IS MUHAMMAD OR ISLAM RELIGION MENTIONED IN THE CHRISTIAN BIBLE?
By Sammy Lee
People have always asked me the question, "Is Muhammad or the Moslem (Islam) religion mentioned in the Bible? My answer has always been "Yes, absolutely!" I invite you to spend just a few minutes to read this little booklet:
THE HANIFANS OR RIGHTEOUS PEOPLE IN THE LAST DAYS
Chapter 9 of the last book of the Bible, also called The Revelation of Jesus Christ, definitely and specifically talks about the Moslem movement and its leader Muhammad, and chapter 10 and 14 of the same book is talking about the Seventh-day Adventist movement. Notice that in both instances, the Islam movement and the Seventh-day Adventist movements are symbolized by "angels". And very interestingly, when the Bible talks about heathen nations or kingdoms or organizations, the symbol of animals or beasts is usually used.
Revelation 9:1 "And the fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star fall from heaven unto the earth: and to him was given the key of the bottomless pit."
A star in the book of Revelation has always been understood to mean either an angel or the leader of a religious movement. This is self evident from the following texts:
Revelation 2:1 Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks;
In Revelation Chapter 2 and 3 the above text was repeated 7 times, that is, John the Revelator was told to write a letter to each of the angels of the churches of Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamus, Thytira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea. Those seven churches literally existed during the time of John. They are not only symbolic but historic as well.
But it you take it to mean only symbolic, why would God ask John to write something to angels. Angels are spirits and have superior and supernatural intelligence and knowledge. They can hear our prayers and travel faster than even the light. They are always communicating with God. So they don't need to be told anything by writing letters to them..
In chapter 4 and 5 we read about lightning and thunders around the throne of God. Many Bible scholars believe this to mean that there is constant communication between angels all over the universe with God in a way that cannot be comprehended by human beings now. But everybody knows that when we use mobile phones, the electrical waves travel through space in an instant. I have seen a rich business man who used three mobile phones on his table simultaneously, just like talking to three different people at the same time, in a sort of teleconference way.
I believe that if human beings can do this, communicating with three different people in different places simultenously, God can certainly do much better than us. And if you read in Job 38:35 "Canst thou send lightnings, that they may go and say unto thee, Here we are?", you will see that this text is talking about the use of electricity(lightning) as a faithful servant, who can do the bidding of their master without question and in an instant, just like a soldier carrying out his commander's order. This is no doubt talking about how we can use telephone, radio or internet in sending messages all over the world in and instant. As this text was written about 3500 years ago by Moses, it is evident that God knows everything about the use of electricity long before Benjamin Franklin discovered the secret of electricity found in lightning, and long before Thomas Alfa Edison, Alexander Graham Bell and other electricity and computer geniuses invented all those wonderful communication, and electronic marvels of today.
"The bottomless pit" is a phrase which we Bible scholars understood to be this world, as seen from heaven above as a dark pit, where we as human beings live. Nowadays this symbolism has become very clear, as we get photographs from the outer space of our planet earth. It is a ball floating somewhere in the dark space if you see it from thousands of miles out there.
First notice that the star fell from heaven, meaning that it is a messenger or religious leader which was sent or inspired or chosen by God to do carry out His specific plan.
My Moslem friends often asked me, "Do you believe that Muhammad is a messenger of God?" and I have always replied affirmatively with a recitation of the syahadat: asyhadu anna la ilaha illa Allah,
wa asyhadu anna Muhammadan Rasul Allah.
I bear witness in my heart,
that there is no god but Allah.
and I bear witness in my heart,
that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah.
That is Biblical as you will also see after you finish reading this pamphlet.
Let me draw your attention first to the birth of the ancestor of Muhammad, who is Ishmael. This is recorded in the book of Genesis chapter 16. Please bear in mind that both the Arabs and the Jews are descendants of Abraham, and have the same right to the blessings and inheritance of their ancestor Abraham.
Genesis 16
1Now Sarai Abram's wife bare him no children: and she had an handmaid, an Egyptian, whose name was Hagar.
2And Sarai said unto Abram, Behold now, the LORD hath restrained me from bearing: I pray thee, go in unto my maid; it may be that I may obtain children by her. And Abram hearkened to the voice of Sarai.
