Islam and the Antichrist (summarized)

A Prophetic Blind Spot

Mainstream interpretations of Daniel 8 often treat the prophecy as solely fulfilled in the actions of Antiochus IV Epiphanes. But this view fails to explain Daniel’s confusion even after receiving the vision, and it ignores the declaration that the vision “belongs to the time of the end.” This chapter contends that Daniel 8 not only prefigures Antiochus’ desecration of the temple but also prophetically anticipates the rise of Islam as a dominant spiritual and political force culminating in the Antichrist.

Daniel 8: Vision of the Ram and the Goat

The vision of the ram and the goat provides vivid symbolism:

·         Ram = Media and Persia (explicitly stated)

·         Goat = Greece

·         Great horn = Alexander the Great

·         Four horns = His generals (Diadochi)

·         Little horn = A future king, whose power is spiritual, deceptive, and destructive

While many commentators treat the little horn as Antiochus IV, the text clearly has dual fulfillment: one historical, the other eschatological, as do the four horns, which are in fact empires and not just a reference to the Diadochi.

Historical Fulfillment: Antiochus IV Epiphanes

Antiochus IV desecrated the Jerusalem Temple in 167 BC by erecting a statue of Zeus and sacrificing a pig upon the altar. Jewish resistance led by the Maccabees culminated in the temple's rededication in 164 BC. This act of sacrilege is widely seen as the abomination of desolation. However, while Antiochus fulfilled part of the prophecy, he never declared himself to be God nor sat in the temple as God—key traits associated with the final Antichrist.

Prophetic Layers: Typology and Dual Fulfillment

The same prophecy can operate on multiple levels. For Antiochus was not only a perceived fulfillment of the little horn during his day but also a type—a foreshadowing—of the final Antichrist. The desecration of the temple is repeated at the end of the age, this time not by Hellenistic forces but by a global religious-political movement. The language used in Daniel 8 and 2 Thessalonians 2 reveals a continuity between past and future desecrations. This is underlined by Jesus’ reference to: “the abomination of desolation, which was spoken of through Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place”—Matt. 24:15

Reassessing the 2300 Evenings and Mornings

The 2,300 evenings and mornings may represent 1,150 days (sacrifices occurring twice daily) or 1,150 years (day-year principle). Measured from June 539 BC (Babylon’s fall) to AD 610 (Muhammad’s first prophetic claim), the span totals 1,150 years. Could Muhammad have seen himself as fulfilling Daniel’s prophecy? Whether by coincidence or divine foresight, the alignment is compelling.

Islam in Prophetic Perspective

Islam’s rise in the 7th century altered the religious landscape of the Middle East. The construction of the Dome of the Rock on the Temple Mount in AD 691 is historically significant—it was placed precisely where God’s sanctuary once stood. Islam’s claim to final revelation and its denial of Christ’s divinity directly oppose the gospel. Thus, it fits the role of desolator.

The Identity and Power of the Little Horn

The little horn is described as:

·         Understanding dark sentences (occult wisdom)

·         Mighty, but not by his own power (demonic empowerment)

·         Destroying wonderfully and prospering

·         Exalting himself against the Prince of Princes (Jesus)

This figure surpasses Antiochus IV and matches Paul’s “Man of Sin” in 2 Thessalonians 2, who opposes God and sits in God’s temple proclaiming himself to be God.

Historical Misinterpretations

Various interpretations of the 2,300 days prophecy have failed:

·         William Miller (1844): Predicted Christ’s return—resulted in the Great Disappointment.

·         Seventh-day Adventism: Grew out of the 1844 failure and created the doctrine of Investigative Judgment to explain it.

·         Bahá’í Faith: Claims fulfillment in the Bab’s ministry in 1844.

These show the danger of speculative date-setting without clear prophetic alignment.

Supporting Views from Classic Commentators

Some historical theologians recognized Islam in prophecy:

·         Matthew Henry: Viewed Muhammad as a fulfillment of the little horn.

·         Jamieson, Fausset & Brown: Linked Islam to Daniel’s visions and Revelation’s Euphratean horsemen.

Their insight supports the argument that Islam fulfills elements of Daniel 8 and is not a novel reinterpretation.

The Role of Islam in the Last Days

The Caliphate, halted temporarily, continues to influence global affairs. ISIS revived ancient abominations—slaughtering men, enslaving women and children—echoing Antiochus’ actions. Sunni eschatology seeks a global Caliph, while Shiites expect a returning Mahdi. A unifying figure—possibly the Antichrist—could emerge with broad Islamic support.

The Temple Debate: Where Will the Abomination Stand?

Third Temple speculation:

·         Some Jews expect a rebuilt temple on the Temple Mount.

·         Others argue for the City of David / Gihon Spring as the true temple site.

·         It is possible the current mosque could be repurposed or renamed—a diplomatic and theological deception.

The Final Deceiver: Craft, Peace, and Destruction

The coming Man of Sin will:

·         Appear to bring peace.

·         Deceive with signs and lying wonders.

·         Claim divine status.

·         Persecute true believers.

The Man of Sin will likely rise within a compromised global religious framework—possibly Islamic in appearance but ecumenical in ambition.

The 1335-Day Blessing and the Waiting Saints

Daniel 12 reveals a 1,290-day period between the taking away of the daily offering and the abomination, followed by 45 more days until blessing. This mirrors the timeline Jesus gave in Matthew 24. The blessed are those who endure to the end, like the wise virgins who kept watch.

The Unified Prophetic Vision

Daniel’s visions point to more than empires—they reveal spiritual dominions that persist into the last days. Islam, birthed after Greece and Rome, holds Jerusalem’s holy site and advances a religion that denies Christ’s divinity. It aligns with the traits of the final Antichrist.

“He shall also stand up against the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken without hand.” —Daniel 8:25

Just as Antiochus prefigured a future tyrant, so the vision of Daniel 8 is not sealed forever. It has been unsealed for those who have understanding.

“The vision of the evenings and mornings is true... but seal up the vision; for it belongs to many days to come.” —Daniel 8:26

The Church must recognize the signs, resist deception, and await the return of the true Prince—Jesus Christ, King of kings and Lord of lords.

>DAYS OF JACOB'S TROUBLE