The Antichrist
Revelation 13 provides an overview of the end-time scenario hinted at throughout Scripture. In this chapter, the Apostle John shares a vision of a beast coming from the earth and a beast from the sea. It’s easy to get lost in the beast terminology, but the details are consistent with end-time prophecy elsewhere. The first beast or beast from the sea matches details of the Antichrist while the second beast introduces a new figure—the false prophet. Beyond his actions the description of this second beast points to him being a deceiver, and I believe his role leads directly to the great deception.
Hopefully, you’ve caught previous articles, we’ve been building towards this frightful possible end-time scenario. We began identifying through countless Biblical evidence that the Antichrist will be from the Middle East and likely the leader of a revived Ottoman Empire or Islamic Caliphate. Then we examined whether there would be a Great Deception at the time of his rise. There is ample scriptural evidence of those things, but they’ve led me to do something I try to avoid—speculate.
I’m speculating the possibility that the “one world religion” of the Antichrist isn’t something new that pops up in the final seven years. Instead, I believe it’s highly likely the religion of the Antichrist will be Islam. Therefore, the Great Deception would be related to Islam, and we may have insight into what this delusion could be through Islamic eschatology. Their end-times teachings present three figures like Christianity, but they’re figures are the exact opposite.
Similarities Between Islam and Christianity
In Christianity, we have the Antichrist, the False Prophet, and a returning Jesus. They have a Mahdi (their Messiah), a returning Jesus, and the Dajjal (their Antichrist). In the last article, I shared their Messiah matches the Antichrist. The matching is uncanny—an obvious counterfeit. You can see what a deception this would be if a man who was truly the Antichrist came, was received by the Muslim world as their Messiah, and then non-Muslims would begin to think Islam was the truth all along. Adding to this would be that non-Muslims would be beheaded for not converting and there will be the greatest deception the earth has ever seen. Difficult indeed.
This brings me to what I believe is the most deceptive part of this scenario.
The False Prophet
As stated, Revelation 13 is where we learn about the False Prophet. We read He will perform great miracles and wonders on behalf of the Antichrist. He’ll draw the world in to worship the Antichrist because of these wonders. Matthew 24 and 2 Thessalonians 2, point to the deception these counterfeit miracles will bring. Even before the details of the False Prophet’s description gives his nature away.
Then I saw a second beast, coming out of the earth. It had two horns like a lamb, but it spoke like a dragon. – Revelation 13:11
Think about what John saw in this vision representing the False Prophet. He saw it looked like or presented itself as a lamb. The lamb of course, is what Jesus is referred to throughout Scripture, but especially in Revelation. Then John said though he appeared like a lamb, he spoke like a dragon. Within Revelation, John refers to Satan as a dragon. At a minimum we draw that the False Prophet will not be who he claims.
John also reveals his actions.
It [the False Prophet] exercised all the authority of the first beast [Antichrist] on its behalf, and made the earth and its inhabitants worship the first beast…And it performed great signs, even causing fire to come down from heaven to the earth in full view of the people. Because of the signs it was given power to perform on behalf of the first beast, it deceived the inhabitants of the earth. – Revelation 13:13-14
So, this prophet who pretends to be one thing good, but is really doing the work of Satan performs miracles and leads the world to worship the Antichrist.
Now within Islam, Jesus is considered a prophet and is said to return. He returns at the end of the age, and he does exactly what John said the False Prophet would do. He is typically referred to as Isa in Islam.
Characteristics of the Islamic Antichrist
Check out this list from Joel Richardson’s Islamic Antichrist on Islam’s view of their Jesus.
- Jesus is said to return to the earth in the last days near a mosque in Damascus.
- He will arrive at a time when the Mahdi and his army will be preparing to pray.
- The Mahdi will ask Jesus to lead the prayer, but Jesus will decline in direct deference to the Mahdi, whom Jesus declares to be the leader of the Muslims. He will then pray behind the Mahdi as a subordinate.
- He will be a faithful Muslim.
- He will make a pilgrimage to Mecca.
- He will visit Muhammad’s grave and salute Muhammad, whereby Muhammad will return the salute from the grave.
- He will destroy Christianity.
- He will repeal the jizya tax, thus leaving Jews and Christians with the only options of conversion to Islam or death.
- He will establish Islamic shariah law throughout the entire earth.
- He will kill the Dajjal (the Muslim Antichrist) and his followers, made up of Jews and women.
- He will remain on the earth for roughly forty years, during which time He will marry, have children, and then die.
The Great Deception Trap
Can you imagine if one believed to be the Muslim Messiah was accepted? Then he brought peace and prosperity. Then one believed to be Jesus appears and does miracles but declares the Mahdi to be the true Messiah.
Can you imagine if one believed to be the Muslim Messiah was accepted? Then he brought peace and prosperity. Then one believed to be Jesus appears and does miracles but declares the Mahdi to be the true Messiah. Share on XA great deception.
Possibly, a trap that’s already been set.
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.
