The Arabs in Bible Prophecy
The entire Middle East is exploding in the
headlines of today's news. Not only are these countries important from
geopolitical, economic and military aspects, but Biblically, they
occupy a unique position in prophecy fulfilling, and yet to be
fulfilled.
The area is rich in oil, a vital need of the modern
industrial world, and it also holds a highly strategic position: the
Persian Gulf and Indian Ocean area, and especially the Gulf of Oman
and the Straits of Hormuz, being particularly important. Almost
Two-thirds of the world's oil lies near this region, so that with
millions of gallons of oil being produced and shipped via these
waterways, they constitute the jugular veins of the industrial
nations. Europe and Japan receive over 90% of their oil from this
vital area of the Middle East; the US around 25%. Let these supplies
dry up and those nations would find their economic and political
stability threatened.
Because of its vital importance, both Russia and the
West view with greatest suspicion the involvement of each other in
this area. And well they might, for, according to Bible prophecy, it
will provide the powder-keg that will one day erupt, drawing all
nations to the "battle of God Almighty", called in the
Bible, Armageddon (Revelations 16:16).
Israel: Key To The Future
The purpose of Almighty God, however, is not that the
earth shall be destroyed by the holocaust of Armageddon (though the
devastation of that final battle of the nations will be experienced in
all parts of the earth - Jeremiah 25:31-33), but that there may be
established on the earth a universal kingdom under Christ, bringing
truth and peace to all mankind. God's purpose is summed up in the
statement of Daniel 2:44:
"The God of heaven shall set up a kingdom that
shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other
people (its rulers will be immortal), but it shall break in pieces
and consume all kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever" (Daniel
2:44).
Here is predicted a world-wide Empire under immortal
rulers that will subdue all nations, and establish a form of
government honoring to God and beneficial to man. Innumerable
references to that coming Kingdom are found in the Bible, and as we
shall show, events are already operating in the earth that will bring
it about. The Bible predicts the purpose of God in clear and certain
statements, such as:
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"The Lord shall be king over all the
earth" (Zechariah 14:9).
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"The kingdoms of this world become the
kingdoms of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign for
ever and ever" (Revelation 11:15).
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"They (the redeemed) shall live and reign
with Christ a thousand years" (Revelation 20:4,6).
The purpose of God is to "fill this earth with
His glory" (Numbers 14:21), and in so doing to "cause
righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations"
(Isaiah 61:11). That, of course, is not the state of things today, but
it will become so, when the Lord Jesus Christ returns to assert his
authority, and by force compel the nations to submit to the decree of
heaven. As the result of his righteous government there shall be
"glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace and goodwill
towards men". It was for that state of things that Christ taught
his disciples to pray, in the words: "Thy Kingdom come, that Thy
will may be done in earth as it is in heaven".
That is not the state of things today. Nor will it be
until the Lord Jesus Christ returns to earth to establish thereon the
Kingdom of God. And his return for that purpose is clearly, plainly
and positively affirmed. The Apostles were told as they saw him ascend
into heaven:
"This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into
heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into
heaven" (Acts 1:11).
But can we place any reliance upon such statements? In
this modern, materialistic world, can we find faith to believe in
Christ's return? Indeed we can! Tangible signs of it are already to be
seen, and the turmoil of the Middle East, including the antagonism
existing between Jews and Arabs, witness to it.
That is the significance of the modern revival of the
nation of Israel.
Critically analyze this prediction of the Bible:
"Thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I will take the
children of Israel from among the nations, whither they be gone, and
will gather them on every side, and bring them into their own land;
and I will make them one nation in the land upon the mountains of
Israel; and one king shall be king to them all . . . and I will save
them out of all their dwellingplaces, wherein they have sinned, and
will cleanse them; so shall they be My people, and I will be their
God" (Ezekiel 37:21-23).
That prophecy, which is 2500 years old, demands these
four developments in the latter days:
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The return of the Jews to their ancient homeland.
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The latter-day revival of the nation of Israel.
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The conversion of the nation to a monarchy.
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The restoration of the Jewish people to divine
favor.
Israel's Coming King
Two parts of that four-pronged prophecy have had token
fulfillment. In 1917, at the conclusion of World War 1, the Balfour
Declaration issued by Great Britain, invited the Jewish people to
establish a National Home in Palestine (modern Israel). This
Declaration was confirmed by the League of Nations, and the Jews
commenced to return to their land.
