SDA and Calvinistic View on Papal and Islamic Antichrist in Error

White Horseman Related to “Antichrist”

The late Seventh-day Adventist scholar Samuele Bacchiocchi reported the following not too long before he died, quoting a Calvinistic leader named Jonathan Edwards:

Luther and Calvin’s Understanding of Islam and the Papacy

In the last newsletter we reviewed Luther and Calvin’s understanding of Islam and of the Papacy as being the two aspects of the power of the Antichrist predicted in Daniel and Revelation. We saw that this interpretation was defended even by Jonathan Edwards, the first President of Princeton University and one of the most respected American theologian,

In his book A History of the Work of Redemption, Edwards wrote: “The two great works of the devil which he wrought against the Kingdom of Christ are . . . his Anti-Christian (Romish or Papal) and Mahometan (Muslim or Islamic) kingdoms, which have been, and still are, two kingdoms of great extent and strength. Both together swallow up the Ancient Roman Empire; the (Papal) kingdom of the Antichrist swallowing up the Western Empire; and Satan’s Mahometan kingdom the Eastern Empire . . . In the Book of Revelation (chapter 16-20) . . . it is in the destruction of these that the glorious victory of Christ at the introduction of the glorious times of the Church, will mainly consists.”

I feel that this historical interpretation deserves serious consideration. Thus in the last newsletter I examined the identifying marks of the prophetic Antichrist. We found that both the Papacy and Islam fulfill the distinctive characteristics of the Antichrist presented in 1 John, Daniel and Revelation.

While an Islamic leader would be considered as an “antichrist,” the way that Dr. Bacchiocchi and the others he referred to presumably meant this is that both the false Papal leader (I, and many Catholics, believe that the final “Antichrist” will be a false or “antipope”) and the Islamic leader (probably who will be known as the Imam Mahdi) will both be the “Antichrist.”

There are several reasons that this is in error. But in certain respects, this is slight. There will be a false Papal and apparently major Islamic leader at the time of the end. And both are likely to be influenced by the rider of the White Horse of Revelation 6 (which represents a surging in ecumenical and false religions).

The Book of Daniel clearly refers to two end time leaders. One called the ten-horned Beast in Revelation, who is supported by the Antichrist (the two-horned Beast of Revelation 13), and is known as the King of the North. And the other who is the leader of an Islamic confederation known as the King of the South. But the Islamic leader is NOT really one of two Antichrists–though again he would be “anti-Christ” as Islamic leaders do not accept that Jesus’ deity, etc.

The Islamic leader, biblically referred to as the final King of the South does NOT last very long into the Great Tribulation. While the precise time-period is hard to accurately determine, it seems to be a matter of months from the start of the Great Tribulation (Daniel 11:39) until the elimination of the King of the South by the King of the North (Daniel 11:40-43).

Even according to Islamic prophecy, the Roman Catholic military leader who will betray a seven-year deal made with the Islamic leader (such deals are consistent with Daniel 9:27; Psalm 83) will reign until Jesus comes.

Here are some Islamic sources about some of this:

Rasaullah [Muhammed] said: “There will be four peace agreements between you and the Romans [Christians]. The fourth agreement will be mediated through a person who will be the progeny of Hadrat Haroon [Honorable Aaron — Moses’ brother] and will be upheld for seven years. (As cited in Richardson J. Antichrist: Islam’s Awaited Messiah. Pleasant Word, 2006, p. 48)

…a life of peace as a result of a peace agreement between you and the Banil Asfaar (Romans) which they will break and attack you. (Ibn Zubair Ali, Mohammed Ali. The minor signs of Last Days from: The Signs of Qiyamah. http://www.islamawareness.net/Prophecies/minor.html viewed 06/21/09)

Here is what how The New Encyclopedia of Islam describes the end of it:

The reign of the Mahdi will be followed by that of the Antichrist… once the Antichrist has led away his followers, Jesus will then come to destroy the Antichrist in the closing moments of the cosmic drama.

Anyway, there are two leaders, but the Islamic one will not really be the final Antichrist. Though, he and the final Antichrist will be around for a while, together.

Those interested in learning more about these leaders and the sequence of certain end time events may find the following of interest:

Is There an Islamic Antichrist? Is Joel Richardson correct that the final Antichrist will be Islamic and not European? Find out.
SDA/CCOG Differences: Two Horned Beast of Revelation and 666 The genuine Church of God is NOT part of the Seventh-day Adventists. This article explains two prophetic differences, the trinity, differences in approaching doctrine, including Ellen White. Did Ellen White make prophetic errors? Did Ellen White make false prophecies? Here is a version in the Spanish language: SDA/COG Diferencias: La bestia de dos cuernos de Apocalipsis y 666. Here is a sermon in the English language: CCOG and SDA differences and similarities.
Europa, the Beast, and Revelation Where did Europe get its name? What might Europe have to do with the Book of Revelation? What about “the Beast”? Is an emerging European power “the daughter of Babylon”? What is ahead for Europe?
Who is the King of the North? Is there one? Do biblical and Roman Catholic prophecies for the Great Monarch point to the same leader? Should he be followed? Who will be the King of the North discussed in Daniel 11? Is a nuclear attack prophesied to happen to the English-speaking peoples of the United States, Great Britain, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand? When do the 1335 days, 1290 days, and 1260 days (the time, times, and half a time) of Daniel 12 begin? When does the Bible show that economic collapse will affect the United States? In the Spanish language check out ¿Quién es el Rey del Norte? Here is a link to a video titled: The Future King of the North.
Is the Future King of the South Rising Up? Some no longer believe there needs to be a future King of the South. Might Egypt, Islam, Iran, Arabs, or Ethiopia be involved? Might this King be called the Mahdi or Caliph? What does the Bible say? A YouTube video of related interest may be: The Future King of the South is Rising.
The Arab and Islamic World In the Bible, History, and Prophecy The Bible discusses the origins of the Arab world and discusses the Middle East in prophecy. What is ahead for the Middle East and those who follow Islam? What about the Imam Mahdi? What lies ahead for Turkey, Iran, and the other non-Arabic Muslims? An item of possibly related interest in the Spanish language would be: Líderes iraníes condenan la hipocresía de Occidente y declaran que ahora es tiempo para prepararse para el Armagedón, la guerra, y el Imán Mahdi.
The Prophesied ‘Islamic’ Confederation Where is an Islamic caliphate prophesied? Will one happen? Should you be concerned about it? A related video is Will an Arabic Calphiphate Destroy the West?
Some Doctrines of Antichrist Are there any doctrines taught outside the Churches of God which can be considered as doctrines of antichrist? This article suggests at least three. It also provides information on 666 and the identity of “the false prophet.” Plus it shows that several Catholic writers seem to warn about an ecumenical antipope that will support heresy. You can also watch a video titled What Does the Bible teach about the Antichrist?
When Will the Great Tribulation Begin? 2014, 2015, or 2016? Can the Great Tribulation begin today? What happens before the Great Tribulation in the “beginning of sorrows”? What happens in the Great Tribulation and the Day of the Lord? Is this the time of the Gentiles? When is the earliest that the Great Tribulation can begin? What is the Day of the Lord? Who are the 144,000? Here is a version of the article in the Spanish language: ¿Puede comenzar la Gran Tribulación en 2014 o 2015? ¿Es el Tiempo de los Gentiles? You can also see the English language sermon video: The Great Tribulation from the Mount of Olives.