After Satan enters the Beast Antichrist he will more likely identified with a Eastern New Age concept then any existing monotheistic religion. In fact I think he will claim to be Zeus. Antiochus IV Epiphanes was the foreshadow of the Antichrist and he claimed to be possessed by the spirit of Zeus and when he defiled the Temple he set up a statue of Zeus.

I also think Dr. Reagan does not make clear distinction between Mystery Babylon and Babylon. My Revelation Commentary does make the distinction very clear and it is not only based on the passages found in Revelation.

http://www.thepropheticyears.com/The%20book%20of%20Revelation/Revelation%20Chapter%2017.htm
http://www.thepropheticyears.com/The%20book%20of%20Revelation/Revelation%20Chapter%2018.htm

To demonstrate just how miserably ancient Rome failed to penetrate the lands of the future Islamic empire – consider that upon invading Persia they were so totally outclassed by the Parthian archers riding horseback –

that they were even slaughtered by the arrows of retreating Parthian horsemen – giving rise to the famous term “parting shot”.

Rob

1: If prophecy literally means Babylon – obviously in Iraq – one wonders why Revelation painstakingly describes it as a “Mystery Babylon”.

2: For Babylon to rise to world domination requires this tiny tourist attraction just outside Baghdad to explosively develop almost overnight – suddenly bypassing decades of necessary infrastructure, industrial, political and military development which is hardly in keeping with our fairly obvious nearness to the end-times – and occurring within the breathtakingly short time of a 7 year tribulation.

As for my comments:

3: As for Rome being the City on Seven Hills (as it is commonly referred to) in Revelation – this does not line up with the Greek translation of Rev 17:9 referring to “seven mountains”. Biblical mountains also imply governments (Daniel 2:35) and the city of Rome is built on hills, not mountains (The Guzik Commentaries).

4: Clearly the Babylonian prostitute (religion) has been committing “adultery” with governments (mountains) for centuries – and will so again. Again Revelation – “There are also seven kings (beasts). Five have fallen, one is, and the other has not yet come”. Further confirming that Babylon points to an historically systemic – adulterous relationship between religions riding on governments dating back to the death-cult of Pharaoh’s Egypt. Babylon.

It is clearly not discussing a city in Iraq.

5: That Rome and Constantinople form the two feet of the old and revived Roman Empire is generally and rightly accepted – yet the Roman expansion rarely stretched very far into the Islamic world (east to west). Do a Google search on Roman Empire Historical Maps for a fine century-by-century view of how little Roman incursion occurred there.

A careful examination of the countries currently between those two feet (Rome / Constantinople) reveals no mixture of Islam and non-Islamic peoples – the iron and clay of Daniel’s vision. More likely its the clearly brittle mixture of Islam and western culture we now see in the Roman Empire’s former & vast northward territorial possessions of Europe.

They’re still digging up Roman artifacts at construction sites just outside London-istan for heaven’s sake.

6: As for a totalitarian Romish church – I’ve no problem with a defective pope aligning himself with the antichrist – but as a supporting role of “False Prophet” not as antichrist.

As the Guzik Bible Commentaries notes Pope John Paul’s bizarre involvement with non-Christian religions:

“In addressing Muslims, Jews, Buddhists (the Pope said) their efforts were unleashing profound spiritual energies in the world – bringing about a new climate of peace. The Catholic Church intends to ’share in and promote’ such ecumenical and inter-religious cooperation.”

The Catholic Review said further “The unity of religion promoted by the Holy Father and His Holiness the Dalai Lama – the love which both Buddha and Christ preached so eloquently – will unite the world in a common effort to save humanity from senseless destruction, and lead toward the light in which we all believe.”

7: Its not too far a stretch to suggest that the Roman empire – once standing on Rome and Constantinople – but thrusting its might northward – refers to a revived Roman Empire in Europe (its historical stronghold) – and not Iraqi Babylon – and certainly not run by an Islamic antichrist for my reasons stated in my previous posting yesterday.

Rob

This is why the war of Gog and Magog must vanquish Islamic politically and militarily in order for the Temple to be rebuilt anywhere near its historic location.

I personally think the Temple Mount will become an international center of worship and all three of the great monotheistic religions will have a center of worship on the Mount. I believe the site will be administrated by the Vatican.

1: The war of Gog and Magog (Ex 38) effectively sees God wiping out Israel’s Islamic invaders – militarily and politically – at the beginning of the tribulation. For the antichrist to arrive on the scene at that point – declaring himself Muslim – would place him on the receiving end of this humiliating catastrophe – crippling his claim to power (his power base having just been humiliated & discredited). Hardly a way to wow the world with his awe inspiring problem solving powers. Who would follow him after this auspicious entrance ?

2: I see Rev 17:17 showing a demonically inspired beastly government waging war against a demonically inspired prostitute of a world religious system. Burning her with fire it says. I don’t see the antichrist making a second horrible miscalculation – by aligning himself with the losing side (religion) in a governmental extermination campaign aimed against religious systems – with Islam being the prime recipient of its wrath.

3: Satan masquerades as an angel of light. Its his way. How then could he arrive on the world scene as a Muslim – in the midst of an ever increasing grip of world-wide Islamist terrorism. He’d never identify himself with that crowd. No – he’s going to come in like a rescuing knight in shining armor. By supernaturally empowering these terrorists to commit ever increasing atrocities on world stage – Satan is setting up Islam as the fall guy. Satan’s got to have an enemy to destroy – and after the whole world is finally sick to its stomach with Islamist terror – and religion in general – he’ll have mankind eating right out of his hand – and lining up in droves to get the mark of the beast. They’ll say “this is the best thing in the world to do – and long overdue” !

4: Satan also has another calling card – the end of our economic problems. By the time the US Dollar collapses and the US Government declares national bankruptcy – the world will be looking for an economic savior too. “Step right up folks – get the mark – and buy and sell”!

5: The war of Eze 38 will remove Islam’s power to object to the rebuilding of the Temple on the same property as the Dome of the Rock. When he sets himself up there as God – Satan isn’t going to share his glory with anyone – and will step out from behind false religion to receive worship directly. By claiming himself to be a Muslim – he’d be sharing the stage with Allah – something his outsized ego could never tolerate.

Rob

You can find what I said on the subject of a Muslim Antichrist on this Blog by clicking on “home” at the top of the sidebar and then typing “Muslim Antichrist” in the search box at the top right part of the home page of the blog. Then read my comments, the articles I quote in the main post and my follow up comments.

Happy hunting.