Richasher777
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The Antichrist
Most people who haven’t even read the Bible haveheard of the man known popularly as “The Antichrist.†Simply put, according tothe Bible, the Antichrist will be Satan’s primary human agent on the earth inthe last-days. Interestingly, in the Bible, the Antichrist is actually onlyreferred to once by that specific name (1 John 2:18). Using other nameshowever, there are numerous references to the Antichrist found throughout theBible. Some of the various names that Scripture assigns to the Antichrist are “theBeast†(Revelation 13:4), “the abomination that causes desolation†(Matthew24:15), “the desolator†(Daniel 9:27), “the man of sin,†“the man oflawlessness,†“the son of destruction†(2 Thessalonians 2) “the little hornâ€(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 tothe Antichrist as well.
But beyond all of his unusual names, who exactly isthe Antichrist? In this chapter we will review a few of the primarydescriptions and actions that define just who the Antichrist is according tothe Bible. Our examination will also focus on several very specificsimilarities between the Antichrist and the Mahdi.
A Powerful Political And Military World Leader.
From the Bible, we learn that in the last-days, theAntichrist will emerge as a man who will lead a very powerful world empire thelikes of which history has yet to produce. This powerful leadership role of theAntichrist is first described clearly in the Bible by the prophet Daniel. Inthe Book of Daniel, in the seventh chapter, we find Daniel describing a visionof four very bizarre and gruesome “beastsâ€. After describing the first threebeasts, Daniel says this of the fourth:
After that, in my vision at nightI looked, and there before me was a fourth beast-terrifying and frightening andvery powerful. It had large iron teeth; it crushed and devoured its victims andtrampled underfoot whatever was left. It was different from all the formerbeasts, and it had ten horns. While I was thinking about the horns, therebefore me was another horn, a little one, which came up among them; and threeof the first horns were uprooted before it. This horn had eyes like the eyes ofa man and a mouth that spoke boastfully. Daniel 7:7,8
Then, in verses 15-16, Daniel asks an angel in hisvision to explain the interpretation of the vision of the four beasts. Theangel explains that the four beasts represent four very great kingdoms orempires:
I, Daniel, was troubled in spirit, and the visionsthat passed through my mind disturbed me. I approached one of those standingthere and asked him the true meaning of all this. So he told me and gave me theinterpretation of these things: The four great beasts are four kingdoms thatwill rise from the earth. Daniel 7:15-17
It’sactually pretty straightforward. Daniel again asks the angel specifically aboutthe fourth beast, and in particular about the “little horn†that uprooted threehorns. The angel again responds with a very direct and clear explanation:
He gave me this explanation: The fourth beast is afourth kingdom that will appear on earth. It will be different from all theother kingdoms and will devour the whole earth, trampling it down and crushingit. The ten horns are ten kings who will come from this kingdom. After themanother king will arise, different from the earlier ones; he will subdue threekings. Daniel 7: 23,24
Essentially, the angel explains that the fourthkingdom will be an empire that will cause great destruction to the whole earth.Initially, this kingdom will consist of ten kings. Then another king, aneleventh, will arise and will displace three of the previous kings. This eleventhking is the Antichrist first referred to as “the little hornâ€. Thus we see thatbased on the vision that Daniel was given, the Antichrist is a future king whowill first gain control over three other kingdoms or nations, and eventuallyover ten, thus forming his future ten nation “Beast†empire. It will be anempire of unparalleled power and ferocity, which will “devour the whole earth,trampling it down and crushing itâ€.
In the last part of Daniel, chapter seven, theangel describes to Daniel the actions of this king as well as his end:
He will speak against the MostHigh and oppress his saints and try to change the set times and the laws. Thesaints will be handed over to him for a time, times and half a time. But thecourt will sit, and his power will be taken away and completely destroyedforever. Daniel 7:25-27
The king is said to oppress the saints of God for aperiod of time that most Bible scholars agree is three and a half years (atime, 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 ofRevelation, the Apostle John likewise describes the Antichrist and his “beastâ€empire in very similar terms:
And I saw a beast coming out ofthe sea. He had ten horns and seven heads, with ten crowns on his horns, and oneach head a blasphemous name. The beast I saw resembled a leopard, but had feetlike those of a bear and a mouth like that of a lion. The dragon gave the beasthis power and his throne and great authority… Men worshiped the dragon becausehe had given authority to the beast, and they also worshiped the beast andasked, "Who is like the beast? Who can make war against him?"
