Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works.
the word of Jesus, John 14:10
Our bodies are just vessels of our souls or spirits. Our spirits were created by God but Jesus is special since his spirit is a portion of God that went out from Him _and that’s what made Jesus also God. When God created the universe He sent forth his ‘word’, and this ‘word’ was the one which created all things. The Gospel of John says, “In the beginning was the Word”, so there’s no Son yet in the beginning of Creation but the Word. The reason why the Son was manifested is because Adam fell to sin, thus mankind lost its eternal life. The task of this Word or Spirit of God was to be part of humanity so that to defeat the devil through perfect obedience of the law [1 John 3:8]. God sent His Word or Spirit and entered the Earth through a human body so that to save humanity from perishing. It is man who died from sin, therefore it is man who will rise from the dead through perfectness or sinlessness. In Psalm 2:7 God decreed, ”You are my son, today I have become your Father”. Why God has become the father of Jesus? Because He was not the Son of God in the previous but the Word. The Sonship of Jesus of God is not biological in nature but spiritual through a divine decree. This is what the apostle John meant when he said in his Gospel, “and the Word became flesh and dwelt among us” [John 1:14]. God promised to Moses that He will raise an Israelite to be His speaker [Deuteronomy 18:18-19], and He will put His spirit on him [Isaiah 42:1]. Below are Biblical passages telling about the Spirit of God (Word) who will come to the world by means of a man (Jesus)
OLD TESTAMENT
1. [Psalm 104:30] You send forth Your Spirit, they are created; And You renew the face of the ground.
2. [Psalm 107:20] He sent out his Word and healed them, snatching them from the door of death.
3. [Isiah 11:12] And the Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the LORD.
4. [Isaiah 42:1] “Here is My Servant, whom I uphold, My Chosen One, in whom My soul delights. I will put My Spirit on Him, and He will bring justice to the nations.
5. [Isaiah 48:16] “I have not spoken in secret from the beginning; from the time that it was, there I am; and now the Sovereign Lord has sent me with his spirit”.
6. [Isaiah 61:1] The Spirit of the Lord GOD is on Me, because the LORD has anointed Me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent Me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and freedom to the prisoners,
NEW TESTAMENT
1. [Matthew 12:15-21] Aware of this, Jesus withdrew from that place. A large crowd followed him, and he healed all who were ill. He warned them not to tell others about him. This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah:
“Here is my servant whom I have chosen, the one I love, in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him, and he will proclaim justice to the nations.
2. [Luke 4:16-21] Then Jesus came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up. As was His custom, He entered the synagogue on the Sabbath. And when He stood up to read, the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to Him. Unrolling it, He found the place where it was written:
“The Spirit of the Lord is on Me, because He has anointed Me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”
Then He rolled up the scroll, returned it to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fixed on Him, and He began by saying, “Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”
3. [John 1:14] And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
4. [John 8:42] Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love Me, for I proceeded forth and have come from God, for I have not even come on My own initiative, but He sent Me.
5. [John 10:38] But if I am doing them, even though you do not believe Me, believe the works themselves, so that you may know and understand that the Father is in Me, and I am in the Father.”
6. [John 13:3] Jesus knew that the Father had delivered all things into His hands, and that He had come from God and was returning to God.
7. [John 14:10] Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works.
8. [John 14:11] Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father is in me, but if you do not believe me, believe because of the miraculous deeds themselves.
9.[John 15:26] When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father—the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father—he will testify about me.
10. [John 16:27-28] For the Father Himself loves you, because you have loved Me and have believed that I came from God. I came from the Father and entered the world. In turn, I will leave the world and go to the Father.
11. [Acts 10:38] How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.
12. [Galatians 4:6] And because you are sons, God sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying out, “Abba, Father!”
†We are all sinners but only perfect or sinless man can have eternal life and enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Therefore, we need to be purified via the purification sent by God which is Jesus, the perfecter of our Faith. Without Him, no one can come to the Father (John 14:6). All we have to do is to believe the saving work of Jesus and follow His will. This world is just passing and our life span is very short, thus let us not store Earthly treasures but Heavenly treasures instead. Isn’t having an everlasting life is way more valuable than having a temporary life? Below are Biblical verses telling about purification and perfection that we need to undergo in our way to the Kingdom of God.
Quoted from the Old Testament:
[Numbers 31:23] everything that can withstand the fire—must be put through the fire, and it will be clean. But it must still be purified with the water of purification. And everything that cannot withstand the fire must pass through the water
[Job 14:4] Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? no one.
[Job 15:14] “What is man, that he should be pure, or he who is born of a woman, that he should be righteous?
[Psalm 37:37] Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright: for the end of that man is peace.
[Psalm 51:2] Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity And cleanse me from my sin.
[Psalm 51:7] Purify me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
[Psalm 66:10] For You, O God, have tested us; You have refined us like silver.
[Isaiah 1:16] “Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean; Remove the evil of your deeds from My sight. Cease to do evil,
[Isaiah 1:18] “Come now, and let us reason together,” Says the LORD, “Though your sins are as scarlet, They will be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They will be like wool.
[Isaiah 1:25] I will turn My hand against you; I will thoroughly purge your dross; I will remove all your impurities.
[Isaiah 4:4] When the Lord shall have washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion and cleansed the bloodstains of Jerusalem from its midst by a spirit of judgment and by a spirit of burning
[Isaiah 6:5-7] And I said: ”Woe is me! for I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts.” Then flew one of the seraphim to me, having in his hand a burning coal which he had taken with tongs from the altar. And he touched my mouth, and said: “Behold, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away, and your sin forgiven.“
[Isaiah 35:8-9] And a highway will be there; it will be called the Way of Holiness; it will be for those who walk on that Way. The unclean will not journey on it; wicked fools will not go about on it. No lion will be there, nor any ravenous beast; they will not be found there. But only the redeemed will walk there
[Isaiah 44:22] “I have wiped out your transgressions like a thick cloud And your sins like a heavy mist. Return to Me, for I have redeemed you.”
[Isaiah 48:10] See, I have refined you, but not as silver; I have tested you in the furnace of affliction.
[Ezekiel 20:38] And I will purge you of those who rebel and transgress against Me. I will bring them out of the land in which they dwell, but they will not enter the land of Israel. Then you will know that I am the LORD.’
[Jeremiah 33:8] ‘I will cleanse them from all their iniquity by which they have sinned against Me, and I will pardon all their iniquities by which they have sinned against Me and by which they have transgressed against Me.
[Zechariah 13:9] This third I will bring through the fire; I will refine them like silver and test them like gold. They will call on My name, and I will answer them. I will say, ‘They are My people,’ and they will say, ‘The LORD is our God.'”
[Daniel 11:35] Some of the wise will fall, so that they may be refined, purified, and made spotless until the time of the end, for it will still come at the appointed time.
[Daniel 12:10] Many will be purified, made spotless, and refined, but the wicked will continue to act wickedly. None of the wicked will understand, but the wise will understand.
[Malachi 3:2-3] But who can endure the day of His coming? And who can stand when He appears? For He will be like a refiner’s fire, like a launderer’s soap. And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the LORD an offering in righteousness.
Quoted from the New Testament:
[John 1:29] The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!
[John 5:48] Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
[Matthew 8:2-3] Suddenly a leper came and knelt before Him, saying, “Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.” Jesus reached out His hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” He said. “Be clean!” And immediately his leprosy was cleansed . . .
[Acts 15:9] He made no distinction between us and them, for he cleansed their hearts by faith.
[1 John 1:7] But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.
[1 John 1:9] If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
[1 John 3:3-4] And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure. Everyone who practices sin practices lawlessness as well. Indeed, sin is lawlessness. But you know that Christ appeared to take away sins, and in Him there is no sin
[Romans 12:1-2] I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
[Hebrews 1:3] The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of His nature, upholding all things by His powerful word. After He had provided purification for sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.
[Hebrews 9:14] how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself unblemished to God, purify our consciences from works of death, so that we may serve the living God!
[Hebrews 9:22] Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.
[Hebrews 10:12] But when this Priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, He sat down at the right hand of God.
[Hebrews 11:40] God had planned something better for us, so that together with us they would be made perfect.
[Hebrews 12:2] Looking unto Jesus the author and perfecter of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
[Hebrews 12:22-23] But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels, to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are registered in heaven, to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect
[1 Corinthians 3:13] his workmanship will be evident, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will prove the quality of each man’s work.
[1 Corinthians 3:15] But if someone’s work is burned up, that one will suffer loss; the person will be saved, but only as through fire.
[Ephesians 5:26] to sanctify her, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word,
[1 Thessalonians 3:13] so that He may establish your hearts in blamelessness and holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all His saints. Amen.
[1 Timothy 1:5] The goal of our instruction is the love that comes from a pure heart, a clear conscience, and a sincere faith.
[James 1:27] Pure and undefiled religion before our God and Father is this: to care for orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.
[James 2:22] You see that his faith was working with his actions, and his faith was perfected by what he did.
[2 Peter 3:14] Therefore, beloved, as you anticipate these things, make every effort to be found at peace with Him, without spot or blemish.
[Titus 2:14] He gave Himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds
[Revelation 21:27] Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life.
[Revelation 22:14] Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter by the gates into the city.
God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.
John 4:24
What is a spirit? In my definition, spirit is an existence which has life in itself that we cannot see and touch, unless it transforms into a physical being like God can. God, angel, and ghost are spirits that can interact or communicate with people. But there are also spirits that cannot communicate with us. These are wisdom/mind, feeling/emotion, energy/might, word/verbal statement, etc.
Wisdom is a spirit because it exists and it is working. Without wisdom, we cannot have an idea on how to perform our daily jobs.
Feeling is a spirit because it exists and it is working. Without our feelings, we cannot have relationships with one another. If we get hurt we suffer from the pain inside us.
Energy is also a spirit since it exists and it is working. Without the living existence of energy, we cannot rise up and walk. Without the energy of God, heavenly bodies won’t float in the universe (Hebrews 1:3).
Word is also a spirit for it exists and it is working. When someone speaks, you hear it and react to it. When God uttered ‘let there be light’ to create a ‘light’, the word ‘let there be light’ is a spirit. This is the reason why Jesus is also called ‘the spirit or word of God’. The Bible says, “You send forth your spirit, they are created” (Psalm 104:30), and in other passage it says, “He sent forth his word and healed them” (Psalm 107:20). So spirit & word are used interchangeably here.
When Jesus said, “worship God in spirit”, he meant we should worship God in our hearts (emotions), minds (thoughts), and might (energy). Below are verses commanding us to worship God in spirit;
1. [Deuteronomy 6:5] “You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.
2. [Deuteronomy 30:6] “Moreover the LORD your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your descendants, to love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, so that you may live.
3. [John 4:23-24] But a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth, for the Father is seeking such as these to worship Him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.
4. [John 7:24] Stop judging by outward appearances, and start judging justly.”
5. [Hebrews 4:12] For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
6. [1 Corinthians 2:11] For who among men knows the thoughts of man except his own spirit within him? So too, no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.
7. [1 Corinthians 10:25] Eat anything that is sold in the market without letting your conscience trouble you.
8. [Philippians 3:3] For we are the circumcision, who worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh
9. [Romans 1:9] God, whom I serve with my spirit in preaching the gospel of His Son, is my witness how constantly I remember you
10. [Romans 2:29] No, a man is a Jew because he is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code. Such a man’s praise does not come from men, but from God.
11. [Romans 14:17] for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.
12. [Galatians 5:25] Since we live by the Spirit, let us walk in step with the Spirit.
13. [1 Peter 1:13] Therefore prepare your minds for action. Be sober-minded. Set your hope fully on the grace to be given you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
14. [1 Peter 3:15-16] But in your hearts sanctify Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give a defense to everyone who asks you the reason for the hope you possess. But respond with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who slander you will be put to shame by your good behavior in Christ.
15. [1 Timothy 1:5] The goal of our instruction is the love that comes from a pure heart, a clear conscience, and a sincere faith.
16. [Hebrews 10:22] let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.
17. [2 Corinthians 10:4-5] For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;
18. [2 Timothy 2:19] But God’s truth stands firm like a foundation stone with this inscription: “The LORD knows those who are his,” and “All who belong to the LORD must turn away from evil.”
19. [Romans 8:13] For if you live according to the flesh, you shall die: but if by the Spirit you mortify the deeds of the flesh, you shall live.
Why Yahweh is not Allah? Because their natures, behaviors, and capabilities are completely unlike. The Muslims keep insisting that Allah is the God of Abraham, Moses, Isaac, and Jesus though the word ‘Allah’ is nowhere in the Bible. Yahweh means “I am who I am” describing the ever-exsistence of God, while Allah means “the god”. The following are many departments showing that Yahweh and Allah are not the same or even opposing;
[Isaiah 9:6] For to us a child is born, to us a Son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
[Matthew 28:19] Therefore go and make disciples of all nations baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
[1 John 5:7] For there are three that bear witness in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one.
→Allah is a Unity or Unification;
[Sahih Muslim 23b] Abu Malik narrated on the authority of his father that he heard the Apostle (ﷺ) say: He who held belief in the unity of Allah, and then narrated what has been stated above.
[Sunan Abi Dawud 1909] . . . He narrated this tradition and added the words “he recited in two rak’ahs the surah relating to Unity of Allah” and “Say, O disbelievers” to the Qur’anic verse “And take the station of Abraham as a place of prayer. . . .
2. YAHWEH HAS A SON, WHILE ALLAH CANNOT HAVE A SON SINCE HE HAS NO WIFE
→Yahweh has a Son;
[Psalm 2:7] The king proclaims the LORD’s decree: “The LORD said to me, ‘You are my Son. Today I have become your Father.
[1 Chronicles 17:13] I will be his Father, and he will be my Son. I will never take my love away from him, as I took it away from your predecessor.
[Mark 9:7] Then a cloud appeared and enveloped them, and a voice came from the cloud: “This is My beloved Son. Listen to Him!”
→Allah cannot have a son because He has no wife;
[Quran 6:101] He is the Originator of the heavens and the earth. How could He have a son when He has no wife? He created all things and He has knowledge of all things
[Quran 112:3] He begets not, nor was He begotten
3. YAHWEH CALLS HIS BELIEVERS AS HIS CHILDREN, WHILE ALLAH CALLS HIS BELIEVERS AS HIS SLAVES
→Yahweh calls his believers as his children;
[Isaiah 43:6] I will say to the north, “Give them up,” and to the south, “Do not keep them.” Bring my sons from far away and my daughters from the ends of the earth
[2 Corinthians 6:18] And: “I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.”
[Galatians 4:6-7] And because we are his children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, prompting us to call out, “Abba, Father.” Now you are no longer a slave but God’s own child. And since you are his child, God has made you his heir.
[Revelation 21:7] All who are victorious will inherit all these blessings, and I will be their God, and they will be my children.
→Allah calls his believers as his slaves;
[Quran 19:63] Such is the Garden which We cause the devout among Our bondmen to inherit.
[Quran 23:109] Then We gave the Scripture as inheritance unto those whom We elected of Our bondmen. But of them are some who wrong themselves and of them are some who are lukewarm, and of them are some who outstrip (others) through good deeds, by Allah’s leave. That is the great favour!
4.YAHWEH DOES NOT CHANGE HIS MIND AND WORD, WHILE ALLAH CHANGED HIS MIND AND WORD
→Yahweh doesn’t change his word and mind;
[1 Samuel 15:29] Also the Glory of Israel will not lie or change His mind; for He is not a man that He should change His mind.”
[Psalm 89:34] “My covenant I will not violate, Nor will I alter the utterance of My lips.
[Isaiah 40:8] The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever.
[Hebrews 7:21] but Jesus became a priest with an oath by the One who said to Him: “The Lord has sworn and will not change His mind: ‘You are a priest forever.'”
→Allah substituted his previous word;
[Quran 2:106] None of Our revelations do We abrogate or cause to be forgotten, but We substitute something better or similar: Knowest thou not that Allah Hath power over all things?
[Quran 16:101] And when We substitute a verse in place of a verse – and Allah is most knowing of what He sends down – they say, “You, [O Muhammad], are but an inventor [of lies].” But most of them do not know.
5.YAHWEH DOES NOT LIE, WHILE ALLAH DECEIVES PEOPLE
→Yahweh does not lie;
[Numbers 23:19] God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?
[Hebrews 6:18] Thus by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope set before us may be strongly encouraged.
→Allah is the best deceiver;
[Quran 3:54] But they (the Jews) were deceptive, and Allah was deceptive, for Allah is the best of deceivers (Wamakaroo wamakara Allahu waAllahu khayru al-makireena)!
[Quran 7:99] So, do they feel secure against the scheming of Allah? Then none feels secure against the scheming of Allah except the people (who) are the losers.
[Leviticus 19:34] You must treat the foreigner living among you as native-born and love him as yourself, for you were foreigners in the land of Egypt. I am the LORD your God.
