MISTAKEN IDENTITY: TV INTERVIEW, PROPHECY IN THE NEWS 5-20-16
The Islamic Antichrist Theory (IAT) of Joel Richardson and Walid Shoebat was the subject of a 28-minute television interview published by Prophecy in the News (PITN) on 5-20-2016. IAT theorists, generally speaking, completely reset the conventional futurist prophetic scenario overturning many of the core ideas about the Antichrist, his powerbase, and how he fulfills the prophecies of the Bible. This was the focus of our discussion.
Kevin and I begin by setting the stage for the theory, a geographical issue, where the Ark of Noah comes to rest on Mount Ararat in Turkey, one of the most “central” of places on the globe, from whence the sons of Noah: Ham, Shem, and Japheth dispersed throughout the world (See Genesis 10, the “Table of Nations”). The Islamic Antichrist theory begins here.
However, Kevin read Genesis 49:16, mentioning the Tribe of Dan, and pointing out the basis for a “Jewish” antichrist theory that is at the heart of the conventional perspective. We next talk about the failure of the “Roman Empire” to revive. Instead, the likely powerbase becomes an Anglo-American empire, an “updated” way to understand the traditional “revived Roman Empire” perspective. I trace the movements of Dan to Greece, to Italy, and ultimately to the New World. I point out that there appears to be an historical connection between Dan (and the Danites/Danaans, the Greeks, and the Romans. (This was laid out in detail in J.R. Church’s book, Daniel Reveals the Bloodline of the Antichrist).
The IAT postulates that there is only one personage of importance that opposes the Lord God: Gog of Ezekiel 38-39, the Antichrist (aka the Beast of Revelation), The King of the North (Daniel 11), and the 12th Imam (aka the Mahdi – the Islamic Messiah whom Muslims expect to appear very soon). All of these persons, according to IAT, are one and the same person.
IAT also argues that there is only one principal war, the War of Gog/Magog which is also Armageddon. At the same time, it disputes a distinct and imminent Psalm 83 War which has become part of the conventional view too. Finally, one of the main points put forth by the Islamic Antichrist theory is that this culminating war involves only the Middle East. The rest of the world is not involved in any vital way in vital affairs of these last days. I argue this obscures many important aspects of Bible prophecy and diminishes the relevance of eschatology to America, Europe, and really the rest of the world. Antichrist is given authority of “all peoples and nations, kindreds and tongues” (see Revelation where this phrase is used several times to emphasize that EVERYONE EVERYWHERE is hugely impacted by what happens in the final years of Great Tribulation).
At the heart of the Islamic Antichrist theory is Turkey. IA theorists “talk Turkey” indicating that it takes the lead to motivate the confederation of the peoples and nations of the Middle East to attack Israel. Indeed, for almost a decade now, the IAT has proposed that the Antichrist will be a Turk. Specifically, one of the main proponent alleges the current President, Recep Tayyip Erdogan will be the “son of perdition”.
Why is Turkey at the heart of the discussion? Much is made of the tribal names listed at the outset of Ezekiel 38 (Gog, Magog, Meshech, Tubal, Gomer, and Beth-Togahmar — while Rosh is dismissed). But do these ancient names mean that Gog is a Turk? Should we dismiss the traditional view that sees Russia as a vital player in this great war of Gog/Magog (which I argue is the NEXT GREAT WAR in the Middle East)? Kevin and I move finally toward a brief discussion about where else the Antichrist may be from: Could he be from Europe after all? Could he be an American?
I hope you have time to view this during your Memorial Day weekend. Blessings to all!
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