English – Chinese
Today there are many who say that all religions worship the same God. They will often go on to say that all religions share the same moral code. Neither of these statements is true. There are outstanding and irreconcilable differences between what various religions teach. That is because there is only one bedrock truth, and all other claimants that deviate from this Rock must be found to be false. We find that authentic record of the truth of God in the Bible, in what are commonly referred to as the Old and New Testaments, and anything that denies, in any way whatsoever, what is written therein, is a lie, born of darkness and deception, whether paying lip service to God and those things written, or coming in direct opposition, speaking forthrightly against them.
The Koran denies many foundational truths in the God-given Scriptures.
In other words, those who agree that the Scriptures are from God, but do not do what He says, are not truly worshipping Him, while those who deny the veracity or authenticity of His Word are obviously not doing so either. That which is of God does not deny His testimony, whether grossly so by calling it a lie, or more subtly by agreeing with the letter, but denying the Spirit and Truth in acts and ways contrary to Him.
The Koran, which is the “Bible” of the Islamic religion, denies many foundational truths in the authentic and God-given Scriptures. The Koran denies that Abraham was called to sacrifice Isaac, implying that it was Ishmael instead. But the Bible says this:
“God said, ‘Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains that I will show you'” (Genesis 22:2 GW).
Why is this discrepancy important? Because the denial of Abraham’s sacrifice of Isaac justifies the subsequent rejection of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, the central act of His-story and the creative power of God by which we exist. The most profound and significant event that has or will ever happen was prophetically foreshadowed by Abraham’s act of obedience in the offering up of Isaac. Why not Ishmael? Because the Seed that would fulfill the covenant of God was promised through Isaac, not Ishmael, and indeed Jesus Christ came through Isaac. Before the birth of Isaac, Abraham even asked that the blessing be on Ishmael. Here is what happened:
“And Abraham said to God, Oh that Ishmael might live before You! And God said, Sarah your wife shall bear you a son indeed. And you shall call his name Isaac. And I will establish My covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, and with his Seed after him. And as for Ishmael, I have heard you. Behold, I have blessed him, and will make him fruitful, and will multiply him exceedingly. He shall father twelve chiefs, and I will make him a great nation. But I will establish My covenant with Isaac, whom Sarah shall bear to you at this set time in the next year” (Genesis 17:18-21).
What God was pointing to, in the offering up of Isaac, was the coming of the Messiah, the Savior of all mankind, Jesus Christ. Christ, being the descendant of Isaac through Israel, came to lay down His life in obedience to God on behalf of all mankind. He was crucified and subsequently resurrected to eternal life, thereby fulfilling the prophetic symbolism of the sacrifice that Abraham committed himself to perform with Isaac, the son of God’s promise.
The Koran says that God has no children.
This sacrifice, later fulfilled by Christ, even took place at the very same physical location where Abraham brought Isaac, as Abraham prophesied it would. This sacrifice was of the Lamb that Abraham foretold God Himself would provide, which He did, and not in vain. Indeed, He paid for the sins of the whole world!
By Abraham’s obedience by faith to the commandment of God, he was given the promise that all mankind would be blessed by his Seed through Isaac. What greater blessing than the forgiveness of sins through Jesus Christ, and eternal life in Him?! The Koran says that none of this is true. The Koran says that God has no children. If Christ was not sacrificed nor His blood shed for our sins, according to the prophetic offering up of Isaac by Abraham, then they are right, and there are no children, contrary to what is promised by Holy Scripture.
“But still the number of the children of Israel will be like the sand of the sea, which may not be measured or numbered; and in place of its being said to them, You are not my people, it will be said to them, You are the sons of the living God” (Hosea 1:10 BBE).
The Koran denies the sacrifice of Christ. It says:
“They did not slay him, neither crucified him, only a likeness of that was shown to them” (Qu’ran 4:156).
Whoever denies the offering up of Isaac also denies him or herself the possibility of blessing promised via Abraham’s progeny through Isaac, Jesus Christ, the Seed of Abraham, by Whom God promised to bless all of mankind.
Muslims deny Isaac as the spiritual heir of Abraham, because they are taught to venerate Mohammed (by Mohammed in the Koran), the seed of Ishmael, instead. They are taught to deny Jesus Christ as the visitation of God in the flesh, and that He laid down His life as prophesied, and took it up again (as happened with Isaac, in a figure), thereby becoming the Savior of all men. Rather, the son of the flesh, Ishmael, is promoted, the forefather of the self-proclaimed prophet, Mohammed.
He teaches men to deny that God raised Christ from the dead, and that by Him God has also raised us up to be His children. No, he teaches that only Mohammed is His prophet. How convenient! How much like man to desire the glory alone! “It is not enough that I win, all others must lose,” he says!
Those who made up these diabolical lies, and those who follow them, deny themselves the only true life there is:
“Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life. Instead, he will see God’s constant anger” (John 3:36 God’s Word).
Mohammed has consigned millions of people to the wrath of God, which in due time is to be revealed and reversed by Jesus Christ, the Savior of all men. That time has come.
