ProphecyNowArchive

Beloved, do not believe everyspirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, becausemany false prophets have gone out into the world. ² By this you know the Spirit of God:every spirit thatconfesses thatJesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God; ³ and every spirit thatdoes not confess Jesus is not from God; this is the spirit of theantichrist, of which you have heard that it is coming, andnow it is already in the world. ⁴ You are from God,little children, andhave overcome them; becausegreater is He who is in you thanhe who is in the world.

1 John 4:1-4 (NASB)

Recent events occurring in the world today should give any “True Believer” pause. We are indeed in the “End of Days”. Jesus said, referring to the signs that will precede His return, in Luke 21:28 “But when these things begin to take place, straighten up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.” NASB

Particularly notable is the recent visit to the UN and Columbia University this week of September 24^th 2007, by the leader of Iran - Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. The political aspects of his visit and speech at Columbia University aside, there is a much more critical underlying factor; at least to those of us who are “True Believers” of the Gospel of Jesus. That is his reference to the “Mahdi”.

The Mahdi is an end time Islamic messiah who; according to the Quran, Islam's holiest book, and the Hadith, a collection of Islamic holy writings that supplement the Quran; will come and bring about a time of justice, peace, and unification under Islam and Islamic law just prior to the final judgment. He is supposed to come after a time of great trials and confusions where the world will seem to be in danger of self destruction. This concept is accepted and expected by both Shiite and Sunni factions of Islam.

The Shiites, which include Ahmadinejad and the leadership of Iran, believe in the 12 Imams – infallible leaders or guides, the only source of religious instruction and guidance. Interestingly, Mahdi means the Guided One. They believe that the Mahdi is the 12^th Imam who went into hiding in 940, and will emerge at the right time to rule the world as the Mahdi – the Messiah. They also believe that they can hasten the return of the Mahdi by preparing the way through increased chaos and terror in the world!

According to the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting {IRIB} website; the world is now in its “last days”. The website claims that the Mahdi will appear first in Mecca then Medina. He will conquer all of Arabia, Syria, and Iraq; then destroy Israel and set up a global government based in Iraq (not Iran????). Kind of puts a new light on the war in Iraq.

Western politicians and analysts simply do not understand the importance of this Islamic Shiite eschatology in the Iranian foreign policy! The Islamic aggression we have witnessed in recent history can ultimately be traced back to them trying to prepare the way for their Islamic Messiah!

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and his following of

Islamic Mullahs

fervently believe the

Islamic Messiah Al Mahdi; is coming

back soon. They are driven by different goals and aspirations

than the politicians and diplomats

of the West and the UN. They are

convinced that it is their divine mission to hasten the return of the Mahdi by creating the conditions necessary for his return. That’s why they are invested in promoting and supporting anti-American violence in Iraq! For our leadership in the United States to think for an instant that we can negotiate and talk to these people, is not only short sighted and mistaken; it is extremely dangerous to our National Security.

The radical Islamic faction, the leaders of Iran, and Ahmadinejad are preparing for an apocalyptic war with the U.S. and Israel!

Now, how does this directly impact us as “True Believers?”

The Islamic Messiah as portrayed in the Quran and the Hadith sounds very similar to the Antichrist in Revelation and Daniel. The world power and influence in religious, economic, and social structures are reminiscent of the first beast in Revelation 13: 1-9;

“And the dragon stood on the sand of the seashore. Then I saw a beast coming up out of the sea, having ten horns and seven heads, and on his horns blasphemous names.