At the conclusion of World War II, the nation of
Israel was revived on the authority of the UN, and Jewish independence
was established in those portions of the land granted to the newly
formed nation.
These incidents of modern history are in full accord
with the prophecy quoted above.
They challenge the skeptic in his unbelief, for they
clearly fulfil the 2500 years' old predictions of the Bible.
Moreover, they have been dramatically fulfilled in the
face of seeming impossible odds guaranteeing that the rest of the
prophecy will be fulfilled: the conversion of the nation of Israel to
a monarchy, and the restoration of the Jewish people to divine favour.
How will that be accomplished? By the return of Jesus
Christ, the divinely appointed future king of Israel. Christ was born
and died to fulfil that purpose of God. At his birth, wise men came
from the east asking, "Where is he that is born king of the
Jews?" (Matthew 2:2). At his death, the superscription was placed
over him: "Jesus of Nazareth the King of the Jews" (John
19:19).
At no stage has the Lord Jesus fulfilled that
function; yet the whole purpose of God, as proclaimed in the Bible,
hinges on it.
And the modern revival of Israel is God's token to
humanity that this is about to take place. The Bible declares:
"Thus saith the Lord God; I do not this for your
sakes, O house of Israel, but for Mine holy name's sake, which ye have
profaned among the nations whither ye went . . . for I will take you
from among the nations, and gather you out of all countries, and will
bring you into your own land" (Ezekiel 36:22-24).
God declared that He would do this, not for Israel's
sake, but for "His holy name's sake." He does it to
vindicate His name, to fulfil His promises and prophecies; to
demonstrate that complete confidence can be placed upon all that He
has declared that He will accomplish in the earth.
Accordingly, the revival of the ancient nation of
Israel, is a sure and certain sign of the imminence of Christ's return
to fulfil the purpose that he initiated 1900 years ago. Christ is to
return, to set up his power in Jerusalem, to discipline the Jewish
people so that they become submissive to his control, and to extend
his authority throughout the earth, so that the wonderful promise of
the Gospel will become a fact in the earth: "In thee shall all
nations be blessed" (Galatians 3:8).
This epitome of the Gospel message shows that God's
purpose relates to the future of the earth, and all nations therein.
Among those nations are Israel and the Arab powers, and an honoured
position is reserved for both in the Kingdom Christ will set up. It
will see the termination of that state of hostility that has existed
between those two related peoples for so long, and will culminate in
them living in amity one with the other.
It is significant, that when the existence of Israel
was threatened by war in 1956 and again in 1967, Radio Jerusalem
broadcast the words of the Lord through the prophet Amos:
"I will restore the captivity of My people
Israel, and they will rebuild the ruined cities and live in them, they
will also plant vineyards and drink their wine, and make gardens and
eat their fruit. I will also plant them on their land, and they will
not again be rooted out from their land which I have given them, said
the Lord your God" (Amos 9:14-15).
The prophecies relating to Israel are clear, and the
commencement of their fulfillment is evident in the earth today. A
future epoch of rebuilding and prosperity in the Promised Land is
clearly predicted at the return of Christ, after which Israel will
never again be uprooted from it (2 Samuel 7:10; Zechariah 14:11).
But before then, Israel will face a terrible crisis,
out of which, however, she will be delivered (Jeremiah 30:7). The
Middle East will become the focal center of Armageddon: a war that
will involve all mankind, introducing a "time of trouble such as
never was". The victor of that war, however will be Christ
(Daniel 12:1-3).
Arab Opposition To Israel's Revival
To most Moslem nations, the presence of Israel in the
Middle East is as a festering sore that only will be remedied by
political surgery. Just as the Jewish people have clung to their hope
of Messiah reigning in Jerusalem, so the Arabs have refused to give up
their hope of driving Israel into the Mediterranean and restoring the
entire land, including Jerusalem (the second most holy city in the
world to Arabs) to Arab possession. With the wealth that they command
from the rich deposits of oil discovered beneath the burning sands of
their deserts, it seems only a matter of time before they will
accomplish their aims.
But, in fact, they are fighting destiny. Already, on
the field of battle, the Arabs have been defeated time and again. In
1948, 1956, 1967, and 1973 their armies were repulsed, and on each
occasion, Israel was able to extend its borders at the expense of its
neighbours.
