Has God Replaced His Chosen People, Israel? Are God’s promises to Israel still in effect?

On January 16, 2026January 16, 2026 By learnbiblicalIn UncategorizedLeave a comment

Today, The Bible & You

Today’s Front Page

The Nation’s Christian Newspaper

September 2025

Has God Replaced His Chosen People,

Israel?

Are God’s promises to Israel

still in effect?

Does God have a plan for the nation of Israel in the end days?

Of course. We are told in Numbers 24:14, “Now, behold, I go unto my people: come therefore, and I will advertise thee what this people shall do to thy people in the latter days.”

The apostle Paul brings us this same question in the New Testament book of Romans 11:1-2, 25-27 “I say then, Has God cast away his people? God forbid. For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. God has not cast away his people, which he foreknew. Know you not what the scripture says of Elias? How he makes intercession to God against Israel saying … For I would not, brethren that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in. And so, all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, “There shall come out of Scion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.“

Israel was blinded to the two comings of our Lord Jesus to earth. The two comings of the Messiah serve as a framework for understanding divine intervention in human history, emphasizing hope and the promise of salvation. Israel failed to see their Messiah come as a suffering servant, as is pictured in a very graphic way in Isaiah 53, where the Messiah was to become the Lamb of God who would die for the sins of the people. Being under the rule of Rome, the Jews wanted a Deliverer like Moses, not someone who would die on a Cross.

Regarding the time of the Second Coming of the Messiah Jesus, we read in Hosea 5:15-6:3, “I will go and return to My place, till they acknowledge their offence, and seek My face: in their affliction they will seek Me early. (They shall say) Come and let us return unto the Lord; for He has torn, and He will heal us; He has smitten, and He will bind us up. After two days will He revive us; in the third day He will raise us up, and we shall live in His sight…”.

Some understand this verse to say that the phrase after two days, refers to two thousand years of the dispensation of the mystery mentioned in Romans 11:25, when Israel will be revived, after being in exile for this period since Titus destroyed Jerusalem in 70 AD.

Does the Scripture give credence to those who believe a timeframe may be calculated for prophetic events such as the Rapture of the Church or the Rebirth and Restoration of Israel to true faith in the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob?

The prophet Daniel calculated the length of the Babylonian Captivity from Jeremiah’s prophecy. “In the first year of his reign, I Daniel, understood by books the number of the years, whereof the Word of the LORD came to Jeremiah the prophet, that He would accomplish seventy years in the desolations of Jerusalem” (Daniel 9:2). Most Bible centered teachers believe that such evidence has been available to the Church, through the prophecies of Hosea, to give us a credible time frame for the momentous events of prophecy that will close out this Church Age. “And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your Redemption draweth nigh” (Luke 21:28).

The Bible is about two-thirds prophecy, and God certainly wants us to have an understanding of prophecy. It is written, “It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honor of kings is to search out a matter” (Proverbs 25:2). As Daniel wrote in Daniel 12:4, “But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.“ Many passages of prophecy would be sealed until the time of the end, which time we believe we are now living in.

It is only the Blessed Paraklete Himself (the Holy Spirit) that can remove the scales from our eyes to make plain the meaning He intended when He inspired the writing of the prophecies. “Howbeit when He, the Spirit of Truth, is come, He will guide you into all Truth: for He shall not speak of Himself; but whatsoever He shall hear, that shall He speak: and He will show you Things To Come” (John 16:13). Much of what the Old Testament prophets composed by the Spirit’s inspiration, was not understood by the prophets themselves, though they faithfully recorded Jehovah’s message. “Of which Salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you: Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow. Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the Gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from Heaven; which things the angels desire to look into” (1st Peter 1:10-12).

