PRASCH CRASH

Not before time, both Joshua Chavez (Servus Christi) and Amos Farrell (RTN) have cut ties with Jacob Prasch and Moriel Minstries. I thank God for these latest developments, and I pray that this wicked man's stranglehold on certain parts of the the Body of Christ will finally cease to be.  

Why I Can No Longer Endorse Jacob Prasch & Moriel Ministries | Servus Christi

Final RTN and Moriel message with Apology - RTN TV

Moriel's Response:

The Board of Moriel finds itself baffled by a recent list of 8 conjectured charges, none having any real proof against Moriel, a range of figures including our board & John Haller and above all Jacob Prasch by Joshua Chavez massively circulated by email. A previous edict by Joshua Chavez was noted and discussed last March. The content of these allegations are ironically borrowed from statements by Joshua Chavez' own internet enemies and include charges often levelled against Joshua Chavez himself, such as obsessive conflict.
Given his own history of cyber warfare with Justin Peters, John Mac Arthur, JD Hall and many others, it is bewildering why he would attribute behavior to another that many others have openly ascribed to him. Indeed, his own propensity for conflict led Moriel from restricting Social Media postings by Joshua Chavez on Moriel platforms. It is public knowledge that Jacob Prasch came under unbelievably cruel attack on the internet for being supportive of Joshua Chavez in his marital dilemma, with Jacob even being accused of the felony as accessory to human trafficking by Joshua Chavez. Jacob Prasch willingly took the cyber bullets for Joshua Chavez out of personal loyalty because Joshua Chavez had so often been loyal to Jacob Prasch. This has left us confused, but we will respond to these 8 distortions and fabrications for the sake of the dozens of the recipients Joshua Chavez has sought to drag into this fiasco.
1. It is no secret that while opposing Jacob Prasch & Moriel since their promotion of David Nathan whom most deemed heretical, Studio Scotland, despite desperate pleading to cease, has continued to sell videos featuring Jacob Prasch while denouncing him. No one wants any of this and it could all have ended if Stuart & Deborah Menelaws of Studio Scotland simply stopped selling them. We cannot see this grievance as obsessive. When Joshua Chavez provided Moriel with the identity of tbc. kawaii, a relentless harasser from the Asian gay fetishist 'Kawaii' (Cutie) movement, Moriel did not pursue exposure of this individuals hidden identity on Facebook as Joshua Chavez suggested, but only sent copies to anyone contacting us. One posted a redaction of it and contacted Moriel (their identity remains unknown to Jacob Prasch). Moriel only requested a disclaimer that Moriel does not hate homosexuals be added. This has proved wise as two weeks ago tbc.Kawaii posted an attack on Jacob Prasch as a 'homophobe' and labelling Moriel as a cult for being homophobic. Not until tbc.Kawaii began recent attacks on Jacob's wife & family did he even refer to tbc.Kawaii in the public domain.
2. At no time did Moriel post or commission any spoof web sites to be posted by anyone or against anyone. We did not even know who was doing some of these things (Studio Scotland has other adversaries). While he did it in support of Jacob Prasch, it was in fact
Joshua Chavez himself who posted photos of the Menlaws with 666 and wads of money. We did not object, but Joshua Chavez did it. By his own admission, Joshua Chavez misrepresented himself on the internet in his attacks as a woman named 'Lydia', to which his critics have taken repeated offence. Why Joshua Chavez accosts us for things we did not do, but himself admits he did is absurd.
3. Joshua Chavez comparing a certain Christian woman named Linda M., who is not a Moriel team member (but is known to us) to the demonized witch in Acts Chapter 16 is a serious insult to her and to her husband, and an outrage. She is not that or anything like it.
4. We have never seen anything in regard to Studio Scotland that can be called a death threat, and even if there had been, it was nothing to do with us. The police have never contacted us nor anyone we know about a crime that never even transpired.
5. When Jacob Prasch & Moriel reacted to David Nathan's teaching such as "God The Father is Not The Creator", and 'animal blood will atone for sin in the Millennium', David Nathan's supporters began to defend his heretical teaching on the basis of him being fully Jewish while Jacob Prasch is not. This led to an ugly tirade of accusations of Jacob having a forged Passport ID, false DNA reports, and falsified Israeli ID. His family was also harassed. The Moriel board instructed Jacob not to display any private documentation in the public domain. Joshua Chavez takes issue with Jacob describing his father's family of 'Jewish ancestry', while he as a half Mexican would not describe himself as being of Mexican descent. "Jewish' of course is both a religion and an ethnicity. Jacob's testimony has been published for years. While his wife and children are Israeli Jewish Christians, he is not. Apart from being sent with his siblings to a Jewish community centre Jacob has no cultural or religious Jewish background whatsoever. Jacob’s mother was Roman Catholic and forced him to attend Catholic school against his own wishes. The public data however through Ancestry.com and Jewish Buriels.org are already in the public domain. The accusation by Joshua Chavez' own enemy Chris Rosebrough is that although the family name was the common Jewish name 'Brasch' changed to 'Prasch', and that Jacob Prasch is not from the Prasch line of former Jewish line of the Brasch family. The online Jewish burial records indicate otherwise (which is likely why the Jewish Agency gave Jacob a Jewish ID immigration certificate in Israel (of which a renewal was shown online). While most Jewish birth & death records were destroyed in the purge of German Jewish records by the Nazis, grave markers remained even in most desecrated Jewish cemeteries. Claims by Joshua Chavez that these burial records were provided by a lady named Ursula are mistaken, these records are available on the internet.
JewishGen Online Worldwide Burial Registry - Germany
Ursula and Linda MacIntyre did however do Jewish research at ancestry.com into Jacob Prasch's family (documented Jews named: Wrecklin, Brasch, and Goldbeck), but Jacob had almost no prior knowledge of them and requested they not be web posted. Jacob Prasch states: "I and my father were named for 'Jakob Prasch' who died 14 years before my father was born ". The name was Anglicized to James, but switched back to Jacob when I immigrated to Israel. This proved consistent with the public records available on ancestry.com
David Nathan's wife and children are not Jewish (by rabbinic law). That does not however make his family either less Christian or less Jewish. Ethnicity does not determine whose doctrine was right and whose was wrong.
6. Jacob Prasch's personal business affairs are none of Joshua Chavez' business. Except that Moriel has benefited from the commercial licensing of domain names, Jacob's private business has nothing to do with Moriel. The insinuation however, that Jacob Prasch financed the private education his children with funds taken from Moriel is as ridiculous as it is defamatory. The audited accounts from those years at that time, 18 to 25 years ago, indicates that Moriel did not have that kind of money then; it often struggled to remain solvent in earlier years. We all know this.
7. Implied suggestions of financial impropriety by Moriel is baseless and sleazy gossip mongering. All of Moriel's accounts are audited and in complete compliance with American & British law. It was discovered in a posthumous audit that a now deceased Moriel administrator in Australia did engage in embezzlement several years ago. This has long since been corrected and it was the action of a single individual and nothing systematic within the ministry. Jacob Prasch donates all royalties for the sale of his books and recoded materials to the ministry.
By law, all 'Specified Donations' (USA), and 'Designated Funds'(UK) must be paid to, or used exclusively for the purpose for which they were contributed. This includes mission funds (for India, Israel, Africa, Thailand, etc.,), and love offerings or honorariums to individuals (including Jacob Prasch). These normally must go through the books and bank accounts of the ministry. Re-donated income of any team members are their personal affair in terms of amounts. All revenue of book and media sales are used for the ministries work.
When Joshua Chavez was a part time member of the Moriel Team as a videographer and in video production, he was paid $750 per month (he did a competent job). Joshua never objected to receiving payment for his work while at the same time saying Christian pastors and leaders should not be paid, which is not scriptural. His belief concerning paid pastors and leaders is based on a misinterpretation of 1 Corinthians 14 which he states there are no pastors or elders again which is not scriptural.
His other views that there are no sermons in scripture, only 'teaching', is also doctrinal error (dideskein is teaching, and homila is a sermon).
8. The Castigation of the Moriel Board for not doing more to restrict Jacob Prasch and allow 'sin' begs two questions: What sin? Joshua Chavez insinuates, but where is the sin he only conjectures which he expects to be accepted as fact.
* Where is Joshua Chavez' board? Is there a Servus Christi board?
It is interesting that Joshua shares the fact that the Board did not like him but Jacob needed to negotiate for him. Why didn't we "like" him and why and how did Jacob negotiate for him? Well, simply, Joshua has bad doctrine on his videos, saying things like the Bible doesn't say there are sermons only teaching. Also, Joshua teachers there are not pastors and elders in the Bible are just two examples. Well, David Lister approached him privately about his wrong doctrine and he would not correct it. Marco at a meeting with Joshua, David Lister, Jacob and Blair, there, Marco tried to explain his wrong doctrine even using the Greek. Joshua did not accept his correction. Then Scott Noble emailed Joshua and explained this wrong doctrine in a point by point studied email, well, Joshua gave a tepid response not really addressing his wrong doctrine nor did he correct it. This video The False Church System has caused division in Moriel Canada, divided churches there, and also hurt people in Marco's churches, who left, and even divided Scott Nobles father-in- law from the fold, who Scott labored for years and years to lead out of Buddhism. Hopefully you understand why we didn't like him. Blair reached out to Joshua in great kindness but his advice was rejected too. Hopefully our supporters will now understand why the Moriel Board didn't like Joshua. So, while we didn't like Joshua for his bad doctrine Jacob would negotiate with his board that he feels Joshua is like a younger brother, or a friend in need of help (Galatians 6) and on that basis of that the board could let Jacob try and help Joshua but now Jacob knows Joshua will not accept correction of his doctrine. Jacob allowed personal loyalty to Joshua to bring him into repeated opposition to our board. This is an undeniable fact.
As to the Servus Cristi Board, there is none. Joshua Chavez has not normally even had a church, and has been accountable to no one. Yet he sets himself up as a self- appointed investigative authority even making bogus assertions about other people's private business affairs that are none of his business, and a super critic of churches when he usually has none himself. His life and ministry are fundamentally out of God's order (Hebrews 10:25).
Had he had a board and a church like those with whom he finds fault, he might not have dug himself into the public grave disqualifying himself from ministry that he finds himself in today. Joshua solemnly promised he would not marry the woman he did a few days after her arrival in the USA, but immediately broke his word with a vow (making her his wife in the Eyes of God) but that was it. After breaking his promise, it was then foolish of him to consummate the relationship without even being legally married to her. Claiming abuse, she left him. We do not wish to disclose the contents of the emails we have from her and other emails, because they are none of anyone's business and to do so would be pure vengeance against him. However, by his wrong doctrine of the church (ecclesiology), his lack of accountability, and by breaking his word he has given his enemies the ammunition they needed. The claims of his wife and not being in control of his own family/ marriage mean he is not scripturally qualified for the ministry (1Timothy 3: 2-4), at least until he gets his marriage reconciled. The charges brought by his hurting wife and his enemies mean he does not have a good reputation with those outside of the church, but worse he has a broken marriage. God says that he has absolutely no right whatsoever to be in the ministry. In appreciation for the friendship Jacob Prasch had with Joshua Chavez, Jacob stood with him loyally, paying a public price for doing so and placing himself again in opposition to his own board. Jacob tried desperately to be an older brother to Joshua and tried to help him. Jacob has sadly failed. The Word of God says that Joshua Chavez cannot be in ministry.
Sincerely,
The Moriel Board