3And Sarai Abram's wife took Hagar her maid the Egyptian, after Abram had dwelt ten years in the land of Canaan, and gave her to her husband Abram to be his wife.
4And he went in unto Hagar, and she conceived: and when she saw that she had conceived, her mistress was despised in her eyes.
5And Sarai said unto Abram, My wrong be upon thee: I have given my maid into thy bosom; and when she saw that she had conceived, I was despised in her eyes: the LORD judge between me and thee.
6But Abram said unto Sarai, Behold, thy maid is in thine hand; do to her as it pleaseth thee. And when Sarai dealt hardly with her, she fled from her face.
7And the angel of the LORD found her by a fountain of water in the wilderness, by the fountain in the way to Shur.
8And he said, Hagar, Sarai's maid, whence camest thou? and whither wilt thou go? And she said, I flee from the face of my mistress Sarai.
9And the angel of the LORD said unto her, Return to thy mistress, and submit thyself under her hands.
10And the angel of the LORD said unto her, I will multiply thy seed exceedingly, that it shall not be numbered for multitude.
11And the angel of the LORD said unto her, Behold, thou art with child and shalt bear a son, and shalt call his name Ishmael; because the LORD hath heard thy affliction.
12And he will be a wild 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.
13And she called the name of the LORD that spake unto her, Thou God seest me: for she said, Have I also here looked after him that seeth me?
14Wherefore the well was called Beerlahairoi; behold, it is between Kadesh and Bered.
15And Hagar bare Abram a son: and Abram called his son's name, which Hagar bare, Ishmael.
16And Abram was fourscore and six years old, when Hagar bare Ishmael to Abram.
I purposely used underscored bold letters to emphasize this wonderful narration. I am sure you can see that when the Bible uses the term "the angel of the LORD", it means Jesus Himself which appeared as an angel in His pre reincarnated form as a human being.
You can see this very clearly in the narration of the birth of Samson:
Judges 13
1And the children of Israel did evil again in the sight of the LORD; and the LORD delivered them into the hand of the Philistines forty years.
2And there was a certain man of Zorah, of the family of the Danites, whose name was Manoah; and his wife was barren, and bare not.
3And the angel of the LORD appeared unto the woman, and said unto her, Behold now, thou art barren, and bearest not: but thou shalt conceive, and bear a son.
4Now therefore beware, I pray thee, and drink not wine nor strong drink, and eat not any unclean thing:
5For, lo, thou shalt conceive, and bear a son; and no razor shall come on his head: for the child shall be a Nazarite unto God from the womb: and he shall begin to deliver Israel out of the hand of the Philistines.
6Then the woman came and told her husband, saying, A man of God came unto me, and his countenance was like the countenance of an angel of God, very terrible: but I asked him not whence he was, neither told he me his name:
7But he said unto me, Behold, thou shalt conceive, and bear a son; and now drink no wine nor strong drink, neither eat any unclean thing: for the child shall be a Nazarite to God from the womb to the day of his death.
8Then Manoah intreated the LORD, and said, O my Lord, let the man of God which thou didst send come again unto us, and teach us what we shall do unto the child that shall be born.
9And God hearkened to the voice of Manoah; and the angel of God came again unto the woman as she sat in the field: but Manoah her husband was not with her.
10And the woman made haste, and ran, and shewed her husband, and said unto him, Behold, the man hath appeared unto me, that came unto me the other day.
11And Manoah arose, and went after his wife, and came to the man, and said unto him, Art thou the man that spakest unto the woman? And he said, I am.
12And Manoah said, Now let thy words come to pass. How shall we order the child, and how shall we do unto him?
13And the angel of the LORD said unto Manoah, Of all that I said unto the woman let her beware.
14She may not eat of any thing that cometh of the vine, neither let her drink wine or strong drink, nor eat any unclean thing: all that I commanded her let her observe.
15And Manoah said unto the angel of the LORD, I pray thee, let us detain thee, until we shall have made ready a kid for thee.
16And the angel of the LORD said unto Manoah, Though thou detain me, I will not eat of thy bread: and if thou wilt offer a burnt offering, thou must offer it unto the LORD. For Manoah knew not that he was an angel of the LORD.
17And Manoah said unto the angel of the LORD, What is thy name, that when thy sayings come to pass we may do thee honour?