The beast was given a mouth to utter proud words and blasphemies and toexercise his authority for forty-two months. He opened his mouth to blasphemeGod, and to slander his name and his dwelling place and those who live inheaven. 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. Allinhabitants of the earth will worship the beast--all whose names have not beenwritten in the book of life belonging to the Lamb that was slain from thecreation 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 thepicture is actually quite clear. The “beast,†again refers to the Antichristwho is a king over a ten-nation empire. The horns represent authority andpower. Ten horns speak of both an extremely high degree of authority as well asthe number of nations and their kings that will unite to form the beast’skingdom. The “dragon†who gives the beast his authority is Satan. Satan isoften spoken of in the Bible as a dragon or a serpent. The global impact ofthis beast-like empire is made clear by the phrase: “And he was given authorityover every tribe, people, language and nation.†We see the specific questionthat the people of the earth ask is, "Who is like the beast? Who can makewar against him?" It appears to those on the earth that the beast isabsolutely beyond challenge. And again, we see the same specific period of timethat 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 inthe previously cited passage of Daniel 7:25.
Thus, we have seen that the Bible prophecies thatthe Antichrist will be a political and military leader whose power will beunparalleled by any other world leader throughout history.
The Mahdi As World Ruler
As we have seen from the Islamic traditions andMuslim scholars, the Mahdi, like the Antichrist, is also prophesied to be apolitical and military world leader unparalleled by any other throughout worldhistory. The Mahdi is said to “fight against the forces of evil, lead a worldrevolution and set up a new world order based on justice, righteousnessandvirtue.†1 At this time, according to Islamic tradition, the Mahdiis said to preside over the entire earth as the final Caliph of Islam. And ofcourse as we saw in the last chapter, the Muslims will, “take the worldadministration in their hands and Islam will be victorious over all thereligions.†Without question, Islam views the Mahdi as one whose rule willextend over all of the earth. Clearly then, we see that the Antichrist and theMahdi are both described as being political and military leaders the likes of whichthe world has never before seen. While many powerful leaders have arisenthroughout world history, the descriptions given concerning both the Antichristand the Mahdi surpass any that have yet arisen. But the Mahdi and theAntichrist are both described as being more than merely political and militaryleaders. They are both viewed as being supreme religious leaders as well.
TheAntichrist As A Spiritual World Leader
The Bible establishes the fact that the Antichristwill be a spiritual leader whose authority will be acknowledged worldwide.After examining the Antichrist’s role as a universal religious leader, manyBible prophecy teachers have talked about the coming of the “One WorldReligion†or “the false church†which the Antichrist will both create andenforce upon the entire earth. This concept of a coming dominant anddemonically inspired world religion is partly arrived at due to the frequentreferences to worship that are associated with the Antichrist throughoutScripture. In the Book of Revelation we read that the Antichrist will bothinspire and demand worship. This worship will be directed at both Satan, who isreferred to as “the dragon†and the Antichrist who is referred to as “thebeastâ€:
Menworshiped the dragon because he had given authority to the beast, and they alsoworshiped the beast and asked, "Who is like the beast? Who can make waragainst him?"… All inhabitants of the earth will worship the beast–allwhose names have not been written in the book of life belonging to the Lambthat was slain from the creation of the world. Revelation 13:4,8
Beyond the fact that the Antichrist establishes aworldwide worship movement, another reason to see him as a spiritual worldleader is because the Bible says he will be assisted by a man whom it refers toas “The False Prophet.†Of course, the very title, False Prophet,assumes the religious nature of this man. One of the primary roles of the FalseProphet is to specifically perform deceptive “signs and wonders†that will helppersuade the inhabitants of the earth to worship the Antichrist/Beast:
But thebeast was captured, and with him the false prophet who had performed themiraculous signs on his behalf. Revelation 19:20
It isclear then, the Bible teaches that the Antichrist will be the leader of aworldwide religious worship movement that will attempt to displace and usurpworship from the God of the Bible. This worship will then be directed towardboth himself and to Satan - the invisible spirit – the provocateur and puppetmaster that motivates, empowers and gives authority to the Antichrist toaccomplish his worldwide task.
The MahdiAs A Spiritual World Leader
Likewise,it almost goes without saying, the Mahdi of Islam will also be the leader aworldwide worship movement. It will be a worship movement that will seek tocause anyone who practices any religion other than Islam to renounce theirfaith and worship Allah, the god of Islam. As we saw in the last chapter, theMahdi, “will govern the people by the Sunnah of their Prophet and establishIslam on Earth.†2 And, “Islam will be victorious over all thereligions.†3
Thus wesee 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 bethe only religion that will be allowed to be practiced. Both the Antichrist andthe Mahdi are said to be the unqualified leaders of a global religious movementthat 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 Allahwithin the context of Islam is a direct denial of the God of the Bible and HisSon Jesus Christ. In fact, this is the reason that some Muslims feel sostrongly as to say that the Mahdi will, “eradicate those pigs and dogs†– theChristians and the Jews who refuse to convert to Islam. Which leads us to thenext obvious similarity between the Antichrist and the Mahdi.