Moriel TV | Facebook

Prasch's original statement concerning Chavez's "marriage" ~

"Joshua Chavez of course is not married to anyone and never has been. He was arranging a civil marriage through an immigration attorney, but the woman in question bailed out and returned to South Africa. No marriage license, no wedding certificate or contract, no bans of marriage - absolutely nothing."

JOE SCHIMMEL'S TRIBULATION DISTORTIONS

What, When and How Long is the Day of the Lord?- Part 1
(23) Wednesday Night BIble Study - YouTube

I have to point out with a heavy heart that Joe Schimmel's latest message about the post-trib rapture was one of the most distorted messages I have ever heard. Why he feels that he has to define the entire 70th week of Daniel as "the tribulation" is beyond me, unless it is to appease the pre-trib camp. The bible should define our terms, not the erroneous views of those who distort the scriptures.

Bible teachers need to be very clear.. the first half of the 70th week is not the tribulation. It is critical that God's Word is not misrepresented. (Proverbs 30:6; Revelation 22:18).

 
Not one single verse of scripture backs up the seven year tribulation fallacy.

The scriptures tell us repeatedly, in no uncertain terms, that the great tribulation will last for 3.5 years:

Daniel 7:25 He (the Antichrist) shall speak words against the Most High, and shall wear out the saints of the Most High, and shall think to change the times and the law; and they shall be given into his hand for a time, times, and half a time. (3.5 years).
Revelation 11:2 ..but do not measure the court outside the temple; leave that out, for it is given over to the nations, and they will trample the holy city for forty-two months.
Revelation 13:5 And the beast was given a mouth uttering haughty and blasphemous words, and it was allowed to exercise authority for forty-two months.
Revelation 12:5-6 ..and the woman (Israel) fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, in which she is to be nourished for 1,260 days. This period coincides with what is also known as "Jacob's Trouble". (Daniel 12:1, Jeremiah 30:7).
Matthew 24:15-21 ..when you see the abomination of desolation spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand), then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. Let the one who is on the housetop not go down to take what is in his house, and let the one who is in the field not turn back to take his cloak. And alas for women who are pregnant and for those who are nursing infants in those days! Pray that your flight may not be in winter or on a Sabbath. For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be.
Daniel 9:27 And he shall make a strong covenant with many for one week, and for half of the week he shall put an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abominations shall come one who makes desolate, until the decreed end is poured out on the desolator.” The abomination of desolation will occur halfway through the final seven year period, often referred to as Daniel’s 70th week. {1}

Although he didn't name him, for the second time, Joe Schimmel referred to early "church father" Victorinus as his only source in order to substantiate his recapitulation view regarding the sixth seal, the seventh trumpet and the seventh bowl. If anyone will take the time to read Victorinus they will discover that his theology is deeply flawed. Joe Schimmel really should know better! 

A Sample of Victorinus' Flawed (allegorical) Theology:

And the sun became black as sackcloth of hair. The sun becomes as sackcloth; that is, the brightness of doctrine will be obscured by unbelievers.

And the entire moon became as blood. By the moon of blood is set forth the Church of the saints as pouring out her blood for Christ. 

And the stars fell to the earth. The falling of the stars are the faithful who are troubled for Christ's sake.

Even as a fig-tree casts her untimely figs. The fig-tree, when shaken, loses its untimely figs — when men are separated from the Church by persecution.

And the heaven withdrew as a scroll that is rolled up. For the heaven to be rolled away, that is, that the Church shall be taken away. {2}

Joe Schimmel is doing no-one any favours with his continued, and I might say, willful distortion of the scriptures. He would do better not to teach on this subject at all rather than give such a warped message based on eisegesis. The various problems associated with the post-trib rapture have been pointed out to Joe Schimmel and his team on a number of occasions. They have yet to address these issues. Joe Schimmel would do far better to go back to the scriptures and take the time to reconsider his position. If I remember correctly, his recapitulation view is based on a (supposed) revelation he received from the Lord in his early days as a Christian. He was obviously genuinely convinced by this revelation, but I say, does it correspond with the scriptures? (1 John 4:1).