[Proverbs 25:21] If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat; if he is thirsty, give him water to drink.
[John 13:34-35] A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. “By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”
[Matthew 5:44] But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you
[Ishaq 322] Allah said, ‘Do not turn away from Muhammad when he is speaking to you. Do not contradict his orders. And do not be a hypocrite, one who pretends to be obedient to him and then disobeys him. Those who do so will receive My vengeance. You must respond to the Apostle when he summons you to war. . . I will cast TERROR into the hearts of those who reject Me. So strike off their heads and cut off their fingers. All who oppose Me and My Prophet shall be punished severely.
[Quran 4:104] And do not weaken in pursuit of the enemy. If you should be suffering – so are they suffering as you are suffering, but you expect from Allah that which they expect not. And Allah is ever Knowing and Wise.
[Quran 5:51] O you who believe! do not take the Jews and the Christians for friends; they are friends of each other; and whoever amongst you takes them for a friend, then surely he is one of them; surely Allah does not guide the unjust people.
Video: Christians are praying for the good of all people, While Muslims are praying for the destruction of the Jews and Christians
7. YAHWEH COMMANDS HUSBANDS TO LOVE THEIR WIVES, WHILE ALLAH ALLOWS HUSBANDS TO BEAT THEIR WIVES
→Yahweh commands husbands to love their wives and don’t be harsh to them;
[Collosians 3:19] Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them.
[Ephesians 5:25] Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her
→Allah allows men to beat their wives;
[Quran 4:3] Men are in charge of women, because Allah hath made the one of them to excel the other, and because they spend of their property (for the support of women). So good women are the obedient, guarding in secret that which Allah hath guarded. As for those from whom ye fear rebellion, admonish them and banish them to beds apart, and scourge them. Then if they obey you, seek not a way against them. Lo! Allah is ever High, Exalted, Great.
[Tabari IX:113] Allah permits you to shut them in separate rooms and to beat them, but not severely. If they abstain, they have the right to food and clothing. Treat women well for they are like domestic animals and they possess nothing themselves. Allah has made the enjoyment of their bodies lawful in his Qur’an.
8. YAHWEH COMMANDS A MAN TO HAVE ONLY ONE WIFE, WHILE ALLAH ALLOWS A MAN HAVING MANY WIVES PLUS SEX SLAVES
→Yahweh commands a man to have one wife only;
[Deuteronomy 14:16-17] “You are not to go back that way again.” He must not take many wives, or his heart will be led astray. He must not accumulate large amounts of silver and gold“
[1 Timothy 3:2] An overseer then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach
[Titus 1:6] if a man is blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of dissipation or insubordination
→Allah allows a man to have many wives;
[Quran 4:3] And if you fear that you cannot act equitably towards orphans, then marry such women as seem good to you, two and three and four; but if you fear that you will not do justice (between them), then (marry) only one or what your right hands possess; this is more proper, that you may not deviate from the right course.
[Quran 4:24] Also (forbidden are) women already married, except those whom your right hands possess. Thus has Allah ordained for you. All others are lawful, provided you seek them from your property, desiring chastity, not fornication. So with those among them whom you have enjoyed, give them their required due, but if you agree mutually after the requirement (has been determined), there is no sin on you. Surely, Allah is Ever All-Knowing, All-Wise.
COMMENT: . . . except those whom your right hands possess . . . this refers to the girl possessed by a Muslim or a slave girl. Allah pampered Muslim men with plenty of sex disregarding the feelings of women or children
9.YAHWEH HATESAND FORBIDSDIVORCE,WHILE ALLAH ALLOWS DIVORCE
→Yahweh prohibits divorce;
[Malachi 2:16] For I hate divorce!” says the LORD, the God of Israel. “To divorce your wife is to overwhelm her with cruelty,” says the Lord Almighty. “So guard your heart; do not be unfaithful to your wife.
[Matthew 19:4-6] Jesus answered, “Have you not read that from the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh? So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate.”
[Luke 16:18] Everyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery, and he who marries a divorced woman commits adultery.
→Allah allows divorce;
[Quran 33:49] O You who have believed, when you marry believing women andthen divorce them before you have touched them, then there is not for you any waiting period to count concerning them. So provide for them and give them a gracious release.
[Quran 2:237] And if you divorce them before you have touched them and you have appointed for them a portion, then (pay to them) half of what you have appointed, unless they relinquish or he should relinquish in whose hand is the marriage tie; and it is nearer to righteousness that you should relinquish; and do not neglect the giving of free gifts between you; surely Allah sees what you do.
10.YAHWEH TEACHES MARRYING A GROWN GIRL, WHILE ALLAH TEACHES MARRYING A CHILD
→Yahweh teaches marrying a grown girl;
[Ezekiel 16:7-8] I made you grow like a plant of the field. You grew and developed and entered puberty. Your breasts had formed and your hair had grown, yet you were stark naked. ‘I went by you again and looked at you. You were old enough to make love to. So I spread my robe over you, and covered your naked body. I promised to love you, and I exchanged marriage vows with you. You became mine, declares the Almighty LORD.
COMMENT: God liken the Israelites as a girl ripe for marriage. She should be grown up, and entered puberty. Her breast has formed and her hair is long. Her mind and body are old enough to make love to, and the lover also promise to love her.
→Allah allows marrying a child;
[Quran 65:4] And those who no longer expect menstruation among your women – if you doubt, then their (waiting) period is three months (relating to divorce), and [also for] those who did not menstruate. And for those who are pregnant, their term is until they give birth.
COMMENT: . . . and [also for] those who did not menstruate . . . this means that marrying or having sex with a child is permissible By Allah.
[Sahih Muslim Book 008, Number 3311] ‘A’isha (Allah be pleased with her) reported that Allah’s Apostle (may peace be upon him) married her when she was seven years old, and he was taken to his house as a bride when she was nine, and her dolls were with her; and when he (the Holy Prophet) died she was eighteen years old.
[Hebrews 13:4] Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous.
[Revelation 21:8] But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars—they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.”
→Allah allows raping women and selling them for sex;
[Quran 4:24] And all married women except those whom your right hands possess (this is) Allah’s ordinance to you, and lawful for you are (all women) besides those, provided that you seek (them) with your property, taking (them) in marriage not committing fornication. Then as to those whom you profit by, give them their dowries as appointed; and there is no blame on you about what you mutually agree after what is appointed; surely Allah is Knowing, Wise.
COMMENT: . . . except those whom your right hands possess . . . this refers to the girl possessed by a Muslim. This means that a Muslim man is not forbidden to have sex with their slaves and captive girls whether they are married or not to non-Muslims, and whether she likes it or not.
[Sunan Abu Dawud 2150 & Muslim 3433] Abu Said al-Khudri said: “The apostle of Allah sent a military expedition to Awtas on the occasion of the battle of Hunain. They met their enemy and fought with them. They defeated them and took them captives. Some of the Companions of the apostle of Allah were reluctant to have intercourse with the female captives because of their pagan husbands. So Allah, the Exalted, sent down the Quranic verse, “And all married women (are forbidden) unto you save those (captives) whom your right hands possess”. That is to say, they are lawfulfor them when they complete their waiting period.”
[Bukhari Kitabul Qadr 3:543] A man inquired, “We earn income from these bondwomen, (other narratives mention prostitution) so can we do coitus interrupts with them?” The Prophet said, “There is no sin in doing that”
12. YAHWEH COMMANDS HUMILITY, WHILE ALLAH COMMANDS DOMINION OVER OTHER PEOPLE
→Yahweh forbids arrogance and commands his believers to act humbly;
[Isaiah 13:11] Thus I will punish the world for its evil And the wicked for their iniquity; I will also put an end to the arrogance of the proud And abase the haughtiness of the ruthless.
[1 Peter 5:5-6] You younger men, likewise, be subject to your elders; and all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, for God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble. Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time
→Allah commands the Muslims to subjugate and humiliate non-Muslims;
[Quran 9:29] Fight those who believe not in Allah nor the Last Day, nor hold that forbidden which hath been forbidden by Allah and His Messenger, nor acknowledge the religion of Truth, (even if they are) of the People of the Book, until they pay the Jizya with willing submission, and feel themselves subdued.
[Sahih Bukhari 392] Narrated Anas bin Malik: Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) said, “I have been ordered to fight the people till they say; ‘None has the right to be worshipped but Allah.’ And if they say so, pray like our prayers, face our Qibla and slaughter as we slaughter, then their blood and property will be sacred to us and we will not interfere with them except legally and their reckoning will be with Allah.”
[Sahih Bukhari Volume 4, Book 52, Number 220] Narrated Abu Huraira: Allah’s Apostle said, “I have been sent with the shortest expressions bearing the widest meanings, and I have been made victorious with terror (cast in the hearts of the enemy), I will cast terror into the hearts of those who disbelieve. Therefore strike off their heads and strike off every fingertip of them.
13. YAHWEH GAVE HIS BLOOD THROUGH JESUS TO SAVE HIS PEOPLE, WHILE ALLAH DEMANDS THE BLOOD OF HIS PEOPLE TO GET INTO HIS JANNAH
→Yahweh gave his blood through Jesus;
[1 John 1:7] But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.
[Revelation 12:11] And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death
→Allah demands the blood of his believers;
[Quran 3:157] And if you are killed in the cause of Allah or die – then forgiveness from Allah and mercy are better than whatever they accumulate [in this world].
[Quran 4:74] So let those fight in the cause of Allah who sell the life of this world for the Hereafter. And he who fights in the cause of Allah and is killed or achieves victory – We will bestow upon him a great reward.
14. JESUS IS THE RIGHT HAND OR ARM OF YAHWEH, WHILE THE BLACK STONE IS THE RIGHT HAND OF ALLAH
→Jesus is the right hand of Yahweh;
[Psalm 89:13] Mighty is Your arm; strong is Your hand. Your right hand is exalted.
[Psalm 118:15] Glad songs of salvation are in the tents of the righteous: “The right hand of the LORD does valiantly
[Isaiah 52:10] The Lord has bared His holy arm In the sight of all the nations, That all the ends of the earth may see The salvation of our God.
[Luke 2:27-30] Led by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. And when the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for Him what was customary under the Law, Simeon took Him in his arms and blessed God, saying: “Sovereign Lord, as You have promised, You now dismiss Your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen Your salvation,
→The black stone is the right hand of Allah;
[Sunan Ibn Majah 2957] . . . When he reached the Black Corner (where the Black Stone is), he said: O Abu Muhammad! What have you heard about this Black Corner? ‘Ata’ said: Abu Hurairah told me that he heard the Messenger of Allah say: “Whoever faces it is facing the Hand of the Most Merciful.’ . . .
[Shaykh’ul Islam Ibn Taymiyyah, Majma’ul Fatawa, 6/397-398; Ibn Taymiyyah Expounds on Islam] “The Black Stone is the right hand of Allah on earth; whoever touches it or kisses it, it is as if he shakes hands with Allah and kisses His right hand.”
15. JESUS IS THE SIN PURIFIER OF YAHWEH, WHILE THE BLACK STONE IS THE SIN REMOVER OF ALLAH
[Malachi 3:3] He will act like a refiner and a purifier of silver. He will purify Levi’s sons and refine them like gold and silver. Then they will bring acceptable offerings to the LORD.
[1 John 1:9] If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
[Hebrews 1:3] The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of His nature, upholding all things by His powerful word. After He had provided purification for sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.
[Titus 2:14] He gave Himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds.
→The Black Stone is the sin remover of Allah;
[At-Tirmidhi, Sunan, hadith no. 959. This hadith is classified as hasan by At-Tirmidhi and as Sahih by Al-Hakim (1/664), and Adh-Dhahabi agreed with him]
Ibn `Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) quoted the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) as saying: “Touching them both (the Black Stone and Ar-Rukn Al-Yamani) is an expiation for one’s sins.”
[Jami` at-Tirmidhi 877, Book 9, Hadith 70]
Ibn Abbas narrated that: The Messenger of Allah said: “The Black Stone descended from the Paradise, and it was more white than milk, then it was blackened by the sins of the children of Adam.”
16.) YAHWEH’S HEAVEN HAS NO MARRIAGE, WHILE ALLAH’S JANNAH HAS POLYGAMOUS MARRIAGES AND EXCESSIVE SEX
→Yahweh’s Heaven has no marriage;
[Matthew 22:29-30] Jesus answered, “You are mistaken because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God. In the resurrection, people will neither marry nor be given in marriage. Instead, they will be like the angels in heaven.
→Allah’s Paradise has marriages and excessive sex;
[Sunan Ibn Majah, Zuhd (Book of Abstinence) 39] “Abu Umama narrated: “The Messenger of God said, ‘Everyone that God admits into paradise will be married to 72 wives; two of them are houris and seventy of his inheritance of the [female] dwellers of hell. All of them will have libidinous sex organs and he will have an ever-erect penis”
What is the proper position in prayer? Muslims keep insisting that the exact position in prayer is the way they do, which raising their buttocks in the air. This is how they define the word “prostration”. But the Merriam Websters dictionary defines the word “prostrate” as stretched out with face on the ground in adoration or submission as shown on the photo above. The Bible accounts that both kneeling and prostrate positions were done by the people who worshiped God in the former times, and God had no problem with those positions. But most of them prayed in kneeling position like what Christians are doing. Below are biblical passages about the early believers of God who prayed in kneeling or prostrate positions.
Quoted from the Old Testament:
1. [Genesis 24:26] And the man knelt down and worshiped Yahweh.
2. [Genesis 24:48] And I knelt down and worshiped Yahweh, and I praised Yahweh, the God of my master Abraham, who led me on the right way, to take the daughter of the brother of my master for his son.
3. [Genesis 41:43]And he made him to ride in the second chariot which he had; and they cried before him, Bow the knee: and he made him ruler over all the land of Egypt.
4. [Exodus 4:31] And the people believed when they heard that Yahweh had attended to the {Israelites} and that he had seen their misery, and they knelt down and they worshiped.
5. [Exodus 12:27] you will say, ‘It [is] a Passover sacrifice for Yahweh, who passed over the houses of the {Israelites} in Egypt when he struck Egypt; and he delivered our houses.'” And the people knelt down and they worshiped.
6. [Exodus 34:8] And Moses hurried and knelt down to the earth and worshiped.
7. [Deuteronomy 9:25] “Thus I prostrated myself before the LORD; forty days and forty nights I kept prostrating myself, because the LORD had said He would destroy you.
8. [Psalm 95:6] O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the LORD our maker.
9. [1 Chronicles 29:20] Then David said to the whole assembly, “Blessed be the LORD your God.” So the whole assembly blessed the LORD, the God of their fathers. They bowed down and paid homage to the LORD and to the king.
10. [2 Chronicles 6:13] Now Solomon had made a bronze platform five cubits long, five cubits wide, and three cubits high, and had placed it in the middle of the courtyard. He stood on it, knelt down before the whole assembly of Israel, spread out his hands toward heaven
11. [Ezra 10:1] While Ezra prayed and made this confession, weeping and falling facedown before the house of God, a very large assembly of Israelites—men, women, and children—gathered around him, and the people wept bitterly as well.
12. [1 Kings 8:54] Now when Solomon had finished praying this entire prayer and petition to the LORD, he got up before the altar of the LORD, where he had been kneeling with his hands spread out toward heaven.
13. [Isaiah 45:23] By Myself I have sworn; truth has gone out from My mouth, a word that will not be revoked: Every knee will bow before Me, every tongue will confess allegiance.
14. [Isaiah 49:23] Kings will be your foster fathers, and their queens your nursing mothers. They will bow to you facedown and lick the dust at your feet. Then you will know that I am the LORD; those who hope in Me will never be put to shame.”
15. [Daniel 6:10] But when Daniel learned that the law had been signed, he went home and knelt down as usual in his upstairs room, with its windows open toward Jerusalem. He prayed three times a day, just as he had always done, giving thanks to his God.
16. [Ezra 9:5] At the evening offering, I got up from my humiliation with my tunic and cloak torn, and I fell on my knees, spread out my hands to the LORD my God,
Quoted from the New Testament:
1. [Matthew 8:2] Suddenly a leper came and knelt before Him, saying, “Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.”
2. [Matthew 9:18] While Jesus was saying these things, a synagogue leader came and knelt before Him. “My daughter has just died,” he said. “But come and place Your hand on her, and she will live.”
3. [Matthew 17:14] When they came to the crowd, a man came up to Jesus and knelt before Him.
4. [Matthew 21:25] The woman came and knelt before him. “Lord, help me!” she said.
5. [Matthew 26:39] Going a little farther, He fell facedown and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me. Yet not as I will, but as You will.
6.[Mark 1:40] And there came a leper to him, beseeching him, and kneeling down to him, and saying unto him, If thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.
7. [Mark 5:6] When the man saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and fell on his knees before Him.
