Failed Prophecy?

Sam Shamoun


This is a response the claims set forth in the following article found at the "Answering Falsehood" website.

The unnamed author of this article begins his criticism of fulfilled prophecy as an evidence for the inspiration of the Holy Bible with:

Many of us have come across this argument put forth by the Christian missionaries, the argument of fulfilled prophecies in the bible show the Divine authority of the bible. However, we must accept that what happens if a prophecy is shown to have failed?? Will our friends then submit to the fact that it is not from God, or for that part of the bible on where it fails on a prophecy, that this is not from God? Where a prophecy is fulfilled we can attribute that to God, but where it fails, it is not logical to attribute this to God. So with that in mind we can begin. First, a clarification, as Muslims we accept that Jesus(pbuh) spoke the truth, we do not attribute this failed Prophecy to Jesus neither would any Christian in their right mind do that. This would be due to an error on behalf of the scribes and the lack of preservation of the words of Jesus. This is one reason the Muslims do not accept the biblical scriptures as Authority, it sometimes or in many instances portrays the messengers of God in acts, which do not befit the every day human being let alone a man chosen by God, with the best of characteristics. For example in the bible it narrates that the Prophets were involved in Adultery, Idolatry, Incest etc. As Muslims we object to such thing attributed to the Prophets of God, and thus Allah reveals through the holy Quran the truth about the messengers and protects them from such absurd narrations reported about them.

RESPONSE:

The author sounds very much like Shabir Ally, and the article is listed among a dozen others which definitely are his articles (see this page). Be that as it may, we agree with the author that if one can conclusively point to a false prophecy within the Holy Bible, then at least that portion cannot be attributed to God. Yet what the author is about to present only demonstrates his own inability to understand the Holy Bible. His article only demonstrates that the author is unable to do sound exegesis, failing to look at the entire context of scripture in order to derive the accurate meaning of a specific text.

Second, although the author might claim that Muslims reject the Holy Bible as being authoritative, his own prophet and his companions did not. They rather affirmed and accepted the Holy Bible of their day as the divinely revealed and well-preserved word of God. For proof of this fact we recommend that our readers examine the following articles: [1], [2].

Third, Lord Jesus willing, we will be addressing the alleged sinlessness of the Prophets in a future article and see if the Muslim accusations against the Holy Bible contain any substance. For now we will focus our attention upon the author's claim that the Holy Bible contains false prophecies.

The article quotes the following NT citations:

I tell you the truth, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom." Matthew 16:28 (NIV)

When you are persecuted in one place, flee to another. I tell you the truth, you will not finish going through the cities of Israel before the Son of Man comes. Matthew 10:23 (NIV)

So be on your guard; I have told you everything ahead of time. "But in those days, following that distress, "`the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from the sky, and the heavenly bodies will be shaken.' [1] "At that time men will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory. And he will send his angels and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of the heavens."Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. Even so, when you see these things happening, you know that it is near, right at the door. I tell you the truth, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. Mark 13:23-30 (NIV)

It is very clear from these statements that are attributed to Jesus, that he is telling his disciples that he will return within their own lifetime,

RESPONSE:

The following response is taken and adapted from our rebuttal to Shabir Ally:

Shabir on Matthew's Prophecies

Shabir presumes that Matthew 10:23, 16:28 and 24:34 all speak about Christ returning within the lifetime of his disciples. This clearly has not happened.

There are no false predictions, but a misunderstanding of Jesus' words. Not every usage of the term "coming" refers to Christ's visible return to earth. To be sure, Christ will return visibly. Yet, the Holy Bible clearly demonstrates that the phrase "coming" can either mean a visible coming or it can refer to God invisibly manifesting his power, wrath or blessing in some form or another.

"What misery is mine! I am like one who gathers summer fruit at the gleaning of the vineyard; there is no cluster of grapes to eat, none of the early figs that I crave. The godly have been swept from the land; not one upright man remains. All men lie in wait to shed blood; each hunts his brother with a net. Both hands are skilled in doing evil; the ruler demands gifts, the judge accepts bribes, the powerful dictate what they desire - they all conspire together. The best of them is like a brier, the most upright worse than a thorn hedge. The day of your watchmen has come, the day God VISITS you. Now is the time of their confusion." Micah 7:1-4

"They were all filled with awe and praised God. ‘A great prophet has appeared among us,' they said. ‘God has COME to help his people'. Luke 7:16

These passages illustrate that God's coming was not something physical or visible, but something invisible. God manifested himself through human agents such as Christ and his preaching ministry, or through calamities that he brought upon Jerusalem as the consequence for their sins.

