EVENTS LEADING UP TO MAHDI IN THE GOSPEL

The portents of the End Times that describe the time of the coming of Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh) are at the same time portents of the return to earth of the Prophet Jesus (pbuh). This period, described as the End (Last) Times in the Gospels is sometimes portrayed literally and at others metaphorically.

Looking at the relevant terms that the Gospels employ, it appears that this period preceding the coming of Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh) will be one of social and moral degeneration, major wars, terrifying catastrophes, extraordinary phenomena in the skies, a turning away from religious moral values, the spread of injustice and unfairness, the oppression of true believers, and peace and security being replaced by disorder and unease. In addition, one feature of the End Times, the moral degeneration that can be encountered in all ages, will be most intense and severe in this period.

Some of these signs in the Gospels include:

1. The spread of irreligion:

At that time, many will turn away from the faith... (Matthew, 24:10)

... In the last times, some will abandon the faith... (1 Timothy, 4:1)

... [That day will not come] until the rebellion occurs... (2 Thessalonians, 2:3)

In the last times, there will be scoffers who will follow their own ungodly desires. (Jude, 1:18)

But mark this... in the last days... these men oppose the truth—men of depraved minds, who, as far as the faith is concerned, are rejected. (2 Timothy, 3:1, 8)

As it is written: "There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands, no one who seeks God. All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one." (Romans, 3:10-12)

They promise them freedom, while they themselves are slaves of depravity—for a man is a slave to whatever has mastered him. (2 Peter, 2:19)

Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God [Allah is beyond this], He gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done. Although they know God's righteous decree... They not only continue to do these [doing evil] but also approve of those who practice them. (Romans, 1:28, 32)

2. The denial of Creation, support for pagan philosophies:

But they deliberately forget that long ago by God's word, the heavens existed and the earth was created out of water and by water. (2 Peter, 3:5)

And exchanged the Glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles... They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator [Allah is beyond this]—Who is forever praised. Amen. (Romans, 1:23-25)

Formerly, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those gods who by nature are not gods. But now that you know God [see the evidence of God's existence]... how is it that you are turning back to those weak and miserable principles? Do you wish to be enslaved by them all over again? (Galatians, 4:8-9)

For although they knew God, they neither glorified Him as God [Allah is beyond this] nor gave thanks to Him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools. (Romans, 1:21-22)

3. The spread of polytheism (ascribing equals to Allah):

The rest of mankind that were not killed by these plagues still did not repent of the work of their hands; they did not stop worshiping demons, and idols of gold, silver, bronze, stone and wood—idols that cannot see or hear or walk. (Revelation, 9:20)

... In the last times, some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. (1 Timothy, 4:1)

... And [they] exchanged the Glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles... They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator [Allah is beyond this]. (Romans, 1:23-25)

... You have people there who hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught... to sin by eating food sacrificed to idols and by committing sexual immorality. (Revelation, 2:14)

4. Their non-abidence by Allah's commandments and prohibitions and display of deterrence for this end:

... These dreamers... reject authority [of the Lord]... (Jude, 1:8)

... They never stop sinning... (2 Peter, 2:14)

Woe to you experts in the Law [Allah's decrees and prohibitions], because you have taken away the key to knowledge. You yourselves have not entered, and you have hindered those who were entering. (Luke, 11:52)

5. Loss of respect for religious values:

These dreamers... slander celestial beings. These men speak abusively against whatever they do not understand; and what things they do understand by instinct, like unreasoning animals—these are the very things that destroy them. (Jude, 1:8-10)

6. The emergence of people who use religion for their own ends:

For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. (2 Timothy, 4:3)

... Many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. (Matthew, 24:11)

As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately. "Tell us," they said, "when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?" Jesus answered: "Watch out that no one deceives you. For many will come in my name, claiming, 'I am the Christ,' and will deceive many." (Matthew, 24:3-5; Mark, 13:3-5)

"At that time if anyone says to you, 'Look, here is the Christ!' or, 'There he is!' do not believe it. For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and miracles to deceive even the elect—if that were possible. See, I have told you ahead of time. So if anyone tells you, 'There he is, out in the desert,' do not go out; or, 'Here he is, in the inner rooms,' do not believe it." (Matthew, 24:23-26; Mark, 13:21-22)

