Is the Islamic Savior the Biblical AntiChrist?

We are being bombarded by things apocalyptic from every angle and there seems to be no end in sight. As 2012 approaches, I believe “end times” infatuation will explode exponentially. We are being inundated from every angle. A group of astronomers have joined to debunk the 2012 Doomsday theories. Consider the list of supposed doomsday triggering events or objects: Planetary alignment; Galactic alignment i.e. solstice, black hole and dark rift; Doomsday objects e.g. Nibiru, Planet X, asteroids, comets etc.; Magnetic pole shift; Rotational pole shift; Solar flares…and the list goes on and on.

The other day while on WorldNet Daily, I noticed an ad for “The Islamic AntiChrist” (right). The Christian bookstores are inundated with these types of "end times" reads. Is it possible that the coming Islamic messiah is in fact the Biblical antichrist? How can we know? Are we at the mercy of these "last days" prophetic speculators? Is there truly no hope for the rest of us in our quest to be faithful Bereans "seeing if these things are so?"

(2012 trailer)

It seems as though the steady diet of antiChrists, 666, embedded micro-chips and overall gloom & doom (even emanating from the secular world), is surreptitiously laying the ground work for more apathy and confusion within the Christian community. These books are continually repackaged with a few key date and player changes, yet few of us seem to be keeping score.

Listen, I don't doubt the sincerity of any of these authors, but is this a justifiable reason for not holding their feet to the fire of accountability? Since many of us do not possess a sound interpretational approach to Scripture, we are constantly being driven and tossed by the winds of these predictions.

Try as we may to turn a deaf ear to these constant prognostications, they unwittingly take their toll far beneath the cognitive processes of the brain. When anything negative happens i.e. a kidnapping, a disease outbreak or we witness blatant evidence of our ensuing cultural breakdown, it's not long before we hear something to the effect of, "It's just a sign of the times." The inference? It's only going to get worse so just buckle down, grin and bear it...before you know it we'll be raptured out of this evil abode.

Recently, I was visiting a church in another city. The Sunday school lesson centered on chapter 2 of Paul's second letter to the Thessalonians. Apparently some of the the Brethren living in Thessalonica were under the false understanding that the Lord Jesus had already returned. Seems rather preposterous that they were so far off given our current expectations, doesn't it? Have you ever wondered how they could have been so confused?

Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, we ask you, ² not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us, as though the day of Christ had come. 2 Thessalonians 2:1-2

How they could have thought their Messiah had already come if His return was to mark the cataclysmic end of planet earth, is certainly a question worth pondering. And why did they miss the timing so badly? 2,000 years off! Or did they?

Actually it's not really difficult to understand their plight given their Lord's rather emphatic statements that He would return within a generation, while some of His followers were still alive and before His disciples finished going through the cities of Israel. (Mt 10:23; 16:27-28; 24:34) Coupling these expectations with the really intense statements of the NT author's (Heb 10:36-37, James 5:8-9, 1 John 2:18; 1 Peter 4:7, 1 Cor 10:31, 1 Cor 7:29-31) and there's no wonder the persecuted Thessalonians thought they missed this great cloud coming event.

So as the discussion wound down in that Sunday school class we were exhorted much the same way Paul challenged these troubled men and women who feared they missed the Lord. Slightly paraphrased, our class leader charged us with this. "Men, it's going to get a whole lot worse out there so hunker down and get ready. I don't know how long it will be, but I feel that it's going to be soon."

I find it fascinating that we are prone to the same sense of imminent expectations they felt in Paul's day. Two thousand years ago the Apostle Paul wrote, "The time is short...for the form of this world is passing away." This sounds eerily familiar doesn't it? Don't we say the same thing? Have you ever wondered how a man inspired by the Spirit of God could be so far off? Do you see the predicament? Somebody's wrong on this one. It's either Jesus, Peter, Paul, John or it's us.

People are even being lead to believe that financial doom is part and parcel of this near-term (we are told) cataclysmic collapse that's a precursor to the end...that it's part of the "birth pains" prophesied in Matthew 24:8, 1 Thes 5:3 and Romans 8:22. Yet nowhere does Jesus predict high unemployment rates, a stock market collapse or crippling gas prices. But even if He did, consider the unemployment rates throughout the Depression Era. For 11 years during this very difficult time, unemployment was higher than it is now . And for 4 of those years it was double our present rate.

