Have you heard of the Twelfth Imam? Maybe not. The Shia Muslims believe he will come. They believe he is going to be the Mahdi, an eschatological redeemer of Islam and ultimate saviour of mankind, and the final Imam of the Twelve Imams who will emerge with Isa [Jesus],- in order to bring peace and justice to the world. Muhammad ibn Hasan al-Mahdi also known as Imam Zaman was born in 869AD and assumed Imamate at 5 years of age following the killing of his father.
Followers of Sunni Islam and other minority Shias believe that the promised Mahdi has not yet been born and nobody knows his identity. However his identity is only known to be from the descendants of Muhammad, as was, they believe Imam Zaman. Satan likes to copy and this new resurrection of Iman Zaman or his re-birth will attract people’s attention. He will not only take over the world, but will claim to be the promised Saviour. There is an interesting coincidence that many believe he will put the world to rights and bring peace to everyone worldwide, but only for 7 years.
The Bible says that the Anti-Christ will rule for 7 years before he meets his end at the hands of the armies of our Saviour. The Anti-Christ or Beast out of the sea [Rev 13: 1-18] will, we are told, not only rule for 7 years, but will be part of the evil trinity that will arise in the last days. Satan, the Anti-Christ or Beast, and the False-Prophet. They will, we are told deceive many [Matt 24:24] [2 Thess 2:11]. His opposition will be removed by the simple expedient of removing their heads. This is what the Bible says the followers of the Anti-Christ will do, to people who do not submit. We are also told this is what the coming Mahdi will do, and strangely, or perhaps not so strangely, this is what the followers of ISIS did to Christians and other unbelievers in their territory. Meanwhile the refugee’s from the Middle East are being welcomed with open arms, but also with some concern, into Western Countries. Perhaps Mr Trump knows what some of the other leaders don’t. The Muslim Prime Minister of Pakistan said; “Only 10% of Muslims are terrorists but then 10% is quite a large number.” Unfortunately many of the refugees are Christian’s or people who are fleeing from persecution, so the world is offered a dilemma on how to act. Maybe soon this Anti-Christ will come and all the terrorism and unrest in the world will all stop, if he is welcomed, which most people will do [Dan 11:39]. However the Bible says, that half-way through the 7 year reign of his jurisdiction, Satan will be thrown out of Heaven and will come to take full command of earth. [Rev 12:7-9].
This is why there is so much mayhem in the world today. Satan is preparing the way for this coming person whether he be Anti-Christ or the Mahdi. When he does come his believers will stop all their riots and terrorism as his boss Satan, who is encouraging his followers to cause all the trouble, will stop them. If you have a plan to cause something deliberately you can generally stop it when you want to. So we have this situation instigated by Satan as his plan for the world. Gradually this unrest and terrorism, is intensifying. Satan knows he has only a short time to go and is making the most of the short time left, blindly hoping he will somehow win. Of course he will not, for when Christ comes back to claim His rightful position, Satan will be bound as also will his followers, for a 1000 years. This is when Christ will be King, and rule the world in righteousness. Which Christians refer to as the Millennium.
If the Tribulation takes place soon, which we believe will be so, it is estimated that during the Tribulation and because of the natural disasters and the wars that will take place during these seven years, something like 75%, or more, of the world’s population will perish [Isa Ch 24]. So what of the remaining Muslims who survive, through the Tribulation and find themselves under the rule of Christ the King. I would think their belief in one only god, will be reaffirmed.
“In that day there will be an altar to the LORD in the midst of the land of Egypt, and a pillar to the LORD at its border. And it will be for a sign and for a witness to the LORD of hosts in the land of Egypt; for they will cry to the LORD because of the oppressors, and He will send them a Saviour and a Mighty One, and He will deliver them. Then the LORD will be known to Egypt, and the Egyptians will know the LORD in that day, and will make sacrifice and offering; yes, they will make a vow to the LORD and perform it. And the LORD will strike Egypt, He will strike and heal it; they will return to the LORD, and He will be entreated by them and heal them. In that day there will be a highway from Egypt to Assyria, and the Assyrian will come into Egypt and the Egyptian into Assyria, and the Egyptians will serve with the Assyrians. In that day Israel will be one of three with Egypt and Assyria-a blessing in the midst of the land, whom the LORD of hosts shall bless, saying, “Blessed is Egypt My people, and Assyria the work of My hands, and Israel My inheritance.” [Isa 19:19-25 NKJV]. So that is the future for followers of Islam who happen to survive the Tribulation and respond to Christ when he comes to reign as King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
If we study the Bible in its detail of the Tribulation, this world under the judgement of God, will be no place to be. The Bible says: “Happy and holy is he who has a part in this first coming: over these the second death has no authority, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and will be ruling with him a thousand years. [Rev 20:6 BBE]. Paul wrote: “Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things? And now you know what is restraining, that he may be revealed in his own time. For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He who now restrains will do so until He is taken out of the way. And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming. [2Th2:5 NKJV].We are clearly told in the Bible that the one who is holding the Anti-Christ back, that is; the Holy Spirit working through the Church, That He will be taken away when we are Raptured. Not until then, will the Anti-Christ be revealed. After that time the Tribulation will start in earnest, and will intensify when Satan fully takes control half way through. We will not be here as we will have gone to be with Jesus. Blessed are they who are in the first resurrection. Will you be?
Brian D. Papworth
Representative for the PWMI in the South Pacific.