The Endtimes

As the world’s attention becomes directed more and more toward ongoing hostilities in the Middle East, many will wonder what implications these events may have for the world’s future.  No one, of course, can know precisely what the future holds.  However, the Bible, more than any other book ever written, gives consistent guidelines leading to an overall understanding of what is yet to occur and indications of how it will unfold.

There are some reading this commentary who

• do not believe that the Bible is a book of truth, or
• basically believe in the Bible’s truthfulness but do not believe that predictions about the future are literal, or
• do not want to hear unpleasant news about things that can and probably will affect them adversely, at some point in the future.

In fact, many of Nostradamus’ prophecies have turned out to be wrong; whereas, the Bible, so far, has a 100% accuracy rate when it comes to predicting things yet to happen.  So it really is better to go to the Bible, the Word of God, to get a valid view of events on the future horizon.  Further prophetic details can be found in some of my other Bible Commentaries.

I feel it is easier to understand current events if one perceives what the endpoint will be, at least according to biblical prophecy.  Here are descriptions by God of what ultimately is in store for Jerusalem which will be attacked by the nations, near the end of this present age, before its permanent redemption takes place:

“Announce in Judah and proclaim in Jerusalem and say: ‘Sound the trumpet throughout the land!’  Cry aloud and say:  ‘Gather together!  Let us flee to the fortified cities!’  Raise the signal to go to Zion!  Flee for safety without delay!  For I am bringing disaster from the north, even terrible destruction.” ... “Tell this to the nations, proclaim it to Jerusalem:  ‘A besieging army is coming from a distant land, raising a war cry against the cities of Judah.  They surround her like men guarding a field, because she has rebelled against me,’” declares the LORD. ... This is what the LORD says:  “The whole land will be ruined, though I will not destroy it completely.  Therefore the earth will mourn and the heavens above grow dark, because I have spoken and will not relent, I have decided and will not turn back.” ... I hear a cry as of a woman in labor, a groan as of one bearing her first child—the cry of the Daughter of Zion gasping for breath, stretching out her hands and saying, “Alas!  I am fainting; my life is given over to murderers” (Jeremiah 4:5,6,16,17,27,28,31).

And the nations will know that the people of Israel went into exile for their sin, because they were unfaithful to me.  So I hid my face from them and handed them over to their enemies, and they all fell by the sword.  I dealt with them according to their uncleanness and their offenses, and I hid my face from them (Ezekiel 39:23,24).

I will gather all the nations to Jerusalem to fight against it; the city will be captured, the houses ransacked, and the women raped.  Half of the city will go into exile, but the rest of the people will not be taken from the city (Zechariah 14:2).

When you see Jerusalem being surrounded by armies, you will know that its desolation is near.  Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those in the city get out, and let those in the country not enter the city.  For this is the time of punishment in fulfillment of all that has been written.  How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers!  There will be great distress in the land and wrath against this people.  They will fall by the sword and will be taken as prisoners to all the nations.  Jerusalem will be trampled on by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled (Luke 21:20-24).

Jerusalem and Israel, as a whole, have become worldly and self-dependent.  They have not maintained the proper reliance on God for their safety, defense and protection, which they had in ancient times.  Their general attitude of self-sufficiency, along with complacency, unfaithfulness and even shades of rebellion toward God—which are hallmarks of secularism—will reap negative consequences near the end of the age.

Furthermore, most of them do not know or have a relationship with their true Messiah.  Yet, He is the one who will return to save them from utter annihilation.  It is only when He returns that Israel, collectively, will know Him and will mourn and grieve for the one who was pierced long ago (Zechariah 12:10).

After Jerusalem and Israel are viciously attacked and beseiged, the Lord will return to earth and will come against the nations who have assaulted Jerusalem—just as, soon thereafter, He will fight the armies gathering to attack Him at the Battle of Armageddon:

O people of Zion, who live in Jerusalem, you will weep no more.  How gracious he will be when you cry for help!  As soon as he hears, he will answer you. ... See, the Name of the LORD comes from afar, with burning anger and dense clouds of smoke; his lips are full of wrath, and his tongue is a consuming fire.  His breath is like a rushing torrent, rising up to the neck.  He shakes the nations in the sieve of destruction; he places in the jaws of the peoples a bit that leads them astray.  And you will sing as on the night you celebrate a holy festival; your hearts will rejoice as when people go up with flutes to the mountain of the LORD, to the Rock of Israel.  The LORD will cause men to hear his majestic voice and will make them see his arm coming down with raging anger and consuming fire, with cloudburst, thunderstorm and hail.  The voice of the LORD will shatter Assyria; with his scepter he will strike them down.  Every stroke the LORD lays on them with his punishing rod will be to the music of tambourines and harps, as he fights them in battle with the blows of his arm (Isaiah 30:19,29-32).

On that day the LORD will shield those who live in Jerusalem, so that the feeblest among them will be like David, and the house of David will be like God, like the Angel of the LORD going before them.  “On that day I will set out to destroy all the nations that attack Jerusalem” (Zechariah 12:8,9).

Then the LORD will go out and fight against those nations, as he fights in the day of battle.  On that day his feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, east of Jerusalem. ...  The LORD will be king over the whole earth.  On that day there will be one LORD, and his name the only name (Zechariah 14:3,4a,9).

I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True.  With justice he judges and makes war.  His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns.  He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself.  He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God.  The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean.  Out of his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations.  “He will rule them with an iron scepter.”  He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty.  On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS (Revelation 19:11-16).