1. WOLVES IN SHEEP'S CLOTHING: FALSE PROPHETS AND BIBLE TEACHERS IN THE LAST DAYS: THE SEVEN YEAR TRIBULATION FALLACY (bewareofthewolves.blogspot.com)
2. WOLVES IN SHEEP'S CLOTHING: FALSE PROPHETS AND BIBLE TEACHERS IN THE LAST DAYS: JOE SCHIMMEL BLESSED HOPE CHAPEL: VICTORINUS IS UNRELIABLE (bewareofthewolves.blogspot.com)

Further Link

Seals, Trumpets, Bowls – At the Same Time or One After the Other? (i.e. Concurrent-Recapitulation or Consecutive-Progressive?) (alankurschner.com)

BILL SALUS: IS PSALM 83 PROPHETIC?

Bill Salus is a well known an author and speaker on the subject of end time bible prophecy. In particular he is the originator of the proposed eschatological fulfilment of Psalm 83.

Psalm 83 is the last of twelve psalms attributed to Asaph the son of Berachiah. (Psalms 50, 73–83). Asaph was a seer and a significant figure in the Old Testament. He was one of three Levites King David chose to minister before the dwelling place of the tabernacle of the congregation with singing and public worship. (1 Chronicles 6:31-32). This took place at the tent that David had erected on Mount Zion to house the ark of the covenant where it rested until Solomon built the temple in Jerusalem. Asaph's all important pedigree is recorded in 1 Chronicles 6:39-48.

Based on Psalm 83, Salus forecasts an imminent Arab-Israeli conflict involving the modern day equivalent of the ten nations in verses 6-8. Salus argues that since none of Israel's immediate neighbours are mentioned in Ezekiel 38:1-6, a prior conflict must occur which will eliminate their near neighbours as a precursor to the Ezekiel 38-39 events. He speculates that the so called "prophesied war" of the Arab nations against Israel will occur prior to the 70th week of Daniel. According to Salus, Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) will completely annihilate their ancient enemies and will annex their lands. Salus continues to speculate that following the annihilation of their enemies, Israel's mindset will be one of ease and confidence, leaving them ripe for the Ezekiel 38 Gog/Magog attack:

I will go to them that are at rest, that dwell safely, all of them dwelling without walls, and having neither bars nor gates.. (Ezekiel 38:11 cf. Zechariah 2:4-5).* 

* I am not dogmatic, but I tend to think that the Gog/Magog war will occur at the end of the millennium. The description of the attack by Gog and Magog in Revelation 20:9 corresponds to Ezekiel 38:11.

The ten nation confederacy of Psalm 83 comprised:   ..the tents of Edom and the Ishmaelites, Moab the Hagrites, Gebal, Ammon, Amalek, Philistia, Tyre and Assyria. (Psalm 83:6-8)

According to Salus: “The modern equivalents of the Psalm 83 confederates are: tents of Edom (Palestinian Refugees and Southern Jordanians), Ishmaelites (Saudi Arabians), Moab (Palestinian Refugees and Central Jordanians), Hagrite^ (Egyptians), Gebal (Northern Lebanese), Ammon (Palestinian Refugees and Northern Jordanians), Amalek (Arabs South of Israel), Philistia (Palestinian Refugees and Hamas of the Gaza Strip), inhabitants of Tyre (Hezbollah and Southern Lebanese), Assyria (Syrians and perhaps Northern Iraqi’s), and the children of Lot (Moab and Ammon above). {1} 

Salus erroneously identifies the Hagrites as Egypt due to their progenitor, Hagar, the Egyptian maidservant of Sarah. (Genesis 16:1; 21:9-10). In fact, the Hagrite clans were associated with the Ishmaelites and they inhabited the regions of Jetur, Naphish and Nodab, east of Gilead. (1 Chronicles 5:10). {2} 

Salus identification of the the tents of Edom as Palestinian refugees and Central Jordanians is unconvincing. According to various commentaries, some of these people, particularly the Ishmaelites, were nomadic and dwelt in tents. Albert Barnes: "..the Edomites were a people of fixed boundaries, who in early periods, like most ancient people, doubtless dwelt in tents." {3} 

Further considerations 

The king of the north (the Antichrist) versus the king of the south (Egypt) 

At the time of the end, the king of the south shall attack him, but the king of the north shall rush upon him like a whirlwind, with chariots and horsemen, and with many ships. And he shall come into countries and shall overflow and pass through. He shall come into the glorious land. And tens of thousands shall fall, but these shall be delivered out of his hand: Edom and Moab and the main part of the Ammonites. He shall stretch out his hand against the countries, and the land of Egypt shall not escape. He shall become ruler of the treasures of gold and of silver, and all the precious things of Egypt, and the Libyans and the Cushites shall follow in his train. (Daniel 11:40-43).

Benson: "And shall overflow and pass over — Shall over- spread the land, breaking in and opening himself a passage everywhere by the vast power of his forces." {4} 

Keil and Delitzsch: "The stretching forth of his hand upon the countries is a sign expressive of his seizing them, taking possession of them, for which he falls upon them." {5} 

..but these shall be delivered out of his hand: Edom and Moab and the main part of the Ammonites.

Note:  According to Daniel 11:41, Edom, Moab and the Ammonites are not eliminated by the IDF before the 70th week of Daniel as Salus speculates! 

A few thoughts: At the beginning of the 70th week, the Antichrist will make a seven year "firm covenant with many" involving Israel and her near neighbours. This will allow the Jews to build the third temple and to commence animal sacrifices. (Daniel 9:27, 11:31 cf. Matthew 24:15-16). This long awaited breakthrough suggests that the covenant brokered by the Antichrist will be compelling and will necessitate a cessation of the historic hostility between Israel and her ancient enemies. Daniel 11:40-43 concerns "the time of the end" and does not apply to Antiochus Epiphanes. It appears that the Antichrist will defeat Egypt (the king of the south), and will seize and subjugate various middle eastern countries. (Revelation 6:1). Will it be that Israel will temporarily be in the eye of a satanic storm raging all around them, and that the Antichrist will shield them from the wars and famines inflicted on the world via the four horsemen? If this is correct, then Israel will have good cause to feel confident that the Antichrist is their true friend and ally. The Antichrist will be devious and persuasive beyond that of any human agency. (Daniel 11:40-42, 8:23). The guile of Antiochus Epiphanes foreshadows what will happen with the Antichrist: He shall come in without warning and obtain the kingdom by flatteries. (Daniel 11:21). Taking the above factors into consideration, I think it is reasonable to conclude that the Jews will be persuaded to think themselves secure during the first half of the 70th week. (Ezekiel 38:11). 

*Salus places the seals and other prophecies in a “gap” period prior to the 70th week. However, this view is not consistent with the scriptures:

THE FIRST SEAL - THE WHITE HORSE (THE ANTICHRIST): And I looked, and behold, a white horse! And its rider had a bow, and a crown was given to him, and he came out conquering, and to conquer. (Revelation 6:2).
THE SECOND SEAL - THE RED HORSE (WAR): Its rider was permitted to take peace from the earth, so that people should slay one another, and he was given a great sword. (Revelation 6:4).

THE THIRD SEAL- THE BLACK HORSE (FAMINE): And I looked, and behold, a black horse! And its rider had a pair of scales in his hand. And I heard what seemed to be a voice in the midst of the four living creatures, saying, “A quart of wheat for a denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius, and do not harm the oil and wine!”  (Revelation 6:5-6).

THE FOURTH SEAL - THE PALE HORSE: And its rider’s name was Death, and Hades followed him. And they were given authority over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword and with famine and with pestilence and by wild beasts of the earth. (Revelation 6:7-8).

At the mid point of the 70th week, the Antichrist will break his covenant, he will desecrate the temple, and his armies will surround Jerusalem. This will signal the time of Jacob's trouble when the Antichrist's unprecedented persecution against the Jews will begin. These events will be overseen by Satan himself and implemented by the Antichrist. (Revelation 12:13).