The term "coming" refers to Christ appearing to his disciples after his resurrection and to his coming to dwell with believers by the Holy Spirit:

"I will not leave you as orphans; I will COME to you." John 14:18

This either refers to Christ's post-resurrection appearance to his disciples or to the outpouring of the Holy Spirit.

"Jesus replied, ‘If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will COME to him and make our home with him.’" John 14:23

This was fulfilled when Christ sent forth his Spirit to dwell within believers:

"Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you?" 1 Corinthians 3:16

To have God's Spirit living in believers is the same as having Christ living in believers since God's Spirit is the Spirit of Christ:

"You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if THE SPIRIT OF GOD LIVES IN YOU. And if anyone does not have THE SPIRIT OF CHRIST, he does not belong to Christ. But if CHRIST IS IN YOU, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness. And if THE SPIRIT OF HIM who raised Jesus from the dead IS LIVING IN YOU, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through HIS SPIRIT, WHO LIVES IN YOU." Romans 8:9-11

"Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you - unless, of course, you fail the test?" 2 Corinthians 13:5

The term can also refer to Christ returning invisibly to bring judgment against the Churches that were either abandoning the faith or were compromising with the world:

"Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will COME to YOU and remove your lampstand from its place." Revelation 2:5

"Repent therefore! Otherwise, I will soon COME to YOU and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth." Revelation 2:16

"Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; obey it, and repent. But if you do not wake up, I will COME like a thief, and you will not know at what time I will COME to YOU." Revelation 3:3

In light of these verses, we can now examine the passages Shabir and other Muslims use to prove that Christ made false predictions. In relation to Matthew 10:23 Jesus' saying "before the Son of Man comes" is not necessarily a reference to his Second Coming. It may refer to his being reunited with his disciples after their evangelistic outreach. This becomes evident from Matthew 11:1 where it states that, "after Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he went on from there to teach and preach in the towns of Galilee."

After departing to Galilee, Jesus then met up with the disciples where "they reported to him all they had done and taught." (Mark 6:30)

As far as Matthew 16:28 is concerned, Jesus may have been referring to a visible manifestation of his glory and power. Jesus would therefore be promising his disciples that some of them would get a foretaste of what Christ coming in his kingdom would be like. For instance the scriptures teach that two witnesses would herald Christ's coming before he returned in glorious splendor. (Cf. Malachi 4:5; Rev. 11:1-12, 19:11-16)

Mark indicates that this is precisely what Christ meant:

"And he said to them, ‘I tell you the truth, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God come with power.'" Mark 9:1

The fulfillment of this promise took place shortly afterwards:

"After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James, and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white light. Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah talking with Jesus." Matthew 17:1-3

The Apostle Peter indicates that this event was the fulfillment of Christ's promise to his followers:

"We did not follow cleverly invented stories when we told you about the POWER and COMING of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were EYEWITNESSES of his MAJESTY. For he received HONOR and GLORY from God the Father when the voice came to him from the Majestic Glory, saying, ‘This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.' We ourselves heard this voice that came from heaven when we were with him on the sacred mountain." 2 Peter 1:16-18

Secondly, Jesus' statement could also be referring to Christ manifesting his kingly rule and glory at Pentecost. There, the Holy Spirit was poured out miraculously upon believers. This marked the birth of the Church where Christ reigns as King in the heart of believers. (Cf. Acts 2; 22:16-18)

In relation to Matthew 24:34, there are three possible responses. First, the term "generation" is the Greek geneous, a synonym of genes which can mean race. Hence, the race of Jews whom Jesus was addressing would not pass away until the culmination of the age.

