Are We in the End Times?
The year 2020 will be a year few will forget. We saw a global pandemic and civil unrest. Many cities had untold violence, including the forced takeover and burning of city property. Along with this, we witnessed possibly the most fraudulent election in the history of this nation.

These events have many asking, are we near the end? While it is not the intent of this ministry to predict dates and times, the signs that we are seeing on a global scale are undeniable! In this article we will explore many prophecies from Scripture, including from the Apostle Paul and Yahshua the Messiah, and show how many of them are being fulfilled in our day.

Yahshua the Greatest Prophet

There is no better place to begin our “End Times” prophetic journey than with the Olivet Prophecy. Yahshua there provides many prophetic signs that will precede his coming. In Matthew 24:32-33 he compares this time to the changing of a fig tree: “Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh: So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors,” Matthew 24:32-33.

Just as we see signs in nature telling when the seasons are upon us, we can use the prophetic Word to know that the Messiah’s coming is near. Today we are seeing many of these signs coming to pass. For this reason, now is not the time to be spiritually negligent.

Yahshua warned in His Olivet Prophecy that we would see deception, war, disease, earthquakes, famines, and other horrific plagues before His return. Many of these have already begun. From the global pandemic, growing lawlessness, and the threat of wars and conflict, the plagues in Yahweh’s Word are knocking at the door – the branch is tender.

Perilous Deceptions

The first sign given is deception. Yahshua in His Olivet Prophecy states, “Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name, saying. I am Messiah: and shall deceive many…For there shall arise false Messiahs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders: insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect,” Matthew 24:4-5, 24.
During the end times, there will be deception as never before. Many false prophets and false messiahs will arise to show great signs and wonders. The word for “signs” is derived from the Greek semeion and refers to a miracle.

Many will witness these great wonders and believe in the power of these false men. These signs will be so remarkable that even the most sincere may be deceived. Yahshua warned, “…if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect,” Matthew 24:24.

Because of the deception of miracles, this time will require complete faith and devotion in the One we worship. If we are deceived by a false prophet or false messiah into forsaking Yahweh, we will forfeit our eternal salvation. As found in Revelation 14:9-11: “And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, the same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of Elohim, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.”

Those who forsake Yahweh for the worship of the Beast will pay with their lives and salvation. Scripture declares that they will drink of the wine of the wrath of Elohim. Our Father will destroy the Antimessiah and those who follow him. This includes those who receive the mark of the Beast on their right hand or forehead.

How can we avoid such deception? We must know the signs that our Savior gave in the Word. These serve as a roadmap of that which we’re to avoid as believers. As the end draws closer, these threats become increasingly real and dangerous!

Mass Defections Coming

The Apostle Paul prophesied of a great falling away that would precede the end times and the revealing of the Man of the Sin. He wrote. “Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Master Yahshua Messiah, and by our gathering together unto him, That ye be 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 Messiah is at hand. 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,” 2Thessalonians 2:1-3.

This same admonition is as relevant to us as it was to the people of Thessalonica. We are not to be soon shaken. We’re to hold firm to the promise and truth of Scripture. This is why it’s critical that we prove all things, as Paul instructs in 1Thessalonians 5:21 and as we find from those of Berea. “And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews. These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so,” Acts 17:10-11.

What is the result of not proving all things? The consequence is deception and falling away from the truth. Paul prophesied here of a great falling away that would occur before the exposing of the Man of Sin. Will we be one of the deceived or one of those who will not be quickly shaken from their faith?

Protection in Knowing the Word

The answer lies in our willingness and ability to study and prove what we believe from our Father’s Word. If we simply coast through life without proving our core beliefs, then what makes us think that we could possibly have the spiritual stamina and strength to hold firm to the end? If we have allowed the pandemic and the current political issues to weaken our faith, Yahweh help us. What we see today is nothing compared to what we will see near the end.

The life of a believer requires action, and this was the message of our Savior in His Olivet Prophecy. This is why He warned first about deception. He knew that this end times sign would be the most destructive.

As believers we’re to be cautious of deception. We’re to obey the commandments and hold to the faith of Yahshua the Messiah (Rev. 14:12). Any man claiming to be a prophet and trying to persuade that Yahshua is not the Messiah is to be avoided.

Now we may say, “We could never be deceived by a man claiming to be a prophet or the Messiah.” Remember what Yahshua said: these false prophets and false messiahs would show great signs and wonders and if possible, deceive the very elect of Yahweh. To protect against such deception, all believers should put on the whole armor of Yahweh:

“Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of Elohim, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the good news of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of Elohim,” Ephesians 6:13-17.

First Horseman, the Antimessiah

In Revelation 6:2 we find the first horseman and counterpart to the Messiah’s warning about deception in the Olivet Prophecy: “And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer.”

A debate continues among scholars as to what or who this horseman represents. Some attribute this horseman to the Messiah: however, a far more likely interpretation points to deception and by extension, the Antimessiah. One reason this view is favored is the parallel between Yahshua’s Olivet Prophecy and the four horsemen.

As Yahshua began His prophecy in Matthew 24 with a warning against deception, we find the same message here. Let’s consider some of the attributes of this horseman. The rider travels upon a white horse, comes forth conquering, and wears a crown, indicating kingship.