They will never drive Israel from the land. Prophecy
makes that clear. But Bible prophecy also speaks of the future of the
Arab nations in clear and certain terms.
A great proportion of the Arab lands of the Middle
East is desolate and uninviting, bleached into sandy wastes by the
merciless rays of its bright sun. Yet though deficient of the showers
of heaven, and the verdure of nature's bounty, the land has released
from its depths an incalculable treasure of black gold: oil! This
wealth has permitted its people, the Arabs, to exercise a global
influence far exceeding their numerical, political and military
potential.
"Almighty God," reasoned the Apostle Paul,
"made the world and all things therein ... and both determined
the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation"
(Acts 17:24-26). It is of God that Arabia has been settled by the
Arabs. It is He who placed that black gold beneath its deserts, which
today is drawing the attention of all nations to the Middle East as is
clearly predicted in the latter-day prophecies of the Bible. That oil
has attracted the covetous eyes of all nations, and particularly those
of Russia and the mighty powers of the West. Over 2500 years ago the
Bible predicted of the latter days:
"Behold, the day of the Lord cometh . . . for I
will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle . . ."
(Zechariah 14:1-2).
"Behold, in those days, and in that time, when I shall bring
again the captivity of Judah and Jerusalem, I will gather all nations,
and will bring them down into the Valley of Jehoshaphat (outside
Jerusalem) . . ." (Joel 3:1-2).
Here is predicted a latter-day gathering of nations to
the Middle East. For what purpose? "To take a spoil"
declares the Bible (Ezekiel 38:12). The oil of the Arab powers
constitutes such a "spoil".
Possession of that oil has brought the future of the
Arab powers into prominence in the counsels of the nations. It is
helping to mould the pattern that is shaping the world for Armageddon.
It is a potential flash-point for war.
Islamic Disunity
Not all Moslem nations are of genuine Arab stock. The
Turks, Persians and others are not Arabs, though, as Moslems, they are
often classed among the Arab Nations. The true Arab descended from
Ishmael, the half-brother of Isaac, predecessor of the Jewish people.
Therefore, despite their mutual antagonism, Arabs and Jews are closely
related ethnologically. The character of the Arab was predicted before
the birth of Ishmael 4000 years ago, and it remains true of him today.
His mother, Hagar was told of her son:
"He will be a wild-ass man; his hand will be
against every man, and every man's hand against him; and he shall
dwell in the presence of all his brethren" (Genesis 16:12).
The first part of this prediction proclaimed the
character of the people who would develop from Ishmael, whilst the
second part described the location of their settlement. They would
dwell in the presence of their brethren, the Jewish people. The area
occupied by the Arabs is that barren, and in most parts, vacant land
that lies between Persia, Syria, Israel, Egypt and Ethiopia. The
northern part is the area adjacent to the Euphrates, a line of 1500
miles terminating at the Straits of Babelmandeb in the south. The
sides of the triangle gradually enlarge with the southern section
presenting a front of a thousand miles to the Indian Ocean.
The character of the Arabs who dwell in this
inhospitable region conform to the description given to the mother of
Ishmael. They are fiercely independent, and are dangerous when
provoked or attacked. In spite of the pressures brought to bear upon
the Arab countries, and their common hostility towards Israel, there
has been little cohesion among them. Proclamations of Arab unity have
been made but seldom properly implemented. In fact, the disunity among
the Arab powers illustrates the truth of Genesis 16:12 to this day:
"He will be a wild ass of a man his hand shall be against every
man and every man's hand against him." The reference to the wild
ass (as the Hebrew text has it) is most fitting. It is the image of
the free, intractable Bedouin character. As the Book of Job records,
the wild ass is untameable, roaming at will in the desert, a wonderful
symbol of the Bedouin's boundless love of freedom and independence.
The statement "his hand shall be against every man and every
man's hand against him" is a fitting and vivid description of the
incessant feuds among Arabs. And these continue to the present.
Consider this record of disunity:
Egypt, at one time or another, has sent troops into
Syria, Iraq, Kuwait, the Sudan, Algeria, Yemen. Its air force has
raided Saudi Arabia and Yemen. It has bitterly fought Israel, but now
has signed a peace treaty with that nation.
Syria has sent troops into Iraq and Jordan on
occasions, and has attempted to instigate rebellion in both of them at
other times.
Iraq has sent troops into Jordan, has massed troops to
threaten Syria, has attempted to instigate coups and rebellions there
on more than one occasion, and, as we write this, has suddenly
launched an attack on Iran.
