Confirming the Glory

of the Everlasting
Gospel

After various distortions of Messiah's teachings

plunged Christianity into the Dark Ages, Allah Most
High graciously rekindled His Light of Revelation for
all mankind through the Prophet Muhammad!
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Contents
Chapter One: The Everlasting Gospel

Chapter Two: The Straight Way

Chapter Three: As the White Garment is Made Clean from Soiling

Chapter Four: A Whirlwind Tour of Christian History

Chapter Five: The LORD hath His Way in the Whirlwind

Interlude to An Open Heart to Islam

Chapter Six: The Only True God

Chapter Seven: The Nature of Messiah

Chapter Eight: Salvation by Faith

Chapter Nine: The Comforter, the Spirit of Truth

Chapter Ten: Prophetic Parallels/ Objections Answered

Appendix One: Stewards of Forgiveness

Appendix Two: The Most High: What is His Name?

Afterword: If the Light that is in Thee be Darkness!

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Chapter One: The Everlasting Gospel

Throughout the history of mankind upon earth our Maker has sent Prophets
and Messengers to establish Truth among men and to let right conduct in
respect to Him be known. One of the first Prophets He spoke to and through
was Noah, as is recorded in the Book of Genesis.

By speaking to Noah, He informed man that his lawful food would be every
moving creature, but that the blood of any creature was not to be eaten. He
also stipulated that murder was to be punished by the death of the murderer.

With those few stipulations and instructions, the Creator promised not to
again destroy man from the earth with a flood and He gave the rainbow as a
sign of "the everlasting Covenant" that He made at that point in time with
all creation.

Since that point in time, our Maker has always kept that covenant with
mankind. Even though He also made covenants with various individuals and
nations giving further details of the righteous behavior He expected of them,
He never countermanded or removed the everlasting covenant He made with
all men through Noah.

It is well known that He spoke to Abraham and made a covenant with him,
which covenant He developed further through Isaac and Jacob, and finally,
through Moses, He made a Covenant with all the Tribes of Israel. Yet that
Covenant did not annul the one He'd made with all mankind through Noah.

The Most High continued to speak to the tribes of Israel on an ongoing

basis, rebuking them for their sins and continuing to instruct, exhort, and
correct them in the way of righteousness. Kings David and Solomon, the
Prophets Samuel, Elijah, Elisha, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel and many
others spoke to the children of Israel. Finally the Messiah of Israel, known to
most people now as "Jesus Christ", was sent to end the system of animal
sacrifices incorporated into the Law of Moses and institute what the Prophet
Jeremiah proclaimed as "the New Covenant".
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Yet long after Jesus had come and gone, the Book of Revelation refers to
"the everlasting gospel" in these words:

And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the
everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to
every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, saying with a loud
voice, "Fear God and give glory to Him, for the hour of His
judgement is come: and worship Him that made heaven, and earth,
and the sea, and the fountains of waters". Revelation 14:6,7

This is a highly significant passage of Scripture, yet it has hardly been

noticed among the partisans of Christianity, for any mention of "the gospel"
is automatically interpreted as being in reference to the death, burial, and
resurrection of Christ, which Paul declared to be "my gospel" in several of
his epistles.

The Greek word translated as gospel is euaggelion (pronunced yoo-ang-

ghel-ee-on) meaning good news, and though Paul in Galatians 1:8 & 9
pronounced a curse on anyone preaching another gospel, any serious Bible
student knows that the angel of Revelation 14:7 is not accursed!

Rather the message of this book is that the everlasting gospel the angel
preached has, since the beginning, pervaded the message of every
Messenger and Prophet sent by the Most High. Just as His Covenant with
Noah was for all men, so this everlasting gospel is for all men to obey.

The everlasting gospel, far from being accursed, is actually what brought
pagan Arabia out of heathen darkness and into the worship of the only true
God. Islam is the primary vehicle of faith that is now making the
everlasting gospel known throughout the earth, so that all men may Fear
God, give Him glory and worship Him together in respect of His marvellous
works of Creation!
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Chapter Two: The Straight Way

Consider the work of God, for who can make that straight which He
hath made crooked? Ecclesiastes 7:13

The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of
the LORD, make straight in the Arabah a highway for our God.
Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be
made low: and the crooked shall be made straight and the rough
places plain. Isaiah 40:3,4

Sing unto the LORD a new song, and his praise from the end of the
earth... Let the wilderness and the cities thereof lift up their voice, the
villages that Kedar doth inhabit...And I will bring the blind by a way
that they knew not; I will lead them in paths that they have not known:
I will make darkness light before them, and crooked things straight.
These things will I do and not forsake them. ! Isaiah 42:10,11,16

And Jesus said, For judgement I am come into this world, that they
which see not might see; and that they which see might be made
blind. And some of the Pharisees which were with him said unto him,
Are we blind also?

Jesus said unto them, If ye were blind, ye should have no sin: but
now ye say, We see; therefore your sin remaineth. John 9:39-41

Because thou sayest, I am rich and increased with goods, and have
need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched and
miserable and poor and blind and naked: I counsel thee to buy of me
gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that
thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not
appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.
Revelation 3:17,18

Praise be to Allah, Who hath sent to His Servant (Muhammad) the

Book (Quran), and hath allowed therein no crookedness: He hath
made it Straight (and Clear) in order that he may warn (the wicked)
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of a terrible punishment from Him and that He may give Glad Tidings
to the Believers who work Righteous deeds, that they shall have a
goodly Reward. Surah Al-Kahf (the Cave) 18:1,2

Is then one who doth know that that which hath been revealed unto
thee (Muhammad) from thy Lord is the Truth, like one who is blind?
It is those who are endued with understanding that receive
admonition. Surah Al-Ra'd (Thunder) 13:19

The above verses contain one of the most startling Revelations ever given to
man and I pray that I write this chapter succinctly to make that Revelation
abundantly clear!

Notice first of all, in the opening passage from Ecclesiastes that something is
expressed that runs far contrary to the assumptions of most people, Who can
make straight that which He hath made crooked? People assume that our
Wise Creator doesn't make things crooked, but that is not the case!

Consider the covenant He made through Moses with the people of Israel--
any follower of any religion loves to believe and proclaim that his religion
makes perfect sense and is easily understandable and such is certainly the
stance of religious Jews, yet as we shall see, the Most High made some
crookedness in that religion for His own purposes!

In recounting His favors to Israel and their treachery towards Him, the
LORD (YHWH) said through the Prophet Ezekiel:

Because they had not executed my judgements, but had despised my

statutes, and had polluted my sabbaths, and their eyes were after their
fathers' idols, wherefore I gave them also statutes that were not good
and judgements whereby they should not live... Ezekiel 20:24,25

There is much in the religion of Judaism today that outsiders can identify as
not good-- Talmudic traditions that make odd nitpicking considerations of
rabbis more important than the principles established by the Law of Moses,
resulting in the manufacture of numerous manmade statutes that add to the
Law and make it far more of a burden than it should be. Yet we need not
even consider all those traditions as being the not good statutes that YHWH
gave Israel, for even the sacrificial system of the book of Leviticus was
flawed in its stated function!
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Leviticus 17:11 says:

For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you
upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the
blood that maketh an atonement for the soul.

Yet as common sense dictates and experience proves, the blood of animals
cannot actually wash away a perpetrator's sins, especially when the
sacrifices become institutionalized to the extent that sin and sacrifice
become a matter of course in which the priesthood makes profit!

Long before the time of Jesus, the sacrificial system had denigrated to just
that, an ongoing business establishment by which men made profit, even
selling animals for sacrifice in the Temple and setting up tables there for
money exchangers to profit in converting foreign coins into Israeli shekels.
How could anyone believe that such polluted practices were an actual means
of cleansing man of sin?!

Not only that, but as the New Testament points out, it is not possible that
the blood of bulls and goats should take away sins (Hebrews 10:4). That is
a primary facet of the theology that Jesus came to shed his own blood to take
away the sins that animal blood could not take away.

However, even that reasoning is flawed when men come to take it as a

matter of course that they can continue to sin, yet have their sins forgiven
because of Jesus' sacrifice. Hopefully, any serious Christian reading this
rejects the abominable practice of coupling willful ongoing sin with
automatic forgiveness provided by Jesus' blood, yet no one can deny that
Christianity in principle has promoted such a perverse idea to some extent.

Here, for instance, is a quote from Martin Luther, a leader of the supposed
Reformation intended to make Christianity valid again after a thousand years
of the pollutions of Roman Catholicism had corrupted it:

If you are a preacher of mercy, do not preach an imaginary but the

true mercy. If the mercy is true, you must therefore bear the true, not
an imaginary sin. God does not save those who are only imaginary
sinners. Be a sinner, and let your sins be strong (sin boldly), but let
your trust in Christ be stronger, and rejoice in Christ who is the victor
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over sin, death, and the world. We will commit sins while we are
here, for this life is not a place where justice resides. (from a letter to
his friend Philip Melanchthon, on August 1, 1521)

So we can see that just as Israel corrupted their practice of religion by

sinning wantonly and trusting in the system of animal sacrifice, so
Christianity corrupted the practice of the religion of Jesus through an
inaccurate trust in his sacrifice, thereby negating the primary teaching of
Jesus: submission to the Will of God.

If a man truly submits to his Maker, that man will NOT presume to continue
in sin, but rather will emulate the Prophets to worship and serve the Most
High in Truth. That is the essence of the Everlasting Gospel, which was in
all the Revelations sent to mankind, but after men wandered away from the
right principles of Revealed Faith, "God made crooked" their forms of
religion.

Nevertheless, and thankfully, The LORD promised in Isaiah

40:3,4 that the crooked shall be made straight via a
highway for our God in the Arabah, and Isaiah 42:10-16
identifies the descendants of Kedar, son of Ishmael, as the
people among whom a new song of praise would flow to the
ends of the earth, by which the blind would be led in a way
which they knew not, making darkness light and crooked
things straight!

All of that amazing prophecy has been fulfilled through the

Revelation of the Quran which is stylishly recited or sung by
believers and has been ever since it was revealed to
Muhammad, a descendant of Kedar who dwelt in the cities
of the Arabah!

But, who are "the blind to be led in a way which they knew not", spoken of
in that prophecy? Jesus identified as blind the church of Laodicea
(Revelation 3:17), which is generally recognized by students of prophecy
as being a reference to the Christian church of the end times!

It is certain that the general attitude of today's Christian church is that of "I
 9

am rich and increased in goods and have need of nothing" even though
material prosperity and pride have, to a large extent, rendered Christians
lukewarm to the purposes of Yah.

Jesus rebuked the religious leaders of his day for claiming to have spiritual
vision, saying that because they claimed to see, know, and teach the Truth,
their sins remained upon them. So it is with today's Christians, by and large,
they claim to have spiritual insight even to the exclusion of all other
religious people among mankind, yet they have overall failed to recognize
the God-given religion of Islam through which praise to our Maker has
flowed to the ends of the earth, establishing worldwide a people who pray
together 5 times a day, singing the new song as was foretold!

Yet our Blessed Creator has promised that He will not forsake these blind
ones, but will lead them by a way they knew not, and that IS the Straight
Way of Islam!

Come and see as darkness is made light and crooked things are
made straight; join in the new song of praise to our Maker as
Muslims fulfill the everlasting gospel, fearing God, giving glory
to Him and worshipping Him that made the heavens and the
earth, the seas and the fountains of water!

May those endued with understanding receive this admonition that the
Quran revealed to Muhammad is the Truth from our Lord!
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Chapter Three:
As the White Garment is made Clean from Soiling

HalleluYah: for the Lord God Omnipotent reigns! Let us be glad and
rejoice and give honor to Him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come
and his wife hath made herself ready. And to her was granted that she
should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is
the righteousness of saints. Revelation 19:6-8

These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed
their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
Revelation 7:14

O Allah, keep me far away from my sins as you have kept away the
distance between the East and the West, O Allah, cleanse me of my
sins as the white garment is made clean from soiling . . .
(translation of the opening supplication of the prayers repeated 5 times
each day by Muslims)

In Biblical Christianity, cleansing from sin is accomplished by two necessary

actions on the part of the believer: first, he must repent of his sins (grieving
over the offense, changing his mind to henceforth be against sin, and
resolving to commit that sin no more), and then, he must have faith in the
Mercy of God which provides the Hope of forgiveness and cleansing.

God's Great Mercy is exemplified in Christianity by the historical scene of

Jesus dying on the cross to provide forgiveness for the sins of his people,
ending the law of insufficient animal sacrifices and providing a new and
living way of Life: denying one's self to take up the cross and follow Jesus.

Yet sin in the life of a believer is not overcome by once believing in Jesus'
sacrifice, but by an ongoing process of God's chastening (corrective
punishment) for any present sin, spiritual growth in the discipline of godly
sorrow over sin, and active faith in striving against sin:
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My little children, these things I write unto you that ye sin not. And if
any man sin we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the
righteous. 1John 2:1

Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse

ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness
in the Fear of God. 2Corinthians 7:1

Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud

of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so
easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before
us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for
the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the
shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against

himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. Ye have not yet
resisted unto blood, striving against sin. And ye have forgotten the
exhortation which speaks unto you as unto children, My son, despise
not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art
rebuked of him: For whom the Lord loves he chastens, and scourges
every son whom he receives.

If ye endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what
son is he whom the father chastens not? But if ye be without
chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not
sons. Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected
us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in
subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?

For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure;
but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness.
Now no chastening for the present seems to be joyous, but grievous:
nevertheless afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness
unto them which are exercised thereby. Hebrews 12:1-11

The blueness of a wound cleanses away evil, so do stripes the inward

parts of the belly. Proverbs 20:30
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Sorrow is better than laughter: for by the sadness of the

countenance the heart is made better. Ecclesiastes 7:3

Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm

yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in
the flesh hath ceased from sin; that he no longer should live the rest
of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God.
1Peter 4:1

So, from the above verses we see the process by which Christians cleanse
themselves from sin: patiently bearing the chastisements of correction
received from the LORD, departing from sin and every hindrance, and
persevering to live a righteous life despite whatever suffering in the flesh
must be endured for the Faith.

The following Quran verse shows that Islam also teaches that believers must
overcome their sins:

Verily, he who comes to his Lord as a sinner (at Judgement Day) for
him is Hell, therein shall he neither live nor die. Surah Ta-Ha 20:74

The following hadiths show the principle that Allah's chastisements work to
cleanse believers from sin:

Allah's Messenger said, "When Allah has a good purpose towards

His servant He gives him punishment beforehand in this world, but
when He has an evil purpose towards His servant He refrains from
dealing with his sin till He takes from him full payment for it on the
Day of Resurrection." Al-Tirmidhi Hadith 1565 Narrated by Anas ibn
Malik

"No tiredness, illness, difficulty, sorrow, harm or sadness afflicts a

Muslim, even to a thorn pricking him, without Allah wiping away his
errors through it." [Recorded by Bukhari and Muslim, from Abu
Sa'id and Abu Hurayra]

Allah's Messenger (peace be upon him) said, "The magnitude of the

reward goes along with the magnitude of the affliction. When Allah
who is Great and Glorious loves people He afflicts them, and those
who accept it gladly receive Allah's good pleasure, but those who are
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displeased receive Allah's displeasure. Al-Tirmidhi Hadith 1566

Narrated by Anas ibn Malik [Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah transmitted it.]