Furthermore, Jesus may not have even been referring to his generation per se, but to the generation that would witness the signs that Christ predicted would occur before his Second Coming. (Cf. Mat. 24:15-33)

Finally, Christ may not have even been referring to his Second Coming. Rather, Christ could have been referring to his coming in judgment against Jerusalem. Christ had predicted that the temple and the people living in Jerusalem would be destroyed. This bears out in light of what is said elsewhere in Scripture:

"They produced false witnesses, who testified, ‘This fellow never stops speaking against this holy place and against the law. For we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and change the customs Moses handed down to us.' All who were sitting in the Sanhedrin looked intently at Stephen, and they saw that his face was like the face of an angel." Acts 6:13-15

Although these men were trying to falsely accuse Stephen there was some truth to what they were saying since Jesus had in fact predicted the destruction of the Temple:

"Jesus left the temple and was walking away when his disciples came up to him to call his attention to its buildings. 'Do you see all these things?' he asked. 'I tell you the truth, not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down.'" Matthew 24:1-2

"As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it and said, 'If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace-but now it is hidden from your eyes. The days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment against you and encircle you and hem you in on every side. They will dash you to the ground, you and the children within your walls. They will not leave one stone on another, because you did not recognize the time of God's coming to you.'" Luke 19:41-44

Hence, there are no false predictions but only Shabir's misinterpretation of the Holy Bible. (Source: http://answering-islam.org/Responses/Shabir-Ally/favorites.htm#mt_proph)

Let us now turn the tables and see if Muhammad passes the author's own test. Muhammad used similar language when speaking of Christ's return. Seeing that the Quran has little to say about the manner in which Christ will return, we turn to the Muslim traditions for the details:

"Abu Huraira reported that the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) said: By Him in Whose hand is my life, the son of Mary (may peace be upon him) WILL SOON DESCEND AMONG YOU AS A JUST JUDGE. He will break crosses, kill swine and abolish Jizya and the wealth will pour forth to such an extent that no one will accept it." (Sahih Muslim, Book 001, Number 0287)

Narrated Abu Hurayrah:

The Prophet (peace_be_upon_him) said: There is no prophet between me and him, that is, Jesus (peace_be_upon_him). He will descent (to the earth). When YOU see him, recognise him: a man of medium height, reddish fair, wearing two light yellow garments, looking as if drops were falling down from his head though it will not be wet. He will fight the people for the cause of Islam. He will break the cross, kill swine, and abolish jizyah. Allah will perish all religions except Islam. He will destroy the Antichrist and will live on the earth for forty years and then he will die. The Muslims will pray over him. (Sunan Abu Dawud, Book 37, Number 4310)

Using the logic of the author, Muhammad must be a false prophet since Muhammad claimed that Jesus would descend during the lifetime of his companions and they would be able to recognize him. Nearly 14 centuries has transpired since then and the companions have died and Christ still has not returned.

The author continues:

... this is exactly what Paul understood from Jesus too (even thou he never met Jesus, he allegedly saw a vision of him), so it cannot be said that this is our own interpretation of the said events. Read 1 Thess 4:15... it says "According to the Lords OWN Words...", and that, they who are still alive will meet up with the Lord in the ‘Air’ assuming whilst he is ascending. And not only this, in Revelations 1:7, it makes mention that the very same people who allegedly ‘PIERCED’ him, will too see him in his second coming.

Look, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him; and all the peoples of the earth will mourn because of him. So shall it be! Amen. Revelation 1:7

RESPONSE:

The author continues to expose his ignorance of biblical teaching. The Holy Bible teaches what is commonly referred to as Corporate Solidarity. This concept teaches that an individual act will have consequences for other members of the group. Therefore the acts of one individual are viewed as if the entire group committed the acts. Depending on the kind of act committed, the group will either prosper or suffer as a result of it.

Examples of this include:

"... But God has combined the members of the body and has given greater honor to the parts that lacked it, so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it. Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it." 1 Corinthians 12:24b-27