God gives us a huge view into the future of the chosen nation, Israel, and its restoration in the latter days. God spoke through his prophet Hosea in 808 BC. “After two days will He revive us: in the third day He will raise us up, and we shall live in His sight” (Hosea 6:2). Hosea’s prophecy occurred during the days of Northern Israel, before the successive invasions of the Assyrians as we read in “And the LORD said unto him. Call his name Jezreel; for yet a little while, and I will avenge the blood of Jezreel upon the house of Jehu, and will cause to cease the kingdom of the house of Israel. And it shall come to pass at that day, that I will break the bow of Israel in the valley of Jezreel” (Hosea 1:4-5). Though much of prophesy has a dual meaning, a “contemporary-to-them-but-historic-to-us” significance, some passages were difficult to interpret under any contemporary, historic, future, or prophetic scenario. “Come, and let us return unto the LORD: for He hath torn, and He will heal us; He hath smitten, and He will bind us up. After two days will He revive us: in the third day He will raise us up, and we shall live in His sight. Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the LORD: HIs going forth is prepared as the morning: and He shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the Earth” (Hosea 6:1-3).

In John Gill’s commentary, “An Exposition of the Old and New Testament” (1809), he offers this short explanation of the cryptic second verse of Hosea’s sixth chapter — “After two days will He revive us: in the third day He will raise us up, and we shall live in HIs sight” (Hosea 6:2) — Gill comments:

“But the Targum comes nearer the truth, which paraphrases the words thus, ‘he will quicken us in the days of consolation which as to come, and in the day of the resurrection of the dead he will raise us up; where by days of consolation are meant the days of the Messiah, with which the Jews generally connect the resurrection of the dead; and if we understand them of the last days of the Messiah, it is not much amiss; for the words of respect the quickening and raising up of the Jews in the latter days, the times of Christ’s spiritual coming and reign: and these two and three days may be expressive of a long and short time, as interpreters differently explain them; of a long time, as the third day is a long time for a man to lie dead, when there can be little or no hope of his reviving — ‘But we trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel: and beside all this, to day is the third day since these things were done’ (Luke 24:21) — or of a short time, for which two or three days is a common phrase; and both true in this case: it is a long time Israel and Judah have been in captivity, and there may seem little hope of their restoration;

But it will be a short time with the Lord, with whom a thousand years are as one day, and one day as a thousand years [‘But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the LORD as a thousand years as one day’ (2nd Peter 3:8)]: and this I take to be the sense of the words, that after the second Millennium, or the Lord’s two days, and at the beginning of the third, will be the time of their conversion and restoration, reckoning from the last destruction of them by the Romans [70 AD]; for not till then were Israel and Judah wholly in a state of death: many of Israel were mixed among those of Judah before the Babylonish captivity, and many returned with them from it; but, when destroyed by the Romans, there was an end of their civil and church state; which will both be revived on a better foundation at this period of time; but if this conjecture agreeable (for I only propose it as such), the sense may be taken thus, that in a short time after the repentance of Israel, and their conversion to the Lord, they will be brought into a very comfortable and happy state and condition, both with respect to things temporal and spiritual.”

Mr. Gill wrote this in 1809, many years before the Jews began their return to their promised land at the beginning of the 1900’s, which resulted in the declaration of the State of Israel on May 14, 1948.

Certainly, John Gill was not attempting to predict the timing of the Pre-Tribulation Rapture, but many students of prophecy are certainly encouraged that their “Redemption draweth nigh” (Luke 21:28), in light of Hosea’s ancient writings, fits Hosea’s prophecy. Why?

First, Daniel’s prophecy indicates a time of Tribulation (often called the Tribulation or the Seventieth Week of Daniel). “Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy Holy City… and in the midst of the week [the Seventieth Week] he [the Antichrist] shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he [the Antichrist] shall make it desolate” (Daniel 9:24, 27).

Second, the departure of the watching and waiting Church before the beginning of the Tribulation week is held out to the saints as an inducement to remain faithful. “Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ” (Titus 2:13).

Third, the restoration of the Nation of Israel to true faith in the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob will occur suddenly in one day after the seven-year Tribulation Week, when Messiah Jesus returns “Shall the Earth be made to bring forth in one day? or shall a nation be born at once? for as soon as Zion travailed, she brought forth her children” (Isaiah 66:8). Israel was born in one day on May 14, 1948.