For more details about what will happen when Jesus returns and annihilates the armies that are destroying Jerusalem, see treading the winepress and great supper of God.  “At that time,” declares the LORD, “I will be the God of all the clans of Israel, and they will be my people” (Jeremiah 31:1).  It is at this time that all twelve tribes of Israel will be regathered back to Israel, never to be dispersed again (see dispersion and regathering), and all Israel will know the Lord their God forevermore:

When I have brought them back from the nations and have gathered them from the countries of their enemies, I will show myself holy through them in the sight of many nations.  Then they will know that I am the LORD their God, for though I sent them into exile among the nations, I will gather them to their own land, not leaving any behind.  I will no longer hide my face from them, for I will pour out my Spirit on the house of Israel, declares the Sovereign LORD (Ezekiel 39:27-29).

Why will Jerusalem eventually be attacked and be almost completely destroyed?  One reason is that a majority of the world hates Israel.  The descendants of Jacob have been hated, ostracized, and persecuted for millennia.  For instance, in approximately 445 B.C., Nehemiah, a Jew from Judah (1:2), who had been exiled to Babylon, returned to Jerusalem to begin rebuilding the walls and gates of the city, which had been broken down and destroyed by fire (2:13).  Sanballat the Horonite, Tobiah the Ammonite official, and Geshem the Arab, all ardent enemies of the Jews, ridiculed Nehemiah and his fellow workers for what they were trying to do (2:19).  This was Nehemiah’s response:

The God of heaven will give us success. We his servants will start rebuilding, but as for you, you have no share in Jerusalem or any claim or historic right to it (Nehemiah 2:20b).

There have been a number of attempts to eliminate Israel throughout their history, even since 1948 when it became a nation again for the first time in the modern era.  During the 70th Week, as the very end of this age (Matthew 24:1-31, Revelation 6:1-17) approaches, hatred of Israel will intensify—leading, ultimately, to the desolation and destruction of Jerusalem.

The people who descended from Jacob (the grandson of Abraham, and the son of Isaac) have been punished many times by God, often severely, for turning to, worshiping, and paying homage to gods other than the one true God.  The Old Testament of the Bible contains countless descriptions of how:

• Israel would turn away from God;
• the people would be punished, often severely;
• they would cry out to God for mercy and turn back to Him;
• God, in great compassion, would turn back to them and again would bless them; and then
• the same cycle would repeat, time after time (Nehemiah 9:16-28).

Israel has followed, and must follow again, the same “footsteps” and pattern of their Messiah, Yeshua/Jesus.  Just as Jesus was the only begotten Son of God (John 3:16), Israel is considered to be His “firstborn son” (Exodus 4:22).  They both were called out of Egypt (Hosea 11:1; Matthew 2:13-15).  Both have been rejected and despised.  Just as Israel’s Messiah died on the cross, Israel has “died” by being taken into captivity and will “die” again near the end of the age after being attacked by its enemies.  And just as Yeshua/Jesus rose from the dead, Israel ultimately will be resurrected, permanently, after their Messiah returns.

Many of the people of the world will rejoice while Israel is being torn apart, mostly during the final 3˝ years of the 70th Week.  But then utter destruction will come upon the rest of the world as well, during the cataclysmic beginning of the Day of the Lord period: the “day of vengeance” (for example, as described in Ezekiel 25:1-17, when the Lord’s vengeance will fall upon the lands adjacent to Israel).

Finally, the Israeli descendants who will survive—called a “remnant” (Isaiah 10:20-22; Zechariah 8:12b)—will be returned to Jerusalem and will be greatly blessed, from that time forward.  Jesus (the Lord) will have returned to Jerusalem (Zion) and will reign there at His millennial Temple and Holy Mountain (8:2-15) for 1,000 years.

Although many would like to believe that people basically are “good,” the fact is that all of us, innately and instinctively, are malevolent  and sinful  (Psalm 51:5; Ecclesiastes 7:20; Romans 3:23).  In the invisible, unseen spiritual existence around us, the eternal battle of good versus evil rages (Ephesians 6:12).  People merely are sinful “pawns” being used in this battle to help accomplish the goals of the kingdom of darkness.  The motivating forces behind the hatred of Israel and the Jewish people are located within the unseen realm of evil.

This ongoing battle has been occurring since the inception of this Creation, and it will continue until this present, imperfect universe passes away (Revelation 20:11b)—when a brand new, perfect Creation will appear (21:1a—see old and new Creations and “very good” vs. “perfect”).  The “king” of the evil kingdom is Satan.  His “princes” and other supernatural followers are iniquitous, fallen angels and demonic spirits, who continuously are having a negative influence on mankind.

Many people choose to believe that Lucifer/Satan (that is, the devil), Angels & Demons, and even evil itself do not exist.  However, they are sadly oblivious to the reality of these entities.

Lucifer originally was “the model of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty” (Ezekiel 28:12).  He was created by God to be “anointed as a guardian cherub” (28:14a).  However, his heart became proud  on account of his beauty, and he corrupted his wisdom because of his splendor, so his throne was cast down to earth (28:17).  Satan’s heavenly citizenship had been revoked—which did not  mean that he no longer had access to heaven (Job 1:6,7, 2:1,2), only that his throne or center of power was located on earth, not in heaven anymore.  Ever since that time, Satan’s immense pride has caused him to want to place his throne back into heaven, above all the other “stars” (angels), and even to be equal to, or even greater than, God Himself (Isaiah 14:13,14).