Islam is not godly as proclaimed by its adherents and the ignorant.
Whereas the Jews do not offer a contrary and allegedly revelatory writing from God that denies Jesus as the Christ, as do the Muslims in the Koran, they nevertheless deny Him, too. However, they will also be brought into repentance and the knowledge of God (which comes only through Christ), as promised:
“No longer will each person teach his neighbors or his relatives by saying, Know the LORD. All of them, from the least important to the most important, will know Me, declares the LORD, because I will forgive their wickedness and I will no longer hold their sins against them” (Jeremiah 31:34 GW).
Christians, or those who call themselves such, are of course named in this manner because they do profess Christ as Savior. Here things get a bit trickier, because Christians by and large reject Him as He is in truth, and His appearing in the flesh, as did Christ’s own people, the Jews. The Jews, as prophesied by Isaiah, rejected Jesus Christ when He came in the flesh, and so we find today that the multitude of “believers,” while professing Christ with their lips, reject Him in reality. They are not the children of God, but of the devil, by nature, which is demonstrated in all their ways. The Lord said as much, and called these “tares,” which is a plant that looks like wheat, but has no wheat seed in the head from which to make bread. The tares have an appearance, but are devoid of godliness, full of chaff, without substance or value. Those who are His have the godly substance, the seed that provides food for the world, which is indeed His work, because only by Him is this possible. Mankind is utterly corrupt and incapable of producing life-giving food of the Spirit.
My purpose here is not to elaborate on these things in particular, though we hope to say more at some time on these matters, but to point out that not all is as it seems, particularly because men say it is so. In our case here, we are pointing out that Islam is not godly as proclaimed by its adherents and the ignorant. The Scriptures, in holiness and truth, without cynicism or bitterness, proclaim that all men are liars. The Koran and the religion of Islam deny the One Who said that He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. The Koran is thereby shown to be, consistent with all works of men, a lie.
Jesus said, “No man comes to the Father, but by Me” (John 14:6). The Koran boldly and unashamedly calls God a liar in its denial of the testimony He has given of the Son, and calls those that believe and follow Him idolaters and infidels, thus justifiably (in their own minds only) made subject to servitude, persecution, and even death at the hands of the faithful followers of Mohammed, who is claimed to be the pre-eminent prophet of God, above all others, Christ included (Who is far more than a prophet!). This is not a religion of peace, as those who trust in the goodness of man ignorantly think and hope, but a shrine to unregenerate man, promoting carnal conquest, hostility, and war. The war is firstly declared on the truth. Who can claim peace when denying the Prince of peace? By the Word of God, the truth, we defeat all enemies of the truth.
I wish to introduce you to a letter that recently came across our desk, and which has been circulated on the net for a couple of years. It is disputed by some as to the accuracy of the rendering of the event described therein; our purpose here is not to defend the authenticity of the portrayal, but to highlight the truthful and well-illustrated disparity between Islam and the Gospel of Christ as articulated in the encounter. My reply to the author follows his article.
Allah or Jesus?
by Rick Mathes
Last month I attended my annual training session that’s required for maintaining my state prison security clearance. During the training session there was a presentation by three speakers representing the Roman Catholic, Protestant and Muslim faiths, who explained each of their belief systems.
I was particularly interested in what the Islamic Imam had to say.
The Imam gave a great presentation of the basics of Islam, complete with a video.
After the presentations, time was provided for questions and answers.
When it was my turn, I directed my question to the Imam and asked, “Please, correct me if I’m wrong, but I understand that most Imams and clerics of Islam have declared a holy jihad [Holy war] against the infidels of the world. And, that by killing an infidel, which is a command to all Muslims, they are assured of a place in heaven. If that’s the case, can you give me the definition of an infidel?”
There was no disagreement with my statements and without hesitation, he replied, “Non-believers!”
I responded, “So, let me make sure I have this straight. All followers of Allah have been commanded to kill everyone who is not of your faith so they can go to Heaven. Is that correct?”
The expression on his face changed from one of authority and command to that of a little boy who had just gotten caught with his hand in the cookie jar.
He sheepishly replied, “Yes.”
I then stated, “Well, sir, I have a real problem trying to imagine Pope John Paul commanding all Catholics to kill those of your faith or Dr. Stanley ordering Protestants to do the same in order to go to Heaven!”
The Imam was speechless.
I continued, “I also have a problem with being your friend when you and your brother clerics are telling your followers to kill me. Let me ask you a question. Would you rather have your Allah who tells you to kill me in order to go to Heaven or my Jesus who tells me to love you because I am going to Heaven and He wants you to be with me?”
You could have heard a pin drop as the Imam hung his head in shame.
Chuck Colson once told me something that has sustained me these 20 years of prison ministry. He said to me, “Rick, remember that the truth will prevail.”
And it will!
Comments from newsletter publishing the story: Needless to say, the organizers and/or promoters of the ‘Diversification’ training seminar were not happy with Rick’s way of dealing with the Islamic Imam and exposing the truth about the Muslim’s beliefs.