8. [Mark 5:22] A synagogue leader named Jairus arrived, and seeing Jesus, he fell at His feet
9. [Mark 10:17] And when he was gone forth into the way, there came one running, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?
10. [Mark 14:35] Going a little farther, He fell to the ground and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour would pass from Him.
11. [Luke 5:8] When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees. “Go away from me, Lord,” he said, “for I am a sinful man.
12. [Luke 8:41] Just then, a synagogue leader named Jairus came and fell at Jesus’ feet. He begged Him to come to his house,
13. [Luke 17:16] And fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan
14. [Luke 22:41] And He withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, and He knelt down and began to pray,
15. [John 11:32] When Mary came to Jesus and saw Him, she fell at His feet and said, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.”
16. [Acts 7:60] Falling on his knees, he cried out in a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep.
17. [Acts 9:40] Then Peter sent them all out of the room. He knelt down and prayed, and turning toward her body, he said, “Tabitha, get up!” She opened her eyes, and seeing Peter, she sat up.
18. [Acts 20:36] When Paul had said this, he knelt down with all of them and prayed.
19. [Acts 21:5] But when our time there had ended, we set out on our journey. All the disciples, with their wives and children, accompanied us out of the city and knelt down on the beach to pray with us.
20. [1 Corinthians 14:25] and the secrets of his heart will be made clear. So he will fall facedown and worship God, proclaiming, “God is truly among you!”
21. [Romans 14:11] It is written: “As surely as I live, says the Lord, every knee will bow before Me; every tongue will confess to God.”
22. [Philippians 2:10] that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
23. [Ephesians 3:14-15]For this reason I kneel before the Father,from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name.
“The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will weed out of his kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil. They will throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
Jesus Christ, [Matthew 13:41-42]
Jesus Christ opens the book of life
A. Quoted from Tanakh/Old Testament
1. [Psalm 2:6] “But as for Me, I have installed My King Upon Zion, My holy mountain.”
2. [Psalm 8:6] You made him to have dominion over the works of your hands; you have put all things under his feet
3. [Psalm 72:11] And let all kings bow down before him, All nations serve him.
4. [Psalm 89:27] “I also shall make him My firstborn, The highest of the kings of the earth.
5. [2 Samuel 7:12-16] “When your days are complete and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your descendant after you, who will come forth from you, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for My name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. I will be a father to him and he will be a Son to Me”
6. [Daniel 2:37] “You, O king, are the king of kings, to whom the God of heaven has given the kingdom, the power, the strength and the glory.
7. [Daniel 7:14] “And to Him was given dominion, Glory and a kingdom, that all the peoples, nations and men of every language might serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion which will not pass away; And His kingdom is one which will not be destroyed”.
8. [Isaiah 9:6] For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.
B. Quoted from the New Testament
1. [Luke 10:22] All things are delivered to me by my Father: and no man knows who the Son is, but the Father; and who the Father is, but the Son, and he to whom the Son will reveal him.
2. [John 3:35] The Father loves the Son and has placed all things in His hands.
3. [John 5:22] For the Father judges no one, but has committed all judgment to the Son,
4. [John 5:25-29] Most assuredly, I say to you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God; and those who hear will live. For as the Father has life in Himself, so He has granted the Son to have life in Himself, and has given Him authority to execute judgment also, because He is the Son of Man.
5. [Matthew 13:40-43] As the weeds are pulled up and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the age.The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will weed out of his kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil.They will throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Whoever has ears, let them hear.
6. [Matthew 25:31-32] “When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats.
7. [Mark 13:26-27] At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in the clouds with great power and glory. And He will send out the angels to gather His elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven.
8. [Acts 10:42] And He ordered us to preach to the people, and solemnly to testify that this is the One who has been appointed by God as Judge of the living and the dead.
9. [Acts 17:30-31] Therefore having overlooked the times of ignorance, God is now declaring to men that all people everywhere should repent, because He has fixed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness through a Man whom He has appointed, having furnished proof to all men by raisingHim from the dead.”
10. [2 Corinthians 5:10] For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.
11. [Romans 2:16] on the day when, according to my gospel, God will judge the secrets of men through Christ Jesus.
C. Quoted from Quran and Hadiths
1. [Quran 43:61] And indeed, Jesus will be [a sign for] knowledge of the Hour, so be not in doubt of it, and follow Me. This is a straight path.
[Ibn Kathir’s explanation on Koran 43:61]
(And he shall be a sign for (the coming of) the Hour.) means, sign and “One of the signs of the Hour will be the appearance of `Isa son of Maryam before the Day of Resurrection. ” Something similar was also narrated from Abu Hurayrah, Ibn `Abbas, `Abu Al-`Aliyah, Abu Malik, `Ikrimah, Al-Hasan, Qatadah, Ad-Dahhak and others. Many Mutawatir Hadiths report that the Messenger of Allah said that `Isa will descend before the Day of Resurrection as a just Ruler and fair Judge.
2. [Sunan Ibn Majah 4078] It was narrated from Abu Hurairah that the Prophet said: “The Hour will not begin until ‘Eisa bin Maryam comes down as a just judge and a just ruler. He will break the cross, kill the pigs and abolish the Jizyah, . . .
3. [Sahih Bukhari 4:55:657] Narrated Abu Huraira: Allah’s Apostle said, “By Him in Whose Hands my soul is, surely (Jesus,) the son of Mary will soon descend amongst you and will judge mankind justly (as a Just Ruler) . . .
Muslims and some Christian sects refuse to acknowledge that Jesus is God but they called Jesus as the Messiah. The meaning of the Hebrew word ‘Messiah’ is ‘the anointed (king of God)’. So for them to call Jesus as the Messiah is virtually admitting Jesus as their king. If Jesus is the king of mankind or universe it means He is our God. And because Jesus is our king, therefore He is the one to judge us on the last day in which the Bible, Quran, and Hadith confirmed.
Biblical verses telling about the suffering Messiah
OLD TESTAMENT:
1. [Isaiah 49:7] This is what the LORD says– the Redeemer and Holy One of Israel– to him who was despised and abhorred by the nation, to the servant of rulers: “Kings will see you and stand up, princes will see and bow down, because of the LORD, who is faithful, the Holy One of Israel, who has chosen you.”
2. [Isaiah 50:6] the Lord says, I offered my back to those who beat me, my cheeks to those who pulled out my beard; I did not hide my face from mocking and spitting.
3. [Isaiah 53:2-4] He grew up before him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground. He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him. He was despised and forsaken of men, A man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; And like one from whom men hide their face, He was despised, and we did not esteem Him. Surely our griefs He Himself bore, And our sorrows He carried; Yet we ourselves esteemed Him stricken, Smitten of God, and afflicted.
4. [Isaiah 53:5-6] But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.
5. [Isaiah 53:7] He was oppressed and He was afflicted, Yet He did not open His mouth; Like a lamb that is led to slaughter, And like a sheep that is silent before its shearers, So He did not open His mouth.
6. [Isaiah 53: 8] By oppression and judgment He was taken away; And as for His generation, who considered That He was cut off out of the land of the living For the transgression of my people, to whom the stroke was due
7. [Isaiah 53:9] His grave was assigned with wicked men, Yet He was with a rich man in His death, Because He had done no violence, Nor was there any deceit in His mouth.
8. [Isaiah 53:10] But the LORD was pleased To crush Him, putting Him to grief; If He would render Himself as a guilt offering, He will see His offspring, He will prolong His days, And the good pleasure of the LORD will prosper in His hand.
9. [Isaiah 53:11] As a result of the anguish of His soul, He will see it and be satisfied; By His knowledge the Righteous One, My Servant, will justify the many, As He will bear their iniquities.
10. [Isaiah 53:12] Therefore, I will allot Him a portion with the great, And He will divide the booty with the strong; Because He poured out Himself to death, And was numbered with the transgressors; Yet He Himself bore the sin of many, And interceded for the transgressors.
11. [Psalm 22:1] My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, from the words of my groaning?
12. [Psalm 22:6-8] But I am a worm and not a man, scorned by everyone, despised by the people. All who see me mock me; they hurl insults, shaking their heads: “He trusts in the LORD; let the LORD rescue him. Let him deliver him, since he delights in him.”
13. [Psalm 22:14-15] the Lord says, “I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint. My heart has turned to wax; it has melted within Me. My mouth is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth; you lay me in the dust of death.
14. [Psalm 22:16-17] Dogs have surrounded me; a band of evil men has encircled me, they have pierced my hands and my feet. All my bones are on display; people stare and gloat over me. They divide my clothes among them and cast lots for my garment”.
15. [Psalm 16:10] For You will not abandon my soul to Sheol; Nor will You allow Your Holy One to undergo decay.
16. [Psalm 31:5] “Into your hands I commit my spirit; deliver me, LORD, my faithful God.”
17. [Psalm 50:15] And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me.
18. [Psalm 69:7-9] Because for Your sake I have borne reproach; Dishonor has covered my face. I have become estranged from my brothers, And an alien to my mother’s sons. For zeal for Your house has consumed me, And the reproaches of those who reproach You have fallen on me.
19. [Psalm 69:20-21] You know my reproach, my shame and disgrace. All my adversaries are before You. Insults have broken my heart, and I am in despair. I looked for sympathy, but there was none, for comforters, but I found no one. They poisoned my food with gall and gave me vinegar to quench my thirst.
20. [Psalm 77:2] In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord; In the night my hand was stretched out without weariness; My soul refused to be comforted.
21. [Psalm 86:7] In the day of my trouble I shall call upon You, For You will answer me.
22. [Zechariah 11:13] Then the LORD said to me, “Throw it to the potter, that magnificent price at which I was valued by them.” So I took the thirty shekels of silver and threw them to the potter in the house of the LORD.
23. [Zechariah 12:10] “And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and supplication. They will look on me, the one they have pierced, and they will mourn for him as one mourns for an only son, and grieve bitterly for him as one grieves for a firstborn son”.
24. [Daniel 9:26] After the sixty-two ‘sevens,’ the Anointed One will be put to death and will have nothing. The people of the ruler who will come will destroy the city and the sanctuary. The end will come like a flood: War will continue until the end, and desolations have been decreed.
25. [Micah 5:1-2] “Now muster yourselves in troops, daughter of troops; They have laid siege against us; With a rod they will smite the judge of Israel on the cheek.
NEW TESTAMENT:
1. [Matthew 16:21] “From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life”
2. [Matthew 17:12] but I say to you that Elijah already came, and they did not recognize him, but did to him whatever they wished. So also the Son of Man is going to suffer at their hands.”
3. [Matthew 20:18-19] “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem; and the Son of Man will be delivered to the chief priests and scribes, and they will condemn Him to death, and will hand Him over to the Gentiles to mock and scourge and crucify Him, and on the third day He will be raised up.
4. [Matthew 26:28] For this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.
5. [Mark 8:31] “He then began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and after three days rise again”
6. [Mark 9:12] And He said to them, “Elijah does first come and restore all things. And yet how is it written of the Son of Man that He will suffer many things and be treated with contempt
7. [Mark 9:31] For He was teaching His disciples and telling them, “The Son of Man is to be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill Him; and when He has been killed, He will rise three days later.”
8. [Mark 10:33-34] saying, “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be delivered to the chief priests and the scribes; and they will condemn Him to death and will hand Him over to the Gentiles. They will mock Him and spit on Him, and scourge Him and kill Him, and three days later He will rise again.”
9. [Luke 9:22] saying, “The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed and be raised up on the third day.”
10. [Luke 17:25] But first He must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation.
11. [Luke 18:31-32] Then He took the twelve aside and said to them, “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and all things which are written through the prophets about the Son of Man will be accomplished. For He will be handed over to the Gentiles, and will be mocked and mistreated and spit upon,
12. [Luke 20:13-15] The owner of the vineyard said, ‘What shall I do? I will send my beloved son; perhaps they will respect him.’ But when the vine-growers saw him, they reasoned with one another, saying, ‘This is the heir; let us kill him so that the inheritance will be ours.’ So they threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. What, then, will the owner of the vineyard do to them?
13. [Luke 20:13-15] The owner of the vineyard said, ‘What shall I do? I will send my beloved son; perhaps they will respect him.’ But when the vine-growers saw him, they reasoned with one another, saying, ‘This is the heir; let us kill him so that the inheritance will be ours.’ So they threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. What, then, will the owner of the vineyard do to them?
14. [Luke 24:20] and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered Him to the sentence of death, and crucified Him.
15. [Luke 24:25-26] And He said to them, “O foolish men and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary for the Christ to suffer these things and to enter into His glory?”.
16. [Luke 24:46] and He said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ would suffer and rise again from the dead the third day,
17. [John 12:27] “Now My soul has become troubled; and what shall I say, ‘Father, save Me from this hour’? But for this purpose I came to this hour.
18. [John 19:37] And again another Scripture says, “They will look on him whom they have pierced.”
19. [Acts 3:18] But the things which God announced beforehand by the mouth of all the prophets, that His Christ would suffer, He has thus fulfilled.
20. [Acts 17:2-3] And according to Paul’s custom, he went to them, and for three Sabbaths reasoned with them from the Scriptures, explaining and giving evidence that the Christ had to suffer and rise again from the dead, and saying, “This Jesus whom I am proclaiming to you is the Christ.
21. [Acts 26:22-23] So, having obtained help from God, I stand to this day testifying both to small and great, stating nothing but what the Prophets and Moses said was going to take place; that the Christ was to suffer, and that by reason of His resurrection from the dead He would be the first to proclaim light both to the Jewish people and to the Gentiles.”
22. [Corinthians 2:8] the wisdom which none of the rulers of this age has understood; for if they had understood it they would not have crucified the Lord of glory
23. [1 Corinthians 15:1-4] Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures,
24. [1 Peter 2:21-25] For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls
25. [1 Peter 4:1] Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because whoever suffers in the body is done with sin.
26. [Hebrews 2:14] Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil
27. [Hebrews 13:11-12] For the bodies of those animals whose blood is brought into the holy place by the high priest as an offering for sin, are burned outside the camp. Therefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people through His own blood, suffered outside the gate.
Dear friends, if we deliberately continue sinning after we have received knowledge of the truth, there is no longer any sacrifice that will cover these sins.
Hebrews 10:26
The Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world
QUOTED FROM OLD TESTAMENT
1. [Job 42:7-8] After the LORD had spoken these words to Job, He said to Eliphaz the Temanite, “My wrath is kindled against you and your two friends. For you have not spoken about Me accurately, as My servant Job has. So now, take seven bulls and seven rams, go to My servant Job, and sacrifice a burnt offering for yourselves. Then My servant Job will pray for you, for I will accept his prayer and not deal with you according to your folly. For you have not spoken accurately about Me, as My servant Job has.”
2. [Psalm 50:3-5] He will break the long silence which Heaven has observed. “Our God shall come, and shall not keep silence…He shall call to the heavens above, and to the earth, that He may judge His people. Gather my saints together unto me; those that have a covenant with me by sacrifice.”
3. [Psalm 51:16-17] You do not desire a sacrifice, or I would offer one. You do not want a burnt offering. The sacrifice you desire is a broken spirit. You will not reject a broken and repentant heart, O God.
4. [Psalm 51:19] Then you will be pleased with sacrifices offered in the right spirit—with burnt offerings and whole burnt offerings. Then bulls will again be sacrificed on your altar.
5. [Proverbs 21:3] To do righteousness and justice is desired by the LORD more than sacrifice.
6. [Daniel 9:27] “And he will make a firm covenant with the many for one week, but in the middle of the week he will put a stop to sacrifice and grain offering; and on the wing of abominations will come one who makes desolate, even until a complete destruction, one that is decreed, is poured out on the one who makes desolate.”
7. [Jeremiah 19:13] And the houses of Jerusalem, and the houses of Judah shall be unclean as the place of Topheth: all the houses upon whose roots they have sacrificed to all the host of heaven, and have poured out drink offerings to strange gods.
8. [Ezekiel 16;20-21] You even took the sons and daughters you bore to Me and sacrificed them as food to idols. Was your prostitution not enough? You slaughtered My children and delivered them up through the fire to idols.
9. [Ezekiel 45:16-18] “All the people of the land shall give to this offering for the prince in Israel”. It shall be the prince’s part to provide the burnt offerings, the grain offerings and the drink offerings, at the feasts, on the new moons and on the Sabbaths, at all the appointed feasts of the house of Israel; he shall provide the sin offering, the grain offering, the burnt offering and the peace offerings, to make atonement for the house of Israel.” Thus says the Lord GOD, “In the first month, on the first of the month, you shall take a young bull without blemish and cleanse the sanctuary
10. [Zechariah 14:21] Indeed, every pot in Jerusalem and Judah will be holy to the LORD of Hosts, and all who sacrifice will come and take some pots and cook in them. And on that day there will no longer be a Canaanite.