Accordingly, Satan desires, even craves, to be the sole focus of all worship, praise, and allegiance—above God and every facet of God, including Jesus, the Messiah (Christ).  Satan’s ultimate goal is for no one to give adoration, reverence, and esteem to any other god, including the One, true God.  Although Satan appears as an “angel of light” (and those who serve him appear to be “servants of righteousness”—2 Corinthians 11:14,15a), in fact the devil has been “a murderer from the beginning” and is “a liar and the father of lies” (John 8:44).

As such, he has created many religions and cults in which he has deceived followers into believing that God is not multi-faceted and has no “partners,” especially rejecting the concept that Jesus is the Son or physical manifestation of God.  Unknowingly, adherents to many such religions and cults embrace Satan as their god, though of course they adamantly would deny it.

Perhaps from the dawning of Creation, Satan has been envious and jealous that he was not created as God’s equal and co-ruler of all things.  In fact, it infuriates him that he is not God, as Jesus is (see Was Jesus God? and Who Is God?).  As such, he attempted to destroy Jesus—the Son of God and the son of “the woman” (Israel)—via crucifixion; but Jesus, “who will rule all the nations with an iron scepter,” was resurrected physically from death and taken up to God’s throne in heaven (Revelation 12:4b,5).

In the midst of the 70th Week, Satan will be hurled down to the earth by the archangel Michael, permanently losing any further access to heaven (Revelation 12:7-9).  Then Satan will pursue the fleeing remnant of “the woman” (Israel), who will be protected for 1,260 days (12:6) or 3˝ years (12:14).  Enraged, he will go off to “make war against” the remainder of the woman’s offspring—presumably, orthodox Jews, who obey God’s commandments, and Christians, who hold to the testimony of Jesus (12:17).

Satan hates the everlasting covenant that God made with Israel and has done everything he can to destroy it completely.  Christianity has been “grafted into” Israel, by God, in His great mercy (Romans 11:17-19).  Satan also hates Christian believers who, by virtue of their belief in the testimony of Jesus, also have entered into God’s covenant with Israel (see God’s Covenant: with Israel or the Church?).

When the great patriarch Abraham (Abram) was 99 years old, God appeared to him and confirmed a covenant with Abraham (Genesis 17:1-4).  Due to Abraham’s complete trust in God, God made further promises to him.  Furthermore, God later made a covenant with Israel; and when Yeshua/Jesus came, He made a new covenant.

Abraham had two sons: Ishmael and Isaac.  God chose to give the everlasting inheritance, which He had promised Abraham, to Isaac, his second-born, rather than to Ishmael, his first-born (see the second greater than the first—Genesis 17:18-21).  This is because Ishmael was the son of Hagar, a slave woman; but Isaac was the son of Sarah, a free woman (Galatians 4:22-28).  God told Abraham that it would be through his son Isaac, not  through Ishmael, that his offspring or “seed” would be reckoned (Genesis 21:12).  This “seed” would be the Messiah or Christ (Galatians 3:16)—that is, Jesus.

Interestingly, after Abraham—demonstrating great humility and sacrifice as Jesus did—had been willing to give his son Isaac back to God, the Lord told Abraham that He would bless him greatly because he had not withheld his “only son” from God (Genesis 22:15-17).  God called Isaac Abraham’s “only son,” even though Abraham had an elder son, Ishmael, because Isaac was recognized by God as Abraham’s only legitimate son—that is, born of a legal marriage bond.

Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice his own son, Isaac, to God, was a foreshadowing of God’s willingness to sacrifice His only Son, Jesus, for the sake of humanity.  Islam does not understand or recognize that Jesus is the Son of God (Maryam:35,92).  However, it teaches that Jesus will return again with the coming redeemer of Islam, Muhammad al-Mahdi, at which time Jesus will kill everyone who does not convert to Islam.

The tribes of Jacob/Israel are descendants of Isaac, through Isaac’s son Jacob, whose name God changed to “Israel” (Genesis 32:28).  Jesus spoke of a great feast to come in the kingdom of heaven, at which Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob would be in attendance (Matthew 8:11).

Descendants of Jacob (Israel) are God’s people who have been chosen by God to receive His inheritance (Isaiah 65:9).  Even David, a great king held in very high esteem by Jews, Christians, and Muslims alike, stated this as part of a “Psalm of Thanks”:

O descendants of Abraham his servant, O sons of Jacob, his chosen ones.  He is the LORD our God; his judgments are in all the earth.  He remembers his covenant forever, the word he commanded, for a thousand generations, the covenant he made with Abraham, the oath he swore to Isaac.  He confirmed it to Jacob as a decree, to Israel as an everlasting covenant:  “To you I will give the land of Canaan as the portion you will inherit” (Psalm 105:6-11).

After Jesus returns to earth as the Rider on a white horse, at the end of the 70th Week, and while He is reigning during the Millennium, the nation of Israel will have specific boundaries on the north, east, south, and west.  Each of the twelve tribes of remaining Israelites will receive an inheritance within this land (Ezekiel 47:13–48:35).

Most Arabic people, on the other hand, are descendants of Abraham’s son Ishmael—who was described by the angel of the Lord, to Ishmael’s Egyptian mother, Hagar, the following way:

He will be a wild donkey of a man; his hand will be against everyone and everyone’s hand against him, and he will live in hostility toward all his brothers (Genesis 16:12).

