The Rise Of The Islamic BeastPart One

 

99.5% of all Bible prophecy is CENTERED in the Middle East! Europe will play an important role in the beginning as it continues to relinquish more and more of its influence to radical Islam, but MOST of what is recorded in scripture takes place in the region of the world around the Mediterranean Sea and the regions of Israel, Jordan, Syria, Egypt Iraq and Iran. Israel, NOT the CHURCH, or the United States, or the European Union, is God’s prophetic time clock!!!!!!!!!!!!!!   The rise of Islam on the earth during the last days is no mistake or fluke. John The Revelator saw the demonic spirit behind what we know today as the religion of Islam. Based upon our study it seems to be a growing feeling in this writer's heart that the only person who will be able to broker or "confirm" a covenant between Israel and the Arabs will be another Muslim who can offer Israel false peace and hold the Muslim world at bay while he plans his diabolical schemes to destroy God's chosen people. Israel will "accept" this man as her messiah in the sense she will hail him as the One who brought her peace. He may very well be an apostate Jew but more and more I believe this man to be a Gentile. Either way, the earth is in for a coming season of one of its worst times of history which beckons us ALL to be preparing our hearts for the Coming of the Lord!

 

 

This message is lesson one of our brand new study "The Rise of the Islamic Beast." We garnered information for this study from several and a variety of sources but one source stood out above the rest, "Unleashing the Beast," by Evangelist Perry Stone, which gives insight to Islam as no other source I have looked into does. I also want to acknowledge Rev. Jimmy Swaggart and his brand new Expositor's Study Bible and commentaries on Revelation and Daniel which were extremely helpful as well. Rev. Swaggart was the vessel the Lord used 20 years ago now to plant a seed in this writer's heart to know more about the Holy Ghost and in 1987 the Lord gloriously filled me with His Spirit. We need to pray for truth to be preached once again in the Body of Christ and these sources were invaluable tools for that in this study that is ongoing and never ending.  A complete list of bibliography sources including Rev. Stone's book we used for this study can be found by clicking here

 

 

By Chris McDonald

 

2 Thes. 2:2-12 - 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 Christ is at hand. [3] 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; [4] Who opposes and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God. [5] Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things? [6] And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time. [7] For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. [8] And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: [9] Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, [10] And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. [11] And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: [12] That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

 

Daniel 9:27
And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.

 

This journal is the initial lesson in one of the most interesting studies we have ever embarked on concerning end time Bible prophecy. Before I get going with this journal let me make a few statements about this writer’s own personal journey to find the truth as it concerns end time events. I have been studying prophecy since the late 1980s. I actually got filled with the Spirit in 1987 and ever since that time sought to study the Word of God in a deep way to find myself approved of God, not in a self-righteous smug way, but to humbly know what the Lord is saying to His people through His glorious Word. In the mid 1990s I went through a terrible onslaught of Satan, lost my way with God and almost died in the process. In 1999 I met my beautiful wife Lisa, who I have been married to now for seven years, and whom I thank God for dearly every day. She and I have had an interesting journey to say the least but one I pray that has brought us both closer to God and closer to each other.

 

The first year of our marriage the Lord was gracious to this writer and opened a door to teach end time prophecy at a large Baptist church we attended after which we wrote and developed two separate prophecy study series we put online which contained a good deal of end time views we held in the late 1980s and 1990s.  In the summer of 1999, none of us who were together in that prophecy class knew or expected what would take place on American soil just two years later on September 11, 2001. The events on that fateful Tuesday morning of 9-11-2001 changed the entire world and changed this writer. To be frank there is NO one with any type of heart or conscience that 9-11 did not change.  When radical Muslim fanatics flew planes into the World Trade Center not only did the foreign policy of America as a nation change, the personal lives of every one reading this lesson changed as well as the prophecy viewpoints of thousands!!! The world shook as it witnessed in horror the true colors of religion we know as ISLAM.