Fourth, the destruction of Jerusalem by the legions of Rome occurred in 70 AD. When did Rome burn the Temple? The Romanized Jewish historian, Josephus, witnessed the actual event. He recorded that it was burned on ‘exactly the same day it was burned by the Babylonians’. Jeremiah the Prophet gives the exact date of Nebuchadnezzar’s burning of the Jerusalem Temple. ‘Now in the fifth month, in the tenth day of the month, which was the nineteenth year of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, came Nebuzaradan, captain of the guard, which served the king of Babylon, into Jerusalem. And burned the house of the LORD, and the king’s house; and all the houses of the great men, burned he with fire’ (Jeremiah 52:12-13). It was destroyed by the Babylonians on the 10th day of the 5th month or Av 10. John Zachary in his book, ‘Scientific Evidence for the Second Coming of Christ’ on page 8, establishes Sunday, August 5, 70 AD (Julian) — also Av 10 as the correct date for the destruction of the 2nd Temple.

And finally, if we interpret Hosea’s “two days” (Hosea 6:2) as 2,000 years — “one day is with the LORD as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day” (2nd Peter 3:8) — and since the Old Testament Jewish calendar is based upon a 360 day year, then “two days” (Hosea 6:2) — 2,000 years times 360 days equals 720,000 days — “after” (Hosea 6:2) the Av 10 Roman destruction of the Jewish Temple would be the period August 5th 70 AD (Julian) to November 17th 2041 AD (Gregorian).

What did Hosea’s prophecy say would occur after “two days” (Hosea 6:2)? “He will heal us… and He will bind us up” (Hosea 6:1). The future Conversion and Restoration of Israel would occur “after two days” (Hosea 6:2).

SOME THINK — (not John Barela) that based on some of their calculations, Israel could be (not WILL be) -restored for the Millennial Reign of the Messiah soon after November 17, 2041 AD (Gregorian). “In the third day [the thousand year Millennium] He will raise us up, and we shall live in His sight” (Hosea 6:2). But, since the Restoration of Israel occurs at the the Second Coming of Christ, which follows the end of the Seventieth Week of Daniel, then about seven years prior, the Pre-Tribulation Rapture would take place. “Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man” (Luke 21:36). This additional calculation would mean that the Tribulation would begin on December 25th 2034 AD (Gregorian), which is 2,520 days or seven prophetic years before the end of the Tribulation Week.

Does this mean that December 25th, 2034 AD (Gregorian) is the date of the Pre-Tribulational Rapture? NO, NO, because it would be much more agreeable to be raptured now, instead of years later! “For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better” (Philippians 1:23).

Our Lord Jesus Can Come At Any Time: God himself knows the exact time when he will return, even though he wants us to live with the expectation that he can return at any time. That allows the Judge of All the Earth, as he is referred to in Genesis 18:25, to work his work of judgment at any time. “Behold, I am the LORD, the God of All Flesh: is there any thing too hard for Me?” (Jeremiah 32:27).

God gave us a wonderful story in the Bible when Hezekiah asked for and received a sign from the LORD that he would recover from his illness. Our Creator caused the “space-time continuum” to go back in time, i.e., God reversed the rotation of the Earth temporarily. “And Isaiah said, This sign shalt thou have of the LORD, that the LORD will do the thing that He hath spoken: shall the shadow go forward ten degrees, or go back ten degrees? And Hezekiah answered, It is a light thing for the shadow to go down ten degrees: nay, but let the shadow return backward ten degrees. And Isaiah the prophet cried unto the LORD: and He brought the shadow ten degrees backward, by which it had gone down in the dial of Ahaz” (2nd Kings 20:9-11). The ability of the Alpha and Omega to touch the improbable is underappreciated. “With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible” (Mark 10:27). He is able to affect the timing of prophetic events, such that what things man calculated as impossible, God will bring to pass, for the honor of His prophetic Word. “So shall My Word be that goes forth out of My mouth: it shall not return unto Me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it” (Isaiah 55:11).

Why would the Almighty cause this prophecy to seemingly falter from the fulfillment of His end time prophetic goals? It is possible that the “falter” and confusion are for the benefit of:

(1) Satan, to keep him from unnecessarily understanding or interfering with Jehovah’s prophetic plans, i.e., “And his [Satan’s] tail drew the third part of the stars of Heaven, and did cast them to the Earth: and the dragon stood before the woman [Israel] which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her Child [Jesus] as soon as It was born. And she brought forth a Man Child, Who was to rule all nations with a Rod of Iron: and her Child was caught up unto God, and to His Throne” (Revelation 12:4-5),

(2) the scoffers, to harden them for ultimate judgment, i.e., “For it was of the LORD to harden their hearts, that they should come against Israel in battle, that He might destroy them utterly, and that they might have no favor, but that He might destroy them, as the LORD commanded Moses” (Joshua 11:20), and

(3) the Saints, to cause them to develop faith, hope and love, even when our limited resources cannot fathom the sheer perfection of timing of the Father’s prophetic program, “As for God, His way is perfect: the Word of the LORD is tried: He is a Buckler to all those that trust in Him” (Psalm 18:30). “Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our LORD” (Romans 8:37-39).

