I have been restraining myself from analysing the Netflix® series, Messiah. But I feel drawn to point out that it EXACTLY represents the description of the Antichrist as outlined in the Holy Bible.
I find it a brilliant teaching tool for apologetics and searching the Scriptures and Quran.
As an introduction, let me defer to Wikipedia's summary of the TV series.
"The series focuses on the modern world's reaction to a man who first appears in the Middle East, whose followers claim him to be the eschatological return of 'Isa (Jesus). His sudden appearance and apparent miracles spark a growing international following, casting doubts around who he really is, a case investigated by a CIA officer." [1]
So starting at Series 1: Episode 1 [S1:E1] ("He That Hath an Ear", from Rev.2:7), this bearded bloke makes an appearance in Damascus to Syrian "Palestinians".
He is (mis?)quoting the Quran in the following time indices:
4:24 Al-Quran Surah 3. Al-i'Imran, Ayah 173
Al-Quran Surah 3. Al-i'Imran, Ayah 51
Then the Bible is quoted:
6:20 Revelation 2:17
The speaker is soon identified as al-Masih (Arabic for Messiah), as the followers chant his name. At this point, it is not known if he is the Christian Messiah (Yasu-al-Masih) or the Muslim Messiah ('Isa-al-Masih).
Background note: According to Muslim theology, 'Isa will return at the end times with Mahdi to help defeat Al-Masih ad-Dajjal (the Muslim anti-christ/false messiah).
When Christ returns, according to the Bible, he shall return in glory in the sky (the same way He left 2000 years ago). So clearly, this is the Christian version of the Anti-Christ (since he claims to have caused a miracle using a sandstorm from 30 days non-stop preaching to stop violence in the Middle-East).
Returning to the story, al-Masih leads 2000 followers into the desert, where that night he has a small discussion with a couple of clerics and an adolescent boy.
15:00 he misquotes the "Christian" philosopher, C.S.Lewis.
15:38 he recalls a version of the Shahada (Muslim creed: There is no other deity except Allah). This is the response to the question of His deity! So that immediately denies his divinity, and therefore identifies him again as NOT being Jesus Christ. (because Jesus proclaimed "I and the Father are one" [John 10:30], etc).
16:00 Al-Quran Surah 23. Al-Muminun, Ayah 115
al-Masih proceeds to tell the small gathering to "throw away what you know about God! ... Cling to me [al-Masih]". This is in direct contravention of Jesus Christ's teaching in Matthew 5:18.
22:28 it is revealed he is 'Isa-al-Masih - the Muslim messiah.
23:30 Then the young fellow asks 'Isa where his deceased mother is? With Allah? 'Isa responds with the classic Muslim (non-Christian) answer, "Do you think he [Allah] would forsake a soul as good as hers?" (compare Romans 3:10)
The next day, he proceeds to lead the 2000 Syrian "Palestinians" to Israel's borders (after abandoning their guns in the wilderness).
Being captured by the Israeli army, 'Isa is interrogated by a Mossad agent.
36:30 When asked to identify himself, his Hebrew reply was "The WORD", and identifies as originally being Jewish.
This theologically brings up a whole range of tidbits, in that Jesus never refered to Himself as "the Word". It is implied in the Psalms (eg. 33:6; 107:20; 119:89; 147:15-18) and referred after his ascension by the Apostle John (John 1). In fact, most Jews in the day felt it an intrusion of Greek philosophy (although it actually wasn't).
40:08 The final few minutes of this episode culminate in 'Isa "magically" vanishing (without video footage of his cell for that time). Prior to that, he was in a version of the lotus position silently performing Sa Ta Na Ma (Satan Ma???) meditation in his cell.
Share with me any interesting notes you found from this episode.
SOURCES:
1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Messiah_(American_TV_series)