... There were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies... bringing swift destruction on themselves. Many will follow their shameful ways and will bring the way of truth into disrepute. In their greed these teachers will exploit... (2 Peter, 2:1-3)

7. The faith is distorted and distanced from its true essence:

For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine... They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. (2 Timothy, 4:3-4)

... In the last times some will they... order them to abstain from certain foods, which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and who know the truth. (1 Timothy, 4:1, 3)

Thus you nullify the word of God [Allah is beyond this] by your tradition that you have handed down. And you do many things like that. (Mark, 7:13)

8. Increasing corruption:

... Just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies... Many will follow their sensuality and will bring the way of truth into disrepute. (2 Peter, 2:1-2)

Woe to the world because of the things that cause people to sin! Such things must come... but woe to that person through whom they come. (Matthew, 18:7; Luke 17:1)

At that time many will turn away from the faith... because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold... (Matthew, 24:10, 12)

... Bold and arrogant, these men are not afraid to slander celestial beings... They are... reveling in their pleasures while they feast with you... They never stop sinning; they seduce the unstable... (2 Peter, 2:10-14)

9. The spread of superstition:

Nor did they repent of... their magic arts. (Revelation, 9:21)

... In the last times... some will... follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. (1 Timothy, 4:1)

For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. (2 Timothy, 4:3)

10. An increase in hypocrisy:

There will be... in the last days treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— having a form of godliness, but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them. (2 Timothy, 3:1, 4-5)

I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel—which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ. (Galatians, 1:6-7)

11. The oppression of true believers:

All these are the beginning of birth pains. Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me [the Prophet Jesus (pbuh)]. (Matthew, 24:8-9)

... You will be brought before kings and governors, and all on account of my name [the name of the Prophet Jesus (pbuh)]... You will be betrayed even by parents, brothers, relatives and friends, and they will put some of you to death. All men will hate you because of me [the Prophet Jesus (pbuh)]... By standing firm, you will gain life. [Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh) and his followers will be similarly oppressed.] (Luke, 21:12, 16, 17, 19)

You will be handed over to the local councils... On account of me [that you followed me (the Prophet Jesus [pbuh]) for the good pleasure of Allah], you will stand before governors and kings as witnesses to them... All men will hate you because of me [the Prophet Jesus (pbuh)]... (Mark, 13: 9, 13)

... I am sending you Prophets and wise men and teachers. Some of them you will kill... others you will flog... and pursue from town to town. (Matthew, 23:34)

[The Prophet Jesus (pbuh)]: "Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me [that you followed me for the good pleasure of Allah]. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in Heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the Prophets who were before you. (Matthew, 5:11-12)

[The Prophet Jesus (pbuh)]: "I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves... They will hand you over to the local councils and flog you [oppress you]... On my account [that you followed me for the good pleasure of Allah], you will be brought before governors and kings... (Matthew, 10:16-18)

12. Increasing earthquakes:

... See to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. There will be... earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of birth pains. (Matthew, 24:6-8)

There will be great earthquakes... (Luke, 21:11)

... The time will come when not one stone will be left on another. (Luke, 21:6)

Then there came... a severe earthquake. No earthquake like it has ever occurred since man has been on earth, so tremendous was the quake. The great city split into three parts, and the cities of the nations collapsed. (Revelation, 16:18-19)

There will be earthquakes in various places... (Mark, 13:8)

13. Famine:

... See to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come... There will be famines... in various places. All these are the beginning of birth pains. (Matthew, 24:6-8)

There will be... famines... in various places. (Luke, 21:11)

They were given power over a fourth of the earth to kill by... famine... (Revelation, 6:7)

There will be... famines. (Mark, 13:8)

14. Hurricanes and tsunami:

On the earth, nations will be in anguish and perplexity at the roaring and tossing of the sea. (Luke, 21:25)

15. Volcanic eruptions:

The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare. (2 Peter, 3:10)

It was the same in the days of Lot. People were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building. But the day Lot left Sodom, fire and sulfur rained down from heaven and destroyed them all. It will be just like this on the day the Son of Man is revealed [before the coming of the Prophet Jesus (pbuh)]. (Luke, 17: 28-30)

