Unleashing the Beast

W HEN I SLAM R ULES THE W ORLD / 201

Thessalonians 2:4, NIV). After this dictator invades Jerusalem, killing two prophets of God at the Temple Mount (see Revelation 11:3-7), the Antichrist will then take up a position on the Temple Mount, the third most sacred site to Islam. Imagine the rejoicing in surrounding Islamic nations the moment Jerusalem has been liberated from the hands of the Israelis! During this time a second individual will join the team of the Antichrist. He is the false prophet who will build an image, or icon, to the Antichrist (the Greek word for "image" in Revelation 13 is icon , vv. 14, 15). Men from around the world will bow to the image and give allegiance in the form of worship to the Antichrist. Solidifying the religious deception will be a series of miracles that will transpire in Jerusalem, but seen by the eyes of the world. These miracles are called by the apostle Paul, "lying signs and wonders" (2 Thessalonians 2:9). These counterfeit miracles will be so convincing, that Christ warned even the elect could be deceived (Matthew 24:24). There are certain sects in Islam that perform varying supernatural "miracles." Ellie, my friend who was born in Iran, informed me that when she was a young girl living in Iran there was a sect of Muslims who practiced what Christians would term a form of sorcery. They were similar to psychics, and spent their time telling people their future. One group could actually work themselves into a spiritual frenzy, then pierce their flesh with swords or sharp pieces of metal, and never bleed.