The End Times: Islam vs. the Bible, Part 5b: Major Signs: the Mahdi

The End Times: Islam vs. the Bible, Part 5b: Major Signs: the Mahdi
Monday, June 16, 2025 by Dr. James W. Walraven

Categories: Apologetics / Contemporary issues / Scripture discussion / Spiritual deception / Spiritual warfare / The church / Thought for Today

Roughly about this time, the Mahdi will appear. Most hadith indicate he will appear in Khorasan, a region centered around modern Afghanistan and Iran, in the land known as “The Land of the Sun,” or “The Land of the Rising Sun.”

As we saw, Sunni and Shia disagree about him, with the Shia claiming that it would be their twelfth Imam who would return, thus ending his occultation, his being hidden, that as of now has now lasted for over 1,000 years.

He will be a descendent of Muhammad, and according to some sources he will start with 313 dedicated followers. The Prophet stated that when people see the black flags appear—that ISIS used black flags was no accident—they should try to go there, even if it means crawling over ice, as that is where the Mahdi will be.

The Mahdi will be a warrior, and ride a white horse. As a Christian, one cannot help but think of the first horse of the apocalypse, Revelation 6:1–2. Nothing will be able to stop his forces from arriving in Jerusalem, where he will plant his flag, but he will need Eesa’s help to defeat the Dajjal, as he, himself, cannot defeat him.

He will eventually be victorious over all of Allah’s adversaries, and will fill the earth with equity and justice, just as it had been filled with tyranny and oppression (note: “tyranny and oppression” mean any and all rule that is non-Muslim and not in accordance with sharia).

He will be one of the rightly guided caliphs, and he will rule for seven years (possibly nine or as few as five). Allah will provide abundant rain, herds and wealth will multiply, but all this happens a bit later.

Although some say that it may take about six years of jihad, he will establish a truly global government. There are also claims that many Jews and Christians will follow him due to the many miracles he does. Atheists will follow him as well due to his advanced scientific knowledge. On the other hand, some sources say that the Mahdi will not perform miracles.

Ridding the lands from the impious and the sinful people who rule, the Mahdi will defend the righteous (Muslims) from unbelievers and tyrants. He will be victorious, and the peoples of both heaven and earth, as well as all birds and animals will rejoice.

Based on Islam’s descriptions of the Mahdi, does he sound like a particular biblical end-times character?

Although the Mahdi is introduced and discussed at this point, it seems that overall, the focus ends up more on Eesa. The Mahdi after his appearance seems to slip somewhat into the background. Indeed, there is one hadith that seems to indicate that Eesa will overshadow him.

The first major army to come against him will be swallowed up in the desert, defeated miraculously by Gabriel. A battle between Rome and the Muslims follows. Depending on the hadith, either one-third of the Muslims will be killed, one-third flee, and one-third be victorious, or the Muslims will be soundly defeated.

They will learn that as they had gone out to battle, the Dajjal had appeared, and was behind them in their camp. That he was in the camp proves to be a lie, but that he had appeared was true. As we have already seen, the Mahdi will need Eesa’s help to overcome the Dajjal.

And right on cue, Allah has Eesa, the Islamic Jesus, return. We will turn to Eesa’s return in the next post.

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