Antichrist/Al-Mahdi in Jerusalem End time true biblical prophecy verses deceptive Islamic prophecy The Antichrist is the First Beast of Rev 13 which is the Islamic Al-Mahdi. The Al-Mahdi is the messiah type figure that appears in the Islamic end time scenario that establishes Jerusalem as the caliphate capitol for Islam. The hero of Islam is the biblical Antichrist. This Antichrist rules from Jerusalem, starts making war in the middle of the 7 year tribulation and "overcomes" the saints (many but not all will be killed). The word of God, the bible describes the actions of the Antichrist: 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." Dan 7:21 I beheld, and the same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them; In Islam the deity of Christ is rejected and it is considered blasphemy (more below) punishable by death to declare that “Jesus is God” and/or” Jesus is the Son of God”. The very Christian testimony of the death, burial, and Resurrection of Christ, rendering Him the one and only true Messiah is denied in Islam. The Quran that Muslims consider “holy” states: Quran 4:157-158 “And [for] their saying, 'Indeed, we have killed the Messiah, Jesus, the son of Mary, the messenger of Allah.' And they did not kill him, nor did they crucify him; but [another] was made to resemble him to them. And indeed, those who differ over it are in doubt about it. They have no knowledge of it except the following of assumption. And they did not kill him, for certain. Rather, Allah raised him to Himself. And ever is Allah Exalted in Might and Wise.” True Christians that testify the truth of Jesus Christ ( Yeshua Ha Maschiach) as Messiah the Son of God who died for the sins of the world and rose from the grave will be beheaded by the hands of Muslims with the Antichrist leading. Beheading is a common form of waging "jihad" or “holy war” in Islam (more verses below). The bible tells us: Rev 20:4 “And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.” The Antichrist/Al-mahdi will rule from Jerusalem after conquering it through Jihad. The bible says: 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?” Now let us look at that verse again as it is expounded upon in parenthesis. To be clear, the text within the parenthesis (in italics) are not part of original scripture, but are for interpretation purpose only: Rev 13:4 And they(Muslims) worshipped (prostrated in homage) the dragon(Allah/Satan/Rev12:9) which gave power unto the beast(Al-Mahdi/Antichrist): and they worshipped (prostrated in homage) the beast(Al-Mahdi/Antichrist), saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war(Jihad) with him? We see the word Worship means to prostrate in homage. G4352 pros-koo-neh'-o From G4314 and probably a derivative of G2965 προσκυνεω proskuneō (meaning to kiss, like a dog licking his master’s hand); to fawn or crouch to, that is, (literally or figuratively) prostrate oneself in homage (do reverence to, adore): - worship. Jerusalem is the key location of the end times scenario in which this all will take place. Daniel 8:8 describes Alexander the Great's empire being divided into 4 regions. Daniel 8:9 says the “little horn”(Antichrist) rises out of one of the former regions that was Alexander the Greats empire when it was divided into 4. Dan 8:8 “Therefore the he goat waxed very great: and when he was strong, the great horn was broken; and for it came up four notable ones toward the four winds of heaven.” Dan 8:9 “And out of one of them came forth a little horn, which waxed exceeding great, toward the south, and toward the east, and toward the pleasant land.” Prophetically the “little horn”(Antichrist) rises out of the former region of Alexander the Greats empire. This region is the same region of the coming Islamic caliphate including Jerusalem, which will serve as the caliphate capitol. The previous Ummayad caliphate and the Ottomon caliphate match Alexander's empire region. Currently, the area that was previously Alexander the Great's empire is dominated by those with a caliphate agenda such as the Arab League and OIC. To address a common misconception that the Antichrist comes out of Rome, note that Rome does not fall into the region of Alexanders former empire. Jerusalem is located in the previously Ptolemaic region, one of the 4. Jerusalem is the location from which the Antichrist will rise and rule. More details, scripture, and confirmation about Jerusalem, Alexander the Great, and the Antichrist rising is covered in “The Final Kingdom” document: http://www.mediafire.com/view/zsele6xm55vgs6u/The-Final-Kingdom-in-bible-prophecy.pdf According to Islamic eschatology we see the Region of the caliphate ( in diagrams above) engulfing Jerusalem. Islamists have been publicly calling for Jerusalem to be the caliphate capital. It is from Jerusalem that their Al-mahdi will rule from. Lets look at this further in biblical prophecy. Zec 14:1-3 “Behold, the day of the LORD cometh, and thy spoil shall be divided in the midst of thee. For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle; and the city shall be taken, and the houses rifled, and the women ravished; and half of the city shall go forth into captivity, and the residue of the people shall not be cut off from the city. Then shall the LORD go forth, and fight against those nations, as when he fought in the day of battle.” We see the taking of Jerusalem through Jihad before the coming of the Messiah, Christ. This will happen in the middle of the 7 year tribulation. The outline of the 7 years is