Saudi Arabia has sent troops into Jordan a number of
times, into Kuwait once, and has interfered in Yemen on several
occasions. It has attempted to instigate rebellion and political
assassination at one time or another in Syria, Jordan and Egypt.
Jordan has sent troops in Kuwait, massed troops
against Syria, involved itself in Yemen. King Hussein of Jordan lost
control of the West Bank because of his stupid and stubborn
involvement in the Six Day War with Israel.
The Arabs argue over many things important and
otherwise. Iraq and Syria still quarrel over the correct
interpretation of Baathist socialism. Iran and Iraq are divided over
religion as well as claims of territory. Both are Islamic countries,
but each supports a different and opposing sect. For there are several
bitterly divided sects among the Moslems. The two chief branches are
divided into the Sunni and Shi'a sects. Then there are the Kurds. They
represent almost 20% of Iraq's population, and have been fighting for
their independence for more than fifty years. Until the outbreak of
war between Iran and Iraq, these two powers co-operated in suppressing
the Kurds! The United Arab Republic formulated some time back by Syria
and Egypt, shortly afterwards disintegrated, and today is no more!
With all these confusing and conflicting elements, the
Islamic world remains as fragmented as ever, devoid of inspiring and
unifying leadership, illustrating to this day the prediction of God to
Hagar concerning her son Ishmael.
Uprise of Islam
The Book of Revelation is a book of symbols designed
to foreshadow "things which must come to pass" (Rev. 1:1).
It outlines in advance the progress of history leading to the
establishment of the Kingdom of God on earth, when "the kingdoms
of this world become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ; and
he shall reign for ever and ever" (Revelation 11:15).
Among the incidents of history foreshadowed is the
uprise of the Islamic movement. The work of Mahomet in that regard is
symbolized as a star falling from the political heavens (Rev. 9). In
A.D. 622, Mahomet was forced to flee from Mecca to the city of Medina.
That year is called by Muslims the Hegira, or Flight, and it
marks the beginning of the Mahommedan era. Mahomet proclaimed himself
a prophet of God. Though he could not write, he dictated principles of
his teaching which, after his death, were collated and published as
the Koran, the Bible of the Muslims. Gradually the number of his
converts increased. Proclaiming his belief in one God, he declared
open war upon the Trinitarians of the Greek and Roman Catholics. As
his power grew, and his influence extended over Arabia and Palestine,
he sent ambassadors to the court of Constantinople, and when they were
contemptuously rejected by the authorities of the eastern Roman
Empire, he decided to overthrow it by force. He died in 632 before he
could accomplish this, and was succeeded by Abubeker, the first
Caliph.
In 637 Jerusalem fell to the Muslims. From Palestine
and Syria they spread northwards to Asia Minor and Persia, and
southwards to Egypt and North Africa. Within fifty years of Mahomet's
death, they had advanced to the two great bastions of Europe:
Constantinople and Gibraltar, annexing the countries they conquered,
and compelling the people to accept Mahomet as a prophet, and the
Koran as their guide. Passing over the Straits of Gibraltar, the
Saracens, as they were called, entered Spain and conquered much of its
territory. At that stage they threatened to overwhelm Europe itself,
and were only held at bay by the Meroviagian king of the Franks: a man
by the name of Charles, who organized an army of Franks and allies and
successfully opposed the Arabs at Poitiers (732).
We pause for a moment to wonder at the ease with which
the Arabs accepted the authority and teaching of Mahomet and so were,
for the first time, united in preparation for the mission before them.
What explanation can be given to account for this remarkable
development? The answer is found in the consideration of a further
question. Why have the Jews returned to their ancient land? Why is it
that suddenly and inexplicably, they turn from their accepted
traditional avocations, and willingly, even cheerfully, accept the
unaccustomed and incredible hardships of Israel? The answer is that
Destiny is calling them. God has a purpose with them, and He has
declared that He will regather them. The spirit which today moves
Jewry and impels them to return to their land, is the hand of
providence working in the nations, unknown to the majority of mankind
(see Daniel 4:17).
So it was with the Arabs in the days of Mahomet. God
had a purpose with them. The various elements which prepared the Arab
mind for the acceptance of Mahomet's teaching, the readiness with
which they united under his banner were all part of the preparation
for their divinely appointed mission. At the death of Mahomet they
were moved by a proselytizing religious zeal which erupted on to an
apostate Christian world. When faced with the alternative of "the
Koran or the sword" (the battle cry of Islam), millions quickly
saw the point of the argument, and the Islamic religion extended far
and wide.
