In the previous two articles, I shared that at the end of the age we will face two great spiritual dangers—the Great Apostasy and the Great Deception. Both are tied with the rise of the Antichrist. The apostasy or turning away occurs due to the persecution his rise brings. Specifically, this will be done as beheadings. The miracles and amazing works performed by the False Prophet on behalf of the Antichrist will cause the deception and delusion. These two devasting faith challenges will entrap many. The fear of a gruesome death and the stunning intrigue of the wonders connected with a possible messiah-figure Antichrist will be a trap—a trap I believe may already be set.
If you’ve been tracking through my past two series of articles “The Location of the Antichrist” and “Future Headlines” then my next few questions may be easy for you. Would you think through with me these factors and consider the possible end time scenario that is forming?
Questions
Where is the center stage of the end times events? It’s Jerusalem, Israel, and Israel’s neighbors. Another words, it’s the Middle East.
Where does the Biblical evidence of the origin of the Antichrist, such as Magog, the north, Javan, and others point to his empire rising from? The evidence seems to all point to modern-day Turkey.
What empire does Revelation 17:9-11 point to coming back as the final empire of the Antichrist? The Ottoman Empire or Islamic Caliphate ruled from Turkey.
What type of execution for Christians have been characteristic of the Islamic Caliphate throughout history? Beheadings.
You see where I’m going don’t you?
A Revived Ottoman Empire or Islamic Caliphate
If we add this up, the Biblical evidence seems to strongly point to the Antichrist being the leader of a revived Ottoman Empire or Islamic Caliphate. Therefore, what is likely to be the religion of the Antichrist and False Prophet?
There’s no doubt it would be Islam. There isn’t a distinction of the Ottoman Empire apart from Islam. Its leader is seen as not just a political leader, but a religious one as well.
Therefore, I believe it’s highly likely that the religion of the Antichrist and False Prophet will be Islam.
Most prophecy teachers over the past several decades have taught that a one world religion would rise in the end times. They present the idea that with the rise of the Antichrist the world would become engulfed in a new singular religion. This is nearly impossible. Christianity is the largest religion on the globe today, and it has been spreading for 2,000 years. Islam is number two and it’s been spreading for 1,400 years. The idea a brand-new religion could appear in 3.5 or 7 years seems crazy to me.
Now we can’t find that the religion of the Antichrist will be Islam anywhere in Scripture. Assuming things is usually dangerous ground, but the evidence points to this possibility. And because of the danger such a reality would bring it’s important we consider the possibility. If this is the case, the trap of the Great Apostasy and Great Deception has been set. It was set in 610 AD and currently has 24% of the world’s population ensnared. The Pew Research Center forecasts that by 2050 AD, Islam will catch and surpass Christianity as the world largest religion.
The Great Deception Trap is Set
When projecting an end time scenario, it seems easier to propose wild grandiose ideas, but the end of the age will happen on the same earth we live in now. The actual end of the age will be rooted in the world as we know it. The idea of the Antichrist or False Prophet starting a brand-new religion is hard to conceive. But we know what a steamrolling Islamic Caliphate could look like.
We know how people are deceived into Islam. We know the oppression within Islam. And we know the persecution Islam can bring on this world. We’ve seen the news footage of beheadings.
For this reason, I believe it’s important to consider Islam being the religion of the Antichrist and his coalition of nations.
If the False Prophet’s miracles are performed on behalf of Islam this should become even more concerning when the Islamic end times view is considered. The Islamic end times is the exact opposite of the Christian view.
The description of their Messiah matches our description of the Antichrist. The description of their Jesus who returns is identical to our description of the False Prophet. And the description of their Dajjal (Antichrist) is identical to our description of Jesus.
I will dive into this more in my next article, but you can begin to see this twist would greatly intensify the Great Deception.
This article first appeared in Jake’s syndicated column Stand Firm & Live Epic as published in The Baptist Trumpet and other publications. After three months the articles are adapted and published here. To read the articles at release subscribe here.
Executive Director of Stand Firm and lead pastor of Epic Church NWA in Springdale, AR and multiple award-winning author, Jake has a B.A. in Bible and Pastoral Studies from Central Baptist College, and an Advanced Masters of Divinity from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Former regular contributor to the Baptist Press and WND News with popular conservative voices such as Pat Buchanan, Ann Coulter, Ben Carson, Chuck Norris, Greg Laurie, Ben Schapiro, Joel Richardson, and others. He now is a weekly contributor for Israel, Islam, and the End Times and Armageddon News. He has authored books such as the, award-winning Spiritual Prepper from WND Books. Award-winning devotional books, Invincibleand For Uncertain Times, he authored the ground-breaking children’s book, Jesus and His White Horse from CrossLink Publishing. He is also a regular guest on national and international radio and streaming web shows, along with hosting his weekly live streaming program Talking Stand Firm and weekly podcast Stand Firm Parents.