The impending deliverance through the Pre-Tribulation Rapture of the Church, the subsequent Re-Birth and Restoration of the Nation of Israel to true faith in Jehovah, the Second Coming of the LORD Jesus Christ, and the Millennial Reign of the Messiah, are events of the greatest hope for our world, but all can be manipulated by the Almighty, with greater ease than a child plays with a toy, or than a potter forms his clay. “Arise, and go down to the potter’s house, and there I will cause thee to hear My Words. Then I went down to the potter’s house, and, behold, he wrought a work on the wheels. And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter: so he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it. Then the Word of the LORD came to me, saying, O house of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter? saith the LORD. Behold, as the clay is in the potter’s hand so are ye in Mine hand, O house of Israel. At what instant shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to pluck up, and to pull down, and to destroy it; If that nation, against whom I have pronounced, turn from their evil, I will repent of the evil that I thought to do unto them. And at what instant I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to build and to plant it; If it do evil in My sight, that it obey not My voice, then I will repent of the good, wherewith I said I would benefit them” (Jeremiah 18:2-10).

Our prayer is: may the “LORD direct your hearts into the love of God, and into the patient waiting for Christ” (2nd Thessalonians 3:5), that when He sovereignly chooses to execute His prophetic plans, we “may be found of Him in peace, without spot and blameless” (2nd Peter 3:14), with our “hand to the plough” (Luke 9:62).

Printed with permission of Today, the Bible & You located at P.O. Box 1722, Broken Arrow, Oklahoma 74013, Phone Number (918) 279-1136 the name of the original article in the September 2025 issue of Today’s Front Page was “Has God Replaced His Chosen People, Israel? Are God’s promises to Israel still in effect? Does God have a plan for the nation of Israel in the end days?” www.JohnBarela.com

Muslim “Messiah” Calls for Arabs to Build Jewish Temple

On August 8, 2025 By learnbiblicalIn UncategorizedLeave a comment

Today, The Bible & You

Today’s Front Page

The Nation’s Christian Newspaper

July 2025

Muslim “Messiah” Calls for Arabs to

Build Jewish Temple:

Could the predicted Islamic Mahdi (Messiah)

be the long-awaited Antichrist?

Why does Islam hate Israel and Biblical Christianity so much? We can clearly see the reason for the worldwide activity of the rise of Islam in this article.

Twelver Shia Islam is the dominant religion in Iran. This is a place where there is a strong belief in the Imam Mahdi, the twelfth and final Imam. He is believed to be the divinely guided leader who will emerge at the end of time to rid the world of evil and injustice and establish a just global society.

What is Iran’s connection to Mahdism?: Twelver refers to those who believe in the 12th Imam, who is to rise upon the world scene and bring world conquest of Islam. Some Bible students believe this 12th Imam could be the predicted Antichrist.

Twelver Shia Islam: Iran’s government and power structure are primarily “twelvers,” who believe in the Mahdi’s eventual return.
Mahdism as a guiding ideology: The belief in the Mahdi, known as Mahdism plays a significant role in Iranian political and religious discourse. It is seen as a source of hope and inspiration, particularly in times of difficulty.
Preparing for the Mahdi’s return: According to Mahdism, preparing for the Mahdi’s reappearance involves removing obstacles to his return. This can be interpreted in various ways and has sometimes been linked to political goals.
Religious occasions and celebrations: The birthday of Imam Mahdi is a major religious occasion celebrated across Iran, highlighting the importance of this belief in the country’s culture.