18And the angel of the LORD said unto him, Why askest thou thus after my name, seeing it is secret?
19So Manoah took a kid with a meat offering, and offered it upon a rock unto the LORD: and the angel did wonderously; and Manoah and his wife looked on.
20For it came to pass, when the flame went up toward heaven from off the altar, that the angel of the LORD ascended in the flame of the altar. And Manoah and his wife looked on it, and fell on their faces to the ground.
21But the angel of the LORD did no more appear to Manoah and to his wife. Then Manoah knew that he was an angel of the LORD.
22And Manoah said unto his wife, We shall surely die, because we have seen God.
23But his wife said unto him, If the LORD were pleased to kill us, he would not have received a burnt offering and a meat offering at our hands, neither would he have shewed us all these things, nor would as at this time have told us such things as these.
24And the woman bare a son, and called his name Samson: and the child grew, and the LORD blessed him.
25And the Spirit of the LORD began to move him at times in the camp of Dan between Zorah and Eshtaol.
If you compare the two wonderful narrations of the birth of two outstanding babies, you will see very clearly that in both cases it is "the angel of the LORD" Who is none other than Jesus Christ Himself, as the WORD, and the Great I AM.
Because in both cases the mothers of the babies, Mrs. Manoah, and Hagar or Mrs. Abraham, recognize Him as such. This is evidence from the sentences used by "the angel of the LORD". Notice that in both cases the angel of the LORD, did not say: God will bless your child, but "I will bless the child". For an ordinary angel saying, "I will bless the child" would be presumptious. To make it clearer, when Mrs. Manoah asked the angel what is his name, he replied: "Why askest thou thus after my name, seeing it is secret?" In the New International Version, there is a footnote given on that name, which is recorded in verse 18: "18 He replied, "Why do you ask my name? It is beyond understanding. [a] "
Footnotes:
[a]. Judges 13:18 Or is wonderful
Isn't that the first name of several names given to Jesus in the prophecy of His birth in the book of Isaiah? "For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace."
Can't we see now how God had a special interest to the ancestor of the prophet Muhammad, Ishmael, and to himself as the Bible prophesied him in Revelation 9 as we have read above? Now let us continue with the explanation on the prophecy of the Islam movement in the book of Revelation chapter 9.
The key to the bottomless pit, means that the "star" has power to control it or as it is mentioned in the succeeding texts, to punish or torment the people of the earth who transgressed His commandments. Why would God send a movement symbolised by a falling star to punish the inhabitants of the earth. The answer is found in verses 20 and 21:
20 And the rest of the men which were not killed by these plagues yet repented not of the works of their hands, that they should not worship devils, and idols of gold, and silver, and brass, and stone, and of wood: which neither can see, nor hear, nor walk:
21 Neither repented they of their murders, nor of their sorceries, nor of their fornication, nor of their thefts.
The year 538 AD was believed by people who have studied history as the time when the Roman Catholic Church was established. It is the time when the Bishop of Rome became the head of all the remaining 7 nations symbolized by the 10 toes of the statue in Nebuchadnezar's dream of Daniel 2, and the 10 horns of the fourth beast of Daniel's dream of 4 animals in Daniel 7. The three hornes plucked by the small horn are the three Arian nations: the Heruli, Vandals and Ostrogoths.
Isn't it very significant that the Moslem movement came about in less than a century later, in the year 610, just when the Roman Catholic Church had really changed practically all the pure doctrines of the Christian Church and put heathen practises which were not introduced by either Jesus or the disciples. Remember that the apostle Paul predicted that this will happen after his death.
"Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.
For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.
Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them." (Acts 20:28-30)
And just as was predicted above, the early Christian church after the conversion of Constinatine in 323 AD, started to be influenced by the Romans, and little by little the ancient Roman doctrines started to infiltrate the Christian Church. It is not coincidental that the Church was later called The Roman Catholic Church.
2And he opened the bottomless pit; and there arose a smoke out of the pit, as the smoke of a great furnace; and the sun and the air were darkened by reason of the smoke of the pit.
As I mentioned above, the earth is like a pit in a dark empty space, but the area in the wilderness of Arabia is more impressively so, and in many Arabic literature it was described as such by the Arabs, a pit from which many travellers did not come out alive.
3And there came out of the smoke locusts upon the earth: and unto them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power.
