Review of MidEast Beast: A Scriptural case for an Islamic Antichrist Written by Joel Richardson, the purpose of ‘MidEast Beast: A Scriptural case for an Islamic Antichrist’, is to ‘set forth a scholarly, yet popularized, succinct presentation of the Islamic Antichrist theory based on the most relevant pages of Scripture’ (page v). The purpose is not to debate ‘irrelevant or even morbid end-time trivia’ (page v). What does the Islamic Antichrist theory propose? After comparing Biblical eschatology with the end-times scenario as postulated by Islam, it appears that Islam’s end-times narratives is simply ‘the biblical end-time story flipped on its head’ (page iv). More specifically, Richardson argues that what God in the Bible teaches about the Antichrist and the false prophet, can be related to Islam’s Mahdi and Islam’s ‘prophet Jesus’. In other words, our Saviour and Redeemer, the Lord Jesus Christ, is viewed by Islam as the antichrist; what Christians read in the Bible about the Antichrist and false prophet is viewed by Islam as their last ‘messiah-Mahdi’ and the ‘prophet Jesus’. All this is quite chilling. The above theory challenges interpretations that ‘the Antichrist, his empire, and his religion will emerge out of Europe or a revived Roman Empire’ (page iv). Many good Christians have held this view and many do so today. If I understand it correctly, when a new interpretation comes along — in this case about end-times prophecies regarding the Antichrist — Christians are to be like the Bereans who searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things be so (cf. Acts 17:11). As Richardson states it (page v): ‘If there is even a chance that Islam is, in fact, the primary subject of the Bible’s many antichristic prophecies, the possibility alone should be enough to merit serious consideration of the relevant texts.’ Nor is this an abstract academic exercise, for practical implications abound, such as to avoid syncretic heresies such as ‘Chrislam’ (see pages v-vi). Richardson summarises the ultimate burden of all biblical prophecy — the big story that all of the prophets were telling in the entire Bible — as follows: It is about ‘the coming of the Messiah, the Day of the Lord (God’s judgment on the earth), and the messianic kingdom to follow’ (p. 8, cf. 10). The Son of God who took on humanity is the Lord Jesus Christ, the God-man who as vice-regent for God the Father will establish and rule over the Messianic kingdom on earth. Satan’s counterfeit is to have the Antichrist rule over the earth. According to Richardson, in Nebuchadnezzar’s dream of a metallic statue (Daniel 2; cf. 7), the legs of iron refers to the historical Islamic Caliphate and the feet of mixed iron and clay refers to a revived and restored Islamic Caliphate (pages 68-69). The word ‘caliphate’ means a ‘government under a caliph’ or ‘successor’ to Mohammed, meaning an Islamic Mahdi is to rule under Allah over all the earth. In other words, Richardson holds that the last-days Antichristian empire will be Islamic. Richardson proposes to reconcile Daniel 2 & 7 with Revelation 12, 13 and 17 — as shown in the attached photo. Some chapters of ‘MidEast Beast’ defend the theory against counter-arguments. For example, the ‘people of the prince who shall come’ (cf. Daniel 9:26) are shown to have been legions comprised of Arabs, Syrians, Egyptians, etc. (p 94). Historically it can be shown from Josephus’ ‘Wars of the Jews’ that these Middle Easterners disregarded their Roman commanders by starting the fire that lead to the destruction of the Temple and Jerusalem in AD 70 (pp. 100-102). ‘MidEast Beast’ devotes three chapters to the battle of Gog and Magog (pp 159-221). According to Richardson, the battle of Gog and Magog is not to occur before the Day of the Lord (the Tribulation period) as is often so interpreted, but views it as another reference to the Battle of Armageddon at the end of the Tribulation. Gog is thus another title for the Antichrist (p. 163). Moreover, contrary to the view held by many, Gog and his coalition is not from Russia, but rather Richardson shows that Meshech, Tubal, Togarmah and Gomer instead refers to areas in modern day Turkey. This interpretation reinforces Richardson’s claim that the Antichrist, his empire and his religion will arise from what is today known as Islamic countries. Not that Richardson concludes that Muslims are ‘the enemy’ who is to be hated or feared (p. 247). Instead, the penultimate chapter of the book ends with a prayer that Muslims will also come to faith in Jesus Christ (p. 257). Walter C. Kaiser, a highly and widely regarded Christian scholar, endorses the book with these words: ‘Here is a most engaging book…There is much to commend this argument for a final Islamic Empire rather than a Western or Roman Empire in the Day of the Lord.’ I think Richardson’ Islamic Antichrist theory deserves to be considered to see ‘if these things be so’. As always, God’s Word has the final authority and it has the answers. ----------------------- Source: Richardson, J., 2012, MidEast Beast: A Scriptural case for an Islamic Antichrist, WND Books, Washington. Source of table image: Richardson, J., 2012, MidEast Beast: A Scriptural case for an Islamic Antichrist, WND Books, Washington, p. 158. If you are interested in this topic, consider purchasing or hiring ‘End Times Eyewitness Documentary’ on I-tunes.
Posted on: Mon, 19 Jan 2015 04:00:00 +0000
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