Allah's Messenger (peace be upon him) said, "The believing man or

woman continues to have affliction in person, property and children
so that they may finally meet Allah, free from sin." Al-Tirmidhi
Hadith 1567 Narrated by Abu Hurayrah

So the actual process for believers being cleansed from sin is the same in
both Christianity and in Islam: our Cherisher and Sustainer chastises us
and afflicts us for our sins so that we turn away from them, overcome our
weaknesses, and become pure.

It is true of course, that Christianity stresses the role that Jesus' sacrifice
played in providing cleansing for sin, whereas Islam does not promote the
idea of vicarious atonement, yet the actual process of cleansing the believer
is the same in both faiths: believers in Jesus who sin will be chastised
because of their sins, and their perseverance in faith, despite the
chastisement, works to cleanse them.

Take, my brethren, the Prophets who have spoken in the name of the
Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience. Behold,
we count them happy which endure. James 5:10,11

As opposed to modern Christian theological teaching that faith in Jesus

alone is what makes a man righteous, the New Testament says,

Little children, let no man deceive you, he that doeth righteousness is

righteous. He that commits sin is of the devil... 1John 3:7,8

Thus, Christian emphasis on Jesus' atonement is just as misplaced as Old

Testament Israel's trust in atonement made by the blood of animals, when
neither of those systems of atonement result in righteousness in the life of
the believer.

The ideal of course, and the intention of the Revealer of Truth in those
systems of atonement was that faith would be coupled with sincere
repentance resulting in devoted lives of obedience such as those lived by
Joseph, Moses, Joshua, the Prophets, Jesus, the Apostles, and other New
 14

Testament saints.

However, when Judaism at large and Christianity in general had become

rampant in sin, more concerned with trifling disputations of dogma rather
than with actual righteousness in their societies, Allah Most High brought
about the dawn of Islam through His Revelation of the Quran to the Prophet
Muhammad.

The Straight Way revealed in the Quran affirms that which was straight in
previous Revelations, the Torah and Gospel, yet it corrects man from the
erroneous traditions which Christians and Jews had evolved in diverting
mankind from the Straight Way that both Moses and Jesus taught.

If you can receive it, the phrase “cleanse me from my sins as the white
garment is made clean from soiling” found in the opening supplication of
Muslim prayers is what we now call an embedded link for the people of
Islam to receive the cleansing provided by Messiah’s Atonement, without of
course, necessitating their belief in all the additions to Faith made by
Christian tradition.

Now anyone who has truly received Mercy, Forgiveness, and Cleansing
from their sins purely feels an obligation to help other men to receive that
same Mercy, Forgiveness, and Cleansing. However the course of Christian
History shows that, instead of making Clear the abundant Mercy revealed
through the Gospel of Jesus, Christians fell into dispute among themselves
so horribly that they actually gave precedence to their own doctrines and
stunted the Flow of Mercy intended to be channeled through them.

The next chapter will elaborate on that awful course of events, but may
Allah be universally thanked that He still bestows His Mercy upon whom He
pleases and He is not defeated by the willful diversions of men!
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Chapter Four:
A Whirlwind Tour of Christian History

For they have sown the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind...
Hosea 8:7

Let no man deceive you by any means, for that day (of Christ's return)
shall not come, except there come a falling away first... For the
mystery of iniquity (anomia = lawlessness) doth already work...
2Thessalonians 2:3,7

The apostle Paul in the verses above prophesied of a falling away from the
faith that would come in connection with what he called "the mystery of
iniquity". It is important to realize that the Greek words Paul used there
indicate that an initiation of religious rites would usher in this falling away
from the faith.

As church history shows, from the time of Paul, Christians steadily moved
away from observance of the Law of Moses as more non-Israelite people
came into the faith. They began to rely upon receiving spiritual life from a
reenactment of the crucifixion combined with believing they were actually
eating the flesh and drinking the blood of Jesus by partaking of bread and
wine mysteriously transformed during that reenactment ceremony!

Thus, instead of living lives of righteousness in accord with the Law

revealed through Moses and highly commended by Jesus, Christians began
to promote an imputed righteousness received via the mystery of
communion by which they thought to partake of Jesus' righteousness while
he took upon himself their sins on an ongoing basis.

As mentioned before, New Testament Scripture warned Christians that only

"he that doeth righteousness is righteous", yet nevertheless the mystery of
iniquity swept Christianity to fulfill the falling away that Paul foretold.

Jesus had specifically stated "if you will enter into Life, keep the
commandments" and he had even prophetically warned his followers that
one day he would say to many who claimed his name, "depart from me, ye
 16

workers of iniquity (lawlessness), for I never knew you", yet for all that,
Christianity followed after the “new Jesus" of the mystery of iniquity.

As this mysterious process was taking place, Christians fell into awful
disputes as to the nature of Christ and of God, with most of them eventually
arriving at belief in "the Holy Trinity", a co-equal, co-eternal Godhead
nowhere mentioned in Scripture. According to this "doctrinal mystery", God
the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit comprise One God, despite
the fact that Jesus called the Father "the only true God", and called the
Father "my God and your God" (John 17:3, 20:17).

There was MUCH squabbling among Christians over this dogma and
eventually the Roman emperor Constantine intervened in an attempt to settle
the dispute. At the council of Nicea he convened in 320 AD, it was decided
by the majority of bishops that the trinitarian position was true.

From that point in time (though with a few subsequent steps in the opposite
direction), the Roman government began to persecute any who did not hold
to the trinity doctrine. Before 500AD, Christians had come up with the
Athanasian Creed, which formally stipulated that believing in trinity
doctrine and thus in the Deity of Christ was the most important point of
Faith, without which belief no man could be saved!

By the time of the Emperor Justinian (527-565 AD), the policy of Rome
towards anti-trinitarians was officially encoded in the following edicts:

THE CODE OF OUR LORD

THE MOST SACRED EMPEROR JUSTINIAN.
SECOND EDITION.

BOOK 1.

TITLE 1.
CONCERNING THE MOST EXALTED TRINITY AND THE
CATHOLIC FAITH AND PROVIDING THAT NO ONE
SHALL DARE TO PUBLICLY OPPOSE THEM.

1. The Emperors Gratian, Valentinian, and Theodosius to the people of

the City of Constantinople. (367-395 AD)
 17

We desire that all peoples subject to Our benign Empire shall live
under the same religion that the Divine Peter, the Apostle, gave to the
Romans, and which the said religion declares was introduced by
himself, and which it is well known that the Pontiff Damascus, and
Peter, Bishop of Alexandria, a man of apostolic sanctity, embraced;
that is to say, in accordance with the rules of apostolic discipline and
the evangelical doctrine, we should believe that the Father, Son, and
Holy Spirit constitute a single Deity, endowed with equal majesty, and
united in the Holy Trinity.

(1) We order all those who follow this law to assume the name of
Catholic Christians, and considering others as demented and insane,
We order that they shall bear the infamy of heresy; and when the
Divine vengeance which they merit has been appeased, they shall
afterwards be punished in accordance with Our resentment, which we
have acquired from the judgment of Heaven.

Dated at Thessalonica, on the third of the Kalends of March, during

the Consulate of Gratian, Consul for the fifth time, and Theodosius.

2. The Same Emperors to Eutropius, Praetorian Prefect.

Let no place be afforded to heretics for the conduct of their

ceremonies, and let no occasion be offered for them to display the
insanity of their obstinate minds. Let all persons know that if any
privilege has been fraudulently obtained by means of any rescript
whatsoever, by persons of this kind, it will not be valid. Let all bodies
of heretics be prevented from holding unlawful assemblies, and let the
name of the only and the greatest God be celebrated everywhere, and
let the observance of the Nicene Creed, recently transmitted to Our
ancestors, and firmly established by the testimony and practice of
Divine Religion, always remain secure.

(1) Moreover, he who is an adherent of the Nicene Faith, and a true

believer in the Catholic religion, should be understood to be one who
believes that Almighty God and Christ, the son of God, are one
person, God of God, Light of Light; and let no one, by rejection,
dishonor the Holy Spirit, whom we expect, and have received from
the Supreme Parent of all things, in whom the sentiment of a pure and
 18

undefiled faith flourishes, as well as the belief in the undivided

substance of a Holy Trinity, which true believers indicate by the Greek
word homoousios (meaning "of the same substance"). These things,
indeed do not require further proof, and should be respected.

(2) Let those who do not accept those doctrines cease to apply the
name of true religion to their fraudulent belief; and let them be
branded with their open crimes, and, having been removed from the
threshold of all churches, be utterly excluded from them, as We forbid
all heretics to hold unlawful assemblies within cities. If, however, any
seditious outbreak should be attempted, We order them to be driven
outside the the walls of the City, with relentless violence, and We
direct that all Catholic Churches, throughout the entire world, shall be
placed under the control of the orthodox bishops who have embraced
the Nicene Creed.

Given at Constantinople, on the fourth of the ides of January, under

the Consulate of Flavius Eucharius and Flavius Syagrius.

Source: Corpus Juris Civilis (The Civil Law, the Code of Justinian),
by S.P. Scott, A.M., published by the Central Trust Company,
Cincinnati, copyright 1932, Volume 12 [of 17], pages 9-12, 125.

So, from the pure religion taught by Jesus, Christianity had evolved
into a Beast (governmental force) enforcing worship of a trinity image
among men:

"The medieval church taught Justinian's Code to the barbarian nations

of Europe. Central and Northern Europe were christianized to a large
degree through the enforcement of Justinian's Corpus Juris Romani.
During the Protestant Reformation, the Reformers used the laws
of Justinian to justify persecution and capital punishment of
Anabaptists and Anti-Trinitarians." (from Christian Faith &
Religious Freedom by Viggo Norskov Olsen)

Now you should be able to see how Christians have "sown the wind and
reaped the whirlwind": Many wars of human history for over a thousand
years have been fought directly or indirectly because of trinitarian
doctrine. Even today, the United States is engaged in a War against
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Terrorism because of prevailing trinitarian influence among Christians

causing them to reject the Message of the Prophet Muhammad uniting
all men in the worship of the only true God Whom Jesus worshipped!

Enforcing worship of the trinitarian "image to the Beast" and approval

of that enforcement are practices which damn men's souls and the
religion which promotes such enforcement has rightly been called
"Mystery Babylon the Great, the Mother of Harlots and Abominations
of the Earth".

That mystery religion has ridden upon the back of every Kingdom of
World Dominion since the dawn of time, and its pollutions are rampant
among the people of Christianity to this present hour. Echoing the Voice
from Heaven, this is written to implore men of good faith to "COME
OUT OF HER, MY PEOPLE, that ye be not partakers of her sins and
that ye receive not of her plagues".

And as you come out of that darkness, rejoice in the Light of Islam
uniting all men in the Faith of the Everlasting Gospel!
 20

Chapter Five:
The LORD hath His Way in the Whirlwind...

The LORD is slow to anger, and great in power, and will not at all
acquit the wicked: the LORD hath His Way in the whirlwind, and in
the storm, and the clouds are the dust of His Feet. Nahum 1:3

There is that speaketh like the piercings of a sword, but the tongue of
the wise is health. Proverbs 12:18

(The Quran) is a plain statement to men, a guidance and instruction

to those who fear Allah! So lose not heart, nor fall into despair: for
ye must gain mastery if ye are true in Faith. 3:138,139

Because of the unreasoning intractability of men in general it is certain that

awful judgements are yet to take place on this earth as our time winds down
to its conclusion, yet that is no reason for people of Faith to despair. It has
been affirmed again and again that our Maker is Most Gracious, Most
Merciful and as we submit our wills to His Will, there is peace and enduring
hope for the believer.

I will be the first to admit that the understanding about Islam conveyed in
this little book seems entirely foreign to Christian reckoning on the subject. I
have no doubt that there are many sincere Christian people who are rightly
upset about terrorism committed in the name of Islam, and so, they have
rejected the notion of any Truth being in the religion taught by Muhammad.

Yet there is a golden concept in Islam that will comfort sincere hearts: Let
there be no compulsion in religion! Just as it was wrong for Christians to
compel people to believe in the trinity, persecuting and even killing those
who did not believe, so it was and is wrong for any Muslim to persecute or
otherwise try to force belief in Islam upon others.

The whole concept of "no compulsion in religion" is expressed like this in

the Quran:
 21

Let there be no compulsion in religion: Truth stands out clear from

Error : whoever rejects evil and believes in Allah hath grasped the
most trustworthy hand-hold, that never breaks. And Allah heareth and
knoweth all things. Surah Al-Baqarah 2:256

Truth stands out clear from error. It is the believers' duty only to proclaim
the Truth and make it known as clearly as is possible.

The simple fact is, even as you read these words, there are millions
of people bowing before our Creator and celebrating His praises.
Hour after hour, day after day, around the globe, Muslims are all
together worshipping the One whose Hand holds your very soul,
the One who gave you the Breath of Life! This worship will go on
from now until the End of Time and such worship will continue
forever as Allah wills. If you are True in Faith, the only question is:
When will you join us?

As Scripture states, these are perilous times; evil spirits are gathering men
together to War in the name of patriotism, faith, and financial prosperity, but
ultimately, men are gathering only to battle against Jesus when he returns!
The outcome of that battle will be a river of blood flowing to the height of a
horse's neck as the enemies of Truth are slain and Jesus begins his reign on
earth by the Will of Allah Most High.

The rule for Christians is If it be possible, as much as lies in you, live

peaceably with all men (Romans 12:18), but those who will not heed these
words of wisdom will surely be drawn into the war being promoted by the
Beast against Islam.

In any event, the LORD will have His Way in the Whirlwind! The return of
Christ will bring an end to the errors of Christianity as well as putting a final
stop to anything false done in the name of Islam, bringing in the
incontrovertible Peace of the universal Triumph of the Everlasting Gospel.