 

I want to interject a quick thought here before we proceed. This journal/study will at times sound very harsh toward Islam. Our trumpet call against this religion is not necessarily a slap or condemnation of the Muslim people themselves. Billions of people who call themselves Muslim are held in bondage to this demonic deception perpetrated by Satan to blind the hearts of so many who think they are doing God service by killing Jews and Christians. The children of Abraham not only encompass those of the seed of Sarah, but those of the seed of Hagar and Keturah as well.  Up until about 6 months ago this writer had been somewhat perplexed about that 1999 study which paralleled the lines of what most American based prophecy teachers taught concerning the role of Europe, and the Battle of Armageddon.

 

The source of truth is the BIBLE, not Hollywood movies or even Christian-based fiction novels. The prophetic books of Daniel and Revelation give great detail about end time events if we will but take the time to read and study them. The Holy Spirit is our guide and does not wish us to be in the dark even about things coming to pass in the very near future. Most western theologians view end time events through a western mindset instead of viewing end time prophecy through the lens of Israel and the Middle East!  Every recent book or movie released by film makers, especially those in America, tell a story about the end times with the Antichrist figure being a European Caucasian with a funny accent, rising from Romania or some other Eastern Europe nation, and offering to solve the Middle East peace crisis between Israel and the Arab world while he himself not being directly involved with Israel or the Arab world. That made perfect sense to me until about a year ago when the Lord began dealing with my heart about these matters and brought fresh manna to my thinking and heart.

 

In 1999 another movie by a major Christian network had the Antichrist coming from Rome and rising from the dead implanting chips and the like on his followers. Another series of end time movies has the Antichrist again rising from Europe using virtual reality “guillotines” to cut people’s heads off and some virtual reality machine to control the masses. The Bible says NOTHING of this, NOTHING! The views contained in these movies and books may sell product and make a profit for the ministries producing them – but MOST of what you have seen and read is as stated, based upon TRADITION and not SCRIPTURE when it comes to end time events!

 

Looking at prophecy through Western eyes is not a good thing because we here in the West know very little of the enemy we need to know a great deal about – ISLAM. Why is that important you may ask? Well, first and really the main reason is that 99.5% of all Bible prophecy is CENTERED in the Middle East NOT EUROPE! Europe will play an important role in the beginning as it continues to relinquish more and more of its influence to radical Islam, but MOST of what is recorded in scripture takes place in the region of the world around the Mediterranean Sea and the regions of Israel, Jordan, Syria, Egypt Iraq and Iran. Israel, NOT the CHURCH, or the United States, or the European Common Market or the ECC, is God’s prophetic time clock!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

One of the foremost central figures in this coming end time drama is the person known as the Antichrist, the coming man of sin, the son of perdition. As stated, most of modern prophecy teachers and even many evangelicals have a skewed view of this person who will unleash unspeakable evil upon the world for 42 months and plunge the world into an abyss of horror unknown to mortal man since the world was created. Again, the view of most western bible prophecy teachers has the Antichrist being a European Caucasian rising up out of a European coalition of nations, deceiving Israel into signing a peace treaty that he brokers and in doing so claiming to be Israel’s Messiah.

 

There are relatively few Christians who have not heard the term or name, “Antichrist.”  There are four basic beliefs about the man of sin that all Christians usually share (at least those who care enough to even concern themselves with this) and they are:

 

The Bible however, goes much deeper in its portrayal of this man, his character, his actions and even his names. Both Daniel and John comment, in detail, about the Antichrist in their respective writings, giving their readers ample description of this man’s rise to power, his realm of influence and his interaction with others who will exist during his reign. The “beast” as he is called in Revelation is not a European white guy. Believe this writer when I say to you that my entire scope of thinking has been altered because of further study and a lot of material I found in a tremendous book I got in late 2005 called, “Unleashing the Beast,” by Perry Stone.

 

Rev. Stone’s premise is that the Antichrist will not rise from Europe, but from the masses in the Muslim Middle East, and be a fanatical dictator that will seek to destroy Israel, the Jews and all Christians for 42 months in the latter half of the Tribulation.  Whenever I hear something I never make a quick judgment on it until I research it out in the Word of God for myself. Stone’s book was the same way. I read it through twice with Bible in hand before making any calls either way on whether I felt this was Spirit-ordained.