While this horseman resembles the Messiah, he also bears a striking resemblance to the Antimessiah. The Antimessiah will go forth conquering (Dan. 7:25: Rev. 13:4) and rule this earth as the ultimate tyrant (2Thess. 2:4: Rev. 17:12-13). Also, the fact that this horseman carries a bow with no obvious arrows is another indicator of the deception by the first Beast of Revelation 13:1.
The Messiah also warned about war: “And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom…” Matthew 24:6-7.

Of all the prophetic signs, this one is focused upon most often. What did He mean when He said, “nation”? This word comes from the Greek ethnos, which means, “a race or tribe.”
When Yahshua said that nation would be against nation, He was likely referring to civil wars. Today we see internal conflict in Indonesia, Colombia, Afghanistan, Nigeria, Syria, and many other countries. Millions have suffered and countless others have lost their lives in these conflicts.

Wary Eye on China

Yahshua also said that kingdom would be against kingdom. This word is from the Greek hasileia and means, “royalty, i.e. (abstractly) rule, or (concretely) a realm (literally or figuratively)” (Strong’s). The word “kingdom” refers to a sovereign nation.

While it seems for the time being that many of the recent wars have diminished, there are still many examples of unrest throughout the world and the potential for war at any moment. Russia, China, and North Korea continue to pose a serious threat to the peace of this world.

As believers, it would be wise to watch China, as prophecy indicates that they may have a major impact on end-time prophecy.

Revelation 16:12 speaks about the kings of the east, which according to many scholars is a reference to the nations of the Orient coming against Israel: “And the sixth angel poured out his vial upon the great river Euphrates; and the water thereof was dried up, that the way of the kings of the east might be prepared.” Some also connect China to the 200 million-man army in Revelation 9:16.

Middle East Threats Increase

Besides ongoing wars, our Savior also said that we would hear of rumors of wars. It may be only a matter of time until Israel strikes at a nuclear Iran or another threat in the Middle East. This threat is only heightened with the possible change in policy with the new U.S. administration, which will likely be unfavorable to Israel.

These conflicts corroborate the words of our Savior in His Olivet Prophecy. It’s imperative that we put our faith and assurance in our Heavenly Father and to remember that no matter what happens Yahweh can see us through. There’s no trial too great for Him!

Second Horseman, War

In Revelation 6:3-4 we find a parallel horseman to this end times prophecy: “And when he had opened the second seal. I heard the second beast say, Come and see. And there went out another horse that was red: and power was given to him that sat thereon to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another: and there was given unto him a great sword.”

This second horseman rides on a red horse, likely symbolizing the blood of war. According to Strong’s, the word “power” is not found in the original text: howbeit, based on the context, this can be assumed. This horseman is given authority to cause death through the act of war, which is symbolized by the great sword.

As prophesied by Yahshua in His Olivet Prophecy, we find here that before the Messiah’s Second Coming this earth will suffer horrific conflict. Remember also that this time likely refers to the first three-and-a-half years of the Tribulation, also known as Jacob’s trouble (Jer. 30:7). This war will likely provide an opportunity for the Antimessiah to bring peace (Jer. 6:14) and unite all nations under him for the last three-and-a-half years of the Great Tribulation.

As Israel suffered through the first four plagues of Egypt, prophecy indicates that the saints will suffer from these four horsemen during the end times.

Shortage of Food

Another prophecy is famine. In Matthew 24:7 Yahshua prophesied, “…and there shall be famines…” The word famine comes from the Greek limos and means, “a scarcity of food.” So before the Great Tribulation occurs there will be a shortage in foodstuffs. In part, this will be the result of war. We have also seen a shortage of food and other goods because of the current COVID pandemic.
According to the website worldvision.org:

• 689 million people live in extreme poverty, surviving on less than $1.90 a day.

• Children and youth account for two-thirds of the world’s poor, and women represent a majority in most regions.

• Extreme poverty is increasingly concentrated in sub-Saharan Africa. About 40% of the region’s people live on less than $1.90 a day.

• Extreme poverty rates nearly doubled in the Middle East and North Africa between 2015 and 2018, from 3.8% to 7.2%, mostly because of crises in Syria and Yemen.

• Although countries impacted by fragility, crises, and violence are home to about 10% of the world’s population, they account for more than 40% of people living in extreme poverty. By 2030, an estimated 67% of the world’s poor will live in fragile contexts.

• About 70% of people older than 15 who live in extreme poverty have no schooling or only some basic education.

• 1.3 billion people in 107 developing countries, which account for 22% of the world’s population, live in multi-dimensional poverty.

• 644 million children are experiencing multi-dimensional poverty.

From these statistics many are suffering today from poverty, often caused by conflict and civil unrest. Although, environment is also a cause. Before Yahshua returns, such poverty will become worse. It will be on a global scale.

Just as Israel suffered from the first four plagues of Egypt, we will likely be impacted by this horseman in the end times. It would be wise for believers to begin preparing and have a food supply for when hard times come. There is no shame or weakness in faith in being prepared. “Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise: Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler, provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest,” Proverbs 6:6-8.

Third Horseman, Famine

This plague is also seen in the third horseman of Revelation: “And when he had opened the third seal, I heard the third beast say, Come and see. And I beheld, and lo a black horse; and he that sat on him had a pair of balances in his hand. And I heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts say, A measure of wheat for a penny, and three measures of barley for a penny; and see thou hurt not the oil and the wine, “ Revelation 6:5-6.