May this book help to dissolve the error that has men fighting against that
Peace even now, and may it bear with it a mighty witness to the Peace that is
to come.
 22

Interlude to An Open Heart to Islam

This book is written from the perspective of a person who came to
repentance and faith through the Gospel of Jesus Christ as recorded in the
New Testament. After over ten years of devoutly studying the books of the
whole Bible and obeying the Truth therein, I was challenged by a statement
found in the Quran:

...Let the People of the Gospel judge by what Allah hath revealed
therein. If any do fail to judge by what Allah hath revealed, they
are those who rebel. (5:47) Surah Al-Ma'ida (The Table Spread)

Accordingly, I continued to read and study the Quran, praying first and
constantly to be led by the Spirit of Truth as I did so. I was surprised and
made glad to find in the Quran a simple declaration of an understanding I
had already arrived at by years of studying the Scriptures while striving for
Truth among fellow-believers:

...O People of the Book! Ye have no ground to stand upon unless ye

stand fast by the Torah, the Gospel, and all the revelation that has
come to you from your Lord. (5:68) The Table Spread

I realized that in these two verses and in many more besides, the Quran
confirms the Revelations that the Almighty gave to man through the Torah
and the Gospel. Indeed, that is the penultimate test of every alleged
revelation: Does it confirm the previous revelations or not?

As the Prophet Isaiah wrote, "To the Law and to the Testimony (the
writings of the prophets): if they speak not according to this word, it is
because there is no light in them." (8:20)

Considering that so many who claim to be Christians utterly fail to satisfy

this qualification from the Book of Isaiah-- yet they point to New Testament
Scriptures to justify their beliefs-- does that mean that the New Testament is
not an authentic Revelation from the Most High?

No, just because the majority of those who claim to be believers have failed
to rightly divide (understand) the New Testament Scriptures, that does not
mean the New Testament is fraudulent.
 23

The MAJOR contradiction between the faith revealed in the writings of the
apostles and the manner of living shown by most Christians throughout
history is in regard to lack of respect and obedience to the Laws of God. As
recorded in Matthew 5:17-19, the Messiah himself stated that those of his
followers who kept and taught even the least commandments of the Law
would be great in the Kingdom of heaven.

However, some of the translations of the writings of the apostle Paul seem to
almost if not entirely do away with Messiah’s instructions above. In fact, it
takes diligent heart-rending study for a New Testament believer to discern
that Paul’s writings do not contradict Messiah Yahshua’s instructions.

Likewise, there are several verses of the Quran that APPEAR to contradict
much in the New Testament and it takes diligent heart-rending study to
discern the Truth of the matter. How then can we know that the Quran is
indeed a true Revelation from the Most High? Because it tells us to judge
by the things revealed in the gospel! This I have done and I hereby present
my findings to all people of Faith.

The title of this section of my book is taken from two Quran verses:

Those whom Allah wills to guide, He opens their heart to Islam;

those whom He wills to leave straying, He makes their heart close
and constricted, as if they had to climb up to the skies: thus doth Allah
lay abomination on those who refuse to believe. 6:125

And that those on whom knowledge has been bestowed may learn that
the Quran is the Truth from thy Lord, that they may believe therein,
and their hearts may be made humbly (open) to it: for verily Allah is
the Guide of those who believe to the Straight Way. 22:54

As Messiah Yahshua promised, the Comforter, the Spirit of Truth will

guide you into All Truth. (John 16:7-14), therefore let all doubt, ignorance,
and rebellion be swept away from those who read these words and may all
people of Faith receive the Supernal Peace and Blessed Comfort and
Wonderful Guidance of the Spirit of Truth (the same Spirit which revealed
the Truth to all the prophets, apostles, messengers, and servants of the only
True God).
 24

Chapter Six: The Only True God

Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is ONE LORD: and thou shalt
love the LORD thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and
with all thy might. Deuteronomy 6:4,5

In the Law given through Moses, great emphasis is placed on the fact that
there is only ONE God. For further emphasis, Messiah stated that this is part
of the first and greatest commandment of all: our Lord is ONE Lord (Mark
12:29). Muslims also accept this truth-- so much so that in Islam,
worshipping anyone else besides the One True God is the only sin for which
there is no forgiveness.

However, according to predominant Christian theology, the “trinity” doctrine

is postulated whereby men have theorized that the One God is composed of
God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. Any schoolchild can
count three Gods in that formula, yet Christian scholars throughout the ages
allege that this refers to only One God!

The words of Messiah Yahshua himself, even as recorded in the Gospels of

the present New Testament, affirm that there is only ONE True God. Since
Christians are supposed to believe the words of Jesus, there should be no
difficulty for Christians to wholly worship the same God that Jesus
worshipped, the One whom Jesus said is my God and your God.

However, as any studied Christian reading this will be quick to point out,
there are several verses in the New Testament that SEEM to give indications
of Jesus also being God, in addition to the Father being God! Some verses
which are claimed to give such indications are John 1:1, John 8:24, 28, 58,
John 10:30-38, John 14:9,10, and John 20:28.

A little study and prayer will show most of these verses to have their answer
in Messiah’s statement recorded in John 14:10 that the Father “IN” him, did
the mighty miracles that caused men to wonder if Jesus were God himself.
The Quran expresses the same idea of God being “in” man this way:
 25

Allah comes between a man and his heart (8:24) and Allah is nearer
to a man than his own jugular vein (50:16).

That does not mean that the Most High is physically present inside the
bodies of men, He “dwelt” IN Messiah by means of His All-Awareness,
Infinite Care, and All-encompassing Nearness; Yahshua said that “his
Father” (Allah) performed the miracles and the Quran says that Messiah did
the miracles by Allah’s Permission.

Here is a second witness to Jesus’ statement that the Father was IN him:

All things are of God, Who hath reconciled us to Himself by Jesus

Christ, and hath given unto us the ministry of reconciliation; to wit,
that God was IN Christ reconciling the world unto Himself.
2Corinthians 5:18,19

To absolutely settle the matter from the Christian point of view, there is one
simple statement spoken out of the mouth of Messiah Yahshua that overturns
every doubt and contention offered by those who suggest that Jesus is God:
It is recorded in John 17:3 in which Jesus is addressing the Almighty in
prayer:

“And this is life eternal, that they might know Thee, the only True
God, and Jesus Christ whom Thou hast sent.”

The Only True God! Four absolute superlatives in a row from Jesus
himself emphasizing the Truth of the matter such that it cannot be gainsaid!

Here are other statements made by Messiah as recorded in the Gospel of

John which show that he did not by any means present himself as God (my
comments on these scriptures are in parenthesis):

Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily I say unto
you, The Son can do nothing of himself... I can of mine own self do
nothing... John 5:19,30 (The only True God is omnipotent and self-
sufficient, He CAN of His own self do as He wills)

(When the Jews accused him of making himself out to be God) Jesus
answered them, “Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods? If
he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the
 26

scripture cannot be broken; Say ye of him whom the Father hath

sanctified and sent into the world, Thou blasphemest; because I
said, I am the Son of God?” (John 10:33,34) (Luke 3:38 also
figuratively identifies Adam as “the son of God”, yet no one believes
that Adam is part of the only True God or in any way equal to Him.)

If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father:

for my Father is greater than I. John 14:28 (He refutes co-equality
with God.)

Now that we have taken hold of Messiah’s declaration of the only True God,
let us look at Quran quotes bearing witness to the same Truth:

O people of the Book! Commit no excesses in your religion; nor say

of Allah aught but the Truth. Christ Jesus the son of Mary was a
Messenger of Allah, and His Word which He bestowed on Mary, and a
Spirit proceeding from Him: so believe in Allah and His Messengers.
Say not "Three" --desist! It will be better for you: for Allah is One
God... 4:171 Surah An Nisa (The Women)

Certainly they disbelieve who say: “Allah is Christ the son of Mary”.
But said Christ: “O Children of Israel! Worship Allah, my Lord and
your Lord.” Whoever joins other gods with Allah, Allah will forbid
him the Garden, and the fire will be his abode. There will, for the
wrong doers, be no one to help.

They disbelieve who say: Allah is one of three (in a trinity) for there
is no god except One God. If they desist not from their word (of
blasphemy), Verily a grievous chastisement will befall the disbelievers
among them. Why turn they not to Allah and seek His forgiveness?
For Allah is Oft-forgiving, Most Merciful. 5: 72-75 Surah Al-Ma'ida

Please take much time in prayer before proceeding to the next chapter, you
must decide who is correct: Messiah Yahshua and the Quran in teaching
men to worship the only True God, or Christian traditions which variously
teach men to worship either the trinity as God, or Jesus as God, or the Father
and Son both as God?

May Allah the Most High, the Exalted One, direct your heart and mind into
the Peace reserved for those who submit themselves to Him in Truth.
 27

Chapter Seven: The Nature of Messiah

Since Messiah’s words as recorded in the New Testament deny the assertions
of Christianity that he is God, what then IS the nature of Messiah as taught
by the Bible and Quran? In the New Testament, a passage in the Book of
Hebrews best describes his nature:

“Forasmuch then as the children (of Israel) are partakers of flesh

and blood, Messiah also himself took part of the same; that through
death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the
devil; and deliver them who through fear of death were all their
lifetime subject to bondage.

For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on
him (the nature of) the seed (offspring) of Abraham.

Wherefore in all things it behooved him to be made like unto his

brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things
pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.
For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to
succour (help) them that are tempted.” Hebrews 2:14-18

Pay very close attention to the bold portions of the above verses: the first
bold portion makes plain that Messiah was not any sort of angel, but he had
the nature of a man: in ALL things it behooved him to be made like unto his
brethren.

The second bold portion shows that Messiah suffered being tempted! That
in itself is another solid proof against the notion of Messiah being God, for
according to James 1:13, God cannot be tempted with evil. In all things,
Messiah was made like unto any other man, suffering temptation as any
other man, yet he was without sin by the power of the Almighty.

The New Testament shows this same picture in 1Timothy 2:5, For there is
One God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.

Though, of course, his conception in the womb of the virgin Mary was
 28

miraculous, as a child Messiah Yahshua is said to have “increased in

wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man”(Luke 2:52).

Philippians 2:5-7 is a controversial passage even among Christians and

cannot be ignored in consideration of the nature of Messiah. It was very
clumsily translated in the King James Version but best sums up the New
Testament’s view of Messiah’s nature when translated:

“Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus, who
subsisting in the nature of God, thought not to grasp at equality
with God: but made himself of no reputation, and took upon him
the form of a servant and was made in the likeness of men.”

The key word in that passage is translated as subsisting, and is derived from
the Greek word huparcho, meaning to begin under, i.e. to come into
existence, to exist as subordinate to God! (see Strong’s Greek Lexicon,
word #5225)

Most English translations of the New Testament leave out the clear
implications of the word huparcho in this verse, causing many believers to
experience confusion as to the nature of Messiah.

Finally, let us consider John 1:1, 3, 14 (KJV):

In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the
Word was God… all things were made by him, and without him was
not anything made that was made… and the Word became flesh…

According to Joseph Thayer, the Greek word translated as God, "Theos is

used of whatever can in any respect be likened to God, or resembles Him in
any way: Hebraisticly equivalent to God's representative or vicegerent".
Understanding that the Word was God's vicegerent in the beginning, but was
not God Himself solves the dilemma of juxtaposition present in the above
translation as a vicegerent cannot be WITH God and yet BE God at the same
time. The Word made flesh in Jesus manifested delegated power from the
Most High as a vicegerent does, as also did all the Prophets in varying
degrees, who came in the same Spirit of Messiah.

The following verses after John 1:1 relate the Truth that the Most High
 29

created all things by the power of His spoken Word. The Quran teaches very
much the same, both as to Allah bringing all things into being by only
speaking the Word and as to the human nature of Messiah:

It is He who gives life and death; and when He decides upon an affair,
He says to it, “Be” and it is. 40:68 Surah Al-Mumin (The Believer)

They say: “Allah hath begotten a son Glory be to him.” Nay, to Allah
belongs all that is in the heavens and on earth: everything renders
worship to Him. The originator of the heavens and the earth: when
He decreeth a matter, He saith to it “be” and it is. 2:116,117 Surah Al
Baqarah (The Heifer)

It is not befitting to (the majesty) of Allah that He should beget a son.

Glory be to Him! When He determines a matter, He only says to it,
“Be” and it is. 19:35 Surah Maryam (Mary)

(These verses, and all others like them, are affirmations of the miraculous
conception of Messiah in the womb of Mary, and are strong declarations of
the fact that the Most High does not “beget” children through the process of
procreation with a woman. Only pagans believe such as that of their gods.
“Son” in the Bible and in common usage is also a term of endearment used
in addressing a young man, not just a title applied to one’s own physical
offspring.

In the New Testament it is recorded that a voice from heaven declared of

Jesus: “this is My Beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased, hear ye him”
Matthew 17:5. Just as no Christian would even think to suggest that this
statement means that the Most High carnally begat Jesus, no Muslim would
even think to suggest that Messiah was not greatly beloved of Allah and sent
by Him with the Gospel in Truth.)

Behold! The angels said: “O Mary, Allah giveth thee Glad Tidings of
a Word from Him: his name will be Christ Jesus (Masih Isa,
Messiah Yahshua) the son of Mary, held in honor in this world and
the Hereafter, and of those nearest to Allah. Surah Al Imran (The
Family of Imran) 3:45

Christ Jesus the son of Mary was a Messenger of Allah, and His
Word which He bestowed on Mary, and a Spirit proceeding from
 30

Him: so believe in Allah and His Messengers. 4:171 Surah An Nisa

(The Women)

There are also historical documents recording the words of the Prophet
Muhammad which affirm this Truth:

2nd letter to Ashama Negus King of Ethiopia

Peace be on him who follows the guidance. I praise Allah Who alone
is to be worshipped. He is the Master of the entire universe. He is
Sublime. Only He is the haven of peace and security.

I testify that Isa (Jesus) son of Mariam (Mary) is the spirit of Allah
and His word, which He communed to Mariam the pious, and thus
she became the mother of Allah's Prophet Isa. Thus Allah created him
from His spirit and infused it into Mariam just as He made Adam with
His powerful hand.

Now I invite you to accept the obedience, sympathy, and love of Allah
Who is One and Who is without an associate. You should follow me
and should believe in the message of Allah which I have brought.

I call you and your army towards Allah Who is worthy of all respect
and esteem. I have thus discharged my duty of conveying His message
and advice. You should accept it, May peace be on the followers of the
guidance.

Letter to the Pope of Rome

Peace be on him, who believes in Allah. I am of the faith that Isa

(Jesus) son of Mariam was the Spirit of Allah and His Word! Allah
infused him in the pious Mariam.

I believe in Allah, all His Books and His Commands which he sent to
Me and which He sent to Ibrahim, Ismail, Ishaq and Yaqub and their
descendants. I also believe in what was given to Musa and Isa and
other prophets by Allah! In faith and belief, we do not differentiate in
accepting any of the prophets. We are Muslims (meaning obedient to
 31

Allah).

Peace be on him who follows the guidance.

Sahih Bukhari Volume 4, Book 55, Number 652: Narrated Abu

Huraira: Allah's Apostle said, "Both in this world and in the
Hereafter, I am the nearest of all the people to Jesus, the son of Mary.
The prophets are paternal brothers; their mothers are different, but
their religion is one."

(This term “paternal brothers” only means that all the prophets are of the
same Spirit, not that Allah "begat" them.)

