Galatians 1:8
a. Shortly after
the first Gulf War in 1991 I began to wonder about the place of Islam in the
last days. I looked at the names of the nations mentioned in Scripture that had
a part in the last days scenario and except for Israel, they were all Islamic.
Surely I thought, Islam has a part to play in the end times. This prompted me
to do a study on Islam and contemporary and ancient Middle Eastern nations. I
discovered that most if not all the Islamic nations named in Scripture (except for Iran/
Persia), such as Egypt, the nations of the Arabian peninsula Iraq/Babylon, Jordan/Moab,
Ammon, Edom and Syria are Arab, and have genealogical ties to Abraham. Though they have genealogical ties with Abraham, and are considered as seed of Abraham, the promises given to them must not be confused with the Covenant that was made with Israel, through Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Please see my blog posts of Genesis 17 and in particular Genesis 17:15-21 for the explicit differences in the promises given to Ishmael and the Covenant made with Abraham toward Isaac and his descendants, Israel. Years later after reading other materials by
individuals with much more knowledge about Islam, I have come to agree with the
conclusions from those other materials, that Islam is the religion of the
anti-Chrst and it is one component of Islam’s part in the last days scenario as laid out in the Bible. What must be acknowledged here is that God loves the Arab people just as much as any other people group and it is God's will that Arab's be saved just as much as Jews or Americans. Jesus loves all equally. He died for all of us.
But though we, or an angel from heaven,
preach any other gospel unto you than that what which we have preached unto
you, let him be accursed.
a. NLT: Let God’s
curse fall on anyone, including us or even an angel from heaven, who preaches a
different kind of Good News than the one we preached to you.
b. NIV: But even
if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we
preached to you, let them be under God’s curse!
c. YLT: but even
if we or a messenger out of heaven may proclaim good news to you different from
what we did proclaim to you -- anathema let him be!
d. Amplified Bible
Classic: But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel
contrary to and different from that which we preached to you,
let him be accursed (anathema, devoted to destruction, doomed to eternal
punishment)!
e. Worrell
Translation: But even if we or an angel out of Heaven should proclaim a Gospel
to you other than that which we delivered to you, let him be accursed!
1. “But though we, or an angel from
heaven…”
a. but [235 * alla] Strong: neuter plural of 243; properly, other things, i.e. (adverbially) contrariwise (in many relations):--and, but (even), howbeit, indeed, nay, nevertheless, no, notwithstanding, save, therefore, yea, yet.]
b. though [2532 *kai] [Strong: apparently, a primary particle, having a copulative and sometimes also a cumulative force; and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words:--and, also, both, but, even, for, if, or, so, that, then, therefore, when, yet.]
c. [1437 * ean]
[Strong: from 1487 and 302; a conditional particle; in case that, provided,
etc.; often used in connection with other particles to denote indefiniteness or
uncertainty:--before, but, except, (and) if, (if) so, (what-, whither-)soever,
though, when (-soever), whether (or), to whom, (who-)so(-ever).]
d. we [2249 *
hemeis] [Strong: nominative plural of 1473; we (only used when emphatic):--us,
we (ourselves).]
e. or [2228 * e]
[Strong: a primary particle of distinction between two connected terms;
disjunctive, or; comparative, than:--and, but (either), (n-)either, except it
be, (n-)or (else), rather, save, than, that, what, yea. Often used in
connection with other particles.]
f. an angel [32 *
aggelos] [Strong: from aggello (probably derived from 71; compare 34) (to bring
tidings); a messenger; especially an "angel"; by implication, a
pastor:--angel, messenger.]
g. from [1537 *
ek] [Strong: from aggello (probably derived from 71; compare 34) (to bring
tidings); a messenger; especially an "angel"; by implication, a
pastor:--angel, messenger.]
h. heaven [3772 *
ouranos] [Strong: perhaps from the same as 3735 (through the idea of
elevation); the sky; by extension, heaven (as the abode of God); by
implication, happiness, power, eternity; specially, the Gospel
(Christianity):--air, heaven(-ly), sky.]
1). Mormonism and
Islam, two of the worlds largest religious traditions include in their
foundational doctrines that their founders received their revelations from
angels.