But the Israelites acted unfaithfully in regard to the devoted things; Achan son of Carmi, the son of Zimri, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took some of them. So the LORD's anger burned against Israel. Now Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai, which is near Beth Aven to the east of Bethel, and told them, ‘Go up and spy out the region.' So the men went up and spied out Ai. When they returned to Joshua, they said, ‘Not all the people will have to go up against Ai. Send two or three thousand men to take it and do not weary all the people, for only a few men are there.' So about three thousand men went up; but they were routed by the men of Ai, who killed about thirty-six of them. They chased the Israelites from the city gate as far as the stone quarries and struck them down on the slopes. At this the hearts of the people melted and became like water. Then Joshua tore his clothes and fell facedown to the ground before the ark of the LORD, remaining there till evening. The elders of Israel did the same, and sprinkled dust on their heads. And Joshua said, ‘Ah, Sovereign LORD, why did you ever bring this people across the Jordan to deliver us into the hands of the Amorites to destroy us? If only we had been content to stay on the other side of the Jordan! O Lord, what can I say, now that Israel has been routed by its enemies? The Canaanites and the other people of the country will hear about this and they will surround us and wipe out our name from the earth. What then will you do for your own great name?' The LORD said to Joshua, ‘Stand up! What are you doing down on your face? Israel has sinned; they have violated my covenant, which I commanded them to keep. They have taken some of the devoted things; they have stolen, they have lied, they have put them with their own possessions. That is why the Israelites cannot stand against their enemies; they turn their backs and run because they have been made liable to destruction. I will not be with you anymore unless you destroy whatever among you is devoted to destruction. Go, consecrate the people. Tell them, "Consecrate yourselves in preparation for tomorrow; for this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: That which is devoted is among you, O Israel. You cannot stand against your enemies until you remove it. In the morning, present yourselves tribe by tribe. The tribe that the LORD takes shall come forward clan by clan; the clan that the LORD takes shall come forward family by family; and the family that the LORD takes shall come forward man by man. He who is caught with the devoted things shall be destroyed by fire, along with all that belongs to him. He has violated the covenant of the LORD and has done a disgraceful thing in Israel!"'... Then Joshua said to Achan, ‘My son, give glory to the LORD, the God of Israel, and give him the praise. Tell me what you have done; do not hide it from me.’ Achan replied, ‘It is true! I have sinned against the LORD, the God of Israel. This is what I have done: When I saw in the plunder a beautiful robe from Babylonia, two hundred shekels of silver and a wedge of gold weighing fifty shekels, I coveted them and took them. They are hidden in the ground inside my tent, with the silver underneath’... Then Joshua, together with all Israel, took Achan son of Zerah, the silver, the robe, the gold wedge, his sons and daughters, his cattle, donkeys and sheep, his tent and all that he had, to the Valley of Achor. Joshua said, ‘Why have you brought this trouble on us? The LORD will bring trouble on you today.’ Then all Israel stoned him, and after they had stoned the rest, they burned them. Over Achan they heaped up a large pile of rocks, which remains to this day. Then the LORD turned from his fierce anger. Therefore that place has been called the Valley of Achor ever since.'" Joshua 7:1-15, 19-21, 24-26

God blames Israel for Achan's sin and they suffer as a result of it.

Again:

"So the LORD said to Solomon, ‘Since this is your attitude and you have not kept my covenant and my decrees, which I commanded you, I will most certainly tear the kingdom away from you and give it to one of your subordinates. Nevertheless, for the sake of David your father, I will not do it during your lifetime. I will tear it out of the hand of your son. Yet I will not tear the whole kingdom from him, but will give him one tribe for the sake of David my servant and for the sake of Jerusalem, which I have chosen.’" 1 Kings 11:11-13

Solomon is spared his kingdom due to his father David's standing before God. Yet Solomon's son will experience the consequence of his father's sin, losing the kingdom to another. Yet for the sake of David and of Jerusalem God will not take away the kingdom from Solomon's son completely, but grant him a small portion.

One final example:

"Therefore I am sending you prophets and wise men and teachers. Some of them you will kill and crucify; others you will flog in your synagogues and pursue from town to town. And so upon you will come all the righteous blood that has been shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah son of Berekiah, whom YOU MURDERED between the temple and the altar." Matthew 23:34-35

"Because of this, God in his wisdom said, ‘I will send them prophets and apostles, some of whom they will kill and others they will persecute.' Therefore THIS GENERATION will be held responsible for the blood of all the prophets that has been shed since the beginning of the world, from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah, who was killed between the altar and the sanctuary. Yes, I tell you, this generation will be held responsible for it all." Luke 11:49-51

The Jews that reject Jesus will be responsible for what their ancestors did to the prophets since they are part of that same community.