From his letter to the Chiefs of Aqaba:

I assure you that I am a true Prophet of Allah. I believe in Allah, and

His Books, and His Prophets and am of the faith that Maseeh
(Messiah) son of Mariam is a Prophet of Allah and His Word.

Ubadah bin Al-Samit reported: Allah's Messenger (may peace be

upon him) observed: He who says, "There is no god but Allah, He is
One and there is no associate with Him, that Muhammad is His
servant and His messenger, that Christ is His servant and the son of
His maidservant and he is His word which He communicated to
Mary and is a spirit from Him, that Paradise is a fact and Hell is a
fact, Allah will make him enter Paradise through any of its eight
doors which he would like." [Hadith Sahih Muslim]

---------------- End of quotes from letters and sayings of Muhammad ---------

Sometimes Christians will object to the term “Prophet” being applied to

Messiah--as though that honored title is somehow demeaning to Yahshua!
However, in Luke 24:19, it is recorded that Messiah’s own disciples identify
him as “a Prophet mighty in deed and word, before God and all the
people”. Indeed, Jesus also referred to himself as a Prophet in Matthew
13:57, Mark 6:4, Luke 4:24, & John 4:44.
 32

As in the previous chapter, again I ask that the reader coming from a
Christian point of view would take some time to pray and meditate upon the
things written in this chapter before proceeding to the next chapter. There is
indeed a great difference between Christian traditional teachings on this
subject and the Truth as recorded in the Bible and Quran.

Indeed, there is even a great difference between some of the descriptions of

Jesus in the Epistles of the New Testament and the Quran’s statement that
Jesus was only the servant, Apostle, Messenger, Word and Spirit of Allah.
Such phrases applied to Jesus as “the image of the invisible God, the
firstborn of every creature” (Colossians 1:15) and “in him dwelleth all the
fullness of the Godhead bodily” (Colossians 2:9) do exalt Messiah moreso
than does the Quran.

However, all such titles and phrasings are encompassed in the fact that
Yahshua is the Word and Spirit of the Most High. Though most Muslims see
this as only meaning that the man Christ Jesus was created by a Word
spoken by Allah, the fact is that a Word of Allah is indeed very great!

In the book of Revelation 5:12, his greatness is voiced by a multitude of

angels in the heavens: Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power,
and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honor, and glory, and blessing!
Yet even in the same book of Revelation where such praise is given to him,
Messiah's name is called "the Word of God", he is not exalted as the
Almighty Himself, yet is more highly honored than any earthly king.

Only when Messiah returns to Reign in the Power of Allah and the Glory of
the Word of Allah is fully seen by all - only then will there be perfect
harmony in understanding the exact nature of Messiah. At that time Messiah
will still be faithful and true to the Only True God.

Until then, let us rejoice in the fact that Messiah will return and all evil will
be obliterated, including the evil that keeps people of Faith from loving and
understanding one another. Let us follow Jesus in his worship of and
devotion to the only True God and submit our selves to Him as he did-- for
surely that is the best kind of Christian one can be, following Jesus' example
in every respect.

Let your heart be comforted and strong in faith through the Counsel and
Mercy of Allah.
 33

Chapter Eight: Salvation by Faith

Christians generally believe that Islam is a religion teaching salvation by

works, but that Christianity teaches salvation by faith. This chapter will
briefly touch upon Scriptures from both the Bible and Quran proving that
both religions teach that true salvation by faith produces good works in the
life of the believer. Additionally, we will see that the object of faith is -- or at
least should be -- the same in both religions.

There are three major passages on this subject in the New Testament:
Ephesians 2:8-10, James 2:14-26, and Galatians 5:6.

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the
gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are His
workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath
before ordained that we should walk in them. (Ephesians 2:8-10)

What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and
have not works? Can faith save him?

If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, and one of

you say unto them, 'Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled'; not
withstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the
body; what doth it profit?

Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. Yea, a man
may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without
thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.

Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also
believe and tremble. But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith
without works is dead?
 34

Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered
Isaac his son upon the altar? Seest thou how faith wrought with his
works, and by works was faith made perfect? And the scripture was
fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto
him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. Ye see
then how that by works a man is justified and not by faith only.

Likewise also, was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she
had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?
For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is
dead also. (James 2:14-26)

For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor

uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love. (Galatians 5:6)

All three of the above passages show how faith and love work together in a
believer’s life to produce good works (acts of obedience to the known will of
God) either by way of kindness in helping someone in need or by way of
steadfastness in refusing to do evil.

These scriptures, however, are often neglected in view of another passage in

the book of Romans 3:20-28, which many Christians throughout history
have used to almost if not entirely do away with New Testament believers’
obligation to obey the law of God!

Without going into a detailed analysis of these Scriptures, let us come to the
only sensible conclusion: anyone who truly loves God will do everything
he can to please Him, especially by obeying His written commandments.
One does so, not in an effort to earn salvation, but rather to please the One
who has shown him Grace, Mercy, and forgiveness.

The Quran likewise in many places emphasizes that only those who have
faith AND good works will be granted salvation. Here are some of those
verses:

But give glad tidings to those who believe and work righteousness that their
portion is Gardens, beneath which rivers flow. Surah Al Baqarah 2:23

Those who believe (in the Qur'an), and those who follow the Jewish
 35

(scriptures), and the Christians and the Sabians, any who believe in Allah
and the Last Day, and work righteousness, shall have their reward with
their Lord; on them shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve. 2:62

It is not righteousness that ye turn your faces Towards east or West;

but it is righteousness to believe in Allah and the Last Day, and the
Angels, and the Book, and the Messengers; to spend of your
substance, out of love for Him, for your kin, for orphans, for the
needy, for the wayfarer, for those who ask, and for the ransom of
slaves; to be steadfast in prayer, and practice regular charity; to
fulfill the contracts which ye have made; and to be firm and patient,
in pain (or suffering) and adversity, and throughout all periods of
panic. Such are the people of Truth, the Allah-fearing. 2:177

Those who believe, and do deeds of righteousness, and establish

regular prayers and regular charity, will have their reward with their
Lord: on them shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve. 2:277

As to those who believe and work righteousness, Allah will pay them
(in full) their reward; but Allah loveth not those who do wrong. 3:57

Now that we have acknowledged that faith and good works are required by
both religions, more important to the discussion at hand is the object of
saving faith: what must a man believe in order to be saved from hellfire
and enter paradise?

While many will point out that the major difference between Christianity
and Islam is that Christians believe that the blood of Jesus Christ was shed to
make atonement for the sins of the world, whereas Muslims have no faith in
blood atonement, it will be shown below that the Ultimate Object of saving
faith in both religions is the Almighty Himself. Jesus said, He that believes
on me, believes NOT on me but on Him that sent me. John 12:44

Romans 3:24,25 sums up those Christians’ position very well:

Being justified freely by His (God’s) grace through the redemption

that is in Christ Jesus: whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation
through faith in his blood..."

See there, they say, it is faith in the blood of Jesus that saves men! Such
 36

Christians however need to take another look at the first clause in those
verses: Being justified freely by God’s Grace… The Mercy and forgiveness
that was offered to man through Messiah was given by God’s Grace
FREELY, and He extends that Grace, Mercy, and forgiveness to whomsoever
He wills.

As we will see, He has chosen to extend His Grace to the people of Islam,
not by negating the Truth of Messiah’s Gospel, but by circumventing the
manipulations that traditional Christian theology added to the Gospel.

Messiah himself accused the Pharisees of making the Word of God of none
effect by their traditions (Mark 7:5-13). However, several centuries after
Messiah Yahshua left this earth the same charge could effectively be leveled
against Christian churches: by teaching the three-in-One trinity doctrine,
they had made the greatest commandment of the Law of none effect! As the
Most High said through the Prophet Isaiah, “Howbeit in vain do they
worship Me, teaching for commandments the doctrines of men.”

Christians in general are so unfamiliar with the Old Testament that they are
unaware that the whole idea of blood atonement is written in the Law of
YHWH (Yahuwah), which was given through Moses to the Children of
Israel. Thus all people to whom the Law of Moses was not given should not
be expected to see the necessity of blood being shed for their sins.

To be sure the idea of a Holy and innocent person willingly suffering death
to pay the penalty for the sins of man is very moving, however even in
Christianity it is not just the death of Jesus which provides the forgiveness of
sins, but the subsequent repentance of the sinner and his calling upon the
Name of the LORD in order to be converted (changed from being a sinner to
being a righteous man).

The Quran also teaches the necessity of conversion by the Grace of God:

Verily he who comes to his Lord as a sinner (at Judgment), for him
is Hell: therein shall he neither die nor live. But such as come to Him
as Believers who have worked righteous deeds, for them are ranks
exalted, Gardens of Eternity, beneath which flow rivers: they will
dwell therein for aye: such is the reward of those who purify
themselves (from evil). Surah Ta Ha 20:74-76
 37

Now, let not my Christian friends stumble on the idea of sinners “purifying
themselves from evil”. Truly it is only possible by the Grace God bestows
for any man to be purified from evil, but the Bible also declares that man has
a part to play in his cleansing:

Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what
we shall be: but we know that, when he (Jesus) shall appear, we shall
be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath
this hope purifies himself, even as he is pure. 1John 3:2,3

These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their
robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Revelation 7:14

Of course, it is not possible for anyone to literally wash his robes in Jesus'
blood! The language used by the Bible here is symbolic of the ongoing
work of repentance and reformation that the Almighty bestows upon those
who humbly seek His forgiveness and lovingly seek grace to obey Him in
full submission to His Will.

And here is where the vital link between Christianity and Islam comes in!
The New Testament teaches that Messiah sweat great drops of blood in the
Garden of Gethsemane as he prayed to fully submit his will to the Father’s
Will (Luke 22:40-44). He was in intense agony and Hebrews 5:7 says “he
offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto Him
that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared”.

Though Muslims do not believe in blood atonement, and most don’t even
believe that Jesus died upon the cross (believing the Almighty saved him
from death even as Hebrews 5:7 infers), they DO believe that Messiah fully
submitted his will to the Father! Surely, it was for the people of Islam that
Jesus blood was shed in the garden of Gethsemane, as he submitted
himself to Allah's Will!

Yahshua’s submission to the Will of the Father is in fact what made the
offering of his blood acceptable to cleanse men from sin, if he had refused to
submit to the Father’s plan there would have been no value in him being
forced to go to the cross against his will.

Now, as to Muslims’ belief about the crucifixion and death of Messiah, here
are two passages from the Quran on the subject:
 38

Behold! Allah said: “O Jesus, I will cause thee to die and raise thee
to Myself and clear thee of those who blaspheme; I will make those
who follow thee superior to those who reject faith, to the Day of
Resurrection: then shall ye all return unto me, and I will judge
between you of the matters wherein ye dispute. 3:55

(The Jews have incurred divine Displeasure) in that they broke their
Covenant: that they rejected the Signs of Allah; that they slew the
Messengers in defiance of right; that they said…(in boast) : “We
killed Christ Jesus the son of Mary, the Messenger of Allah”, but they
killed him not, nor crucified him, only a likeness of that was shown
to them.

And those who differ therein are full of doubts, with no (certain)
knowledge, but only conjecture to follow, for of a surety they killed
him not. Nay, Allah raised him up unto Himself; and Allah is
Exalted in Power, Wise. 4:155-158

In response to these Quran verses, anyone familiar with the Gospel of John
will immediately think of Messiah’s words recorded there: No man takes
my life from me, but I lay it down of myself. (John 10:18)

The Jews were not the ones ultimately responsible for Messiah’s death on
the cross, even though they did plot to have him put to death, what happened
on the cross was due strictly to Jesus’ surrender to the Will of the Most High.

Even as Isaiah 53:10 says, it was YHWH (Yahuwah) Most High who "made
his (Messiah’s) soul an offering for sin", the Jews certainly had no intention
of Jesus being put to death for the sins of the world through their evil
assassination attempt. This fits perfectly with the Quran’s statement wherein
Allah said, “O Jesus, I will cause thee to die…”

What happened on the cross was accomplished by the determinate counsel

and foreknowledge of God (Acts 2:23), not the puny plans of wicked men.

Some will object that 3:55 in the Quran is not usually translated into English
as “O Jesus I will cause thee to die”, nevertheless that is the wording of
several English Quran translations. Other English translations of that verse
are along the lines of “O Jesus, I will take thee and raise thee to Myself.” --
 39

in which the phrase "take thee" can certainly be understood as a euphemism

for death.

It is not my purpose in quoting the above translation to make the Christian

reader think that Muslims believe in the crucifixion and death of Jesus as
Christians do. However, I am pointing out that the Christian view IS
encompassed within the apparent range of meaning in the Quran.

Considering the Key Passage in the Old Testament concerning the Day of
Atonement for Israel, Leviticus 16, we also see the necessity for Jesus to go
free if he was to bear away the sins of Israel:

And Aaron shall take of the congregation of the children of Israel two
kids of the goats for a sin offering... And he shall take the two goats,
and present them before the LORD at the door of the tabernacle of the
congregation. And Aaron shall cast lots upon the two goats: one lot
for the LORD, and the other lot for the scapegoat. And Aaron shall
bring the goat upon which the LORD's lot fell, and offer him for a sin
offering. But the goat, on which the lot fell to be the scapegoat, shall
be presented alive before the LORD, to make an atonement with him,
to let him go for a scapegoat into the wilderness.

And when he hath made an end of reconciling the holy place, and the
tabernacle of the congregation, and the altar, he shall bring the live
goat: And Aaron shall lay both his hands upon the head of the live
goat, and confess over him all the iniquities of the children of Israel,
and all their transgressions in all their sins, putting them upon the
head of the goat, and shall send him away by the hand of a fit man
into the wilderness: And the goat shall bear upon him all their
iniquities unto a land not inhabited (Hebrew a land of separation) :
and he shall let go the goat in the wilderness. Leviticus 16:5-22

We know that Yahshua (Jesus) made the atonement for Israel, but how could
the ritual of the Day of Atonement-- the scapegoat and sacrifice-- possibly
be fulfilled by him, since he was only one person? There is no sufficient
answer to that question within the present Christian understanding.

However, there are verses of the New Testament that throw some light upon
the subject, which has hardly been considered. Awareness of Messiah’s
nature is central to understanding the fulfillment of the scapegoat &
 40

sacrifice:

John 1:14 teaches that "the Word was made flesh", the only Word of God in
existence at that time, of course, was the Law (Torah) and the Writings of
the Prophets, so we can see that Yahshua was the fulfillment & embodiment
of the Law and Prophets in human flesh. When he returns to earth, he will
still be the Word of God, as shown in Revelation 19:13.

However, some New Testament verses "stand out like a sore thumb" in
describing what was slain on the cross, in opposition to the Word-made-
flesh PURE nature of Yahshua, these verses describe a definite change
in identity that took place on or before the cross:

2Corinthians 5:21 "God made Yahshua to be SIN"

(If Allah made Jesus to BE sin, then it was not the holy prophet Jesus
who died on the cross, but the body of sin.)

