 |
Will the Antichrist be a Muslim? Twelve different Bible prophecy experts were asked this question. The following three of the twelve answered "Yes" or "Mabye."
Ray Gano
I actually believe that the Antichrist will be of Hebrew descendent — Hebrew blood — but also practice the Muslim religion, and I use Daniel 11:37 to illustrate this. It talks in there that he shall not regard the god of his fathers in this phrase "god of his fathers," which is always associated to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. In fact, this statement "god of his fathers" is only used five times in Scripture. In every time it is associated to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. So I look at that.
Another thing that I look at is that we learn in Genesis 49:17 the tribe of Dan (these are last day prophecies that Jacob gave to his sons) and it says in Genesis 49:17, "That a serpent shall cause the rider to fall backwards." So, there is possibility that he actually may come out of the tribe of Dan. I also use Revelation 7:1-8 to back this up because this, the chapter where it talks about the 144,000 Dan is not named in the 144,000. So, there is speculation here or there is Scriptural evidence here I believe that shows that he will have Hebrew ancestry.
Yet, on the other side, he will also practice the Muslim religion, because we go to Daniel 11:38 and it says, "He shall honor the god of forces; and the god whom his fathers knew not." And so, he will not regard the god of his fathers Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. He will honor the god of forces, or a god of war which I believe is Allah, and it is a god that his fathers knew not. Abraham, Isaac and Jacob did not know about Allah, did not have any conception of Allah.
Another verse that people point to often is showing that he comes from the people of the prince. The verse they use is Daniel 9:26. And, in this, people often say that he comes from Rome. I believe that he comes from the Roman Empire, but I don't believe that he is Italian in descent, which a lot of people are pointing to. There's the Roman Empire. The eastern leg of the Roman Empire comes out of Constantinople, and Constantinople ruled for a 1,000 years after Rome ceded. And, the reason they point to this is the Tenth Legion of Rome that Titus invaded Israel and Jerusalem and overthrew that area in 70 AD. Titus was the only person who was pretty much of Roman descent, but he was an individual, not people plural. There was another individual. His associate's name was Tiberius Julius Alexander and he was actually the general that did all the work. Titus took the glory, Tiberius Julius did the work. Now the interesting thing is Tiberius Julius was actually an Egyptian Jew born in Alexandria. So, again, both of these people are individuals. It's the people of the prince. Well, history tells us the Tenth Legion was basically hired mercenaries, people from the area. That is what Rome always did. Any of the legions that Rome created they usually pulled from the local people right there. So the Tenth legion, who comprised of the Tenth Legion? They were Middle Eastern Arabs, Syrian, Moabites, Edomites — basically the enemies of Israel. Garrisons of the Tenth Legion were stationed in Judea, Samaria, Jerusalem, so forth, at no time were they ever stationed in Rome. It was only when Titus came back in victory when he entered Rome, and so it was the people of the prince, and I am saying that it is the people who invaded Israel and that was the Tenth Legion were the soldiers and not the individuals.
One more point is if he is of Roman or European descent — Italian descent — I question his names in Scripture. He is clearly called "the Assyrian." He is called the "Prince of Tyre." He is called "King of Babylon." He is called the "King Pharaoh of Egypt." These are all Middle Eastern titles, Middle Eastern names, and Middle Eastern places. If he was from either like Italy or Europe or something, why isn't he called the King of Italy, or the Duke of Germany, or the Prince of Rome, or something like that? I tend to read Scripture literally and maintain a basics in literalness and the golden rule of interpretation. I don't just dig into it more. And so, with these names I point to a Middle Eastern side.
Al Gist
I don't think there is sufficient evidence in the Bible to come to that conclusion. I am convinced he will be a Gentile. He will be the last great Gentile leader. The last kingdom will be the revived Roman Empire lead by the Antichrist. And, I think Daniel 2 gives us that time span for the time of the Gentiles, which began with the Babylonian Empire with Nebuchadnezzar and will end with the Antichrist and his Empire. So, I believe that he is the last great Gentile leader, but to say that he is a Muslim Gentile, I don't think we have enough evidence to say that positively.
One problem I have with that idea is the thought the Antichrist when he commits the abomination of desolation will sit in the Temple in Jerusalem and claim to be God. I just can't quite see a Muslim sitting in the Temple claiming to be Allah. I think that's a stretch and I just don't see it. So, I have my doubts about that. I think there is some evidence that he could possible be Syrian. And from that perspective, because Syria is mostly Muslim, I guess there is that possibility. I also believe the Muslims will have a large role to play in the Last Days events and wars. But I really wouldn't say positively that he's going to be Muslim, only that he would be a Gentile.
Phillip Goodman
I don't think it makes any difference and here is why, because the Antichrist during the initial stage of his rise is going to partner with all the religions of the world. And he is going to be part of the great harlot system. At that point, no Muslim would do that; no Jew would do that who were orthodox. He is not officially revealed as the Antichrist until the abomination of desolation and that is what the Lord says in Matthew 24:15 and Paul confirms it in Second Thessalonians. At that point, he rejects all the religions of the world. He rejects the gods of his fathers according to Daniel 11 and he exalts himself and magnifies himself above every so called god. So, in other words, there is no possible way he could be a Muslim, of course, and put Allah beneath his feet, which he will be doing at that point. He will exalt himself above every so called god including the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. So, he is going to be unique in that respect in all of history. Antiochus Epiphanies the strongest type of the Antichrist magnified himself to the extent that he claimed to be God manifest, but he didn't put himself above all gods. He put the god Jupiter in the temple and was a strong type of Antichrist, but this guy is unique in all of history.
So, where he comes from is the real question. Is he going to come from the area of Muslims, or where the Jews are? It is my belief that he will come from the Middle East. He will arise there. I think the Biblical evidence points in that direction. But, the time he is revealed he is not going to be a Muslim. He's not going to be a Jew. He is going to proclaim himself to be God and not identify with any other god. He is going to reject all the other gods.
This Q&A can also be watched on Christ in Prophecy.
In the next article, the remaining nine who were asked "Will the Antichrist be a Muslim?" will give their reasons why they answered "No."