Lest the Muslim author objects to this concept we only need to remind him/her that Muhammad also believed this concept as the following examples demonstrate:

Narrated Abu Huraira:

The Prophet said, "Adam and Moses argued with each other. Moses said to Adam. ‘O Adam! You are our father WHO DISAPPOINTED US AND TURNED US OUT OF PARADISE.' Then Adam said to him, ‘O Moses! Allah favored you with His talk (talked to you directly) and He wrote (the Torah) for you with His Own Hand. Do you blame me for action which Allah had written in my fate forty years before my creation?’ So Adam confuted Moses, Adam confuted Moses," the Prophet added, repeating the Statement three times. (Sahih Al-Bukhari, Volume 8, Book 77, Number 611)

Moses blames Adam for mankind's expulsion from Paradise, with Adam putting the blame on Allah's decree. Cain also gets blamed for all the murders that occur since his time:

Narrated ‘Abdullah:

The Prophet said, "None is killed unjustly, but the first son of Adam will have a part of its burden." Sufyan said, "... a part of its blood because he was the first to establish the tradition of murdering." (Sahih Al-Bukhari, Volume 9, Book 92, Number 423)

In fact, both Eve and the nation of Israel are the reason why the following things happen:

Narrated Abu Huraira:

The Prophet said, "Were it not for Bani Israel, meat would not decay; and were it not FOR EVE, no woman would ever betray her husband." (Sahih al-Bukhari, Volume 4, Book 55, Number 611)

Hammam b. Munabbih said: These are some of the ahadith which Abu Huraira (Allah be pleased with him) narrated to us from Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him), and one of these (this one): Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) said: Had it not been for Bani Isra'il, food would not have become stale, and meal would not have gone bad; and had it not been FOR Eve, a woman would never have acted unfaithfully toward her husband. (Sahih Muslim, Book 008, Number 3472)

In light of the preceding citations, Revelation 1:7 does not mean that Christ was going to return in the lifetime of those who actually pierced him. Rather, the phrase refers to the Jewish nation as a whole since it was they who instigated Christ's crucifixion. The unbelieving Jews share in the guilt of their ancestors since they are part of the same corporate structure. The passage is therefore actually referring to Israel as a whole, that Christ will descend in great power and glory upon the very same nation that refused to accept him as their Messiah. This event will then fulfill the following OT prediction:

"‘The LORD will save the dwellings of Judah first, so that the honor of the house of David and of Jerusalem's inhabitants may not be greater than that of Judah. 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. And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and supplication. They will look on me, the one they have pierced, and they will mourn for him as one mourns for an only child, and grieve bitterly for him as one grieves for a firstborn son. On that day the weeping in Jerusalem will be great, like the weeping of Hadad Rimmon in the plain of Megiddo. The land will mourn, each clan by itself, with their wives by themselves: the clan of the house of David and their wives, the clan of the house of Nathan and their wives, the clan of the house of Levi and their wives, the clan of Shimei and their wives, and all the rest of the clans and their wives. On that day a fountain will be opened to the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, to cleanse them from sin and impurity. On that day, I will banish the names of the idols from the land, and they will be remembered no more,' declares the LORD Almighty. ‘I will remove both the prophets and the spirit of impurity from the land.'" Zechariah 12:7-13:2

Second, to reject the Lord Jesus is equivalent to crucifying Christ:

"It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age, if they fall away, to be brought back to repentance, because to their loss they are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace." Hebrews 6:4-6

This means that Revelation 1:7 applies to anyone who rejects the Lord Jesus Christ.

Finally, let us again apply the author's own criteria against the Quran and see what happens:

O Children of Israel! call to mind the (special) favor which I bestowed upon YOU, and that I preferred you to all others (for My Message). Then guard yourselves against a day when one soul shall not avail another nor shall intercession be accepted for her, nor shall compensation be taken from her, nor shall anyone be helped (from outside). And remember, We delivered YOU from the people of Pharaoh: They set YOU hard tasks and punishments, slaughtered YOUR sons and let YOUR women-folk live; therein was a tremendous trial from your Lord. And remember We divided the sea for YOU and saved YOU and drowned Pharaoh's people WITHIN YOUR VERY SIGHT. And remember We appointed forty nights for Moses, and in his absence YE took the calf (for worship), and YE did grievous wrong. EVEN THEN WE DID FORGIVE YOU; there was a chance for YOU to be grateful. And remember We gave Moses the Scripture and the Criterion (Between right and wrong): There was a chance for YOU to be guided aright. And remember Moses said to his people: "O my people! Ye have indeed wronged yourselves by your worship of the calf: So turn (in repentance) to your Maker, and slay yourselves (the wrong-doers); that will be better for you in the sight of your Maker." Then He turned towards YOU (in forgiveness): For He is Oft- Returning, Most Merciful. AND REMEMBER YE SAID: "O Moses! We shall never believe in thee until we see Allah manifestly," Thereupon YE were dazed with thunderbolt even as YE looked on. THEN WE RAISED YOU UP AFTER YOUR DEATH; YE had the chance to be grateful. AND WE GAVE YOU THE SHADE OF CLOUDS AND SENT DOWN TO YOU MANNA AND QUAILS, saying: "Eat of the good things We have provided for you:" (But they rebelled); to Us they did no harm, but they harmed their own souls. S. 2:47-57