Those in Moab and Ammon, northwestern regions of Jordan, are descendants of Abraham’s nephew (Ishmael and Isaac’s cousin), Lot (Genesis 19:36-38).  Those in Edom, a southwestern region of Jordan, are descendants of Esau, the (fraternal) twin brother of Jacob; both were sons of Isaac, son of Abraham (Genesis 25:1-26).

God has made clear His favoritism and love for Jacob (Israel); yet He has indicated His endless dissatisfaction with Esau/Edom (Malachi 1:1-5) and the land of Esau’s descendants (Jeremiah 49:7-22; Ezekiel 25:12-14).  What started as an argument over a birthright, and Esau’s rejection of the God of Abraham, has come down to the Palestinians saying, in essence, that Jacob “stole their birthright” and Israel has “stolen their land,” which is not  the case.

I believe that Satan has picked a specific people on the earth—many of the descendants of Ishmael, Esau, and Lot—who feel that they have been “treated unfairly” and “victimized” by God, just as Satan believes he was when his throne was cast out of heaven.  Satan has deceived them into accepting the idea that they are the “chosen people” when, in truth, they are not.  Yet, of course, any of them, just as anyone else on earth, can be assured of eternal salvation by choosing to follow and trust the One true God—of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—including the Son, Jesus, who is the Messiah, as their Lord and Savior.

Satan’s deceptive rationale, to the descendants of Ishmael and Esau, is that Israel has failed in its mission to bring the world into a relationship with God.  As a result, God (allegedly) has turned permanently away from the descendants of Jacob and, instead, toward the descendants of Ishmael, Esau, and Lot to do His bidding.  Frankly, this is one of the greatest deceptions in history, and it is at the heart of Islamic jihad  and terrorism.  Thus, I believe, one of the most powerful tools of Satan’s deception is Islam: the most oppressive, dangerous, and fastest growing religion in the world today.

It is believed by those within the religion of Islam that an Arabic prophet, Muhammad (or Mohammed), was visited by and received revelations from the angel Gabriel, beginning in 610 A.D., and continuing for many years.  The (presumed) beginning of Islam generally is placed at 622 A.D.

Muslims believe that Muhammad’s “revelations” are recorded in the Qur’an.  Islam claims “Allah” as its supreme deity.

God told Moses to speak to his brothers, the Israelites, about the Prophet he would raise up for them:

I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brothers; I will put my words in his mouth, and he will tell them everything I command him (Deuteronomy 18:18).

In fact, the Prophet to come was Jesus, not Muhammad.  Jesus, a Jew, stated, “If you believed Moses, you would believe me, for he wrote about me” (John 5:46).  People who witnessed Jesus’ miracles affirmed, “Surely this is the Prophet who is to come into the world” (John 6:14).  Upon hearing his words, some of the people said, “Surely this man is the Prophet” (John 7:40).

Philip, one of Jesus’ disciples, stated, “We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote—Jesus of Nazareth” (John 1:45).  Peter, another disciple, said, “For Moses said, ‘The Lord your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from among your own people; you must listen to everything he tells you’” (Acts 3:22).

Muhammad, the self-proclaimed prophet of God, was not  the prophet predicted by Moses to come into the world.  Furthermore, the one, true God (who is not  Allah) did not  put words into Muhammad’s mouth and command him to speak to the people.  In essence, the entire religion of Islam rests on a faulty foundation that is made of sand.

Most Muslims are Sunnis, developed from a group who felt that any early follower of Muhammad could become his successor.  The Sunnis follow the Qur’an strictly and refuse to reinterpret traditional teachings.

Approximately 10% of Muslims are Shi’ites.  They believe that only Muhammad’s direct descendants could become his successor.  The Shi’ites follow the Qur’an more loosely and believe that the Qur’an is not the final word.

Sufis are a group who believes that orthodox Islam is too impersonal.  They seek direct personal experience of the divine.  A person can be either a Sunni or a Shi’ite and  a Sufi.

The Taliban is made up of about 25,000 to 30,000 members.  They adhere to an extreme interpretation of Islamic law.

There are five main pillars of the Islamic faith:

• There is no god but Allah, and Muhammad is his prophet (the Shahada, which is on the Saudi flag).
• Pray five times a day, facing Mecca.
• Give charity to the poor.
• Fast from dawn to sunset during the month of Ramadan.
• Go on a pilgrimage to visit Mecca, if financially able.

Muslims believe that at the time the world ends, the dead will rise for the time of their final trial.  The trial will be based on what they have believed and done.  Those who have completed more good deeds than bad deeds, for the sake of Allah, will be more likely to go to Paradise.  Those who have done more bad deeds than good deeds will be more likely to go to Hell.

Islam adamantly refutes the fact that Jesus is the Son of God (Maryam:35,92).  They believe that Jesus (‘Iesa or ‘Isa) was merely a “Messenger of Allah,” that there is no Trinity, and that Allah is “above” having a son because Allah is One and “begets not” (an-Nisâ´:171; al-Ikhlâs:1-4).

Gabriel (Jibrael) is believed, by Muslims, to have been the angelic messenger from Allah that brought the message of the Qur’an to their great prophet, Muhammad (al-Baqarah:97).  I refute the claim that it was Gabriel  who visited Muhammad, since much of the Qur’an is completely inconsistent  with the accounts of information given by Gabriel in his visitations to others.