2. “…preach any other gospel unto you than
that what we have preached unto you…”
a. preach any
other gospel [2097 * euaggelizo] [Strong: from 2095 and 32; to announce good
news ("evangelize") especially the gospel:--declare, bring (declare,
show) glad (good) tidings, preach (the gospel).]
b. unto you [5213
* humin] [Strong: irregular dative case of 5210; to (with or by) you:--ye, you,
your(-selves).]
c. than [3844 *
para] [Strong: a primary preposition; properly, near; i.e. (with genitive case)
from beside (literally or figuratively), (with dative case) at (or in) the
vicinity of (objectively or subjectively), (with accusative case) to the
proximity with (local (especially beyond or opposed to) or causal (on account
of):--above, against, among, at, before, by, contrary to, X friend, from, +
give (such things as they), + that (she) had, X his, in, more than, nigh unto,
(out) of, past, save, side...by, in the sight of, than, (there-)fore, with. In
compounds it retains the same variety of application.]
d. that which
[3739 * hos, including feminine he, and neuter ho] [Strong: probably
a primary word (or perhaps a form of the article 3588); the relatively
(sometimes demonstrative) pronoun, who, which, what, that:--one, (an-, the)
other, some, that, what, which, who(-m, -se), etc.]
e. we have
preached [2097 * euaggelizo] [Strong: from 2095 and 32; to announce good news
("evangelize") especially the gospel:--declare, bring (declare, show)
glad (good) tidings, preach (the gospel).]
f. unto you [5213
* humin] [Strong: irregular dative case of 5210; to (with or by) you:--ye, you,
your(-selves).]
3. “…let him be accursed.”
a. let them be
[2077 * esto] [Strong: second person singular present imperative of 1510; be
thou; also estosan es'-to-san, third person of the same let them be:--be.]
b. accursed [331 *
anathema] [Strong: from 394; a (religious) ban or (concretely)
excommunicated (thing or person):--accused, anathema, curse, X great.]
1). When
discussing false religions and false doctrines I will not use the words faith
or theology for both of these words are only accurate and true when used with
the worship of the One true God. Only Judism and Christianity were ordained by
God, and Christianity has superseded Judism as a further revelation of
salvation from God through Jesus Christ.
2). In light of
the above warning by the Apostle Paul, 1 Kings 13:1-24 should be looked at. The
passage though lengthy reveals a powerful truth, if God has already spoken to
me concerning something, then we should not believe anyone else who comes along
and says an angel spoke to them and told them something different. On the
matter of the things of God, God has already spoken in His word. The word of
God in the gospel has already been given to us. If some yahoo, comes along and
says an angel appeared to them and given them more information that contradicts
what God has originally spoke in the gospel, then let them be accursed. Don’t
listen to them, they are deceived or lying!
a). 1 Kings
13:1-24 And, behold, there came a man of God out of Judah by the word of the
LORD unto Bethel: and Jeroboam stood by the altar to burn incense.
13:2 And he cried
against the altar in the word of the LORD, and said, O altar, altar, thus saith
the LORD; Behold, a child shall be born unto the house of David, Josiah by
name; and upon thee shall he offer the priests of the high places that burn
incense upon thee, and men's bones shall be burnt upon thee.
13:3 And he gave a
sign the same day, saying, This is the sign which the LORD hath spoken; Behold,
the altar shall be rent, and the ashes that are upon it shall be poured out.
13:4 And it came
to pass, when king Jeroboam heard the saying of the man of God, which had cried
against the altar in Bethel, that he put forth his hand from the altar, saying,
Lay hold on him. And his hand, which he put forth against him, dried up, so
that he could not pull it in again to him.
13:5 The altar
also was rent, and the ashes poured out from the altar, according to the sign
which the man of God had given by the word of the LORD.
13:6 And the king
answered and said unto the man of God, Intreat now the face of the LORD thy
God, and pray for me, that my hand may be restored me again. And the man of God
besought the LORD, and the king's hand was restored him again, and became as it
was before.
13:7 And the king
said unto the man of God, Come home with me, and refresh thyself, and I will give
thee a reward.
13:8 And the man
of God said unto the king, If thou wilt give me half thine house, I will not go
in with thee, neither will I eat bread nor drink water in this place:
13:9 For so was it
charged me by the word of the LORD, saying, Eat no bread, nor drink water, nor
turn again by the same way that thou camest.