Locusts have been used to describe the army of the Arab nations in the past.
4And it was commanded them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree; but only those men which have not the seal of God in their foreheads.
In the book The History of Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, by Edward Gibbons, Chapter 51, the writer mentions about how Abu Bakar, who succeeded Muhammad made the following instruction among other, before sending his troop to conquer Sydria in the year 632 AD: "When you go to battle in the war of God, perform your duty as heroic people, never turn back; but don't let your victory be tarnished with the blood of women or children, do not destroy the palms, or burn the corn fields, do not cut down fruit trees, or harming the cattle, only kill what you want to eat."
5And to them it was given that they should not kill them, but that they should be tormented five months: and their torment was as the torment of a scorpion, when he striketh a man.
The sting of a scorpio is not fatal to human beings. They only caused severe pain or torment. In the early history of the movement of Islam, they were known to be very brave, but not as destructive. They only punish those who do not worship the Only One God.
6And in those days shall men seek death, and shall not find it; and shall desire to die, and death shall flee from them.
7And the shapes of the locusts were like unto horses prepared unto battle; and on their heads were as it were crowns like gold, and their faces were as the faces of men.
This is a very accurate description of the Muslim army in the past. They are very skilful in horse riding and when they are in the battle they look as if the heads and the horses became one.
8And they had hair as the hair of women, and their teeth were as the teeth of lions.
9And they had breastplates, as it were breastplates of iron; and the sound of their wings was as the sound of chariots of many horses running to battle.
10And they had tails like unto scorpions, and there were stings in their tails: and their power was to hurt men five months.
11And they had a king over them, which is the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name in the Hebrew tongue is Abaddon, but in the Greek tongue hath his name Apollyon.
12One woe is past; and, behold, there come two woes more hereafter.
13And the sixth angel sounded, and I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar which is before God,
14Saying to the sixth angel which had the trumpet, Loose the four angels which are bound in the great river Euphrates.
15And the four angels were loosed, which were prepared for an hour, and a day, and a month, and a year, for to slay the third part of men.
16And the number of the army of the horsemen were two hundred thousand thousand: and I heard the number of them.
The Moslem nations are the only one who can marshal 200 millions army today in an overnight. No other nations have the means and determination to do that.
17And thus I saw the horses in the vision, and them that sat on them, having breastplates of fire, and of jacinth, and brimstone: and the heads of the horses were as the heads of lions; and out of their mouths issued fire and smoke and brimstone.
The colours and the description is without a doubt that of the Muslim cavalry and their use of guns, which to John the Baptist it look as if the fire came out of the mouths of the horses, being unfamiliar of the use of firearms during his days. They have headbands with the colour of gold and breastplate and long hair in the past.
18By these three was the third part of men killed, by the fire, and by the smoke, and by the brimstone, which issued out of their mouths.
19For their power is in their mouth, and in their tails: for their tails were like unto serpents, and had heads, and with them they do hurt.
The Arab cavalry was so skilful in the use of horses in war, that they can shoot while riding fast both forward and backward.
20And the rest of the men which were not killed by these plagues yet repented not of the works of their hands, that they should not worship devils, and idols of gold, and silver, and brass, and stone, and of wood: which neither can see, nor hear, nor walk:
21Neither repented they of their murders, nor of their sorceries, nor of their fornication, nor of their thefts.
As I have mentioned above, verses 20 and 21 accurately described the idolatry of the so called Christians, but actually were just baptized pagan Romans, or Christianized heathens at tha.
Chapter 10 of the book of Revelation definitely talk about the Seventh-day Adventist Movement. It is described as an angel, as again this symbol is repeated in chapter 14.
Again, the symbol of an angel is very similar to that used in describing the Muslim movement.
In Chapter 10 we read how this movement started with a very sweet experience, just like the experience of eating honey. But later it became bitter in the stomach.
The Seventh-day Adventist Church started with a movement led by William Miller and other young preachers around the year 1830's to 1844. They were so sure that the little book, which was opened and which was eaten by John in symbol, mean that Jesus will be coming back in the year 1844, as they interpreted the text in Daniel 8:14,
And he said unto me, Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed.
The predicted coming of Jesus on the 22nd of October 1844, was a very bitter experience rivalled only by the experience of the disciples of Christ who also misunderstood the prophecies of the Messiah in his first coming as a prophecy of conquering of the Roman Empire.
