Magic Will Be Widespread Globally Prior to the Emergence of the Antichrist: Exploring the Rise of Occultism and Deception in the Last Days

In recent decades, the world has witnessed a dramatic rise in interest in the supernatural, the occult, and forms of magic once confined to obscure circles. From mainstream media saturated with witchcraft and sorcery to the growing acceptance of new spiritual movements, many Christian eschatologists believe these trends are not just cultural shifts—they are signs of a deeper spiritual preparation for the rise of the Antichrist.

According to biblical prophecy, before the revealing of the Antichrist, there will be a global climate ripe for deception. Part of that deception, as many Christian scholars and theologians assert, will involve a widespread acceptance of supernatural practices and the blurring of the line between divine and demonic power.

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The Biblical Warning Against Sorcery

The Bible speaks extensively about sorcery, magic, and divination, and always in a negative light. In Deuteronomy 18:10-12, God strictly forbids His people from engaging in witchcraft, sorcery, necromancy, and other occult practices:

“There shall not be found among you anyone who… practices divination or tells fortunes or interprets omens, or a sorcerer… For whoever does these things is an abomination to the Lord…”

This commandment reveals God’s view on occult practices: they are not harmless games or cultural expressions but spiritual gateways to demonic influence.

In the book of Revelation, the last book of the Bible which outlines the end of the age, the word sorcery (from the Greek word pharmakeia) appears multiple times. Revelation 18:23, speaking of Babylon the Great—a symbol of end-times deception—states:

“...for your merchants were the great ones of the earth, and all nations were deceived by your sorcery.”

This is not merely symbolic language; it suggests a literal rise in occult practices as tools of mass deception in the final days.

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The Antichrist and Supernatural Signs

The Bible reveals that the coming Antichrist will not rise to power merely through political intrigue or charisma. His ascension will be accompanied by supernatural signs and wonders—many of which will be counterfeit miracles designed to mimic the power of God.

2 Thessalonians 2:9-10 explains:

“The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders, and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing…”

This verse reveals that prior to and during the Antichrist’s reign, the supernatural will be normalized and celebrated. These “false signs” will not just be illusions; they will be real demonstrations of power—satanic in origin—meant to deceive the masses. For such deception to be effective, the world must first become spiritually desensitized to magic and the occult.

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A Cultural Shift Toward Magic and the Occult

What was once hidden is now mainstream. Magic, witchcraft, and occult symbolism pervade movies, music, fashion, and even children's entertainment. The Harry Potter franchise, for example, introduced a generation to the language and aesthetics of spellcraft in an appealing, sanitized way. While some argue these portrayals are fictional and harmless, others see them as a dangerous softening of spiritual boundaries.

In addition, the rise of New Age spirituality, pagan revivals, and even the popularity of tarot, crystals, astrology, and witchcraft on social media platforms points to a dramatic shift. These practices are no longer seen as fringe or taboo—they are embraced, marketed, and monetized.

More disturbingly, many of these practices are being blended with Christian terminology, leading to syncretism: a mixing of light and darkness. This confusion sets the stage for the Antichrist, who will present himself not merely as a political leader, but as a messianic, supernatural figure offering “enlightenment” and unity through deceptive spiritual means.

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The Spiritual Vacuum and the Hunger for Power

Another factor fueling the rise of magic before the Antichrist is the growing spiritual vacuum in the modern world. As traditional religious values erode and institutional trust declines, people seek meaning, power, and identity elsewhere.

Magic, with its promises of secret knowledge, personal empowerment, and control over unseen forces, becomes an attractive substitute. The allure of being one's own “god” or channeling hidden energies aligns perfectly with the satanic lie first whispered in the Garden of Eden: “You will be like God” (Genesis 3:5).

This rebellion against divine authority creates fertile ground for the Antichrist, who will exploit humanity's desire for spiritual power without submission to the true God.

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Preparation for a Global Religious Shift

Many eschatologists believe that prior to the unveiling of the Antichrist, there will be a significant global religious shift—a unification of belief systems under a false spiritual banner. Magic and occultism serve as bridges between belief systems. They offer experiences, signs, and wonders that can unite disparate spiritual traditions.

This universal spiritualism aligns with the description of the False Prophet in Revelation 13, who performs signs and encourages worship of the Antichrist. The world will not reject religion outright—it will embrace a new, deceptive form of spirituality that glorifies self, exalts supernatural experiences, and marginalizes biblical truth.

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Guarding Against Deception

For believers, these developments are not cause for panic but for vigilance. Jesus Himself warned in Matthew 24:24:

“For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect.”

The antidote to deception is truth. Christians are called to be spiritually discerning, grounded in Scripture, and filled with the Holy Spirit. This means avoiding even the seemingly benign forms of occultism and instead pursuing intimacy with Christ.

Parents must teach children to discern the spiritual content of what they consume. Churches must preach on the reality of spiritual warfare and the dangers of occult infiltration. And individuals must examine their own lives for compromise with the spirit of the age.

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Conclusion: A World Ready for the Final Deception

Magic’s rising popularity is more than a cultural trend—it is a prophetic signpost. The normalization of sorcery, the hunger for supernatural experiences, and the global openness to non-Christian spiritualities are all preparing the world for the Antichrist's arrival.

This coming figure will not merely be a political tyrant but a supernatural deceiver. The more the world embraces magic, the more it opens itself to the very powers that will empower him.

For those who follow Christ, now is the time to shine the light of truth, to stand firm in faith, and to remain vigilant. The deception will be powerful—but the truth of the gospel is greater.