13:10 So he went
another way, and returned not by the way that he came to Bethel.
13:11 Now there
dwelt an old prophet in Bethel; and his sons came and told him all the works
that the man of God had done that day in Bethel: the words which he had spoken
unto the king, them they told also to their father.
13:12 And their
father said unto them, What way went he? For his sons had seen what way the man
of God went, which came from Judah.
13:13 And he said
unto his sons, Saddle me the ass. So they saddled him the ass: and he rode
thereon,
13:14 And went
after the man of God, and found him sitting under an oak: and he said unto him,
Art thou the man of God that camest from Judah? And he said, I am.
13:15 Then he said
unto him, Come home with me, and eat bread.
13:16 And he said,
I may not return with thee, nor go in with thee: neither will I eat bread nor
drink water with thee in this place:
13:17 For it was
said to me by the word of the LORD, Thou shalt eat no bread nor drink water
there, nor turn again to go by the way that thou camest.
13:18 He said unto
him, I am a prophet also as thou art; and an angel spake unto me by the word of
the LORD, saying, Bring him back with thee into thine house, that he may eat
bread and drink water. But he lied unto him.
13:19 So he went
back with him, and did eat bread in his house, and drank water.
13:20 And it came
to pass, as they sat at the table, that the word of the LORD came unto the
prophet that brought him back:
13:21 And he cried
unto the man of God that came from Judah, saying, Thus saith the LORD,
Forasmuch as thou hast disobeyed the mouth of the LORD, and hast not kept the
commandment which the LORD thy God commanded thee,
13:22 But camest
back, and hast eaten bread and drunk water in the place, of the which the LORD
did say to thee, Eat no bread, and drink no water; thy carcase shall not come
unto the sepulchre of thy fathers.
13:23 And it came
to pass, after he had eaten bread, and after he had drunk, that he saddled for
him the ass, to wit, for the prophet whom he had brought back.
13:24 And when he
was gone, a lion met him by the way, and slew him: and his carcase was cast in
the way, and the ass stood by it, the lion also stood by the carcase.
3). Islam, one of
the world’s largest religious traditions includes in its foundational doctrines
that their founder received his revelations from an angel. The following
paragraphs concerning Islam were cut and pasted either from Islamic or
Christian websites. All of the information given here concerning the Islamic religious tradition is common knowledge and easily accessible anywhere on the
web or in libraries.
a). Islam: Prophet Muhammad (s) was born in 570 CE in
Makkah (Bakka, Baca, Mecca). His father, Abdullah, died several weeks before
his birth in Yathrib (Medinah) where he went to visit his father's maternal
relatives. His mother died while on the return journey from Medinah at a place
called ‘Abwa’ when he was six years old. He was raised by his paternal
grandfather 'Abd al Muttalib (Shaybah) until the age of eight, and after his
grandfather’s death by Abu Talib, his paternal uncle. 'Abd al Muttalib's
mother, Salma, was a native of Medinah and he was born and raised as a young
boy in Medinah before his uncle Muttalib brought him to Makkah to succeed him.
Many years before Muhammad's birth, 'Abd al Muttalib had established himself as
an influential leader of the Arab tribe ‘Quraish’ in Makkah and took care of
the Holy sanctuary ‘Ka’bah’.
Makkah was a city state well connected to the caravan routes to Syria and Egypt
in the north and northwest and Yemen in the south. Muhammad was a descendant of Prophet Ismail
through the lineage of his second son Kedar. Ka'bah is the first house of worship built on earth for the
worship of Allah, the One True God. It was re-built (raised from the
existing foundation) by Prophets Ibrahim (Abraham) and Ismail (Ishmael). Allah is the proper name of the
One True God, creator and sustainer of the universe, who does not have a
partner or associate, and He did not beget nor was He begotten. Unlike the word
god, the word Allah does not have a plural or gender. Under the guardianship of
Abu Talib, Muhammad (s) began to earn a living as a businessman and a trader.