Romans 6:6 "our old man is crucified with, that the body of sin might
be destroyed"

Colossians 2:14 ~"the writ (legal document) of our transgressions

against the Law was nailed to the cross"~

Ephesians 2:16 "enmity to the law was slain on the cross"

Romans 8:3 "God sending His own son in the likeness of sinful flesh,
and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh"

(The first Adam was made in the likeness of Yah, the second Adam was
made in the likeness of sinful flesh, which is what perished on the cross.)

All of those verses indicate that it was NOT the Word made flesh that died
on the cross, but something else entirely: sin, enmity, transgression against
the Word, the old fallen nature of man, the likeness of sinful flesh.

Most Muslims believe that there was some sort of substitution that took
place before the cross such that it was one of Jesus' disciples that was
crucified, or Judas, Barabbas, or Simon of Cyrene. There are several Nag
Hammadi manuscripts that make mention of a spiritual substitution:
 41

The Apocalypse of Peter (excerpts)

http://www.gnosis.org/naghamm/apopet.html

As the Savior was sitting in the temple …he said to me, "Peter,
blessed are those …who are built on what is strong, that they may
hear my word, and distinguish words of unrighteousness and
transgression of law from righteousness…”

And as he was saying these things, I saw the priests and the people
running up to us with stones, as if they would kill us; and I was afraid
that we were going to die.

And he said to me, "Peter, I have told you many times that they are
blind ones who have no guide…”

"Come therefore, let us go on with the completion of the will of the

incorruptible Father. For behold, those who will bring them judgment
are coming, and they will put them to shame. But me they cannot
touch...”

When he had said those things, I saw him seemingly being seized by
them.

And I said "What do I see, O Lord? That it is you yourself whom they
take, and that you are grasping me? Or who is this one, glad and
laughing on the tree? And is it another one whose feet and hands they
are striking?"

The Savior said to me, "He whom you saw on the tree, glad and
laughing, this is the living Jesus. But this one into whose hands
and feet they drive the nails is his fleshly part, which is the
substitute being put to shame, the one who came into being in his
likeness.

First Apocalypse of James (excerpts)

http://www.gnosis.org/naghamm/1ja.html

It is the Lord who spoke with me: "See now the completion of my
redemption. I have given you a sign of these things, James, my
 42

brother... Behold, I shall reveal to you everything of this mystery. For

they will seize me the day after tomorrow, but my redemption will be
near."

James said, "Rabbi, how, after these things, will you appear to us
again? After they seize you, and you complete this destiny, you will
go up to Him-who-is."

The Lord said, "James, after these things I shall reveal to you
everything, not for your sake alone but for the sake of the unbelief of
men, so that faith may exist in them. For a multitude will attain to
faith and they will increase…

(The narration continues after the crucifixion scene at which James

was not present.)

...And the Lord appeared to him. Then he stopped (his) prayer and
embraced him. He kissed him, saying, "Rabbi, I have found you! I
have heard of your sufferings, which you endured. And I have been
much distressed...”

The Lord said, "James, do not be concerned for me or for this people.
I am he who was within me. Never have I suffered in any way, nor
have I been distressed. And this people has done me no harm.”

These considerations, of course, are extremely foreign to modern day

Christianity by virtue of the fact that the predominant form of Christianity,
before and through the Dark Ages, was the trinitarian tradition established
by Constantine and those who followed him. Their intolerance towards any
thing that countered their teachings led them to destroy any Scriptures that
they viewed as "unorthodox".

The Nag Hammadi manuscripts were hidden ~400AD to keep them from
being destroyed by totalitarian trinitarians and were only found in 1945; as
such they present clear evidence of the Christian understanding of the
substitutionary atonement which was recorded in writing centuries before
the Quran was revealed.

Besides all that, have you ever really thought about the crucifixion? The idea
the Bible expresses is that Jesus was offered as a sacrifice for the sins of the
 43

world. Why then does the New Testament present him as dying such a
gruesome death?

All of the animal sacrifices in the Law --which prefigured Jesus' sacrifice--
were slain as gently and humanely as possible, by having their throats slit so
they'd quickly bleed to death with minimal pain. Jesus on the other hand,
according to the gospels, was first mocked, spat upon, slapped, had his beard
pulled out, had a crown of thorns stuck onto his head, was beaten savagely,
then made to carry a heavy cross uphill, then nailed to that cross through his
hands and feet, then suspended on the cross until he died.

What is WRONG with this picture? Did God have more regard for the
animals he ordered slain as sacrifices according to the Law, than He did for
His own Son? If Jesus' blood just had to be shed, why didn't the Almighty
have Jesus' enemies to humanely slit his throat? His ordeal would have been
over with in a few minutes with relatively little pain!

The picture of the crucifixion drawn by the New Testament is NOT so

much of Messiah fulfilling the Law of blood atonement by shedding his
blood for the sins of the world, but is rather a picture of God pouring
out His Wrath on the body that was nailed to the cross.

That is why it is so important for believers to understand that Yahshua was

made to be sin before the crucifixion (2Corinthians 5:21). To any thinking
person, it is totally unacceptable for the Almighty to show such wrath
against His precious Prophet, the Messiah. Understanding, however, that He
wanted to show His wrath against sin makes perfect sense.

He so despises the sins of mankind that He has allowed the grievous

scene of the crucifixion to be presented before the eyes of the world as a
major consideration for nearly two thousand years now. Yet Christianity
hardly seems to have made the right application of that scene in all that time!

The major lesson to be drawn from the crucifixion is not how nice it was for
Jesus to die for our sins, it is BEHOLD the awful wrath that the Almighty
poured out on that body nailed to the tree: that's how He feels about your
sin! For any who would object that it was only Yahshua's enemies and not
Yah who showed His wrath on the cross, remember that Isaiah 53 foretold
that YHWH Himself would "make Jesus' soul an offering for sin" and "it
pleased the LORD to bruise him".
 44

The understanding of the fact that Jesus was somehow made to be sin is the
only plausible explanation for such wrath and woe to fall upon him. Though
it is far beyond us to determine how Jesus became sin, it should be a major
article of the Christian faith to believe and understand that he DID!

After the crucifixion, according to the gospels, Jesus was resurrected in the
same (yet glorified) body that was nailed to the tree, but that takes nothing
away from the fact that spiritually or figuratively that body had become sin
before being crucified.

Jesus certainly submitted himself to the Will of God prior to the crucifixion,
his enemies certainly intended to crucify him and to all appearances they did
so. However, in the eyes of the Almighty it was SIN that was nailed to the
tree, so that the body of sin might be destroyed among those who were to
believe and follow Jesus.

For a Bible believer, that is the only possible way to interpret the Wrath of
God that was poured out upon the body that was crucified. The main lesson
of Calvary is that all believers are to DIE TO SIN, or else they will eternally
experience the same Wrath shown on Calvary.

Also, deeply consider the words of Hebrews 5:7 describing Jesus:

in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and

supplications with strong crying and tears unto Him that was able to
save him from death, and was heard in that he feared.

Being "heard in that he feared" most logically means that he WAS somehow
saved from death! The key to understanding that is in the fact that Jesus' life
wasn't limited to or bound in the body that was made to be sin, so that he
was lifted up above the pain and shame his enemies thought to put upon
him. In John 3:13, Jesus stated that he was IN heaven at that time-- not
bound to life in the body here upon earth.

Why should Christians insist upon the necessity of death for Jesus anyway?
The penalty for sin is NOT just death, but eternity in hellfire! If Jesus had
to pay the full penalty for the sins of the world, he would not just have to die
vicariously, but to burn eternally!
 45

Remember what Jesus said in John 6:53, "except ye eat my flesh and drink
my blood ye have no life in you"? He meant that figuratively, not literally
or physically, and he stressed that it was of the utmost importance. So if
eating his flesh and drinking his blood is figurative, why do people object to
his offering of himself on the cross being figurative as well?

Christians eat bread as a figurative substitute for Messiah's

physical body to receive his spiritual life, and drink wine as
a figurative substitute for his physical blood for the same
reason, so why is a figurative substitution on the cross
objectionable and not rather to be expected and accepted?

According to Luke's gospel, Jesus sweat blood in the Garden of Gethsemane

as he submitted himself to the Will of Allah while facing the threat of death
on the cross. His submission to Allah then and there accomplished all that
was necessary to follow, and submission to Allah's Will is what all believers
must necessarily actualize in their own lives as well. Jesus' literal, physical,
flesh and blood are not what is important, but the spiritual life derived from
his submission to Allah IS important.

The Bible teaches that "the soul (life) of the flesh is in the blood" (Leviticus
17:11) and that "the soul that sins shall die" (Ezekiel 18:4), BUT Jesus never
sinned so how could his soul die?

His soul didn't die, but the soul of Jesus (his life=submission to Allah's Will)
was transferred into the souls of those who believe in him, just as the sins of
those who believe on him were transferred into the body of sin destroyed on
the tree. There is a definite transfiguration which took place both on the
cross AND which takes place in the lives of those who truly follow Jesus!

From the viewpoint of these Revelations in the New Testament and Quran,
people of faith can see beyond all that appeared to happen on the cross, into
the reality of what all was accomplished there: Allah’s Will triumphed as the
schemes of the wicked failed. (1Corinthians 2:8)

One final and significant question needs to be addressed here: WHY would
the Almighty allow mankind in general to believe that Jesus was crucified
and died for their sins for over 600 years and then suddenly give implication
 46

via the Quran that Jesus did not die on the cross?

I believe that happened because the bulk of Christianity historically

misrepresented the crucifixion as giving man an ongoing pardon for sin,
instead of being the ultimate illustration of how necessary it is for man to
DEPART from sin in this life in order to attain salvation.

In fact, by the seventh century AD, historical Christianity had departed so far
from the truth as to actually make an IDOL of Christ on the cross, using it in
their system of worship and even bowing down before it, as if such worship
would free them from sin instead of utterly condemning them!

The Crucifix is still used in the worship services of many Christians today,
as it still occupies the dominant position of the central altar in Catholic
churches. For that matter, its Protestant counterpart, the cross idol, likewise
occupies the dominant position of the altars of many non-Catholic Christian
churches. That explains why Jesus will "break the cross" when he returns.

Thus the Most High treated institutional Christianity according to Proverbs

21:22: The Wise scales the City of the mighty, and casts down the
strength of the confidence thereof.

After the first three centuries A.D. it was well established that Christianity as
a whole would continue its downward spiral of worldly compromise and
spiritual error, therefore Yah cast down the strength of the confidence of
that false religious system by casting down the strength of its confidence
in the cross! Though He did so in an offhand way, in denying that the Jews
accomplished their boast of killing Messiah, He also cast down the strength
of the confidence of carnal Christianity by giving Islamic forces victory in
battle against them.

Though Christians and Muslims have been at extreme odds ever since over
just what happened on the cross, thinking Christians should have understood
what the Quran means and promoted the right view of Calvary: that
according to the Law, the holy prophet Yahshua went free as the Atonement
scapegoat and that according to New Testament Revelation, the body of sin
was instead nailed to the tree.

I realize that the above viewpoints are difficult for a traditional Christian to
 47

accept or even consider, however we are promised in these last days that
"the wise shall understand" (Daniel 12:10), and I present this writing as the
only possible comprehensive solution of the whole dilemma. As ever, Allah
knows best: any errors here are mine, and the whole Truth is His alone.

No matter what you believe happened on Calvary, Jesus' part was only to
submit himself to the Father, anything else that took place there was due
to the subsequent actions of others rather than him. So faith in Jesus'
Atonement is faith in his submission-- not necessarily in his death.

As mentioned before, since Muslims fully believe in the submission of

Yahshua, and they fully believe in submitting their wills to the Most High as
well, Christians should understand how the Atonement is applied to Muslims
who ask Him to forgive and cleanse them from sin!

Here is a prayer from the Quran:

"Our Lord! We have heard the call of one calling us to Faith, 'Believe
ye in the Lord', and we have believed. Our Lord! Forgive us our sins,
blot out from us our iniquities, and take to Thyself our souls in the
company of the righteous.

Our Lord! Grant us what Thou didst promise unto us through Thy
Messengers and save us from shame on the Day of Judgement: For
Thou never breakest Thy promise." 3:193,194

Here again, faith in ALL the Messengers of the Most High is shown to be
part of Islamic faith, Muslims believe in and cry out in prayer to receive
what Allah promised through ALL His Prophets: among those promises
are the ones made through Yahshua for forgiveness, cleansing, and
freedom from sin.

Who can deny that the Almighty, the Most Gracious, Most Merciful,
Cherisher and Sustainer of the Worlds is well able and willing to cleanse and
forgive the sins of those who repent and believe in the Revelations He sent
to man through His servants the prophets? Remember, God is not willing
that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance (2Peter 3:9).

Ultimately, it is even as YHWH (YaHuWaH) told Moses:

 48

I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy to

whom I will show mercy. Exodus 33:19 (repeated by Paul in Romans 9:15).

In the Quran, the same thought is expressed like this:

…All bounties are in the hand of Allah: He grants them to whom He

pleases: and Allah cares for all, and He knows all things. For His
Mercy He specially chooses whom He pleases: for Allah is the Lord
of bounties unbounded. 3:73 74

Especially considering the fact that historical Christianity misled mankind

away from the Truth of the Only True God by the confusing trinity doctrine
and other traditions which make the Word of God of none effect, the Most
High was fully just and extremely Merciful to open up Islam as another
testimony of His Mercy:

Islam acknowledges the Truth of the Gospel Jesus preached, thus faith in
Messiah’s Gospel is inherent in Islam. However Muslims are directed by the
Quran not to compromise with Christians, so that they do not go astray as
Christians did:

To thee (Muhammad) We sent the Scripture in Truth, confirming the

Scripture that came before it, and guarding it in safety: so judge
between them by what Allah hath revealed, and follow not their vain
desires, diverging from the Truth that hath come to thee. To each
among you have We prescribed a Law and an Open Way.

If Allah had so willed, He would have made you a single People, but
(His Plan) is to test you in what He hath given you: so strive as in a
race in all virtues. The goal of you all is to Allah; it is He that will
show you the Truth of the matters in which ye dispute; and this (He
commands):

Judge thou between them by what Allah hath revealed, and follow not
their vain desires, but beware of them lest they beguile thee from
any of that (teaching) which Allah hath sent down to thee. 5:48,49
The Table Spread

Thus there is a clear line of demarcation between Muslims and Christians as

far as the details of salvation by faith, but it can also be seen that, at heart
 49

the two religions are One: both calling for repentance from sin, reformation
of character, utter dependence upon the precious Grace of the Most High,
belief in His Prophets and total submission to His Will. Indeed none of this
can be accomplished by man without the Help of Him who cares for All, yet
He is faithful to GIVE us His Grace in accord with all the promises He made
in the Revelations He has sent to man.