16. An increase in storms and lightning:

Then... there came peals of thunder, rumblings, flashes of lightning and an earthquake. (Revelation, 8:5)

And there came flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, an earthquake and a great hailstorm. (Revelation, 11:19)

Just as it was in the days of Noah, so also will it be in the days of the Son of Man [before the Prophet Jesus's (pbuh) coming]. People were eating, drinking, marrying and being given in marriage up to the day Noah entered the ark. Then the flood came and destroyed them all. (Luke, 17:26-27)

17. Falling of hailstones:

From the sky, huge hailstones of about a hundred pounds each fell upon men... The [hail] plague was so terrible. (Revelation, 16:21)

18. Reshaping of the structures of the earth by natural disasters:

Every island fled away, and the mountains could not be found. (Revelation, 16:20)

... Every mountain and island was removed from its place. (Revelation, 6:14)

19. Landslides:

They called to the mountains and the rocks, "Fall on us... " (Revelation, 6:16)

20. Extraordinary events in the skies:

The heavens will disappear with a roar... (2 Peter, 3:10)

There will be... great signs from heaven. (Luke, 21:11)

The sky receded like a scroll, rolling up... (Revelation, 6:14)

21. Meteorite storms:

... And the stars in the sky fell to Earth, as late figs drop from a fig tree when shaken by a strong wind. (Revelation, 6:13)

22. Signs in the Sun and Moon:

There will be signs in the Sun, Moon and stars... (Luke, 21:25)

23. Drought:

... And the Sun was given power to scorch people with fire. They were seared by the intense heat... (Revelation, 16: 8-9)

24. Increasing fires:

A third of the earth was burned up, a third of the trees were burned up, and all the green grass was burned up. (Revelation, 8:7)

25. Epidemics:

There will be... pestilences. (Luke, 21:11)

They were given power over a fourth of the earth to kill by... plague... (Revelation, 6:8)

 I [the Lord] will kill her children with pestilence. Then all... will know that I am He Who searches hearts and minds... (Revelation, 2:23)

26. Plagues of locusts:

And out of the smoke, locusts came down upon the earth and were given power like that of scorpions of the earth. They were told not to harm the grass of the earth or any plant or tree, but only those people who did not have the seal of God on their foreheads. (Revelation, 9:3-4)

During those days... the locusts looked like horses prepared for battle... the sound of their wings was like the thundering of many horses and chariots rushing into battle... They had power to torment people for five months. (Revelation, 9:6-10)

27. Wars and maritime accidents destroy marine life:

... Something like a huge mountain, all ablaze, was thrown into the sea. A third of the sea turned into blood, a third of the living creatures in the sea died... (Revelation, 8:8-9)

... [The sea] turned into blood like that of a dead man, and every living thing in the sea died. (Revelation, 16:3)

28. Terrifying catastrophes:

Men will faint from terror, apprehensive of what is coming on the world... (Luke, 21:26)

Then the kings of the earth, the princes, the generals, the rich, the mighty, and every slave and every free man hid in caves and among the rocks of the mountains... (Revelation, 6:15)

29. A lowering of the water of the Euphrates (with the Keban Dam):

The sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates, and its water was dried up to prepare the way for the kings from the east. (Revelation, 16:12)

30. Major wars:

When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom... These are the beginning of birth pains. (Mark, 13:7-8)

You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom... (Matthew, 24:6-7)

When you hear of wars and revolutions, do not be frightened. These things must happen first, but the end will not come right away. Then he [the Prophet Jesus (pbuh)] said to them: "Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom." (Luke, 21:9-10)

31. The disappearance of peace on earth:

[It] was given power to take peace from the earth and to make men slay each other... (Revelation, 6:4)

32. Increased rebellion:

When you hear of... revolutions, do not be frightened. These things must happen first, but the end will not come right away. (Luke, 21:9)

33. Increased corruption and separatism:

They said to you, "In the last times there will be scoffers who will follow their own ungodly desires." These are the people who cause divisions... (Jude, 1:18-19)

