DU011a - Bringing Thoughts Captive - Follow-up
These studies are originally posted to the DepartingUPC discussion group. There the studies are discussed, often at length. The discussions are helpful but are only available to members of the DepartingUPC group. (To subscribe go to http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DepartingUPC/join - don't forget to fill out the questionnaire that is sent to you.) From time to time we will post follow-up information that will be helpful to the reader. Such is the case below.
To: DepartingUPC@YahooGroups.com
From: "Pastor Buddy Martin" <Bro.Buddy@ChristianChallenge.org>
Date: Wednesday July 29, 2006
Subject: Bible Study DU011 - Bringing Thoughts Captive
> Brother Buddy, If you believe the antichrist is Islam, then where do
> you think the mark, and all of that fits in to the picture, just
> curious, how do they relate in your understanding? thanks!
Good morning Shelly.
Here is my statement from the study: "Islam is actually antichrist. Most people do not realize this. Satan has been preparing his antichrist armies for 1400 years in preparation for the count down."
Let's leave the Antichrist himself out of the picture and simply talk about Islam. It is fruitless to try and decide who the antichrist will be or to speculate on exact times. What we do know, however, is that antichrist will be able to broker a peace plan in the middle east, but only in a pretence for marking time. Then all 'hell' will break loose.
As for Islam being an antichrist religion, this can be set forth rather easy. Here is the Biblical definition of the antichrist spirit: "Who is the liar but the one who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, the one who denies the Father and the Son." (1Jn2:22)
Notice how John reduces this to the one who 'denies the Father and the Son.' This is a major theme in Islam. The Koran (Quran) and the Hadith of Islam clearly discounts Jesus as being God's Son, that he never died on the cross for the sins of mankind, or that is He in any way the Savior of mankind. To Muslims, Jesus is honored as a prophet in a long line of prophets. (Second to Mohammed. In Islam, Mohammad is the greatest of all the prophets, including Jesus.)
Here are some statements from Islam teachings: "There is no prophet between me and him [Jesus]. He will descent to the earth ... He will break the cross, kill swine, and abolish jizyah [tax on Christians, etc.] Allah will perish all religions except Islam."
"After his descention on earth, Jesus will marry. He will have children, and he will remain on the earth 19 years after marriage. He will pass away and Muslims will perform his Funeral Prayer and bury him next to the Prophet Muhammad."
The Mosque of Omar (Dome of the Rock) on the temple mount has this very inscription written in Arabic around its outer boundary, "God has no son." What banner could be more directive to Islam being antichrist? There is none. Think about the it --- The temple mount is the holiest of all places to Jews, and ranks with the three holiest places in Islam.
What other indicators do we have that Islam is fully antichrist? Another consideration has to do with the nations set forth in the Bible as coming against Jerusalem in the last days. Every nation named is Islamic in religion.
Then we have this --- Islam is a religion of the sword, of hate, of intense violence, of wrath, of forceful conversions, with its ultimate terrorist fear- mongering picture of 'beheadings.' What other religion on the earth uses beheadings to strike fear among its opponents? Any attempt to describe Islam as a religion of peace is pure propaganda (deceit).
Now hear the Scriptures: (Caps only for emphasis.)
[Rev20:4] "Then I saw thrones, and they that sat upon them, and judgment was given to them. And I saw THE SOULS OF THEM WHO HAD BEEN BEHEADED because of their testimony of Jesus and because of the Word of God, and those who had not worshipped the beast or his image, and had not received the mark of the beast on their forehead and their hand; and they came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years."
[Rev12:12] "For this reason, rejoice, O heavens and you who dwell in them. Woe to the earth and the sea, because the devil has come down to you, HAVING GREAT WRATH, knowing he has only a short time." [The 'come down' may speak of Satan's incarnated antichrist. The short times speaks of the tribulation period.]
[Dan11:37,38] "He will show no regard for the gods of his fathers or for the desire of women, nor will he show regard for any other god; for he will magnify himself above all of them. But instead he will HONOR A GOD OF FORTRESSES... " [God of fortresses is a militant term that expresses a god of war.]
It is important to see how Islam expresses the very nation of Satan and of the lost man in his nature of wrath. Paul said, "And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world [lostness and defiled nature], according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience. Among them we too all formerly lived in the lust of our flesh and of the mind, AND WERE BY NATURE CHILDREN OF WRATH, even as the rest." (Eph2:1-3) --- The Bible describes Satan as being internally filled with violence ---
The brother that I've been counseling in Iraq just sent me of Muslims demonstrating somewhere in Europe. Here are some captions on the signs they are carrying:
Slay those who insult Islam. -- Behead those who insult Islam -- Butcher those who mock Islam -- Europe is the cancer, Islam is the answer. -- Islam will dominate the world -- Freedom go to hell -- Europe take lessons from 9/11 -- Europe you will pay, your 9/11 is on its way -- Be prepared for the real holocaust.
Shelly, there is much more to this subject but I don't want to labor this area. Even the Jews figure into this antichrist scene, but in a different manner. Theirs is a more open hatred of Jesus. However, this speaks of Talmudic Judaism and not all Jews. This is one reason that I can see the advantage Israel has in that the larger part of her citizenry is secular and not Talmudic. In fact one of the main discussions in Israel today is about Jesus. Many non-Talmudic Jews are seeking to bring Jesus back into their history as a great rabbi, etc.
Now for the upbeat. What I offered is simply to give you the answer you requested. It is not intended to gender to fear. The book has already been written. God has make us victorious in His victory through Christ. So, while Satan seeks to rule through fear, the kingdom of God's beloved Son is ruled by righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.
Hope this helped to answer your question a bit.
Blessings,
Buddy
......
Lawrence "Buddy" Martin
email: Bro.Buddy <at> ChristianChallenge.Org
Web: http://www.ChristianChallenge.org
Forum: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Hebraic-Foundations/
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