Sunni and Shia Muslims share the most fundamental Islamic beliefs and articles of faith and are the two main in Islam. Their main difference is a political one. These political differences have spawned several varying practices and positions that have come to carry spiritual significance. For example, Sunni Muslims emphasize the authority of the elected caliphs, whereas Shia Muslims hold that leadership should have remained within the Prophet Muhammad’s family, specifically with his cousin and son-in-law, Ali. Despite these differences, both groups continue to uphold the core tenets of Islam.

The call for the Mahdi’s return: While the exact time of the Mahdi’s reappearance is unknown, the belief in his coming is a central tenant for Twelver Shias, including those in Iran. The “call for the Mahdi to come” refers to the fervent expectation and longing for his return, which is believed to bring about an era of justice and peace.

Several weeks ago, Israel365 News published an article about Abdullah Hashem Aba Al-Sadiq, commonly known as Abdullah Hashem, an Egyptian-American and the founder of the Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light (AROPL). Abdullah Hashem claims to be the “living successor of both Prophet Muhammad and Jesus Christ,” and his sermons bring “a divine message to the global Christian community.” He also claims to be “the successor to Simon Peter, the successor to Jesus Christ, the true and legitimate Pope.” [That statement alone reveals that Abdullah is as false as a $3.33 bill.] He claims to be the Mahdi, a Messianic figure and a redeemer of Islam who will come as an end-of-days ruler.

After the article was published, Israel365 News was contacted by Arnaud al Almahdi, a spokesperson for the organization. He released a statement outlining a proposal by Abdullah Hashem for peace between the Palestinians and Israel based on the Arab world joining with Jews in the construction of the Third Temple in Jerusalem:

“FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Groundbreaking Solution Proposed for Israeli-Palestinian Conflict: A Call for Unity and Peace [May 2025] — In a bold and defining development, Abdullah Hashem Aba Al-Sadiq (From Him is Peace), identified as the Riser of the Family of Mohammed in the Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light has presented a compelling vision for lasting peace between Israelis and Palestinians.”

This initiative calls for a joint effort between the Arabs and Jews to rebuild the Temple in Jerusalem. It also calls for the exodus of the Palestinians from Gaza and the creation of a new state headed by a descendant and heir to the Prophet Mohammed (PBUH and his family.)

In a direct appeal, Aba Al-Sadiq calls upon Benjamin Netanyahu to grant freedom to the two million Palestinians, envisioning their secured future in a new, Divine Just State. He also calls for recognition from both sides that he, as a representative of Mohammed, be the negotiator between the two parties. Contact: [The Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light]

Opinion: He claims to be the Mahdi. I have often credited Muslims for knowing Islamic eschatology while criticizing Christians for not knowing Bible prophecy better than most Christians. I will come back to that in a moment.

So who is the Mahdi?

Iranians believe that Muslims should prepare the world for the coming of the Imam Mahdi, who will establish Islamic rule around the world and clean up the planet from those who do not practice Islam.

Apocalyptic Muslims have long believed that the appearance of Mahdi would coincide with a civil war in the lands of Sham (Syria), which will destroy the country.

The Shiite clerics of Iran believe that Mahdi is the child of Muhammad, the “hidden Imam” and the twelfth Imam. They argue that Muhammad al Mahdi was born thousands of years ago and disappeared to reappear later when certain signs emerge. Shiites believe that at the end of times, the 12th Imam will appear with Jesus Christ at his side, kill all the infidels and raise the flag of Islam in all four corners of the world.

Ayatollah Khamenei told Iranians back in July 2010 that he personally met with the Twelfth Imam. He also claimed to be the personal representative of the Mahdi on earth, and said all Muslims must “obey him.”

“And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer.”(Revelation 6:2)

The conqueror’s crown (stephanos) is a dead giveaway of a false messiah.

Abdullah Hashem Aba Al-Sadiq is paraphrasing (Daniel 9:27):

“He will confirm a covenant with many for one ‘seven.’ In the middle of the ‘seven’ he will put an end to sacrifice and offering. And at the temple he will set up an abomination that causes desolation, until the end that is decreed is poured out on him.” This is the NIV text that was used.

In this prophecy, a 7-year (Hebrew shabua = week or 7, or a week of years) peace treaty is made between Israel and her neighbors (many). That he, Antichrist, will bring an end to animal sacrifice indicates the 3rd temple, the only place sacrifices can be made.

How clever. We have often speculated that Antichrist will have to find a way to allow a Jewish Temple on the Temple Mount while placating Arabs.