8And the voice which I heard from heaven spake unto me again, and said, Go and take the little book which is open in the hand of the angel which standeth upon the sea and upon the earth.
9And I went unto the angel, and said unto him, Give me the little book. And he said unto me, Take it, and eat it up; and it shall make thy belly bitter, but it shall be in thy mouth sweet as honey.
10And I took the little book out of the angel's hand, and ate it up; and it was in my mouth sweet as honey: and as soon as I had eaten it, my belly was bitter.
11And he said unto me, Thou must prophesy again before many peoples, and nations, and tongues, and kings. (Revelation 10:8-11)
But after that bitter experience or disappointment, the angel told John who symbolised the Seventh-day Adventist movement of today that they should prophecy again before many peoples, and nations, and tongues, and kings.
This is exactly what the Seventh-day Adventist movement is doing around the world among more than 200 nations worldwide. We are the only church which can fulfil this prophecy, which is the so graphically described in Revelation 14:6-12.
6And 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,
7Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.
8And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.
9And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand,
10The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb:
11And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.
12Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.
At the end of the proclamation we are now the only worldwide church that can be described as "those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus."
The Seventh-day Adventists are the only church who keep the ten commandments including the 4th one which contains the command to keep the seventh-day Sabbath holy, as the sign or the seal of God as we can read in the following texts:
"Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.
9Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work:
10But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates:
11For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it."
Exodus 20:8-11
and "20And hallow my sabbaths; and they shall be a sign between me and you, that ye may know that I am the LORD your God.
12Moreover also I gave them my sabbaths, to be a sign between me and them, that they might know that I am the LORD that sanctify them." Ezekiel 20:12, 20.
The Seventh-day Adventists teach about the sacredness of the seventh-day Sabbath and to refrain from eating the unclean foods, as well as refrain from worshipping idols or other gods as mentioned in Isaiah 66:15-23,
"15For, behold, the LORD will come with fire, and with his chariots like a whirlwind, to render his anger with fury, and his rebuke with flames of fire.
16For by fire and by his sword will the LORD plead with all flesh: and the slain of the LORD shall be many.
17They that sanctify themselves, and purify themselves in the gardens behind one tree in the midst, eating swine's flesh, and the abomination, and the mouse, shall be consumed together, saith the LORD. (these are idol worshippers, and those who eat unclean animals' flesh, with pork and mouse specifically mentioned.)
18For I know their works and their thoughts: it shall come, that I will gather all nations and tongues; and they shall come, and see my glory.
19And I will set a sign among them, and I will send those that escape of them unto the nations, to Tarshish, Pul, and Lud, that draw the bow, to Tubal, and Javan, to the isles afar off, that have not heard my fame, neither have seen my glory; and they shall declare my glory among the Gentiles.
20And they shall bring all your brethren for an offering unto the LORD out of all nations upon horses, and in chariots, and in litters, and upon mules, and upon swift beasts, to my holy mountain Jerusalem, saith the LORD, as the children of Israel bring an offering in a clean vessel into the house of the LORD.
21And I will also take of them for priests and for Levites, saith the LORD.
22For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before me, saith the LORD, so shall your seed and your name remain.
23And it shall come to pass, that from one new moon to another, and from one sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, saith the LORD.
24And they shall go forth, and look upon the carcases of the men that have transgressed against me: for their worm shall not die, neither shall their fire be quenched; and they shall be an abhorring unto all flesh."
which is also mentioned in the Quran. (Find the texts about Sabbath and Haram)
Walaqad AAalimtumu allatheena iAAtadaw minkum fee alssabti faqulna lahum koonoo qiradatan khasieena
2:65 And well ye knew those amongst you who transgressed in the matter of the Sabbath: We said to them: "Be ye apes, despised and rejected."
An-Nisa (The Women) [4:47] [RECITE]
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Ya ayyuha allatheena ootoo alkitaba aminoo bima nazzalna musaddiqan lima maAAakum min qabli an natmisa wujoohan fanaruddaha AAala adbariha aw nalAAanahum kama laAAanna ashaba alssabti wakana amru Allahi mafAAoolan
4:47 O ye People of the Book! believe in what We have (now) revealed, confirming what was (already) with you, before We change the face and fame of some (of you) beyond all recognition, and turn them hindwards, or curse them as We cursed the Sabbath-breakers, for the decision of Allah Must be carried out.