This horseman holds a pair of balances in his hand. These balances indicate famine and a shortage of food during the end times. The word “penny” refers to the denarius, a Roman coin that was worth about one day’s wage. A quart of wheat or three quarts of barley is considered the rations for one man. Famine will be so severe that it will require an entire day’s wage to purchase one day’s rations. Where will this leave families with children and those tending to the needs of others?

This again is why it would be wise to begin preparing now for this time. Storing grains and other items with long shelf lives would be wise.

Earthquakes and Disease

Scripture speaks of two more signs of the end: earthquakes and pestilence. In Luke 21:11 Yahshua said, “And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences: and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven.”

According to Wikipedia, in 2020 there were 13,654 earthquakes throughout the world. This was 124 more earthquakes than reported in 2019. From these, nine earthquakes had a magnitude of 7.0-7.9 and 112 earthquakes had a magnitude of 6.0-6.9. As time continues, we will see a greater number and strength of earthquakes.

Fourth Horseman, Pandemics

We will also see pestilence. This word comes from the Greek loimos, which refers to “a plague or disease.”

With a reported 93 million cases of COVID and 2.01 million deaths, COVID would certainly be considered a pestilence. Although, based on the CDC, it should be noted that 94 percent of COVID deaths had other instances of comorbidity (the existence of two or more conditions or illnesses in a patient). However, COVID was far from the leading cause of death.

In 2020, the World Health Organization estimated that there were 19.3 million new cases of cancer with 10.0 million deaths. Other kinds of pestilence would include heart disease, malaria, tuberculosis, and stroke. People ask why Yahweh allows diseases like COVID to flourish. In part it’s because of man’s refusal to obey. As a nation we can’t expect our Father’s blessings if we refuse to follow Him.

In Deuteronomy 28 Yahweh speaks about both blessings and curses – blessings for those who obey and curses for those who disobey. We are also living in a cursed world where good people often suffer as well.

Parallels in Revelation

In Revelation 6:12 we find another parallel to our Savior’s Olivet Prophecy. “And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake: and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood.”

A great earthquake will precede Yahshua’s Second Coming. Afterward the sun will turn black and the moon will become like blood. Some say that this is only allegorical but Scripture speaks of these events happening.

Zechariah speaks about the day of Yahshua’s return. “And it shall come to pass in that day, that the light shall not be clear, nor dark: But it shall be one day which shall be known to Yahweh, not day, nor night: but it shall come to pass, that at evening time it shall be light,” Zechariah 14:6-7. This passage seems to correspond with Revelation 6:12.

We also find a similar parallel with plagues in Revelation 16:10-11: “And the fifth angel poured out his vial upon the seat of the beast: and his kingdom was full of darkness: and they gnawed their tongues for pain. And blasphemed the Elohim of heaven because of their pains and their sores, and repented not of their deeds.”

Near the end of the Great Tribulation, Yahweh’s angel will pour out a plague upon the Man of Sin and his kingdom, corresponding to what Yahshua said in Luke 21. Whatever the nature of this plague, it will torment the Beast and those who follow him.

Despite all of this, mankind will refuse to repent of sin. This passage is reminiscent of what we witness in the Exodus account in Egypt. Instead of repenting and recognizing the power of Almighty Yahweh, the Egyptians fought and defied His will, and in the end they paid with the lives of their firstborn.

Increased Lawlessness

Also significant, our Savior prophesied that we would see an increase in lawlessness in the end times. In Matthew 24:12, He stated, “And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.”

The word “iniquity” is from the Greek anomia and means, “illegality, i.e. violation of law or (genitive case) wickedness” (Strong’s). Before Yahshua returns, the level of sin will increase, and as a result many will become calloused. They will lack kindness and concern for others, probably out of fear of them.

This is reminiscent of the atrocities that occurred under Nazi Germany. It is unthinkable how many millions of people, including children, suffered, were tortured, and died, under this regime. The inhumanity and acts of terror of that dreadful time showed what evilness man is capable of.

During the Great Tribulation the persecution and suffering will be far worse. This is why we must have complete faith in Yahweh. Lukewarm faith will not sustain anyone then. Only the strongest believers with the deepest faith will overcome the coming trials that will rock the world.

Loved Ones Turned Rivals

Because of burgeoning sin and callousness, many will be hated and murdered for their faith, while some who aid and abet the Beast system will come from an alarming source. Yahshua declared, “And you shall be betrayed both by parents, and brethren, and kinsfolks, and friends: and some of you shall they cause to be put to death. And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake,” Luke 21:16-17.

A believer’s loved ones will become adversaries as they fear the powers in control. During the Great Tribulation, believers will rely only on their spiritual family in Messiah. This is why we’re told to love or “agape” one another, to care for another, and to even prefer one another, Romans 12:10. No matter what happens, though, Yahshua said that those who lose their lives for His sake will find them, Matthew 10:39.

This sign is also found in Revelation 6:9-11: “ And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of Elohim, and for the testimony which they held: And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Yahweh, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth? And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellow servants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.”

Faithful Richly Rewarded

Some will die as a testimony to their faith. At the same time they are guaranteed a white robe, symbolizing salvation and the promise of eternal life in Yahweh’s Kingdom. Those who are martyred as a testimony to the true Faith will rise to everlasting life at our Savior’s return. There’s no greater promise in our Father’s Word. No matter what tribulation we encounter, it won’t compare to what we’ll receive in the life to come.

“And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of Elohim is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and Yahweh himself shall be with them, and be their Elohim. And Elohim shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his Elohim, and he shall be my son,” Revelation 21:3-7.