 

I have spent the last 90 days chewing over the thoughts we are about to share in this journal and in greater detail this new study we just completed a few weeks back. While a good portion of the material we share with you we got from Pastor Stone's work, we're not trying to parrot a book, please understand. Stone’s theory is without a doubt in this writer’s mind the most plausible of any I have ever heard when it comes to end time events and who the man of sin is and what he will do during the Great Tribulation. Whether the Antichrist is Muslim or not would not be that important if ISLAM and the Muslim world were not the forefront of America and Israel's fight for survival against terror. Islam hates both Jews and Christians and if the Muslim fundamentalists had their way there would not be a nation of Israel and there would not be a nation of America! Ask the President of Iran how he feels about Israel and America if you don't believe that last statement!!!!

 

Islam Did Not Exist As A Religion When John and Daniel Lived And Wrote Their Prophecies

 

When John and Daniel wrote their respective prophecies, fanatical Islam was not even a blip on the radar screen of their day. They didn’t know then that a fanatical religion would be hatched around 632 A.D. in Mecca and eventually Medina, Saudi Arabia and give birth to the diabolical seed that would bring the ancient hatred between the seeds of Ishmael and Isaac.  Much of what they recorded meant little to them and could not be understood in the context we understand things today because of the time the prophet Daniel and the Apostle John lived. This can be said really even about most bible prophecy teachers who wrote and taught end time events from the 1950s-1990s.

 

Islam is a diabolical religion. We love the Muslims and pray for their salvation daily. We are not attacking the people in this religion, please understand. ALL those that are bound by this deception need the Lord Jesus Christ to come SHINE His glorious LIGHT into their hearts so the darkness of Satan’s power can be broken. To our readers, let us encourage you, hate the religion; LOVE the people! Many in Islam don’t even know what bondage they are in that drives them to hate Jews and Christian; they need the church to preach Christ and the CROSS without fear or compromise to bring freedom to billions of deceived hearts.

 

Shortly after 9-11-2001, Islam sprung onto the world scene so quick none of us can fathom the depths of what the world’s governments, especially the U.S., would ultimately deal with in fighting terrorism on a global basis. This “war” on terror may be reported in the media as a political and military campaign, but the battle against this religion is not either. It’s a SPIRITUAL fight that none of our national leaders truly understand, including President Bush. I respect President Bush deeply and think he is a godly man, but he is flat WRONG when he keeps claiming Islam is a religion of peace and friends to the United States. America is fighting a SPIRITUAL war right now. On that note, remember this all important fact about the United States of America. We are currently the world’s only superpower at the present time and the fact we can say that is ONLY because God decrees it, not because of our vaunted military might.

 

Russia and China may talk a big talk but their resources are no where close in rank militarily or economically to the United States, at least not at this moment. Both are rapidly seeking to gain strength both militarily and financially but neither has reached a point where they stand toe to toe with America. None of the nations of Europe, including Great Britain, can boast of the strength the United States has – even in the midst of this mortal fight we are in to the death against Islam. In light of that, let the reader also understand this. The United States will be the LAST superpower on earth before the world’s LAST superpower arises – the Kingdom of the Beast. The Kingdom of the Beast will be the last superpower on earth prior to the physical return of the Lord Jesus Christ. That’s how close we are to the Second Coming of the Lord Jesus Christ friend! That’s how soon this writer believes the trump of God could sound and the dead in Christ shall RISE first, then we which are alive and remain be caught up together to meet them in the clouds forever!