How does the Islamic Mahdi compare

with the Biblical definition of Antichrist?

Muslims are trying to bring their messiah into the world Pastor Michael Youssef wrote a book entitled, The End Times & The Secret of the Mahdi, where Pastor Youssef suggests that Antichrist will be the Mahdi of Islam.

Pastor Michael describes in his book how worldwide events occurring right now are leading to those events in prophesied in the Book of Revelation and elsewhere in the Bible.

“I came to the conclusion that we are coming into the period of time like we have never seen before in history,” Youssef said. He is from Cairo, Egypt, and said he deeply loves the Islamic people but believes Islam is leading toward the dark days of the Antichrist. Youssef says, “He will lull the world into believing in him, even worshipping him as their messiah. But he will end up abusing humanity like it’s never been tormented before.

Most people who haven’t even read the Bible have heard of the man known as “The Antichrist.” According to the Bible, the Antichrist will be possessed by Satan, who will rule on earth during the Great Tribulation. The Antichrist is only referred to once by that specific name (1st John 2:18). Some of the various various names Scripture uses to identify the Antichrist are the “the Beast” (Revelation 13:4), “the abomination that causes desolation” (Matthew 24:15), “the desolator” (Daniel 9:27), “the man of sin,” “the man of lawlessness,” “the son of destruction” (2nd Thessalonians 2) “the little horn” (Daniel 7:8), “The Assyrian” (Micah 5:5, Isaiah 10:5, Isaiah 14:25), “the oppressor’, “the king of Babylon” (Isaiah 14) and even the mysterious “Gog” (Ezekiel 38:1, Revelation 20:7).

Why do some seem to believe that the

Antichrist and the Mahdi are one and the same?

God tells us the Antichrist will emerge as a man who will lead a very powerful world empire, as Hitler led Germany, but on a much greater scale. This powerful leadership role of the Antichrist is first described clearly in the Bible by the prophet Daniel. In the book of Daniel, in the seventh chapter, Daniel describes four very unique “beasts”. After describing the first three, Daniel says this of the fourth:

“After this I saw in the night visions, and behold a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, and strong exceedingly; and it had great iron teeth: it devoured and brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with the feet of it: and it was diverse from all the beasts that were before it; and it had ten horns. I considered the horns, and behold, there came up among them another little horn, before whom there were three of the first horns plucked up by the roots: and, behold, in this horn were eyes of man, and a mouth speaking great things.” (Daniel 7:7, 8)

Then, in verse 15-17, Daniel asks an angel in his vision to explain the interpretation of the vision of the four beasts. The angel explains that the four beasts represent four very great kingdoms or empires: “I Daniel was grieved in my spirit in the midst of my body, and the visions of my head troubled me. I came near unto one of them that stood by, and asked him the truth of all this. So he told me, and made me know the interpretation of the things. These great beasts, which are four are four kings, which shall arise out of the earth.” (Daniel 7:15-17)

Essentially, the angel explains that the fourth kingdom will be an empire that will cause great destruction to the whole earth. Initially, this kingdom will consist of ten kings. Then another king, an eleventh, will arise and will displace three of the previous kings. This eleventh king is the Antichrist first referred to as “the little horn”. Thus we see that based on the vision that Daniel was given, the Antichrist is a future king who will first gain control over three other kingdoms or nations, and eventually over ten thus forming his future ten-nation “Beast” empire. It will be an empire of unparalleled power and ferocity, which will “devour the whole earth, trampling it down and crushing it”.

The king is said to oppress the saints of God for a period of time and that most Bible scholars agree is three and a half years (a time, times, and half a time). But eventually, his dominion will be taken away, and replaced by the kingdom of “The Most High” God.

The Mahdi As World Ruler: As we have seen from the Islamic traditions and Muslim scholars, the Mahdi, like the Antichrist, is also prophesied to be a political and military world leader unparalleled by any other throughout world history. The Mahdi is said to “fight against the forces of evil, lead a world revolution and set up a new world order based on justice, righteousness, and virtue.” According to Islamic tradition, the Mahdi is said to preside over the entire earth as the final Caliph of Islam. And the Muslims will, “take the world administration in their hands and Islam will be victorious over all the religions.” Without question, Islam views the Mahdi as one whose rule will extend over all of the earth. This is why many see that the Antichrist and the Mahdi are both described as being political and military leaders that the world has never before seen. While many powerful leaders have arisen throughout world history, the descriptions given concerning both the Antichrist and the Mahdi surpass any that have yet arisen. But the Mahdi and the Antichrist are both described as being more than merely political and military leaders. They are both viewed as being supreme religious leaders as well.