As recorded in the Bible, the angel Gabriel is seen to have paid two visits to the prophet Daniel (Daniel 8:15,16, 9:21).  He also appeared to Zechariah, the father of John the Baptist (Luke 1:18,19), as well as to the Virgin Mary, the mother of Jesus (1:26,27).

There are common denominators among all of these appointed visits by Gabriel to Daniel, Zechariah, and Mary:

1. Each time, the message was brief.
2. Each message contained unique information that was not repeated  anywhere else in the message.
3. In each case, the person inquired of Gabriel, but Gabriel never asked a question of the person.
4. Within each message was information pertaining to the end of the age (Daniel 8:16,17b, 9:21,24,27c), or else the notification of the coming of a specific person: either John the Baptist, who was Jesus’ relative (Luke 1:13b,19), or Jesus (1:26,31).
5. Included in each message was some referral to Jesus Christ, whether as the Prince of princes (Daniel 8:25b), the Anointed One (9:26a), the Lord (Luke 1:17), or the Son of the Most High (1:32a) or the Son of God (1:35b).
6. In speaking to Mary, Gabriel relayed the vitally important Gospel messages that her son Jesus would be called “‘Immanuel’—which means ‘God with us’” (Matthew 1:23)—and also that Jesus would be called “the Son of God” (Luke 1:35b).

1. The Qur’an was a very lengthy, not a brief, communication.
   My question:  What sets Muhammad apart from other “humble servants of God” that he alone should have received an angelic communication that is far, far more extensive than any other?
2. The Qur’an contains many themes that are repeated over and over and over again—such as, for example, that the “people of the Scripture” (Jews and Christians) must  give their allegiance to Allah or else be punished (âl-`Imrân:64, at-Taubah:29-31, al-Muddaththir:31).
   My question:  Why would an angel spend his time stating basically the same information repeatedly, to one person, ad infinitum and ad nauseam?
3. Muhammad does not inquire of the angel; whereas, the angel poses many, many questions to Muhammad (at-Taubah:7,8; az-Zukhruf:79,80; al-Balad:7-10,12).
   My question:  Why would an extremely knowledgeable and powerful being, such as an archangel, ask a human anything, especially since he asked Daniel, Zechariah, and Mary absolutely nothing?
4. While almost a third of the Bible is prophetic in nature, the Qur’an has virtually no prophetic passages—other than that the heavenly rewards for Muslim men will be reclining on thrones in Paradise and marrying fair maidens with lovely eyes (houris—at-Tűr:20), whereas the Fire of Hell awaits those, including Jews, who do not believe either in Allah or in monotheistic Islam, on the Day of Resurrection (al-Baqarah:24, 80; al-Mâ´idah:72; Maryam:37).
   My question:  What about Jesus’ declaration, “At the resurrection people will neither marry nor be given in marriage” (Matthew 22:30a)?  Why will no rewards await Muslim women?  If the Qur’an is God’s “final revelation” to mankind, as Muslims believe, why would not God use it to tell us specifics about future events on earth, as the Bible does?  Could it be that Allah is uncertain of the future, because he is not God?
5. The Qur’an never acknowledges Jesus by any title that Gabriel uses in his other prophecies, as recorded in the Bible.  Furthermore, the Qur’an adamantly denies that God has a son (an-Nisâ´:171; Maryam:35; al-Furqân:2).
   My question:  Why would Gabriel tell Muhammad that Allah has no son, when he clearly had told Mary that her son, Jesus, would be the Son of God?  Could it be that the angel Gabriel never appeared to Muhammad at all (although, most likely, some other angelic being did)?  Could it be that Allah and God are not one and the same?
6. In the Bible, Paul—an extremely religious man of the tribe of Benjamin, who became a staunch advocate of Jesus Christ—clearly stated there was no Gospel message other than the one that he and other believers like him taught.  In fact, Paul went so far as to state, “But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned!” (Galatians 1:8).  Yet, Islam believes that the angel Jibrael (Gabriel) was the instrument by which Allah transmitted the Qur´an to Muhammad (an-Najm:2-10), even though a great deal of it contradicts messages contained in the Bible.
   My question:  If Gabriel, an angel from heaven, made very clear, to Mary, the eternal Gospel message that Jesus not only is considered to be “God with us” (Immanuel) but also “the Son of God,” then wouldn’t Gabriel be eternally condemned by insisting, in the Qur’an, that there is no other God along with Allah and that God does not have a son (al-Mu´minűn:91)?  Does it make any sense that Gabriel—one of God’s archangels and a primary messenger from God—would choose to be eternally condemned?

In the Christian faith, there is one single God, but He is understood to have multiple facets or aspects (see singular and multiple).  Jesus is considered to be not only the Son of God but also the Messiah (Christ) and a facet of God Himself, as shown in at least two ancient prophecies (Isaiah 7:14, 9:6,7).  The Father, Jesus, and Holy Spirit are not  “three Gods”; they are One God, in a perfectly harmonious, seamlessly integrated Unity.  Jesus Christ (Messiah) was, and is, a physical “projection” of the Godhead into our physical world.  Without Him, access to God the Father is not possible.

Christian believers have been “grafted into” God’s chosen people or “olive root,” Israel (Romans 11:17-19).  In this way, Christians have entered into God’s everlasting covenant with Israel; and through Yeshua/Jesus, this became a new covenant.