Before Bill Salus came up with his theory and published his book Isralestine in 2008, the consensus among bible scholars was that the ten nation confederacy poised to attack Judah in Psalm 83 was the 2 Chronicles 20 incident during the reign of Jehoshaphat (note the reference to Asaph in 2 Chronicles 20:14). The supposed mismatch between the three nation tribes in 2 Chronicles 20 and the ten nation confederacy in Psalm 83 is not strictly accurate since there are overlaps. For instance the Ammonites had close links with Syria and both passages include elements from Turkey and Syria. We should also bear in mind that scriptural accounts of specific events are not necessarily identical. The gospels are a clear example of this. The Moabites and the Ammonites were amongst the bitterest of all the adversaries of the Jews and it is only natural that Asaph would name them as the primary movers. (Kings 24:2; Ezekiel 25:8-11). As such, it would not be surprising if various other tribes not mentioned in 2 Chronicles 20 formed part of their alliance against Judah. 

Lange: " {Psalm 83} agrees best with the alliance formed against Jehoshaphat, at the head of which were the Moabites, Ammonites and Edomites (since Kimchi, especially Venema and most of the recent commentators). Yet it must be confessed that even under this assumption there is much to be supplied and left to pure conjecture. For Josephus (Ant. 10:1, 2), gives a multitude of Arabs instead of the Meunim mentioned by the Chronicler. These may possibly be identical with the Ishmaelites and the Hagarenes here mentioned. The latter pitched their tents from the Persian Gulf as far as the country east of Gilead towards the Euphrates (1 Chronicles 10:10), while the former spread themselves (Genesis 25:18), through the Sinaitic peninsula over the Arabian Desert as far as the countries under the sway of the Assyrians in the remote north-east. Now, since in 2 Chronicles 20:2, we must read מֵאֶדְֹם instead of מֵאֲרָם, as indicating the place of departure of these hordes, Edom appears to have been their place of rendezvous, and is given the first place by the Psalmist for this reason, unless we prefer to assume that the hostile nations were enumerated according to their relative geographical positions (Delitzsch). Further we can find a place for Gebal, which is not to be sought to the east of Jordan (Rosenm., De Wette), but south of the Dead Sea, (Gesenius) among the inhabitants of Mt. Seir mentioned by the Chronicler. We can certainly assume also, that Amalek, which was still existing in his time was included by him among the Edomites in the same way as Josephus (Ant. 2:1, 2), reckons ᾼμαληκῖτις as part of Idumæa. In Amos 1:6, too (comp. Joel 4:4,) the tribes along the Mediterranean coast, the Philistines and Phœnicians, appear as combined against Israel. Nor, if the same event is referred to as the one dwelt upon in the Psalm, does it appear in this instance also why the Chronicler omitted them as well as Assyria in his enumeration of the allies. If we assume, then, the identity of the events, the conjecture is at least worth mentioning, that the Levite and Asaphite Jahaziel named in 2 Chronicles 20:14, was the author of this Psalm. (Dathe, Hengst., Delitzsch)." {6}

According to Jamieson-Fausset-Brown and other commentaries on the eschatological context of Isaiah 25:10, Moab is the representative of all the foes of God's people. 

Pulpit Commentary: "Perhaps, as the Moabites were, on the whole, the bitterest of all the adversaries of the Jews (see 2 Kings 24:2; Ezekiel 25:8-11), they are regarded as the fittest representatives of the human adversaries of God." {7} 

Taking the above into consideration, there is not such a mismatch between Psalm 83 and 2 Chronicles 20 after all.

  

Balaam's Fourth Oracle

A star will come forth from Jacob, and a scepter will arise from Israel. He will crush the skulls of Moab
and strike down all the sons of Sheth. Edom will become a possession, as will Seir, his enemy; but Israel will perform with valor. A ruler will come from Jacob and destroy the survivors of the city. (Numbers 24:17-19).

The above prophecy received its primary fulfilment during King David's reign. (2 Samuel 8:14). However its ultimate fulfilment is clearly linked with the return of Jesus Christ. 

Who is this who comes from Edom, With garments of glowing colors from Bozrah, This One who is majestic in His apparel, Marching in the greatness of His strength? “It is I who speak in righteousness, mighty to save.” (Isaiah 63:1-4).

Since Moab and Edom will be destroyed by Jesus Christ at his second coming, then their prior annihilation in a supposed Psalm 83 war is implausible. 

 

The 2 Chronicles 20 incident records that the planned attack against Judah did not materialize due to God's direct intervention, causing Judah's enemies to destroy one another. (2 Chronicles 20:22-23). This explains the objection by Salus and others that there is no Old Testament fulfilment of this war. Psalm 83 does not actually describes a "war", but only schemes, conspiracies and plots. Psalm 83 is therefore not a "missing eschatalogical prophecy", but rather a past threat against Judah that came to nothing.

Psalm 83 is not presented within a prophetic framework; rather in common with Psalms 79, 80, 82, and 85, Psalm 83 is a "lament” written in the present tense. Asaph is described as a seer in the OT. A seer is the equivalent of a prophet i.e. someone who "sees". We should bear in mind that the OT prophets were spokespersons for God. Their frame of reference was not necessarily eschatological. Asaph's writings do not contain specific eschatological elements as in the case in the books of Daniel, Joel, Habakkuk, Zephaniah etc. There are no specific phrases that identify Psalm 83 as a future event and there is no other verse in the bible that confirms Salus' interpretation. (Matthew 18:16). Prophetic material typically has phrases like "in that day", “in the latter days”, “in those days", "at that time" etc. This lack of clarity necessitates that a prophetic interpretation of Psalm 83 relies on conjecture rather than clear exegesis. 

It is important to recognize that OT prophets often referred to current situations and circumstances. This is precisely the case in 2 Chronicles 20:

Then the Spirit of the LORD came upon Jahaziel son of Zechariah, the son of Benaiah, the son of Jeiel, the son of Mattaniah, a Levite from Asaph’s descendants, as he stood in the midst of the assembly. And he said, “Listen, all you people of Judah and Jerusalem! Listen, King Jehoshaphat! This is what the LORD says: ‘Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army, for the battle does not belong to you, but to God. Tomorrow you are to march down against them. You will see them coming up the Ascent of Ziz, and you will find them at the end of the valley facing the Wilderness of Jeruel. You need not fight this battle. Take up your positions, stand firm, and see the salvation of the LORD on your behalf, O Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid or discouraged. Go out and face them tomorrow, for the LORD is with you.’ ” (2 Chronicles 20:14-17).

Another reason Salus gives for the Psalm 83 war: The intention of Israel's enemies is utter annihilation: “Come, let us wipe them out as a nation; let the name of Israel be remembered no more!” (Psalm 83:4). This intention cannot be isolated to a specific eschatological event since Israel's annihilation has been the general objective of her enemies throughout history. (2 Kings 24:2; 2 Chronicles 20:11; Psalms 138:7; Psalm1; Maccabees 3:35; 5:2).

Who are the people propagating Salus' Psalm 83 theory?

I have observed that those who give Salus house room have accepted his theory on a superficial level and have not been diligent in testing his claims. (1 John 4:1). They are generally those who have no qualms about unleashing various dubious theories onto the Body of Christ ~the pre-trib rapture is a prime example of this! Salus is a regular guest on TBN and Daystar. He has also been associated with Jack Hibbs, Tom Hughes, Jonathan Cahn, Billy Crone, Gary Stearman, Sid Roth etc. These teachers are all in the pre-trib rapture loop and their eschatology is twisted in order to accommodate this grave error. 

