"The question: Have extremists retaken American Christianity?

For at least the past century, mainstream American evangelicalism has been eyeing global events for signs of the second coming of Christ. Were events such as the Bolshevik Revolution, Franklin Delano Roosevelt's New Deal, or the establishment of the United Nations fulfilment of the prophesied sequence leading to the battle at Armageddon and Christ's reappearing? Were these events a sign of the establishment of the one-world order evangelicals believe will be created by the false prophet – the antichrist – who will rule the world for seven years before that apocalyptic showdown? Were any of the players the antichrist himself, or at least a sign of his impending emergence?

This view, says Matthew Avery Sutton, a historian at Washington State University at work on a book about evangelical political engagement, "was fringe among conservatives 150 years ago" but "is now mainstream. It's just the air they breathe."

Major Republican politicians, like Sarah Palin and Mike Huckabee, grew up breathing that air, and still do."

More at source: Anticipating the antichrist | Sarah Posner | Comment is free | guardian.co.uk (http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/belief/2009/sep/25/religious-right-evangelicals-usa)

It is only for God to know, and speculation is probably a useless waste of energy.
Remain close to Christ and the Second Coming will be a cause for rejoicing rather than fear.

As mentioned, New Testament prophecy states that anti-christ and the false prophet will appear in the end-times and have a 7-year control over the world's government and religious system prior to the Second Advent of Jesus.

Nonno surely must know that Shi'a Muslims also have a similar prophecy about the end-times appearance of two individuals. These two are identified as al Mahdi and Isa. Interestingly, Islam teaches that al-Mahdi rules for seven (7) years and that Isa' (the Islamic Jesus) returns to live for forty (40) years then dies.

al-Mahdi and Isa' are different individuals. Here is what Islam teaches:

Shi'a Islam teaches that in the end-times, their "saviour," al-Mahdi, will appear and rule for seven years. The doctrine also teaches that Isa' (the Islamic version of Y'shua / Jesus) will also appear at that same time and will fight the anti-Christ and teach from the Qur'an.

This is quite ironic and contrasts greatly where the New Testament speaks of the anti-Christ regime to be comprised of a deceiver (world leader) who partners with a false prophet. The rule of the anti-Christ rule is for a seven year period which is made up of the first 3 1/2 years of a false peace-pact with Israel and the world followed by self- proclamation whereby anti-Christ declares himself to be "God". Subsequently, the following 3 1/2 years are filled with persecutions and beheadings of those who do not accept the anti-Christ regime and who refuse to worship an image made in his likeness.
(Revelation 13:15)

In other words, the next step of prophetic world events will be the reign of anti-Christ with the false prophet - just prior to the return of Y'shua the True Moshiach as prophesied in the Book of Revelation.

The following info is from Islamic theology; everyone can then form his/her opinion about the significance of what this really means:

According to these reliable, authentic, and universally accepted narrations, Mahdi will:

1.Be from among the family of Prophet(SAW), among the descendants of Fatima(RA);
2.Have a broad forehead and pointed noise;
3.Appear in one night;
4.Appear just before the day of judgment;
5.Have same name as hazrat Muhammad(SAW);
6.Escape from Madina to Makkah where people will pledge allegiance to him;
7.Receive pledge and help of Iraqi people;
8.Fight in battles;
9.Rule over the Arabs for seven years according to Sunnah;
10.Spread justice and equity on earth;
11.Eradicate tyranny and oppression;
12.Lead a prayer in Mekkah which Jesus(pbuh) will follow in;
13.NOT be the same individual as the Promised Messiah (Jesus).

For our Mahdi, there are two signs. Since the birth of Universe, these events have never taken place. Those two signs are that there will be Lunar Eclipse on the first night of Ramadhan and Solar Eclipse in the middle of Ramadhan

Source: Identification of the Prophesized Imam Mahdi (http://www.irshad.org/islam/prophecy/mahdi.htm)

And, according to Islamic theology, Isa' (the Islamic Y'shua/Jesus) will return to fight and kill anti-Christ, then dies after forty years.

"The Prophet (peace_be_upon_him) said: There is no prophet between me and him, that is, Jesus (peace_be_upon_him). He will descent (to the earth). When you see him, recognise him: a man of medium height, reddish fair, wearing two light yellow garments, looking as if drops were falling down from his head though it will not be wet. He will fight the people for the cause of Islam. He will break the cross, kill swine, and abolish jizyah. Allah will perish all religions except Islam. He will destroy the Antichrist and will live on the earth for forty years and then he will die. The Muslims will pray over him."
(Sunan Abu-Dawud, Book 37, Number 4310: Narrated AbuHurayrah.

Narrated AbuSa'id al-Khudri:
The Prophet (peace_be_upon_him) said: The Mahdi will be of my stock, and will have a broad forehead a prominent nose. He will fill the earth will equity and justice as it was filled with oppression and tyranny, and he will rule for seven years.
(Sunan Abu Dawud: Book 36, Number 4272)

A fellow came into my workplace today, and we entered into a conversation, about the "End of Times." Most significantly, the "AntiChrist", was the issue that he was concerned with.

I was curious, as to what he had to say, so, I listened to his theory.

He expressed the idea, or shall I say two, about something he had heard, or had read about:

In the ancient Aramaic language, the everyday usage of the phenomena, concerning lightning strikes, was termed - "barack".

He followed that revelation, with another quip, in that, lightning strikes - from Heaven, were termed as "Osama, or Usama", the first letters, being interchangeable.

If you haven't figured it out yet, let me share something with you all: My eyes got real wide, when the thought of what he was intimating to me, dawned on my senses.

Is that too wild for us to accept?

A fellow came into my workplace today, and we entered into a conversation, about the "End of Times." Most significantly, the "AntiChrist", was the issue that he was concerned with.

I was curious, as to what he had to say, so, I listened to his theory.

He expressed the idea, or shall I say two, about something he had heard, or had read about:

In the ancient Aramaic language, the everyday usage of the phenomena, concerning lightning strikes, was termed - "barack".

He followed that revelation, with another quip, in that, lightning strikes - from Heaven, were termed as "Osama, or Usama", the first letters, being interchangeable.




If you haven't figured it out yet, let me share something with you all: My eyes got real wide, when the thought of what he was intimating to me, dawned on my senses.

Is that too wild for us to accept?


You never fail to underwhelm.

You never fail to underwhelm.

So what is your belief Nonno?

Shi'a Islam teaches of a coming antichrist as much as New Testament prophecy does. Fact is, Iranian president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, is trying his best to develop the nuclear bomb so that he can start a global conflict that will help usher in the appearance of al-Mahdi.

You must have some thought on this. I'd like to read what you believe.

So what is your belief Nonno?

Shi'a Islam teaches of a coming antichrist as much as New Testament prophecy does. Fact is, Iranian president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, is trying his best to develop the nuclear bomb so that he can start a global conflict that will help usher in the appearance of al-Mahdi.

You must have some thought on this. I'd like to read what you believe.

Nonno doesn't think, he posts. He posts other peoples left wing thoughts.