In the Jewish faith, there also is but One God.  He is understood to have various names and character traits (see NAMES for and CHARACTER of GOD).  The Messiah (or “Christ” in Greek) is seen, by orthodox Jews, to be the future Savior of Israel, who will come and defeat their enemies, ushering in an unending time of peace and prosperity.  Many Jewish rabbis also understand that the Messiah, in Scripture, actually is God Himself (see names for and attributes of the Messiah).  “Messianic” Jews recognize that the Messiah is Yeshua (Jesus).

In the Islamic faith, the belief is that there is one God, named Allah.  He is seen to have thirteen qualities or attributes, which are impersonal features rather than Persons or names.  It is believed that Allah stands alone and that there is no possibility of his having a “partner” (as the Father and Son are partners in Christianity).  Indeed, according to the Qur’an, the idea of having a son “befits not” and is “not suitable” for Allah (Maryam:35,92).  It is not understood by Islam that the two (Father and Son) are consolidated facets of One God (see Was Jesus God?).

Muslims claim that Abraham also was a Muslim (âl-`Imrân:67), even though the Bible refers to him (Abram) as a Hebrew (Genesis 14:13).  Jesus is recognized as the son of Mary and is believed to have been created by Allah, who said, "Be!" and it (that is, Jesus) was (âl-`Imrân:47).  They believe that Jesus never was killed (crucified) but, rather, that his soul and body were taken into heaven (an-Nisâ´:157,158).  Jesus is seen as a messianic figure (âl-`Imrân:45); however, the idea that Jesus is God/Allah or that God/Allah is the Messiah is utterly rejected (al-Mâ´idah:17,72,75; at-Taubah:30).

Many Muslims have some complete misconceptions about what they think Christians believe about God.  One fallacy is that Christians believe that God had sexual relations with Mary, and this is how Jesus was conceived.  Another fallacy is that Christians believe that the Trinity consists of the Father, Mary, and Jesus (i.e., that Mary is a deity).  Of course, no true Catholic or Protestant believes such foolishness (although some Catholics believe that Mary is a co-Savior with Jesus, which also is foolishness).

In Islam, Jesus is believed to be nothing more than a messenger (an-Nisâ´:171) and a prophet (Maryam:30).  In Shi’a Islamic tradition, Jesus will  return again, but not alone.  Rather, He will return with Muhammad al-Mahdi: the prophesied redeemer of Islam who, it is believed, will bring peace and justice to an utterly chaotic world by establishing Islamic rule, and an absolute submission to Allah, everywhere on earth.  And, according to Islam, Jesus not only will be subservient to al-Mahdi, but Jesus will kill all, including Christians and Jews, who do not convert to Islam and pledge allegiance to Allah.  (See also Christianity and Judaism vs. Islam and the Bible vs. the Qur´an.)

Interestingly, John wrote about two “beasts”—the first beast and the second beast—who will be personified by the Antichrist and the False Prophet, respectively.  I feel it is quite possible that both of these men will embrace the Islamic faith, whether openly or secretly.

The truth is, Jesus Christ, God in flesh and born of a virgin, came to this lost world and died, willingly, on a cross for the sins of all mankind, out of love.  He came to redeem fallen man and to give everlasting life to those who would believe.  He will come again, at the end of the 70th Week, to rule and reign over the world with justice, fairness, and righteousness.  Islam threatens people with death  if they leave the faith, while Christianity promises people life if they come to Jesus.

The ancient prophet Daniel wrote a passage (Daniel 11:36-45) about the activities of a future “king,” who is widely agreed among Christian theologians to be the Antichrist (or the first beast, described in the Book of Revelation):

The king will do as he pleases.  He will exalt and magnify himself above every god and will say unheard-of things against the God of gods.  He will be successful until the time of wrath is completed, for what has been determined must take place.  He will show no regard for the gods of his fathers [Chemosh and Molech] or for the one desired by women [Ashtoreth—see 2 Kings 23:13], nor will he regard any god, but will exalt himself above them all.  Instead of them, he will honor a god of fortresses; a god unknown to his fathers he will honor with gold and silver, with precious stones and costly gifts.  He will attack the mightiest fortresses [see Habakkuk 1:10b] with the help of a foreign god and will greatly honor those who acknowledge him (Daniel 11:36-39a).

It seems quite plausible that this “king” (or the beast) will conquer, destroy, and kill in the name of Allah or Islam:

He who has an ear, let him hear.  If anyone is to go into captivity, into captivity he will go.  If anyone is to be killed with the sword, with the sword he will be killed.  This calls for patient endurance and faithfulness on the part of the saints (Revelation 13:9,10).

Those who embrace Islam’s extremist theology are like killers on a wild rampage.  During the last half of the 70th Week, they probably are the ones who will become “drunk” with a frenzied euphoria from the massive, widespread, bloody murders of those who bear testimony to Jesus (Revelation 17:6a)—see also the woman and the beast.

The claim that Islam “basically is a peaceful religion” is an inaccurate statement.  Many Muslims are peaceful individuals.  I have Muslim friends and acquaintances here in California, and I harbor no ill will nor hatred toward them at all.  I definitely am not a “Muslim basher.”  However, I have huge problems with much of the Islamic ideology that is stated in “The Noble Qur´an,” which fundamentalist and radical Muslims obey.