Salus informs us that he sought the expertise of Arnold Fruchtenbaum regarding his theory. This should not impress us. Not only is Fruchtenbaum heavily involved with Lausanne which is ecumenical, his theology is flawed on many levels. {8}

Salus' mentor was Chuck Missler. Again we should not be impressed. Missler (also pre-trib) was a plagiarist and a supporter of Sun Myung Moon (Moonies). {9} Missler produced a two part video series on YouTube presenting the Psalm 86 "alternative view" of the Magog Invasion. Undoubtedly Missler was influential in persuading believers to accept Salus' aberrant teaching. {10} 

Salus' Newspaper Exegesis

Salus' teaching regarding the timing of the so called "war" of Psalm 83 is highly speculative and irresponsible. He makes the common error of applying current events and trends from the media to the scriptures. Unfortunately Salus is fond of quoting eschatological verses out of context in order to further his cause. In doing so he misleads believers into misinterpreting the events of the 70th week and preceding. As others have pointed out before me, Moab and Edom will be destroyed by Jesus Christ at his second coming, not by the IDF. This single fact alone demolishes Salus thesis. Salus' speculations produce a lot of hype, and no doubt they generate interest and a lucrative market for his products, but they lack solid exegesis. (1 John 4:1). 

1.  Bill Salus Quotes (Author of PSALM 83, The Missing Prophecy Revealed - How Israel Becomes the Next Mideast Superpower) (goodreads.com)

2.  Topical Bible: Naphish (biblehub.com)  

3.  Psalm 83:6 Commentaries: The tents of Edom and the Ishmaelites, Moab and the Hagrites; (biblehub.com)

4.  https://biblehub.com/commentaries/benson/daniel/11.htm

5.  https://biblehub.com/commentaries/kad/daniel/11.htm

6.   Psalms 83 - Lange's Commentary on the Holy Scriptures: Critical, Doctrinal and Homiletical - Bible Commentaries - StudyLight.org

7.  Isaiah 25:10 Commentaries: For the hand of the LORD will rest on this mountain, And Moab will be trodden down in his place As straw is trodden down in the water of a manure pile. (biblehub.com)

8. Ariel Germany

9.  Calvary Chapel Wiki / missler-plagiarism (pbworks.com)  (18) Chuck Missler & Friends, Council for National Policy Exposed Part 1 - Dr Scott Johnson - YouTube   

10. (18) Chuck Missler The Magog Invasion [Session 1] - YouTube

     (18) Chuck Missler The Magog Invasion [Session 2] - YouTube

Further Reading:

https://paulbenware.com/is-psalm-83-a-prophecy-of-a-future-middle-east-war/

Is Psalm 83 A Prophecy Of A Future Middle-East War? - Paul Benware Ministries

FOX'S BOOK OF MARTYRS: AN ACCOUNT OF THE CRUEL HANDLING AND BURNING OF NICOLAS BURTON, AN ENGLISH MERCHANT, IN SPAIN

The fifth day of November, about the year of our Lord 1560, Mr. Nicholas Burton, citizen sometime of London, and merchant, dwelling in the parish of Little St. Bartholomew, peaceably and quietly, following his traffic in the trade of merchandise, and being in the city of Cadiz, in the party of Andalusia, in Spain, there came into his lodging a Judas, or, as they term them, a familiar of the fathers of Inquisition; who asking for the said Nicholas Burton, feigned that he had a letter to deliver into his own hands; by which means he spake with him immediately. And having no letter to deliver to him, then the said promoter, or familiar, at the motion of the devil his master, whose messenger he was, invented another lie, and said he would take lading for London in such ships as the said Nicholas Burton had freighted to lade, if he would let any; which was partly to know where he loaded his goods, that they might attach them, and chiefly to protract the time until the sergeant of the Inquisition might come and apprehend the body of the said Nicholas Burton; which they did incontinently.
He then well perceiving that they were not able to burden or charge him that he had written, spoken, or done any thing there in that country against the ecclesiastical or temporal laws of the same realm, boldly asked them what they had to lay to his charge that they did so arrest him, and bade them to declare the cause, and he would answer them. Notwithstanding they answered nothing, but commanded him with threatening words to hold his peace, and not speak one word to them.And so they carried him to the filthy common prison of the town of Cadiz where he remained in irons fourteen days amongst thieves.
All which time he so instructed the poor prisoners in the Word of God, according to the good talent which God had given him in that behalf, and also in the Spanish tongue to utter the same, that in that short space he had well reclaimed several of those superstitiuous and ignorant Spaniards to embrace the Word of God, and to reject their popish traditions.
Which being known unto the officers of the Inquisition, they conveyed him laden with irons from thence to a city called Seville, into a more cruel and straiter prison called Triana, where the said fathers of the Inquisition proceeded against him secretly according to their accustomable cruel tyranny, that never after he could be suffered to write or speak to any of his nation: so that to this day it is unknown who was his accuser.
Afterward, the twentieth of December, they brought the said Nicholas Burton, with a great number of other prisoners, for professing the true Christian religion, into the city of Seville, to a place where the said inquisitors sat in judgment which they called auto, with a canvas coat, whereupon in divers parts was painted the figure of a huge devil, tormenting a soul in a flame of fire, and on his head a copping tank of the same work.
His tongue was forced out of his mouth with a cloven stick fastened upon it, that he should not utter his conscience and faith to the people, and so he was set with another Englishman of Southampton, and divers other condemned men for religion, as well Frenchmen as Spaniards, upon a scaffold over against the said Inquisition, where their sentences and judgments were read and pronounced against them.
And immediately after the said sentences given, they were carried from there to the place of execution without the city, where they most cruelly burned them, for whose constant faith, God is praised.
This Nicholas Burton by the way, and in the flames of fire, had so cheerful a countenance, embracing death with all patience and gladness, that the tormentors and enemies which stood by, said, that the devil had his soul before he came to the fire; and therefore they said his senses of feeling were past him.
It happened that after the arrest of Nicholas Burton aforesaid, immediately all the goods and merchandise which he brought with him into Spain by the way of traffic, were (according to their common usage) seized, and taken into the sequester; among which they also rolled up much that appertained to another English merchant, wherewith he was credited as factor. Whereof as soon as news was brought to the merchant as well of the imprisonment of his factor, as of the arrest made upon his goods, he sent his attorney into Spain, with authority from him to make claim to his goods, and to demand them; whose name was John Fronton, citizen of Bristol.
When his attorney was landed at Seville, and had shown all his letters and writings to the holy house, requiring them that such goods might be delivered into his possession, answer was made to him that he must sue by bill, and retain an advocate (but all was doubtless to delay him,) and they forsooth of courtesy assigned him one to frame his supplication for him, and other such bills of petition, as he had to exhibit into their holy court, demanding for each bill eight reals, albeit they stood him in no more stead than if he had put up none at all. And for the space of three or four months this fellow missed not twice a day attending every morning and afternoon at the inquisitors' palace, suing unto them upon his knees for his despatch, but especially to the bishop of Tarracon, who was at that very time chief of the Inquisition at Seville, that he of his absolute authority would command restitution to be made thereof; but the booty was so good and great that it was very hard to come by it again.
At length, after he had spent four whole months in suits and requests, and also to no purpose, he received this answer from them, that he must show better evidence, and bring more sufficient certificates out of England for proof of this matter, than those which he had already presented to the court. Whereupon the party forthwith posted to London, and with all speed returned to Seville again with more ample and large letters testimonial, and certificates, according to their requests, and exhibited them to the court.
Notwithstanding, the inquisitors still shifted him off, excusing themselves by lack of leisure, and for that they were occupied in more weighty affairs, and with such answers put him off, four months after.
At last, when the party had well nigh spent all his money, and therefore sued the more earnestly for his despatch, they referred the matter wholly to the bishop, of whom, when he repaired unto him, he made answer, 'That for himself, he knew what he had to do, howbeit he was but one man, and the determination appertained to the other commissioners as well as unto him;' and thus by posting and passing it from one to another, the party could obtain no end of his suit. Yet for his importunity's sake, they were resolved to despatch him: it was on this sort: one of the inquisitors, called Gasco, a man very well experienced in these practices, willed the party to resort unto him after dinner.
The fellow being glad to hear this news, and supposing that his goods should be restored unto him, and that he was called in for that purpose to talk with the other that was in prison to confer with him about their accounts, rather through a little misunderstanding, hearing the inquisitors cast out a word, that it should be needful for him to talk with the prisoner, and being thereupon more than half persuaded, that at length they meant good faith, did so, and repaired thither about the evening. Immediately upon his coming, the jailer was forthwith charged with him, to shut him up close in such a prison where they appointed him.
The party, hoping at the first that he had been called for about some other matter, and seeing himself, contrary to his expectation, cast into a dark dungeon, perceived at length that the world went with him far otherwise than he supposed it would have done.
But within two or three days after, he was brought into the court, where he began to demand his goods: and because it was a device that well served their turn without any more circumstance, they bid him say his Ave Maria: Ave Maria, gratia plena, Dominus tecum, benedicta tu in mulieribus, et benedictus fructus ventris tui Jesus Amen.
The same was written word by word as he spake it, and without any more talk of claiming his goods, because it was needless, they commanded him to prison again, and entered an action against him as a heretic, forasmuch as he did not say his Ave Maria after the Romish fashion, but ended it very suspiciously, for he should have added moreover; Sancta Maria mater Dei, ora pro nobis peccatoribus: by abbreviating whereof, it was evident enough (said they) that he did not allow the mediation of saints.
Thus they picked a quarrel to detain him in prison a longer season, and afterward brought him forth upon their stage disguised after their manner; where sentence was given, that he should lose all the goods which he sued for, though they were not his own, and besides this, suffer a year's imprisonment.
Mark Brughes, an Englishman, master of an English ship called the Minion, was burned in a city in Portugal.
William Hoker, a young man about the age of sixteen years, being an Englishman, was stoned to death by certain young men in the city of Seville, for the same righteous cause.