The First Terrorists in Islamic History Were the Kharijites: A Historical Perspective

Terrorism, as a modern term, often evokes images of ideologically driven violence aimed at civilians to instill fear and achieve political or religious ends. While this terminology is contemporary, the phenomenon of violent extremism is not new. In the context of Islamic history, many scholars and historians identify the Kharijites (or Khawarij) as the first group that embodied what would today be considered terrorist ideology and behavior.

The Kharijites emerged during the first century of Islam, in the aftermath of political discord that followed the death of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. Their ideology, actions, and legacy have had lasting repercussions, and many modern extremist groups are often seen as spiritual successors to Kharijite thought.

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Origins of the Kharijite Movement

The Kharijites arose during the First Fitna—the first major civil war in Islamic history (656–661 CE). This conflict followed the assassination of the third Caliph, Uthman ibn Affan, and centered around the question of legitimate leadership.

The pivotal moment for the emergence of the Kharijites came during the Battle of Siffin in 657 CE, fought between the fourth Caliph, Ali ibn Abi Talib, and Mu'awiya ibn Abi Sufyan, the governor of Syria. When arbitration was proposed to settle the dispute, a faction within Ali’s camp strongly opposed the idea, insisting that “judgment belongs only to God” (la hukma illa lillah). They saw arbitration as a compromise of divine authority and broke away from Ali’s forces, becoming the Kharijites—meaning "those who seceded" or "those who went out."

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Theological Extremism and Takfir

The defining feature of the Kharijites was their extreme and rigid interpretation of Islam, especially regarding sin, governance, and faith. They believed that:

1. Any major sin expelled a Muslim from Islam.

2. Only a completely righteous person could be the leader of the Muslim community.

3. Anyone who did not share their views was a disbeliever (kafir).

This led to the practice of takfir—the act of declaring fellow Muslims as apostates. Once a person was labeled a non-Muslim in their eyes, violence against them became religiously justified, including assassination and mass killing.

Their theological absolutism was accompanied by violent purges. Kharijites began attacking not only political authorities but also ordinary Muslims who disagreed with them. In one notorious incident at Nahrawan, they killed Muslim men, women, and children simply for not sharing their ideology.

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The Assassination of Ali ibn Abi Talib

The most infamous act of Kharijite violence was the assassination of Caliph Ali. In 661 CE, a Kharijite named Abd al-Rahman ibn Muljam murdered Ali while he was leading the dawn prayer in the mosque of Kufa.

Ibn Muljam and other Kharijites had planned to kill the three key leaders of the Muslim world—Ali, Mu'awiya, and Amr ibn al-As—in one coordinated operation. Although only Ali’s assassin succeeded, the plot reveals the depth of their conviction and their willingness to use violence as a tool of ideological purification.

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Early Muslim Scholars’ Rejection of Kharijite Ideology

The overwhelming consensus among early Islamic scholars, both Sunni and Shia, was to condemn the Kharijites for their theological deviation and violent behavior. The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ is reported in multiple authentic hadiths to have warned about a group who would be extreme in religion:

“They will recite the Qur'an, but it will not go past their throats. They will exit the religion just as an arrow passes through its target.”
(Sahih al-Bukhari, Sahih Muslim)

This hadith has long been understood by scholars to refer to the Kharijites. Their outward piety—constant fasting, prayer, and Qur’an recitation—was not matched by inner understanding, mercy, or balance.

Classical Islamic scholars such as Imam Abu Hanifa, Imam Malik, Imam Shafi'i, and Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal all condemned the Kharijites and prohibited their ideology. Even when they refrained from calling them disbelievers outright, they viewed their beliefs and actions as deeply dangerous and outside the fold of mainstream Islam.

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Why the Kharijites Are Viewed as the First Terrorists

Using modern language, the Kharijites can be seen as proto-terrorists for several reasons:

1. Violence Against Civilians: They did not differentiate between combatants and non-combatants. Entire communities were attacked for ideological reasons.

2. Religious Justification of Murder: They provided theological rationale for assassinations and massacres, claiming divine legitimacy.

3. Polarization and Intolerance: They divided the Muslim community into two groups—true believers (themselves) and apostates (everyone else), creating an “us vs. them” dynamic central to modern extremist rhetoric.

4. Targeting Muslim Leadership: Unlike external invaders, their primary targets were Muslims—especially leaders they viewed as impure or corrupt.

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The Kharijite Legacy and Modern Parallels

In modern times, extremist groups such as ISIS (Daesh), Al-Qaeda, and other militant outfits have been widely labeled as neo-Kharijites by contemporary Islamic scholars. These groups:

• Practice takfir against Muslims who disagree with them.

• Commit acts of mass violence in the name of “purifying” Islam.

• Use Qur’anic verses out of context to justify atrocities.

• Seek political power under the banner of religious purity.

Prominent scholars like Shaykh Abd al-Aziz ibn Baz, Shaykh Yusuf al-Qaradawi, and Shaykh Hamza Yusuf have all drawn parallels between modern extremists and the Kharijites of old.

Even secular analysts note the ideological rigidity and operational methods of Kharijites as a precursor to many patterns of modern-day terrorism rooted in religious justification.

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Conclusion: Lessons from the Kharijite Phenomenon

The emergence of the Kharijites offers a critical lesson for the Muslim world and humanity at large: ideological extremism, when combined with religious certainty and political grievance, can lead to devastating consequences.

While the majority of Muslims—then and now—reject extremism, the Kharijites serve as a reminder of the dangers of:

• Misinterpreting sacred texts.

• Abandoning moral restraint in the name of divine justice.

• Dividing society into rigid binaries of good and evil.

Recognizing the historical reality of the Kharijites is essential not only for understanding early Islamic history but also for confronting the ideologies that threaten social cohesion and global peace today.

Extremism, in any form, is a betrayal of the ethical, spiritual, and compassionate message that lies at the heart of the Islamic tradition.