Most modern Western interpreters of prophecy actually reject the idea of a Jewish Antichrist. Dr. Tim Lahaye, Thomas Ice, Zola Levitt, Hal Lindsey, Arnold Fruchtenbaum, and many others join the list.
Dr. Arnold Fruchtenbaum, for example, states that “The fact the plural form of the word ‘god’ is used makes this a reference to heathen deities and not to God of Israel. There is much external evidence to show that this is the correct rendering of the Hebrew Text.”60
The Hebrew word used here for God is not Elohim (the God) but rather elohei (gods). However, the difference is crucial. Elohei means gods in the sense of idols, as used in Deuteronomy. The verse states that the Antichrist will not worship the idols his ancestors worshiped. This would fit Mohammed exactly, whose main arguments with the pagans of Arabia were his rejection of the 360 gods in the Ka’ba. Thus the verse is saying that the Antichrist will not worship the idols of his ancestors, which is also Mohammed’s claim. The verse need not be stating that the Antichrist will reject the immediate god of his actual father or grandfather.
In the end, the idea of a gentile Antichrist is far more supportable than a Jewish Antichrist. Throughout the Bible, those who persecuted the Jews from Pharaoh to Nebuchadnezzar and Antiochus to Nero, all of the great persecutors of the Jewish peoples were gentile rulers. All of the precursors to the Antichrist have been gentiles. Why should that change with this final Antichrist?
After all, Jews have never denied that God is our Father, neither did they deny He is the Holy Spirit (Ruach Ha-Kodesh). They do deny that Jesus is the Son of God and deny His Deity. This is no small matter, yet when it comes to Islam they supersede anyone with such a denial of all three truths.
The Antichrist is the leader of a Gentile coalition that is made up specifically of Muslim nations that will attack Israel. Or perhaps you think that the Muslims of the earth will unite under the leadership of a Jew?
ADVANCING ALLAH’S GLORY—AN ISLAMIC MANDATE
No serious intellectual can argue that Islam’s Allah is the greatest war god history has ever known whose glory was advanced through war. Every Muslim is proud of the glory days when Islam ruled the ancient world. The god of the Qur’an demands endless war and the bloodshed of unbelievers: “Believers! Wage war against such infidels, as are your neighbors, and let them find you rigorous” (Qur’an 9:124).
This Jihad holy-war is mostly directed against Christians and Jews: “Make war upon such of those to whom the scriptures have been given as believe not in God and have forbidden His Apostle, and profess not the professor of truth, until they pay tribute out of hand, and they be humbled” (Qur’an 9:29).
Scriptures have been given to Jews and Christians, and throughout the entire Qur’an they are called the “people of the Book,” or Ahl-Al-Kitab. The Qur’an commands Muslims: “O Prophet! Strive hard against the disbelievers and the hypocrites, and be harsh against them” (Qur’an 9:73). “O you who believe! Fight those of the disbelievers who are close to you, and let them find harshness in you, and know that Allah is with those who are the Pious” (Qur’an 9:123). “Kill the disbelievers wherever you find them” (Qur’an 2:191). “Slay or crucify or cut off the hands and feet of the unbelievers, that they be expelled from the land with disgrace and that they shall have a great punishment in world hereafter” (Qur’an 5:34). “Strike off the heads of the disbelievers,’ and after making a ‘great slaughter among them,’ carefully tie up the remaining captives” (Qur’an 47:4).
This hatred that is built into Islam stems from the deceptive Satanic instructions propagated in Islam. Yet in the West, Islamic movements hide this violence by propagating the notion that Islam means peace. The Bible warns that, “Whoever hides his hatred has lying lips” (Proverbs 10:18).
Despite all of the lies and propaganda that we hear from Western Muslims these days, the Qur’an is clear that Jihad is obligatory and mandatory for all Muslims “Unless we go forth, (for Jihad) He (Allah) will punish us with a grievous penalty, and put others in our place” (Qur’an 9:39). “And He orders us to fight them on until there is no more tumult and faith in Allah is practiced everywhere” (Qur’an 8:39). “God has bought from the faithful their persons and their belongings against the gift of paradise; they fight in the way of Allah; they kill and get killed; that is a promise binding on Allah” (Qur’an 9:110). “Relent-not in pursuit of the enemy” (Qur’an 4:104). “O Prophet! Make war on the infidels and hypocrites, and deal rigorously with them” (Qur’an 66:9).
