Qiyamah: The Day That Death Will Die, Lesson 6

Dajjal, the Great Liar

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

Isa answered: "Watch out that no one deceives you. For many will come in my name, claiming, 'I am al-Masih,' and will deceive many." (Holy Injil, Matthew 24:4,5)

In a previous chapter it was already seen that there are many imposters in the world claiming to be Allah's chosen messenger. This is what is meant by the word dajjal. It literally means "liar" or "imposter". All who claim to be the one who will lead mankind into a new world are just a foretaste of a great imposter who will yet come, called Al-Masihu'd-Dajjal (Antichrist, literally the lying or false Messiah) or simply Dajjal. When he shall come, he will lead the entire world into believing a lie. People will believe that Dajjal is the greatest leader the world has ever known, sent by Allah to lead men to peace and prosperity. In actual fact however, he will be sent by Shaitan (Satan) to lead the whole world to war and misery, and finally to the fire of hell.

The very first judgment associated with the seven-year time of great trouble, is one which pictures a rider on a white horse:

...Then I heard one of the four living creatures say in a voice like thunder, "Come!" I looked, and there before me was a white horse! Its rider held a bow, and he was given a crown, and he rode out as a conqueror bent on conquest. (Holy Injil, Revelation 6:1-2)

"As a conqueror bent on conquest". This phrase well describes Dajjal as he begins his rise to world domination. At the beginning of this present age's final seven years, Dajjal will go forth to conquer other nations in his quest for absolute power. Within 3 1/2 years the imposter can be said to be "world dictator". If there is any question that anyone could rise so quickly from insignificance to supremacy, consider Alexander the Great. He was one of the greatest leaders the world has ever known. At the age of 20, Alexander became king of the small kingdom of Macedonia. Within ten years, he conquered most of the civilized world of his day. In these days of modern travel and weapons of mass destruction it is quite possible that Satan's Dajjal could rise to power much more quickly.

At the height of his power, Dajjal will reveal his true character, that of a great liar:

He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called Allah or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in Allah's temple, proclaiming himself to be Allah. The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with the work of Satan displayed in all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders, and in every sort of evil that deceives those that are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. (Holy Injil, 2 Thessalonians 2:4,9,10)

Dajjal will claim to be Allah himself and will deceive many. He will stand against every religion which does not recognize him as Lord. With the power of Satan helping him, he will be successful in causing most of the inhabitants of the earth to follow him. He will ruthlessly persecute or kill those who refuse to follow him. Just like a "wild beast", he will recognize no authority but his own, as the following passage concerning him says:

The beast was given a mouth to utter proud words and blasphemies and to exercise his authority for forty-two months. He opened his mouth to blaspheme Allah, and to slander his name and his dwelling place and those who live in heaven. He was given power to make war against God's holy people and to conquer them. And he was given authority over every tribe, people, language and nation. (Holy Injil, Revelation 13:5-7)

Masih or Liar?

As has already been mentioned, Dajjal can be called Al-Masihu'd-Dajjal, that is, the lying or false Masih. The heavenly books make a contrast between Dajjal and Prophet Isa, the true Masih of Allah. In chapter three, "Is Qiyamah Near?", it was mentioned that "Masih" is the special title of Prophet Isa only. It signifies that he is the one whom Allah sent to accomplish salvation so that men could be forgiven their sins. When Dajjal comes, people will hope that he is Masih. The world will look to him to save them from all their troubles and bring peace and prosperity. But the following chart shows some of the differences between Dajjal and Prophet Isa:

Whom would you rather follow? The very existence of a lying Masih in the future day of qiyamat teaches us what importance we should give to the true Masih. Satan is so concerned about Prophet Isa Masih and what he will do in qiyamat, that he will send a false Masih first to try to fool people. And as we have seen, he will succeed in causing many people to follow Dajjal, but this success will be shortlived. At the end of the seven-year time of great trouble, Prophet Isa will himself come from heaven and destroy Dajjal, and his followers:

And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Isa will overthrow with the breath of his mouth and destroy by the splendour of his coming. He will punish those who do not know Allah and do not obey the Injil of our Lord Isa. They will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord and from the majesty of his power. (Holy Injil, 2 Thessalonians 2:8; 1:8,9)

It is only fitting that the one to stop Dajjal, the lying Masih, from bringing further death and destruction, should be none other than the true Masih, Prophet Isa. In qiyamah, he will also punish all those who "do not obey the Injil of our Lord Isa", that is, those who are not his true disciples. Prophet Isa is the "sign of qiyamah" and considered to be notable in the world to come. If qiyamah were to come today, what would happen to you? Would you, like Dajjal, be judged by Prophet Isa as an enemy? Would you be judged with that group of people who make little of his importance in Allah's plan for the world? Do you recognize him as the Masih whom Allah has sent to save men from their sins? Listen to the words of comfort that he gives to his true followers:

Allah is just: He will pay back trouble to those who trouble you and give relief to you who are troubled, and to us as well. This will happen when the Lord Isa is revealed from heaven in blazing fire with his powerful angels. (Holy Injil, 2 Thessalonians 1:6,7)

You already know that Prophet Isa, the "Masih", is coming back to earth. You also know that "Masih" means that he is the one whom Allah chose to be "Saviour". An important question is this – Is he your Saviour? He is not only the Masih of the Jews or the Christians. He is the Masih of all people. He can be your Masih today, if you accept him as Saviour from all your sins.