Islam: Antichrist's Rising Kingdom
- Michael E.B. Maher
- Mar 25
- 3 min read
The next empire that controlled the geographic areas of Babylonia and Mesopotamia was the Sasanian Empire, which succeeded the Parthian Empire in the year 224 AD[1]. Of all of the kingdoms mentioned in this section, the Sasanian Empire had the longest lifespan, spanning 427 years. Historical records reveal that the Sasanian Empire began in the year 224 AD and ended in the year 650 AD. Again it is important to note that the map of the Sasanian Empire shown below incorporates the geographic location of the Antichrist’s kingdom shown to Daniel.
Map of the Sasanian Empire (224 AD – 650 AD)
This brings us to the final kingdom on the trail to identifying the kingdom of the Antichrist, i.e. the kingdom to succeed the Sasanian Empire. So which kingdom was that? In the year 610 AD the prophet Mohammed introduced Islam into the earth[2]. Just forty years later the Sasanian Empire ceased to exist when it fell to Muslim conquest in the year 650 AD[3]. From that year the kingdom of Islam has continued to dominate that geographic region even until today. And so we see that the kingdom of Islam is the final kingdom on the trail that the angel Gabriel has given us to follow. As an aside, it is interesting to note that Mohammed’s testimony is that the angel Gabriel appeared to him to give him his first revelation from God. Obviously Islam does not only control the geographic region in question, but continues to expand and at the current growth rate it is estimated that by the year 2030 Muslims will make up more than one quarter of the world’s population.[4] Nevertheless it is again important to note that the map of the Islamic Kingdom shown below incorporates the geographic location of the Antichrist’s kingdom shown to Daniel.
Map of the Islamic kingdom (650 AD – present)
We have already seen that the angel Gabriel revealed to Daniel that the kingdom of the Antichrist would arise from the geographic location where he was standing at the time he received the vision; i.e. next to the river Ulai in the citadel of Shushan in the province of Elam. When we look at a modern map we see that the geographic point where Daniel was standing is located in modern day Iran. And so we see an extremely important truth revealed to us in this passage; i.e. the Antichrist will emerge from Iran.
The Lord showed Daniel that the kingdom of the Antichrist would from that geographic point; grow exceedingly great toward the south, toward the east and toward the Glorious Land. The Glorious Land in this vision refers to the land of Israel. The nations to the south of that position today are Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Oman and Yemen. The nations to the east of that position today are Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan. The nations to the west of that position today are Iraq, Syria, Jordon, Lebanon, Turkey and Israel.
Obviously with the exception of Israel, all of those countries today are almost one hundred percent Muslim nations. Clearly the fourth kingdom, i.e. the kingdom of the Antichrist is the kingdom of Islam which is already in place and waiting for the manifestation of the Antichrist. The map shown below highlights Daniel’s location when he received his vision. Today that location is the town of Shushtar, Khuzestan Province, Iran.
Daniel’s location on a modern map (Shushtar)
We saw earlier in Daniel’s first vision that the angel described the fourth kingdom as being different from all others. The reason the fourth kingdom is different from all others is because it is firstly a religious kingdom, i.e. the Islamic faith, and secondly it is a kingdom of secular power, i.e. nation states. When the Antichrist is finally revealed in the earth all Muslim countries will align themselves with him and submit to his rule. The reason they will do that is because the Antichrist will emerge from within the Muslim faith. And so we see from this section that the first key event that must be fulfilled before the Lord returns has already been completed; i.e. the kingdom of the Antichrist is already in place.
Michael E.B. Maher
[4] From Wikipedia, Muslim population growth. Accessed November 21, 2017 through https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muslim_population_growth
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