At this point, it is my prayer that the Christian reader may now see Light in
the Quran which he had previously never imagined to be there! Again I ask
that you carefully consider the words you’ve read and submit yourself to the
Truth even as the Spirit of Truth guides you: always remember His precious
promise to guide you into all Truth!

Those whom Allah wills to guide, he opens their heart to Islam;

those whom He wills to leave straying, he makes their heart close
and constricted, as if they had to climb up to the skies: thus doth
Allah lay abomination on those who refuse to believe. Surah Al
An'am (Cattle) 6:125

Once Allah opened up my heart to Islam, I realized that a true Christian is

submitted to the Most High as Jesus was and that makes him a Muslim!

I could easily say that I am both Christian and Muslim in that I continue to
follow Jesus in submission to Allah, yet I believe it necessary to proclaim
the clear truth of Islam and proclaim myself a Muslim in order to stand clear
from the historical confusion of Christian dogma. The last thing this world
needs is yet another Christian denomination!

May all who read this make the same realization and find Peace in the same
understanding. May Peace be with you!
 50

Chapter Nine: The Comforter, The Spirit of Truth

What a great promise was made through Messiah Yahshua : When the Spirit
of Truth is come, he will guide you into all truth (John 16:13)! Many
Muslims believe that Jesus’ words here and the term Paraclete refer to the
coming of Muhammad, and if Christians applied to him the same sort of
“out of context” interpretations of prophecy as are applied to Jesus in the
New Testament, there would be no objections to passages such as Isaiah
21:13-17, 29:12, & John 16:13-15 being applied to the Prophet Muhammad.

(As for Jesus prophesying specificly to the coming of Ahmed in the Quran
61:6, the best remaining text of Christian scripture bearing witness to his
words is the Coptic Apocalypse of Peter, mentioned earlier. There
Muhammad is referred to as “the one who gives praise” and Jesus says
further of him, “he whom you saw coming to me is our intellectual
completion which unites the perfect light with my Holy Spirit”)

Though Muslims also view “Spirit of Truth” as a reference to the angel

Gabriel, overall the term generally includes all the spiritual workings of the
Most High to reveal Truth to man through the ages. My own experience with
the Spirit of Truth has given me an open heart to Islam and in this chapter I
will share the Scriptural reasoning that convinced me of the Truth of Islam.

The first consideration, of course, for anyone coming from a Christian

perspective, is “How can we know that the religion of Islam is of God?”
1John 4:2 provides the answer to that question:

Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus
Christ is come in the flesh is of God.

As seen already, the Quran confirms that Jesus Christ came in the flesh,
so Islam is "of God" according to 1John 4:2! The peace that this
confirmation of Truth bestows upon the seeker should not be taken lightly;
indeed it is most precious and wonderful.

Now, if Christians have been faithful throughout the ages to be guided by the
 51

Spirit of Truth into all Truth, why is it that there have been such awful
contentions, persecutions, and warfare among the Christian people? Jesus
himself had prayed that those who believed on him would be one- united in
truth, yet that is NOT the history of Christianity at all.

Considering the changes made in the teachings of Messiah by Christian

theologians it is no wonder that Messiah’s prayer for his followers seems to
have gone unanswered! The Quran states that fact of history very plainly:

From those, too, who call themselves Christians, We did take a

Covenant, but they forgot a good part of the Message that was sent
them: so We stirred up enmity and hatred between the one and the
other to the Day of Judgment. And soon will Allah show them what it
is they have done. 5:14

The awful glaring Truth of the verse above should cause the hearts of all
who love Scripture to tremble: when men reject any part of the Message
given to them by Revelation, they make themselves enemies of the Spirit of
Truth and are given to wander in error!

The New Testament states this same principle in different words. Writing
about the Enemy of Truth, the anti-Christ (Dajjal), the Apostle Paul wrote:

“…whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and
signs and lying wonders, and with all deceivableness of
unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the
love of the Truth that they might be saved . And for this cause, God
shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: that
they all might be damned who believed not the Truth, but had
pleasure in unrighteousness.” 2Thessalonians 2:9-12

It is not my intent that any reader should be overwhelmed by the

grievousness of these passages of Scripture just quoted, especially
considering the fact that there is such wonderful Mercy with the Most High
that He has fully answered Messiah’s prayer that his followers all be one!

As Christian history shows, for the most part, Christians are NOT united as
one, but in Islam the followers of Messiah have been united! That may
seem a very strange statement to someone unfamiliar with Islam, for
Christians do not at all consider Muslims to be followers of Messiah!
 52

However, let us realize that Muslims worship the Same God that Messiah
Yahshua worshipped (see Appendix 2) and they are seeking to fully submit
their wills to Him even as Messiah did! That fact should greatly gladden the
hearts of anyone who truly loves Messiah.

Anyone coming from a Christian perspective has surely been grieved over
the years by the lack of unity and the variance of opinion among those who
call themselves Christians. Consider the earnest exhortations written by Paul
to the effect of calling Christians to unity:

Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,
that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among
you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in
the same judgment… that ye stand fast in one Spirit, with one mind
striving together for the faith of the Gospel. 1Corinthians 1:10 &
Philippians 1:27

Surely the Spirit of Truth HAS worked among Christians to make them one
ever since Messiah uttered the words of that precious prayer, but the
historical fact of enmity and hatred among those who profess to follow
Christ is a very convincing proof of the veracity of the Quran. And it is very
comforting to understand that the servants of the Most High ARE united as
one in Islam!

Indeed, Islam is a religion built upon the principle of Unity. First of all, by
placing great emphasis on the Truth that there is Only One True God, it
follows that all men who were made by Him are equal, each one wholly
dependant upon Him for the Grace to live righteously. Muslims are
beautifully united as one by the daily prayers prescribed for us in the Quran
and illustrated by the life of the Prophet Muhammad.

Here is a short article which was written by a Christian describing the

worldwide prayers of Muslims, see now what a Beautiful thing it is that we
can join together praying with fellow believers worldwide:

If it were possible to take a spaceship and fly high above the

earth and observe mankind with a powerful telescope, we could
see the prayer ritual of Islam sweeping across our globe like a
mighty wave five times a day as millions of Muslims bow to
 53

the ground in worship.

At dawn, as soon as one can distinguish between a white and a

black thread, the prayer of the Muslim begins in the
Philippines. The first wave of worship surges over Indonesia,
Malaysia, Bangladesh, India, then Iran and Turkey. Finally it
reaches Europe, at which time the second wave of worship
begins at noon for the Muslims in China. This new wave will
have reached India and the 45 million Muslims in Central Asia
just as a third wave will have started at 3 p.m. for afternoon
prayers in the Far East.

These three waves of worship follow each other successively,

moulding and determining life under the Islamic culture. At this
time, as dawn is breaking on the east coast of America with its
morning prayer, Muslims in the Nile Valley are bowing down in
the heat of their noon prayer and in Pakistan men are gathering
in their mosques for afternoon prayer. When the final wave of
the Muslim night prayer begins in the Far East two hours after
sunset, simultaneously the rays of the setting sun touch the
worshippers in the Ganges Delta, while pilgrims in Mecca bow
down for afternoon prayer before the black stone in the Ka'ba.
At that moment the second prayer wave has already reached
faithful Muslims in the high Atlas Mountains in Morocco, while
the first waves breaks with the early morning dawn in the
Rocky Mountains of America.

These five prayer waves unite millions of Muslims in worship

of their God. Islam is a religion of adoration and worship. Many
Muslims pray earnestly and with great reverence, disciplining
themselves by repeating their liturgical prayers 17 times a day.

Very early in the morning, the muezzins call from the minarets
of the mosques, often through loudspeakers, over the roofs of
the houses to all the people: "Arise to prayer! Arise to success!
Prayer is better than sleep!"

Unless Christians rethink their prayer practices and discipline

themselves into regular and intensive prayer for Muslims, they
should not be astonished that Islam defies the attempts of
 54

mission societies and rises to challenge a tired Christianity.

Another wonderful facilitation of unity among Muslims is the month of

Ramadan, in which all Muslims are commanded to fast together during the
daylight hours, giving special emphasis during the whole month to reading
the Quran, prayer, and effectively working out their faith.

Perhaps the best witness available from the Spirit of Truth is for us to
consider the actual daily prayer of Muslims. Let me stress from the outset
that this is the outward form of the prayer only which I’m presenting here.
Many Christians would unjustly characterize these prayers as “vain
repetitions”; however let all realize that the heart of these prayers is in the
“many personal supplications” that are made during the time of prostration.

While praying together with other Muslims, of course, there are some time
constraints limiting the amount of personal supplications one can make.
However, the Prophet Muhammad spent hours praying alone and his
example is what Muslims follow: they also spend time making personal
supplications, they don’t just repeat the words of these prayers as ritual. That
said, here is the outline of the prayers of Islam:

(Translation of Islamic prayers)

Raise hands and say "Allaahu Akbar, O Allah, keep me from my
sins as far as You have separated the east from the west. O
Allah, cleanse me of my sins as the white garment is cleansed
from soiling. Wash off my sins with water, snow and hail.”

or say instead:

"O Allah, You are free from imperfection, and I begin with
praising You. Blessed is Your Name, Exalted is Your Majesty
and Glory. There is no true God but you."

"I seek protection of Allah against the accursed Satan."

Recite Al-Fatihah (1st chapter of Quran): "In the name of Allah,

Most gracious, Most merciful. Praise be to Allah, the Cherisher
and Sustainer of the worlds: Most gracious, Most merciful.
Master of the Day of Judgement. Thee do we worship, and
Thine aid we seek. Show us the straight way, the way of those
 55

on whom Thou hast bestowed Thy grace, those whose portion is

not wrath, and who go not astray."

(Recite at least three other Quran verses)

Rukuu (hands on knees, bowing) "Allaahu Akbar, my LORD,
the Greatest is free from imperfection" (three times).
(stand & raise hands) "Allah hears the one who praises Him."

(place arms over chest, right over left) "Our LORD, praise is
for You, praises plentiful and blessings as to fill the heavens,
the earth, and what is between, and to fill that which pleases
You besides them."

"You deserve all praise and all glory. Your praising is the best
and most true of whatever Your servant can say, we are all your
servants. O Allah, there is none to withhold what You give and
there is none to give what You withhold. Riches and worldly
fortune will not suffice the one who owns it in lieu of You."

"Allaahu Akbar" (kneel and bow face to ground) "My LORD,

the Supreme is free from imperfection" (three times)

Make many personal supplications, such as "O LORD, give my

soul devoutness and purify it, for none other than Thou can
purify it. Thou art its LORD and Master."

"Allaahu Akbar" (sit on feet, palms on knees) "O my LORD,

forgive me, have mercy on me, guide me, console me, provide
me with sustenance, and render me healthy and strong."

"Allaahu Akbar" (kneel and bow face to ground) repeat praises:

"My LORD, the Supreme is free from imperfection" (3 times)

"Allaahu Akbar" (sit on feet)

"The endless existence of Allah, prayers and good deeds are all
due to Allah. May Allah grant the Prophet safety from
derogatory things and grant him mercy and honor. May
security from evil be granted to us and to all the righteous
servants of Allah. I testify that there is no true God except
 56

Allah, and I testify that Muhammad is the servant of Allah and

His Messenger. O Allah, honor Muhammad and his household
as you honored Abraham and his household. Verily You are the
Praised and the Glorified."

"You are most praised, most glorious my LORD, I seek your

protection from the torment of Hell, from the torment of the
grave, from the trials of life and after death, and from the
imposter Masihi dajaal (antiChrist). "

"Assalaam Aleykum" (to right and left) (end of prayer)

I ask here that Christian readers would carefully consider the words of this
prayer: can you see that these words express the desires of your own heart
towards worship as well?

In the light of the prayer of Islam, take a fresh look at the prophetic
utterances of Psalm 50:

Al Allahum, He Who Is Exalted, hath spoken and called the

earth from the rising of the sun unto the going down thereof.
Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty Allahum hath shined.

Our Allahum shall come, and shall not keep silence: a fire shall
devour before Him, and it shall be very tempestous round about
Him. He shall call to the heavens from above, and to the earth,
that He may judge His people.

Gather My saints together unto Me; those that have made a

Covenant with me by sacrifice. And the heavens shall declare
His righteousness: for Allahum is Judge Himself. Selah.

Hear, O My people, and I will speak; O Israel, and I will testify

against thee: I am Allahum, thy Allahum.

I will not reprove thee for thy sacrifices or thy burnt offerings
continually before Me. I will take no bullock out of thy house,
nor he goats out of thy folds. For every beast of the forest is
Mine, the cattle upon a thousand hills. I know all the fowls of
the mountains: and the wild beasts of the field are mine. If I
 57

were hungry, I would not tell thee: for the world is Mine, and
the fullness thereof. Will I eat the flesh of bulls, or drink the
blood of goats?

Offer unto Allahum thanksgiving; and pay thy vows unto the
Most High: And call upon Me in the day of trouble: I will
deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify Me.

But unto the wicked Allahum saith, What hast thou to do to

declare My statutes, or that thou shouldest take My Covenant in
thy mouth? Seeing thou hatest instruction, and castest My
Words behind thee. When thou sawest a thief, then thou
consentest with him, and hast been partaker with adulterers.
Thou givest thy mouth to evil, and thy tongue frameth deceit.
Thou sittest and speakest against thy brother; thou slanderest
thine own mother's son. These things hast thou done, and I
kept silence; thou thoughtest that I was as thyself : I will
reprove thee and set them in order before thine eyes.

Now consider this, ye that forget Allah, lest I tear you

in pieces and there is none to deliver:

Whoso offers praise glorifies Me: and to him that

orders his conversation aright will I show the
salvation of Allahum.

Islam is all about offering praise to Allah Most High and ordering our
whole lifestyle aright! Be careful lest you be torn in pieces for speaking
against and slandering Muslims who praise our Maker and order their
lives to His Will!

FOR INDEED, ISLAM IS THE FULFILLMENT OF THE

EVERLASTING GOSPEL MENTIONED IN REVELATION 14:7:

"Fear God and give glory to Him; for the hour of His judgement
is come: and worship Him that made heaven and earth and the
sea and the fountains of waters."
 58

May we all drink of those fountains of living water as the Spirit of Truth
leads us into a perfect heart of worship and praise to the Most High!
Chapter Ten:
Prophetic Parallels/Objections Answered

(The words in this chapter came forth in Ramadan 2003, during a debate
with Christians about Islam. The constant theme is that history has been
foretold within the pages of Scripture and that any objections against Islam
can be answered thereby.)

And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son
of man be lifted up: That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but
have eternal life. John 3:14

John 8:28 Then said Jesus unto them, When ye have lifted up the Son of
man, then shall ye know that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself; but as
my Father hath taught me, I speak these things.