 

In between this transition from America’s reign as the world’s top nation to that of the Antichrist is coming a 10-nation confederacy that will last 42 months and introduce the Antichrist to the world.  At the end of these 42 months, the Antichrist will be the FULL focus of the world’s attention. None of the writers of the past several decades saw a type scenario coming where Islam would play such a major role in end time prophecy. To be frank most writers either ignored it or brushed it off as insignificant. Neither view is right. I’m not throwing stones because that same attitude was the attitude of this writer. While older Bible prophecy teachers didn’t see it - John and Daniel did – they just didn’t have the name for the religion of Islam as we know it today. The war between the seed of Ishmael and Isaac is not over friend; it’s actually just beginning and going to culminate in the final battle at Armageddon. ALL the ancient hatred between Esau (Ishmael) and Jacob (Israel) of Ezekiel 35:1-5 is going to be placed in the heart of one final dictator in the end of days prior to the Lord’s return that will plunge the world into a time of trouble it has never seen before since its creation. Ezekiel addressed this ancient hatred in the book bearing his name:

 

Ezekiel 35:1-5

Moreover the word of the Lord came unto me, saying, [2] Son of man, set thy face against mount Seir, and prophesy against it, [3] And say unto it, Thus saith the Lord God; Behold, O mount Seir, I am against thee, and I will stretch out mine hand against thee, and I will make thee most desolate. [4] I will lay thy cities waste, and thou shalt be desolate, and thou shalt know that I am the Lord. [5] Because thou hast had a perpetual hatred, and hast shed the blood of the children of Israel by the force of the sword in the time of their calamity, in the time that their iniquity had an end:

 

The Antichrist, the man of sin, will make despots like Haman, Stalin, Hitler, and yes, even Hussein, look like choir boys. He will literally be an ISLAMIC BEAST!  Most theories are actually proven error with the passage of time. I pray as we embark on this study course that you will come away knowing what the SCRIPTURES says about the end times, not what the “Left Behind,” series says. The Lord is coming soon. We cannot be that far off from the rapture of the Church, which this writer believes could happen at any moment. There is a call today to all those who will hear what the SPIRIT is saying to the church to prepare their hearts for His return. If you’re reading this study right now and there is unconfessed sin in your life I have a newsflash from heaven – REPENT! Make your heart ready NOW. Neighbor, there is no promise of tomorrow. The thought of an imminent return of Christ should spur us to Godly living and pull us as close to Him with ALL our strength, souls and minds.

 

More importantly, whether we go by the translation of the saints, known as the rapture, or by the grave, the thought that our lives could end at any second on this earth should be the ultimate reason we are always ready to leave this life into the next. Eternity will be heaven or hell for ALL mankind. There will be no exceptions or passes given for that fateful moment when we all close our eyes in death on this Earth. This writer prays that if you don’t know the Lord today that something you read in this study course will SPUR you to faith in the REAL Christ before the one known as ANTICHRIST comes on the world scene.  

 

The Term Antichrist

 

Before we embark on this study of the rise of the Islamic beast known as Antichrist, we need to understand the way the actual term “antichrist,” is used in the Word of God. According to W.E. Vine, the word “Antichrist” comes from a Greek word, “antichristos” and can mean either "against Christ," or "instead of Christ," or perhaps, combining the two, "one who, assuming the guise of Christ, opposes Christ" (Westcott, Stone).

 

The word itself is found only in John's epistles, and speaks of the many "antichrists" who are forerunners of the "Antichrist" himself, <1 John 2:18, 22; 2 John 7>; and also the evil power which already operates anticipatively of the "Antichrist," <1 John 4:3>.

 

What the apostle says of the man of sin in his first and second epistles closely resembled what he saw and recorded concerning the first beast in Revelation 13.  The apostle Paul‘s view of this same individual in 2 Thessalonians 2 harmonizes with what John says. This same person seems to be in view in all these passages, rather than the second beast in <Rev. 13>, the false prophet; who will be a separate individual who supports the former in all his Antichristian assumptions.

 

The Spirit of Antichrist and the MAN, the Antichrist

 

In his writings, John distinguished between the SPIRIT of antichrist from the personage of the Antichrist. In 1 John 2:22, the Greek Interlinear Bible states, “Who is THE liar if it is not the one that denies that Jesus is Christ” This is the antichrist.” The Greek text, translated as “the antichrist,” refers not to AN antichrist but to THE antichrist – a specific person. When John penned these words, the spirit of antichrist was already in the world, but THE antichrist was yet to come. That spirit is also working in the church world as well with the onslaught of the greatest apostasy known to the modern church that has apostate preachers denying the deity of the Lord Jesus Christ and placing man on the same level with God.