Do you think I came to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but division. (Luke, 12:51)

From now on there will be five in one family divided against each other, three against two and two against three. (Luke, 12:52)

34. A rise in hatred and enmity:

 Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child. Children will rebel against their parents and have them put to death. (Mark, 13:12)

... Men [will] slay each other. (Revelation, 6:4)

Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God [Allah is beyond this], He gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done. They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice... (Romans, 1:28-29)

35. Destruction of places of worship:

Some of his disciples were remarking about how the Temple was adorned with beautiful stones and with gifts dedicated to God. But Jesus said, "As for what you see here, the time will come when not one stone will be left on another..." (Luke, 21:5-6)

36. Increasing deaths:

I will show... signs on the earth below, blomamod and fire and billows of smoke. (Acts, 2:19)

... They were given power over a fourth of the earth to kill by sword, famine and plague, and by the wild beasts of the earth. (Revelation, 6:8)

37. The use of technological weapons and vehicles in wars:

Their breastplates were fiery red, dark blue, and yellow as sulfur. The heads of the horses resembled the heads of lions, and out of their mouths came fire, smoke and sulfur. [People] were killed by the three plagues of fire, smoke and sulfur that came out of their mouths. The power of the horses was in their mouths and in their tails; for their tails were like snakes, having heads with which they inflict injury. (Revelation, 9: 17-19)

... I have come to bring fire on the earth... (Luke, 12:49)

38. An increase in murders:

Nor did they repent of their murders. (Revelation, 9:21)

Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; children will rebel against their parents and have them put to death. (Matthew, 10:21)

39. The spread of prostitution:

Nor did they repent of... their sexual immorality. ((Revelation, 9:21)

... These dreamers pollute their own bodies... (Jude, 1:8)

With eyes full of adultery... (2 Peter, 2:14)

... By her teaching she misleads My servants into sexual immorality and the eating of food sacrificed to idols. I have given her time to repent of her immorality, but she is unwilling. (Revelations, 2:20-21)

40. Increasing cohabitation out of wedlock:

... In the last times, some will abandon the faith and... forbid people to marry. (1 Timothy, 4:1- 3)

41. Increasing theft:

Nor did they repent of... their thefts. (Revelation, 9:21)

42. Increasing fraud:

... They are... carousing in their own deceptions while they feast with you. (2 Peter, 2:13)

... Evil men and impostors will go from bad to worse, misleading and being misled. (2 Timothy, 3:13)

... They boast about themselves and flatter others for their own advantage. (Jude, 1:16)

43. The hardening of consciences:

In the last times... speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared... (1 Timothy, 4:2)

We have much to say about this, but it is hard to explain because you have become dull of hearing. (Hebrews, 5:11)

44. Immoral and purposeless living:

Their shame is like the foam on the wild waves of the sea. They are like wandering stars... (Jude, 1:13)

"Where will this happen...?" they asked. He [the Prophet Jesus (pbuh)] replied, "Where there is a dead body, there the vultures will gather." (Luke, 17:37)

Wherever the corpse is, there the vultures will gather. (Matthew, 24:28)

Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. (Romans, 1:24)

Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God [Allah is beyond this], He gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done. (Romans, 1:28)

... Their idea of pleasure is to carouse in broad daylight. They are blots and blemishes, reveling in their pleasures while they feast with you. (2 Peter, 2:13)

45. A decline in love between people:

At that time... because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold. (Matthew, 24:10-12)

You should know... that in the last days there will be very difficult times... People will be... unholy, without love... (2 Timothy, 3:1-3)

46. People lacking spirituality:

These men are grumblers and faultfinders; they follow their own evil desires; they boast about themselves and flatter others for their own advantage. But, dear friends, remember what the apostles of... Jesus Christ foretold. They said to you, "In the last times there will be scoffers who will follow their own ungodly desires." These people are the ones who are creating divisions among you. They follow their natural instincts because they do not have faith in God in them. (Jude, 1:16-19)

... The hearts of the rest were hardened, as it is written: "God gave them a spirit of stupor, eyes so that they could not see and ears so that they could not hear, to this very day." (Romans, 11:7-8)

