament spoke of an end-times figure, the Antichrist, some 600 years or more before Islam came on the scene.

The Antichrist is known by various names. Paul calls him "the lawless one," "the man of lawlessness," and "the man doomed to destruction" who "will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshipped, so that he sets himself up in God's temple, proclaiming himself to be God" (2 Thess. 2:1-12). The most detailed description of the Antichrist is in Revelation 13, (13 is satan’s number) where the Apostle John refers to the Antichrist as "the beast." The Old Testament prophet Daniel describes the abominable works of the Antichrist, but gives him no name or title (Dan. 9:27).

Who, then, is the Antichrist, whose brief but terrible reign is predicted in both the Old and New Testaments? He will be a world leader of unparalleled political, military and religious power. He will be charming, persuasive and popular beyond measure. The world will not know him as the "Antichrist," but by some attractive name and appealing title. But just as the word "Antichrist" suggests, he will be the opposite of the Lord Jesus Christ in every way. Everything Christ is, the Antichrist is not.

Jesus came from heaven (John 6:38); the Antichrist comes from the Abyss, the spiritual domain of evil (Rev. 11:7). Jesus came in the Name of the Father; the Antichrist comes in his own name (John 5:43). Jesus was despised by the world (Is. 53:3); the Antichrist will be worshipped by the world (Rev. 13:3-4). Jesus came in humility as a servant (Phil. 2:7-8); the Antichrist comes in pride, claiming to be God (2 Thess. 2:4; Dan. 11:36). Jesus is the truth (John 14:6); the Antichrist is the lie (2 Thess. 2:9-11). Jesus is the Son of God (Mark 1:1; Luke 1:35); the Antichrist is the son of perdition (2 Thess. 2:3, KJV).

The Apostle Paul tells us that the mystery (or secret) of godliness is that God Himself has appeared to us in human flesh (1 Tim. 3:16)—and that the mystery (or secret) of lawlessness is that Satan has produced a counterfeit Christ, the Antichrist, Satan wrapped in human flesh (2 Thess. 2:6-8). Jesus is the true Shepherd; Satan will have his evil shepherd, the Antichrist. Jesus is the Holy One of God; the Antichrist will be the lawless one of Satan. Jesus is the Man of Sorrows; the Antichrist will be the man of sin.

One Antichrist and many antichrists

First of all, the Antichrist is coming—a lawless man who will come in Satan's power, demanding to be worshipped as God, destroying all those who love God. But John tells us that there are many other antichrists, lesser deceivers who are also self-exalting, evil and destructive. They are antichrists, but they are not the Antichrist.

Jesus tells us that, shortly before His return, the Antichrist will arise during a time of global chaos and confusion, when the world is in political, social, financial and ecological upheaval. The terrified people of the world, desperate for a strong leader, will turn to this man and give him control of the governments of the world.

Daniel tells us that the Antichrist will speak "boastfully" (Dan. 7:8), yet it is clear that these will not be empty boasts. The Antichrist will appear to possess superhuman brilliance. He'll be the ultimate smooth talker, the greatest con man who ever lived, and he'll unite the nations under his rule. At first, he'll seem to be a wise and benevolent dictator, bringing peace, prosperity and hope. But once he is firmly in control of the gears and levers of power, he'll reveal his true intentions.

The way has been paved for such a leader. Atheists, humanists, New Age mystics, Hindus, Buddhists and Islamists have little in common with each other—but they all share in the belief that Jesus is not the only way to salvation. There are even many self-styled "Christians" who deny the Lord's claim to be the only way to God. So it will be easy for the Antichrist to establish himself to many as an acceptable alternative.

In these days of muddled and confused worldviews, it is vitally important to know the truth. After all, Jesus said, "The truth will set you free." As events unfold, we need to see them not only through the camera's lens, but also through the lens of biblical revelation.

That the Antichrist is coming is known—only the timing is unknown. Although we know not the hour of night that the thief comes, we must be prepared nonetheless.