 

In the gospels of Mark and Matthew, there is a term used, “pseudochristos,” which means "a false Christ." The term is to be distinguished from the above term which denotes a person. ; it is found in <Matt. 24:24> and <Mark 13:22>.

 

Matthew 24:24

    For there shall arise false Christ's, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.

 

Mark 13:22

    For false Christ's and false prophets shall rise, and shall show signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect

 

The false Christ's spoken of here do not deny the existence of Christ; they trade upon the expectation of the real Christ’s appearance, affirming they are the Christ. Those type individuals have come and gone through the centuries as masqueraders of the real Christ. The man of sin will probably not make any such masquerade! This is really what most modern Bible prophecy theories say however, is that the Antichrist will come “posing” as the real Christ. The Bible really does not paint that type of picture. Yes, he will declare himself to be "god," but this seed of Satan will not speak anything BUT blasphemies against the God of heaven and Jesus Christ.  John informs us that many antichrists have already entered into the world. On four occasions, he uses the word “antichrist,” to define those who are in opposition to the SONSHIP of Christ. Thus, there is a SPIRIT of antichrist that has and continues to influence mankind and set the stage for THE ANTICHRIST, who will come roaring in on the world scene after the rapture of the church setting the stage for THE MAN, Antichrist. One is a spirit, a system if you will, the other a human being. The spirit will be controlling and setting the stage.

 

Because John taught that there are many antichrists, some eschatologists teach that “antichrist” refers only to a spirit and not to an individual. There was a SPIRIT of antichrist already working in John’s day that has been in the earth since John wrote his epistles, especially after the founding of Islam around 631 A.D. by a man named Mohammed

 

The Antichrist denies the existence of the true God and the existence of Jesus as God’s Son. And that is the fundamental spirit behind Islam. It denies Jesus is the Son of God and replaces faith in Jehovah with a being named “Allah.” The Antichrist being a Muslim would fit this bill more than a European Caucasian rising up in Europe with Catholic or non Protestant origins.  The true spirit of antichrist, which will control the man of sin, according to the apostle, denies three things:

 

 

1 John 2:22

    Who is a liar but he that denies that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, which denies the Father and the Son.

 

To state it again, John speaks of both a SPIRIT and a man. The man, THE antichrist, will appear in the end of days to lead a final kingdom in opposition to the Kingdom of God and His people. In support of this, let us once again turn to Scripture:

 

2 Thes. 2:4

    Who opposes and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.

 

2 Thes. 2:6

And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time.

 

Rev. 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.

 

Rev. 13:4-5

And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him? [5] And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months.

 

Rev. 13:7

And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.

 

To the religious Jew, Jesus Christ was simply a man of history who formed a new religion. To the Muslims, Jesus Christ was and is just one of many prophets of Allah, but they strenuously deny He was divine or was God’s only begotten Son. To the true child of God, Jesus Christ is the Son of the Living God (see Matthew 14:33, 27:53, Romans 1:4)

 

Matthew 14:33 - Then they that were in the ship came and worshipped him, saying, Of a truth thou art the Son of God.

 

Matthew 27:53 - And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.

 

Romans 1:4 - And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:

 

Names of the Antichrist

 

As we stated already, the Bible is extensive in its description of the Antichrist, yet without revealing who it is. One of the ways we understand the man is by examining the names or titles the Bible assigns the future dictator. Here are just a few names; there are many others we will deal with in detail in future studies and journals:

 

1.         Antichrist ( 1 John 2:18)

2.         The Assyrian (Isaiah 10:20-27; Isaiah 31:4-32:20; Micah 5:3-15)

3.         The King of Babylon (Isaiah 14:4)

4.         The Spoiler (Isaiah 16:4)

5.         The Extortioner (Isaiah 16:4)

6.         Gog, the Chief Prince of Meshech and Tubal (Ezekiel 38:2-3)

7.         The little horn (Daniel 7:8,24; Daniel 8:9,23)

8.         King of Fierce Countenance (Daniel 8:23)

9.         The Prince that Shall come (Daniel 9:26-27)

10.       The King of the north (Daniel 11:5-45)

11.       The Man of sin (2 Thes. 2:1-12)

12.       The Son of perdition (2 Thes. 2:1-12)

13.       The Wicked (Isaiah 11:4)

14.       That Wicked (2 Thes. 2:8-12)

15.       The Beast (Daniel 7:11; Rev. 13)

 