11. [Hosea 6:4-6] Therefore I have hewn them by the prophets; I have slain them by the words of My mouth, and My judgments go forth like lightning. For I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings. But they, like Adam, have transgressed the covenant; there they were unfaithful to Me.
12. [Hosea 12:11] Is there iniquity in Gilead? They will surely come to nothing. Do they sacrifice bulls in Gilgal? Indeed, their altars will be heaps of stones in the furrows of the field.
QUOTED FROM NEW TESTAMENT
1. [Matthew 26:28] This is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.
2. [Acts 24:17] After several years, then, I returned to Jerusalem to bring alms to my people and to present offerings.
3. [1 John 2:2] He Himself is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.
4. [1 John 4;10] And love consists in this: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as the atoning sacrifice for our sins.
5. [Romans 3:25] God presented Him as an atoning sacrifice through faith in His blood, in order to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance He had passed over the sins committed beforehand.
6. [Romans 8:3] For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh
7. [1 Corinthians 5:7] Get rid of the old yeast, that you may be a new unleavened batch, as you really are. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed.
8. [Hebrews 5:3] And therefore he ought, as for the people, so also for himself, to offer for sins.
9. [Hebrews 7:27] Unlike the other high priests, He does not need to offer daily sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the sins of the people; He sacrificed for sin once for all when He offered up Himself.
10. [Hebrews 9:28] so also Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many; and He will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who eagerly await Him.
11. [Hebrews 10:12] But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God
12. [Hebrews 10:18] And where these have been forgiven, an offering for sin is no longer needed.
13. [Hebrews 10:26] Dear friends, if we deliberately continue sinning after we have received knowledge of the truth, there is no longer any sacrifice that will cover these sins.
Below are Biblical passages telling us that God is one
QUOTED FROM OLD TESTAMENT:
1. [Deuteronomy 6:4-6] “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart
2. [Psalm 86:10] For You are great and perform wonders; You alone are God.
3. [Isaiah 42:8] I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images.
4. [Isaiah 43:10-11] “You are my witnesses,” declares the LORD, “and my servant whom I have chosen, so that you may know and believe me and understand that I am he. Before me no god was formed, nor will there be one after me. I, even I, am the LORD, and apart from me there is no savior.
5. [Isaiah 44:6]Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel, and his redeemer the LORD of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God
6. [Isaiah 45:18] “For thus saith the Lord that created the heavens; God himself that formed the Earth and made it; …I am the Lord; and there is none else.”
7. [Isaiah 45:21] Declare what is to be, present it– let them take counsel together. Who foretold this long ago, who declared it from the distant past? Was it not I, the LORD? And there is no God apart from me, a righteous God and a Savior; there is none but me.
8. [Zechariah 14:9] And the LORD shall be king over all the earth: in that day shall there be one LORD, and his name one.
9. [Malachi 2:10] Do we not all have one Father? Did not one God create us? Why do we profane the covenant of our ancestors by being unfaithful to one another?
QUOTED FROM THE NEW TESTAMENT:
1. [John 10:30] I and the Father are one
2. [John 10:38] But if I do them, even though you do not believe me, believe the works, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me, and I in the Father.”
3. [John 14:7] If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; from now on you know Him, and have seen Him.”
4. [John 14:10-11]Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me? The words I say to you, I do not speak on My own. Instead, it is the Father dwelling in Me, performing His works. Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me—or at least believe on account of the works themselves.
5. [Mark 12:28-29] One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important? “The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength”
6. [1 Corinthians 8:6] yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we live; and there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we live.
7. [1 Corinthians 12:4-11] Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as He wills.
8. [1 Timothy 2:5] For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;
9. [James 2:18-19] But someone will say, “You have faith and I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds. You believe that God is one. Good for you! Even the demons believe that— and shudder.
10. [Revelation 4:8] “Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!
Non-Catholics keep accusing and even ridiculing the Catholics for carrying holy statues and marching in a festival procession to the house of God while singing and dancing. They also criticize the Catholics for celebrating fiestas for the Saints, eating, and drinking during this occasion. But are these practices going against the teaching of God? Let us check the Bible;
1. The Israelites went in procession, carrying holy statues (Ark of the Covenant) to the house of God
[Psalm 118:27] The LORD is God, and he has given us light. March in a festival procession with branches to the horns of the altar.
[Psalm 42:4] I will remember these things as I pour out my soul: how I used to walk with the crowd and lead it in a procession to God’s house. [I sang] songs of joy and thanksgiving while crowds of people celebrated a festival.
[Psalm 55:14] We shared sweet fellowship together; we walked with the crowd into the house of God.
2. David danced before the Ark of the Covenant (having angel statues) with all his might
[2 Samuel 6:12-15] . . . So David went and had the ark of God brought up from the house of Obed-edom into the City of David with rejoicing. When those carrying the ark of the LORD had advanced six paces, he sacrificed an ox and a fattened calf. And David, wearing a linen ephod, danced with all his might before the LORD, while he and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the LORD with shouting and the sounding of the ram’s horn.
COMMENT: What David and all the house of Israel were doing is comparable to Sinulog, where people are carrying holy statues with dancing, shouting, and blowing wind instruments.
3. God’s people held feasts, and they ate and drank
[Genesis 21:8] “Isaac grew, and on the day of the child’s weaning, Abraham held a great feast.”
[Genesis 26:30] So Isaac prepared a feast for them, and they ate and drank.
[Esther 9:19] So to this day, rural Jews living in remote villages celebrate an annual festival and holiday on the appointed day in late winter, when they rejoice and send gifts of food to each other.
[2 Kings 6:23] So he prepared a great feast for them, and after they had finished eating and drinking, he sent them away, and they returned to their master. So the bands from Aram stopped raiding Israel’s territory.
[2 Chronicles 30:13] A very large crowd of people assembled in Jerusalem to celebrate the Festival of Unleavened Bread in the second month.
[2 Chronicles 30:21] So the people of Israel who were present in Jerusalem joyously celebrated the Festival of Unleavened Bread for seven days. Each day the Levites and priests sang to the LORD, accompanied by loud instruments.
[John 5:1] “Some time later, Jesus went up to Jerusalem for a feast of the Jews.”
[Colossians 2:16-17] “Therefore do not let anyone condemn you in matters of food and drink, or of observing festivals, new moons, or sabbaths.”
4. God commands his people to celebrate feasts, and to enjoy eating and drinking
[Exodus 12:14] “This day shall be a memorial feast for you, which all your generations shall celebrate with pilgrimage to the LORD, as a perpetual institution.”
[Exodus 23:14] “You will have three special festivals each year. You must come to my special place to worship me during these festivals.
[Numbers 6:20] The priest shall then wave them as a wave offering before the LORD. This is a holy portion for the priest, in addition to the breast of the wave offering and the thigh that was presented. After that, the Nazirite may drink wine
[Deuteronomy 16:14] “You must rejoice at your feast, you, your son and your daughter, your serving men and women, the Levite, the foreigner, the orphan and the widow living in your community.”
[Nehemiah 8:10] And he said to them: Go, eat fat meats, and drink sweet wine, and send portions to them that have not prepared for themselves: because it is the holy day of the Lord, and be not sad: for the joy of the Lord is our strength.
[Esther 9:22] “he told them to celebrate these days with feasting and gladness and by giving gifts to each other and to the poor. this would commemorate a time when the jews gained relief from their enemies, when their sorrow was turned into gladness and their mourning into joy.”
[Ecclesiastes 2:24] Nothing is better for a man than to eat and drink and enjoy his work. I have also seen that this is from the hand of God.
[Ecclesiastes 8:15] So I commended the enjoyment of life, because there is nothing better for a man under the sun than to eat and drink and be merry. For this joy will accompany him in his labor during the days of his life that God gives him under the sun.
[Ecclesiastes 9:7] Go thy way, eat thy bread with joy, and drink your wine with a merry heart; for God now accepted thy works.
[Amos 9:14] and I will bring my people Israel back from exile. “They will rebuild the ruined cities and live in them. They will plant vineyards and drink their wine; they will make gardens and eat their fruit.
[Nahum 1:15] Look, there on the mountains, the feet of one who brings good news, who proclaims peace! Celebrate your festivals, Judah, and fulfill your vows. No more will the wicked invade you; they will be completely destroyed.
[John 2:7-10] Jesus told the servants, “Fill the jars with water.” So they filled them to the brim. “Now draw some out,” He said, “and take it to the master of the banquet.” They did so, and the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine. He did not know where it was from, but the servants who had drawn the water knew. Then he called the bridegroom aside and said, “Everyone serves the fine wine first, and then the cheap wine after the guests are drunk. But you have saved the fine wine until now!”
5. God will hold a feast for all Saints (Holy people) in His kingdom
[Isaiah 25:6] In Jerusalem, the LORD of Heaven’s Armies will spread a wonderful feast for all the people of the world. It will be a delicious banquet with clear, well-aged wine and choice meat.
[Jeremiah 31:12] They will come and shout for joy on the heights of Zion; they will be radiant over the bounty of the LORD–the grain, new wine, and oil, and the young of the flocks and herds. Their life will be like a well-watered garden, and never again will they languish
[Matthew 8:11] And I tell you this, that many Gentiles will come from all over the world—from east and west—and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob at the feast in the Kingdom of Heaven.
[Mark 14:25] Truly I tell you, I will no longer drink of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it anew in the kingdom of God.”
[Luke 13:29] They will come from east and west, from north and south, to share the banquet in the kingdom of God.
[Luke 14:15] When one of those at the table with him heard this, he said to Jesus, “blessed is the man who will eat at the feast in the kingdom of God.”
[Luke 22:28-30] “You have stayed with me in my time of trial. And just as my Father has granted me a Kingdom, I now grant you the right to eat and drink at my table in my Kingdom. And you will sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
[Hebrews 12:22] Instead, you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God (the heavenly Jerusalem), to myriads of angels, a festive gathering,
CONCLUSION
Celebrating fiesta for the saints, eating and drinking wine, and procession of holy statues are biblical. What is forbidden is that when you eat and drink wine too much.
[Deuteronomy 21:20] The parents must say to the elders, ‘This son of ours is stubborn and rebellious and refuses to obey. He is a glutton and a drunkard.’
[Proverbs 23:20] Do not join those who drink too much wine or gorge themselves on meat,
[1 Corinthians 5:11] But now I am writing to you that you must not associate with anyone who claims to be a brother or sister but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or slanderer, a drunkard or swindler. Do not even eat with such people.
[1 Corinthians 6:10] nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.
Questioned verse: [Matthew 10:34] “Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword!
Many misinterpreted this statement of Jesus especially the devoted Muslims. They take this verse as literal in meaning like what Allah and Muhammad commanded them to do, which is to use their swords to kill the non-Muslims.
Explanation:
Jesus was referring to the division of a family caused by His teaching. And His statement proves true, many family members turned divided because of Him. One example of this division is Jesus’ disciples who left their families to live with Him. Members of a family differ in Faith that’s why they become divided. How many members of families that left their homes so as to follow Jesus? and how many of them were killed? This division is very painful among the family members that’s why Jesus called His teaching as a ‘sword’ _for it cuts the hearts of men. Others opted not to follow Jesus and refuse His salvation because they cannot afford to lose their families or to lose their lives as a consequence of leaving their Faiths. In Islamic society, to kill a family member who left Islam is a commandment. That’s why Jesus said, “anyone who loves his father and mother or (son and daughter) more than me is not worthy of me”. The one who sticks to his family because he is afraid to die will lose his eternal life instead. While the one who is not afraid to die in following Jesus will find eternal life instead. Jesus only emphasized to us the cost of choosing Him, that we should carry the cross (painful consequence) in following His teaching if we want eternal lives.
Let us continue reading Matthew 10, from verse 35 to 39;
35For I have come to set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law’;
36and ‘a man’s enemies will be those of his own household.’
37He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me.
38And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me.
39He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it.
Let us also read the parallel verses from [Luke 12:51-53], they say;
51Do you think I came to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but division.
52From now on there will be five in one family divided against each other, three against two and two against three.
53They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.”
Jesus is the prince of peace [Isaiah 9:6]. He is referring not the literal sword to kill people, but He meant the sword of Spirit which is the “word of God”. Kindly read;
[Ephesians 6:17] Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
[Hebrews 4:12] For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it pierces even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It judges the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
“Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses”
[1 Timothy 6:12]
Non-Catholics and Muslims condemn the Catholics for making confession to priests. They argue that confession should be made directly to God since only Him can forgive sins, so why a Catholic should confess to a priest? These people failed to realize that the Catholic Church is the owner of the Bible, thus Catholics know the Bible better than them. Why would we disclose our sins to God when He already knew our sins?
The confessions made to God as mentioned in the Old Testament was done by the leaders chosen by God. And it’s more on intercession or asking forgiveness from God for the confessors. The people came to the leaders and made confessions, after that, the leaders prayed to God for the forgiveness of the sins of the confessors. This is what the priests are doing in the Church, they receive confessions, and after that, they will plead to God for the forgiveness of the confessors. God won’t hear the pleading of a sinner, that’s why we need a Godly man to do the pleading for us sinners.
God commands us not to conceal our sins, thus telling of sins should not be made to God but to our Godly fellows. Confessing our sins to other people (Godly people) is part of our burden so as to earn forgiveness from above. If your wife has committed a marital unfaithfulness, and she just hide it from you because only God can forgive, is it okay for you? And if your playmate broke your nose accidentally, is it okay for you if he won’t ask forgiveness from you because you have no right to forgive? Evidently, each of one us is part of this forgiving and interceding circle. If I forgive your sin against me you will also be forgiven by God, likewise my sins against my other fellow will be forgiven by God as well. That’s why the apostle James commanded us to confess our sins to one another, and pray for one another (James 5:16). In this verse, the apostle James is talking in general. His commandment does not mean that we should tell our sins to anyone of us, but to the people who are Godly, like the priests who are leaders appointed by God Jesus.
Confession of sins was already commanded by God and practiced by Israelites even before the arrival of the New Testament [Numbers 5:7]. John the baptist also administered confession [Mark 1:4-5]. Jesus gave authority to His disciples to forgive sins, He told them, “If you forgive anyone’s sins, they are forgiven. If you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven” (John 20:23). Take note that the apostles were appointed by Jesus to lead his church, so they were priests. Peter was the first head or pope of Christianity, and his priesthood along with other apostles were handed down to the Catholic priests of today. Therefore, if the priests won’t forgive you because you don’t want to confess your sins to them, your sins won’t be forgiven by God as well.
Biblical verses commanding us to confess our sins to one another;
OLD TESTAMENT
1. [Numbers 5:7] and must confess the sin he has committed. He must pay full compensation, add a fifth to its value, and give all this to the one he has wronged
2. [Leviticus 5:5-6] when anyone becomes aware that they are guilty in any of these matters, they must confess in what way they have sinned.As a penalty for the sin they have committed, they must bring to the Lord a female lamb or goat from the flock as a sin offering; and the priest shall make atonement for them for their sin.
3. [Leviticus 16:21] “Then Aaron shall lay both of his hands on the head of the live goat, and confess over it all the iniquities of the sons of Israel and all their transgressions in regard to all their sins; and he shall lay them on the head of the goat and send it away into the wilderness by the hand of a man who stands in readiness.
4. [Leviticus 26:40] ‘If they confess their iniquity and the iniquity of their forefathers, in their unfaithfulness which they committed against Me, and also in their acting with hostility against Me—
5. [Psalm 32:5] I acknowledged my sin to You, And my iniquity I did not hide; I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the LORD”; And You forgave the guilt of my sin.
6. [Psalm 38:18] For I confess my iniquity; I am full of anxiety because of my sin.
7. [Proverbs 28:13] Whoever conceals their sins does not prosper, but the one who confesses and renounces them finds mercy.
8. [Nehemiah 9:2] And the seed of the children of Israel separated themselves from every stranger: and they stood, and confessed their sins, and the iniquities of their fathers.
9. [Jeremiah 3:13] But yet acknowledge thy iniquity, that thou hast transgressed against the Lord thy God: and thou hast scattered thy ways to strangers under every green tree, and hast not heard my voice, saith the Lord.
10. [Jeremiah 14:20] We acknowledge our wickedness, O LORD, the guilt of our fathers; indeed, we have sinned against You.
11. [Joshua 7:19] And Joshua said unto Achan, My son, give, I pray thee, glory to the LORD God of Israel, and make confession unto him; and tell me now what thou hast done; hide it not from me.
12. [Hosea 5:15] Then I will return to My place until they admit their guilt and seek My face; in their affliction they will earnestly seek Me.”
13. [Ezra 10:11] Now make confession to the Lord, the God of your fathers,and do his will
NEW TESTAMENT
1. [Matthew 3:5-6] People went out to him from Jerusalem and all Judea and the whole region around the Jordan. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River.