Muslims see the Mahdi as a savior who will lead a global revolution and establish a worldwide Islamic empire. The Mahdi will rule the Earth as the final Caliph of Islam (a caliph is both a political ruler and a spiritual representative of Allah on Earth).

Muslims revere Jesus (whom they call Isa) as the Masih or Messiah. In Islamic eschatology, the Mahdi will arrive at the same time that Isa returns. Isa will descend to Earth in Syria, east of Damascus, dressed in yellow robes, and will assist the Mahdi, who will rule over the world for seven years (or, in some Islamic traditions, nine or 19 years). At the end of the Mahdi's rule, there will be a Day of Judgment for the entire human race.

The parallels between the biblical Antichrist and the Mahdi of Islam are chilling. Both are associated with the End Times and the Judgment. Both are said to possess political, military and religious power, and head up a one-world religion. The Mahdi will force all non-Muslim people to convert to Islam. Like the Antichrist, the Mahdi will establish Jerusalem as his capital, from which he will rule the Earth.

Islamic scholars Muhammad ibn Izzat and Muhammad Arif write, in Al Mahdi and the End of Time: "The Mahdi will be victorious and eradicate those pigs and dogs and the idols of this time so that there will once more be a caliphate based on prophethood as the hadith states. ... Jerusalem will be the location of the rightly guided caliphate and the center of Islamic rule, which will be headed by Imam al-Mahdi. ... That will abolish the leadership of the Jews ... and put an end to the domination of the Satan who spit evil into people and cause corruption in the earth, making them slaves of false idols and ruling the world by laws other than the Sharia [Islamic law] of the Lord of the worlds."

Though Muslims revere Jesus as a prophet, they deny that Jesus is the Son of God. Jews and Christians are, to Muslim fundamentalists, "pigs and dogs" who must either convert to Islam or be eliminated. Bible prophecy makes it clear that the Antichrist will target Jews and Christians for destruction, just as Islamic prophecy states that the Mahdi will wage war against Jews and Christians. Those who oppose the Antichrist's worldwide religion will be executed.

Muslim scholar Imam Muhammad Baqir states clearly how the Mahdi will establish his one-world religion: "There must be bloodshed and jihad to establish Imam Mahdi's rule." And Ayatollah Ibrahim al Amini of the Religious Learning Center in Qom, agrees: "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."

Daniel tells us (and Jesus affirms in the Olivet Discourse) that the Antichrist will establish "the abomination that causes desolation" in the Temple in Jerusalem. The apostle Paul adds that the Antichrist "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 Thess. 2:4). Since the Temple was destroyed in 70 A.D., as Jesus predicted, this has led some (not all Christians) to suggest that the Jewish Temple must be rebuilt on Temple Mount before the Antichrist can be revealed to the world.

Yet the golden-topped Dome of the Rock shrine and the Al-Aqsa mosque stand on Temple Mount today. (note: the true Jewish Tempe was not located on the Temple Mount. See Ken Klein’s video “Jerusalem and the Lost Temple of the Jews.”) One of the Islamic Hadiths (traditions) records that their Prophet Muhammad said, "[Armies carrying] black flags will come from Khurasan [Iran and Afghanistan], no power will be able to stop them, and they will finally reach Eela [the Al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem] where they will erect their flags." In Islamic tradition, black banners symbolize violent conquest, and Muslims await the Mahdi's conquest of Jerusalem, when he establishes his reign from the Temple site.

Daniel 9:27 tells us the Antichrist will affirm a seven-year covenant with Israel—but he will break the covenant after three-and-a-half years, defiling the Temple with "an abomination that causes desolation." The Hadiths of Islam also speak of a seven-year covenant that the Mahdi makes with Israel: "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."

There can be no doubt: Muslims are preparing to accept the Mahdi as their leader—and the Mahdi is indistinguishable from the world leader we know as the Antichrist.

I bring all of this to your attention so we can have a knowledgeable perspective when viewing current events unfolding in the Middle East.