The concept of spreading ones religion through war is completely foreign to the Biblical mindset. Understand that Islam is not merely a personal belief (faith), but also a system of government and expansion. It cannot be separated from the tenants of war that form its very foundation. Many Muslim apologists will try to convince ignorant Westerners that the above quoted verses do not apply to Muslims today but were actually fulfilled during some specific time in Muslim history. Since Kitman and Taqiyya demand this deception, Westerners need to search and see all that is taught in the religious academies throughout the Muslim world since the very advent of Islam.
JIHAD—PAST OR FOR ALL TIMES
Muslims and liberals are always quick to quote Biblical verses from Joshua’s conquests as evidence of violence in the Bible in an attempt to neutralize their own violence within Islam. Are they the same? Are Qur’anic Jihad commandments only to be applied historically?
This would be the greatest of lies ever.
The popular Muslim author and teacher Muhammad Saeed al-Qahtani, states, “Jihad is an act of worship, it is one of the supreme forms of devotion to Allah. They say that Jihad is only for defense. This lie must be exposed.”61
Ibn Khaldun, the famous 14th century Islamic historian and philosopher in his classic and most notable work, the Muqaddimah says of jihad: “In the Muslim community, the holy war is a religious duty, because of the universalism of the (Muslim) mission and (the obligation to) convert everybody to Islam either by persuasion or by force. Therefore, the caliphate (spiritual), the royal (government and military) authority is united in Islam, so that the person in charge can devote the available strength to both of them at the same time.”62
In his book, Jurisprudence in Mohammed’s Biography, the renowned Egyptian scholar from Al-Azhar University, Dr. Muhammad Sa’id Ramadan al-Buti writes that offensive, not defensive, war is the “noblest Holy War” within Islam. “The Holy War (Islamic Jihad), as it is known in Islamic Jurisprudence, is basically an offensive war. This is the duty of Muslims in every age when the needed military power becomes available to them. This is the phase in which the meaning of Holy war has taken its final form. Thus the apostle of Allah said: ‘I was commanded to fight the people until they believe in Allah and his messages.’ The concept of Holy War (Jihad) in Islam does not take into consideration whether defensive or an offensive war. Its goal is the exaltation of the word of Allah and the construction of Islamic society and the establishment of Allah’s Kingdom on earth regardless of the means. The means would be offensive warfare. In this case, it is the apex, the noblest Holy War.”63
Jidad is to advance Allah’s glory—exactly as Daniel predicted!
According to the Encyclopedia of Islam, “the fight is obligatory even when the unbelievers have not started it.”64
The concept of Jihad in Islam is to literally attack unbelievers for the purpose of converting them to Islam, “by persuasion or by force,” “even when they have not started it.” This is quite clear; Mohammed and then his successors, Caliph Abu Bakr, Caliph Umar, and Caliph Uthman, from the Umayyad to the Ottoman, all attacked the surrounding nations offensively for the purpose of spreading Islam. These were not defensive wars. They were offensive wars whose goal was to force the victims to submit to Allah or be “crushed,” plain and simple. So what part of “Jihad,” “fight,” or “kill” do Westerners not understand?
True Muslim scholars universally agree with the Qur’an which states: “O ye who believe! Fight those of the disbelievers who are near
to you, and let them find harshness in you, and know that Allah is with those who keep their duty unto Him” (Qur’an 9:123).