But mark this: There will be... in the last days... treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God—having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them. (2 Timothy, 3:1, 4-5)

47. A rise in anger and a decline in forgiveness:

At that time many will turn away from the faith and... betray and hate each other... (Matthew, 24:10)

You should know this... that in the last days there will be very difficult times... People will be... unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good... (2 Timothy, 3:1-3)

Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God [Allah is beyond this], He gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done. They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, slanderers, God-haters [Allah is beyond this], insolent, arrogant and who praise themselves; they invent ways of doing evil... They are senseless, faithless, heartless, ruthless. (Romans, 1:28-31)

48. A decline in respect, and children growing rebellious:

Children will rebel against their parents and have them put to death. (Mark, 13:12)

But mark this... in the last days... people will be... disobedient to their parents... (2 Timothy, 3:1-2)

... They are... insolent, arrogant and boastful... They disobey their parents; they are senseless, faithless, heartless, ruthless. Although they know God's righteous decree... They not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them. (Romans, 1:29-32)

49. Family relations impaired:

From now on there will be five in one family divided against each other, three against two and two against three. They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law. (Luke, 12:52-53)

50. People consider only material values:

But mark this:... in the last days people will be... lovers of money... (2 Timothy, 3:1-2)

51. The rich grow richer and the poor, poorer:

For everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him. (Matthew, 25:29)

Now listen, you rich people... You have hoarded wealth in the last days. (James, 5:1, 3)

... To everyone who has, more will be given, but as for the one who has nothing, even what he has will be taken away. (Luke, 19:26)

You say, 'I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.' But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. (Revelation, 3:17)

People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. (1 Timothy, 6:9-10)

52. People living in drunkenness and dissipation:

Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with dissipation, drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you unexpectedly like a trap. (Luke, 21:34)

Their idea of pleasure is to carouse in broad daylight. They are blots and blemishes... (2 Peter, 2:13)

These men are blemishes... eating... without the slightest qualm. (Jude, 1:12)

Certain men... have secretly slipped in among you. They are godless men, who change the grace of our God into a license for immorality [Allah is beyond this]... (Jude, 1:4)

53. People seeking earthly pleasures (personal passion and desires) rather than Allah's approval:

But mark this:... in the last days, people will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud... without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good... lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God... (2 Timothy, 3:1-4)

These men [ungodly sinners] are grumblers and faultfinders; they follow their own evil desires; they boast about themselves and flatter others for their own advantage. But, dear friends, remember what the apostles of... Jesus Christ foretold. They said to you, "In the last times there will be scoffers who will follow their own ungodly desires." (Jude, 1:16-18)

But these men blaspheme in matters they do not understand... [They] are like unthinking animals, creatures of instinct... (2 Peter, 2:12)

First of all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. (2 Peter, 3:3)

... God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. (Romans, 1:24)

Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach [Allah is beyond this], and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is on earthly things. (Philippians, 3:19)

54. Aberrant relations becoming widespread:

But mark this:... in the last days... people will be... unholy, without love... without self-control, brutal... (2 Timothy, 3:1-3)

... God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones. In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed indecent acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their perversion. (Romans, 1:24, 26-27)

55. Lack of faith leads to an irrational way of life:

Yet these men speak abusively against whatever they do not understand; and what things they do understand by instinct, like unreasoning animals—these are the very things that destroy them. (Jude, 1:10)

But these men blaspheme in matters they do not understand. They are like unthinking animals, creatures of instinct, born to be caught and destroyed.... (2 Peter, 2:12)

For although they knew God, they neither glorified Him as God nor gave thanks to Him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools. (Romans, 1:21-22)

 56. Lack of faith leads to unproductiveness:

... These... reject the Lord's Authority [Allah is beyond this], and slander His glorious beings... These men are blemishes... They are clouds without rain, blown along by the wind; autumn trees, without fruit and uprooted—twice dead. (Jude, 1:8-12)

57. Increased selfishness:

But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days... People will be lovers of themselves... brutal, treacherous... (2 Timothy, 3:1, 2-5)

... These... reject the Lord's Authority [Allah is beyond this]... These men are... shepherds who feed only themselves... They boast about themselves and flatter others for their own advantage. (Jude, 1:8, 12, 16)

