The Mahdi (Messiah) of Islam

The Mahdi (Messiah) of Islam

I. Introduction

The sea beast in Revelation 13—this Antichrist—could it be the Mahdi (Messiah) of Islam? In Chinese Christian circles, whenever the topic of the Antichrist arises, people tend to focus first on Western nations, linking it to conspiracy theories involving the Freemasons, the Illuminati, etc. Most never consider that the Antichrist might emerge from Middle Eastern Islam.

The Christian world knows far too little about Islam! Thus, when discussing end-times prophecies, it’s easy to exclude Muslims from the pool of potential Antichrist candidates. The core regions of Islam include the Middle East, North Africa, and South Asia—areas with relatively little interaction with the Chinese world. For example, in Taiwan, an island nation, there are very few Muslim communities.

II. Islam

1. Origins

Islam originated in the 7th century AD on the Arabian Peninsula, founded by Muhammad. Muhammad was born around 570 AD. As an adult, he became a merchant. At 25, he married Khadijah, a wealthy widow, which provided him financial stability and became crucial support for his later preaching.

2. Scriptures (Quran, Hadith)

The primary scripture of Islam is the Quran, supplemented by the Hadith, which records Muhammad’s words, deeds, and interpretations of the Quran.

These scriptures are primarily in Arabic, Persian, and Urdu. Though translations exist, many concepts are difficult to convey accurately.

Most Chinese Christians do not actively read Islamic scholarly works. Thus, they know very little about this global faith with 1.9 billion followers, making it the second-largest religion in the world (Christianity has 2.2 billion).

3. Many Biblical Figures Appear in the Quran

Muhammad believed that leading the Arabs required religious power. However, creating an entirely new religious system was too difficult, so he copied and altered biblical teachings, producing another scripture.

This is why the Quran contains many biblical figures—but with altered names:

• Adam → Adam (Ādam)

• Noah → Nuh (Noah)

• Abraham → Ibrahim

• Moses → Musa

• Jesus → Isa (ʿĪsā)

Islam teaches that the God of Judaism and Christianity is Allah, the one true God they worship.

4. Doctrine

Islam believes that the Jews were wrong to reject Jesus, but Christians were also wrong to deify Him. For Muslims, true faith means worshipping Allah alone.

Muslims regard Muhammad as the final prophet sent by Allah. They acknowledge Jesus as a prophet and respect Him, but they do not believe He is the Son of God, much less God Himself. Muslims deny that Jesus was crucified or that He shed His blood to atone for humanity’s sins.

They believe Jesus did not die but was taken alive to heaven by Allah and will return at the end times to assist the Mahdi in restoring justice and defeating evil forces.

III. The Mahdi (Messiah) of Islam

1. The Mahdi

In Islamic eschatology, they believe that in the last days, a Messiah-like figure called the Mahdi will appear. He will restore justice, overthrow tyranny, and unite all Muslims worldwide.

He will be a powerful political, military, and religious leader, spearheading a global Islamic revival. He will not only rule the Islamic world but also lead a worldwide revolution to establish a new global order.

According to Hadith, the Mahdi will be a descendant of Muhammad. Before his appearance, the world will be filled with oppression, chaos, and injustice. He will be granted leadership overnight and rule for seven years, bringing an era of peace and prosperity.

2. Is He the Antichrist?

The Mahdi’s actions closely resemble the biblical Antichrist! Before his rise, the world will suffer severe famine, earthquakes, wars, and massive natural and social upheaval. The Mahdi will become a powerful political, military, and religious leader in the Islamic world.

To Muslims, he will appear as a savior. He will gather many nations into an alliance, surround Israel, and ultimately rule Jerusalem, forcibly Islamizing the world.

3. Changing Times and Laws

"He will speak against the Most High and oppress his holy people and try to change the set times and the laws. The holy people will be delivered into his hands for a time, times and half a time." (Daniel 7:25, NIV)

The Antichrist will abolish the daily sacrifice, set up the "abomination of desolation," and alter temple worship. He will persecute the saints, impose his own calendar and laws, and defy God’s statutes.

The Mahdi will be an extreme theocratic leader, enforcing Islamic laws and festivals (e.g., Ramadan, Eid al-Adha, Eid al-Fitr) and implementing Sharia worldwide.