John 12:32 And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto
me.
=====================================================
It is very significant that this passage begins with the type and shadow from
the Old Testament, the brazen serpent mentioned in Numbers 21:4-9

And they journeyed from mount Hor by the way of the Red sea,
to compass the land of Edom: and the soul of the people was
much discouraged because of the way.

And the people spake against God, and against Moses,

Wherefore have ye brought us up out of Egypt to die in the
wilderness? for there is no bread, neither is there any water;
and our soul loatheth this light bread.

And the LORD sent fiery serpents among the people, and they
bit the people; and much people of Israel died.

Therefore the people came to Moses, and said, We have sinned,

 59

for we have spoken against the LORD, and against thee; pray
unto the LORD, that he take away the serpents from us. And
Moses prayed for the people.

And the LORD said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent,
and set it upon a pole: and it shall come to pass, that every one
that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live.

And Moses made a serpent of brass, and put it upon a pole, and
it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he
beheld the serpent of brass, he lived.
=====================================================
2Kings 18:3-4 And Hezekiah did that which was right in the sight of the
LORD, according to all that David his father did. He removed the high
places, and brake the images, and cut down the groves, and brake in pieces
the brazen serpent that Moses had made: for unto those days the children
of Israel did burn incense to it: and he called it Nehushtan (a piece of
brass).
====================================================

Jesus said that he, the Son of man, must be lifted up just as Moses lifted up
the serpent of brass in the wilderness. I've always had trouble with the
symbolism of Jesus being foreshadowed by a serpent, but nevertheless the
rest of the parallel is exact: those who believed enough to look upon the
serpent of brass were saved from death and those who believe in the name of
Jesus Christ are saved from death unto eternal life.

So just how has Jesus been lifted up? He was lifted up upon the cross (tree)
to die, he was lifted up from the grave, he's been lifted up in the preaching
of the gospel unto all the world such that all men are drawn unto him.

Most significant to our considerations though, in gory fulfillment of

Numbers 21, a bloodied image of his body has been lifted up on a cross as
the central feature above the main altar in Catholic churches for ~1500
years and incense has been burned before that image as well!

Once the cross was idolized—as the brazen serpent was idolized—it had
to be destroyed. That will finally be accomplished upon the return of Jesus,
when the Glory of Allah fills the earth. When men entirely disregarded the
instructions and commandments of the Almighty to make that crucifix idol
 60

(among all their other violations of His Word), Yah brought their European
civilization into the Dark Ages.

About the same time, He brought Arabia out of paganism through the
teachings of the Quran and raised them from being scattered nomadic tribes
into a mighty nation. It was even as John the Baptist prophesied: God is able
of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham. Matthew 3:1-9

Sure enough, after the bulk of the children of Israel rejected their Messiah
and after most of those who said they were Christians rejected the Laws of
the LORD and set up their own traditions opposed to His Word, the
Almighty DID raise up children to Abraham from the stones!

He visited the Arabian people-- natural descendants of Abraham through

Ishmael-- who in times past had made for themselves idols of stone and by
doing so had been made like unto stones themselves (Psalm 115:8). He
delivered them from their idolatry to worship the One True God and gave
them a certain faith in the Messiah of Israel along with Laws and
guidance by which to live.

At the time the Quran was given to the Prophet Muhammad, Christianity
worldwide was a scattered religion made up of mostly Catholic idolaters and
diverse varying sects.

The Quran didn't point the Muslims back to try to reclaim the original purity
of Christianity; it pointed them back to Abraham who was justified by faith
in obedience to the Most High. Muhammad acknowledged that Jesus is the
Messiah of Israel, the Word of God supernaturally conceived in Mary's
womb, whose Gospel is Truth but whose followers forgot a good portion of
what they were taught (like the prohibition against making idols).

Muslims DO believe in the name of Jesus Christ, that he came in the flesh,
lived in obedience to the Almighty, departed this world in His Will, and shall
return to reign on earth. That's not enough to satisfy most Christians I
realize, since Muslims don't believe in blood atonement at all (that is a
feature of the Law of Moses, which they were never under) and most don't
even believe that Jesus’ blood was shed.

Is it so horrible to believe that Muslims could receive forgiveness for their

sins if they live faithfully after turning to the Most High in repentance and
 61

subsequent submission to His will? No more horrible than to believe that

Abraham was justified by faith without specific belief in the shed blood of a
future Messiah.

Are Christians really justified in believing that the Muslims only hope is to
accept the whole of Christian theology --considering the mess that Christians
have made politically as well as theologically throughout the earth for the
last 1700 years???

Christian history shows that there was a great falling away from the Biblical
faith and a religion of superstition and idolatry was set up instead of the
authentic faith taught by Jesus of Nazareth. That superstition and idolatry is
still the most prominent witness of Christianity in the whole earth.

Yet it still disturbs some to think that the Almighty would actually extend
His forgiveness to people without making them conform to all the details of
Christian dogma!

Yes, the scriptures of the New Testament make it clear that the blood of
Jesus was shed to make propitiation for the sins of the whole world. Yet it
about blows some Christians out of the water to think that even the One who
caused that blood to be shed could impute righteousness to Muslims, who
don't have faith in that blood even though they believe that Jesus is the
Messiah who came in the flesh, preached the Truth, and submitted himself to
the Will of the Most High!

Christians understand that because the Jews failed to live up to (Torah) the
revelation they had from Yah, it opened the door of faith for the "Gentiles"
in order to provoke the Jews to jealousy. But for the most part, Christians
have yet to grasp the fact that because "Gentile" Christians failed to live up
to the revelation they received from Yahshua, it opened up the door of faith
to Muslims: they were given a revelation from the Most High in order to
provoke Christians to jealousy!

The whole New Testament is a type and shadow for us to consider: the Jews
had been given the Truth in the Torah revealed through Moses, yet their
traditions had made it of none effect to a very large extent. They trusted in
the Temple worship system as their pride and joy. Jesus was then sent by the
Most High to preach against their traditions (though he honored and
magnified the Law).
 62

He purposely offended them by saying, Destroy this temple and I will raise
it up in three days, without bothering to explain that he was referring to the
temple of his body and not the actual Temple building. He further offended
them by saying that the Temple would be destroyed and the Kingdom of
God would be taken away from them and given to a nation bringing forth the
fruits thereof.

Flash forward 600 years: Christians had been given the Truth in fulfillment
of the Law through the Gospel revealed through Jesus, yet their traditions
had practically made it of none effect. The Prophet Muhammad was sent by
the Most High into pagan Arabia to teach against Christian traditions
(though he honored and magnified the words of Christ). He foretold that
Jesus would return to destroy Christian idolatry and that the Kingdom of
God would fill the earth.

As a result of Muhammad's preaching, Arabia came out of paganism into a

faith acknowledging Jesus as the Messiah, yet doesn't require faith in blood
atonement because Christian tradition had made it of none effect.

King David got the revelation about blood atonement not being what Yah
really desired: Sacrifice and offering Thou didst not desire: mine ears hast
Thou opened: burnt offering and sin offering hast Thou not required.
Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the Book it is written of me, I
delight to do Thy will, O my God, yea, Thy law is within my heart. (Psalm
40:6-8)

Yah doesn't want ANY people stuck in a religion that teaches that the blood
of Jesus washes away their sins even as they continue daily to commit those
sins! Face the fact that Christianity, to a large extent, HAS taught that error!

Yah wants a people who delight to do His Will and He opened up the Way
for all people to do so: justification by faith in His Word producing a life
of righteousness. Stop trying to suggest that it is some "other way": it's the
ONLY WAY YAH EVER MADE, despite many other differences in His
various covenants with man.

"God" hasn't been off in the clouds daydreaming for the last two thousand
years, He's been paying close attention. In response to historical Christian
idolatry, He visited the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the
 63

third and fourth generation of them that hate Him. (Though He has shown
Mercy to those who love Him and keep His commandments.)

Those that worship blind idols become like the idols they worship, so that
blindness in part came upon the people of Christianity, even as blindness in
part came upon Israel. Even as gentiles obtained mercy through Jewish
unbelief, so Muslims obtained mercy through Christian unbelief: Yah
extended His mercy to them by circumventing the corruptions of Christian
tradition that presented the Blood of the Covenant as an unholy thing.

I'm not suggesting at all that Jesus' Blood has lost its power to cleanse the
soul of sin, Yah is ever faithful to His Word and He still imputes that Blood
and the righteousness of Christ to those who walk worthy of it. But how can
anyone think that He's bound to enforce Christian dogma upon all people
when Christians throughout history have so corrupted Pure Religion?

"Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are
covered. Blessed is the man to whom the LORD will not impute sin
and in whose spirit there is no guile." Psalm 32:1,2

If you've freely received mercy and forgiveness through the Blood of Jesus,
your priestly duty is to freely give: "sprinkle" that blood upon all people by
prayer and offering spiritual sacrifices to the effect that they will also receive
mercy and attain to righteousness through faith in the Life of Jesus (1Peter
1:2; 2:5).

Since the Life is in the Blood, faith in Christ's Life IS faith in his Blood.
May Yah be pleased to extend that Life to all who believe on the name of
Jesus Christ.

I believe that the Most High looks into the heart of each man to decide if he
is worthy to receive eternal life through his faith, so I believe that the Most
High is able to extend His mercy and forgiveness to Muslims who truly
submit their lives to Him.

Considering how He feels about a "holier-than-thou attitude", I won't

condemn anyone who has any degree of belief in Jesus Christ, unless his
works are not in accord with his professed faith. Just like Christians,
Muslims will be judged eternally as to whether the life they live is in accord
with their faith or not.
 64

Christian debaters have pointed out that some Islamic nations are poverty
stricken and have oppressive governments ruling them and these Christians
insist that such Islamic nations are cursed because of Islam. Yet I believe
such Muslim nations are cursed because of their governments practicing
oppressions forbidden by true Islam, such as unjust persecution of Christians
and other people.

The Quran only justifies punishing evildoers and forbids compulsion in

matters of religion. Specificly, Muhammad prohibited unjust persecution of
Christians:

THE CHARTER OF PRIVILEGES

This is a message from Muhammad ibn Abdullah, as a covenant

to those who adopt Christianity, near and far, we are with them.

Verily I, the servants, the helpers, and my followers defend

them, because Christians are my citizens; and by Allah! I hold
out against anything that displeases them.

No compulsion is to be on them. Neither are their judges to be

removed from their jobs nor their monks from their
monasteries. No one is to destroy a house of their religion, to
damage it, or to carry anything from it to the Muslims' houses.

Should anyone take any of these, he would spoil God's

covenant and disobey His Prophet. Verily, they are my allies
and have my secure charter against all that they hate.

No one is to force them to travel or to oblige them to fight. The

Muslims are to fight for them. If a female Christian is married
to a Muslim, it is not to take place without her approval. She is
not to be prevented from visiting her church to pray. Their
churches are to be respected. They are neither to be prevented
from repairing them nor the sacredness of their covenants.
 65

No one of the nation (Muslims) is to disobey the covenant till

the Last Day (end of the world)."

(Such were the memorable words of Prophet Muhammad in the

year 628 CE, when he granted this historic document, also
known as the Charter of Privileges, to the monks of St.
Catherine Monastery in Mt. Sinai. It consisted of several
clauses covering all aspects of human rights including such
topics as the protection of Christians living under Islamic rule,
freedom of worship and movement, freedom to appoint their
own judges and to own and maintain their property, exemption
from military service, and the right to protection in war.

The English translated text of the Charter of Privileges was

extracted from the Book 'Muslim History: 570 - 1950 C.E.' by
Dr. A. Zahoor and Dr. Z. Haq, ZMD Corporation. P.O. Box
8231 - Gaithersburg, MD 20898-8231 - Copyright Akram
Zahoor 2000.)

Some Muslim nations have allegedly violated that covenant by forcing

Christians and others to convert to Islam or die, yet there is also something
in this matter that Western Christians have failed to consider:

Biblical Christianity enforces laws of righteousness in the nations where

it is espoused! Both Jesus and Moses expected their followers to keep and
teach the Laws which ordain that blasphemers, sabbath breakers,
worshippers of other gods, etc. are to be put to death by the government.
While in some cases professing Muslims have evidently violated the
principle of "no compulsion in religion", Islamic governments DO have the
right and duty to forbid evil within the borders of their countries.

I don't blame them at all for guarding against the "anything goes" sort of
Christianity that resulted in current "Western Civilization": the failure of
Christianity in general to uphold the standards of righteousness ordained by
Scripture has directly contributed to Muslim persecution of Christian
missionaries! May the Almighty grant both Muslims and Christians wisdom
and insight with respect towards each other.
 66

(Again though, Islamic nations being cursed because of their violations

against the covenant that the Prophet Muhammad made with Christians
exactly parallels Christian history and Biblical history: when Roman
Catholic Christianity enacted unjust persecution against other Christians, the
Dark Ages blighted European civilization as a result. And when Ahab, King
of Israel persecuted Yah's prophets unjustly, his kingdom was stricken with
three years of drought. Even more so, because of Israel's sins against their
covenant with Yahuwah, their whole nation was carried away into Assyrian
and Babylonian captivity from which they have never recovered!)

Yes, even in the name of Islam, there are transgressions against the Quran
practiced in some Muslim nations, yet that does not invalidate the Quran any
more than transgressions against the Bible practiced in America and other
"Christian nations" invalidate the Bible. The history of Christian nations is
rife with incidents of some who claimed to be Christians torturing and
killing other Christians, and practicing all manner of evil against them.

There were times in early Muslim history when they were tortured and killed
just for being Muslims, and there is still such persecution against Muslims
going on in the world today. (Have you never heard the patriotic sentiment,
"let's kill ALL them ragheads"?)

The sword of war between Christian and Muslim nations is to some extent a
judgement from the Almighty against them both for their transgressions
against the Books of Revelation they've been given, yet those who unjustly
wage war will receive a far worse judgement.

In Romans 12:18, Christians are commanded:

"If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men"

And Christians are likewise commanded to:

"Take heed what ye hear, with what measure ye mete, it shall be

measured to you: unto you that hear shall more be given". Mark 4:24

Accordingly, I investigated the Quran to see what it says and to find out if it
could be true such that there was any possible way I could live peaceably
with Muslims. Applying to Muslim nations and Muslim individuals the same
 67

measure of grace that I extend to Christian nations and Christian individuals,

I believe I can be at peace with them and that there can be peace between us
all, IF we all truly live up to what has been revealed to us.

The only other alternative is all out war between Christians and Muslims.
I'm trying to make peace between us, if it be possible, and taking note of and
speaking against both Christian and Muslim hypocrisy when I see it.

The Quran says Muslims worship the same God as the People of the Book
do, and the Bible says that every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ is
come in the flesh IS of God: no one can deny that the spirit of Islam does
make that confession.

Islam was sent by Yah to be an adversary to worldly Christianity and a

mercy to mankind to give all access to the Mercies of the Most High apart
from the convolutions of Orthodox Christian theology.