At the age of twelve, he accompanied Abu Talib with a merchant caravan as far
as Bostra in Syria. Muhammad was popularly known as ‘al-Ameen’ for his unimpeachable character by the Makkans and
visitors alike. The title Al-Ameen means the Honest, the Reliable and the
Trustworthy, and it signified the highest standard of moral and public life. Upon
hearing of Muhammad’s impressive credentials, Khadijah, a rich merchant widow,
asked Muhammad (s) to take some merchandise for trade to Syria. Soon after this
trip when he was twenty-five, Khadijah proposed marriage to Muhammad through a relative. Muhammad accepted
the proposal. At that time, Khadijah was twice widowed and forty years old.
Khadijah (ra) and Muhammad (s) were the parents of six children - four daughters and two sons. His first son
Qasim died at the age of two. He was nicknamed Abul Qasim, meaning the father
of Qasim. His second son Abdullah died in infancy. Abdullah was also called
affectionately as ‘Tayyab’ and ‘Tahir’ because he was born after Muhammad’s
prophethood. The four daughters were: Zainab, Ruqayyah, Umm Kulthum, and
Fatimah (ra). The Holy sanctuary Ka’bah was
now filled with three hundred sixty idols. The original, pristine message of
Prophet Ibrahim was lost, and it was mixed with superstitions and traditions of
pilgrims and visitors from distant places, who were used to idol worship and
myths. In every generation, a small group of men and women detested the
pollution of Ka’bah and kept pure their practice of the religion taught by
Prophets Ibrahim and Ismail. They used to spend some of their time away from
this polluted environment in retreats to nearby hills. Muhammad (s) was forty
when, during his one of many retreats to Mount Hira for meditation during the month
of Ramadan, he received the first
revelation from the Archangel Jibril (Gabriel). On this first
appearance, Gabriel (as) said to Muhammad: "Iqraa," meaning Read or
Recite. Muhammad replied, "I cannot read," as he had not received any
formal education and did not know how to read or write. The Angel Gabriel then
embraced him until he reached the limit of his endurance and after releasing
said: "Iqraa." Muhammad’s answer was the same as before. Gabriel
repeated the embrace for the third time, asked him to repeat after him and
said: "Recite in the name of your Lord who created! He created man from
that which clings. Recite; and thy Lord is most Bountiful, He who has taught by
the pen, taught man what he knew not." These revelations are the first
five verses of Surah (chapter) 96 of the Qur’an. Thus it was in the year 610 CE
the revelation began.
b). The mission of Prophet Muhammad (s)
was to restore the worship of the One True God, the creator and sustainer of
the universe, as taught by Prophet Ibrahim and all Prophets of God, [Noah, Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, Jesus, Job,
Jonah, Aaron, Solomon, and David] and to demonstrate and complete the
laws of moral, ethical, legal, and social conduct and all other matters of
significance for the humanity at large.
c). Muslims
believe in a chain of prophets starting with Adam and including Noah, Abraham,
Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Job, Moses, Aaron, David, Solomon, Elias, Jonah,
John the Baptist, and Jesus, peace be upon them. But God's final message to
man, a reconfirmation of the eternal message and a summing-up of all that has
gone before was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad through Gabriel.
4). There is a
dangerous statement that is making its way through Christianity that the god of
Islam is the same God of Christianity. It does not help matters when some of
the individuals saying this are influential in some circles of Christianity.
For example, Dr. Miroslav Volf, Founding Director of Yale’s Center for Faith
and Culture said on the PBS program, Religion and Ethics Newsweekly, on
4/2/2004: “The Christian God is different, is different than the Muslim God,
but not other than the Muslim God. I do believe that Muslims and Christians and
Jews pray to the same God. And yet they understand who God is in significantly
different ways.”
5). Marvin Olasky
writes in an article, God And Allah Aren’t The Same, “I’m all for people
from different religions talking with each other…Nevertheless, our desire to
make friends should not lead us to obscure the truth, as America Online’s
primer about “Understanding Islam” did recently when it proclaimed, “Same God:
Muslims accept the teachings of the Jewish Torah and the Christian Gospels.”
Actually, Muslims accept neither the Bible as written nor the God of the
Bible.”
6). In order for the belief, “it is the same
God for both religions” to be true, God would have to be either a liar or schizophrenic,
giving one inspired message to the writers of the New Testament and then turn
around 5 centuries later and give Muhammad another inspired message through
Gabriel. The truth of this matter is they are not the same God. Now it is true
that the God of Judaism and the God of Christianity are the same God, but the
god of Islam is a devil!
a). 1 Corinthians
10:19, 20 What say I then? That the idol is anything, or that which is offered
in sacrifice to idols is anything?
