Reign of Mahdi or Reign of Jesus - By Howard Green - http://www.raptureready.com/soap2/green7.html
The expressed goal of Islam is to rule the world. Islamists promote the implementation of Sharia law in countries they reside in. One look at the current social and political climate in much of Western Europe confirms the radical intentions and aspirations Of Islam.
Islamists don't come into a country to assimilate, they come with the intent to dominate.
The ultimate goal of the Islamists is a world conquered and dominated by Islam....a worldwide Islamic caliphate (kingdom). The Islamists expect their Islamic redeemer (the Mahdi) to return and rule the earth for seven years. While the Islamists envision a worldwide kingdom ushered in by Mahdi and empowered by the false god Allah, followers of the one true God know who will rule this earth. Time bears out all truth and the question of who will rule the earth will be answered once and for all: Will there be a reign of Mahdi or reign of Jesus?
Before we begin let me make a distinction. I don't believe every Muslim wants to wage jihad and kill Christians and Jews. In fact, there are a great number who simply want to raise their families, contribute to society, and live in peace. I also pray for the Muslim world in hopes that many would come to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ and many of them are. When I use the distinction "Islamists," I'm referring to extremists, Jihadists, and terrorists who have as their main goal....the extinction of Christians and Jews and the establishment of a global caliphate.
One of the most disturbing aspects of the Islamist belief is the teachings about the return of the Mahdi. In much of Islamic eschatology (end time teachings), is the belief that Mahdi will return. Although Mahdi isn't mentioned in the Qur'an, he is mentioned numerous times in various writings and Islamic tradition. According to many Shia teachings, Mahdi's appearance will be proceeded by times of global unrest, upheaval, and the destruction of Israel.
At the time of the writing of this article, numerous Bible prophecy teachers and geopolitical experts are sounding the alarm about the warped ideology of the Islamists. The alarm is being raised and for good reason. It is because the Islamists are determined to hasten the appearance of Mahdi. To that end they wage jihad, conquer land to dominate people, institute Sharia law, and are obsessed with procuring weapons of mass destruction to "bring an end to the Zionist state."
It is my estimation that the Nazis and Imperial Japan were the essence of evil in their day. There was however; one key element missing from their efforts as a whole. That was the element of religion. Was there demonic activity in Nuremberg? Was there blind allegiance to Hitler in Germany and Emperor Hirohito in Japan? Did the devotion of the populous have a religious type fervor to it? The answer to these questions as history demonstrates is yes. Here is the difference:
The Axis powers weren't trying to hasten the end of the world. They were trying to create their version of how the world should be.....albeit an oppressive dark world. Both Germany and Japan surrendered because had they gone on any longer it was obvious, all would be lost.
On the other hand, you cannot compromise, appease, or reason with Islamists. They won't surrender and if fact they are inspired by bloodshed because they believe they are hastening the end of time and the appearance of Mahdi.
Their goal is worldwide domination, subjugation, and when it comes to Christians and Jews.....inhalation. What makes the Islamist's beliefs about the end times so alarming to many of us is the simple fact: They are (trying) to create the worldwide conditions for Mahdi's return. This gives a whole new perspective to the fact that there are nuclear weapons in Pakistan.
This is cause for grave concern because there are massive chemical weapons stockpiles in Syria. Worst of all, these are perilous times because Iran is months, weeks, or perhaps days away from having a nuclear weapon.
In many hadiths (Islamic teachings and traditions), Mahdi is said to come during a time of great battles and bloodshed. In some writings, Syria is mentioned along with Muslims battling Muslims. Here are some Islamists teachings regarding Mahdi:
He will come in the last days to establish his worldwide reign. He is different than Jesus. It is taught when Mahdi returns, Jesus will accompany him. When Jesus prays, he prays behind Mahdi. Imam Mahdi and the Muslim army go to Syria to confront the Christians. The Christians, before the battle, will ask Muslims for the return of their prisoners-of-war. The Muslims will refuse. The battle will begin. One-third of Imam Mahdi's army will flee (their repentance will not be accepted), one-third will be martyred, and one-third will gain victory over the Christians.
Tradition says Mahdi will be owner of the East and the West. Tradition states that Mahdi will extract treasure from the infidels. Mahdi will emerge when other religions are in decline. The one who will not accept will be killed and the one who would debate with him (Mahdi) will be defeated. Allah will restore religion by means of Mahdi and will produce victories and triumphs for him. Except for those who say, "There is no god but Allah" none others would be left on the earth. The following is the words of a prominent Islamist cleric in Egypt. Notice he leaves no doubt about Islam's endgame: "When the Mahdi comes, not a single Jew will be left on the face of the earth." This is frightening and frankly...demonic rhetoric.
