We also know from scripture that his leadership of the Muslim faith will encompass at least the final seven years of the current age, although he may ascend to that position at an earlier stage, and under his leadership the Muslim nations will enter into a seven year peace treaty with the nation of Israel (Daniel 9:27). When he enters onto the world stage as the leader of the Muslim faith he will not initially demonstrate any supernatural power, but that will all change in the last three-and-a-half years of his leadership. That change will be triggered by an assassination attempt that will be made on his life at the outset of the last forty-two months of this current age. As the leader of the Muslim world, the Jews will invite him to attend an event at the Jewish temple (still to be built) in Jerusalem which will be televised throughout the world. It will be at that event that the assassination attempt will be made, which will result in this incident being televised live throughout the world. It is at that point that the Antichrist will begin to display his supernatural power, for he will survive that assassination attempt in which he will be mortally wounded, by miraculously recovering from his wound in front of everyone (Revelation 13:3). Because this incident will be seen by the whole world, it is from this point that he will gain world renown, for it is only when the assassination attempt takes place that the world will see his supernatural powers demonstrated for the first time. And it is because of that demonstration that the world will marvel and declare that there is none that can make war with him (Revelation 13:4). The above quoted passage of scripture also reveals to us that the Antichrist’s supernatural powers will be given to him by Satan, and he will be able to perform many miracles which will have the effect of deceiving everyone except the Lord’s elect. For example, the false prophet who will be working with the Antichrist during that time, will be given the ability to bring down fire from heaven in the sight of men (Revelation 13:13). You will recall that when Elijah walked the earth as the Lord’s prophet, that he challenged Israel to decide who they would follow. The challenge was that they should either follow the Lord or they should follow Baal. To get the children of Israel to make up their minds as to just who they wanted to follow, Elijah then challenged the prophets of Baal to offer their sacrifice to Baal and he would offer his sacrifice to the Lord. Elijah said that the God who answered by fire would be the true God and that Israel should follow that God. Elijah’s challenge was taken up and as we all know it was the Lord who answered by fire, and so Israel turned to the Lord and destroyed the prophets of Baal (1 Kings 18:21-40). This time it will be different however, for the Antichrist is the one who will call fire down from heaven. And so you can readily see that this will be a powerful delusion given to those choosing to follow the Antichrist.
Michael E.B. Maher
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