The sheer weight of this multimedia blitzkrieg is affecting us far more than we realize. We simply cannot escape the impact of men like that well-meaning Sunday school leader who is convinced that all of the tumblers are falling into their final place. The mere fact that so many believe the Gospel's 2,000 year reign and extraordinary Kingdom expansion is going to be defeated by the forces of evil, should be enough to cause all to pause.

Eschatology is clearly not a foundational doctrine and one we should never divide over, but unfortunately, in it's presently accepted form, it is creating many beneath-the-surface expectations that I believe are rather unhealthy and unBiblical. Isn't it possible for the "Left Behindology" to have precipitated a self-fulfilling prophecy? "For as he thinks within his heart, so he is." (Prov 23:7) Could the signs of moral decay be the result of taking ourselves out of the game instead of some sort of proof that the last days are upon us?

Let me ask you this? What happens if we are wrong? What if we are encouraging an Armageddon that is not destined by God?...that actually stands contrary to His Word and against a foe that may be a future target of God's grace and mercy? What if this presumed world-ending clash took place almost 2,000 years ago between the spring of 66 to the fall of 70 AD? Preposterous? Is it possible that Peter, John and Paul were not mistaken? What if there is a mass conversion of the Muslims on our horizon? Is this too large a task for God?

Not unlike the rest of the boatload of these prolific apocalyptic money-makers, The Islamic Antichrist touts a “devastating account” leading up to the world’s demise. It’s uniqueness (although it is a carbon copy of a similar work from the 1920s) and intrigue springs from it’s boldness (in my opinion) to compare the Biblical antichrist with the Islamic savior. In the synopsis we find, “The Bible predicts that in the last days a charismatic leader will establish a global following in the name of peace.” Oh really? Where these authors come up with this stuff only their hairdresser knows for sure. :)

This book can be discredited from simply analyzing the sensationalism of its synopsis.

1. The New Testament authors made it clear that they were nearing the end of the “last days” in the first century. (1 Cor 7:29,31; 1 Pet 4:7; Heb 10:36-37; 1 Cor 10:11; Heb 1:1-2; 1 Peter 1:20)
2. The Apostle John offered proof that he was living in the “last hour” by the fact that many false Christs (antichrists) had already come. “…by which we KNOW that it is the last hour.” This fulfilled Jesus’ prediction in the Olivet that “false prophets will rise up and deceive many. “
3. The word “antichrist” never appears in the book of Revelation and John only uses it 4 times in two of his three epistles. As far as the Apostle John’s testimony is concerned, all the fuss over identifying THE modern day antichrist is absolutely baseless.
4. Notice (below) John tells us that “the spirit of the antichrist” was already in the world 2,000 years ago. Just because there are and have been many evil rulers and regimes, does not mean that any qualify as THE antichrist, since there’s no Biblical mention of a single antichrist much less one that’s 2,000 years old. =) Hitler was “anti-Christ” and so was Stalin, Mussolini and Napoleon.

For many will come in My name, saying, 'I am the Christ,' and will deceive many. 11 Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. Matthew 24:5, 11 [The Apostle John said this was fulfilled by the writing of his epistles – somewhere in the mid 60s AD – yet for some reason many ignore his testimony]

Little children, it is the last hour; and as you have heard that the Antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come, by which we know that it is the last hour. 1 John 2:18

and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world. 1 John 4:3

My hope is that we will stop buying these books and encourage others to do the same, lest we continue to cause the credibility of the Scriptures to suffer. I’m not insinuating that people like Joel Richardson are insincere. I believe they are definitely committed to their views. What I do question are their guiding hermeneutical principles.

Few seem to care that hundreds of these books fly off the shelves and yet not one of them has been right. I’m hoping we begin applying pressure on these authors to be accountable when they’re wrong. And why this obsession with antichrists anyway? Shouldn't Jesus Christ be our primary focus?

Eschatological Musings - Gary DeMar

Gary talks about his radio interview with Neil Boron regarding the "end times". Grant Jeffrey', who was to follow DeMar, espouses the typical view held by most Christians today. Is the end near? There are social, moral, and political implications in place to make such eschatological assertions.



Gary argues that one's eschatological conclusions will affect a whole host of issues. The "signs" that many use to "prove" that we are in fact living in the "last days" are actually much less prevalent now then they have been throughout history. Consider the fact that the "Black Death" killed tens of millions and between 25-40% of the European population. In my view, we have a very poor historical aptitude and therefore are subject to the assumptions of the prophecy speculators.