The fact is, Islam’s prophet Muhammad taught that Muslims should fight against disbelievers and those who worship anyone other than Allah (at-Taubah:123; al-Anfâl:39), unless they pay the jizyah or tax and allow themselves to be subdued (at-Taubah:29).  Jihad, or holy fighting for the cause of Allah, is ordained for Muslims (al-Baqarah:216); they are to kill and behead many of them until those who disbelieve embrace Islam (al-Qitâl:4).  They also are told to kill infidels or unbelievers, wherever they are found, if they attack (al-Baqarah:191).

However, Muslims are taught to fight against any and all  unbelievers (in Allah), regardless of whether or not the unbelievers attack them first, and not to take prisoners of war until a great slaughter has occurred (al-Anfâl:65-67).  Muslims are to strike terror into the hearts of unbelievers (âl-`Imrân:151).  They are to kill, capture, and besiege them (at-Taubah:5).  They are to kill and be killed for the cause of Allah (at-Taubah:111).

Fundamental Muslims believe that if they are killed or die in service to Allah, they will be gathered to him and will receive his grace and bounty (al-'Imrân:157,158, 169-171) and great reward (an-Nisâ´:74).  Anyone who comes to Allah but then turns away from him is to be killed (an-Nisâ´:89).

The Qur´an calls for “non-believers” (non-Muslims)—those who do not give their full, unswerving allegiance to Allah—to be captured, besieged, ambushed, and killed (at-Taubah:5).  This applies, especially, to Jews and to Christians, and nationally to Israel and the United States: the most Jewish and Christian nations on earth.  According to the Qu'ran, those who disbelieve in Islam, including Jews and Christians, are the worst of creatures (al-Baiyinah:6).

I am convinced that fundamentalist Muslims (such as Al Qaeda, ISIS, Hezbollah, Hamas, the Muslim Brotherhood, and others), who embrace the destructive tenets of Islam as taught in the Qur´an, are the greatest threat to world peace and stability today.  Islam is the fastest growing religion in the world, and its advocates earnestly and zealously want for it to be the only religion in the world.  See more details in 10 Precepts of Scripturally Based, Militant Islam.

The Fitna film from 2008, by Dutch parliamentarian Geert Wilders, contains disturbing information about Islam.  Not surprisingly, it has been removed from most of the web.  One thing the video shows is how Islam has gained significant control over Holland and Europe.  CLICK HERE to see another video about how the percentage of Muslims, in the overall population, is increasing rapidly all over Europe.  CLICK HERE to hear Pat Condell’s sentiments about Islam.  An interesting website presenting Islamic beliefs and demonstrating how to counter them, in a logical way, is AnsweringMuslims.com.

At a minimum, I believe that Muslims will engage in “hate crime” lawsuits, in an increasing effort to get laws changed to accommodate them and their practices.  At a maximum, I believe that during the 70th Week (especially the second half), there will be increasing terrorist acts by radical Islamic groups attempting to force nations to convert to Islam.  Somewhere in the middle, there will be an escalated economic pressure on nations (for instance, in ever-increasing prices for Arab oil, most noticeably at the gas pump) to accept and embrace Islam, its “god” Allah, and its “prophet from Allah” Muhammad.

Anyone who will “wage war against Allah” or who will “do mischief in the land,” both very subjective judgment calls, are to be killed, crucified, have a hand and foot cut off on opposite sides, or be exiled from the land (al-Mâ´idah:33).  A thief is to have his or her hand cut off (al-Mâ´idah:38).

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Islamic fundamentalism is similar, in many ways, to fascist Nazism.  The latter was responsible for the terrifying Holocaust of World War II, in which several million Jews and Christians were annihilated.  (Interestingly, Hitler’s Mein Kampf  means “My Struggle” and the Arabic word jihad  refers to “my inner struggle.”)  There were notable relations between Nazi Germany and the Arab world.  Hitler was very anti-Jewish and anti-Israel.  A previous president of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, stated publicly that he would like to “wipe Israel off the face of the earth.”  He also was devoted to working for the return of the 12th Imam: the “ultimate Savior,” according to Islam (see Will the 12th Imam cause war with Iran?).

Both of the main branches of Islam, Sunnis (more moderate) and Shi’ites (more radical), seek the absolute destruction of Israel.  I believe it is quite possible that the forces of Gog/Magog will be one branch of Islam and the forces of the Antichrist another branch, both vying to capture the ultimate “prize”: Israel.

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Fundamentalist Islam teaches and preaches absolute hatred and destruction of non-converted Jews and Christians (that is, those who do not embrace Allah as God, Muhammad as his prophet, and the Qur´an as his holy book).  I am convinced, in fact, that the main adversary of those who adhere to the faiths of Judaism and Christianity (and any other faith, for that matter) today is Islam, and that Islam is the primary force working against  the peace and prosperity of every nation (including Islamic nations) in the world today.  CLICK HERE to see, as an example of this, photos of an Islamic march in London.

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Read more about the Qur’an and Islam at these sites:

• Islam: Truth or Myth?
  http://www.bible.ca/islam
• Six Muslim Beliefs
  http://www.debate.org.uk/debate-topics/theological/6belief
• Answering Islam
  http://answering-islam.org
• Contradictions in the Qur´an
  http://answering-islam.org/Quran/Contra

I strongly recommend this video about the real threat of Islam (1 hour 18 minutes in length):

• Obsession: Radical Islam’s War Against the West

• http://www.obsessionthemovie.com

Most people wish for peace in the world, and there are about as many suggestions on how to achieve it as there are people.  One such person was Dr. José Luis de Jesús Miranda, who claimed to be the “Man, Christ Jesus.”  However, peace will remain out of humanity’s grasp until the real  Messiah (Christ) Jesus, the Son of God and Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6), returns to earth again.