10:20 But I say,
that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not
to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils.
b). All one has to
do is compare the God inspired writings of the Bible and the demonic inspired
writings of the Koran to see the fundamental differences in the two.
7). Scripture and
the Koran
a). Islam denies
that Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah, which makes it an anti-Christ religion.
(1) Sura
5.72: Certainly they disbelieve who say: Surely Allah, He is the
Messiah, son of Marium; and the Messiah said: O Children of Israel! serve
Allah, my Lord and your Lord. Surely whoever associates (others) with Allah,
then Allah has forbidden to him the garden, and his abode is the fire; and
there shall be no helpers for the unjust.
b). The Bible teaches
that Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah, and that He is God.
(1) 1 John 2:22
Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is an
anti-christ, that denieth the Father and the Son.
(2) John 1:1, 14
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
1:14 And the Word
was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory of the only
begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
c). Islam denies the
Triune Godhead and that Jesus is the son of God
(1) Sura 5.73: Certainly they disbelieve
who say: Surely Allah is the third (person) of the three; and there is no god
but the one God, and if they desist not from what they say, a painful
chastisement shall befall those among them who disbelieve.
(2) Sura 4.171:
O followers of the Book! do not exceed the limits in your religion, and do not
speak (lies) against Allah, but (speak) the truth; the Messiah, Isa son of
Marium is only an apostle of Allah and His Word which He communicated to Marium
and a spirit from Him; believe therefore in Allah and His apostles, and say
not, Three. Desist, it is better for you; Allah is only one God; far be It from
His glory that He should have a son, whatever is in the heavens and whatever is
in the earth is His, and Allah is sufficient for a Protector.
(3) In some
English translations of the Koran there is commentary at the bottom of the page
referring to the various verses. Note 676 referring to 4.171 says the
following: “Christ’s attributes are mentioned: That he was the son of a woman,
Mary, and therefore a man; A messenger,
a man with a mission from Allah, and therefore entitled to honor; A Word bestowed on Mary, for he was created by
Allah’s word “Be” (3.59); A spirit
proceeding from Allah, but not Allah; his life and his mission were more
limited that in the case of some other messengers, though we must pay equal
honour to him as a Prophet of Allah. The doctrines of Trinity, equality with
Allah, and sonship, are repudiated as blasphemies.”
(4) Sura 9.30: And the Jews say: Uzair is
the son of Allah; and the Christians say: The Messiah is the son of Allah;
these are the words of their mouths; they imitate the saying of those who
disbelieved before; may Allah destroy them; how they are turned away!
d). The Bible
teaches that Jesus is the son of God.
(1) 1 John 5:9-12
If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is
the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son.
5:10 He that
believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God
hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his
Son
5:11 And this is
the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his
Son.
5:12 He that hath
the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.
e). Islam denies
the substitutionary death of Christ.
(1) Sura 4.157, 4.158 And their saying:
Surely we have killed the Messiah, Isa son of Marium, the apostle of Allah; and
they did not kill him nor did they crucify him, but it appeared to them so
(like Isa) and most surely those who differ therein are only in a doubt about
it; they have no knowledge respecting it, but only follow a conjecture, and
they killed him not for sure.
(2) In some
English translations of the Koran there is commentary at the bottom of the page
referring to the various verses. Note 663 referring to verse 4.157 says the
following: “The end of the life of Jesus on earth is as much involved mystery
as his birth, and indeed the greater part of his ministry. It is not profitable
to discuss the many doubts and conjectures among the early Christian sects and
among Muslim theologians. The Orthodox Christians Churches make it a cardinal
point of their doctrine that his life was taken on the Cross, that he died and
was buried, that on the third day he rose in the body with his wounds intact,
and walked about and conversed, and ate with his disciples, and was afterwards
taken up bodily to heaven. This is necessary for the theological doctrine of
blood sacrifice and vicarious atonement for sins, which is rejected by Islam.”
f). The Bible
teaches that Jesus died and rose from the dead.
(1) 1 Corinthians
15:1-4 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto
you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;
15:2 By which also
ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have
believed in vain.
15:3 For I
delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ
died for our sins according to the scriptures;
15:4 And that he
was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
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