208 OBJECTIONS ON THE GROUND OF MUHAMMAD'S

up His kingdom, which was "not of this world" (John xviii. 36; Luke i. 31-33; Dan. vii. 13, 14, 27). He called Himself the Son of Man, in accordance with Dan. vii. 13; and His is the kingdom described as the stone that filled the whole earth (ii. 45). You yourself know how widely extended that kingdom now is. When Christ returns, every knee shall bow to Him (Phil. ii. 9-11).

217. M1. The words "The Desire of all nations shall come" (Hag. ii. 7), are a prophecy of Muhammad's advent, for the word "desire" is in Hebrew Hemdath, from the same root as Muhammad's name.

C. (Vide § 210.) The verb in this passage is in the plural, and this shows that hemdath must be used in a collective sense, so that the words mean that the "choice of all the Gentiles" shall come to Jerusalem, doubtless referring to the "election of grace" or the Christian church. This common noun (hemdah) is of not infrequent occurrence. E.g. in Dan. xi. 37 "the desire of women" is by some thought to be the title of some false god or goddess worshipped by the heathen.

[218. The Shi'ites assert that "Twelve princes shall he (Ishmael) beget" (Gen. xvii. 20), is a prophecy of the Twelve Imams, who with them take the place of the Khalifahs as Muhammad's successors. In answer, it is enough to refer to Gen. xxv. 13, 16, where there is found an account of the accomplishment of the promise.


1 An objection mentioned by the Rev. Ahmed Shah.
DIVINE MISSION AS LAST OF THE PROPHETS 209

219. The following is also a Shi'ite argument:—

M. The words in Jer. xlvi. 10, "The Lord GOD of hosts hath a sacrifice in the north country by the River Euphrates," are a prophecy of the martyrdom of Husain at Karbala. They also teach that his death was a sacrifice or atonement for sin.

C. If you read the second verse of that chapter you will see that it explains the passage you quote as referring to the great defeat of Pharaoh Necho's army at Carchemish on the Euphrates. It can hardly be supposed that the slaughter of these heathens was an atonement for sin. Nor can Karbala be said to be "in the north country." The word rendered "sacrifice" also means "slaughter," as is evident from the parallel passages (cf. Isa. xxxiv. 6-8; Ezek. xxxix. 17-21; Zeph. i. 7, 8).]

220. M. In the New Testament also we find numerous prophecies of Muhammad. We find one of these quoted in the Qur'an, where God says (Surah LXI., As Saff, 6): "When Jesus the son of Mary said, 'O children of Israel! of a truth I am God's Apostle to you, to confirm the Law which was given before me, and to announce an apostle that shall come after me, whose name shall be Ahmad.'" In St. John's Gospel (xiv, xv, xvi) we find Jesus again and again telling His disciples that the Paraclete (Ar.الباركليت Al Baraklit, Pers.1 فارقليط Faraqlit), would come after Him. Now this word has the same meaning as Muhammad or Ahmad.


1 The word has come into Persian through the Syriac.