2. [Matthew 16:19] I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”
3. [Matthew 18:18] Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.
4. [Mark 1:4-5] John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. People went out to him from all of Jerusalem and the countryside of Judea. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River.
5. [John 20:23] If you forgive anyone’s sins, they are forgiven. If you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.”
6. [Acts 19:18] Many of those who believed now came and openly confessed what they had done.
7. [Romans 10:9-11] . . . For with the heart man believes unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture says, Whosoever believes on him shall not be ashamed.
8. [2 Corinthians 2:10] When you forgive this man, I forgive him, too. And when I forgive whatever needs to be forgiven, I do so with Christ’s authority for your benefit
9. [1 Timothy 6:12] Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses.
10. [Hebrews 5:1] Every high priest is a man chosen to represent other people in their dealings with God. He presents their gifts to God and offers sacrifices for their sins
11. [1 John 1:9] If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
12. [James 5:16] Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.
†Jesus bore the sins of mankind, thus he took the pain and suffering resulted from the punishment accorded to us (mankind). He’s presenting himself to God as sinful mankind who was punished on a cross because of our sins. Prophet Isaiah foretold about the suffering Messiah, to quote;
[Isaiah 53:4-6] “Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all”
[Isaiah 53:12] “Therefore I will divide him a portion with the many, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong, because he poured out his soul to death and was numbered with the transgressors; yet he bore the sin of many, and makes intercession for the transgressors”
COMMENT: The above verses foretell the fate of Jesus, who will become the bearer of our sins and taker of our punishment. He will become the intercessor between God and sinful mankind. Jesus though God in spirit, did not use his divine power to his advantage, instead he showed so much humility and used his humanity in going through worldly suffering. Consider the verses below;
[Philippians 2:5-8] Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, existing in the form of God, did not consider to be equal with God something to be grasped, but emptied Himself, having taken the form of a servant, having been made in the likeness of men. And having been found in appearance as a man He humbled Himself, having become obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
†Jesus had authority on himself but he intentionally gave up his human life so as to redeem mankind, as he said;
[John 10:18] “No one has taken it away from Me, but I lay it down on My own initiative. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This commandment I received from My Father.”
†Right after the fall of the first man, God had set up a plan to destroy Satan’s work. He said to the Serpent Satan;
“I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel” [Genesis 3:15].
COMMENT: This promised seed was fulfilled in Jesus who’s born to a woman (Mary). The reason why Jesus was sent by God is to destroy the devil’s work through his death. So that in Jesus death, he might deliver us from the power of death inflicted by Satan. Kindly read;
“He that commits sin is of the devil; for the devil sins from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil” [1 John 3:8]
“Since then the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage” [Hebrews 2:14-15]
†All people sinned [Micah 7:2], therefore all people should be sentenced to death physically and spiritually since the penalty of sin is death. But because God so loved the world (John 3:16), He saved it by sending forth a spirit from Him (the Son) and dwelt in a man (Jesus) to obey the commandment accorded to humanity. Jesus presented himself as an atonement for sin like a sacrificial lamb. Only righteous or sinless man can enter into Heaven, but how can we be righteous if we are sinners since birth [Psalm 58:3]? A sinner cannot reconnect to the glory of God by himself. God looked for a sinless or holy man to be the reason He would not destroy mankind, but He had found no one [Ezekiel 22:30 & Isaiah 59:16]. Because God so loved mankind, He sent forth a spirit from Him and came down to Earth to take a human body (Psalm 104:30, Psalm 107:20, & John 6:38). This man obeyed the commandments of God perfectly and went through worldy suffering so that mankind won’t perish [Psalm 73:27]. Jesus bore our iniquities and died on our behalf so that we can become righteous and justified in the eyes of God the Father through him [Romans 3:25-26]. By Jesus’ suffering and anguish on the cross, God’s wrath becomes pacified;
“As a result of the anguish of His soul, He will see it and be satisfied; By His knowledge the Righteous One, My Servant, will justify the many, As He will bear their iniquities” [Isaiah 53:11]
†Jesus was following the will of the Father, his fate was already foretold in the Scriptures thousand years before his birth. In fact his last word was, “it is finished” [John 19:30], referring to the fulfillment of the prophecies about him. Kindly check this speech of Jesus to his apostles after his resurrection;
“These are my words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things which are written about Me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled” [Luke 24:44]
†Mankind became separated from God thus they lost their everlasting life. Sinlessness means everlasting life while sinfulness means death, thus we are dead already because of sin. But through the resurrection of Jesus we can also be resurrected, all we have to do is to believe in his saving work and follow his will.
†Why is it that the spirit of God needed to dwell in a human body in order to save us mankind? The answer is;
“For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead” [1 Corinthians 15:21]
For as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous. [Romans 5:19]
†Only the human body of Jesus which was killed, but his spirit wasn’t. Even us ordinary humans, Satan cannot kill our souls. Only God can kill spirits including the spirit of Satan.
[Matthew 10:28] Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.
†Why Jesus did not use his divine power to stop or skip the test of life? If Jesus avoided the wordly suffering, that is a cheating. How could he become righteous or sinless if he is a cheater? How could his saving work be qualified? The mission of Jesus was to obey the law perfectly, in this manner he saved mankind.
†Is the Father unfair by allowing Jesus to be killed? Nope, for He exalted Jesus to the highest place in return.
[Psalm 89:27] “And I will appoint him to be my firstborn, the most exalted of the kings of the earth”
[Isaiah 52:13] “Behold, My Servant will act wisely; He will be raised and lifted up and highly exalted”
[Hebrews 2:9] “But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, now crowned with glory and honor because He suffered death, so that by the grace of God He might taste death for everyone”
[Philippians 2:9-11] “Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the name above all names, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father”
Supposed Contradiction: In [Matthew 5:17-18], Jesus did not come to abolish the law, But in [Ephesians 2:13-15], Jesus abolished the law of Moses
Questioned verses:
[Matthew 5:17-18 & Luke 16:17] Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill. “For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law until all is accomplished
Contradict with
[Ephesians 2:14-15] In his body he has made Jewish and non-Jewish people one by breaking down the wall of hostility that kept them apart. He brought an end to the commandments and demands found in Moses’ Teachings so that he could take Jewish and non-Jewish people and create one new humanity in himself. So he made peace
[Hebrews 7:18-19] The former requirements are rejected because they are weak and useless. Moses’ Teachings couldn’t accomplish everything that God required. But we have something else that gives us greater confidence and allows us to approach God.
ANSWER: In [Matthew 5:17-18], Jesus does not say, “I uphold the law,” but merely says He came to fulfill all the things that were written about Him in Tanakh (Old Testament) being the Messiah, prophet or messenger, savior, etc.. Kindly read the supporting verses below:
[Luke 24:44] “These are my words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things which are written about Me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled”
[Matthew 26:53-54] Are you not aware that I can call on My Father, and He will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels? But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen this way?”
On the other hand, [Ephesians 2:14-15] does not say all the laws of Moses are abolished, but some of the demands found in Moses’ Teachings. Because there are laws of Moses that are intended only for the Israelites especially when it comes to cleansing and atonement rituals such as circumcision, animal sacrifice, food prohibition, and others. These mentioned Mosaic demands make the Jews separated from non-Jews. Jesus Christ, being our ultimate sacrificial lamb to God, the purifier of the world, superseded all these cleansing and atonement rituals. Circumcision is no longer necessary to the Church, animal sacrifice is no longer performed by us, impure animals that were forbidden to eat before were already purified by Him [Acts 10:15]. And because of this sacrifice and purification through Jesus, the Jewish and non-Jewish became one Church or humanity. The arrival of Jesus is also the arrival of the New Covenant, the everlasting covenant, which is intended for all peoples. This is to fulfill what God had promised roughly 700 hundred years before Jesus;
[Jeremiah 31:31-32] “The days are coming,” declares the LORD, “when I will make a new covenant with the people of Israel and with the people of Judah. It will not be like the covenant I made with their ancestors when I took them by the hand to lead them out of Egypt, because they broke my covenant, though I was a husband to them,” declares the LORD.
But when it comes to the Moral teachings, the Ten Commandments, and prophecies; Jesus confirmed them.
While in [Hebrews 7:18-19], it says that the Former Law is useless not in the sense that it’s wrong, but it is impossible for us to follow it. The one who can have eternal life is only the perfect or sinless man (Psalm 37:37 & Revelation 21:27), therefore it is impossible for us to enter into Heaven since mankind fell to sin. Because of our sinful nature, our body is weakened to combat the urges of sins. But in the New law or Covenant, Jesus is our perfecter and justifier of faith, thus very possible for us to follow it and enter the kingdom of God. Kindly read;
[Hebrews 12:2] Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
[Romans 3:26] to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.
[Romans 8:3]
New International Version For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in the flesh,
New Living Translation The law of Moses was unable to save us because of the weakness of our sinful nature. So God did what the law could not do. He sent his own Son in a body like the bodies we sinners have. And in that body God declared an end to sin’s control over us by giving his Son as a sacrifice for our sins.
GOD’S WORD® Translation It is impossible to do what God’s standards demand because of the weakness our human nature has. But God sent his Son to have a human nature as sinners have and to pay for sin. That way God condemned sin in our corrupt nature.
Amplified Bible For what the Law could not do [that is, overcome sin and remove its penalty, its power] being weakened by the flesh [man’s nature without the Holy Spirit], God did: He sent His own Son in the likeness of sinful man as an offering for sin. And He condemned sin in the flesh [subdued it and overcame it in the person of His own Son]
The mentioned title of this post is one of the supposed contradictions raised by many Bible critics; (Psalms 102:25-26) says the earth will perish, but (Ecclesiastes 1:4 & Psalms 78:69) say the earth abides forever.
[Psalm 102:25-26 & Hebrews 1:10-11] In the beginning You laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of Your hands They will perish, but You remain; they will all wear out like a garment.
Versus
[Ecclesiastes 1:4] “One generation passes away, and another generation comes; But the earth abides forever.”
[Psalms 78:69] And He built His sanctuary like the heights, Like the earth which He has established forever.
ANSWER:
A.) First let us take up verse [Ecclesiastes 1:4];
“One generation passes away, and another generation comes; But the earth abides forever.”
ANALYSIS: The ‘earth’ used in this passage means “soil or land”, and not the planet Earth. This earth, soil, or land refers to the delightful or good people who abide the will of God.
Kindly read the verses below to identify who is this earth, soil, or land;
[Malachi 3:12] “All the nations will call you blessed, for you shall be a delightful land,” says the LORD of hosts.
COMMENT: In this verse, the righteous Israelites are called a ‘delightful land’ by God.
[Luke 8:15] And the seed that fell on the good soil represent honest, good-hearted people who hear God’s word, cling to it, and patiently produce a huge harvest
COMMENT: In this verse, ‘seed’ represents the word of God [Luke 8:11]; and ‘good soil’ represents good people. God liken the good people as good soil which produces huge harvest. They are the ones who have influenced others to come to God. ‘Good soil or people’ are the ones who abide the will of God.
Kindly compare [Ecclesiastes 1:4] with [1 John 2:17] that says;
[1 John 2:17] And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.
♦Therefore, it is man who does the will of God that will abide forever, and not the planet Earth.
B. NOW, let us take up the second questioned verse from [Psalm 78:69] which says;
“And He built His sanctuary like the heights, Like the earth which He has established forever.”
ANALYSIS: I believe this verse is not accurately translated, because in other translations we can find the following verses;
Aramaic Bible in Plain English He built his holy place upon the height and he prepared it in the Earth for eternity.
Douay-Rheims Bible And he built his sanctuary as of unicorns, in the land which he founded for ever.
COMMENT: Based on the translations above, it is obvious that it is not the earth which is founded forever, but the sanctuary (Church) of God prepared on Earth. This is referred to the Church built by Jesus on Earth, and this Church is for eternity. Meaning the Catholic Church is the kingdom to be brought to the Heaven.
Kindly compare (Psalm 78:69) to its parallel verses in (2 Samuel 7:13 & 1 Chronicles 17:12) we can know;
[2 Samuel 7:13] He will build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.
[1 Chronicles 17:12] He is the one who will build a house–a temple–for me. And I will secure his throne forever.
God wants a descendant of David to build His house or temple, and He will establish His throne forever. This descendant is Jesus whom God will establish His throne or kingdom, kindly read the following verses about the kingdom of Jesus;
[Jeremiah 23:5] The days are coming,” declares the LORD, “when I will raise up to David a righteous Branch, a King who will reign wisely and do what is just and right in the land.
[Daniel 7:14] And to Him was given dominion, Glory and a kingdom, that all the peoples, nations and men of every language might serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion which will not pass away; And His kingdom is one which will not be destroyed.
[Luke 1:33] and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever. His kingdom will never end!
♦Therefore, it is the kingdom of God Jesus which is founded forever, and not the planet Earth.
When Christians denounce Islam because it commands to kill and terrorize other people, Muslims used to counter it by citing [1 Samuel 15:3] as more severe than what Allah commanded.
Questioned Verse:
[1 Samuel 15:2-3] ‘I witnessed what the Amalekites did to the Israelites when they hindered them on their way up from Egypt. Now go and attack the Amalekites and devote to destruction all that belongs to them. Do not spare them, but put to death men and women, children and infants, oxen and sheep, camels and donkeys.’”
ANSWER:
Firstly, that extermination order from God was limited for a particular tribe only, and not for all other people as what Allah commanded their believers. Secondly, that event does not justify the massive killings of non-Muslims carried out by Islam. Did Yahweh kill other people because they were not adherent to Judaism? Nope, He killed Amalekites because aside from being idolatrous, Amalekites attacked the innocent Israelites while exhausted from their exodus. The Israelites were led by God but still the Amalekites attacked them because they had no fear of God. Kindly read;
[Exodus 17:8] After this, the Amalekites came and attacked the Israelites at Rephidim.
[Deuteronomy 25:17] Remember what the Amalekites did to you along your way from Egypt, how they met you on your journey when you were tired and weary, and they attacked all your stragglers; they had no fear of God.
And this is the main reason why God wanted to blot out the Amalekites, kindly read;
[Exodus 17:14] Then the LORD said to Moses, “Write this on a scroll as a reminder and recite it to Joshua, because I will utterly blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven.”
The destruction of Amalekites was already prophesied by Balaam 400 years before the time of king Saul, kindly read;
Balaam’s Final Three Oracles
[Numbers 24:20-22]:
Then Balaam saw Amalek and lifted up an oracle, saying:
“Amalek was first among the nations, but his end shall be destruction.”
Next he saw the Kenites and lifted up an oracle, saying:
“Your dwelling place is secure, and your nest is set in a cliff.
Yet Kain will be destroyed when Asshur takes you captive.”
Why not imitate the behavior of the Kenites whose lives were spared by God because they showed kindness to Israelites when they journeyed from Egypt? Kindly read;
[1 Samuel 15:5-6] Saul came to the city of Amalek and lay in wait in the valley. And he warned the Kenites, “Since you showed kindness to all the Israelites when they came up out of Egypt, go on and get away from the Amalekites. Otherwise I will sweep you away with them.” So the Kenites moved away from the Amalekites.
God waited 400 years for Amalekites to change from their evil ways, but nothing happened. If you attack Israel, you will suffer the wrath of God, so I advice you Muslims to stop attacking Israel if you want to maintain your eternal lives. It’s not true that God hates the Jews as propagated by your religion. In fact today, the Islamic countries have been attempting to destroy Israel but failed though Israel is just a tiny nation. This is to fulfill what God had promised in Tanakh that He will bring the Israelites back to their land, and from that point, no one can uproot them anymore. Kindly read the following verses;
[Amos 9:15] I will plant the people of Israel in their land, and they won’t be uprooted again from the land that I gave them, says the lord your God.
[Jeremiah 32:37] I will surely gather my people from all the lands to which I have banished them in my furious anger and great wrath, and I will return them to this place and make them dwell in safety.
Yahweh cares for other people unlike Allah, to prove;
[Exodus 23:9] Do not oppress a foreign resident, since you yourselves know how it feels to be foreigners; for you were foreigners in the land of Egypt.
[Deuteronomy 23:7] Do not despise an Edomite, for he is your brother. Do not despise an Egyptian, because you lived as a foreigner in his land.
[Deuteronomy 24:17] Do not deny justice to the foreigner or the fatherless, and do not take a widow’s cloak as security.
In the Bible, Holy Spirit is God and Gabriel is His Angel so they are different. There are three different angel mentioned in the Bible; they are Gabriel the messenger angel, Michael the warrior angel, and Satan the fallen angel. Muhammad had a little knowledge about Tanakh and the New Testament the reason he erred in identifying Holy Spirit and Angel Gabriel.
