upgraded March 4, 2010
Magi: originally a religious caste among the Persians. Their devotion to astrology, divination, and the interpretation of dreams led to an extension in the meaning of the word, and by the first century the terms "magi" and "Chaldaean" were applied generally to fortune tellers and the exponents of the esoteric religious cults throughout the Mediterranean world. Magus is, for example, the epithet of the charlatan Simon of Acts 8:9. The term is translated "sorcerer" in Acts 13:6,8. "The wise men from the east" of the Nativity story (Matthew 2) are often referred to as "the Magi." - The New Compact Bible Dictionary, Zondervan
The Magi came from the east after the time of the birth of Jesus Christ.
Matthew 2:1 (NIV) After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem 2 and asked, "Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him."
The Magi were Chaldaeans, Babylonians or Persians who studied the stars and knew that a Great King of the Jewish people was to be born. The Magi were able to foretell events based on the alignment of the stars. The Tower of Babel (Genesis 11:1-9) was from the same area of Mesopotamia as the Magi came from, and was a tower to the stars. There was a sign of the Zodiac at the top of the Tower of Babel. Approximately 2,200 years after the Tower of Babel, the Magi were still involved in studying the stars.
Today, the Muslims from the same area of Mesopotamia, Persia (Iran) and Babylon (Iraq) are again anticipating a messiah. He is the Mahdi.
There exists a lie from the devil that is varied, and diverse in its acceptance by the Muslim world, concerning the Muslim "Mahdi". That lie from the devil is substantially accepted by Shia Muslims, but has measured acceptance among other Muslims. That lie from the devil is that when the Mahdi comes, he will be accompanied by Jesus Christ; and together, the Mahdi and Jesus Christ will conquer Satan and bring peace to the world. That lie is a classic misdirectional lie from the devil. By claiming that the Mahdi will conquer Satan, the devil is hiding from the Muslim world, the fact that THE MAHDI IS SATAN!
The truth is that when the Antichrist is revealed, the Antichrist will be a man (Bashar al-Assad, the King of Syria) who is possessed by the devil. The Antichrist will be accompanied by the Vicar of Christ who is the Roman Catholic Pope (False Prophet). On December 21, 2012, the Antichrist will invade Israel, capture Jerusalem, kill the "two witnesses", and destroy the United States of America. The Muslims refer to Israel as the "Little Satan", and the Muslims refer to the United States of America as the "Great Satan". When the Antichrist captures Jerusalem, and destroys the United States of America; the Antichrist will be accepted as the Muslim Mahdi based on the Antichrist's credentials of having conquered Israel, who the Muslims consider to be the "Little Satan"; and the Antichrist will be accepted as the Muslim Mahdi based on the Antichrist's credentials of having destroyed the United States of America, who the Muslims consider to be the "Great Satan". On December 25, 2012, CHRISTMAS DAY, when the Antichrist sets himself up in the Jewish Temple, "proclaiming himself to be God" - 2 Thessalonians 2:4, the Islamic world will accept the Antichrist (Bashar al-Assad) and recognize him as the Islamic world's Mahdi.
In internet research for the Mahdi, you will find many similarities in the prophecies concerning the Mahdi, and the prophecies concerning the Antichrist:
1. The emergence of the Mahdi is expected within the next few years. - The Antichrist will be irrefutably revealed on December 21, 2012.
2. The Mahdi is supposed to bring peace. - The Antichrist will claim to bring peace.
3. The Mahdi will be Islamic. - The Antichrist will be Islamic.
4. The Mahdi will come at a time of Great Tribulation. - The Antichrist will ascend to world power in the middle of the Seven Year "covenant" Period, and the Antichrist's ascension to power will mark the beginning of the three and one-half year "great tribulation" Period (Matthew 24:21-22 [KJV], Revelation 7:14).
5. The Mahdi will rule for seven years.- The Antichrist will come to power and rule within the Seven Year "covenant" Period.
6. The Mahdi is alleged to be accompanied by Jesus Christ. - The Antichrist will be accompanied by the leader of Judeo-Christian Organized Religion, who is the Roman Catholic Pope, the "Vicar of Christ".
The Islamic world is ready for a strong man to come, subordinate all of the entire world to Islam, and bring peace. The Islamic world is ready for the Antichrist.
THE ANTICHRIST IS POSSESSED BY SATAN!
THE MUSLIM MAHDI IS SATAN!