We have trials in this life, but the life to come for those who prove worthy and faithful will far surpass anything we can imagine.

Accuracy in Prophecy

From the Mount of Olives in Yahshua’s day to the Internet age, man has always been fascinated by prophecy of the last days. Entire church movements and denominations have been built on their own interpretation of prophecy.

Yahshua’s disciples were also very curious about His Second Coming and the end of the age. Their question about his return in Matthew 24 sparked Yahshua’s Olivette discourse:
“And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world? Yahshua answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you,” vv. 3-4.

Yahshua’s overriding concern was that we not be deceived. “For there shall arise false Messiahs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect,” Matthew 24:24. Clearly some elect could be deceived.

Verse 10 adds, “And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.” “Offended” is skandalizo in Greek and means to entrap, trip up, apostasy and entice to sin.

 

False Messiahs Running Amok

Two main causes will drive the end-time deception:

• false messiahs and false prophets will appear and
• false signs and wonders will be performed.

Paul uses similar language with a similar warning in referring to the last days: “Let no man deceive you by any means.”

A time of deception is coming, says Paul, The spiritual deception to which Yahshua referred will involve rank unbelievers following false Messiahs and false prophets.

Apostasy will also plague the Body of Messiah: “For that day [of the Master] shall not come except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin [Antimessiah] be revealed, the son of perdition” (2Thess. 2:3).
Although it’s unlikely that a strong, faithful believer will fall away from Messiah, the prospect is great for the weaker believer.

Paul adds to Yahshua’s warnings with, “Do not be deceived into thinking that apostasy won’t come.” Surely Paul would not say this unless in the last days the view would be to reject the idea of apostasy itself. This could happen if churchianity is so wishy-washy about doctrinal standards that apostasy won’t even matter to the majority.

The departure from the truth will be spearheaded by workers of miracles. The delusion will be made possible when personal experience becomes more important than doctrine. Paul says, “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine” (2Timothy 4:3).

Once sound teachings of Yahweh’s Word no longer matter, there is nothing left but man’s imagination to follow. The substance has been stripped out and the Bible becomes a shell that one can stuff anything one wants into it.

 

‘Prophets’ with Rotten Fruit

In Matthew 7:22-23 Yahshua warned: “Many will say to me in that day, Master, Master, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.”

These charlatans will pretend they have the power of the Spirit and the Truth, but are in fact bogus. Their lives are not guided by Yahweh’s laws. You will know them by their fruits, Yahshua said, and their fruits show who and what they are.

This passage tells us that miracles will be performed. Demons will be exorcised. Amazing works will be manifest and manifold.

Yahshua doesn’t deny that these phenomena will be accomplished. He simply says they will not be of Him. He will have no part in them. He doesn’t know these transgressors who perform these miracles because they don’t follow sound doctrine.

This means there are other unholy powers that can accomplish miracles. We see a glimpse of such in Revelation 13 with Satanic capabilities granted to the man of sin. Just because someone can heal the sick, make a statue speak, turn a stick into a snake or change water into blood does not prove that Yahweh or Yahshua is behind the miracle.

At this point it is clear in Bible prophecy that doctrine won’t matter to many. The Truth will be irrelevant to them. Impressive signs and wonders will matter most to millions.

Knowing the Truth and being obedient to it is the very anchor that will keep you not only in Yahweh’s favor but also from being taken in by a deceiver in the last days. Does the person obey Yahweh in every command that Yahweh gives? If not, it doesn’t matter how much fire he can call down from the sky because he is backed by the evil one.

by: Alan Mansager

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Could the Antimessiah Be Islamic?

How close are we to the return of Yahshua the Messiah and to the end of the age? While this ministry is not one to set times and dates, it’s safe to say that many of the signs in the Word are coming to pass.
The Messiah in His Olivet Prophecy warned about an increase in deception, war, natural disasters, and sin. We’re witnessing many of these signs in our day and age and we’re not alone in this belief.
In an article by the Huffington Post entitled, “How Many U.S. Christians Believe Christ’s ‘Second Coming’ Will Happen Soon?”, almost half of all Christians believe that Yahshua’s Second Coming will occur within the next 40 years.
“The ‘Second Advent,’ as it is sometimes called, is a divine event that is said to mark the end of the world as we know it – a time in the future when Christ will return to Earth to judge both the living and deceased. Many Christians in the United States believe this ‘Second Coming’ will occur sometime in the next 40 years – and the percentage of believers may surprise you.
“According to a 2010 Pew Research Center survey…nearly half of U.S. Christians believe that Christ will ‘definitely’ (27 percent) or ‘probably’ (20 percent) return to Earth in or before the year 2050. Conversely, 38 percent believe that Christ will definitely [not] or probably not return within the next four decades.”
Yahshua warned in His Olivet Prophecy that He would return in a time most will not expect. He said many times to watch for the fulfillment of end-time prophecy.
Today’s rise of Islam likely will play a key part in end-time events. Several striking parallels exist between the Antimessiah and the final Imam. This article will review seven of them. Before we consider these signs, let’s take a brief overview of the Antimessiah and the final Imam.
Bible prophecy indicates that the Antimessiah will come against or in place of the Messiah before Yahshua’s Second Coming, which are the meanings of “anti.” He will rise to power through the workings of Satan to become a worldwide despot and dictator. He will persecute the saints and force everyone to worship him alone.
According to Islamic belief, the final Imam will be the spiritual and political successor to the prophet Muhammad. He will come at the end of this age to establish Islamic rule and law to this world. This man is also called the al-Mahdi.
In addition to the Bible, we will refer here to a book entitled, God’s War on Terror: Islam, Prophecy and the Bible, by Walid Shoebat. The author was born to an Islamic father and Christian mother and was in raised in an Arab community in Bethlehem. As a young man he embraced Islam and even considered himself an Islamic terrorist. Like his father, he married a Christian woman who later challenged him to examine Christianity. In 1993 he converted to Christianity. Since then he has devoted much time to the study of biblical prophecy from a Middle Eastern or Islamic standpoint.