THE SPREAD OF ISLAM
Ibn Katheer, one of the most widely accepted commentators of Islam comments, “Allah commands the believers to fight the disbelievers, the closest in area to the Islamic state, then the farthest. This is why the Messenger of Allah started fighting the idolaters in the Arabian Peninsula. When he finished with them…He then started fighting the People of the Scriptures (Jews and Christians). After Mohammed’s death, his executor, friend, and Caliph, Abu Bakr, became the leader. On behalf of the Prophet, Abu Bakr started preparing the Islamic armies to fight the Roman cross worshippers, and the Persian fire worshippers. By the blessing of his mission, Allah opened the lands for him and brought down Caesar and Kisra and those who obeyed them among the servants. Abu Bakr spent their treasures in the cause of Allah, just as the Messenger of Allah had foretold would happen. This mission (of world domination) continued after Abu Bakr at the hands of he whom Abu Bakr chose to be his successor. Umar bin Al-Khattab. With Umar, Allah humiliated the disbelievers, suppressed the tyrants and hypocrites, and opened the Eastern and Western parts of the world. The treasures of various countries were brought to Umar from near and far provinces and he divided them according to the legitimate and accepted method. Umar then died. Then, the Companions among the Muslims agreed to choose after Umar, Uthman bin Affan. During Uthman’s reign, Islam wore its widest garment and Allah’s unequivocal proof was established in various parts of the world over the necks of the servants. Islam appeared in the Eastern and Western parts of the world and Allah’s Word was elevated and His religion apparent. The pure religion reached its deepest aims against Allah’s enemies, and whenever Muslims overcame a community, they moved to the next one, and then the next one, crushing the tyrannical evil doers. They did this in reverence to Allah’s statement, O you who believe! Fight those of the disbelievers who are close to you.”65
Growing up as a Palestinian, I was never once taught that Jihad was anything other than one of Islam’s most foundational tenants. Jihad was always taught as a war against the entire non-Muslim world. Islam, Allah, and Jihad are inseparable. Is it any wonder then that the Antichrist is said to only honor “a god of war”? Unlike the god of any other major world religion, Allah fulfills this description. Jihad never ended, it simply received a death blow in 1924 from the West. It is mandated by every Muslim to continue Jihad until judgment day.
ADVANCING ALLAH’S GLORY—MOTIVES
When it comes to Islam, always think Cavalry, not Calvary.
So how has Satan persuaded millions of Muslims to die for Allah? This is the crux of the whole issue most Westerners don’t understand. Why blow yourself up? Why death?
This is the cunningness of Satan—to persuade Muslims that God never died for them at Calvary, yet they must die for him in raids and military conquests.
So what motivates Muslims to fight and risk death?
Simply, Jihadism is a message of salvation—for one to die in the cause of Allah is an assurance of salvation and entry to paradise. It’s a corruption of Christian dogma. The difference is that it’s the shaheed (Martyr) who now can atone for his own sins. Therefore, dying in Jihad is the ultimate way to transit one’s soul instantly to paradise. Salvation as understood in the Christian perspective is only through the death of one perfect man, Jesus Christ. In Islam, the idea of Christ dying for all humanity is rejected. In fact, this rejection is one of the main reasons Islam was founded. Islam considers this doctrine to be a corruption of the original faith, and views itself as the restoration of that original faith. Yet, Islam does retain a measure of Christianity’s idea of salvation—that atonement is accomplished by death. However, the big difference is that in Islam, it’s not the death of Christ that entitles you to heaven, but your own. So important is this concept, that a shaheed in Islam can be an intercessor for 70 members of his/her family. Without this jihad-style death, you had better obtain enough merit to outweigh your sins so that you will go to paradise. This is a dilemma that confounds all Muslims.
The similarity in understanding this salvation is interesting. A suicide martyr is called “Fida’e,” from the source word Fidyah (sacrificial lamb) as used in the Christian creed, and the best way for one to assure this salvation is to die in Jihad.
From a Christian perspective this is blasphemy, because a Muslim becomes like God. To say that you can obtain salvation by your own death, you have proclaimed yourself to possess attributes of God. It is no wonder why the Antichrist says “I will be like God.”
The salvation occurs upon death and with the first drop of blood spilled, “A martyr has six bounties: He will be forgiven with the first drop of his blood that is spilt; He will see his place in Paradise (at the time of death); He will be saved from the ‘Great Horror’ (on the Day of Judgment); A Crown of Dignity will be placed on his head, which contains many conundrums, each one being more precious than this life and all that it contains; and He will have seventy-two women [virgins] of Paradise. Also, he will be allowed to intercede for seventy of his family members (who would have otherwise gone to hell).”66
Allah in the Qur’an gives this assurance of salvation “And never think of those who have been killed in the cause of Allah as dead. Rather, they are alive with their Lord, receiving provision” (Qur’an, Al-’Imraan:169). And to alleviate the thoughts of any pain it states: “The pain that a martyr feels at the time of death will be reduced so greatly that he will only feel as if he was stung by a mosquito.” Abu Hurayrah narrated that the Prophet (PBUH) said: “A martyr only feels from the effect of being killed that which one would when being stung by a mosquito.”67
Sure they do! How can anyone come back from the dead to prove such nonsense?