And remember Moses prayed for water for his people; We said: "Strike the rock with thy staff." Then gushed forth therefrom twelve springs. Each group knew its own place for water. So eat and drink of the sustenance provided by Allah, and do no evil nor mischief on the (face of the) earth. And remember YE SAID: "O Moses! we cannot endure one kind of food (always); so beseech thy Lord for us to produce for us of what the earth groweth, -its pot-herbs, and cucumbers, Its garlic, lentils, and onions." He said: "Will ye exchange the better for the worse? Go ye down to any town, and ye shall find what ye want!" They were covered with humiliation and misery; they drew on themselves the wrath of Allah. This because they went on rejecting the Signs of Allah and slaying His Messengers without just cause. This because they rebelled and went on transgressing. S. 2:60-61

And remember We took your covenant and We raised above YOU the Mount (Sinai): (Saying): "Hold firmly to what We have given you and bring (ever) to remembrance what is therein: Perchance ye may fear Allah." But YE turned back thereafter: Had it not been for the Grace and Mercy of Allah to YOU, YE had surely been among the lost. And well YE knew those AMONGST YOU who transgressed in the matter of the Sabbath: We said to them: "Be ye apes, despised and rejected." So We made it an example TO THEIR OWN TIME AND TO THEIR POSTERITY, and a lesson to those who fear Allah. S. 2:63-66

Remember YE slew a man and fell into a dispute AMONG YOURSELVES as to the crime: But Allah was to bring forth what YE did hide. So We said: "Strike the (body) with a piece of the (heifer)." Thus Allah bringeth the dead to life and showeth you His Signs: Perchance ye may understand. Thenceforth were YOUR hearts hardened: They became like a rock and even worse in hardness. For among rocks there are some from which rivers gush forth; others there are which when split asunder send forth water; and others which sink for fear of Allah. And Allah is not unmindful of what YE do. Can ye (O ye men of Faith) entertain the hope that they will believe in you?- Seeing that a party of them heard the Word of Allah, and perverted it knowingly after they understood it. S. 2:72-75

There came to YOU Moses with clear (Signs); YET YE WORSHIPED THE CALF (even) after that, and YE did behave wrongfully. And remember We took your covenant and We raised above YOU Mount (Sinai): (Saying): "Hold firmly to what We have given you, and hearken (to the Law)": They said: "We hear, and we disobey:" And their hearts were filled (with the love) of the calf because of their Faithlessness. Say: "Vile indeed are the behests of your Faith if ye have any faith!" Say: "If the last Home, with Allah, be for you specially, and not for anyone else, then seek ye for death, if ye are sincere." But they will never seek for death, on account of the (sins) which their hands have sent on before them. And Allah is well-acquainted with the wrong-doers. Thou wilt indeed find them, of all people, most greedy of life,-even more than the idolaters: Each one of them wishes he could be given a life of a thousand years: But the grant of such life will not save him from (due) punishment. For Allah sees well all that they do. S. 2:92-96

These passages address the Jews of Muhammad's time as being contemporaneous with events of the Exodus. The Quran also blames the Jews and some others that lived at the time of Muhammad for slaying the prophets:

When it is said to them, "Believe in what Allah Hath sent down," they say, "We believe in what was sent down to us:" yet they reject all besides, even if it be Truth confirming what is with them. Say: "Why then have YE slain the prophets of Allah in times gone by, if ye did indeed believe?" S. 2:91

As to those who deny the Signs of Allah and in defiance of right, slay the prophets, and slay those who teach just dealing with mankind, announce to them a grievous penalty. S. 3:21

Shame is pitched over them (like a tent) wherever they are found, except when under a covenant (of protection) from Allah and from men; they draw on themselves wrath from Allah, and pitched over them is (the tent of) destitution. This because they rejected the Signs of Allah, and slew the prophets in defiance of right; this because they rebelled and transgressed beyond bounds. S. 3:112