Beast Denies Yahshua
The first similarity between the Anti-messiah and this Islamic ruler is the rejection of Yahshua the Messiah as the Son of Yahweh.
We read in 1John 2:22-23, “Who is a liar but he that denieth that Yahshua is the Messiah? He is antimessiah, that denieth the Father and the Son. Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also.”
A denier of Yahshua the Messiah is one meaning of Antimessiah. We can view this prophecy as a general rejection of Yahshua’s relationship to His Father and as an actual prophecy referring to the person of the Antimessiah. We also see here that those who deny the Son also deny the Father.
It’s important that we as believers recognize the absolute need for main-taining faith in our Savior. Revelation 14:12 defines a saint as one who keeps the commandments of Yahweh and has faith in Yahshua the Messiah. If we neglect either one we disqualify ourselves as believers in the New Testament. This is why this first sign is vitally important; without Yahshua we have no Savior and no redemption from sin.
According to Walid Shoebat, while Islam accepts Yahshua as a prophet, they deny His relationship to the Father. He states, “Doctrinally, Islam and the Antichrist are in perfect agreement because both deny…the Divine Sonship of Christ.” He goes on to say, “Regarding those who do not convert to Islam, the Qur’an states that [Yahshua] will be a witness against them on the Day of Judgment: There is not one of the people of Scripture (Christians and Jews) but will believe in him before his death, and on the Day of Resurrection he will be a witness against them. (Qur’an 4:159). Muslim scholars explain that the phrase ‘will believe in him before his death’ means that Christians and Jews will ‘confirm that he is alive and has not died and he is not God or the Son of God but His (Allah’s) slave and Messenger, and Isa [Yahshua] will testify against those who had called him the Son of God,’” ibid, p. 59. This former Muslim says that according to the Quran Yahshua never died and that He was not the son of Yahweh. According to Islamic tradition, when Mohammad returns Yahshua also will return to confirm Islam. Talk about blasphemy and a contradiction of Scripture!

Of Mideast Origin
Another parallel between the Antimessiah and the Al-Mahdi is the geographic location from which they will arise. According to Islamic tradition, the 12th Imam will come from the ancient territory of the Ottoman Empire. Bible prophecy indicates that the Man of Sin may also come from this same area.
Before we consider this, however, Daniel 8 provides a clue that many miss regarding the place of origin for the Man of Sin. “And the rough goat is the king of Grecia: and the great horn that is between his eyes is the first king. Now that being broken, whereas four stood up for it, 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,” verses 21-23.
The king of Grecia here represents Alex-ander the Great, while the four horns symbolize his four generals who inherited His kingdom after his untimely death. As we note in the Restoration Study Bible, those generals and their kingdoms were: “Seleucus (Syria and Babylon), Lysimachus (Asia Minor), Ptolemy (Egypt), and Cas-sander (Macedonia and Greece)” (note on Daniel 8:8).
The last king holds the key to the Man of Sin or the Antimessiah. What’s intriguing to note first is that the Man of Sin will arise from somewhere in Alexander’s empire. It’s important to note that this ancient territory never included Rome or northern Europe, but did include much of the Middle East, Asia, and Africa.
We have firm support that the Man of Sin will come from one of these areas and not Rome, as so many have believed.
There are two other passages in the book of Revelation that indicate that this evil man will arise from the Middle East, particularly the Ottoman Empire, which includes Turkey. The first clue is found in Revelation 13:3: “And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast.”
Many believe that this “wound” per-tains to the person of the Antimessiah. Is it possible though that it symbolizes something different from a literal injury to the Man of Sin? According to Revelation 17:9-11, not only is this possible, it’s likely:
“And here is the mind which hath wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth. And there are seven kings: five are fallen, and one is, and the other is not yet come; and when he cometh, he must continue a short space. And the beast that was, and is not, even he is the eighth, and is of the seven, and goeth into perdition.”
Here John of Patmos sees a Beast (Antimessiah) that sits on seven mountains, symbolizing seven heads. Some claim that these seven mountains represent seven hills of Rome. For example, the Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown Commentary states, “As nature shadows forth spiritual realities, so seven-hilled Rome is a representative of the seven-headed world power, of which the dragon is the prince.”
However, it’s more likely that these mountains symbolize seven kingdoms or nations. Here’s why.
Micah 4:1 prophesies that in the mil-lennium Yahweh’s “mountain” will be established on the top of the mountains: “But in the last days it shall come to pass, that the mountain of the house of Yahweh shall be established in the
top of the mountains, and it shall be exalted above the hills; and people shall flow unto it.”
Mountains in Scripture symbolize Kingdoms. Yahweh’s Kingdom coming to earth will be established above all other kingdoms or nations. From Revelation we also see that these seven mountains are connected to seven kings, representing seven kingdoms.
John prophesied that five of these kings had fallen, one was, and one was yet to come. From explanations in Daniel 2 and 8, the fallen kingdoms that ruled the Middle East, including Israel, were Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Persia, and Greece. The king that “is” or existed when John received this prophecy was Rome. Only one other enduring kingdom historically connected to the Middle East was the Ottoman Empire, the prophesied kingdom “to come.” No other kingdom fits the criteria as does the Ottoman or Turkish Empire, which is the seventh kingdom, and out of the seventh comes the eighth king, the Antimessiah.
What comes to mind when most think of the Roman Empire is the western region, represented by its capital in Rome. The fact is, the Roman Empire had two capitals, one in Rome and the other in Constantinople, which was established by Emperor Constantine in 330 CE. Constantinople is now Istanbul, the largest city in Turkey.
This realm was also known as the Byzantine Empire, which at its peak controlled parts of southeastern Europe, southwestern Asia, the northeast corner of Africa, Syria, Jordan, Israel, Lebanon, Cyprus, Egypt, eastern Libya and Turkey. This empire would exist for 1,000 years until its overthrow by the Ottoman Turks in 1453 CE. Constantinople would come to overshadow and replace Rome as the capital.
After the defeat of the Byzantine Empire, the Ottoman Empire existed for over 600 years until it was vanquished in 1922. At its peak, this empire controlled Southeast Europe, Western Asia, the Caucasus, North Africa and the Horn of Africa.
Both Alexander’s kingdom and the Ottoman Empire share a key trait: neither one controlled Rome and both conquered much of the Middle East, which includes today’s Turkey (the ancient territory known as Anatolia).
Why exactly is this important? According to Daniel and Revelation, the Man of Sin will arise from the Mideast and specificaly from Alexander the Great’s empire. Alexander conquered what became the eastern leg of the Roman Empire or Turkey, which was later engulfed by the Ottoman Empire.
The 17th chapter of Revelation con-firms that the Beast or the Antimessiah is the eighth ruler and is “of the seven” or of the seventh kingdom. In other words, the Antimessiah will come from the prophesied seventh empire.
Mr. Shoebat also attests to this likeli-hood, “…the Empire of the Antichrist will not be a new empire; rather it will be the revival of a previous great empire that will have suffered what the Bible calls a ‘fatal head wound’ (Revelation 13:3).This empire is the Islamic Ottoman Empire which replaced the Roman Empire after the fall of its remaining Eastern section,” God’s War on Terror, p. 81.