given to us in Daniel 9:27, which describes the Antichrist treaty ( current Two State Solution) being signed (“he shall confirm”) first before the start of the 7 years ( “one week” with each day symbolizing a year): Dan 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. The middle of the 7 year tribulation ( “midst of week”) marks the start of the great tribulation of 3 ½ years. This is when the treaty will be broken and Jerusalem will be overtaken: Rev 11:2 “But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months.” We see the “Gentiles” (Muslims) take over the city of Jerusalem for 42 months ( 3 ½ yrs), the rest of the tribulation. An illustration of what the prophecy fulfillment will appear to be like when the Al-mahdi takes the Third Temple in Jerusalem in the middle of the tribulation. Mat 24:15-16 “When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:) Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains:” It is in the “holy place” (Mat 24:15) in the coming Third Temple that we are to look for the abomination of desolation to take place as a warning sign to those around Jerusalem ( “Judaea”) to flee into the mountains because of the danger of being killed in the jihad of Jerusalem. The “holy place” refers to the coming Third Temple which sits on the temple mount. The temple mountain in Jerusalem is referred to as the “holy mountain” in the following verse that prophetically speaks of the Antichrist: Dan 11:45 And he shall plant the tabernacles of his palace between the seas in the glorious holy mountain; yet he shall come to his end, and none shall help him. Muslims are required to wage jihad and kill those who do not recite the basic core belief of Islam called the Shahada. From the Hadith: Sahih Muslim (1:33) - “the Messenger of Allah said: I have been commanded to fight against people till they testify that there is no god but Allah, that Muhammad is the messenger of Allah” Sahih Bukhari (8:387) - “Allah's Apostle said, "I have been ordered to fight the people till they say: 'None has the right to be worshipped but Allah'. And if they say so, pray like our prayers, face our Qibla and slaughter as we slaughter, then their blood and property will be sacred to us and we will not interfere with them except legally." After taking over Jerusalem the "beast" known as the First Beast, the leader of these Muslims (the Antichrist/Al- Mahdi) will speak great things and blasphemies on behalf of the Muslims including reciting the Shahada, namely that "there is no god but Allah and Muhammad is his Prophet." Speaking such pompous words is “speaking great things.” The Al-Mahdi also will be stating “Jesus is not the Son of God” and “Jesus is not God” as they are taught by the Quran ( examples further below). Declaring such things is Blasphemy to the true living God. This is why the bible says the Antichrist will speak "great things" "blasphemies" and “great words”: Revelation 13:5 And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months. Dan 7:25 And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time. The forty two months of Rev 13:5 is 3 ½ years, and “a time and times and the dividing of time” in Dan 7:25 is 42 months or 3 ½ yrs which again confirms that the Antichrist will fully control and rule starting middle of the tribulation for 42 months. Dan 7:25 explains that the Antichrist will “think to change times and laws.” This will be a change with both the implementation of Islamic prayer times and the enforcement of Sharia law. Specific prayer times are described in Islamic literature: Quran 4:103 Sahih International And when you have completed the prayer, remember Allah standing, sitting, or [lying] on your sides. But when you become secure, re-establish [regular] prayer. Indeed, prayer has been decreed upon the believers a decree of specified times. http://quran.com/4/103 “Salat times refers to times when Muslims perform prayers (salat). The term is primarily used for the five daily prayers plus the Friday prayer. According to Muslim beliefs, the salat times were taught by Allah to Muhammad. Prayer times are standard for Muslims in the world, especially the fard prayer times which depend on the condition of the Sun and geography... All schools of Islamic thought agree that any given prayer cannot be performed before its stipulated time.” -Wikipedia Now moving forward remembering that the Antichrist/Al-Mahdi will speak “great things”and “blasphemies”, let us look at examples of how the Quran blasphemously teaches that Jesus in not the Son of God: Quran 9:30 The Jews say, "Ezra is the son of Allah "; and the Christians say, "The Messiah is the son of Allah ." That is their statement from their mouths; they imitate the saying of those who disbelieved [before them]. May Allah destroy them; how are they deluded? Quran 72:3 And [it teaches] that exalted is the nobleness of our Lord; He has not taken a wife or a son Quran 6:101 [He is] Originator of the heavens and the earth. How could He have a son when He does not have a companion and He created all things? And He is, of all things, Knowing. Quran 10:68-70 They have said, " Allah has taken a son." Exalted is He; He is the [one] Free of need. To Him belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is in the earth. You have no authority for this [claim]. Do you say about Allah that which you do not know? Say, "Indeed, those who invent falsehood about Allah will not succeed." [For them is brief] enjoyment in this world; then to Us is their return; then We will make them taste