An-Nisa (The Women) [4:154] [RECITE]
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WarafaAAna fawqahumu alttoora bimeethaqihim waqulna lahumu odkhuloo albaba sujjadan waqulna lahum la taAAdoo fee alssabti waakhathna minhum meethaqan ghaleethan
4:154 And for their covenant we raised over them (the towering height) of Mount (Sinai); and (on another occasion) we said: "Enter the gate with humility"; and (once again) we commanded them: "Transgress not in the matter of the sabbath." And we took from them a solemn covenant.
Al-A'raf (The Heights) [7:163] [RECITE]
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Waisalhum AAani alqaryati allatee kanat hadirata albahri ith yaAAdoona fee alssabti ith tateehim heetanuhum yawma sabtihim shurraAAan wayawma la yasbitoona la tateehim kathalika nabloohum bima kanoo yafsuqoona
7:163 Ask them concerning the town standing close by the sea. Behold! they transgressed in the matter of the Sabbath. For on the day of their Sabbath their fish did come to them, openly holding up their heads, but on the day they had no Sabbath, they came not: thus did We make a trial of them, for they were given to transgression.
It would be clearer if we read the history of the Arab people as described in the book of Genesis 25,
1Then again Abraham took a wife, and her name was Keturah.
2And she bare him Zimran, and Jokshan, and Medan, and Midian, and Ishbak, and Shuah.
3And Jokshan begat Sheba, and Dedan. And the sons of Dedan were Asshurim, and Letushim, and Leummim.
4And the sons of Midian; Ephah, and Epher, and Hanoch, and Abidah, and Eldaah. All these were the children of Keturah.
5And Abraham gave all that he had unto Isaac.
6But unto the sons of the concubines, which Abraham had, Abraham gave gifts, and sent them away from Isaac his son, while he yet lived, eastward, unto the east country.
7And these are the days of the years of Abraham's life which he lived, an hundred threescore and fifteen years.
8Then Abraham gave up the ghost, and died in a good old age, an old man, and full of years; and was gathered to his people.
9And his sons Isaac and Ishmael buried him in the cave of Machpelah, in the field of Ephron the son of Zohar the Hittite, which is before Mamre;
10The field which Abraham purchased of the sons of Heth: there was Abraham buried, and Sarah his wife.
11And it came to pass after the death of Abraham, that God blessed his son Isaac; and Isaac dwelt by the well Lahairoi.
12Now these are the generations of Ishmael, Abraham's son, whom Hagar the Egyptian, Sarah's handmaid, bare unto Abraham:
13And these are the names of the sons of Ishmael, by their names, according to their generations: the firstborn of Ishmael, Nebajoth; and Kedar, and Adbeel, and Mibsam,
14And Mishma, and Dumah, and Massa,
15Hadar, and Tema, Jetur, Naphish, and Kedemah:
16These are the sons of Ishmael, and these are their names, by their towns, and by their castles; twelve princes according to their nations.
in Isaiah 60:1-7
1Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee.
2For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the LORD shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee.
3And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising.
4Lift up thine eyes round about, and see: all they gather themselves together, they come to thee: thy sons shall come from far, and thy daughters shall be nursed at thy side.
5Then thou shalt see, and flow together, and thine heart shall fear, and be enlarged; because the abundance of the sea shall be converted unto thee, the forces of the Gentiles shall come unto thee.
6The multitude of camels shall cover thee, the dromedaries of Midian and Ephah; all they from Sheba shall come: they shall bring gold and incense; and they shall shew forth the praises of the LORD.
7All the flocks of Kedar shall be gathered together unto thee, the rams of Nebaioth shall minister unto thee: they shall come up with acceptance on mine altar, and I will glorify the house of my glory.
(Midian, Ephah and Sheba, are the three descendants of Abraham through Keturah, his third wife. And Kedar and Nebaioth are the first two of the 12 sons of Ishmael.)
and Isaiah 42:10-12.
10Sing unto the LORD a new song, and his praise from the end of the earth, ye that go down to the sea, and all that is therein; the isles, and the inhabitants thereof.
11Let the wilderness and the cities thereof lift up their voice, the villages that Kedar doth inhabit: let the inhabitants of the rock sing, let them shout from the top of the mountains.