I think everyone in the US should be required to read this, but with the liberal justice system, liberal media, and the ACLU, there is no way this will be widely publicized.
My reply:
Greetings in the Lord Jesus Christ, Rick,
I was recently made aware of your post, “Allah or Jesus?” by the Mideast Truth Forum. It is true that many are ignorant of the doctrines and spirit of Islam, which are hostile to the Lord Jesus Christ, and thereby to all of humanity. For this reason I appreciated hearing about the contrast of Christ with the true nature of Islam publicized on the net in your story.
However, you cite the pope as being representative of what a Christian, one presumably in Christ, would say or do. The pope, as head of the Catholic Church, is the personal embodiment of the most bloodthirsty, tyrannical religious organization in history, and is no Christian by God’s definition whatsoever. While the Muslims may act wickedly in harmony with their diabolical scriptures, the pope and his church are in direct enmity with Jesus Christ and His Words, appearing as usurpers, claiming His throne. To hold these up to the Muslims as examples of Christian virtue is akin to “the stove calling the kettle black.” Yes, the religious Catholics pay lip service to Jesus Christ, but are they any better when stabbing Him in the back? Are they not worse? And do not the Muslims have ample evidence of popes who called for their butchering, in the name of “The Crusades”? (Not that the Muslims were innocent.)
Jesus Christ loved His enemies (and all others), not in theory or mushy emotion, but by speaking the truth to them. This was no idyllic business, for by doing so He laid down His life, as those who thought they did God service killed Him because of His testimony, particularly as it applied to them in their hardness of heart and unbelief. Thereafter it was promised that all those who followed Christ, living godly in Him, would also suffer persecution. Mark this: The godly are those who are persecuted (although not all persecuted are necessarily godly), never the ones persecuting and killing (whether physically or metaphorically).
Interestingly enough, immediately after the posting of your story, Rick, the article below was posted, with no apparent connection mentioned, though there is an obvious one. The title tells all (“Jerusalem Patriarch praises Abbas, criticizes Israel”). Not only do almost all professing Christians have nothing to do with the living Lord Jesus Christ, but here we see the fruits of unbelief and paganism dressed up as “Christianity” in the blatant identification with, and expressed sympathies towards, the enemies of God’s chosen people. That is because there is no difference in nature between them; they are one in heart and substance.
The head of a “Christian” organization in Jerusalem acts as the direct dupe of Islamic terrorist propaganda, equating the murders they commit with the legitimate self-defense and the preventative measures taken by a God-ordained nation (Israel) in dealing with an implacable, unreasonable, unjustified (yet God-ordained) foe bent on their destruction. That is because many “Christians” are the enemies of God and His people, equally if not more so than the avowed enemies.
As the saying goes, “With friends like that, who needs enemies!” Better to have an honest enemy than a false friend.
I have some questions for you, Rick. If love never fails, how is it that Jesus Christ will fail to reach the Muslims, or Catholics? Isn’t the doctrine of eternal torment consuming the majority of humankind an admission that love does fail? If that is not failure, what is? Do you think that Heaven is a place or state of being where no one cares anymore? Is God to be satisfied that darkness wins, claiming the lion’s share in the end? Are you? Is His hand shortened, at any time, or in any place? Which abounds more, sin or grace?
Paul Cohen
Jerusalem Patriarch praises Abbas, criticizes Israel
In her landmark work “Eurabia,” author Bat Ye’or points out that the most effective agents of dhimmitude are often Christian clerics who defend the excesses of their Muslim overlords, usually at their congregation’s expense. A good example of this phenomenon is Jerusalem Patriarch Michel Sabbah, whose latest Christmas message not only praises the “efforts” of PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas, but rationalizes the murder of Israelis:
Israeli and Palestinian political leaders must be ‘builders of life, not death,’ Latin-rite Patriarch Michel Sabbah of Jerusalem said in his Christmas message. ‘Understand, after such a long time of demolition, death and fighting, that these ways could not and will never produce but more demolition, death and fighting,’ he said in his message, delivered to journalists Dec. 21.
“Injustices such as the Israeli separation barrier, imprisonments and assassinations only ‘add fuel for violence,’ he said. ‘When injustice – the cause of violence – ceases, violence will stop and security will reign. We hope that we can begin a new period in which all violence will stop on both sides, Israeli and Palestinian alike,’ the patriarch said. ‘Half-measures, half-liberty and half-sovereignty lead nowhere except to fall again in an interminable cycle of violence and insecurity.’
“He said that Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas has come out against violence, convincing extremist groups such as Hamas and Islamic Jihad to abstain from violence. When asked about the recent suicide bombing that killed five Israelis in early December in the Israeli coastal city of Netanya, the patriarch said the continuation of Israeli violence provoked once again Palestinian violence. ‘The solution is very simple. The Palestinian Authority said no to violence… but Israel continues with its own violence… so Palestinians react.'”
The willingness of Mr. Sabbah to grovel before the Palestinian leadership is hardly an isolated incident among Christian leaders, as explained in detail by Justus Weiner, a scholar at the Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs who was interviewed for Front Page Magazine today. [source]