Barry’s Beacon - Shining Biblical Light on Global Events Part 2
PART 2: Questions:
Question:
We have known some Christians whom we have worked with who support the idea that the god of Islam, that is Allah, is the same person as the God of the Christians. We have also had Christians saying that if God has really chosen Israel and the Muslims are so anti-Jewish, how can God love any Muslim?
Our response to both questions starts with a statement from Jesus:
“Beware… You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit…Therefore by their fruits you will know them.” Matthew 7:15-20.
Recently we have become aware of the accounts of, literally, thousands of Muslims coming to Christ. Some of their testimonies may be seen on YouTube. Consider what they are leaving and what they are coming to.
Islam and the Prophet Muhammad:
Many of those Muslims whose comments we have had the opportunity to hear and see have stated that some of their aims as sincere Muslims were to follow and be like their Prophet and obey, or perhaps even enforce, his laws and precepts. Because the Prophet Muhammad suggested that peace can only occur when the Muslim Sharia law is followed, first for individuals, then nationally and ultimately for the world, it thus becomes obligatory that they follow Sharia law to the letter. Only in this way can an individual, a nation, or the world placate their god, Allah. If Sharia law is broken, there will be no peace until appropriate punishments are implemented. If Allah is not worshipped, the penalty is death.
As far as being like Muhammad is concerned, the behavior of this prophet is to be the standard, and is documented in the Quran. Lies and deception are considered justifiable (see Sura 3 verse 28; or the 16th Sura verse 106; and two examples in the Hadith). In fact, violence and killing are actually called for against infidels (non-Muslims), particularly Jews and Christians (see Sura 5:33, 9:5 and 47:4-9). Since the Prophet Muhammad employed these tactics and behaved this way, then devout Muslims copy this behavior and enforce the Muslim legal code as the only way to peace with Allah.
Thus, both historically and in our current world situation we can see the fruits of Islam: lies, deception, violence, warfare and death. In addition to these characteristics of the Muslim god Allah, they also have no guarantee of salvation, no forgiveness and no love from him.
Christianity and Jesus the Messiah:
In view of the Muslim attitude about their law, what does the Bible say about the Law of God? When Jesus the Messiah (Christ in Greek) debated with the religious hierarchy of that time, He pointed out that not one little letter of the Mosaic Law, written over 1500 years earlier, would pass away until everything was accomplished (Matthew 5:18). Jesus himself said he came to fulfill the Law. Paul follows through on this but says we are not judged by the Law but are under God’s grace. However, when asked which commandment was the greatest in the Mosaic Law, Jesus summarized it all in a very succinct manner in Matthew 22:37-40. He said: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All of the Law and the Prophets depend on these two commandments.” The centrality of the extensive Mosaic Law was therefore seen to rest on just two basic precepts.
As a result of this, the apostle John makes some startling comments in his Gospel. Thus, it is noted in John 1:14,17-18 that “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld his glory, the glory of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth… For the Law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No-one has seen God at any time. [But] the only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, he has declared him.” In other words, Jesus came to show the world and to declare the character, outlook and attitudes of God the Father.
As we look at the record of Jesus’ life and sayings, we see grace and truth. Indeed, in his confrontations with the religious leaders, he unashamedly spoke the truth and pointed out their error, but he did it in a gracious way, even though they were vehemently accusing him. After one such episode from his detractors, he responded: “I do not have a demon; rather I am honoring my Father, but you are dishonoring me, since I seek not my own glory” (John 8:49-50).
However, life and love were also key themes. Jesus said in John 10:10 “The thief does not come except to steal, kill and destroy. I have come that you might have life, and have it more abundantly.” Jesus stated in John 3:16, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” This is amplified in John 15:13 when Jesus said, “Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends,” which is exactly what Jesus shortly after making that statement. He concluded that session by saying to all who follow Him, as recorded in John 14:27, “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give unto you, not as the world gives do I give unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” So, the life of Messiah exhibited grace, truth, and love, and He offers that as well as abundant life and the peace of God which passes all understanding to those who accept Him (Philippians 4:7).
Galatians 5:22-23 lists the fruits of the Spirit as love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Because Jesus said He is the way, the truth, and the life, truth itself must also be considered integral to Christianity and one of its fruits. This is what the Muslims, the Hindus and so many others from other faiths have found when they have come to Christ.