We are able to see through his titles that the Antichrist, like an animal, will maul and devour anyone who is a threat or who is weaker than he. This was a trait of Mohammed, the founder of Islam, which we will deal with in detail later. The man of sin is the personification of iniquity and perversion, capable of committing any vile act that his mind can conceive of. All of this is just from a few titles.

 

Writings in the Early Church

 

The early church fathers had plenty to say about the rise and fall of the Antichrist, and gave us some insight into traditional apocalyptic theology. At one point, some in the early Church felt that the wicked emperor Nero, who was such a horrific persecutor of Christians, would one day ascend out of hell in order to rule as Antichrist.

 

“He (the antichrist) shall divide the globe into three ruling powers, when, moreover, Nero shall be raised from hell. Elias shall first come to seal the beloved ones; at which things the region of Africa and the northern nation, the whole earth from al sides, for seven years shall tremble. But Elias shall occupy the half of the time and Nero shall occupy half.” The AnteNicene Fathers, Volume IV: Commodianus, Chapter XLI.

 

No doubt this belief was based on the cruelty of Nero coupled with the verse concerning the beast that “was and is not shall come from the pit” (Rev. 17:8). Due to this ancient belief, many Christians since then have considered this “doctrine” to be valid. This is another example of tradition trumping Scripture. In the Bible, both Judas and the Antichrist are called, “the son of perdition.” Because of this other commentators have come up with an erroneous theory that Judas will come up from hell in the form of the Antichrist. This ideas doesn’t even make good common sense. According to Revelation 17:8, a SPIRIT will most certainly ascend from the bottomless pit to possess the body and direct the actions and the KINGDOM of this man called Antichrist, but NO HUMAN will be brought back from hell, reincarnated as this deceiver.

 

Early church writings seem to validate the belief that it is the spirit of antichrist that shall come from the abyss:

 

“He will at last being inflated by a strange and wicked spirit, to stir up war against the saints, and to persecute all everywhere, with the aim of being glorified by all, and being worshipped as God.” (Nicene Fathers, Volume V: Extant Works and Fragments of Hippolytus, Commentaries on Daniel VII: 19).

 

“When the close of time draws near, a great prophet shall be sent from God to turn men to the knowledge of God, and he shall receive power of doing wonderful things….And when his work shall be accomplished, another king shall arise out of SYRIA, born from an evil sprit, the over thrower and destroyer of the human race, who shall destroy that which is left by the former evil, together with himself.

 

“Now this is he who is called Antichrist; but he shall falsely call himself Christ, and shall fight against the truth, and being overcome shall flee; and shall renew the war, and often be conquered, until in the fourth battle, all the wicked shall be slain, subdued and captured, he shall at length pay the penalty of his crimes….(Ante-Nicene Fathers, Book VII, Chapter XVIII).

 

And from the “Fragments of the Commentaries,” referring to Daniel:

 

“And I inquired about the fourth beast. It is the fourth kingdom of which we have already spoken, that he refers; the kingdom, than which no greater kingdom of like nature has arisen upon the earth; from which also ten horns are to springs, and to be apportioned among ten crowns. And amid these another little horn shall arise, which is that of Antichrist. And it shall pluck by the roots, the three others before it; that is to say, he shall subvert the three kings of Egypt, Libya, and Ethiopia, with the view of acquiring for himself universal dominion.

 

And after conquering the remaining seven horns, he will at last being inflated by a strange and wicked spirit, to stir up war against the saints, and to persecute all everywhere, with the aim of being glorified by all, and being worshipped as God.”

 

 

The Kingdom of the Beast is coming. It is an extremely important theme in the writings of the New Covenant and in the thinking and records of the early church and early fathers. The Bible indicates that the Antichrist will form an earthly kingdom cemented together with the support of 10 other world leaders and will dominate the world scene for 42 months.