Catholicism, the religion founded by Jesus, defines the word “holy” as pure, perfect, or sinless. Therefore, only God could take this attribute because He is the only perfect being. God is naturally spirit, and He is holy too that’s why He is called “Holy Spirit” in other title. Jesus is also called “holy” [Luke 1:35] or “perfecter” because he’s an amount of spirit emanated from God (the Father). So if Jesus (the Son), the Holy Spirit, and the Father have the same attributes, it means they are one nature. In Catholic teaching, Muhammad cannot be called holy because he’s a very sinful man (polygamist, murderer, rapist, robber, etc.). He’s one of those who will be thrown into the fiery lake on the Judgment Day. Ironically, though Muslims denied the deity of Jesus, their Quran also testifies that Jesus is spirit or word proceeding from Allah [Surah 4:171, 66:12, 21:91, & 3:45]. A spirit of God is different from a created spirit, thus to say Jesus is a spirit of God, it means He is God Himself. Since there are many type of spirits (God, angel, soul, thought, energy, and others), the word “holy” is attached to the word “spirit” so that to mean divinity, that the spirit mentioned is referred to the divine spirit.
IN RESPONSE TO THE TRINITY DOUBTER:
Since God or the Holy Spirit sent forth His spirit (Psalm 104:30), He became the source spirit (the Father) of the sent Spirit (the Son) [Psalm 2:7]. Jesus is not a biological son of God as what Allah believes, but He is the emanated Spirit coming from God (the source). The Bible says the the Son is the radiance of the Father’s glory, and the upholder of all things [Hebrews 1:3]. When we say Satan is the father of lies, it means he is the source of lies, and not the biological father of lies.
The problem of our Muslim brothers is they thought that when God came to the world, He left His abode and brought His whole being to Earth. So when Jesus died there was no more God. But it is not the case, because God is not human which has limited resources. He is extremely vast [Isaiah 66:1], He could pour His spirit upon all flesh [Joel 2:28 & Ezekiel 39:29]. He could send His spirit [Isaiah 48:16]. Keep in mind that God is everywhere, He covers the whole universe. In fact, this is the reason why all the heavenly bodies are floating in the empty space because God upholds them [Hebrews 1:3].
Jesus told us that after Him, He will send a Spirit of the Truth (Holy Spirit), He says;“When the Counselor comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, that is the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father, He will testify about Me [John 15:26]. Notice also that Jesus has the power to send a spirit from the Father so he is almighty. This Spirit of Truth will testify about Jesus, but referring to [John 8:18], Jesus is the one who will testify about Himself. He says, “I am the one that bear witness of myself, and the Father that sent me bear witness of me“. Therefore, the Holy Spirit (Spirit of Truth) to be sent by Jesus is also Himself. And since Jesus is also the Father [Isaiah 9:6], these three are one _the Trinity. Kindly read the supporting verses;
[Isaiah 9:6] For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.
Jesus confirmed Isaiah 9:6 by declaring He and the Father are one [John 10:30].
[Isaiah 48:16] also prophesies that an ever existent being is sent by the Lord God and His Spirit. It says; “Come near to Me, listen to this: From the first I have not spoken in secret, From the time it took place, I was there. And now the Lord GOD has sent Me, and His Spirit.”
Jesus confirmed Isaiah 48:16 by telling He came down from Heaven and sent by the Father [John 6:38].
Jesus also said that those who have seen Him, have seen the Father. And He is in the Father and the Father is in Him [John 14:9-10] _implying that He is God Himself because they are one with the Father.
The Trinity are one, so they are equal. The arrangement, “the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit” has symbolism. It symbolizes the three significant stages of God’s appearance to mankind. First, the Beginning period, in which God introduced Himself to mankind as the creator. Second, the Salvation period, in which God introduced Himself to mankind as a savior. And third, the Judgment period, in which God will introduce Himself to mankind as a Judge.
Jesus serves as our purifier or perfecter, the Salvation sent by God [Isaiah 56:1 & Luke 2:29-30]. “Jesus” is an English transliteration of the word ‘Iesus’, a Greek transliteration for Hebrew ‘Yeshua’ which means “God saves” or “God’s Salvation”. Because of His purity, He can purify those who believe His redemptive work and follow His will. Adam and Eve sinned, mankind lost their eternal life [Genesis 3:23] because the penalty of sin is death [Proverbs 10:16 & Romans 6:23]. And this is what we inherited as heirs of Adam and Eve, the death, for we are born sinners [Psalm 51:5 & 58:3].
Mankind can only regain their eternal life by becoming pure again. But who can bring the pure from impure? It is God alone [Job 14:4]. God is holy, His abode is holy, no sinners can enter there [Revelation 21:8].
†In Tanakh, God had been telling about His coming to Earth from thousands to hundreds of years before the birth of Jesus. His main purpose is to bring the New Covenant and to redeem mankind through suffering and physical death. By this, God showed His great love to His people. The following are some of the Biblical verses saying that God will come to Earth, let us interpret each.
1. [Job 19:25] “I know that my Redeemer lives, and that in the last hour he will stand on the earth. And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God; I myself will see him with my own eyes”.
COMMENT: The book of Job is believed to be the oldest Scripture. The main character Job expects the coming of his Redeemer. He believes he will resurrect and see God physically on the Last Day. Jesus will be the one to raise the dead and be the one to judge on the Last Day [John 6:40 & Matthew 13:41-42], so Jesus is the God expected by Job.
2. [Psalm 68:18] When you ascended to the heights, you led a crowd of captives. You received gifts from the people, even from those who rebelled against you. Now the LORD God will live among us there
COMMENT: This verse tells us that God will live among the people
3. [Isaiah 7:14] “The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a Son, and will call him Emmanuel”
COMMENT: ‘Emmanuel’ is a Hebrew word which means “God with us”. It means that the Son to be born through a virgin is God himself. This virgin is fulfilled by Mary who gave birth to Jesus. The Koran also states that Jesus is a spirit of Allah and son of Mary [Koran 66:12, 21:91, & 4:171]. But Muslims just disregarded these verses.
4. [Isaiah 9:6] ”For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace”.
COMMENT: This passage clearly says that a Son will be born, and to be called Mighty God and eternal Father. Therefore, the Son and the Father God are one. Jesus said He and the Father are one [John 10:30].
5. [Isaiah 40:3] A voice of one calling: “In the wilderness prepare the way for the LORD; make straight in the desert a highway for our God.
COMMENT: This verse urges the people to prepare the way for the coming of God. This predicted voice is fulfilled by the voice of John the Baptist [John 1:23 & Luke 1:76]. John the Baptist was sent first to cleanse or baptize the people with water in preparation of the coming of God (Jesus) [John 1:33-34].
6. [Isaiah 48:16] “Come near to Me, listen to this: From the first I have not spoken in secret, From the time it took place, there I am. And now the Lord GOD has sent Me, and His Spirit.”
COMMENT: The speaker of the passage tells that he exists even from the Creation period, so He is God. And this time He is sent by the Lord and His Spirit. God is acting the sender and the messenger. Jesus said He came down from Heaven and sent by the Father [John 6:38]. And also the Father declared that Jesus is His Son [Psalm 2:7 & Matthew 3:17].
7. [Isaiah 59:20″] The Redeemer will come to Zion, to those in Jacob who repent of their sins,” declares the LORD.
COMMENT: This verse says that the Redeemer will come to Israel, Zion is the hill of Jerusalem on which the city of David was built. There is no other Redeemer of mankind except God [Isaiah 43:11], so He is the one to come to Israel.
8. [Isaiah 62:11] The LORD has sent this message to every land: “Tell the people of Israel, ‘Look, your Savior is coming. See, he brings his reward with him as he comes.'”
COMMENT: In this verse, God the savior announces His coming, He will bring His rewards which is salvation to those who believe it.
9. [Jeremiah 23:5-6] “Behold, the days are coming,” declares the LORD, “When I will raise up for David a righteous Branch; And He will reign as king and act wisely, And do justice and righteousness in the land. In His days Judah will be saved, And Israel will dwell securely; And this is His name by which He will be called, ‘The LORD our righteousness.
COMMENT: This verse tells us that God will raise up a righteous branch and a descendant of king David. This righteous branch will reign as king, and his name will be “the LORD our righteousness”. So the king to come is God Himself. Jesus confirmed that He’s a king in [John 18:37]
10. [Micah 5:2] As for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, seemingly insignificant among the clans of Judah, from you a king will emerge who will rule over Israel on my behalf, one whose origin is from eternity.
COMMENT: This verse says that God will raise a king or ruler on His behalf, and the existence of this ruler is from eternity. There is no one whose existence is from eternity but God alone, so this ruler is God Himself. Jesus confirmed that He was the King expected by the Jews [John 18:37 & Matthew 27:11]. So Jesus is God.
11. [Malachi 3:1] “Behold, I am going to send My messenger, and he will clear the way before Me. And the Lord, whom you seek, will suddenly come to His temple; and the messenger of the covenant, in whom you delight, behold, He is coming,” says the LORD of hosts.
COMMENT: This verse says that God will send a messenger prior to His coming, this person is fulfilled by John (the Baptist) who prepared the Lord’s way by baptizing the people with water [John 1:33-34]. After that, the Lord will come to His Temple, and at the same time, He will bring the covenant that people delight. Jesus introduced this new covenant to his disciples [Luke 22:20 & Matthew 26:28].
Even if the Muslims and some Christian sects do not believe the divine origin of Jesus, still they have to worship Jesus because God passed his authority to him totally. Therefore all people should submit to Jesus if they want eternal lives. This is what God commands us to do according to the Bible.
PROPHESIES IN THE OLD TESTAMENT:
1. [Genesis 49:10] “The scepter shall not depart from Judah, Nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet, Until Shiloh comes, And to him shall be the obedience of the peoples.
2. [Isaiah 9:6] A child is born to us! A son is given to us! And he will be our ruler. He will be called, “Wonderful Counselor,” “Mighty God,” “Eternal Father,” “Prince of Peace
3. [Isaiah 53:12] Therefore, I will allot Him a portion with the great, And He will divide the booty with the strong; Because He poured out Himself to death, And was numbered with the transgressors; Yet He Himself bore the sin of many, And interceded for the transgressors.
4. [Isaiah 52:13] Behold, My servant will prosper, He will be high and lifted up and greatly exalted.
5. [Psalm 2:6] “But as for Me, I have installed My King Upon Zion, My holy mountain.”
6. [Psalm 72:11] And let all kings bow down before him, All nations serve him.
7. [Psalm 89:27] “I also shall make him My firstborn, The highest of the kings of the earth.
8. [Psalm 8:6] You made him to have dominion over the works of your hands; you have put all things under his feet
9. Daniel 7:14] “And to Him was given dominion, Glory and a kingdom, that all the peoples, nations and men of every language might serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion which will not pass away; And His kingdom is one which will not be destroyed”.
10. [Daniel 7:27] And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey Him.
11. [Daniel 2:37] “You, O king, are the king of kings, to whom the God of heaven has given the kingdom, the power, the strength and the glory.
FULFILLMENT IN THE NEW TESTAMENT:
1. [John 3:35] The Father loves the Son and has placed all things in His hands.
2. [John 13:3] Jesus knew that the Father had delivered all things into His hands, and that He had come from God and was returning to God.
3. [John 17:2] For You granted Him authority over all humanity, so that He may give eternal life to all those You have given Him.
4. [Matthew 28:18] Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me.
5. [Matthew 11:27] All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knows the Son, but the Father; neither knows any man the Father, except the Son, and he to whomever the Son will reveal him.
6. [Luke 1:32-33] He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David, and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever. His kingdom will never end!”
7. [Luke 10:22] All things are delivered to me by my Father: and no man knows who the Son is, but the Father; and who the Father is, but the Son, and he to whom the Son will reveal him.
8. [Luke 22:29] So as my Father has given me a kingdom, I’m giving it to you.
9. [Hebrews 2:8] and placed everything under his feet.” When God subjected all things to him, He left nothing outside of his control. Yet at present we do not see everything subject to him.
10. [Hebrews 1:2] But in these last days He has spoken to us by His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, and through whom He made the universe
11. [Ephesians 1:22] And God put everything under His feet and made Him head over everything for the church,
12. [1 Corinthians 15:24] Then the end will come, when He hands over the kingdom to God the Father after He has destroyed all dominion, authority, and power.
13. [1 Corinthians 15:27] For he has put all things under his feet. But when he says all things are put under him, it is clear that he is excepted, who did put all things under him.
14. [1 Peter 3:22] who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers having been subjected to him.
15. [2 Peter 1:17] “He received honor and glory from God the Father when the voice came to him from the Majestic Glory, saying, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”
16. [Revelation 4:11] “You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being.”
17. [Revelation 11:15] Then the seventh angel sounded his trumpet, and loud voices called out in heaven: “The kingdom of the world is now the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ, and He will reign forever and ever.”
†The birth of Jesus was God’s entrance to the world in His human form as foretold by prophet Isaiah, he announced;
[Isaiah 9:6] For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
[Isaiah 7:14]: Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel (God with us).
†Roughly 700 years before Jesus, prophet Isaiah predicted the coming of a Son. He will be born to a virgin woman and will be called Mighty God or everlasting Father. The prophecies above was fulfilled in Mary, angel Gabriel said to her;
[Luke 1:30-32] So the angel told her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. Behold, you will conceive and give birth to a son, and you shall give Him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David.
†The first couple fell to sin, thus death entered the world. Mankind became separated from the glory of God. The Holy Spirit that clothed them and gave them eternal life left them. Only sinless or holy man can wear the clothes of eternal life. God searched for a perfect man among us to be the savior of mankind, but found no one (Isaiah 59:16 & Romans 3:10). Because of His great love, God put the saving work in His hand. It is man who sinned therefore it is also man will save himself. This is the reason why God raised a human being and took a power of His spirit to dwell in this man [Deuteronomy 18:18 & John 14:10]. Jesus’ human flesh has a beginning, but His Spirit has no beginning and end because his spirit is a portion of God’s spirit. Jesus declared that He has no beginning and end;
[John 8:58] Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was born, I AM”
[John 8:23-24] “You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world. I told you that you would die in your sins; if you do not believe that I AM HE, you will indeed die in your sins.”
[John 13:19] “I am telling you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe that I AM WHO I AM.
†Jesus took the name of God of Abraham in John (8:23-24 & John 13:19), Compare these verses to (Isaiah 43:10 & Exodus 3:13-14);
[Exodus 3:13-14] “If I come to the people of Israel and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ what shall I say to them?” God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.” And he said, “Say this to the people of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you’.
[Isaiah 43:10] “You are my witnesses,” declares the LORD, “and my servant whom I have chosen, so that you may know and believe me and understand that I AM HE. Before me no god was formed, nor will there be one after me.
†“I AM, I AM HE, or I AM WHO I AM”, is the title of God mentioned in the Bible. It speaks His self-existence; that He has no beginning and end, that He is the First and the Last, ever the same.
†The savior must be a perfect man, that’s why Jesus though also God, did not use His divine power to His advantage (Philippians 2:6), instead He use His humanity in following the law accorded to humanity. If Jesus had used His power to bypass the law, how could He be a perfect man? how could he be righteous? how could His work be a saving sacrifice for humankind?
Have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. Although he was in the form of God and equal with God, he did not take advantage of this equality. Instead, he emptied himself by taking on the form of a servant, by becoming like other humans, by having a human appearance. He humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, death on a cross.
Philippians 2:5-8
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†Actually this cry, “My God, my God, why have You forsaken me?” is a fulfillment of the prophesy in [Psalm 22:1]. But to better understand this cry, let us read Psalm 22 from verse 1 to 2;
[Psalm 22:1-2]
1 My God, my God, why have You forsaken me? Far from my deliverance are the words of my groaning,
2 O my God, I cry by day, but You do not answer; And by night, but I have no rest.
COMMENT: From analyzing the verses, definitely it is not a personal entreaty of Jesus to the Father because in verse 2, the Psalmist is restless by night, and his cry is not answered by God. While Jesus was never deserted by the Father, in fact the Father dwelt in him [John 14:10]. The passage above is a pleading prophesy of a sinner (sinful mankind) who is forsaken by God. Since Jesus was the bearer of our sins and the taker of our punishment, he’s presenting himself to God as a sinful mankind who was punished because of sin. The begging and crying of Jesus is the begging and crying of mankind which he represented.
†Prophet Isaiah foretold about the suffering Messiah or Jesus, to quote;
[Isaiah 53:4-6] Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.
[Isaiah 53:12] Therefore I will divide him a portion with the many, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong, because he poured out his soul to death and was numbered with the transgressors; yet he bore the sin of many, and makes intercession for the transgressors.
COMMENT: The above verses foretold the fate of Jesus who will be the bearer of our sins and the taker of our punishment. He will become the intercessor between God and sinful mankind.