He’ll Show Signs and Wonders
Another parallel with the Man of Sin and the Mahdi is that they are both prophesied to display great signs and wonders. Yahshua in Matthew 24:24 states, “For there shall arise false Messiahs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.”
This is one of the three accounts of Yahshua’s Olivet Prophecy. The two others are in Mark 13 and Luke 21. Our Savior prophesies here that there will arise false Messiahs and false prophets showing great signs and wonders. The word “signs” comes from the Greek semeion. Thayer’s Greek Lexicon defines this as, “…an unusual occurrence, transcending the common course of nature.” Similarly, the word “wonders” comes from the Greek teras and refers to miracles.
Yahshua confirms here that the Antimessiah along with the False Prophet will be miraculously empowered to perform impressive miracles that man will not explain through the laws of nature or science. Because of this, the world will follow these men and if possible, they would even deceive the very elect.
The reference to the “elect” is to convey the gravity of this deception; it’s likely they will not be deceived. This is not to say, however, that all those baptized into Yahshua’s Name will be spared. The reality is, just because we’re baptized into the Messiah’s Name doesn’t make us part of the chosen or the elect. This is something that comes from sincere devotion and a faith second to none.
Where does the Man of Sin receive his power? The answer is in Revelation 13:2: “And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority.”
The dragon here symbolizes Satan the devil and will be the source of the Antimessiah’s power and authority. This is why his signs and wonders will be beyond the explanation of the natural laws of nature or science. The power behind them will be supernatural and demonic.
If this occurs in our lifetime, nothing we have ever seen will prepare us for what will come from the Beast and his false prophet. Scripture states that the false prophet will rain fire from heaven and give life to a lifeless image, Revelation 13:14-15. The signs and wonders that these apocalyptic figures will show will be beyond explanation or reason. This is why it’s important that we understand the prophecies and know the signs of Yahshua’s Second Coming.
Similar to the Antimessiah, according to Islamic belief, this last successor of Muhammad will also show great signs and wonders: “Allah will give him power over the wind and the rain, and the earth will bring forth its foliage. He will give away wealth profusely, flocks will be in abundance, and the Ummah (Empire of Islam) will be large and honored,” God’s war on Terror, p. 83.
According to Islamic belief, this 12th Imam will receive power from Allah over the wind and rain. Like the Antimessiah, this man will be given the ability to perform great signs and wonders and will be able to deceive this world.