At breathless speed, one dominion after another fell
before the Arabs. Syria, Egypt and Persia were taken in rapid
succession. By 750, the Arab Empire extended from the borders of China
in the east to Spain in the west, and the eastern section of the Roman
Empire had been reduced to the region of Asia Minor. The sword had
brought overwhelming success to the Koran, so that the whole world
trembled before the threat of Moslem power.
The Golden Age Of Islam
And now the Arabs entered the "golden age"
of their history. By 750 their conquests were complete: their empire
had reached its greatest extent. This remarkable people now turned to
other triumphs. Science, philosophy, literature now claimed their
attention. They absorbed and extended the learning of all the
dominions where their sword had been successful. In the same way as
they had introduced artillery into warfare, (predicted in the
symbology of Revelation 9:9-10), they now learned paper making from
the Chinese, mathematics from the Indians, commerce and banking from
the Jews, astronomy from the Egyptians, poetry and literature from
other parts. And wherever they went, they carried with them the
results of their increasing knowledge. Western culture is greatly
indebted to the influence of the Arabs. Many Arabic words are still in
current use, such as alchemy, algebra, almanac, elixir, zenith etc.
They established centers of learning throughout their empire, and
notably in Spain. The University and Education systems, in current use
throughout the Western world, were founded by the Arabs.
The age of the great navigators was made possible by
the release of knowledge in the great schools of navigation and
astronomy founded by the Arabs, though a further impetus was given
this by developments that came from the fall of Constantinople by the
Turks. The contests between Spain, Portugal, Holland and Britain for
the supremacy of the seas, that came a little later, and Britain's
ultimate rise to world mercantile ascendancy as the merchant power of
Tarshish (see Ezekiel 38:13), thus owes much to the Arabs.
With this age of learning, however, there came a
decline in military conquests. Instead of attempting to extend their
dominions, the Arabs, from 782 to 933 limited their contests to the
eastern Roman Empire, bitterly attacking the Trinitarians of the Greek
Orthodox Church, though failing to take Constantinople which they
attacked on several occasions.
By 933, Arab military power was on the decline;
secular power was wrested from the Caliph (as their ruler, the
successor of Mahomet was called). No longer did he exercise the
authority to wage war. The empire crumbled into dust, and the Caliphs
continued only as the spiritual heads of Islam. Nevertheless that
influence was extensive. Though Khomeini of Iran, does not pose as a
Caliph, the spiritual authority that he exercised in toppling the Shah
from his throne, illustrates how considerable was the power wielded by
the Caliphate in the past. In the providence of God, its decline
assisted the Jewish revival in the Land at the conclusion of World War
1.
Why should this power thus suddenly rise to
prominence, exercise such influence, and as quickly wane? The answer
is given in Scripture. Paul taught: "God hath determined the
times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation" (Acts
17:26). Daniel taught: "The Most High ruleth in the kingdom of
men, and giveth it to whomsoever He will . . ." (Daniel 4:17).
The uprise of the Arab Empire considerably restricted the growth of an
apostate religious system (Roman Catholicism) which then was
oppressing minority groups among which were some who held the Truth in
its purity. This limitation of Papal power, permitted the development
of greater freedom of thought in such countries as Great Britain,
particularly in relation to Bible teaching and religion generally, so
that among much error, Bible truth could be maintained. It also
resulted in the spread of knowledge, assisting Britain to become a
great mercantile marine power, and so take her place in national
developments as required by Bible prophecy. The decline of Islamic
political power, and the division of thought which characterizes
Moslem countries, has permitted the revival of Jewish national life in
the land, as predicted in the Bible as the prelude to Christ's coming.
Thus the growth and decline of Moslem power has furthered the plan of
prophecy revealed in the Bible.
Decline of Arab Power
In 760 Baghdad was made the capital of the Empire, and
the Caliph took up residence there. From that time, Persian influences
were at work, laying the foundation for the divisions of thought
within Islamic religion that followed. During the 10th and 1lth
centuries, province after province separated from a rulership which
was now more Persian than Arabian. The learning that the Arabs had
accumulated during the golden age of their empire was neglected, and
their influence and learning declined.