the severe punishment because they used to disbelieve Quran 5:72 They have certainly disbelieved who say, " Allah is the Messiah, the son of Mary" while the Messiah has said, "O Children of Israel, worship Allah , my Lord and your Lord." Indeed, he who associates others with Allah - Allah has forbidden him Paradise, and his refuge is the Fire. And there are not for the wrongdoers any helpers. Quran 18:4-5 And to warn those who say, " Allah has taken a son" They have no knowledge of it, nor had their fathers. Grave is the word that comes out of their mouths; they speak not except a lie. Rev 13:7 describes a war against Christians. This war will be justified by the Muslims using the Islamic texts. One such verse: Quran 9:29 "Fight those who do not believe in Allah or in the Last Day and who do not consider unlawful what Allah and His Messenger have made unlawful and who do not adopt the religion of truth from those who were given the Scripture - [fight] until they give the jizyah willingly while they are humbled." We covered how the Muslims will trample Jerusalem under foot ( Rev 11:2) utterly destroying it through jihad. It is not hard to see this being done given Islamic beliefs, agenda and text: Quran (17:16) - "And when We wish to destroy a town, We send Our commandment to the people of it who lead easy lives, but they transgress therein; thus the word proves true against it, so We destroy it with utter destruction." To get an idea of the much touted "religion of peace" ( most recently declared by the Pope) let's look at Quran's standard commands of how to treat those that do not obey Islam ( Christians of course included) : Quran (4:89) - "They but wish that ye should reject Faith, as they do, and thus be on the same footing (as they): But take not friends from their ranks until they flee in the way of Allah (From what is forbidden). But if they turn renegades, seize them and slay them wherever ye find them; and (in any case) take no friends or helpers from their ranks." Quran (47:3-4) - "Those who reject Allah follow vanities, while those who believe follow the truth from their lord. Thus does Allah set forth form men their lessons by similitude. Therefore when you meet in battle those who disbelieve, then smite the necks until when you have overcome them, then make (them) prisoners," Quran (9:5) - "So when the sacred months have passed away, then slay the idolaters wherever you find them, and take them captive and besiege them and lie in wait for them in every ambush, then if they repent and keep up prayer and pay the poor-rate, leave their way free to them." MODERN DAY BABYLON Muslims claim to be staunchly opposed to idolatry. The Quran goes as far as commanding the killing of “idolaters” ( Quran 9:5), however this claim is steeped in hypocrisy as Islamic practices incorporate idolatry, of a Babylonian nature, themselves. Muslims pray on their face towards the direction of the Kaaba at the sound of the Ahzan( Islamic song and call to worship) claiming its because they follow Jesus ( as a prophet). In reality Jesus never said to pray that way. However the Muslims do have their prayer style matching the Babylonians. Needless to say neither were the Babylonians worshiping the one true God nor are the Muslims. The Babylonian idol worship is described in the bible: Dan 3:1 Nebuchadnezzar the king made an image of gold, whose height was threescore cubits, and the breadth thereof six cubits: he set it up in the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon. Dan 3:2 Then Nebuchadnezzar the king sent to gather together the princes, the governors, and the captains, the judges, the treasurers, the counsellors, the sheriffs, and all the rulers of the provinces, to come to the dedication of the image which Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up. Dan 3:3 Then the princes, the governors, and captains, the judges, the treasurers, the counsellors, the sheriffs, and all the rulers of the provinces, were gathered together unto the dedication of the image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up; and they stood before the image that Nebuchadnezzar had set up. Dan 3:4 Then an herald cried aloud, To you it is commanded, O people, nations, and languages, Dan 3:5 That at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, ye fall down and worship the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king hath set up: Dan 3:6 And whoso falleth not down and worshippeth shall the same hour be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace. Dan 3:7 Therefore at that time, when all the people heard the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and all kinds of musick, all the people, the nations, and the languages, fell down and worshipped the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up. At the sound of the music the Babylonians would be called to fall down and worship on their face. This is identical to the Azhan call in Islamic worship. In fact Salat is actually one of the five pillars of Islam in which a Muslim is called to ritualistically prostrate down on their face five times a day. The Muslims claim that this method of worship is the the only right way to pray. Scripture reveals that the true followers of God would not worship with the Babylonians ( Daniel 3:12) in this way. Jesus prayed in various ways including eyes towards heaven ( John 17:1), kneeling down ( Luke 22:41), and on his face ( Matthew 26:39) yet never in the Babylonian manner did he pray nor teach others to pray. The physical act