He’ll Change Times and Laws
In addition to being able to perform great wonders, both the Bible and Islamic tradition state that these men will think to alter worship and the system of law. Daniel in the seventh chapter states this regarding the Man of Sin: “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,” verse 25.
The word “times” is from the Aramaic zeman and refers to seasons or appointed occasions. Similarly, the word “law” derives from the Aramaic dath and refers to commandments, edicts, or statutes. In essence, the Antimessiah will seek to institute a whole new system of worship and law.
According to the eleventh chapter of Daniel, this man will not honor the “Elohim of his fathers.” This phrase appears an additional four times in the Hebrew text (2Kings 21:22; 2Chronicles 21:10; 28:25; 33:12) and in all references refers to Yahweh, the Elohim of the Hebrews. No doubt, part of this worship will include the abomination of desolation and the image to which the False Prophet will give life (see Matthew 24:15 and Revelation 13:15).
We also find here the duration of this man’s rule. Daniel prophesies that he will rule until a time and times and the dividing of time. This phrase refers to the three-and-a-half years of the Great Tribulation and is also found in Revelation 12:14. According to Yahshua in His Olivet Prophecy, this will be the worst time this earth has ever and will ever see. It’s going to test the faith of Yahweh’s elect like nothing before.
Now not unlike the Man of Sin, we find that this final Imam will also seek to change times and laws. “The Mahdi…will attempt to change the law by instituting Islamic Sharia law as far as he is able to do so…This activism already exists in every nation of the world. Behind all the masks, they all desire to replace non-Islamic legal systems with Islamic Sharia law and replace every constitution with the constitution of the caliphate” (ibid, p. 85).
Amazingly, we’re beginning to see a push for Islamic law today even in America. An article dated July 29, 2013, from the Huffington Post entitled, “Sharia Law in the USA” reported, “North Carolina lawmakers on Wednesday (July 24) approved a bill to prohibit judges from considering ‘foreign laws’ in their decisions, but nearly everyone agrees that ‘foreign laws’ really means Shariah, or Islamic law. North Carolina now joins six other states — Oklahoma, Arizona, Kansas, Louisiana, South Dakota, and Tennessee — to pass a ‘foreign laws’ bill. A similar bill passed in Missouri, but Gov. Jay Nixon vetoed it, citing threats to international adoptions. “The bills all cite ‘foreign laws’ be-cause two federal courts have ruled that singling out Shariah — as Oklahoma voters originally did in 2010 — is un-constitutional.”
An ongoing effort by many Islamic organizations is to include Sharia law within the United States. We also see this same pattern in many European nations. As believers, we should be vigilant as we see decline and corruption in this nation’s legal and judicial system.

Seven-year Covenant
Another striking parallel we find between the Antimessiah and the 12th Imam is a seven years covenant or peace agreement. Daniel 9:27 says that the Man of Sin will make a seven-year covenant or peace treaty with many nations. The Holy Bible from Ancient Eastern Manuscripts (Lamsa) reads, “And he shall confirm the covenant with many for seven weeks and half of seven, then he shall cause the sacrifice and gift offerings to cease, and upon the horns of the altar the abomination of desolation: and the abomination of desolation shall continue until the end of the appointed time; the city shall remain desolate.”
The “seven weeks” represent seven years and refer to the seven-year covenant or treaty that this man will confirm with the nations of this earth. As we see, though, this treaty will be short lived. In the middle of this seven-year treaty the Antimessiah will nullify the covenant and stop the sacrifices and oblations.
As an aside, the reference here to stopping the sacrifices may indicate a previous form of Hebraic worship and may offer an explanation how believers, even those in the Messiah, could be led astray by this imposter.
When this man brings an end to the agreement he will set up the abomination of desolation, which will stand in the holy place of the temple until the coming of Yahshua the Messiah (Matt. 24:15). At this point, he will force all of mankind to worship him and him alone.
According to the Apostle Paul in the second chapter of 2Thessalonians, he will exalt himself above all that is called a mighty one. It reads, “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; Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called Elohim, or that is worshiped; so that he as Elohim sitteth in the temple of Elohim, shewing himself that he is Elohim,” verses 3-4.
The Man of Sin will become the ultimate dictator and despot over the entire world. No one will be able to openly oppose or defy him. According to Islamic tradition, the final Imam may also form a similar agreement.
“One Islamic tradition places the ascendancy of the Mahdi at the time of a final peace agreement between the Arabs and the Romans (‘Romans’ should be interpreted here as referring to Christians, or more generally, the West). Although this peace agreement is made with the ‘Romans,’ it is said to be mediated spe-cifically through a Jew from the priestly lineage of Aaron. The peace agreement will be made for a period of seven years,” God’s War on Terror, p. 114.
Just as the Man of Sin will make a seven-year agreement, the final Imam may do the same. Interestingly, according to author Shoebat, this treaty will be between the Mahdi and the western world, including Christianity and Judaism. Intriguing also is the mention of a Jew from the priestly line of Aaron, which will help facilitate this agreement.
Such circumstances may provide an explanation as to how an agreement might form between the Jews and Arabs. In recent decades there has been an ever-increasing effort by America and other western nations to form a peace treaty in the Middle East. Most of these attempts have ended in failure or are short-lived. However, both Bible prophecy and Islamic tradition states that such a scenario will be a reality in the future, possibly in the near future.