FORMER PFIZER CHIEF SCIENTIST MICHAEL YEADON ON VACCINES

JOEL RICHARDSON ANTICHRIST CONFUSION: LEGS OF IRON - ROME OR ISLAM?

(5) DANIEL'S FOUR BEASTS: The Four Beasts in Daniel 7 Revealed! (ENDTIME PROPHECY) Underground show #129 - YouTube

Legs of iron.. Rome or Islam?  

The traditional interpretation of Nebuchadnezzar's dream in Daniel 2 identifies the four empires as the Babylonian, Persian, Greek and Roman Empires. The thinking behind this is that these empires followed one another chronologically. In particular, the Roman Empire followed the Greek empire. Since Egypt and Assyria preceded Babylon, we arrive at the seven heads/mountains/kings/kingdoms referred to by John in Revelation 17:9 (including the feet of iron and clay). We have an anchor in that Revelation 17:10 refers to one is i.e. Rome (existent when John wrote the book of Revelation), as the sixth of seven kings/kingdoms. The eighth king (the beast/Antichrist) is of the seven, or morphs out of the seven. (Revelation 17:11). This all seems to tie together logically and few futurists have challenged this interpretation until recent times. Richardson omits the Roman Empire completely and inserts the Islamic Caliphate in its place as per his illustration below.

 ..they are also seven kings, five of whom have fallen, one is, the other has not yet come, and when he does come he must remain only a little while. (Revelation 17:10).

Nebuchadnezzar’s dream interpreted by the prophet Daniel:

You saw, O king, and behold, a great image. This image, mighty and of exceeding brightness, stood before you, and its appearance was frightening. The head of this image was of fine gold, its chest and arms of silver, its middle and thighs of bronze, its legs of iron, its feet partly of iron and partly of clay. As you looked, a stone was cut out by no human hand, and it struck the image on its feet of iron and clay, and broke them in pieces. Then the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver, and the gold, all together were broken in pieces, and became like the chaff of the summer threshing floors; and the wind carried them away, so that not a trace of them could be found. But the stone that struck the image became a great mountain and filled the whole earth. 

“This was the dream. Now we will tell the king its interpretation. You, O king, the king of kings, to whom the God of heaven has given the kingdom, the power, and the might, and the glory, and into whose hand he has given, wherever they dwell, the children of man, the beasts of the field, and the birds of the heavens, making you rule over them all—you are the head of gold. Another kingdom inferior to you shall arise after you, and yet a third kingdom of bronze, which shall rule over all the earth. And there shall be a fourth kingdom, strong as iron, because iron breaks to pieces and shatters all things. And like iron that crushes, it shall break and crush all these. And as you saw the feet and toes, partly of potter’s clay and partly of iron, it shall be a divided kingdom, but some of the firmness of iron shall be in it, just as you saw iron mixed with the soft clay. And as the toes of the feet were partly iron and partly clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong and partly brittle. As you saw the iron mixed with soft clay, so they will mix with one another in marriage, but they will not hold together, just as iron does not mix with clay. And in the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that shall never be destroyed, nor shall the kingdom be left to another people. It shall break in pieces all these kingdoms and bring them to an end, and it shall stand forever, just as you saw that a stone was cut from a mountain by no human hand, and that it broke in pieces the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver, and the gold. A great God has made known to the king what shall be after this. The dream is certain, and its interpretation sure.” (Daniel 2:31-45).

Richardson's First Problem - Daniel 7:17

Chris White and David Pawson (amongst others) have presented convincing reasons to reject the traditional interpretation that correlate the four beasts in Daniel 7 with the four kingdoms (Nebuchadnezzar's statue) in Daniel 2. Pawson gives four reasons for this deduction: [1] history contradicts the traditional interpretation [2] Persia is represented by a ram, and Greece is represented by a goat in Daniel 8:20, whereas Daniel 7:5-6 describes the likeness of a bear and a leopard as the second and third beasts. [3] Daniel 7 describes four future beasts, whereas Babylon already exists in Daniel 2; 4; [4] Three beasts will survive after the fourth beast is destroyed (Daniel 7:11-12). {1} 

These four great beasts are four kings who shall arise out of the earth. (Daniel 7:17).

Richardson gets pseudo-technical at around the 43:40 mark of the above video regarding Daniel 7:17 ~ shall arise (Qal). He claims that our bibles are incorrect and that Qal imperfect is not linked to tense. According to Richardson, the Aramaic Qal does not necessarily mean future tense. Richardson: "This 'will arise'.. it could just as easily be translated 'have arisen', 'are arising'.. right at this moment they 'are arising', they 'have arisen' past tense or will arise ."   Richardson makes an invalid comparison with "shall arise" (Qal Imperfect) in Daniel 7:17 with “came”, the perfect past form of Qal in Deutoronomy 33:2. Qal Imperfect is used to denote an incomplete action and is NEVER used for a completed action. Qal is basically a future tense verb in the active voice. {2} Even if we take Daniel 2 and Daniel 7 as analogous passages as Richardson does, the chronology in Daniel 2 also confirms the future interpretation of Daniel 7:17: But after you, there will arise another kingdom, inferior to yours. Next, a third kingdom, one of bronze, will rule the whole earth. Finally, there will be a fourth kingdom as strong as iron.. (Daniel 2:39-40). It is safe to say that our bibles are correct, and that the usual interpretation "shall arise" in Daniel 7:17 is in fact future. The problem is that when teachers like Richardson attempt to blind us with pseudo-science, most people will accept what they are saying without question. (1 John 4:1). Richardson effectively spends several minutes in this video wasting everyone's time and misleading his hearers!  This misrepresentation in itself does not disprove Richardson's Islamic Antichrist speculation, but it should make us wary about accepting his exegesis. 

Richardson's Second Problem: The Rest of the Beasts.