Jesus IS the way, the truth and the life and Muslims are expecting him to
return and set things in order worldwide, settling once and for all the
differences between the two faiths. I'm looking forward to that day as well,
and striving in accord with the Spirit of Truth until then.

I'm convinced that the "us against them" mentality is wrong. I've been told
all my life that "The LORD makes a way where there is no way" and I
believe He HAS made a way for the people of Islam to come under the reign
of Jesus Christ without them having to swallow the traditions of Christianity.
HalleluYah!

Surely He will judge ALL nations for their every injustice against the
Revelations He has given to mankind, yet all people of faith need to make
sure that we don't practice injustice against His Revelations either.

I welcome correspondence from people of faith and ask that you use this
writing to promote understanding and good will among all.

Eldon Orr RR 9 Box 1237 Gatewood, Missouri 63942

eldonorr@hotmail.com
http://www.angelfire.com/ar2/spiritoftruthacademy
 68

Muhammad said: He who refuses to accept an invitation to a marriage

feast, verily disobeys Allah and His Prophet. (Ahmad & Abu Dawood)

You are hereby

cordially invited to
the Marriage feast of
Messiah Yahshua
to be held upon his
return to take
a bride from among
his people!
 69

Appendix One: Stewards of Forgiveness

Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you (assalaam

aleykum): as my Father hath sent me, even so I send you. And
when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto
them, Receive ye the Holy Spirit: Whose soever sins ye remit,
they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain,
they are retained. John 20:21-23

And he said also unto his disciples, There was a certain rich
man, which had a steward; and the same was accused unto him
that he had wasted his goods. And he called him, and said unto
him, How is it that I hear this of thee? give an account of thy
stewardship; for thou mayest be no longer steward.

Then the steward said within himself, What shall I do? for my
lord taketh away from me the stewardship: I cannot dig; to beg
I am ashamed. I am resolved what to do, that, when I am put
out of the stewardship, they may receive me into their houses.

So he called every one of his lord's debtors [unto him], and

said unto the first, How much owest thou unto my lord? And he
said, An hundred measures of oil. And he said unto him, Take
thy bill, and sit down quickly, and write fifty.

Then said he to another, And how much owest thou? And he

said, An hundred measures of wheat. And he said unto him,
Take thy bill, and write fourscore.

And the lord commended the unjust steward, because he had

done wisely: for the children of this world are in their
generation wiser than the children of light.
 70

(Luke 16:1-10)

According to the verses above, disciples of Jesus were given authority to

remit or retain the sins of men. Historical Christianity has proven itself to be
an unjust steward of this great treasure. Most specifically the injustice of
Christianity is codified in the Athanasian Creed which declares that man
cannot be saved, thus cannot be forgiven for past sins, unless he believes in
the trinity doctrine AND believes that Jesus was both "Perfect God and
Perfect man".

These ideas are foreign to the teachings of Jesus himself, nor were they put
forth by his immediate successors, the apostles, as beliefs necessary for
forgiveness, rather they taught that all men everywhere should repent and
believe in the Good News of the Kingdom of God which Jesus preached.

Often in times past and even still today, various forms of Christianity have
even attached a monetary price to the hope of having sins forgiven! For
instance, the Catholic Church actually sold indulgences to men with the
promise that their loved ones would thereby be released from Purgatory.
This practice is still in effect today through donation sponsored Mass offered
for the souls of the departed.

The preaching of many, if not most Protestants amounts to much the same
thing, except in their case, it is through tithes and offerings given TO THE
MINISTRY that temporal and eternal blessings are promised to flow in the
lives of those who pay them.

The church through the ages has been an unjust steward of the doctrine of
Jesus as well, particularly so with the doctrine of blood atonement. In effect,
much of historical and present day Christian teaching on the subject amounts
to making the Blood of the Covenant an unholy thing: a license to sin.

This treachery has been accomplished through the teaching of such heresies
as "unconditional Love", "once saved, always saved", "sin every day in
thought, word, and deed", "we're all sinners saved by grace", "God loves you
just as you are", "God is all-loving, all-forgiving, all-merciful", etc. Through
the prevalence of such teachings, despite has been done to the Spirit of
Grace and the Son of God has been trampled underfoot.

Meanwhile, consideration needs be given to the reason why Jesus shed his
 71

precious Blood in the first place: was it because he wanted to do so? No, he
prayed, Abba Father, all things are possible unto Thee; take away this cup
from me, nevertheless not what I will, but what Thou wilt. Mark 14:36

So, the Blood of the Covenant was shed, not by the will of Jesus, but by his
submission to the Will of the Father. Thus, the essence of the shed Blood of
Jesus is submission to the Will of the Most High.

essence
a: the permanent as contrasted with the accidental
element of being
b: the individual, real, or ultimate nature of a thing
c: the property necessary to the nature of a thing
d: the most significant property of a thing

It is not the fact that Jesus shed his Blood that saves men, the most
significant property of his shed Blood is that it was shed in submission to the
Will of the Father. For us to attain eternal Life, we must likewise partake of
that same submission so that we receive Mercy and Grace from the Most
High and thus live a life that pleases Him.

The unfaithful steward (Christianity) was notified during the Dark Ages that
it had to give account of its stewardship because it had failed to teach
mankind the most significant property of the Blood of Jesus: full submission
to the Will of the Most High!

True to the prophetic form, carnal Christianity since that time has made
friends with the world by unjustly reducing the amount the LORD's debtors
owe Him, and has thereby gained worldly riches and comforts. For the most
part, today's Christians are saying, I am rich and increased with goods, and
have need of nothing, yet the Word of the Most High is calling them to
understand that they are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked!
(Revelation 3:17,18)

His counsel is to buy of him Gold made pure by Fire (proven Faith)-- that
they may be rich, and clean garments befitting Salvation-- that they not
stand naked, and eyesalve-- to open their blinded eyes. These things are
available to those who will humble themselves, repent, and overcome
Christian traditions of error.
 72

Those who refuse to humble themselves belong to the Harlot church foretold
in Revelation 17 & 18: drunk with fornication and abomination, glorifying
herself and living luxuriously, thinking to reign as the earthly Queen of the
Heavenly King, when in fact she is a widow whose husband is twice-dead.
The Harlot church's end is to be burned with Fire.

True riches of Faith are found in humble submission to the Most High: doing
Justly and loving Mercy is the course of His Will in all His Revelations to
man.

May all the People of the Book follow that course, in righteousness making
peace until the return of Messiah, who in righteousness will judge and make
War against all the wicked.
 73

Appendix Two
The Most High: What is His Name?

In the books of Ezra and Daniel, the Chaldean word rendered by Hebraists
as "Elaah" is translated into English as "God" 92 times. In the Hebrew text
the name is spelled "Aleph, Lamed, He" (ALH).

As the Hebrew "Aleph" is equivalent to "A" in English, ALH is equal to

"Allah" when used as a name.

The exact references are, in the book of Ezra: from 4:24 to 6:18 every time
the word "God" appears in the English text (27 times), the Hebrew word is
ALH. And again, from 7:12 to 7:26 every time the English text has "God"
(16 times) the Hebrew word is ALH.

This same Chaldean word, spelled in Hebrew ALH, is used from Daniel 2:18
to 9:26 a total of 35 times, translated as "God" each time.

A Hebrew word spelled "ALH" but rendered "Eloah" by Hebraists, is used

40 times in the book of Job in reference to the Most High, is translated as
"God".

ALH rendered by Hebraists as "Eloah" is also used in Deuteronomy

32:15,17, Nehemiah 9:17, Psalm 18:31, 50:22; 114:7; 139:19; Proverbs 30:5,
Isaiah 44:8; Daniel 11:37,38,39; and Habakkuk 3:3

{Additional evidence of ALH being properly pronounced as "Allah" is in the

Hebrew word "alah" (meaning 'to ascend', spelled "Ayin, Lamed, He"
~ALH) pronounced as aw-law from which is derived the Hebrew words:

~Al (Ayin, Lamed--pronounced as awl) meaning 'most High' translated twice

in the book of Habakkuk as 'most High', and
 74

~Aly (Ayin, Lamed, Yod pronounced as Al-lah-ee) meaning 'Supreme, most

High': this word is used 10 times in the book of Daniel from 3:26 to 7:25
translated each time as "most High". }

Even going beyond what is written above, the word "Elohim" (pronounced
by Hebrew speakers as al-lah-ym) is used daily in prayer by every Muslim
on earth, since they call on Allah in Arabic addressing Him as "Allahum" !

At long last, the Aramaic text of the New Testament (Matthew through Acts
at least) is online with a concordance and lexicon at http://www/peshitta.org
<http://www.peshitta.org>

The following page from their Aramaic Lexicon shows that Messiah
Yahshua, speaking Aramaic, used the name of AaLaHaA (Alah):

LexiconWord : 0hl0 (ALHA read right to left)

Root : hl0 Word Number : 905 Meaning : God
Pronunciation : (Eastern) AaLaHaA (Western) AaLoHoA
Part of Speech : Noun Gender : Masculine Number : Singular

Seeing that every time the word "God" is used in the English New
Testament, in Aramaic it is Alah or some derivative of Alah, Christians can
now read their English Bible translations and everytime they see the word
"God" they can read aloud the name Allah, the name Yahshua used in
reference to the Most High!

In the Arabic Quran, the word HUWA is used extensively referring to ~He
who IS~ and is intimately connected with Allah :

2:163 And your Allah is One Allah. there is no god but He, Most Gracious,
Most Merciful.

Wailahukum ilahun wahidun la ilaha illa huwa alrrahmanu alrraheemu

2:255 Allah. there is no god but He,-the Living, the Self-subsisting, Eternal.

Allahu la ilaha illa huwa alhayyu alqayyoomu

40:65 He is the Living (One): there is no god but He: Call upon Him, giving
Him sincere devotion. Praise be to Allah, Lord of the Worlds!
 75

Huwa alhayyu la ilaha illa huwa faodAAoohu mukhliseena lahu alddeena

alhamdu lillahi rabbi alAAalameena

59:23 Allah is He, than Whom there is no other god; the Sovereign, the Holy
One, the Source of Peace (and Perfection), the Guardian of Faith, the
Preserver of Safety, the Exalted in Might, the Irresistible, the Supreme:
Glory to Allah. (High is He) above the partners they attribute to Him.

Huwa Allahu allathee la ilaha illa huwa almaliku alquddoosu alssalamu

almuminu almuhayminu alAAazeezu aljabbaru almutakabbiru subhana
Allahi AAamma yushrikoona

(la ilaha illa huwa is the most common rendering of the first part of shahada
in the Quran which proves just how intimately HUWA is connected with
Allah.)

The name Yahuwah in Hebrew is in the third person, meaning He Who IS.

When He spoke to Moses, He said: I Am that I Am (AHYH ASHR AHYH)

but when He told him to speak to Israel He said "Tell them that He Who IS
(YHWH = Yahuwah ) sent you."

For verification see: http://www.onhigh.org/ExlainYourName2.htm

Thus, you can see that the "name" YHWH is actually a description of Him:
He is He Who IS. In the Quran, the name Huwa is also part of Allah’s
description: He who IS.

He revealed Himself to Muhammad as Allah, the Highest, and that name is

right in accord with every other name given Him in the Bible. As you can
see from the Aramaic link posted earlier, Yahshua also used that name:
Allah.
 76

Afterword: If the Light that is in thee be Darkness

Three years after I became a born-again, Spirit-filled Christian, I began

traveling with The Campus Ministry USA, an organization devoted to
publicly preaching on college campuses throughout the United States.

Its founder is Brother Jed Smock, who preaches a strong message against
sin-- the correct Biblical standard-- and for that message he is often mocked
and scorned by hedonistic college students. That is understandable, but
every day we were on the campuses, Christians would publicly oppose his
preaching as well, because his preaching condemned THEM in their sins,
even more so than it condemned the unbelievers on campus!

The VAST majority of campus Christians opposed the truth that the Bible
commands believers to overcome sin and to be sure, the vast majority of
America's Christian churches also oppose that message, preferring such
unscriptural mottos as "Christians aren't perfect, just forgiven" to the
Biblical Truth that authentic Faith delivers us from sin.

Though this state of affairs in latter-day Christianity was prophesied by

Jesus in Matthew 24:12, (And because iniquity (lawlessness) shall abound,
the love of many shall wax cold), it still is VERY DISTURBING to see
hostility and outright hatred among professing Christians both towards one
another and towards the holy standards of living revealed in the Scriptures.

It was several years after I had finished traveling with the CMUSA that I
found the Quran's analysis of the lack of love among Christians:

From those who call themselves Christians, We did take a covenant, but they
forgot a good part of the message that was sent them: so we estranged
them, with enmity and hatred between the one and the other, to the Day of
Judgement. And soon will Allah show them what it is they have done. 5:14

The Truth of the Quran's assessment above is overwhelming! Every sincere

Christian has been grieved over hatred among fellow believers, but to
understand that the Most High Himself ordained that hatred among
 77

Christians—that SHOULD motivate true believers to seek to discover what

it is that historical Christianity has neglected of the Truth it was given.

There again, the Quran provides the answer to that question:

Say: "O People of the Book! Ye have no ground to stand upon unless ye
stand fast by the Law, the Gospel, and all the revelation that has come to
you from your Lord." It is the revelation that cometh to thee (Muhammad)
from thy Lord, that increaseth in most of them their obstinate rebellion and
blasphemy. But sorrow thou not over (these) people without Faith. 5:68

Most of present day Christianity can rightly be categorized as antinomian

(anti-Law); even the portion of mainstream Christians who would most
vehemently object to being labeled as antinomian HAS disregarded MOST
of the laws given through Moses, from financial and agricultural commands
down to health matters, they consider themselves "free from the Law".

Yet Jesus said that man was to live by EVERY word that proceeds out of the
Mouth of God: how far have those who claim to be his followers fallen
from that important stipulation!

The title of this article is taken from another sentence uttered by Jesus: If
the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness! Jesus gave
his followers great light to walk by, yet through disregard of his teachings,
Christian civilization has become a stronghold for much darkness in the
whole earth. May all his true followers soon turn away from that darkness to
walk in the light of Islam.

2:257 Allah is the Protector of those who have faith: from the depths of
darkness He will lead them forth into light. Of those who reject faith, the
patrons are the evil ones: from light they will lead them forth into the depths
of darkness. They will be companions of the fire, to dwell therein (For ever).

24:35 Allah is the light of the heavens and the earth. The Parable of His
light is as if there were a Niche and within it a Lamp: the Lamp enclosed in
Glass: the glass as it were a brilliant star: Lit from a blessed Tree, an Olive,
neither of the east nor of the west, whose oil is well-nigh luminous, though
fire scarce touched it: Light upon Light! Allah guides whom He will to His
light: Allah sets forth Parables for men: and Allah knows all things.
78