58. An increase in greed:

... They are experts in greed—an accursed brood! (2 Peter, 2:14)

In their greed, these teachers will exploit you with stories they have made up. (2 Peter, 2:3)

... Since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God [Allah is beyond this]... They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity... (Romans, 1:28-32)

59. People being prone to complain:

These men [ungodly sinners] are grumblers and faultfinders... (Jude, 1:16)

60. People using evil words:

Their throats are open graves; their tongues practice deceit. The poison of vipers is on their lips. Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness. (Romans, 3:13-14)

These men [ungodly sinners] are grumblers and faultfinders... They boast about themselves and flatter others for their own advantage. But, dear friends, remember what the apostles of... Jesus Christ foretold. They said to you, "In the last times there will be scoffers who will follow their own ungodly desires." (Jude, 1:16-18)

61. Increased arrogance:

But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves... praise themselves, proud... (2 Timothy, 3:2-5)

... For they loved praise from men more than praise from God. (John, 12:43)

62. Increased mockery:

They said to you, "In the last times there will be scoffers who will follow their own ungodly desires." (Jude, 1:18)

First of all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. They will say, "What happened to the promise that Jesus is coming again? Ever since our fathers died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of Creation." They deliberately forget that God made the heavens by the word of His command... (2 Peter, 3:3-5)

63. Events causing terrible distress and suffering:

How dreadful it will be in those days...! There will be great distress in the land and wrath against this people. (Luke, 21:23)

[Prior to the Prophet Jesus (pbuh)'s returning] While people are saying, "Peace and safety," destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. (1 Thessalonians, 5:3)

 [The Prophet Jesus (pbuh) telling about the End Times] Then he said to them: "Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be great earthquakes, famines and pestilences in various places, and fearful events." (Luke, 21:10-11)

... Those will be days of distress unequaled from the beginning, when God created the world, until now—and never to be equaled again. (Mark, 13:19)

For then there will be great distress, unequaled from the beginning of the world until now—and never to be equaled again. (Matthew, 24:21)

But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. (2 Timothy, 3:1)

Men gnawed their tongues in agony. (Revelation, 16:10)

... No one buys their [world's merchants'] cargoes any more—cargoes of gold, silver, precious stones and pearls; fine linen, purple, silk and scarlet cloth; every sort of citron wood, and articles of every kind made of ivory, costly wood, bronze, iron and marble; cargoes of cinnamon and spice, of incense, myrrh and frankincense, of wine and olive oil, of fine flour and wheat; cattle and sheep; horses and carriages; and bodies and souls of men. (Revelation, 18:11-13)

64. People refuse to submit to Allah and rebel because of what befalls them:

... And defied the God of Heaven [Allah is beyond this] because of their pains and their sores, but they refused to repent of what they had done. (Revelation, 16:11)

65. People losing hope in salvation:

During those days, men will seek death, but will not find it; they will long to die, but death will elude them. (Revelation, 9:6)

66. The days growing short:

If those days had not been cut short, no one would survive, but for the sake of the elect, those days will be shortened. (Matthew, 24:22)

If the Lord had not cut short those days, no one would survive. But for the sake of the elect, whom He has chosen, He has shortened them. (Mark, 13:20)

67. War in Iraq:

67.1. The bombing of Iraq:

Then a mighty angel picked up a boulder the size of a large millstone and threw it into the sea, and said: "With such violence the great city of Babylon* will be thrown down, never to be found again." (Revelation, 18:21)

*Babylon: The name of an ancient city near Baghdad, the capital of contemporary Iraq.