Richardson chooses to completely disregard Daniel 7:12 and calls its implications "a fundamental contradiction" in light of Daniel 2:31-25. 

Then I kept watching because of the arrogant words the horn was speaking. As I continued to watch, the beast was slain, and its body was destroyed and thrown into the blazing fire. As for the rest of the beasts, their dominion was removed, but they were granted an extension of life for a season and a time. (Daniel 7:11-12).

As you, O king, were watching, a great statue appeared. A great and dazzling statue stood before you, and its form was awesome. The head of the statue was pure gold, its chest and arms were silver, its belly and thighs were bronze, its legs were iron, and its feet were part iron and part clay. As you watched, a stone was cut out, but not by human hands. It struck the statue on its feet of iron and clay, and crushed them. Then the iron, clay, bronze, silver, and gold were shattered and became like chaff on the threshing floor in summer. The wind carried them away, and not a trace of them could be found. But the stone that had struck the statue became a great mountain and filled the whole earth. (Daniel 2:31-35).

In the days of those kings, the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed, nor will it be left to another people. It will shatter all these kingdoms and bring them to an end, but will itself stand forever. And just as you saw a stone being cut out of the mountain without human hands, and it shattered the iron, bronze, clay, silver, and gold, so the great God has told the king what will happen in the future. (Daniel 2:44-45).

Daniel 7:12 is a difficult verse, but I don't think that Richardson can disregard it's specific implications just because it conflicts with his presuppositions! My understanding is that the dominion of the rest of the beasts, (as represented by the nations), is decisively and instantaneously removed at the return of Jesus Christ. The nations will be rendered impotent following the destruction of the Antichrist and the false prophet, and the incarceration of Satan in the Abyss. (Revelation 19:20, 20:2-3). Certain things do happen quickly and decisively, but it also appears that Jesus Christ will proceed to set up, establish His kingdom over a longer period of time: ..the stone that had struck the statue became a great mountain. 

HA Ironside: "But in Daniel 12:11 we learn that from the beginning of this tribulation, there shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety days. The extra thirty days will, doubtless, be devoted to the purging out of the kingdom of all things that offend and do iniquity, though the Lord will appear, on behalf of the remnant and for the destruction of the Beast and Antichrist, at the expiration of the twelve hundred and sixty days. A longer period yet is given [in Daniel 12:12]: Blessed is he that waiteth, and cometh to the thousand three hundred and five and thirty days. Some have suggested that this would carry on the time to the celebration of the first millennial feast of the tabernacles, as in Zechariah, chapter 14. At any rate it clearly points us to the full establishment of the kingdom in power and glory (pp. 235-235).” {3} 

I have spent a significant amount of time reading Chris White's book The Islamic Antichrist Debunked. {4} White 's critique of Richardson's book The Islamic Antichrist {5} is exhaustive and he goes into considerable detail beyond the scope of this post. One particular area that caught my attention was White's research on Islamic eschatology. The unreliability of the Islamic hadiths and their inconsistency with Richardson's thesis of an Islamic Antichrist is striking. 

White's conclusion (page193).

"In this section we have looked at Islamic eschatology in detail. We saw that the writers of the hadiths based their end times doctrine partly on the Bible and partly on the extra-biblical beliefs of Christians at the time. We have seen that the Islamic Isa is based on Jesus, the Dajjal is based on the Antichrist, and the Mahdi is based on the so-called Last Roman Emperor. We have looked at the theories of Islamic Antichrist proponents like Joel Richardson who believe the Islamic version of the end times will actually come to pass more or less like the hadiths say, but that Isa is really the False Prophet, the Mahdi is the Antichrist, and the Dajjal is the real Jesus. I hope I have presented enough to show the flawed reasoning behind this theory and that the simplest explanation, which is that the hadith writers were simply plagiarizing Christian sources, is the correct one. There is absolutely no reason to expect the Islamic version of the end times to come to pass or to be true in any way."

Unless I am missing something, White's thesis that the Antichrist will claim to be the Jewish Messiah is problematic. Although this was the earliest view of the church, there is nothing in the scriptures that supports this view. The Antichrist will utter blasphemies against God. (Revelation 13:6). It appears to me that the arrival in Jerusalem of the Antichrist armies and the abomination of desolation event (Luke 21:20; Matthew 24:15; Daniel 9:27, 11:31, 12:11; 2 Thessalonians 2:4) are hostile acts, and that Jacob's Trouble i.e. the intense persecution of the Jewish people will immediately follow that event. That aside, White is very matter of fact and his arguments against Richardson's thesis are devastating.

I have voiced concerns regarding Richardson's associate and co-author Walid Shoebat in previous posts. White addresses Shoebat's problematic exegeses in Chapter 7 of his book. I will not repeat these views here, except to reiterate that Shoebat's hermeneutics are entirely unreliable. There is a definite problem with Richardson's affiliation with various false teachers on CNN and TBN, many of whom are ecumenical and apostate. Richardson's praise of Michael Heiser in this video is yet another red flag! Heiser has definite NAR leanings! {6}

A Mind With Wisdom

   

This calls for a mind with wisdom: the seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman is seated; they are also seven kings, five of whom have fallen, one is, the other has not yet come, and when he does come he must remain only a little while. As for the beast that was and is not, it is an eighth but it belongs to the seven, and it goes to destruction. Revelation 17:9-11 cf. Revelation 13:18).

The above verses appear to us as a riddle that require wisdom to solve. (cf. Revelation 13:18). The subject of the seven mountains/kings and the Antichrist is complex and confounds many. Richardson's Islamic Antichrist speculation is not only problematic on many levels, it is extremely reckless. The point at which the Antichrist makes or confirms a covenant with many at the beginning of the 70th week may give some clue to his identity. (Daniel 9:27). However, the definite point that Christians will recognize the Antichrist is at the event known as the abomination of desolation at the mid point of the week. (Mark 13:14).

1. David Pawson - Daniel Chapter 7
2. Hebrew Qal Imperfect with Strong Verbs (hebrew4christians.com)
3. Daniel 12 - Ironside's Notes on Selected Books - Bible Commentaries - StudyLight.org
4. Islamic_Antichrist_Debunked_Chris_White.pdf (bibleprophecytalk.com)
5. Islamic-Antichrist.pdf (joelstrumpet.com)
6. Michael Heiser: Warning Signals (narwatchisrael.info)

FOX'S BOOK OF MARTYRS: AN ACCOUNT OF THE INQUISITION

When the reformed religion began to diffuse the Gospel light throughout Europe, Pope Innocent III entertained great fear for the Romish Church. He accordingly instituted a number of inquisitors, or persons who were to make inquiry after, apprehend, and punish, heretics, as the reformed were called by the papists.