We have developed so many errant presuppositions that never seem to be questioned. Where in the NT does it state that Israel becoming a nation in '48 is a fulfillment of prophecy? Where do we find even one NT text prophesying a rebuilt temple? Why is it that Jesus is returning "soon" now when all of the verses using this kind of language were written almost 2,000 years ago? The current eschatological model isn't simply broken, in my view it needs to be scrapped.

The TRUTH Project - Creating a Christian Worldview

The TRUTH Project is a marvelous 12 part series with the intent to help create a Biblical world and life view.

"In a recent study, the Barna Research Group revealed a stunning statistic that continues to reverberate throughout the evangelical world. Only 9 percent of professing Christians have a biblical worldview."

Because of this, today's believers live very similarly to non-believers. A personal sense of significance is rarely experienced, we spend our money and time on things that fail to satisfy and we begin to wonder what life's ultimate purpose really is. We are, in short, losing our bearings as a people and a nation."

In order to make disciples of all nations, I believe it is imperative that more than 9% of Christians develop a Biblical worldview. Our nation has lost its way in large part because too many Christians (including yours truly until 4 short years ago) are aimless, fearful and confused. Do we believe the Gospel has the capacity to reform planet earth or are the doom and gloom prophecy pundits correct? Should we become involved in all areas of life, or is it simply too late? If we think best sellers like "The Late Great United States - What Bible Prophecy Reveals about America's Last Days" have no effect on our resolve to make disciples of all nations, I believe we are naive.

The incessant bombardment of these kinds of apocalyptic books (that I believe have little Scriptural foundation) are helping create a generation of Christians who actually believe the Gospel is in route to defeat at the hands of the dark forces of the antichrist and the new world order. But what does Scripture say about these matters? Did God really set us up for defeat? Did Christ's death and bodily resurrection (overcoming sin and death) only have a personal salvific application? Or is the saving grace of Jesus as manifested by the power of the resurrection and the infestation of the Holy Spirit, going to overcome the world, the flesh and the devil?

When He had disarmed the rulers and authorities, He made a public display of them, having triumphed over them through Him. Col 2:15

Therefore, since the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same, that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, ¹⁵ and might free those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives. Heb 2:14-15

You are from God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world... ⁴ For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. ⁵ Who is the one who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? 1 John 4:4; 1 John 5:4-5

It seems that if we continue to believe the "time is short" and the "form of this world is passing away" in our generation (removing these statements from their original immediate context), many will see little need in reforming our paradigms in accord with God's Word. I continue to hear statements like, "Let's convert as many as we can before the final collapse and the dissolution of planet earth."

If we transport the expectations of the inevitable moral decline (prophesied by the Apostle Paul as he referenced the "last days" of Old Covenant Judaism in Timothy's day - 2 Tim 3:1-13) to the 21st century, how will the paradigm shift-changing TRUTH Project have maximum benefit? If we believe the Gospel's effectiveness is going to be increasingly stunted and ultimately turned away, and if we think that through Christ we cannot have a significant impact in the reversal of evil, what is the use in continuing to polish brass on what too many believe is a sinking ship? What the TRUTH Project gives, our modern day eschatological assumptions unwittingly take away. Therefore I believe we must develop a Christian worldview espoused by the TRUTH Project and in consort begin to recognize the need to revolutionize our eschatological assumptions.

I believe series like The TRUTH Project are an absolute must if we are to fulfill our mandate to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world. I hope you will prayerfully consider involvement as this TTP comes to your city. My church, Bay Life Church (Brandon, FL), is hosting this series beginning on Wednesday, August 26, 2009 (my 31st Anniversary!) at our 60 campus. I hope to see you there.

As I have attempted to share time and again, one's eschatological presuppositions (although clearly not foundational to our faith) have and will continue to affect our expectations. Gary DeMar, in his small book, "Is Jesus Coming Soon", offers a Biblical "end times" view that is in diametric opposition to that of most of our modern day prophetic speculators. In order to see the need for developing a well-rounded Christian world and life view offered by The TRUTH project, I believe it is necessary to create expectations that fall in line with the overcoming nature of the Gospel.

I also highly recommend an audio series entitled "Last Days", found at www.charlescoty.com/audio2.html. Scroll down near the bottom right under "Dan Norcini". These sermons will absolutely blow you away. Dan is thoughtful, humble, as Scripturally literate as any you will find, and he is adept at creating a sound Biblical argument. Enjoy! And don't forget to tune in to a TRUTH Project near you.