In one hour such great wealth has been brought to ruin! Every sea captain, and all who travel by ship, the sailors, and all who earn their living from the sea, will stand far off. When they see the smoke of her burning, they will exclaim, 'Was there ever a city like this great city [Babylon]?' (Revelation, 18:17-18)

67.2. The destruction of Iraqi cities:

A second angel followed and said, "Fallen! Fallen is Babylon the Great!... " (Revelation, 14:8)

With a mighty voice he [another angel] shouted: "Fallen! Fallen is Babylon the Great!... (Revelation, 18:2)

67.3. Severe destruction in a very short period of time in Iraq:

And [the merchants] cry out: 'Woe! Woe, O great city, dressed in fine linen, purple and scarlet, and glittering with gold, precious stones and pearls! In one hour such great wealth has been brought to ruin!... (Revelation, 18:16-17)

They... cry out: "Woe! Woe, O great city, where all who had ships on the sea became rich through her wealth!" In one hour, [the city] has been brought to ruin. (Revelation, 18:19)

67.4. The impoverishment of Iraq:

"The merchants of the earth will weep and mourn over her [Babylon] because no one buys their cargoes any more— cargoes of gold, silver, precious stones and pearls; fine linen, purple, silk and scarlet cloth; every sort of citron wood, and articles of every kind made of ivory, costly wood, bronze, iron and marble; cargoes of cinnamon and spice, of incense, myrrh and frankincense... and olive oil, of fine flour and wheat; cattle and sheep; horses and carriages... They will say, 'The fruit you longed for is gone from you. All your riches and splendor have vanished...' The merchants who sold these things and gained their wealth from her will stand far off, terrified at her torment... (Revelation, 18:11-15)

67.5. A halt to art and creativity in Iraq:

No workman of any trade will ever be found in you [Babylon] again. The sound of a millstone will never be heard in you again. (Revelation, 18:22)

67.6. The Iraqi people in a state of trouble and despair:

The music of harpists and musicians, flute players and trumpeters, will never be heard in you [Babylon] again... (Revelation, 18:22)

The light of a lamp will never shine in you [Babylon] again. The voice of bridegroom and bride will never be heard in you again. Your merchants were the world's great men. (Revelation, 18:23)

68. The appearance of the antichrist (dajjal):

Dear children, this is the last hour; and as you have heard that the antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come. This is how we know it is the last hour. (1 John, 2:18)

68.1. The antichrist works intensively to spread atheism:

Don't let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness [antichrist] is revealed, the man doomed to destruction... exalt[s] himself over everything that is called God or is worshipped, so that he sets himself up in God's Temple, proclaiming himself to be God [Allah is beyond this]. (2 Thessalonians, 2:3-4)

The beast [antichrist] was given a mouth to utter proud words and blasphemies and to exercise his authority for forty-two months. He opened his mouth to rise up against God, and to defy His name and His dwelling place [Allah is beyond this] and those who live in Heaven. He was given power to make war against the saints and to conquer them. And he was given authority over every tribe, people, language and nation. (Revelation, 13:5-7)

Don't you remember that when I was with you I used to tell you these things? And now you know what is holding him [antichrist] back, so that he may be revealed at the proper time. For the secret power of lawlessness [antichrist] is already at work... (2 Thessalonians, 2:5-7)

... This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world. (1 John, 4:3)

Many deceivers... have gone out into the world. Any such person is the deceiver and the antichrist. (2 John, 1:7)

68.2. The antichrist deceives people who have turned away from religion by illusions:

The coming of the lawless one [antichrist] will be in accordance with the work of satan displayed in all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders... They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie. (2 Thessalonians, 2:9-11)

And he performed great and miraculous signs, even causing fire to come down from heaven to earth in full view of men. Because of the signs he [antichrist] was given power to do on behalf of the first beast, he deceived the inhabitants of the earth... (Revelation, 13:13-14)

68.3. The antichrist influences all nations:

... He [antichrist] was given authority over every tribe, people, language and nation. (Revelation, 13:7)

... The dragon [satan] gave the beast [antichrist] his power and his throne and great authority... The whole world was astonished and followed the beast. (Revelation, 13:2-3)

68.4. He draws support from countries' irreligious ideologies and military forces:

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 [those who are subject to Allah]. (Revelation, 19:19)

... For one hour will receive authority as kings along with the beast [antichrist]. They have one purpose and will give their power and authority to the beast. (Revelation, 17:12-13)

For God has put it into their hearts to accomplish His purpose by agreeing to give the beast [antichrist] their power to rule, until God's words are fulfilled. (Revelation, 17:17)