Martyrdom is indeed the highest aspiration of even the dwellers in heaven: “Anas bin Maalik, narrated that the Prophet said: ‘Nobody who enters Paradise would ever wish to return to this life again, even if he was to be given the whole world and everything in it—except for a martyr; for he would wish to return and get killed ten times due to the honor that he received [in Paradise].’ And in another narration: ‘For what he finds as virtues of martyrdom.’”68
The goal of Jihad is to gain salvation:
“A Bedouin came to the Prophet, accepted Islam, and said: ‘I wish to migrate (to Madeenah)’. So the Prophet asked some of his companions to take care of him. Then after a battle, the Muslims had gained some booty so the Prophet divided it and gave the Bedouin’s share to some of his companions to look after, as the Bedouin was still at the rearguard. When the Bedouin returned, they gave him his share, so he asked them: ‘What is this?’ they replied: ‘It is your share from the booty which the Prophet gave us to hold on to for you.’ So the Bedouin took the booty and went to the Prophet and asked: ‘What is this?’ The Prophet said: ‘Your share of the booty.’ The Bedouin said: ‘This is not why I believe in you and follow you; rather, I follow you so that I can get shot by an arrow right here, (and then he pointed to his throat) then die and enter Paradise.’ The Prophet said: ‘If you are sincere then Allah will grant you your wish.’ After a short while, fighting resumed and the Bedouin’s body was brought to the Prophet with an arrow in his throat at exactly the spot where he had pointed to the Prophet. Thereupon the Prophet said: ‘He was sincere so Allah granted him his wish.’ Then using his own garment, the Prophet shrouded the Bedouin, prayed the funeral prayer over him and was heard by his companions to say during the prayer: ‘O Allah! This is Your slave who migrated for Your sake and was killed as a martyr—and I testify to this’. Which testimony could ever be more honorable, sincere and truthful than this great one given by the Prophet?”
SALVATION THROUGH THE BLOOD OF JESUS
Yet Salvation in Christianity is much different: “Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, except ye who eats the flesh of the Son of man, and drinks his blood, ye has no life in you. Whoso eats my flesh,
and drinks my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day. For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed; he that eat my flesh and drink my blood, dwells in me, and I in him” (John 6:53-56). Islam rejects the blood of Christ. How, then, can Christians be saved through the blood of Jesus? How can that assure salvation for anyone?
SALVATION THROUGH MOHAMMED’S BLOOD
While our understanding of these verses is purely symbolic, ask Abu Saad Khodri who stated in a strong Hadith in Sharh Hayat al-Sahaba, regarding partaking in the blood of Mohammed:
“When, at the battle of Uhud, the helmet-rings had been taken out of the Prophet’s cheek, blood flowed from the radiant face of that Lord of the pure, and my father Malik Ibn Sinan sucked the wounds with his mouth, swallowing the blood. When they said to my father, ‘Malik, is blood to be drunk?’ my father replied, ‘Yes, the blood of the Prophet of God I drink like a beverage.’ At that time his Excellency, the Prophet, said, ‘Whoever wishes to see one who has mixed my blood with his own, let him look at Malik Ibn Sinan: any one whose blood touches mine, him the fire of hell shall not desire.’”
Bizarre narrations like this are too many to quote. They speak of drinking Mohammed’s urine and eating his excrement. Would such abominations be chosen over the precious blood of the sinless Lamb of God? Mohammed wanted to be a savior. Never has there ever been such a perverse heresy as Islam.
ADVANCING ALLAH’S GLORY—SEXUAL REWARDS
What do Muslims complain about when accusing the West of being run by international Zionism, with its Hollywood and sexual licentiousness? All of the perversity that we have in the West also exists in abundance in the Muslim paradise where there are “angels and young boys (handsome) as pearls well guarded” (Qur’an 52:24), “rivers of wine” (Qur’an 47:15), served with “goblets filled at a gushing fountain white and delicious to those who drink it.” “It will neither dull their senses nor befuddle them” (Qur’an 37:40-48). “Rivers of milk of which the taste never changes; a joy to those who drink; and rivers of honey pure and clear” (Qur’an 47:15). “Bosomed virgins for companions: a truly overflowing cup” (Qur’an 78:31). These virgins are bashful and undefiled by man or demon.
God's War on Terror: Islam, Prophecy and the Bible Page 14