In 1258, Baghdad was taken by the Turks, and Turkish
power absorbed what was left of the Arab Empire. But though defeated
militarily, the Arabs still retained sufficient spiritual influence to
finally conquer their conquerors, for the Turks embraced the religion
of the Koran. Mahomet, though dead, still triumphed.
During the centuries that followed, the desolating
influence of the Islamic Turkish Empire destroyed the culture of the
Arabs, and they reverted to their original condition of nomadic,
independent and mutually hostile tribes and groups. The Turkish Empire
replaced the Saracenic Empire, and completed the destruction of the
Eastern Roman Empire. In 1453, Constantinople fell to Turkish forces,
and the Empire was at an end. The Turks, echoing the cry of the
Saracens: "The Koran or the Sword" extended their empire as
far as west as Vienna, north into southern Russia, and as far south as
Algiers in North Africa. The whole of the Middle East was under their
control. The symbol of the Turkish Empire in the Bible is that of the
River Euphrates, from whence originated their power. But the Bible
foretold the decline of that power (Revelation 16:12), and when it had
fulfilled the purpose of God in terminating the Eastern Roman Empire,
it did so. Students of the Bible long anticipated this decline in
accordance with the requirements of the prophetic Scriptures. In 1643,
Joseph Mede declared that the fulfillment of Revelation 16:12 demanded
the gradual collapse of the Turkish Empire to be followed by
"horrible and unheard-of preparation for war". In 1848,
Christadelphian expositor of the Bible, John Thomas, interpreted this
passage of the Bible similarly and from Ezekiel 38 and elsewhere,
added that the final demise of Turkey would come by Russian aggression
which will overwhelm Istanbul (modern Constantinople), and bring the
independence of Turkey to an end ("Elpis Israel", part 3).
During the latter part of the last century, Turkish
power which previously threatened Europe itself, began to decline. In
1917, the reverses suffered by Turkey in the Middle East at the hands
of the British and Arabs in conjunction, led to their evacuation of
the whole of the Middle East. Independent Arab nations again came into
existence, such as Jordan, Saudi-Arabia, and so forth. The Jews began
to return in fulfillment of Bible prophecy, and at the conclusion of
World War 2, the state of Israel again came into existence. Bible
prophecy was being wonderfully fulfilled.
The Islamic empires of the past have gone, replaced by
the independent nations of Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia and so
forth, such as Bible prophecy requires (see Daniel 11:40-45), but a
spiritual empire still remains. The influence of the Koran extends far
beyond the confines of Arabia to Indonesia and Malaya, parts of China,
Pakistan, Afghanistan, India, Morocco, Tunis, Egypt, Nigeria, Kenya,
and Russia. For many millions, the Koran is still the rule of faith,
Mecca is still the holy city, and the eyes of these millions are
turned five times a day towards the Middle East.
The Koran
Mahomet claimed to have received visions from the
angel Gabriel, which he dictated to others, and after his death were
collated to form the sacred book of Islam, the Koran. The Koran is a
concoction of ideas based upon the Old and New Testaments of the
Bible, interspersed with the traditions and superstitions of Mohammed
himself. He announced that as Moses had come to the Jews, and Jesus to
the Christians to restore them to their original and pure faith, so
he, Mahomet, had been set to the Arabs for the same purpose.
The doctrine and routine he set down are incorporated
in the "five pillars of Islam" faithful observance of which,
he claimed, will be rewarded on Judgment Day. Those five pillars are:
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There is no God but Allah, and Mahomet is his
prophet.
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Prayer will take a believer half-way to God,
therefore he is obliged to pray five times daily with his face
towards Mecca.
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Fasting will bring a believer to the door of God's
palace, therefore, in the month Ramadan, he must abstain from food
and drink , from all sensual pleasure and from unholy thoughts
during the hours from sunrise to sunset. Alcohol, pork and other
unclean foods are prohibited at all times.
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Alms will gain a believer entrance to the Divine
presence, therefore, one-tenth of his income is strictly reserved
as "alms to God".
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Every believer should undertake at least one
pilgrimage to Mecca during his lifetime.