And I saw a beast [antichrist] coming out of the sea. He had ten horns and seven heads, with ten crowns on his horns, and on each head a blasphemous name. [That is; the system of the antichrist, gaining its power from countries that embrace atheistic ideologies.] (Revelation, 13:1)

68.5. The antichrist's perseverance in his activities until the moralilty of religion holds an utter sway:

For the secret power of lawlessness [the system of the antichrist] is already at work... And then the lawless one [antichrist] will be revealed, whom... Jesus will overthrow with the breath of his mouth and destroy by the splendor of his coming. (2 Thessalonians, 2:7-8)

68.6. He intensifies his evil activities as the coming of Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh) approaches:

The great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent called the devil, or satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his helpers with him... because the devil has gone down to you! He is filled with fury, because he knows that his time is short. (Revelation, 12:9, 12)

68.7. He attracts all those who are weak in faith:

... The whole world was astonished and followed the beast [antichrist]. Men worshiped the dragon [satan] because he had given authority to the beast [antichrist], and they also worshiped the beast... [Allah is beyond this.] (Revelation, 13:3-4)

They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. For this reason, God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie. (2 Thessalonians, 2:10-11)

All inhabitants of the earth will worship the beast [antichrist]... [Allah is beyond this.] (Revelation, 13:8)

68.8. He acts under satan's command:

The coming of the lawless one [antichrist] will be in accordance with the work of satan... in every sort of evil. (2 Thessalonians, 2:9-10)

68.9. He produces corruption and causes war:

And then the lawless one [antichrist] will be revealed. (2 Thessalonians, 2:8)

He performed great... signs, even causing fire to come down from heaven to earth in full view of men. (Revelation, 13:13)

 Then I saw three evil spirits that looked like frogs; they came out of the mouth of the dragon, out of the mouth of the beast and out of the mouth of the false prophet. They are spirits of demons performing miraculous signs, and they go out to the kings of the whole world, to gather them for the battle on the great day of God Almighty. Then they gathered the kings together to the place that in Hebrew is called Armageddon (Megiddo Mountain). (Revelation, 16:13-16)

You [who follow the antichrist] belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father's desire. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies. (John, 8:44)

68.10. The fact that the antichrist will inevitably be vanquished:

[That day will not come] until... the man of lawlessness [antichrist] is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. (2 Thessalonians, 2:3)

And then the lawless one [antichrist] will be revealed, whom... Jesus will overthrow with the breath of his mouth and destroy by the splendor of his coming. (2 Thessalonians, 2:8)

The beast [antichrist], which you saw, once was, now is not, and will come up out of the Abyss and go to his destruction. The inhabitants of the earth whose names have not been written in the book of life from the Creation of the world will be astonished when they see the beast, because he once was, now is not... (Revelation, 17:8)

69. The emergence of Gog and Magog in the End Times (World Wars I and II):

69.1. They constitute a multinational community:

... Satan... will go out from prison to deceive the nations in the four corners of the earth—Gog and Magog—to gather them for battle. In number they are like the sand on the seashore. (Revelation, 20:7-8)

69.2. They are very great in numbers:

In number, they are like the sand on the seashore. (Revelation, 20:8)

69.3. They produce corruption:

They marched across the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of God's people, the city He loves. (Revelation, 20:9)

69.4. They act according to satan's suggestion:

... The devil, who deceived them... (Revelation, 20:10)

69.5. There being mass deaths:

But fire came down from heaven and devoured them. (Revelation, 20:9)

70. The return to earth of the Prophet Jesus (pbuh):

After he [the Prophet Jesus (pbuh)] said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight. "Men of Galilee," they said, "why do you stand here looking into the sky?" "This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven." (Acts, 1:9-11)

... He will appear a second time... to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him. (Hebrews, 9:28)

... While we wait for the blessed hope—the glorious appearing of... Jesus... (Titus, 2:13)

This will happen when... Jesus is revealed from heaven. (2 Thessalonians, 1:7)

He [the Prophet Jesus (pbuh)] was chosen before the Creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake. (1 Peter, 1:20)

So that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold... may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. (1 Peter, 1:7)

... May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of... Jesus Christ. The One [Allah] Who calls you is faithful and He will do it. (1 Thessalonians, 5: 23-24)