Ref: Joel Richardson Islamic Anti Christ
Most people who haven’t even read the Bible haveheard of the man known popularly as “The Antichrist.†Simply put, according tothe Bible, the Antichrist will be Satan’s primary human agent on the earth inthe last-days. Interestingly, in the Bible, the Antichrist is actually onlyreferred to once by that specific name (1 John 2:18). Using other nameshowever, there are numerous references to the Antichrist found throughout theBible. Some of the various names that Scripture assigns to the Antichrist are “theBeast†(Revelation 13:4), “the abomination that causes desolation†(Matthew24:15), “the desolator†(Daniel 9:27), “the man of sin,†“the man oflawlessness,†“the son of destruction†(2 Thessalonians 2) “the little hornâ€(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 tothe Antichrist as well.
But beyond all of his unusual names, who exactly isthe Antichrist? In this chapter we will review a few of the primarydescriptions and actions that define just who the Antichrist is according tothe Bible. Our examination will also focus on several very specificsimilarities between the Antichrist and the Mahdi.
A Powerful Political And Military World Leader.
From the Bible, we learn that in the last-days, theAntichrist will emerge as a man who will lead a very powerful world empire thelikes of which history has yet to produce. This powerful leadership role of theAntichrist is first described clearly in the Bible by the prophet Daniel. Inthe Book of Daniel, in the seventh chapter, we find Daniel describing a visionof four very bizarre and gruesome “beastsâ€. After describing the first threebeasts, Daniel says this of the fourth:
After that, in my vision at nightI looked, and there before me was a fourth beast-terrifying and frightening andvery powerful. It had large iron teeth; it crushed and devoured its victims andtrampled underfoot whatever was left. It was different from all the formerbeasts, and it had ten horns. While I was thinking about the horns, therebefore me was another horn, a little one, which came up among them; and threeof the first horns were uprooted before it. This horn had eyes like the eyes ofa man and a mouth that spoke boastfully. Daniel 7:7,8
Then, in verses 15-16, Daniel asks an angel in hisvision to explain the interpretation of the vision of the four beasts. Theangel explains that the four beasts represent four very great kingdoms orempires:
I, Daniel, was troubled in spirit, and the visionsthat passed through my mind disturbed me. I approached one of those standingthere and asked him the true meaning of all this. So he told me and gave me theinterpretation of these things: The four great beasts are four kingdoms thatwill rise from the earth. Daniel 7:15-17
It’sactually pretty straightforward. Daniel again asks the angel specifically aboutthe fourth beast, and in particular about the “little horn†that uprooted threehorns. The angel again responds with a very direct and clear explanation:
He gave me this explanation: The fourth beast is afourth kingdom that will appear on earth. It will be different from all theother kingdoms and will devour the whole earth, trampling it down and crushingit. The ten horns are ten kings who will come from this kingdom. After themanother king will arise, different from the earlier ones; he will subdue threekings. Daniel 7: 23,24
Essentially, the angel explains that the fourthkingdom will be an empire that will cause great destruction to the whole earth.Initially, this kingdom will consist of ten kings. Then another king, aneleventh, will arise and will displace three of the previous kings. This eleventhking is the Antichrist first referred to as “the little hornâ€. Thus we see thatbased on the vision that Daniel was given, the Antichrist is a future king whowill first gain control over three other kingdoms or nations, and eventuallyover ten, thus forming his future ten nation “Beast†empire. It will be anempire of unparalleled power and ferocity, which will “devour the whole earth,trampling it down and crushing itâ€.
In the last part of Daniel, chapter seven, theangel describes to Daniel the actions of this king as well as his end:
He will speak against the MostHigh and oppress his saints and try to change the set times and the laws. Thesaints will be handed over to him for a time, times and half a time. But thecourt will sit, and his power will be taken away and completely destroyedforever. Daniel 7:25-27
The king is said to oppress the saints of God for aperiod of time that most Bible scholars agree is three and a half years (atime, 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 ofRevelation, the Apostle John likewise describes the Antichrist and his “beastâ€empire in very similar terms:
And I saw a beast coming out ofthe sea. He had ten horns and seven heads, with ten crowns on his horns, and oneach head a blasphemous name. The beast I saw resembled a leopard, but had feetlike those of a bear and a mouth like that of a lion. The dragon gave the beasthis power and his throne and great authority… Men worshiped the dragon becausehe had given authority to the beast, and they also worshiped the beast andasked, "Who is like the beast? Who can make war against him?"