12Let them give glory unto the LORD, and declare his praise in the islands.
The names of Nebaioth and Kedar, the first sons of Ishmael were mentioned there as the ones who will join with the children of Israel in making the House of the Lord and house of prayer for all nations, undoubtedly meaning that the true Israel of God and the real Islam or the Hanifs, both Christians and Moslems, will be working together to finish the work of God for the salvation of the human race at the end of time.
It is amazing how there are thousands of Moslem scholars who are now very interested in studying the prophecies given by the Seventh-day Adventist church. And there are thousands of them who have believed that there will be true Christians (the people of the book) and true Moslems at the end of time, who will work together in proclaiming to the Lord that there is Only One God, and that we should prepare for His second coming both as the Righteous Judge, the Imam Mahdi or High Priest and the King of kings and Lord of lords to rule the universe in peace. May Allah, Elohim, the Only God open your eyes to understand this important prophecy and fulfilment right in our time.
. . . . . . .
2:173 - -
Al-Baqara (The Cow) 2:173
إِنَّمَا حَرَّمَ عَلَيْكُمُ الْمَيْتَةَ وَالدَّمَ وَلَحْمَ الْخِنزِيرِ وَمَا أُهِلَّ بِهِ لِغَيْرِ اللّهِ فَمَنِ اضْطُرَّ غَيْرَ بَاغٍ وَلاَ عَادٍ فَلا إِثْمَ عَلَيْهِ إِنَّ اللّهَ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ (2:173)
Baset - Hussari - Minshawi
Innama harrama AAalaykumu almaytata waalddama walahma alkhinzeeri wama ohilla bihi lighayri Allahi famani idturra ghayra baghin wala AAadin fala ithma AAalayhi inna Allaha ghafoorun raheemun
• 2:173 (Asad) He has forbidden to you only carrion, and blood, and the flesh of swine, and that over which any name other than God's has been invoked; [139] but if one is driven by necessity - neither coveting it nor exceeding his immediate need -no sin shall be upon him: for, behold, God is much-forgiving, a dispenser of grace.
A repetition of the same text is also found in the following books:
• Al Maidah 5:3 (Asad) FORBIDDEN to you is carrion, and blood, and the flesh of swine, and that over which any name other than God's has been invoked, [7] and the animal that has been strangled, or beaten to death, or killed by a fall, or gored to death, or savaged by a beast of prey, save that which you [yourselves] may have slaughtered while it was still alive; and [forbidden to you is] all that has been slaughtered on idolatrous altars.
Al An'aam 6:145 (Asad) Say [O Prophet]: "In all that has been revealed unto me, I do not find anything forbidden to eat, if one wants to eat thereof, [134] unless it be carrion, or blood poured forth, or the flesh of swine-for that, behold, is loathsome-or a sinful offering [135] over which any name other than God's has been invoked. But if one is driven by necessity - neither coveting it nor exceeding his immediate need -then [know that], behold, thy Sustainer is much-forgiving, a dispenser of grace."
An Nahl 16:115 Innama harrama AAalaykumu almaytata waalddama walahma alkhinzeeri wama ohilla lighayri Allahi bihi famani idturra ghayra baghin wala AAadin fainna Allaha ghafoorun raheemun
(Asad) He has forbidden to you only carrion, and blood, and the flesh of swine, and that over which any name other than God's has been invoked; but if one is driven [to it] by necessity - neither coveting it nor exceeding his immediate need -verily, God is much forgiving, a dispenser of grace
You can see from the above texts, both in the Bible and in the Quran, how the Sabbath and the Unclean food rules are mentioned very clearly. The Seventh-day Adventist Church and the Islam Religion are the only two religions today who practise the above very important rules of God, namely about keeping the seventh-day Sabbath holy and refraining from eating unclean meat such as swine(pork) and other animals with unclean habit of eating, such as dogs and mice or rats.
If other people decide to close their eyes on these matters it is their business. But I am very happy to tell you that there are a lot of people all over the world who have been inspired by the Holy Spirit and join the group of Righteous People described in the book of Revelation: as the saints who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. The faith of Jesus does not only mean believe in Jesus, because the devil also believe in Jesus, but to follow the example given by Jesus and all the prophets and apostles who also live a holy life, thus they are called "saints" and keep the seventh-day Sabbath as their customs.