Allah hath heard the taunt of those who say: "Truly, Allah is indigent and we are rich!" - We shall certainly record their word and (their act) of slaying the prophets in defiance of right, and We shall say: "Taste ye the penalty of the Scorching Fire!" S. 3:181

Seeing that Islam teaches that Jesus was the last Israelite prophet, how could Muhammad's contemporaries be blamed for an act which they could not have possibly committed? Again,

The (Qurán) is indeed a reminder, for thee and for thy people; and soon shall ye (all) be brought to account. AND QUESTION THOU OUR MESSENGERS WHOM WE SENT BEFORE THEE; did We appoint any deities other than the Most Gracious, to be worshipped? S. 43:44-45

How could the people during Muhammad's time ask God's Messengers when they were all dead as the Quran itself testifies?:

And Muhammad is no more than a messenger; the messengers have already passed away before him; if then he dies or is killed will you turn back upon your heels? And whoever turns back upon his heels!, he will by no means do harm to Allah in the least and Allah will reward the grateful. S. 3:144 Shakir

The Messiah, son of Marium is but a messenger; messengers before him have indeed passed away; and his mother was a truthful woman; they both used to eat food. See how We make the communications clear to them, then behold, how they are turned away. S. 5:75 Shakir

If the author's logic against the Holy Bible were correct this would mean that the author of the Quran couldn't tell time very well. The Quran compresses historical events together, events that occurred centuries apart from each other.

The author concludes with the following citation:

According to the Lord's own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep.
For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.
After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. 1 Thess 4:15:18

RESPONSE:

The author again shows his ignorance of biblical language. His citation of Paul only shows that the author is not familiar with Pauline thought and writing. Paul often uses "we" in a corporate sense, choosing to identify himself with the people he is writing to. Note the following example:

"For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. He died for us so that, whether WE ARE AWAKE OR ASLEEP, we may live together with him." 1 Thessalonians 5:9-10

Other examples include:

"By his power God raised the Lord from the dead, and he will raise US also." 1 Corinthians 6:14

"It is written: ‘I believed; therefore I have spoken.’ With that same spirit of faith WE also believe and therefore speak, because WE know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise US with Jesus and present US with YOU in his presence." 2 Corinthians 4:13-14

These passages clearly show that Paul wasn't necessarily expecting Christ to descend during his lifetime since he speaks of his being raised from the dead to be with the Lord Jesus.

Further confirmation that Paul wasn't necessarily expecting Christ to descend before his death can be found in the Apostle's second epistle to Timothy:

For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time has come FOR MY DEPARTURE. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day--and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing. 2 Timothy 4:6-8

Finally, even if it were true that Paul did in fact believe that Christ was going to return during the Apostle's lifetime this still would pose no problem. The Lord Jesus had already warned his followers that his return would be like a thief in the night:

"Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning, like men waiting for their master to return from a wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks they can immediately open the door for him. It will be good for those servants whose master finds them watching when he comes. I tell you the truth, he will dress himself to serve, will have them recline at the table and will come and wait on them. It will be good for those servants whose master finds them ready, even if he comes in the second or third watch of the night. But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour WHEN YOU DO NOT EXPECT HIM." Luke 12:35-40

And:

Now, brothers, about times and dates we do not need to write to you, for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying, ‘Peace and safety,’ destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. But you, brothers, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief. 1 Thessalonians 5:1-4

The Lord Jesus also made it clear that only God knows the day or hour of Christ's return:

"No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Be on guard! Be alert! You do not know when that time will come." Mark 13:32-33

"So when they met together, they asked him, ‘Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?’ He said to them: ‘It is not FOR YOU TO KNOW the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority.’" Acts 1:6-7

These passages clearly affirm that from the Apostles' perspective Christ could return at any moment. This is why they spoke as if Christ's return was imminent, since they were obeying their Master's instruction to be prepared and expect that their Master could appear at any time.

In conclusion we would like to say that nothing presented by the author in this article even comes close in undermining the authority and accuracy of the Holy Bible. If anything, the author only demonstrates that he/she does not understand the Holy Bible, its language, expressions or the context in which it is written. In fact, as we have seen above, the author's own methodology can be used more forcefully against the Quran and Muhammad. If the author is to remain consistent he/she then needs to reject both the Holy Bible and the Quran.

Forever we will remain by God's sovereign grace in the service of our great God and Savior, the risen Lord of eternal glory, Jesus Christ. Amen. Come Lord Jesus. We will always love you.


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