A period of seven years has been prophesied to occur (Daniel 9:27a).  Commonly, this time is referred to as the 70th Week.  The first 3˝ or more years of the 7 years will be fraught with global unrest, destructive earthquakes, widespread famines, and deadly pestilences/plagues, among other “birth pains” (Matthew 24:6-8; Luke 21:10,11).  The final 3˝ years will be a time of worldwide trial, tribulation, and distress unequaled in the world up to that point in history (Daniel 12:1b; Matthew 24:21).  Another perspective says that all  of these things will take place during the final 3˝ years, which is possible.

During that period, some will come, claiming to be the Christ, and deceiving multitudes of people (Matthew 24:5).  Near the end of that period, because of the great devastation and ruin of the earth, and the violation of rights of the innocent (such as the unborn and the aged), the Lord will be forced to lay waste the earth (Isaiah 24:1-23), which He then will proceed to repair and restore as He sits on His throne in Jerusalem as King over the whole earth (Jeremiah 3:17; Zechariah 14:8,9,16) during the Millennium.

A common belief among those who study endtime prophetic events is that the final seven years of this age will begin with the confirmation and/or strengthening of a covenant or accord, involving Israel and other nations—perhaps with the anticipation, by Israel, that peace will follow.  According to what Jesus said, many will come in the role of savior or “christ”; they will “deceive many” (Matthew 24:4,5) with their professed good intentions.  It would seem that at least one of them will be “bent on conquest” (Revelation 6:2).

Many believe that a man, frequently referred to as the Antichrist (fundamentally associated with the first beast, described in Revelation 13:1-8), will be the main person to confirm or affirm a covenant, involving Israel, for seven years.  It typically is thought that he will present himself to many under the deceptive guise of peace and harmony.

Some have suggested that many in Israel, unknowingly, will accept the person of the Antichrist as their long-awaited “Messiah.”  Perhaps he will “force” himself into that position.  In any case, whenever this man comes onto the scene, he will turn out to be a false christ—a substitute for the real one, Jesus, who will not return to earth until the very end  of the seven-year period, as the Rider on a white horse, to rule and reign.

As conditions around the globe deteriorate, particularly during the first half (3˝ years) of the 70th Week, a frantic and apprehensive world will seek many rulers and false christs to bring real, lasting peace and order, amid widespread hostilities and chaos.  None will be successful.  Presumably, during this time of turmoil and desperation, the Antichrist will be planning and preparing to exercise his authority over the world for 42 months = 3˝ years (Revelation 13:5-7).

By the time he has gained universal power, around the middle of the 70th Week, the true motives (world power and domination) of this “man of lawlessness” will be revealed, when he walks into the “holy place” (Matthew 24:15) in Jerusalem.  There, he will proclaim himself to be God (2 Thessalonians 2:3,4).  He will “exercise his authority” during the final half (3˝ years = 42 months) of the 70th Week (Revelation 13:5-7)—until he is overcome by the Lord Jesus, when He returns at the end of the 70th Week (2 Thessalonians 2:8).

It generally has been assumed that the Antichrist will confirm a covenant with many for a week of seven years (Daniel 9:27a), which will be equivalent to the 70th Week.  However, it is likely that the man-ordained  7-year agreement period will not coincide with the God-ordained  70th Week, as explained in God’s calendar vs. man’s calendar.  Also, see confirming a covenant.

It seemed likely that the appearance of the sign in the sky: September 23, 2017, which took place on the day after Rosh haShanah in 2017, commenced the final 7 years of this age.  However, nothing of prophetic significance occurred 3˝ years later in the Spring of 2021, nor in the Spring of 2022.  It is possible then that God, in His mercy, increased the lengthy gap between the 69 weeks of years and the 70th week of years by an additional two years.  If so, then the final 7 years of this age would have begun in the Fall of 2019, with the final 3˝ years beginning in the Spring of 2023.  More information can be found in this lengthy commentary: End of the Age: 2024 – 2027?

For comprehensive details on prophesied events to take place during the 70th Week, see these lengthy commentaries:

• The Chronology of Revelation
• The Rapture
• The Final Battles
• The Beasts

Most people of the world always are hoping for a better day, a time when peace will reign throughout the earth, forevermore.  This time is coming, beginning with the Millennium, and being fulfilled, ultimately, in the new Creation (see old and new Creations).

Before that can happen, however, a time of great sorrow and suffering first must come to pass on the earth.  Untold billions will die.  But those who survive can have the assurance that God, through the Power of Jesus and the Holy Spirit, will be with them through the most difficult of times (see repentance, endurance, and overcoming), if they put their faith in Him: the One true God.  Even if they are killed, they can have the guarantee of eternal salvation, if they have placed their faith and trust in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who died for the sins of the world and was raised from death on our behalf.

Praise be to the Lord Jesus for His infinite grace and mercy, and especially for the better world to come!  He is “Faithful and True” (Revelation 19:11a); His name is the “Word of God” (19:13b).  Indeed, He has exclaimed,

I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace.  In this world you will have trouble.  But take heart!  I have overcome the world. (John 16:33).