4. Those Who Refuse the Antichrist Will Be Beheaded

"I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony about Jesus and because of the word of God. They had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ a thousand years." (Revelation 20:4, NIV)

Those who refuse the Antichrist will be beheaded. This suggests the Antichrist may come from Islam—today, only Islamic nations still practice beheading as a method of execution.

IV. Errors in Islamic Eschatology

1. A Spiritual Perspective

Islam’s driving force is Satan’s work. The Bible tells us Satan is the "prince of this world" (John 12:31), operating through coercion, deception, violence, and anti-Semitism to oppose God’s kingdom.

Satan’s greatest trick is not idolatry but counterfeiting God’s truth, making people believe they worship the true God when they do not.

Muhammad grew up in a polytheistic, idol-worshipping environment. Later, he claimed divine revelation, declaring idols false and Allah the only true God. He led his followers to cleanse the Kaaba of idols, establishing monotheism—but this "one true God" is not the God of the Bible.

2. The Deception of the Quran

The Quran contains many moral teachings that appear righteous, but it denies the most crucial truth: salvation through Jesus Christ. Any scripture that omits faith in Jesus is meaningless, no matter how much it promotes good deeds.

Satan’s most cunning lie is masking truth with morality, obscuring God’s salvation.

"Where, then, is boasting? It is excluded. Because of what law? The law that requires works? No, because of the law that requires faith." (Romans 3:27, NIV)

3. Jihad in All Forms

Christians follow Jesus’ command to spread the gospel of peace to all nations:

"And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come." (Matthew 24:14, NIV)

Muslim eschatology is radically different—they advance their cause through force and demographic expansion. Islam encourages high birth rates; children born into Muslim families automatically become Muslims.

For example, in 2017, Turkish President Erdogan publicly urged Muslims to have at least five children per family.

Islam has long pursued global jihad—through military conquest, cultural infiltration, and political influence—driven by a militant religious mission.

V. Islamic End-Time Prophecies

1. The Return of Isa (Muslim "Jesus")

After the Mahdi’s rise, Isa (Islamic "Jesus") will return—but this is entirely different from the biblical Second Coming.

2. Jesus as Only a Prophet

"Who is the liar? It is whoever denies that Jesus is the Christ. Such a person is the antichrist—denying the Father and the Son." (1 John 2:22, NIV)
"Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist." (1 John 4:2-3, NIV)

Muslims reject Jesus as God’s Son or the incarnate Word—to them, He is merely a prophet.

3. Denial of Jesus’ Crucifixion

The Quran claims Jesus was not crucified but was taken alive to heaven (like Enoch and Elijah). Muslims believe He remains with Allah and will return to "complete His mission."

To them, Jesus is not the Savior—just one of many prophets.

4. Isa Will Return as a Muslim

Hadith (Sahih Muslim 155) states:

"A group of Muslims will fight for truth until the Day of Resurrection. Then, Jesus, son of Mary, will descend. The Mahdi will ask him to lead prayer, but Jesus will refuse, saying, ‘Your leader is one of you.’"

This shows that in Islamic eschatology, Jesus will be subordinate to the Mahdi—merely an assistant.

5. Another Heresy: Jesus Will Abolish Christianity

Islamic tradition teaches that when Jesus returns, He will:

1. Destroy all crosses (rejecting Christianity).

2. Kill all pigs (enforcing halal laws).

3. Abolish the jizya tax (since all will be Muslims).

4. Kill the Dajjal (Islamic "Antichrist").

6. The Dajjal (Islamic "Antichrist")

The Dajjal will appear in the last days, deceiving humanity. Ultimately, he and his followers will be killed by the Muslim "Jesus."

Satan uses these prophecies to falsify the truth, making Muslims believe the real Jesus is the Antichrist.

7. Satan’s Scheme: Reversing Truth and Lies

Satan’s strategy is to invert reality:

• The true Antichrist (Mahdi) is presented as a savior.

• The true Jesus is portrayed as the enemy.

Thus, Muslims await their "Jesus" and Mahdi to attack Israel and Christians, fighting against the real Christ.

VI. Conclusion

"Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked." (Galatians 6:7, NIV)

If you are a Christian who loves God, this should grieve you deeply. Mocking, insulting, or belittling God is blasphemy!

We must fear God lest we provoke His wrath:

"The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness." (Romans 1:18, NIV)

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