Al Mahdi

In this episode of The Living Logos, we continue examining the possibility of a Middle Eastern, Islamic Antichrist by turning to Islamic eschatology and the figure of Al-Mahdi—the “Rightly Guided One.” Drawing from Islamic traditions concerning the last days, we explore the Mahdi’s expected rise, his association with peace and covenant, the traditions surrounding his rule, and the warfare that follows. We then compare these expectations with Daniel’s coming prince, the opening seals of Revelation, and Scripture’s description of the persecution that will characterize the Antichrist’s kingdom. How closely does Islam’s expected end-times ruler correspond with the man Scripture warns is still to come, and could Islamic eschatology provide another piece of the larger biblical case for a Middle Eastern Antichrist?