†Jesus although also God (since he is the spirit of God) did not use his power to his advantage, instead he emptied himself to become an ordinary human. He humbled himself, and followed the law assigned to humanity perfectly even death on a cross. Consider the verses below;
[Philippians 2:5-8] Have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. Although he was in the form of God and equal with God, he did not take advantage of this equality. Instead, he emptied himself by taking on the form of a servant, by becoming like other humans, by having a human appearance. He humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, death on a cross.
†Jesus had authority on Himself if He wanted to but He intentionally gave up His human life to redeem us. As He said;
[John 10:18] “No one has taken it away from Me, but I lay it down on My own initiative. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This commandment I received from My Father.”
†After the first parents sinned because of the Serpent’s deception, God already had set up a plan to destroy Satan’s work, He said to the Serpent Satan;
[Genesis 3:15]“And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel”.
COMMENT: This mentioned seed was fulfilled in Jesus who was born to a woman (Mary). The reason why Jesus was sent by God is to destroy the devil’s work through His death. So that in Jesus death, He might deliver us from the power of death inflicted by Satan. Kindly read;
[1 John 3:8] He that commits sin is of the devil; for the devil sins from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil
[Hebrews 2:14-15] Since then the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.
†The wages of sin is death, therefore mankind should die. God looked for a sinless man to be the reason He would not destroy the world but had found no one [Ezekiel 22:30 & Isaiah 59:16]. From this reason, God sent forth a spirit from Him to assume a human nature and die to save the world. Jesus took the penalty of death in place of us so that we may not perish because of sin [Psalm 73:27].He bore our iniquities and died on our behalf so that we can become righteous and justified through Him [Romans 3:25-26]. By His suffering and anguish on the cross, God’s wrath became satisfied. As Isaiah prophesied;
[Isaiah 53:11] As a result of the anguish of His soul, He will see it and be satisfied; By His knowledge the Righteous One, My Servant, will justify the many, As He will bear their iniquities.
†Jesus was following the will of the Father, His fate was already written in the Scriptures since thousand of years before His birth. In fact His last word was, “it is finished” [John 19:30], referring to the fulfillment of the prophesiesabout Him. Kindly check this speech of Jesus to His apostles after His resurrection;
[Luke 24:44] “These are my words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things which are written about Me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled”
†Furthermore, Christians are the modernizers of the world. They are the inventors of electricity, spaceship, computers, internet, cellphones, satellites, and many more. Therefore, Christians are genius for they are guided by God. Do you think when it comes to identifying God, they are so dumb? Christians believe Jesus as God because they have convincing reason. You study the Bible and you will see that Jesus is God. Imagine the world without Christians, the world of today would have been still barbaric. As a matter of fact even until now, many of the Islamic countries are still barbaric. Marrying a cousin, marrying a child girl/sex with a child, raping/selling slaves, and beheading/mutilating people are still practiced.
‘Messiah’ is a Hebrew word which means ‘the anointed king’ translated as “Christos” in Greek and ‘Christ’ in English. In Tanakh (Old Testament), God promised His people that He will send a Prophet, Messiah, Word, Son, Salvation, Savior, or Messenger so as to save them. Jesus claimed that he’s the one foretold in Tanakh, he said to his believers, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled” (Luke24:44). The following are some of the prophecies in the Old Testament (maroon-highlighted) about the Messiah or Savior which are fulfilled in the New Testament (red-highlighted);
1. THE SALVATION IS A SEED OF A WOMAN
Prophecy:
[Genesis 3:15] And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.
Fulfilled in:
[Matthew 1:20 & Galatians 4:4] But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law
2. THE SEED IS A DESCENDANT OF ABRAHAM, AND THROUGH HIM ALL FAMILIES AND NATIONS SHALL BE BLESSED
Prophecy:
[Genesis 22:18] And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed, because thou hast obeyed my voice.
Fulfilled in;
[Galatians 3:16] The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. The Scripture does not say, “and to seeds,” meaning many, but “and to your seed,” meaning One, who is Christ.
[Acts 3:25] You are the descendants of the prophets and the heirs of the promise that God made to our ancestors when he said to Abraham, “Through your descendant all people on earth will be blessed.”
3. A STAR (MESSIAH) WILL MARCH FORTH OUT OF JACOB (ISRAEL)
Prophecy:
[Numbers 24:17] I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not nigh: there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel, and shall smite the corners of Moab, and destroy all the children of Sheth.
Fulfilled in:
[Matthew 2:1-2] when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.
4. GOD WILL RAISE UP A PROPHET LIKE MOSES, A GOD’S SPEAKER
Prophecy:
[Deuteronomy 18:18] I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto you, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him”
Fulfilled in;
Luke 7:16] Fear gripped them all, and they began glorifying God, saying, “A great prophet has arisen among us!” and, “God has visited His people!”
[John 12:49] “For I did not speak on My own initiative, but the Father Himself who sent Me has given Me a commandment as to what to say and what to speak”
5. A SON WILL BE BORN TO A VIRGIN WOMAN
Prophecy;
[Isaiah 7:14] Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel
[Isaiah 9:6] ”For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace”.
Fulfilled in;
[Matthew 1:23] “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”)
[Luke 1:35] “How will this be”, Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”. The angel answered, “the Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the Holy one to be born will be called the Son of God”
6. THE MESSIAH WILL BE BORN IN BETHLEHEM
Prophecy:
[Micah 5:2] “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.”
Fulfilled in:
[Matthew 2:1] After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem.
7. THE WORD WILL BE DECREED AND APPOINTED BY THE FATHER AS HIS SON
Prophecy;
[Psalm 2:7] I will proclaim the Lord’s decree: He said to me, “You are my son; today I have become your father
[Psalm 89:27] And I will appoint him to be my firstborn, the most exalted of the kings of the earth
Fulfilled in:
[Matthew 3:16-17] As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”
8. THE SENT OUT WORD WILL BECOME FLESH
Prophecy:
[Psalm 107:20] He sent out his Word and healed them, snatching them from the door of death.
Fulfilled in:
[John 1:14] And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us. And we beheld His glory, a glory as of an only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.
9. THE SALVATION WILL DWELL ON EARTH
Prophecy;
[Psalm 85:9] Surely His salvation is near to those who fear Him, That glory may dwell in our land.
[Psalm 67:1-2] God be merciful to us and bless us, and cause His face to shine upon us, that Your way may be known on earth, Your salvation among all nations
Fulfilled in;
[Luke 2:9-12] And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.”
[Luke 2:16-17] So they came in a hurry and found their way to Mary and Joseph, and the baby as He lay in the manger. When they had seen this, they made known the statement which had been told them about this Child.
[Luke 2:29-32] then he took Him into his arms, and blessed God, and said, “Now Lord, You are releasing Your bond-servant to depart in peace, According to Your word; For my eyes have seen Your salvation, Which You have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to Your people Israel.”
10. THE DAY OF GOD’S SALVATION WILL COME
Prophecy:
[Isaiah 49:8] Thus says the LORD, “In a favorable time I have answered You, And in a day of salvation I have helped You; And I will keep You and give You for a covenant of the people, To restore the land, to make them inherit the desolate heritages
Fulfilled in:
[2 Corinthians 6:2] For he says, “In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.” I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.
11. THE MESSIAH’S OWN FAMILY WILL NOT RECEIVE HIM
Prophecy:
[Psalm 69:8] I am a foreigner to my own family, a stranger to my own mother’s children
Fulfilled in:
[John 1:11] He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him.
12. THE SALVATION WILL STAY IN THE AREA OF ZEBULUN AND NAPHTALI
Prophecy:
[Isaiah 9:1-2] Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom for those who were in distress. In the past he humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the future he will honor Galilee of the nations, by the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan—The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned.
Fulfilled in:
[Matthew 4:13-16] Leaving Nazareth, he went and lived in Capernaum, which was by the lake in the area of Zebulun and Naphtali— to fulfill what was said through the prophet Isaiah: “Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali, the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles— the people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.”
13. THE SPIRIT OF GOD WILL REST UPON THE MESSIAH
Prophecy;
[Isaiah 61:1-2] The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn
[Isiah 11:12] And the Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the LORD.
[Isaiah 42:1] “Here is My Servant, whom I uphold, My Chosen One, in whom My soul delights. I will put My Spirit on Him, and He will bring justice to the nations.
Fulfilled in;
[Luke 4:17-21] And the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” And he rolled up the scroll and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. And he began to say to them, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing”
[John 14:10] Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works.
14. THE SAVIOR WILL HEAL THE BLIND, DEAF, MUTE, LAME, AND LEPROUS PEOPLE
Prophecy:
[Isiah 35:5-6] Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped; then shall the lame man leap like a deer, and the tongue of the mute sing for joy. For waters break forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert
Fulfilled in;
[Luke 7:21] And that very hour He cured many of infirmities, afflictions, and evil spirits; and to many blind He gave sight.
[Matthew 11:4-6] Jesus answered John’s disciples, “Go back, and tell John what you hear and see: Blind people see again, lame people are walking, those with skin diseases are made clean, deaf people hear again, dead people are brought back to life, and poor people hear the Good News. Whoever doesn’t lose his faith in me is indeed blessed.”
15. THE PROPHET WILL SPEAK IN PARABLES
Prophecy:
[Psalm 78:2-4] I will open my mouth with a parable; I will utter hidden things, things from of old— things we have heard and known, things our ancestors have told us. We will not hide them from their descendants; we will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord, his power, and the wonders he has done
Fulfilled in:
[Matthew 13:10-13] The disciples came to him and asked, “Why do you speak to the people in parables?” He replied, “Because the knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them. Whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them. This is why I speak to them in parables: “Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand”
16. THE MESSIAH WILL BE A PRIEST AFTER THE ORDER OF MELCHISEDEK
Prophecy:
[Psalm 110:4] He will be a priest after the order of Melchisedek.
Fulfilled in:
[Hebrews 5:6] In another place in Scripture, God said, “You are a priest forever, in the way Melchizedek was a priest.”
17. THE MESSIAH WILL RECEIVE ALL AUTHORITY FROM GOD THE FATHER
Prophecy:
[Daniel 7:14] “And to Him was given dominion, Glory and a kingdom, that all the peoples, nations and men of every language might serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion which will not pass away; And His kingdom is one which will not be destroyed”
Fulfilled in;
[Matthew 28:18] Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me”.
[1 Peter 3:22] who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers having been subjected to him.
18. THE PROPHET WILL HUSH THE STORM AND WAVES OF THE SEA
Prophecy:
[Psalm 107:28-29] Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, And He brought them out of their distresses. He caused the storm to be still, So that the waves of the sea werehushed.
Fulfilled in:
[Mark 4:38-39] Jesus Himself was in the stern, asleep on the cushion; and they woke Him and said to Him, “Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?” And He got up and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Hush, be still.” And the wind died down and it became perfectly calm.
19. THE MESSENGER WILL PRAY FOR THE PEOPLE
Prophecy:
[Psalm 109:4] I love them, but they try to destroy me with accusations even as I am praying for them!
Fulfilled in:
[Luke 23:34] Jesus prayed, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”
20. THE SON WILL PRAY TO GOD THE FATHER
Prophecy:
[Psalm 69:13] But as for me, my prayer is to You, O LORD, at an acceptable time; O God, in the greatness of Your loving kindness, Answer me with Your saving truth.
Fulfilled in:
[Hebrews 6:7] During his life on earth, Jesus prayed to God, who could save him from death. He prayed and pleaded with loud crying and tears, and he was heard because of his devotion to God
21. THE PROPHET WILL BE PRAISED BY CHILDREN
Prophecy:
[Psalm 8:2] Through the praise of children and infants you have established a stronghold against your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger.
Fulfilled in:
[Matthew 21:16] “Do you hear what these children are saying?” they asked him. “Yes, replied Jesus, have you never read, ‘From the lips of children and infants you, Lord, have called forth your praise’?”
22. THE SON WILL GLORIFY GOD THE FATHER
Prophecy:
[Isaiah 60:9] “Surely the coastlands will wait for Me; And the ships of Tarshish will come first, To bring your sons from afar, Their silver and their gold with them, For the name of the LORD your God, And for the Holy One of Israel because He has glorified you.
Fulfilled in:
[John 17:4-5] “I glorified You on the earth, having accomplished the work which You have given Me to do. “Now, Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was.
23. THE MESSENGER WILL CONFIRM THE NEW COVENANT
Prophecy;
[Psalm 89:28] “My loving kindness I will keep for him forever, And My Covenant shall be confirmed to him.
[Malachi 3:1] “Behold, I am going to send My messenger, and he will clear the way before Me. And the Lord, whom you seek, will suddenly come to His temple; and the messenger of the covenant, in whom you delight, behold, He is coming,” says the LORD of hosts.
Fulfilled in:
[Luke 22:20] In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the New Covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you”
24. THE MESSIAH WILL RIDE ON A DONKEY
Prophecy:
[Zechariah 9:9] The Coming of Zion’s King Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion! Shout, Daughter Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.
Fulfilled in;
[Matthew 21:2-5] Saying unto them, Go into the village opposite you, and immediately you shall find a donkey tied, and a colt with her: loose them, and bring them unto me. And if any man say anything unto you, you shall say, The Lord has need of them; and immediately he will send them. All this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, Tell the daughter of Zion, Behold, your King comes unto you, meek, and sitting upon a donkey, and a colt the foal of a donkey
[Luke 19:35-37] They brought the donkey to Jesus, put their coats on it, and helped Jesus onto it. As he was riding along, people spread their coats on the road. By this time he was coming near the place where the road went down the Mount of Olives. Then the whole crowd of disciples began to praise God for all the miracles they had seen
25. PEOPLE WILL HATE THE MESSIAH WITHOUT REASON
Prophecy:
[Psalm 35:19] Do not let those gloat over me who are my enemies without cause; do not let those who hate me without reason maliciously wink the eye.
Fulfilled in:
[John 15:24-25] If I had not done among them the works no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin. As it is, they have seen, and yet they have hated both me and my Father. But this is to fulfill what is written in their Law: ‘They hated me without reason”.
26. A CLOSE FRIEND OF THE MESSIAH WILL BETRAY HIM
Prophecy:
[Psalm 41:9] Even my close friend, someone I trusted, one who shared my bread, has turned against me.
Fulfilled in:
[Luke 22:47-48] While he was still speaking a crowd came up, and the man who was called Judas, one of the Twelve, was leading them. He approached Jesus to kiss him, but Jesus asked him, “Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?”
27. THE MESSIAH WILL BE SOLD AT THIRTY PIECES OF SILVER
Prophecy:
[Zechariah 11:12] I told them, “If you think it best, give me my pay; but if not, keep it.” So they paid me thirty pieces of silver
Fulfilled in:
[Matthew 26:14-16] Then one of the Twelve—the one called Judas Iscariot—went to the chief priests and asked, “What are you willing to give me if I deliver him over to you?” So they counted out for him thirty pieces of silver. From then on Judas watched for an opportunity to hand him over
28. THE BLOOD MONEY OF THE MESSIAH WHICH IS THE THIRTY PIECES OF SILVER WILL BE THROWN TO THE POTTER
Prophecy:
[Zechariah 11:13] And the Lord said to me, “Throw it to the potter”—the handsome price at which they valued me! So I took the thirty pieces of silver and threw them to the potter at the house of the Lord
Fulfilled in:
[Matthew 27:7-10] After conferring together, they used the money to buy the potter’s field as a burial place for foreigners. That is why it has been called the Field of Blood to this day. Then what was spoken through Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled: “They took the thirty pieces of silver, the price set on Him by the people of Israel and they gave them for the potter’s field, as the Lord had commanded me.”
29. FALSE WITNESSES WILL BRING CHARGE AGAINST THE MESSIAH
Prophecy:
[Psalm 35:11] False witnesses did rise up; they laid to my charge things that I knew not
Fulfilled in:
[Mark 14:57-58] Then some stood up and gave this false testimony against him: “We heard him say, ‘I will destroy this temple made with human hands and in three days will build another, not made with hands.’”
30. THE MESSIAH WILL BE SENTENCED TO DEATH
Prophecy:
[Isaiah 53:8] He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken
Fulfilled in:
[Matthew 27:1-2] “Very early in the morning, the leading priests and other leaders met again to discuss how to persuade the Roman government to sentence Jesus to death. Then they bound Him and took Him to Pilate, the Roman governor.”
31. THE MESSIAH’S DEAD BODY WILL BE NUMBERED WITH THE TRANSGRESSORS
Prophecy:
[Isaiah 53:12] Therefore I will divide him a portion with the many, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong, because he poured out his soul to death and was numbered with the transgressors; yet he bore the sin of many, and makes intercession for the transgressors
Fulfilled in:
[Mark 15:27-28] They crucified two rebels with him, one on his right and one on his left. And the Scripture was fulfilled, which said, And he was numbered with the transgressors.
