Muslim film: Christian messiah is the Antichrist

A small Muslim production company has made a big splash with its 52-part documentary called "The Arrivals."

Since being posted on YouTube in June, the documentary has gone viral with over a quarter million views to date. According to sources in the U.K., the documentary has become extremely popular among Britain's Muslim youth population. According to the documentary's self-description, its purpose is to: "explore the revelations in world religions regarding the arrivals of the Antichrist Dajjal, Imam Al-Mahdi, and the Second Coming of The Christ."

The documentary is a whirlwind tour of Muslim apocalyptic narratives intermixed liberally with anti-American, anti-Christian, anti-Semitic and anti-Zionist themes. Although clearly home-spun, "The Arrivals" is a magnetic kitchen mix of every conspiracy imaginable, with a solid thread of Islamic apocalyptic sermonizing throughout. Images are rhythmically flashed before the viewer of Illuminati and Freemasonry symbols along with the inevitable "Protocols of the Elders of Zion" anti-Semitic conspiracy themes. And of course, it is all thoroughly topped off with graphic images of Muslim children suffering set to an "Omen"-like or "Godfather"-esque sountrack. Short clips of movies are also liberally pirated throughout. From "The Lord of the Rings" to "American Treasure," the viewer is immediately swept up into an ancient cosmic struggle with the heroic Muslim community fighting for truth against the plotting and scheming Zionists, Christians, Bilderbergers, Illuminati and the Club of Rome. The camera pans over the back of the American dollar bill with its prominent all-seeing eye too many times to count.

Muslim apocalyptic tradition holds that the Antichrist, whom they call "the Dajjal," will be blind in one eye. Numerous Muslim authors and teachers have used this one-eyed motif to point the finger at a secret conspiracy of Freemasonry / Illuminati as the source of evil behind all world ills.

Understand the significance of the Muslim's Mahdi 'messiah' in Joel Richardson's new book, "The Islamic Antichrist: The Shocking Truth about the Real Nature of the Beast." Note: The book is also available in electronic form at reduced price through Scribd.

But beyond all of the anti-Semitism and conspiracy theories that are sadly so common throughout the Islamic world, there is another highly noteworthy theme that runs through the series. I want to highlight what "The Arrivals" teaches with regard to the coming of Jesus Christ. While the information may be rather new and quite strange to many, having seen these themes emerge repeatedly in various Islamic works, both in print and online, I can assure you that these types of beliefs are not fringe within the Islamic community.

According to the documentary, Jesus Christ as He has been worshipped by Christians throughout history is merely a Christianized version of Ra, the Egyptian Sun god. Accordingly, the video makes the following claim about Jesus (aka Ra):

The "one-eyed" sun god was referred to as "the son of god," "the light of the world" and "the ruler of all." Has the church deceived its followers into worshipping a one-eyed sun god? Has there been a worldwide conspiracy that is preparing the world to accept the one-eyed Dajjal as the true messiah?

The screen is then flooded with images of James Caviezel playing the part of Jesus in "The Passion." After having been severely beaten, one of his eyes is swollen shut. And then the question is answered. Has the church deceived its followers into worshipping Ra?:

Most definitely. This has been the plan from the very beginning. Muslims are taught that one of the greatest challenges to face will be escaping the deception of the coming Antichrist / Dajjal. So how do we know which messiah is the true messiah? If the story of Jesus is a fabrication based on the worship of the sun, how will we recognize the true Jesus?

The film then moves on to the Quranic story of Jesus' birth from the Iranian film "Jesus, the Spirit of God."

As the documentary continues:

Our Christian brothers should know as a fact that while both Muslims and Christians believe Jesus to be Messiah and Savior, the Zionist Jews of the world deny him and are still awaiting their savior. A great question you should ask yourself is this … In the modern-day Bible, who murdered Jesus? The corrupt Jews and Romans. Who later spread the religion of Jesus? The corrupt Jews and Romans. How can you trust the murderers of Jesus? And who has been ruling the world ever since? The Jews and the Holy Roman Empire. Do you want to know what their plans are? Do you want to know who is ushering in the satanic one-eyed sun god?

We are then treated to rhythmic images of the Star of David and the all-seeing eye.

