Thus far we have established that a powerful man will appear on the world
political stage and cause almost the entire world to follow him. He will do
this by means of his supernatural powers which he will utilize to deceive
the nations. He will have another man join him as a powerful religious ally.
This man is called the False Prophet. Together they will broker a peace deal
between the Jews and the Arab nations that surround them.
At present, the Muslim people are awaiting the emergence of their own
prophet who is called the 12th Imam or Mahdi. Several hundred
years ago the Mahdi, as a boy of about 12, went into hiding and disappeared
into a deep well. But soon, they believe, he will emerge from this well to
lead Islam in a series of military victories over of her enemies.
The Jews also are awaiting the coming of their true Messiah. For they do
not believe Jesus was the promised Messiah. So we have two powerful
communities both waiting for a charismatic leader to arise and lead them to
both victory and peace.
And in the Book of Revelation it is prophesied that two powerful men will
indeed arise in the future. The Antichrist and the False Prophet. They will
go forth as peace makers and will broker a deal between the Jews and the
Arabs. This is the key to world peace. For, without peace in the Middle
East, there can be no world peace.
Could it be that this man, who is coming in the stead of Christ, and who
will declare “I am Christ,” will be acceptable to the Jews as the real
Messiah? And by the same token, the False Prophet, who is to rise from the
earth, could it be that he will promote himself as the long awaited Mahdi,
and will deceive the Muslim faithful into believing that it is he?
The parallels are intriguing. All the more so when you realize that the
President of Iran, for instance, regularly speaks of the coming nearness of
the Mahdi and even predicted that he might emerge last March! And the
situation between Israel and surrounding Arab nations is looking more
perilous with each passing day.
You might wonder how it is that the writings of Islam, such as the Koran,
have prophetic writings at all as we Christians in the West do not believe
that they are inspired by the one true God. Indeed you might further
contemplate how it is that these prophecies of Islam are so near to the
prophecies contained in the Book of Revelation in regard to the coming of
these two future powerful leaders. But when you research how it was that
Mohammad received his revelations it becomes clear who it was that provided
the dictation for the Koran etc.
For we are told that there appeared to Mohammad a bright angel dressed in
white and declared to him that he was to be a prophet to the Arab people and
that he was to faithfully record all the words of this messenger from God.
When we hear this immediately light bulbs go on in our heads and we remember
that it was the serpent that beguiled Eve through his subtlety , and no
marvel,
“…for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.” 2 Cor 11:3,14
Now, the devil knows the scriptures better than you and I. Remember he
was able to quote verbatim from the Psalms when he was endeavoring to get
Jesus to throw himself off the pinnacle of the Temple in Jerusalem. He
plucked out a verse and quoted “It is written.” Of course he was quoting out
of context but that is another day’s work.
The point is, the devil knows the Book of Revelation back ways and upside
down. And why wouldn’t he? After all, it deals with his demise and eternal
damnation. So he would need to know it thoroughly in order to try to subvert
it in any way he could so as to avert his final outcome. So as master
counterfeiter and as an angel of light, his prophecies will closely mirror
the truth of the scriptures and at the same time fit his own plans to
deceive the world and cause the complete destruction of man.
Incidentally, the Antichrist is often called the man of perdition which
means destruction. The names given to him in Revelation 9 are Abaddon and
Apollyon and we are told these mean “destruction” or “the destroyer.” And
later we are told that “he goes to his destruction.” This sounds like he
himself is going to be destroyed. But it means that he goes out to destroy
the world. And he almost succeeds for by the end of the Apocalypse circa
two-thirds of the population of the world are dead.
So two men will arise on the world’s political stage and will be
acceptable to both the Muslim and Jewish peoples. But what of the rest of
earth’s populace? Well if this coming Messiah will be welcomed by God’s
chosen people, the Jews, it is not a large step to see that he will also be
adored by the rest of “Christendom.” Who am I referring to? Well take me as
being reared a Catholic in Ireland. We are considered a Christian country.
But it is nominal Christianity. For Catholics in this country know very
little of Christ or of his teachings.
Neither do Irish people know of his saving grace, the second coming or
who he really is. Proclaiming Catholics in this country as being true
Christians is like me saying I am a motor mechanic, but I don’t know how to
change the oil in your car! In short, I knew little of Jesus or the Word or
the truths of scripture until I had an epiphany as a 24 year old. The same
is true, by and large, of all the one billion or so Catholics all over the
world. We know a lot about the traditions of the Church and the various
rites and rituals that it teaches, but know nothing of the real message of
the Lord. It was ever thus. The blind leading the blind.
The same goes for the rest of the so-called Christian churches, both
Protestant and otherwise. They teach the traditions of men and ignore the
precepts of God. They are Christian in mere name but not in word or
practice. So when the imitation Messiah arrives claiming to be Christ, and
exhibiting signs, miracles and wonders, here is another billion or more
which will swallow his deception hook, line and sinker.
The coming Antichrist will be a great orator. Listen to what Daniel 7:8
says of him, referred to here as “a little horn.”
“While I was thinking about the horns, there before me was another horn,
a little one, which came up among them; and three of the first horns were
uprooted before it.
This horn had eyes like the eyes of a man, and a mouth that spoke
boastfully.” (NIV)
The KJV says; “…and a mouth speaking great things.”
He will be the most powerful and charismatic political leader ever to
take office. Clarence Larkin in his book, Dispensational Truths says of this
man;
“He will be a composite man. One who embraces in his character the
abilities of Nebuchadnezzar, Alexander the Great and Caesar Augustus. He
will have the marvelous gift of attracting unregenerate men. And the
irresistible fascination of his personality, his versatile attainments,
superhuman wisdom, great administrative and executive ability, along with
his powers as a consummate flatterer, a brilliant diplomatist, a superb
strategist, will make him the most conspicuous and prominent of men. All
these gifts will be conferred on him by Satan, whose tool he will be.”
I bet he will be better looking than Sean Connery, Elvis and George
Clooney put together and the women will love him. He will be able to charm
the birds off a tree.
But who is this man and from whence does he come? Is he a human who is
now being groomed by Satan to step into the limelight in a short time when
his moment arrives? Have we seen him on TV and is he known to us? A well
known politician from the EU or a rising star in US politics perhaps? Or an
Arab prince who is Oxford educated and speaks 9 languages fluently and has
oil wealth beyond out wildest dreams?
No. He is none of these. For who he is and where he abides is clearly
given in plain speech in scripture. And he will not be seen by any human eye
until after the “falling away.” Then and only then will the man of sin be
revealed.
Patrick Heron is bestselling author of Apocalypse Soon (Anomolos
Publishing
www.survivormall.com)
and The Nephilim and the Pyramid of the Apocalypse (Kensington
www.neph.ie).