But Christians should not fear. Regardless of whether the Antichrist comes in this generation or a hundred years from now, those who have placed their faith in God's Messiah, Jesus the Christ, fear no one nor even death. Their eternity is secure in the One who is the only One to defeat death and rise from the grave.



The Muslim prophecy of Dabiq

Emma Glanfield, writing on today’s (October 9, 2014) MailOnline, writes “an ancient prophecy romanticized by ISIS militants warns of a battle between the Islamic Army and ‘infidel horde’ in Syria — which will herald the destruction of the world. The 1300yr. old hadith, which is a report of the deeds, teachings, and sayings of the Prophet Mohammad, refers to the ‘horde’ flying 80 banners as they take on a Muslim army in the Syrian town of Dabiq. It warns of a ‘malahim’ — the equivalent of Armageddon in Christian teachings — in which the Muslims ultimately prevail.”

“The prophecy,” Ms. Glanfeld writes, “is said to be a fundamental part of Islamic ideology; and, is being used to fuel recruitment of jihadists who believe they are on the ‘cusp of history.’ ISIS supporters on social media have started comparing recent developments in Syria to the prophecy — amid warnings the ‘malahim’ is coming. Islamic State fighters are said to have drawn on the prophecy even more so…since conquering Dabiq in August; and, the town’s name has become a byword for the struggle against the West. The terrorist group has even named its official magazine, ‘Dabiq,’ in which it pushes its extremist views and reports victories.”

“Supporters appear to be convinced of the prophecy’s validity, with one writing on Twitter: ‘Dabiq will happen for certain,” Ms. Glanfeld wrote. “The U.S. and its allies will descend on Syria…once they see that the air campaign has failed. This is a promise by God and his messenger.’ Another from Tunisia wrote: “The lions of Islam have raised their banner of the Caliphate in Dabiq. Now, they await the arrival of the Crusader army.’

Shadi Hamid, a Fellow at the Brookings Institution, said the hadith is heavily relied upon by ISIS — because it’ raises morale.’ Mr. Hamid said, “it’s fair to assume that the vast majority of (ISIS) fighters believe in this ‘type of talk.’

Ms. Glanfeld says that “the ancient hadith has been passed down in different versions over the last 1,000 years; but, in all cases it has centered on a battle between a Muslim army and the forces of non-believers. Prophecy has played a role in the movement’s ideology since its early days as al-Qaeda in Iraq, under Abu Musab al-Zarqawi. Before Zarqawi was killed in Iraq in a U.S. airstrike in 2006; and, long before his movement evolved into ISIS — he was already referring to the epic battle in Dabiq.” “The spark has been ignited in Iraq, and its flames will grow until they burn the Crusader armies in Dabiq,’ he once said.

The late, great writer Victor Hugo once wrote, “there is one thing stronger than all the armies in the world; and, that is an idea whose time has come,” These most evil and dark angels of our nature are becoming intoxicated on their battlefield success; and, what is viewed as a feckless and weak Western opposition. Every victory, no matter how big, or how small, will be viewed as evidence that the ancient prophecy is upon them and the world. A ‘victory’ in Kobani will add fuel to the Muslim fire; and, used on social media and elsewhere — with religious fervor — as evidence that ‘God is on their side,’ and, a great and epic battle against the West is underway. Victor Hugo might say that ISIS and their ilk believe that their ancient prophecy/idea’s time — has come. This is a very dangerous time; and, the United States and the West must attack these medieval thugs, not only with airpower but, with ground forces; and, on the worldwide web as well. Instead, Obama is wedded to a philosophy and idea that this battle can be won on the cheap; and, without ground troops. He is sadly mistaken; and, he is putting the American homeland at greater risk. One day soon, probably, we are going to really regret not taking this movement more seriously and acting with all deliberate speed — with all aspects of our power. Insidious men, full of zeal and fervor, are the worst kind of enemy.

Below is a great video by John MacArthur on Islam and the anti-christ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2sci_WFp8ec&feature=youtu.be