And finally we arrive at the conclusion. An appeal to all Muslims: "Defeat yourselves and unite with each other. By any means necessary. Because Imam al-Mahdi is coming soon. And only the ready will be strong enough to join his mission." Footage of Gandalf the White is seen on his white horse, galloping forth steadfastly across a field with his staff shining forth with light.

By the time he arrives, the Fitna (division) will be widespread, as it is today. … The extremist Christians will state that Imam al Mahdi is the "Antichrist-dajjal." The extremist Jews will state that Imam Al-Mahdi is the "Antichrist-dajjal." By the end of this series, you should be left with no doubts as to who the Antichrist dajjal will be. He will be made king. … You have overlooked the most basic element of who the dajjal (Antichrist) will be. Why do you think he is called "Al-Masih Ad Dajjal," i.e. "The Deceiving Messiah"? Why do you think he is called "The Antichrist"? Imam al-Mahdi will never claim to be the Messiah or the Christ. … you will recognize the dajjal when he comes.

And then we are taken to a stained glass image of Jesus with the words in bold: "This is NOT Jesus! The church has deceived you! This is pagan sun-worship!"

And so to review, the "extremist Christians" and the "extremists Jews" will say that the Islamic Messiah figure is the Antichrist. And then we are told that the historical, biblical Jesus is actually the sun-god Antichrist who will come back to deceive the world.

In my book, "The Islamic Antichrist," I demonstrate numerous what I call "anti-parallels." I show that the Islamic Messiah figure know as the Mahdi is strikingly similar to the biblical Antichrist. I also show that the Islamic Antichrist, know as the dajjal, has many similarities in his mission to the biblical expectations regarding the return of Jesus.

In the book of Revelation, in classic apocalyptic imagery, we are shown a picture of the return of Christ:

I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and makes war. His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself. He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God. The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. Out of his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. "He will rule them with an iron scepter." He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS. Revelation 19:11-16

Immediately thereafter, we see something amazingly out of place. For years, I pondered the oddity of it. Despite the majesty and supernatural quality of the return of Christ, the Bible tells us that the armies from the surrounding nations would come into Israel to fight against Jesus and His supernatural army.

"Then I saw the beast (Antichrist) and the kings of the earth and their armies gathered together to make war against the rider on the horse and his army" (Revelation 19:19). What kind of complete and utter deception would need to be possessing these invading armies? Until I understood the Islamic apocalyptic template, it didn't make sense. But after recognizing that Muslims are literally expecting a supernatural miraculous deceiver to come to the earth who will be followed by Jews and Christians, then it all makes perfect sense. Many Muslims, through their own end-time beliefs, have literally been set-up to fight against Jesus as if he is the Antichrist.

I'm quite sure that many non-religious will read this article and snicker. "Those crazy Christians and Muslims are all nuts," many will no doubt think. A couple of years ago, I was being interviewed on NPR in Chicago. After enumerating the various reasons that I am deeply concerned about Islamic apocalyptic belief, the interviewer asked me if I was equally concerned about Christian apocalyptic beliefs -- surely all Messianism is equally dangerous. This is a common thought when those who are even slightly skeptical or cynical read about all of this. But there is a crucial distinction between Christian and Muslim apocalyptic belief that needs to be highlighted. I explained to my host that unless a supernatural man bursts forth from the sky in glory, there is absolutely nothing that the world needs to worry about with regard to Christian end-time beliefs. Christians are called to passively await their defender. They are not attempting to usher in His return. Muslims, on the other hand, are actively pursuing the day when their militaristic leader comes to lead them on into victory. Many believe that they can usher in his coming. One belief system is passive and awaits their defender; the other is both active and aggressive. In the midst of all of the admitted wackiness that end-time belief can become, how do I know that an imposter Messiah will not deceive me? How do I know that my messiah is the real Messiah? Without getting too theological, my answer is simple: As a Christian, I will await my savior; He will be the one who comes back to save me.

Joel Richardson is the author of the latest WND Books offering, "The Islamic Antichrist: The Shocking Truth about the Real Nature of the Beast." Note: The book is also available in electronic form at reduced price through Scribd.