 

The Beast That Shall Come – A Gentile, Not a Jew

 

Rev. 17:8-12

The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition: and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is. [9] And here is the mind which hath wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth. [10] 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. [11] And the beast that was, and is not, even he is the eighth, and is of the seven, and goeth into perdition. [12] 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.

 

Another key teaching that has been maintained through centuries of tradition is that the Antichrist will be a Jew, not a Gentile. Some take this teaching even farther saying the Antichrist will actually come from the Tribe of Dan. This again is based again on early church tradition and two scriptures found in the Word of God.

 

A very common thread of prophetic theory has been maintained for centuries that go something like this: The Antichrist will be a Jew from the tribe of Dan; he will rebuild a Temple for the Jews on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem; he will be a man of peace and hail from the head of the European Union. This writer has long felt the Antichrist would be a Syrian JEW, which may be true, but there are just as many arguments to indicate that he will be a Gentile, a MUSLIM, that will be able through demon spirits to hold both the Muslims and Jews at bay for 3 1/2 years. 

 

Here are some things we believe the Scripture says about the coming Antichrist that contradict much of what has been taught in prophecy circles for years and still even in modern times:

 

  1. The Antichrist will be a Gentile (of Islamic background) and not a Jew

  2. The Antichrist will not rebuild the Jewish Temple; Elijah will

  3. He will control much more than just the Common Market

  4. He will bring Peace ONLY to his own followers and DEATH to all who resist

  5. The Antichrist will conquer Jerusalem

  6. The Antichrist will be of the seed of Ishmael and a Muslim with hatred in his heat toward God and Israel

 

Most traditional teaching that the Antichrist will be a Jew and not a Gentile sprang from the current of deep animosity and anti-Semitism between Christian leaders and Jewish rabbis in the second and third centuries. Many of the early church fathers became very anti-Semitic in their theology. Some taught that the Antichrist would be a Jew from the tribe of Dan, which they based upon Jacob’s prophecy about Dan in Genesis:

 

Genesis 49:17

    Dan shall be a serpent by the way, an adder in the path that biteth the horse heels, so that his rider shall fall backward.

 

Early in the third century, Hippolytus, an early church father, who is called by some “the most important theologian in the pre-Constantine era,” quoted the prophecy Moses spoke over the tribe of Dan:

 

Deut. 33:22 - And of Dan he said, Dan is a lion's whelp: he shall leap from Bashan.

 

            Hippolytus wrote in “Treatise on Christ and Antichrist:”

 

“Dan is a lion’s whelp and, in naming the tribe of Dan, he declared clearly the name of the tribe from which the Antichrist is destined to spring. For as Christ sprang from the tribe of Judah, so the Antichrist is to spring from the tribe of Dan.”

             

The fact that Dan is missing from the tribal listing in Revelation 7:1-8 only adds to the speculation that the future Antichrist must be from that tribe. It must be noted that in early history, the tribe of Dan settled in the area of Bashan, which is the Golan Heights today. Latter the tribe of Dan settled near the coast, in the area that is today Tel-Aviv. The Tel-Aviv area has a strong population of secular, agnostic, and atheistic Jews. This may be why the region of Dan is omitted from Revelation 7. Others speculate that if the Antichrist were “opposite of Christ,” he must be a Jew because Christ was of Jewish origin. That was where my thinking rested somewhat as well. Traditional teaching says that the Antichrist must arise from inside of Israel, they reason, since Christ was born in Israel (Luke 2:11). Further, he must be from a tribe since Christ was identified with a tribe- namely Judah.

 

Luke 2:11

    For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.

 

Micah 5:2 - But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.

 

Some have claimed to say the Antichrist will claim to be virgin born, since Christ was born of a virgin. ALL OF THIS IS TRADITIONAL TEACHING PASSED ON DOWN THROUGH CENTURIES, NOT SCRIPTURALLY BASED TRUTH. Let me remind you again, the word “antichrist,” means “AGAINST CHRIST and ONE INSTEAD OF CHRIST,” not necessarily “one like Christ.” The Antichrist will actually be AGAINST Christ and make no claims to be Christ himself. He WILL claim to a Messiah figure that will not only appeal to Israel, but to the world's 1.2 billion Muslims! For him to be Israel's hope for a Messiah he will have to be an apostate Jew which is not 100% out of the question. Many in the Muslim faith today are former Baptists, Presbyterians, Catholics, AND Jews!