Luke 4:16
"And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read."
Acts 13:13, 14.
"Paul and his company ... went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and sat down."
Acts 16:13.
"And on the sabbath we went out of the city by a river side, where prayer was wont to be made; and we sat down, and spake unto the women which resorted thither."
Acts 17:2
And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures,
Acts 18:4.
"And he [Paul] reasoned in the synagogue every sabbath, and persuaded the Jews and the Greeks." Acts 18:4.
In fact thousands of people in the world now realize that becoming a vegetarian as planned by God in the beginning or creation as recorded in Genesis 1:29 is the best way of life.
"And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat."
God knows the best, as the Greatest Doctor and also our Creator. Just like the manufacturer of our car knows what kind of fuel is the best for our car, God also knows what is the best food for human beings.
Here is an article from the National Geographic Magazine, November 2005 edition:
The Adventist Church—born during the era of 19th-century health reforms that popularized organized vegetarianism, the graham cracker, and breakfast cereals (John Harvey Kellogg was an Adventist when he started making wheat flakes)—has always preached and practiced a message of health. It expressly forbids smoking, alcohol consumption, and eating biblically unclean foods, such as pork. It also discourages the consumption of other meat, rich foods, caffeinated drinks, and "stimulating" condiments and spices. "Grains, fruits, nuts, and vegetables constitute the diet chosen for us by our Creator," wrote Ellen White, an early figure who helped shape the Adventist Church. Adventists also observe the Sabbath on Saturday, socializing with other church members and enjoying a sanctuary in time that helps relieve stress. Today most Adventists follow the prescribed lifestyle—a testimony, perhaps, to the power of mixing health and religion.
From 1976 to 1988 the National Institutes of Health funded a study of 34,000 California Adventists to see whether their health-oriented lifestyle affected their life expectancy and risk of heart disease and cancer. The study found that the Adventists' habit of consuming beans, soy milk, tomatoes, and other fruits lowered their risk of developing certain cancers. It also suggested that eating whole wheat bread, drinking five glasses of water a day, and, most surprisingly, consuming four servings of nuts a week reduced their risk of heart disease. And it found that not eating red meat had been helpful to avoid both cancer and heart disease.
In the end the study reached a stunning conclusion, says Gary Fraser of Loma Linda University: The average Adventist lived four to ten years longer than the average Californian. That makes the Adventists one of the nation's most convincing cultures of longevity.
In the past, Moslems have always regarded Christians as heathens because they are mostly pork eaters. But that is actually not true, and many intelligent Moslems now realized that there are a group of people who are called the "people of the book", who obey all that God asked us to do and in this matter they can be classified as the hanifs or hanifans just like the Prophet Ibrahim. Both the Quran and the Bible calls Ibrahim as the righteous one and the father of faith.
An-Nisa [4:125]
Arabic
Waman ahsanu deenan mimman aslama wajhahu lillahi wahuwa muhsinun waittabaAAa millata ibraheema haneefan waittakhatha Allahu ibraheema khaleelan
4:125 Who can be better in religion than one who submits his whole self to Allah, does good, and follows the way of Abraham the true in Faith? For Allah did take Abraham for a friend.
Genesis 26:5
4And I will make thy seed to multiply as the stars of heaven, and will give unto thy seed all these countries; and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed;
5Because that Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws.
2 Chronicles 20: 7
7Art not thou our God, who didst drive out the inhabitants of this land before thy people Israel, and gavest it to the seed of Abraham thy friend for ever?
Isa. 41: 8
8But thou, Israel, art my servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, the seed of Abraham my friend.
What about us today? Do we want to be called the blessed friend of God. Then follow the footsteps of Abraham and obey all God's commandments:
Psalm 1, written by David (Daud) who is also called the friend if God, or a man after God's heart.
1Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.
2But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.
3And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.
4The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away.
5Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.
6For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.
And in the first book of the Injil and the last book also it is written:
Matthew 7:21-23
21 "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. 22 Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?' 23 And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!'
Revelation 22:14,15
14 Blessed are those who do His commandments,[g] that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city. 15 But[h] outside are dogs and sorcerers and sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and whoever loves and practices a lie.
May Allah, the only God of the universe bless you all.
Wa assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barokatuh.