And the beast which I saw was like a leopard, and his feet were like those of a bear, and his mouth like the mouth of a lion. And the dragon gave him his power and his throne and great authority.I saw one of his heads as if it had been slain, and his fatal wound was healed. And the whole earth was amazed and followed after the beast, saying, ‘Who is like the beast, and who is able to wage war with him?’ There was given to him a mouth speaking arrogant words

and blasphemies, and authority to act for forty-two months was given to him. And he opened his mouth in blasphemies against

God, to blaspheme His name and His tabernacle, that is, those who dwell in heaven.
It was given to him
to make war with the saints and

to overcome them, and authority over every tribe and people and tongue and nation was given to him. All who dwell on the earth will worship him, everyone whose name has not been written from the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who has been slain.”
NASB

“Then the king (referring to the Antichrist) will do as he pleases, and he will exalt and magnify himself above every god and will speak monstrous things against the God of gods; and he will prosper until the indignation is finished, for that which is decreed will be done.He will show no regard for the gods of his fathers or for the desire of women, nor will he show regard for any other god; for he will magnify himself above them all. But instead he will honor a god of fortresses, a god whom his fathers did not know; he will honor him with gold, silver, costly stones and treasures. He will take action against the strongest of fortresses with the help of a foreign god; he will give great honor to those who acknowledge him and will cause them to rule over many,

and will parcel out land for a price.” (The land referenced here is Israel)

{verse 41} “He will also enter the Beautiful Land (Israel/Jerusalem), and many countries will fall; but these will be rescued out of his hand: Edom (Part of Jordan), Moab (south east of the Dead Sea) and the foremost of the sons of Ammon (just north of Edom and east of the Dead Sea). Then he will stretch out his hand against other countries, and the land of Egypt will not escape. But he will gain control over the hidden treasures of gold and silver and over all the precious things of Egypt; and Libyans and Ethiopians will follow at his heels.”
NASB

( Just a side note; the lands mentioned here that are rescued out of his hand, is the route from Israel to, and location of, “Petra”. Believed to be the place of refuge for those Jews and others that are saved during the first half of the “Tribulation”; when they are told to flee Jerusalem in Revelation 12.)

The Islamic writings give very explicit descriptions of their Mahdi;

Quotes from the Hadith:

"Imam Mahdi will return at the head of the forces of righteousness and do battle with the forces of evil in one, final, apocalyptic battle. When evil has been defeated once and for all, the Imam Mahdi will rule the world for several years under a perfect government and bring about a perfect spirituality among the peoples of the world. After the Imam Mahdi has reigned for several years, Jesus Christ will return"

"Al Mahdi: His forehead will be broad and his nose will be high. He will fill the world with justice and fairness at a time when the world will be filled with oppression. He will rule for seven years."

"Allah will give Al-Mahdi the ability to righteously rule the Muslim nation in the span of a night. He will fill the earth with justice, as it was filled with injustice. He will lead the Muslim nation to the second conquering of Constantinople and possibly Rome."

According to Shiite Islamic scholars; Jesus will not come as the Son of God, or even a leader, but will serve as a deputy to the Mahdi to destroy the infidels. They claim that: “Imam Mahdi will be the leader while Prophet Jesus will act as his lieutenant in the struggle against oppression and establishment of justice in the world.”

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The Bible describes a time during the great tribulation when the Antichrist sweeps into Jerusalem to take control and the Children of God flee. If the Jews and other “true believers” flee from Jerusalem, who would immediately move in? The Muslims. Additionally, any Muslim who had the ability to liberate Jerusalem from Jewish hands would be considered a hero throughout the Islamic world.

<4>
Finally, Islam teaches that Jesus was born of Mary and was a great prophet but that he is not the Son of God. Muslims teach that it is not possible for God to have a son. This opposing view of Jesus is one of the greatest distinctions between Islam and Christianity.

Remember, the apostle John gave us clues on how to identify Antichrist. According to 1 John 2:22, the spirit of antichrist and 'The Antichrist' always deny three things:

1) Both deny the deity of Jesus Christ

2) Both deny that Jesus Christ is the
Son of God.

             3) Both deny the relationship between
           Father and the Son.

The evil time foretold by Jesus is here.     “..... but an hour is coming for everyone who kills you to think that he is offering service to God. ( can you say Islamic Terrorism – Jihad) These things they will do because they have not known the Father or Me.”
John 16:2,3   NASB