itself of falling on one's face is only of worth when done in spirit and truth worshiping the one true God Elohim and His son Jesus Christ. In Daniel 3 Babylonians were worshiping the image at the sound of the music forced by law ( Daniel 3:1- 7). If they did not fall to their face in worship of the image they were to be killed according to the law. Many parallels are seen between what was happening in ancient Babylon, and what will happen in Jerusalem, hence its prophetic name “MYSTERY BABYLON THE GREAT” (Rev 17:4). Revelation 13:14-15 refers to what will take place in Jerusalem. It parallels what is found with the Babylonian worship in Daniel 3. Rev 13:14 And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live. Rev 13:15 And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed. The worship practices of ancient Babylon are alive and well through modern day Islamic worship. These are the practices that will be occurring in Jerusalem at the end. The king of Babylon made a decree (Daniel 3:2-3) and set up a council with leaders of the known world to force by law all(Daniel 3:4) at the sound of the music/song(Daniel 3:5) to come worship at the image(Daniel 3:1) and bow (Daniel 3:5) themselves to the ground with the consequence of death for noncompliance (Daniel 3:6). This is parallel to what will occur when Islam takes Jerusalem for its caliphate capitol. Sharia law will be instituted with mandatory worship at the sound of the azhan(Islamic music call to prayer) in which every one must "salat"(prostrate to the ground/ second pillar of islam) with the consequence of death for noncompliance. People will be killed for not worshiping the image of the beast, just like those who refused to worship the statue in Babylon were to be put to death by law according to the king of Babylons decree(Daniel 3:6). The Antichrist will make the decree of Sharia as he sits emulating a modern day king of Babylon ( explained prophetically further below). The False Prophet(fake Muslim “prophet Jesus”), the Second beast will be enforcing this decree as seen in Rev 13:15. Rev 13:15 “And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed." Rev 13:15 describes exactly play by play what happened in Daniel 3 in Babylon just swapping the statue of Nebuchadnezzar with the“image of the beast.” Rev 20:4 is another relevant verse in the end time scenario that confirms true believers are killed for not bowing down and worshiping an image: Rev 20:4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. It is important to reiterate that this scripture describes the Islamic form of waging jihad through beheading as prescribed by the Quran, previously discussed. More parallels of the future Jerusalem and ancient Babylon are seen when studying scripture. The Antichrist/Al-Mahdi in Rev 13:1-8, a world political leader is given power over “all kindreds(people), and tongues(languages), and nations” which will be through his Islamic Sharia decree. 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." The Antichrist will play the role of the modern king of Babylon(Jerusalem) using the Sharia decree the same way the decree of ancient Babylon in Daniel 3 was forced on all kindreds (people), nations and languages( tongues): Dan 3:4 Then an herald cried aloud, To you it is commanded, O people, nations, and languages," The devil working through the Antichrist is trying to be like God and have authority over all people. This was manifested in ancient Babylon and what we see through scripture will be manifested in the future Babylon the Great, aka Jerusalem. God will allow this for only a short season before destroying the Antichrist Kingdom and coming back to be the only one worthy to be worshiped by all people with a dominion that is everlasting: Dan 7:13 I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him. Dan 7:14 And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed. A significant revelation ( including the king of Babylon paralleling the Antichrist's coming role ) is revealed when looking at the First beast/ Antichrist described as being like a leopard, with feet of a bear, and having the mouth of a lion in Rev 13:2: 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 interpretation is found when looking in the book of Daniel. Dan 7:4-6 describes Kings that have historically ruled, likening each one to a leopard, bear, and lion, before the chapter goes on to describe the Antichrist's coming rule. Let us look at these three kings and how their former rulings relate to the coming Antichrist's rule. The first King is described as being like a lion: Dan 7:3 And four great beasts came up from the sea, diverse one from another. Dan 7:4 The first was like a lion, and had eagle's wings: I beheld till the wings thereof were plucked, and it was lifted up from the earth, and made stand upon the feet as a man, and a man's heart was given to it. Dan 7:17 These great beasts, which are four, are four kings, which shall arise out of the earth. The “lion” represents the king of Babylon. Let us look at the interpretation of the “lion” representing the king of Babylon. We are told the “beasts” are kings. The first king is like a lion which is the king of Babylon as confirmed in the prophecy of Jer 4:7,49:19. The fulfillment of the king of Babylon getting his “wings plucked” from Dan 7:4 is seen in Dan 4:16,22,33, Archeology confirms this interpretation as well. “The This is the Ancient Babylonian lion on the Lion of Babylon symbolically represented the King of Ishtar Gate in Babylon Babylon.”