The Response:
For some of the Muslims, the difference between law and grace has impacted them from the story of the woman caught in adultery in John 8. In Sharia law, in the case of adultery, the penalty is usually 100 lashes and then banishment or stoning, depending on the circumstances of those involved. Likewise, under the Mosaic Law, Leviticus 20:10 similarly says that adulterers should be stoned. However, as these enquiring Muslims came to John 8:1-11 and read that the religious leaders suggested to Jesus that the adulterous woman before them should be stoned just as Mosaic Law says, the difference between law and grace became obvious. Jesus first called out the hypocrisy of the religious leaders, and when they had gone, Jesus told the woman she had been forgiven and said to her, “Go and sin no more.” Here is grace, truth and love in action instead of legalism. These Muslims then found out that Jesus paid the penalty for all our sins, so He had the right to forgive them. With this news, they gladly accepted Jesus as their Savior, and in Him found the real attitude and character that the Father has towards us. It is so different from what they had been taught before.
As we have listened to the individual ways in which so many Muslims have come to accept the Lord Jesus, it has become abundantly clear that He really does love them, and, indeed loves all people, and is not willing that any should perish, but all come to eternal life.
Our Part to Fulfill:
Jesus was very clear that if we love Him, we will obey Him, and that is crucial to our daily walk with the Lord. We can only do that through the indwelling Holy Spirit, which He gives to His followers. It is then that our lives become different, more Christlike in our outlook, attitudes, actions and reactions. This becomes Christ living in us, and it is this Presence of Him which attracts others.
In the time we have ahead, may you rejoice the Lord’s heart, refresh the souls of those you meet daily, and turn others to Him, as He changes you into His likeness, from one degree of glory into another.
Beacon Comment: Just how this works out in a war situation such as with Israel and the Arabs is beautifully explained by someone who has been and is going through it. Here is the URL to a 9 minute session on the topic from TBN Jerusalem, Israel, by the presenter, Samuel Smadja, and Dr. Erez Soref, President of One For Israel (Messianic) Bible College.
https://news.kehila.org/video-answering-difficult-questions-where-was-god-in-the-oct-7-massacre/
The Possible Rise of the False Prophet:
A number of Catholics have asked if the changes introduced into their church by the pontiff may indicate he is a candidate for the Antichrist as those changes seem to run contrary to centuries-old doctrines. Our answer is NO! However, there may be another possibility to watch for.
The False Prophet appears in Revelation 13, 17, 18, and 19:20. The back story leading to this person’s appearance in Scripture may perhaps be traced to the time of the Reformation. At that time, a monk and teacher, Martin Luther, nailed his 95 theses to the door of Wittenberg Cathedral, Germany on October 31st, 1517. This event started what is now known as the Protestant Reformation, in which many left the Roman Catholic Church for a more Biblically based approach to their faith. In response, the Roman Catholic Counter Reformation (also known as the Catholic Revival) began shortly after. As part of the Counter-Reformation, the Order of the Jesuits, also known as the Society of Jesus, (abbreviated to SJ by its office holders), was started by Ignatius of Loyola and six companions on 15th August 1534. Because of their zeal, their movement became officially recognized as a Catholic organization by Pope Leo III in 1540.
The long-term goal of the Jesuits was to bring all people everywhere under the power and influence of the papacy. To achieve these aims, the Jesuits literally went to war against any opposition to the Catholic Church. This resulted in a very colorful and brutal history for the Jesuits. The long-term goal of the Jesuits to unite all people under the power and influence of the pope, has not changed. The second Vatican Council of 1964 and its decree, which led to the Ecumenical Movement with the aim of unity among all Christians, has been a continuation of that process.
To bring us right up to date, the current Pope, Francis, is the first pope ever to have been elected from among the Jesuits. He echoes the Jesuits goal as one of his stated aims is to unite all people on earth as “children of God in a global church.” To this end he has said that atheists can get into heaven and he has denied the existence of hell. He implies that everyone is a child of God and all will get into heaven. In pursuing that goal, Francis gave the keynote speech at the interfaith gathering of leaders from Islam, Judaism, Hinduism, Christianity, and other faiths called the Human Fraternity Conference in the UAE’s Abu Dhabi in February 2019. Francis signed a Declaration at the end of the Conference, saying “The time has come when all religions should more actively exert themselves, with courage and audacity, and without pretense, to help the human family deepen the capacity for reconciliation, the vision of hope and the concrete paths of peace.” This is all part of the Jesuit global agenda. So, also is the Vatican dialogue announced on January 11th 2024 between Christians and Marxists/Socialists that is hosted by the Pope as in the headlines here.
Other links for above information:
https://apnews.com/article/cc7d7942879e4eb4a30b96d839a815d3
Excerpts from a Lamb and Lion Ministry discussion with Mike Gendron found here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2l6cSIfXlEA
Comment: In the above Jesuit history, we may be seeing the possibility of an origin for the false prophet, who has world religions under his control & helps bring the Antichrist to power. Then, after 3 ½ years he directs all worship to the beast. Current events suggest that all the machinery for this to happen is being set up now. Interestingly, the Latin word Vatican means “prophet.”
Barry Setterfield - 11th January, 2024.