Accordingly, the Islamic religion is particularly
adverse to Trinitarianism, and, therefore, bitterly antagonistic to
orthodox Christianity (as is the Bible). On the other hand, it favors
the monotheism of the Jewish people, and draws upon the Bible to
acknowledge the latter-day restoration of the Jews to their ancient
homeland. It acknowledges Jesus Christ as a great prophet, though
subordinate to Mahomet, and teaches that he must return to set up on
earth the Kingdom of God, with its headquarters at Jerusalem. A
minaret in the Ommayad Mosque in Damascus, is named the "Minaret
of the Coming of Jesus Christ," and is dedicated to his second
coming. Arabs have been buried near the Golden Gate of Jerusalem,
because they believe that on Judgment Day the Lord will return to
Jerusalem via that entrance.
Therefore, it is a remarkable fact, that the three
great religions of Jerusalem: Judaism, Islam, and Christianity (as
taught in the Bible as opposed to Trinitarianism) all announce the
setting up on earth of a kingdom under the rulership of the Messiah.
Judaism, however, does not recognize Jesus Christ as such; Mohammedism
makes him subordinate to Mahomet, and mixes religion up with fallacies
relating to the immortal soul; so that true Christianity alone, as
based upon the Old and New Testaments, recognizes and proclaims the
truth. Unfortunately, most sects of Christendom have intermixed
serious and faith-nullifying error with their teaching.
The Bible teaches that there is but "one faith,
one baptism, one Lord" etc. (Ephesians 4:2-6), but that is not
the case in Christendom today, which includes over 300 different and
antagonistic sects. It also predicted that there would be a departure
from the true faith, so that the Gospel in truth, would be retained by
a small minority (2 Timothy 4:2-4; 2 Peter 2:1-2; 3:3). True
Christians will disabuse their minds of the errors that have been
superimposed upon the teaching of the Bible, and will seek the way of
God in truth, for as the Lord Jesus declared: "The Father seeketh
such to worship Him" (John 4:23). Those errors include theories
relating to an immortal soul, the trinity, an immortal devil, and the
rejection of the teaching concerning the divine purpose with Israel
and the setting up of the Kingdom of God on earth. In view of the
impending crisis relating to Armageddon, and the clear signs of
fulfilling prophecy that witness to the imminence of Christ's return
and the setting up on earth of the Kingdom of God, we urge the reader
to seek into these matters. Eternal life at Christ's coming is based
upon one's acceptance of the Truth in its purity.
What the Future Will Reveal
The key to the future of humanity is to be found in
the boiling cauldron of the Middle East. In the drama being enacted
between Israel, the Arab nations, Russia and the west, the prophecies
of the Bible are springing into being proclaiming the imminence of the
greatest event of all time: the coming of the Lord to reign on this
earth. Basic to the development of God's purpose with the earth is the
restoration of the Jewish people, the revival of Israel as a nation,
and the establishment of Christ as its king. Jerusalem will become the
center of the world-wide dominion that God has declared He will set up
in the earth. As its capital, the metropolis of the future, it will
comprise a Temple-city where mankind will ascend to worship. In that
day instead of mankind travelling on a pilgrimage to Mecca or Rome,
they will visit Jerusalem. Hence the Bible teaches:
"At that time they shall call Jerusalem the
throne of the Lord; and all the nations shall be gathered unto it, to
the name of the Lord, to Jerusalem: neither shall they walk any more
after the imagination of their evil heart" (Jeremiah 3:17).
"And it shall come to pass, that everyone that is left of all the
nations which came against Jerusalem shall even go up from year to
year to worship the King, the Lord of hosts" (Zechariah 14:16).
"In the last days it shall come to pass ... that many nations
shall come, and say, Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the
Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob: and He will teach us of His
ways, and we will walk in His paths: for the law shall go forth of
Zion, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. And he shall judge
among many people, and rebuke strong nations afar off; and they shall
beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks;
nation shall not lift up a sword against nation, neither shall they
learn war any more" (Micah 4:1-3).
These statements predict vast changes for the world
and for Jerusalem. The former will be united in peace under the reign
of Christ; the latter will be called "the city of truth"
(Zechariah 8:3), the "city of the great King" (the Lord
Jesus - Matthew 5:35), the "habitation of justice" (Jeremiah
31:23), "the city of God" (Psalm 87:3). Instead of the Dome
of the Rock, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, and other centers of
superstition and falsehood, there will be the wonderful Temple,
described as "the house of prayer for all nations" (Mark
11:17; Isaiah 56:6-8). In that Temple city, Christ will preside as
King-priest legislating for the benefit of humanity in things both
material and spiritual. And associated with him will be those who have
sought to obey him in this life by embracing his truth, submitting to
baptism, and living in accordance with his precepts. Of them it is
said, they shall "live and reign with Christ a thousand
years" (Revelation 5:9-10; 20:4,6).