The Mahdi as a Spiritual World Leader: The Mahdi of Islam will also be the leader worldwide worship movement. It will be a worship movement that will seek to cause anyone who practices any religion other than Islam to renounce their faith and worship Allah, the god of Islam. The Mahdi, will govern the people by the Sunnah of their Prophet and establish Islam on Earth. And they teach Islam will be victorious over all the religions.

Many are surprised to hear that deep in the heart of Texas, just outside of Dallas, is the new community of Epic City, a totally Muslim City. Amy Mek sees it as the beginning of the end. It is a big change for Texas. That’s for sure certain. But fortunately, the governor has stopped any further construction at the present time. Why? Because Islam is a total way of life, political, social, religious, and there can be no other way. Sharia Law cannot coexist with the US Constitution. The U.S. needs people to assimilate.

Moreover, there are 306 Mosques in Texas. A random selection of cities, including Houston and Sugar Land, features a substantial number of mosque locations, 76 in Houston and 12 in Sugar Land. Houston accounts for approximately 24.84% of all mosque locations in the United States.

The Mahdi / Antichrist will be the leader of a world revolution that will institute a “new world order” that will be based on the religion of Islam. Islam will be the only religion that will be allowed to be practiced. Both the Antichrist and the Mahdi are said to be the unqualified leaders of a global religious movement that will draw worship away from the God of the Bible and His Son Jesus Christ. As we will see clearly in later chapters, inherent in the worship of Allah within the context of Islam is a direct denial of the God of the Bible and His Son Jesus Christ. In fact, this is the reason that some Muslims feel so strongly as to say that the Mahdi will, “eradicate those pigs and dogs” — the Christians and the Jews who refuse to convert to Islam. This leads us to the next obvious similarity between the Antichrist and the Mahdi.

The Antichrist’s Targeted Campaign Against Jews and Christians: The Bible is very clear that Satan, through the Antichrist will specifically first Jews, and then Christians for death. In the 11th and 12th chapters of the Book of Revelation, we read another prophetic passage of Scripture that is rich with symbolic language. Initially, it is slightly difficult to understand, but after the symbols are explained, it becomes very clear:

“And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars.” (Revelation 12:1)

The “woman” symbolically pictured here is the family or nation of Israel, the Jewish people. We see that she is crowned with twelve stars. This represents the twelve sons of Israel who became the twelve tribes that make up the family or nation of Israel (Genesis 35:23-26).

“And she being with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered.” (Revelation 12:3)

“And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads. And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born. And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne.” (Revelation 12:2-5)

The woman — This is a clear reference to Jesus the Jewish Messiah (See Psalm 2:9). The Dragon mentioned here is identified in verse 9 as, “that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray.” We see that Satan desires to kill Jesus, but instead Jesus is “snatched up to God and to his throne.” This is a reference to Jesus’ ascension to heaven after the resurrection (Acts 1:8).

After this, Satan will use Islam who is “enraged at the woman (Israel) and went off to make war against the rest of her offspring–those who obey God’s commandments and to the testimony of Jesus.” Israel’s “other offspring “are those Christians who indeed “obey God’s commandments and hold to the testimony of Jesus.” This is to only passage that makes specific reference to Satan making a direct target of both Jews and Christians together. And we know that this passage is speaking specifically of the end times because it mentions twice the three-and-a-half-year period (1260 days and “a time, times, and half a time”) that the Antichrist will have authority to war against the saints:

The Bible is clear, the Antichrist will specifically target those who resist his attempts to establish his religion all over the earth. From the book of Revelation as well as the Prophet Daniel, we see that the two groups that Satan is most enraged against are the Jews and the Christians.