The expressed goal of a worldwide Islamic kingdom/caliphate is to be realized by means of jihad. There is a lot of rhetoric from Imams, clerics, and leadership in terrorist groups calling for global jihad. Remember former Iranian President Ahmadinejad based his geopolitical outlook on the belief that Islam would dominate at the time of Mahdi's return.
There are people in leadership today who govern with the sole purpose of destabilizing the world in hopes of ushering in Mahdi's reign. Current Iranian President Rouhan has the same goals for a world dominated by Islam, Israel's destruction, and the destruction of the U.S. as well.
The Muslim world doesn't agree on much of anything. One thing they appear galvanized on is the globalization of Islam. We have already covered the imminent threats of a nuclear Iran. Look at how much the globe has come unraveled in just the past year. Hundreds of thousands dead in Syria and the emergence of ISIS (the Islamic state of Iraq and Syria). The clear and present danger posed by ISIS cannot be understated. I will devote a complete article to ISIS down the line, but I bring them up now for a reason. In the effort to destabilize the world it must be mentioned that ISIS is making huge gains in Syria and Iraq. Jordan may very well be next and Israel is in the same zip code so to speak. Things could deteriorate very quickly if ISIS threatens Israel.
No matter how the end time scenario unfolds, we know that Islamists are looking to establish a global caliphate and that many Muslims expect Mahdi to return to set up his kingdom. The violent aspirations of Islam are all too real. In areas where Islamists dominate....fear, oppression, bloodshed, suffering, and murder follow close behind. In Chad, Mali, and Nigeria, Islamists are burning churches, raping women, and murdering anyone who won't submit to them. In Iraq they are burying people alive for not converting to Islam. Christians among others are being beheaded for not bowing the knee to Islam.
I find it ironic that violent Islamists are beheading Christians in Iraq. This is not a religion of peace, but of evil. People who don't worship the antichrist are beheaded for faithfulness to Jesus during the great tribulation. Even now, the spirit of antichrist is at work in the world.
We covered the dangers of the fanatical belief in the Mahdi that will provoke madmen to wage war in these last days. As believers in the one true God, we know only Jesus Christ will rule this world with perfection. Let's look at what the Bible says about the absolute certainty of the reign of Jesus:
Luke 1:32: "He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end."
Revelation 11:15: "Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, "The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever."
Revelation 20:6: "Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection! Over such the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him for a thousand years."
Micah 4:2: "Many nations shall come, and say:"Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob, that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths. 'For out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. He shall judge between many peoples, and shall decide for strong nations far away; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares ,and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore; but they shall sit every man under his vine and under his fig tree, and no one shall make them afraid for the mouth of the LORD of hosts has spoken. For all the peoples walk each in the name of
of its god, but we will walk in the name of the LORD our God forever and ever.'"
Revelation 22:12: "Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay each one for what he has done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end."
The Word of God is clear on what the future holds. Yes, there will be a worldwide ruler....who will magnify himself as God. The Antichrist will deceive many with lying wonders during the great tribulation. Will the false teachings about the Mahdi play into the end time scenario of confusion about who the one true God is? That is a possibility.
There is one thing we know for certain, The reign of Mahdi is a farce. Allah's kingdom will not be set up because Allah is a false god.....not the one true God. We know that the Lord Jesus won't pray behind the Mahdi because Jesus is Lord of all heaven and earth. The Bible makes it very clear that Jesus is the one who will reign on this earth for a thousand years and His reign will be to the glory of God the Father.
We do have very dark days ahead of us. The news is filled with wars and rumors of wars. The Islamists are awaiting their Mahdi and hoping to hasten his coming by bringing about the end of the world. We recognize the fervor in which these radicals want to promote their violent false end time ideology. The very real possibility of nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons in the hands of these extremists make this world a very dangerous place. They call for the destruction of the little Satan (Israel) and the great Satan (America) by any and all means available. When I see the condition of the world today, it makes me long for the return of the Lord. This planet will finally have peace when the Prince of Peace reigns.
As followers of Jesus, we know how the story ends and who will reign forever. It is true, Israel will go through some difficult days ahead. But in spite of all of the frenzied millions calling for her destruction and gathering to bring it about....Israel won't be destroyed. The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob has made it clear how history will culminate via His word. I pray that thought alone will bring you peace in these last days.
All for Him,
Howard
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