At the head of these inquisitors was one Dominic, who had been canonized by the pope, in order to render his authority the more respectable. Dominic, and the other inquisitors, spread themselves into various Roman Catholic countries, and treated the Protestants with the utmost severity. In process of time, the pope, not finding these roving inquisitors so useful as he had imagined, resolved upon the establishment of fixed and regular courts of Inquisition. After the order for these regular courts, the first office of Inquisition was established in the city of Toulouse, and Dominic became the first regular inquisitor, as he had before been the first roving inquisitor.
Courts of Inquisition were now erected in several countries; but the Spanish Inquisition became the most powerful, and the most dreaded of any. Even the kings of Spain themselves, though arbitrary in all other respects, were taught to dread the power of the lords of the Inquisition; and the horrid cruelties they exercised compelled multitudes, who differed in opinion from the Roman Catholics, carefully to conceal their sentiments.
The most zealous of all the popish monks, and those who most implicitly obeyed the Church of Rome, were the Dominicans and Franciscans: these, therefore, the pope thought proper to invest with an exclusive right of presiding over the different courts of Inquisition, and gave them the most unlimited powers, as judges delegated by him, and immediately representing his person: they were permitted to excommunicate, or sentence to death whom they thought proper, upon the most slight information of heresy. They were allowed to publish crusades against all whom they deemed heretics, and enter into leagues with sovereign princes, to join their crusades with their forces.
In 1244, their power was further increased by the emperor Frederic II, who declared himself the protector and friend of all the inquisitors, and published the cruel edicts, viz., 1. That all heretics who continue obstinate, should be burnt. 2. That all heretics who repented, should be imprisoned for life.
This zeal in the emperor, for the inquisitors of the Roman Catholic persuasion, arose from a report which had been propagated throughout Europe, that he intended to renounce Christianity, and turn Mahometan; the emperor therefore, attempted, by the height of bigotry, to contradict the report, and to show his attachment to popery by cruelty.
The officers of the Inquisition are three inquisitors, or judges, a fiscal proctor, two secretaries, a magistrate, a messenger, a receiver, a jailer, an agent of confiscated possessions; several assessors, counsellors, executioners, physicians, surgeons, doorkeepers, familiars, and visitors, who are sworn to secrecy.
The principal accusation against those who are subject to this tribunal is heresy, which comprises all that is spoken, or written, against any of the articles of the creed, or the traditions of the Roman Church. The inquisition likewise takes cognizance of such as are accused of being magicians, and of such who read the Bible in the common language, the Talmud of the Jews, or the Alcoran of the Mahometans.
Upon all occasions the inquisitors carry on their processes with the utmost severity, and punish those who offend them with the most unparalleled cruelty. A Protestant has seldom any mercy shown him, and a Jew, who turns Christian, is far from being secure.
A defence in the Inquisition is of little use to the prisoner, for a suspicion only is deemed sufficient cause of condemnation, and the greater his wealth the greater his danger. The principal part of the inquisitors' cruelties is owing to their rapacity: they destroy the life to possess the property; and, under the pretence of zeal, plunder each obnoxious individual.
A prisoner in the Inquisition is never allowed to see the face of his accuser, or of the witnesses against him, but every method is taken by threats and tortures, to oblige him to accuse himself, and by that means corroborate their evidence. If the jurisdiction of the Inquisition is not fully allowed, vengeance is denounced against such as call it in question for if any of its officers are opposed, those who oppose them are almost certain to be sufferers for the temerity; the maxim of the Inquisition being to strike terror, and awe those who are the objects of its power into obedience. High birth, distinguished rank, great dignity, or eminent employments, are no protection from its severities; and the lowest officers of the Inquisition can make the highest characters tremble.
When the person impeached is condemned, he is either severely whipped, violently tortured, sent to the galleys, or sentenced to death; and in either case the effects are confiscated. After judgment, a procession is performed to the place of execution, which ceremony is called an auto da fe, or act of faith.
The following is an account of an auto da fe, performed at Madrid in the year 1682.
The officers of the Inquisition, preceded by trumpets, kettledrums, and their banner, marched on the thirtieth of May, in cavalcade, to the palace of the great square, where they declared by proclamation, that, on the thirtieth of June, the sentence of the prisoners would be put in execution.
Of these prisoners, twenty men and women, with one renegade Mahometan, were ordered to be burned; fifty Jews and Jewesses, having never before been imprisoned, and repenting of their crimes, were sentenced to a long confinement, and to wear a yellow cap. The whole court of Spain was present on this occasion. The grand inquisitor's chair was placed in a sort of tribunal far above that of the king.
Among those who were to suffer, was a young Jewess of exquisite beauty, and but seventeen years of age. Being on the same side of the scaffold where the queen was seated, she addressed her, in hopes of obtaining a pardon, in the following pathetic speech: "Great queen, will not your royal presence be of some service to me in my miserable condition? Have regard to my youth; and, oh! consider, that I am about to die for professing a religion imbibed from my earliest infancy!" Her majesty seemed greatly to pity her distress, but turned away her eyes, as she did not dare to speak a word in behalf of a person who had been declared a heretic.
Now Mass began, in the midst of which the priest came from the altar, placed himself near the scaffold, and seated himself in a chair prepared for that purpose.
The chief inquisitor then descended from the amphitheater, dressed in his cope, and having a miter on his head. After having bowed to the altar, he advanced towards the king's balcony, and went up to it, attended by some of his officers, carrying a cross and the Gospels, with a book containing the oath by which the kings of Spain oblige themselves to protect the Catholic faith, to extirpate heretics, and to support with all their power and force the prosecutions and decrees of the Inquisition: a like oath was administered to the counsellors and whole assembly. The Mass was begun about twelve at noon, and did not end until nine in the evening, being protracted by a proclamation of the sentence of the several criminals, which were already separately rehearsed aloud one after the other.
After this followed the burnings of the twenty-one men and women, whose intrepidity in suffering that horrid death was truly astonishing. The king's near situation to the criminals rendered their dying groans very audible to him; he could not, however, be absent from this dreadful scene, as it is esteemed a religious one; and his coronation oath obliged him to give a sanction by his presence to all the acts of the tribunal.
What we have already said may be applied to inquisitions in general, as well as to that of Spain in particular. The Inquisition belonging to Portugal is exactly upon a similar plan to that of Spain, having been instituted much about the same time, and put under the same regulations. The inquisitors allow the torture to be used only three times, but during those times it is so severely inflicted, that the prisoner either dies under it, or continues always after a cripple, and suffers the severest pains upon every change of weather. We shall give an ample description of the severe torments occasioned by the torture, from the account of one who suffered it the three respective times, but happily survived the cruelties he underwent.
At the first time of torturing, six executioners entered, stripped him naked to his drawers, and laid him upon his back on a kind of stand, elevated a few feet from the floor. The operation commenced by putting an iron collar round his neck, and a ring to each foot, which fastened him to the stand. His limbs being thus stretched out, they wound two ropes round each thigh; which ropes being passed under the scaffold, through holes made for that purpose, were all drawn tight at the same instant of time, by four of the men, on a given signal.
It is easy to conceive that the pains which immediately succeeded were intolerable; the ropes, which were of a small size, cut through the prisoner's flesh to the bone, making the blood to gush out at eight different places thus bound at a time. As the prisoner persisted in not making any confession of what the inquisitors required, the ropes were drawn in this manner four times successively.
The manner of inflicting the second torture was as follows: they forced his arms backwards so that the palms of his hands were turned outward behind him; when, by means of a rope that fastened them together at the wrists, and which was turned by an engine, they drew them by degrees nearer each other, in such a manner that the back of each hand touched, and stood exactly parallel to each other. In consequence of this violent contortion, both his shoulders became dislocated, and a considerable quantity of blood issued from his mouth. This torture was repeated thrice; after which he was again taken to the dungeon, and the surgeon set the dislocated bones.
Two months after the second torture, the prisoner being a little recovered, was again ordered to the torture room, and there, for the last time, made to undergo another kind of punishment, which was inflicted twice without any intermission. The executioners fastened a thick iron chain round his body, which crossing at the breast, terminated at the wrists. They then placed him with his back against a thick board, at each extremity whereof was a pulley, through which there ran a rope that caught the end of the chain at his wrists. The executioner then, stretching the end of his rope by means of a roller, placed at a distance behind him, pressed or bruised his stomach in proportion as the ends of the chains were drawn tighter. They tortured him in this manner to such a degree, that his wrists, as well as his shoulders, were quite dislocated. They were, however, soon set by the surgeons; but the barbarians, not yet satisfied with this species of cruelty, made him immediately undergo the like torture a second time, which he sustained (though, if possible, attended with keener pains,) with equal constancy and resolution. After this, he was again remanded to the dungeon, attended by the surgeon to dress his bruises and adjust the part dislocated, and here he continued until their auto da fe, or jail delivery, when he was discharged, crippled and diseased for life.