 

Another figure, the false prophet will play a major role in the Antichrist kingdom, and will attempt to deceive the world into believing that the Antichrist IS Christ, but make no mistake. The Antichrist will not be someone walking around declaring he is the world’s savior in a religious sense. He will be a fanatical, demon possessed, SATAN empowered dictator that will broker a covenant with Israel at the beginning of the Tribulation period, then break it in the middle of the week and plunge the world into the Great Tribulation period for 42 months leading to the great Battle of Armageddon where he will be destroyed by the brightness of Christ's coming!

 

2 Thes. 2:7-8
For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. [8] And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:

 

This message is foundational for future journals on this subject and to be frank we've merely scratched the surface at best. As we close, think about this for a second. ALL past prophecy teaching over the past 50 years has pretty much forgotten or ignored the world’s Muslim population theories have been laid out for end time events. One thing is for sure and that is NOTHING is for sure! No one, including this writer, can be 100% infallible about what will take place after the rapture of the church. The Muslim factor is important because of the religious war we fight today and how graphically it plays into coming events. It shows us how close the rapture of the church is and the fact neighbor we need to be getting our spiritual houses in order and in order QUICK!

 

This writer feels fairly safe based upon his research and talking with those who know much more about the history of Islam than myself that the Muslim world will NEVER accept a JEW from Israel to rule or control Muslim nations as the Bible tells us the Antichrist will control the Middle East during his reign. Yes, demon spirits will be in play and the deception of Satan is very powerful and deceptive. I don't underestimate that in my thinking here. Yet, very little prophecy teaching in the immediate past has ever dealt with the role Muslims will play in end time prophecy as it relates to Israel. As we see current events unfold in front of us and see the current conflict rage over the land of Israel between the Arabs and Israel, this role becomes ever increasingly important!

 

I believe the Bible lays out a picture that the Antichrist may very will come from a Muslim background and from the seed of Ishmael. Islam is looking for a final prophet; Israel is looking for her final Messiah; Both groups may find their so-called answer in this man named Antichrist who lays in wait for the Holy Spirit to release his entrance onto the world stage. Neighbor, that time is upon us and it is near! The world is being primed by the rise of the religion of Islam to accept the beast and wonder after his power:

 

Rev. 13:4 - And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? Who is able to make war with him?

 

Those who do not convert to his religion will be beheaded and others forced into starvation (Rev. 13:15-17 and 20:4). Islam is the only religion known to man at the present time that already executes its opponents in this manner of beheading! Think about that.

 

I pray you're ready for the rapture  today. More journals are coming on this subject in the days and weeks to come. Jesus is coming soon and if you don't know HIM today, He reaches out to you by His love and convicting touch of His precious Holy Spirit. Praise God.

 

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This ever growing conflict between Israel and her Arab neighbors is harbinger's of things to come prophesied by men of God 3,500 years ago!

 

[Palestine]

The PLO Flag: Red, Black, White, Green -

Compared To Revelation 6 - The Four Horsemen John saw in the Spirit Realm coming upon the Earth in full after the rapture

 

Rev. 6:1-10 - And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals, and I heard, as it were the noise of thunder, one of the four beasts saying, Come and see. [2] 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. [3] And when he had opened the second seal, I heard the second beast say, Come and see. [4] 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. [5] 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. [6] 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. And when he had opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth beast say, Come and see. [8] And I looked, and behold a pale (Greek: Chorlos, from where we get "Chlorine," or "GREEN") horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth. [9] And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held: [10] And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?

Right after John saw these horsemen come on the scene heralding the rise of the Antichrist souls were seen "slain" for the Word of God and for the testimony they held. MORE ON THIS IN COMING JOURNALS - CHECK BACK SOON!

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