The beast was given a mouth to utter proud words and blasphemies and toexercise his authority for forty-two months. He opened his mouth to blasphemeGod, and to slander his name and his dwelling place and those who live inheaven. 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. Allinhabitants of the earth will worship the beast--all whose names have not beenwritten in the book of life belonging to the Lamb that was slain from thecreation 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 thepicture is actually quite clear. The “beast,†again refers to the Antichristwho is a king over a ten-nation empire. The horns represent authority andpower. Ten horns speak of both an extremely high degree of authority as well asthe number of nations and their kings that will unite to form the beast’skingdom. The “dragon†who gives the beast his authority is Satan. Satan isoften spoken of in the Bible as a dragon or a serpent. The global impact ofthis beast-like empire is made clear by the phrase: “And he was given authorityover every tribe, people, language and nation.†We see the specific questionthat the people of the earth ask is, "Who is like the beast? Who can makewar against him?" It appears to those on the earth that the beast isabsolutely beyond challenge. And again, we see the same specific period of timethat 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 inthe previously cited passage of Daniel 7:25.
Thus, we have seen that the Bible prophecies thatthe Antichrist will be a political and military leader whose power will beunparalleled by any other world leader throughout history.
The Mahdi As World Ruler
As we have seen from the Islamic traditions andMuslim scholars, the Mahdi, like the Antichrist, is also prophesied to be apolitical and military world leader unparalleled by any other throughout worldhistory. The Mahdi is said to “fight against the forces of evil, lead a worldrevolution and set up a new world order based on justice, righteousnessandvirtue.†1 At this time, according to Islamic tradition, the Mahdiis said to preside over the entire earth as the final Caliph of Islam. And ofcourse as we saw in the last chapter, the Muslims will, “take the worldadministration in their hands and Islam will be victorious over all thereligions.†Without question, Islam views the Mahdi as one whose rule willextend over all of the earth. Clearly then, we see that the Antichrist and theMahdi are both described as being political and military leaders the likes of whichthe world has never before seen. While many powerful leaders have arisenthroughout world history, the descriptions given concerning both the Antichristand the Mahdi surpass any that have yet arisen. But the Mahdi and theAntichrist are both described as being more than merely political and militaryleaders. They are both viewed as being supreme religious leaders as well.
TheAntichrist As A Spiritual World Leader
The Bible establishes the fact that the Antichristwill be a spiritual leader whose authority will be acknowledged worldwide.After examining the Antichrist’s role as a universal religious leader, manyBible prophecy teachers have talked about the coming of the “One WorldReligion†or “the false church†which the Antichrist will both create andenforce upon the entire earth. This concept of a coming dominant anddemonically inspired world religion is partly arrived at due to the frequentreferences to worship that are associated with the Antichrist throughoutScripture. In the Book of Revelation we read that the Antichrist will bothinspire and demand worship. This worship will be directed at both Satan, who isreferred to as “the dragon†and the Antichrist who is referred to as “thebeastâ€:
Menworshiped the dragon because he had given authority to the beast, and they alsoworshiped the beast and asked, "Who is like the beast? Who can make waragainst him?"… All inhabitants of the earth will worship the beast–allwhose names have not been written in the book of life belonging to the Lambthat was slain from the creation of the world. Revelation 13:4,8
Beyond the fact that the Antichrist establishes aworldwide worship movement, another reason to see him as a spiritual worldleader is because the Bible says he will be assisted by a man whom it refers toas “The False Prophet.†Of course, the very title, False Prophet,assumes the religious nature of this man. One of the primary roles of the FalseProphet is to specifically perform deceptive “signs and wonders†that will helppersuade the inhabitants of the earth to worship the Antichrist/Beast:
But thebeast was captured, and with him the false prophet who had performed themiraculous signs on his behalf. Revelation 19:20
It isclear then, the Bible teaches that the Antichrist will be the leader of aworldwide religious worship movement that will attempt to displace and usurpworship from the God of the Bible. This worship will then be directed towardboth himself and to Satan - the invisible spirit – the provocateur and puppetmaster that motivates, empowers and gives authority to the Antichrist toaccomplish his worldwide task.
The MahdiAs A Spiritual World Leader
Likewise,it almost goes without saying, the Mahdi of Islam will also be the leader aworldwide worship movement. It will be a worship movement that will seek tocause anyone who practices any religion other than Islam to renounce theirfaith and worship Allah, the god of Islam. As we saw in the last chapter, theMahdi, “will govern the people by the Sunnah of their Prophet and establishIslam on Earth.†2 And, “Islam will be victorious over all thereligions.†3
Thus wesee 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 bethe only religion that will be allowed to be practiced. Both the Antichrist andthe Mahdi are said to be the unqualified leaders of a global religious movementthat 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 Allahwithin the context of Islam is a direct denial of the God of the Bible and HisSon Jesus Christ. In fact, this is the reason that some Muslims feel sostrongly as to say that the Mahdi will, “eradicate those pigs and dogs†– theChristians and the Jews who refuse to convert to Islam. Which leads us to thenext obvious similarity between the Antichrist and the Mahdi.
Ref: Joel Richardson Islamic Anti Christ