But because of the blindness of humanity, because of
the refusal of man to acknowledge God and submit to His requirements,
the world will first be purged through war. Armageddon will involve
the whole of mankind in a universal conflagration, which shall center
on the Middle East, and on Jerusalem. Bible prophecy declares: "I
will gather all nations to Jerusalem to battle" (Zechariah 14:2).
The circumstances and involvement of nations in this
we have outlined in a booklet entitled: "Russia's Bid For World
Domination: Sure Sign of Christ's Coming", to which we direct the
reader (see list of pamphlets on web page).
The Arab peoples will be involved in this crisis. In
fact, the present state of the Arab powers conforms exactly to Bible
prophecy. The independence of Persia is clearly prophesied (Jer.
49:39). Her involvement in the Russian attack on the Middle East is
specifically mentioned (Ezekiel 38:5). The path of war will devastate
Syria and Damascus (Isaiah 17:1), will erupt against Egypt (Daniel
11:42-43), and will finally terminate in Jerusalem (Daniel 1 1:45;
Zechariah 14:2). There the Russian invasion will meet its fate, being
overthrown by a greater power than mere man: "The Lord shall go
forth and fight against those nations as when He fought in the day of
battle" (Zechariah 14:3). Christ, wielding divine power, will
overthrow the nations, and establish his rule and kingdom in the
earth.
The Arabs In The Future
The Arabs will be granted an honoured place in the
Kingdom of Christ. In response to Abraham's prayer, "O that
Ishmael might live before Thee", God promised, "I will make
of him a great nation". That has yet to be fulfilled, even though
the fullness of God's covenant was established with Isaac (See Genesis
17:18-21). Therefore, though the "first dominion" of
Christ's world-wide Empire will be enjoyed by Israel (Micah 4:8), the
Arab nations will also inherit their lot. God promised that they will
dwell peaceably "in the presence of all their brethren"
(including Israel - see Genesis 16:12). They will do so, not in the
Promised Land that Israel will inherit, but in the adjoining territory
of Arabia. Then "the deserts shall blossom as the rose"
(Isaiah 35:1), and instead of the burning, blighting heat of their
sandy wastes, there will be, as Isaiah predicts, "forests in
Arabia" (Isaiah 21:13), and water in abundance (Isaiah 21:14).
In a prophecy relating to the future Kingdom of Christ
on earth, the Bible declares of certain Bedouin Arab tribes descended
from Ishmael: "They shall shew forth the praises of the
Lord". Their offerings "shall come up with acceptance on
Mine altar, and I will glorify the house of My glory" (Isaiah
60:6-7).
This passage predicts the conversion of the Arabs to
the "hope of Israel" as the truth in Christ Jesus is called
(Acts 28:20), and their incorporation into his Kingdom to be set up on
earth. Both the land and the people will experience vast changes. They
will have to replace the Koran with the Bible; they will have to
change from the worship of Allah to that of Yahweh the God of Israel
(Exodus 3:14); they will be compelled to acknowledge Christ instead of
Mahomet; their mutual antagonism and restlessness, their hatred of
Israel will cease, and they will have to make pilgrimage to Jerusalem
instead of to Mecca (Zechariah 14:16).
Tremendous changes? Indeed they are, but only
indicative of the vast changes to be brought about in all the world,
as all nations will be compelled to accept Christ's reign in truth.
The Bible declares: "For the nation and kingdom that will not
serve Thee shall perish; yea, those nations shall be utterly
wasted" (Isaiah 60:12). For the rest, the words of the Bible will
be vindicated, and God will cause "righteousness and praise to
spring forth before all the nations" (Isaiah 61:11).
Reader: you are living in momentous times. God's
purpose with man relates to the earth not heaven. Bible prophecy is
being fulfilled in a remarkable way. It is obvious that the world is
facing a tremendous crisis. All mankind realizes that. But they do not
understand the significance of that crisis. The time is at hand when
the Lord shall return to set up his kingdom on the earth. Hence the
present is a time of opportunity in which you can make your peace with
God in order to inherit eternal life at Christ's coming. We urge you
to look into these matters seriously. Give a little time to your
eternal destiny. To that end we are available to assist you in the
better understanding of the Word of God.