Ten Sycophantish Kings
Another fascinating parallel with these men is the belief of ten kings. John of Patmos in the 17th chapter of Revelation provides insight into the purpose of these kings. “And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast. These have one mind, and shall give their power and strength unto the beast,” verses 12-13.
Notice first here that these ten kings have not yet received their kingdoms or positions. It says that they will receive power as kings for one hour with the beast. This likely represents the time of the Great Tribulation. What purpose do these ten kings serve? They will empower and strengthen the Beast. In other words, they will be pawns that the Man of Sin will leverage to strengthen his political power.
Now before we examine the possible identity of these kings, let’s consider how this prophecy may correspond to Islamic tradition.
“In 2002 a plan for the reestablishment of the Caliphate was written by…the Guiding Helper Foundation entitled, The Plan for the Return of the Caliphate. According to the plan, the Caliph would be assisted in his rule by a ten-member council of “Assistant Caliphs.” These assistants, or council members, are similar to ministers in many of today’s governments” (ibid, p. 91). Just as Bible prophecy foretells, Islamic tradition states that there will arise ten leaders or caliphs who will support the Caliph or the last Imam. The similarities here between the Bible and Islamic tradition are quite amazing.
Regarding the 10 kings that Revelation describes in the seventeenth chapter, Psalm 83:3-8 may very well offer a key to unlock their identity.
“They have taken crafty counsel against thy people, and consulted against thy hidden ones. 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. For they have consulted together with one consent: they are confederate against thee: The tabernacles of Edom, and the Ishmaelites; of Moab, and the Hagarenes; Gebal, and Ammon, and Amalek; the Philistines with the inhabitants of Tyre; Assur also is joined with them: they have holpen the children of Lot.”
Notice here that there are 10 kings mentioned and that they form a confederacy for the sole purpose of destroying the nation of Israel. Two questions are crucial: 1) is this passage historic or prophetic and 2) do we know the locations of these kingdoms today?
Let’s take the first question. According to many scholars, there is no historical tie to this passage. The HarperCollins Study Bible states: “There is no particular historical moment with which such a grouping of nations against Israel can be associated.” The Wycliffe Bible Commentary agrees, “The occasion cannot be identified with certainty, because at no period in Israel’s history has such a confederation of nations existed.”
Based on this fact, it’s reasonable to conclude that this passage can only be prophetic. While there is some debate, the locations are generally assumed to be the following (list from the Restoration Study Bible):
• Edom – Southern Jordan
• Ishmaelites – Arabs
• Hagarenes – Egypt
• Gebal – Lebanon
• Ammon – Northern Jordan
• Amalek – Sinai Peninsula
• Philistines – Gaza Strip
• Tyre – Lebanon
• Assur – Syria and Iraq
• Children of Lot – Jordan
Amazingly, every nation listed in Psalm 83 is located in the Middle East and today are Islamic. Some might say that this is only a coincidence, but the evidence says otherwise.

Who Rules by Force
The last parallel is the use of military force or aggression. According to the Bible and Islamic tradition, both the Antimessiah and the final Imam will be men of war. Daniel 7:23 reads, “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, and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces.”
This fourth kingdom represents the Antimessiah and his empire. The Bible states that this kingdom will be different from all others before it. Daniel confirms that this final kingdom will devour the whole world.
It’s a historical fact that no kingdom or empire has ever managed to conquer the entire world. In addition to global rule, this man will also tread down and break this world in pieces.
In addition to Daniel, Revelation also prophesies that this man will rule by war: “And they worshiped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshiped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?” We see again here that the Antimessiah will receive power from the dragon, representing Satan the devil. The power that this man will possess will be supernatural and demonic.
Notice the last part of this verse, “Who is like the beast? Who is able to make war with him?” This is a rhetorical question confirming that no one will be able to resist or defy the Antimessiah. He will rule over this earth as the ultimate dictator and despot. For three-and-a-half years this man will have complete control and seek to destroy all those who believe in the Bible and in Yahshua the Messiah.
Like the beast of Revelation, Islamic tradition verifies that the Mahdi will also rule by force. “The Mahdi is portrayed throughout the Islamic tradition as being the military leader of the Islamic ‘world revolution’ that will defeat all the other religions and political systems” (God’s War on Terror, p. 93).
Just as the Antimessiah will rule through aggression and violence, Islamic tradition conveys that the final successor of Muhammad will do the same. He will rule by complete force without regard to human life or continuance.
To summarize, we find the following seven parallels between the Antimessiah and the final Imam:
• They will both deny Yahshua as the Son of Yahweh
• They will arise from the Middle East.
• They will show great signs and wonders.
• They will change worship and system of law.
• They will form a seven-year covenant or peace treaty with many nations.
• They will receive strength and support from ten kings.
• They will both rule by aggression and through warfare.
Only time will settle questions sur-rounding the identity of the Antimessiah and the impact that Islam will have on end-time prophecy. For now, it’s important that we have an open mind and consider all possible scenarios. While the majority of Bible believers are looking to Europe and Rome as the fulfillment of the Man of Sin and this final empire, it’s far more likely that this last kingdom will arise from the Middle East, being that Yahweh always centers prophecy on Israel and its surrounding neighbors.

May we heed Yahshua’s words in Luke 21:36, “Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.”

We hope that this article “Could the Antimessiah be Islamic?” has been a help in your search for truth. For more on this subject read our booklet: The Prophecy of the Beast and the Ten Toes

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Watch “The End-Times part I, Are We Living in the End of Days?” Discover the Truth Talk Live Episode 1 below:

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Turn on the television or browse the Internet and you will find many signs pointing to the fulfillment of end-time prophecy. Even false prophets are in the news lately.

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At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish and five were wise. The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. The wise, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep. At midnight the cry rang out: ‘Here’s the bridegroom! come out to meet him!’ Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.’ ‘No,’ they replied, ‘there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.’ But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut. Later the others also came. ‘Sir! Sir!’ they said. ‘Open the door for us!’ But he replied, ‘I tell you the truth, I don’t know you.’ Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.” Matthew 25:1-13

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Modern “prophets” are highly predictable.