The Mahdi’s Targeted Campaign Against Jews And Christians: Islamic tradition speaks much of the Mahdi’s special calling to convert Christians and Jews to Islam, yet speaks very little specifically of conversions from other faiths. It seems as though converting Christians and Jews to Islam will be the primary evangelistic thrust of the Mahdi. The following quote Ayatollah Ibrahim Amini clearly articulates this vision:

“The Mahdi will offer the religion of Islam to the Jews and Christians; if they accept it they will be spared, otherwise they will be killed.”

A Military Attack Against Israel And The Establishment Of The Temple Mount As The Seat of Authority: The Bible teaches that The Antichrist, with his multi-nation coalition, will attack Israel, and specifically Jerusalem, to conquer it:

“For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle; and the city shall be taken, and the houses rifled, and the woman ravished; and half of the city shall go forth into captivity, and the residue of the people shall not be cut off from the city.” (Zechariah 14:2)

The Mahdi’s Seven Year Treaty corresponds with the Seven Year Treaty in Scripture between Israel and Antichrist: The Mahdi is said to be one who will initiate Islam’s fourth and final treaty between “the Romans” and the Muslims. (Romans should be interpreted as Christians or the West in general — the executioners of Nicholas Berg in their pre-execution statement addressed President Bush as, “You, O dog of the Romans”). Interestingly enough, this fourth treaty is said to be made with a descendent of Moses’ brother Aaron the Priest. Such a descendent would be a Cohanim. That is to say, he would be a priest. Only Cohanim are allowed among Jews to officiate the priestly duties of the Temple. This is important in light of the fact that many Christian prophecy teachers and theologians have speculated that the treaty that the Antichrist will initiate with Israel will include an agreement to allow the Jews to rebuild their Temple. But probably the most amazing aspect of this treaty that the Mahdi makes with this Jew of priestly lineage is its time frame. The specific time frame given for the treaty is exactly the same as the Antichrist’s peace treaty — seven years! Citing Hadith which speaks of the Mahdi’s emergence and rule, Muhammed Ali ibn Zubair relates this amazing tradition:

The Prophet said: There will be four peace agreements between you and the Romans. The fourth will be mediated through a person who will be from the progeny of Hadrat Aaron (Honorable Aaron, the brother of Moses) and will be upheld for seven years. The people asked, “O Prophet Muhammad, who will be the imam (leader) of the people at that time?” The Prophet said: He will be from my progeny and will be exactly forty years of age. His face will shine like a star…

The Rider On A White Horse: The final similarity between the Antichrist and the Mahdi is in fact that both the Antichrist and the Mahdi are identified with a biblical passage that describes a rider on a white horse. The amazing thing is that the origin of the biblical tradition of the Antichrist on a white horse and the origin of the Islamic tradition of the Mahdi on a white horse are both attributed to the same passage in the Bible.

The basis for the symbolic picture of both the Antichrist and the Mahdi on a white horse is the sixth chapter of the Book of Revelation. The Apostle John is describing his vision of the release of the events that mark the beginning of the end times. The picture is of Jesus holding a scroll — on the outside of the scroll are seven wax seals. As each seal is broken a specific and end-time event is released:

“And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals, and I heard, as it were the noise of thunder, one of the four beasts saying, Come and see. And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering and to conquer.” (Revelation 6:1-2)

Seeing the Antichrist on the white horse with a crown and conquering, the Muslim scholars see a clear picture of the Mahdi. Referring to the Mahdi, the early Muslim transmitter of Hadith, Ka’b al Ahbar is quoted as saying:

“I find the Mahdi recorded in the books of the Prophets… For instance, the Book of Revelation says: “And I saw and behold a white horse. He that sat on him…went forth conquering and to conquer.”

We see that Muslim scholars actually apply Bible verses about the Antichrist to their awaited savior, the Mahdi, who will, in fact, be the Antichrist. This must be seen as quite ironic, if not entirely prophetic.

Even so, come, Lord Jesus.

Printed with permission of Today, the Bible & You located at P.O. Box 1722, Broken Arrow, Oklahoma 74013, Phone Number (918) 279-1136 the name of the original name article in the July 2025 issue of Today’s Front Page was “Muslim “Messiah” Calls for Arabs to Build Jewish Temple: Could the predicted Islamic Mahdi (Messiah) be the long-awaited Antichrist?” www.JohnBarela.com