32. THE MESSIAH’S FACE WILL BE BEATEN AND SPAT
Prophecy:
[Isaiah 50:6] I offered my back to those who beat me, my cheeks to those who pulled out my beard; I did not hide my face from mocking and spitting
Fulfilled in:
[Matthew 26:67] Then they spit in his face and struck him with their fists. Others slapped him
33. THE MESSIAH’S TORTURERS WILL PIERCE HIS HANDS AND FEET
Prophecy:
[Psalm 22:16] Dogs surround me, a pack of villains encircles me; they pierce my hands and my feet
Fulfilled in:
[John 20:25-27] So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.” A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.”
34. THE MESSIAH WILL BE PIERCED AND PEOPLE WILL MOURN FOR HIM
Prophecy:
[Zechariah 12:10] “They will look on me, the one they have pierced, and they will mourn for him as one mourns for an only child, and grieve bitterly for him as one grieves for a firstborn son.
Fulfilled in;
[John 19:34] Instead, one of the soldiers pierced Jesus’ side with a spear, bringing a sudden flow of blood and water
[Luke 23:27-28] A great number of people followed Him, including women who kept mourning and wailing for Him.
35. THE PEOPLE WILL SNEER AT THE MESSIAH
Prophecy:
[Psalm 22:7] All who see me sneer at me; They separate with the lip, they wag the head, saying, “Commit yourself to the LORD; let Him deliver him; Let Him rescue him, because He delights in him”
Fulfilled in:
[Luke 23:35] The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at him. They said, “He saved others; let him save himself if he is God’s Messiah, the Chosen One.”
36. THE MESSIAH WILL BE OFFERED WITH GALL
Prophecy:
[Psalm 69:21] They put gall in my food and gave me vinegar for my thirst
Fulfilled in:
[Matthew 27:34] There they offered Jesus wine to drink, mixed with gall; but after tasting it, he refused to drink it.
37. THE MESSIAH WILL CALL OUT GOD THE FATHER
Prophecy:
[Psalm 22:1] “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, from the words of my groaning?”
Fulfilled in:
[Matthew 27:46 & Mark 15:34] At the ninth hour, Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” which means, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”
38. THE MESSIAH WILL DIE AND COMMIT HIS SPIRIT TO GOD
Prophecy:
[Psalm 31:5] “Into your hands I commit my spirit; deliver me, LORD, my faithful God”
Fulfilled in:
[Luke 23:46] Then Jesus called out in a loud voice, “Father, into Your hands I commit My Spirit.” And when He had said this, He breathed His last.
39. THE MESSIAH’S BONES WILL NOT BE BROKEN
Prophecy:
[Psalm 34:20] He keeps all his bones, Not one of them is broken
Fulfilled in:
[John 19:33] But when they came to Jesus and found that he was already dead, they did not break his legs
40. THE MESSIAH’S TORTURERS WILL DIVIDE HIS GARMENTS AMONG THEM BY CASTING LOTS
Prophecy:
[Psalm 22:18] They divide my garments among them, And for my clothing they cast lots
Fulfilled in:
[Matthew 27:35 & Mark 15:24] When they had crucified Him, they divided up His garments by casting lot
41. THE MESSIAH’S KINSMEN AND FRIENDS WILL STAND AFAR DURING HIS ORDEAL
Prophecy:
[Psalm 38:11] My loved ones and my friends stand aloof from my plague; And my kinsmen stand afar off
Fulfilled in:
[Luke 23:49] And all His acquaintances and the women who accompanied Him from Galilee, were standing at a distance, seeing these things.
42. THE EARTH WILL BE DARKENED AT NOON UPON THE MESSIAH’S DEATH
Prophecy:
[Amos 8:9] “And it will come about in that day,” declares the Lord GOD, “That I shall make the sun go down at noon And make the earth dark in broad daylight
Fulfilled in:
[Matthew 27:45] Now from the sixth hour darkness fell upon all the land until the ninth hour
COMMENT: In Jesus time, the Jews had twelve hours from sunrise to sunset. This would make the sixth hour about noon, and the ninth hour close to three o’clock.
43. THE MESSIAH’S DEAD BODY WILL BE BURIED BY A RICH MAN
Prophecy:
[Isaiah 53:9] He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death, though he had done no violence, nor was any deceit in his mouth
Fulfilled in:
[Matthew 27:57–59] When it was evening, there came a rich man from Arimathea named Joseph, who himself was a disciple of Jesus. He went to Pilate to ask for the body of Jesus, and Pilate ordered that it be given to him. So Joseph took the body, wrapped it in a clean linen cloth
44. THE MESSIAH’S DEAD BODY WILL NOT SEE DECAY
Prophecy:
[Psalm 16:10] because you will not abandon me to the realm of the dead, nor will you let your faithful one see decay.
Fulfilled in:
[Matthew 28:6-7] He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see thlace where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee.
[Acts 2:31 ]Foreseeing this, David spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that He was not abandoned to Hades, nor did His body see decay.
45. THE MESSIAH WILL SIT AT THE RIGHT HAND OF THE FATHER
Prophecy:
[Psalm 110:1] The LORD says to my Lord: “Sit at My right hand Until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet.”
Fulfilled in:
[Mark 16:19] When the Lord Jesus had finished talking with them, he was taken up into heaven and sat down in the place of honor at God’s right hand
“. . . Jesus in his human body, He belongs to humanity whom God withheld from knowing or announcing the exact hour.”
Questioned verse:[Mark 13:32] “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.
ANSWER: Jesus claimed that He came down from Heaven only to do the will of the Father [John 6:38]. He did not come to Earth to do His own initiative. Meaning, Jesus can do anything only that he followed the will of the Father. He has many roles assigned by the Father to Him in coming to Earth; He is the savior or purifier of the world, bringer or confirmer of the new covenant, builder of the Kingdom or Church, and a prophet or speaker of the Father. Being a prophet or speaker of the Father, He talks only what the Father commanded Him to speak. Let us read what Jesus said;
[John 12:49] “For I did not speak on My own initiative, but the Father Himself who sent Me has given Me a commandment as to what to say and what to speak.
Jesus spoke it under the will of the Father who commanded Him to glorify Him. If you glorify someone it means you praise, exalt, honor, revere, or even serve him. And that is what Jesus did to the Father, kindly read;
[Psalm 50:15] And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me.
[John 17:4] “I glorified You on the earth, having accomplished the work which You have given Me to do.
[John 11:41-42]They took the stone away. Jesus looked up and said, “Father, I thank You for hearing Me. I know You always hear Me. But I have said this for the people standing here, so they may believe You have sent Me.”
COMMENT: In this verse Jesus reasons why He looked up the sky and gave thanks to the Father, it is for the people to believe that he is sent by the Father. In this act, Jesus glorifies the Father in the eyes of the people who have been observing him.
[John 13:31-32] Jesus said, “Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in Him; if God is glorified in Him, God will also glorify Him in Himself, and will glorify Him immediately
[John 17:1] Jesus spoke these things; and lifting up His eyes to heaven, He said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify Your Son, that the Son may glorify You,
Jesus also claimed that He and the Father are one [John 10:30 & Isaiah 9:6], And He is in the Father and the Father dwells in Him;
[John 14:10-11]Don’t you believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The things I have told you don’t come from me. The Father lives in me, and he is doing his own work.Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me. Or believe because of the miracles I have done.
What the Father knows, the Son also knows for They are one in nature. Whatever the Father does, the Son also does (John 5:19). Jesus knows the exact Hour, but He said so in following the will of the Father. In fact, not only He knows what will become after the Tribulation Day, but He will be the one to come with great power. He said in [Mark 13:24-27];
24But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light,
25And the stars of heaven shall fall, and the powers that are in heaven shall be shaken.
26And then shall they see the Son of man coming in the clouds with great power and glory.
27And then shall he send his angels, and shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from the uttermost part of the earth to the uttermost part of heaven.
Jesus is God in spirit and human in body. In His human nature, He prayed to the Father because that should humans do. On the other side, in His divine nature, He accepted worship from the people (Luke 24:52). It is not for the people to know the exact time fixed by God (Acts 1:7), so Jesus in His human body, He belongs to humanity whom God withheld from knowing or announcing the exact time of Last Hour.
Moreover, imagine the situation if God told the people the exact hour of the Tribulation, what might happen? God purposely hide this matter from us so that to test our faith in Him. Likewise, certainly there would be a massive panicking beforehand. Jesus described the Judgment Day as the most terrifying moment of men. People will flee to caverns in the rocks and crevices in the cliffs, away from terror (Isaiah 2:21). The stars will fall from the sky, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken [Matthew 24:29], the sun will stop shining, and the Earth will be covered with darkness. Just as the exact hour of our death, God needs to hide it for us not to be panicked and terrified.
Jesus encouraged the people to believe that He and the Father are one, meaning He claimed that He is our God, and His proofs are His miracles because no one could perform them except God. He says in [John 14:11]; “Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the miracles themselves”. The following is a list of His miracles;
1. JESUS TURNED THE WATER INTO WINE [John 2:1-11]
On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there; and both Jesus and His disciples were invited to the wedding. When the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus said to Him, “They have no wine.” And Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does that have to do with us? My hour has not yet come.” His mother said to the servants, “Whatever He says to you, do it.” Now there were six stone waterpots set there for the Jewish custom of purification, containing twenty or thirty gallons each. Jesus said to them, “Fill the waterpots with water.” So they filled them up to the brim. And He said to them, “Draw some out now and take it to the headwaiter.” So they took it to him. When the headwaiter tasted the water which had become wine, and did not know where it came from (but the servants who had drawn the water knew), the headwaiter called the bridegroom, and said to him, “Every man serves the good wine first, and when the people have drunk freely, then he serves the poorer wine; but you have kept the good wine until now.” This beginning of His signs Jesus did in Cana of Galilee, and manifested His glory, and His disciples believed in Him.
2. A DYING SON OF A NOBLE MAN WAS HEALED BY JESUS [John 4:46-54]
Therefore He came again to Cana of Galilee where He had made the water wine. And there was a royal official whose son was sick at Capernaum. When he heard that Jesus had come out of Judea into Galilee, he went to Him and was imploring Him to come down and heal his son; for he was at the point of death. So Jesus said to him, “Unless you people see signs and wonders, you simply will not believe.” The royal official said to Him, “Sir, come down before my child dies.” Jesus said to him, “Go; your son lives.” The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him and started off. As he was now going down, his slaves met him, saying that his son was living. So he inquired of them the hour when he began to get better. Then they said to him, “Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him.” So the father knew that it was at that hour in which Jesus said to him, “Your son lives”; and he himself believed and his whole household. This is again a second sign that Jesus performed when He had come out of Judea into Galilee.
3. JESUS HEALED DISABLED PEOPLE
[John 5:1-9]
Now there is in Jerusalem by the sheep gate a pool, which is called in Hebrew Bethesda, having five porticoes. In these lay a multitude of those who were sick, blind, lame, and withered, [waiting for the moving of the waters; for an angel of the Lord went down at certain seasons into the pool and stirred up the water; whoever then first, after the stirring up of the water, stepped in was made well from whatever disease with which he was afflicted.] A man was there who had been ill for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he had already been a long time in that condition, He said to him, “Do you wish to get well?” The sick man answered Him, “Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, but while I am coming, another steps down before me.” Jesus said to him, “Get up, pick up your pallet and walk.” Immediately the man became well, and picked up his pallet and began to walk.
[Matthew 9:1-8, Mark 2:1-12, & Luke 5:17-26]
After these things there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.
When He had come back to Capernaum several days afterward, it was heard that He was at home. And many were gathered together, so that there was no longer room, not even near the door; and He was speaking the word to them. And they came, bringing to Him a paralytic, carried by four men. Being unable to get to Him because of the crowd, they removed the roof above Him; and when they had dug an opening, they let down the pallet on which the paralytic was lying. And Jesus seeing their faith said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.” But some of the scribes were sitting there and reasoning in their hearts, “Why does this man speak that way? He is blaspheming; who can forgive sins but God alone?” Immediately Jesus, aware in His spirit that they were reasoning that way within themselves, said to them, “Why are you reasoning about these things in your hearts? “Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven’; or to say, ‘Get up, and pick up your pallet and walk’? “But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—He said to the paralytic, “I say to you, get up, pick up your pallet and go home.” And he got up and immediately picked up the pallet and went out in the sight of everyone, so that they were all amazed and were glorifying God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this.”
[Luke 6:6-11, Matthew 12:9-14, & Mark 3:1-6]
On another Sabbath He entered the synagogue and was teaching; and there was a man there whose right hand was withered. The scribes and the Pharisees were watching Him closely to see if He healed on the Sabbath, so that they might find reason to accuse Him. But He knew what they were thinking, and He said to the man with the withered hand, “Get up and come forward!” And he got up and came forward. And Jesus said to them, “I ask you, is it lawful to do good or to do harm on the Sabbath, to save a life or to destroy it?” After looking around at them all, He said to him, “Stretch out your hand!” And he did so; and his hand was restored. But they themselves were filled with rage, and discussed together what they might do to Jesus.
4. JESUS HEALED BORN BLIND PEOPLE
[John 9:1-7]
As He passed by, He saw a man blind from birth. And His disciples asked Him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he would be born blind?” Jesus answered, “It was neither that this man sinned, nor his parents; but it was so that the works of God might be displayed in him. “We must work the works of Him who sent Me as long as it is day; night is coming when no one can work. “While I am in the world, I am the Light of the world.” When He had said this, He spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and applied the clay to his eyes, and said to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which is translated, Sent). So he went away and washed, and came back seeing. Therefore the neighbors, and those who previously saw him as a beggar, were saying, “Is not this the one who used to sit and beg?” Others were saying, “This is he,” still others were saying, “No, but he is like him.” He kept saying, “I am the one.” So they were saying to him, “How then were your eyes opened?” He answered, “The man who is called Jesus made clay, and anointed my eyes, and said to me, ‘Go to Siloam and wash’; so I went away and washed, and I received sight.” They said to him, “Where is He?” He said, “I do not know.”
[Mark 8:22-26]
And they came to Bethsaida. And they brought a blind man to Jesus and implored Him to touch him. Taking the blind man by the hand, He brought him out of the village; and after spitting on his eyes and laying His hands on him, He asked him, “Do you see anything?” And he looked up and said, “I see men, for I see them like trees, walking around.” Then again He laid His hands on his eyes; and he looked intently and was restored, and began to see everything clearly. And He sent him to his home, saying, “Do not even enter the village.”
5. JESUS HEALED A DEAF AND MUTE MAN [Mark 7:31-37]
Again He went out from the region of Tyre, and came through Sidon to the Sea of Galilee, within the region of Decapolis. They brought to Him one who was deaf and spoke with difficulty, and they implored Him to lay His hand on him. Jesus took him aside from the crowd, by himself, and put His fingers into his ears, and after spitting, He touched his tongue with the saliva; and looking up to heaven with a deep sigh, He said to him, “Ephphatha!” that is, “Be opened!” And his ears were opened, and the impediment of his tongue was removed, and he began speaking plainly. And He gave them orders not to tell anyone; but the more He ordered them, the more widely they continued to proclaim it. They were utterly astonished, saying, “He has done all things well; He makes even the deaf to hear and the mute to speak.”
6. JESUS RAISED DEAD PEOPLE
[John 11:38-44]
Now Jesus had not yet come into the village, but was still in the place where Martha met Him. Then the Jews who were with her in the house, and consoling her, when they saw that Mary got up quickly and went out, they followed her, supposing that she was going to the tomb to weep there. Therefore, when Mary came where Jesus was, she saw Him, and fell at His feet, saying to Him, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.” When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her also weeping, He was deeply moved in spirit and was troubled, and said, “Where have you laid him?” They said to Him, “Lord, come and see.” Jesus wept. So the Jews were saying, “See how He loved him!” But some of them said, “Could not this man, who opened the eyes of the blind man, have kept this man also from dying?”
So Jesus, again being deeply moved within, came to the tomb. Now it was a cave, and a stone was lying against it. Jesus said, “Remove the stone.” Martha, the sister of the deceased, said to Him, “Lord, by this time there will be a stench, for he has been dead four days.” Jesus said to her, “Did I not say to you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?” So they removed the stone. Then Jesus raised His eyes, and said, “Father, I thank You that You have heard Me. “I knew that You always hear Me; but because of the people standing around I said it, so that they may believe that You sent Me.” When He had said these things, He cried out with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come forth.” The man who had died came forth, bound hand and foot with wrappings, and his face was wrapped around with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Unbind him, and let him go.”
[Luke 7:11-18]
Soon afterwards He went to a city called Nain; and His disciples were going along with Him, accompanied by a large crowd. Now as He approached the gate of the city, a dead man was being carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow; and a sizeable crowd from the city was with her. When the Lord saw her, He felt compassion for her, and said to her, “Do not weep.” And He came up and touched the coffin; and the bearers came to a halt. And He said, “Young man, I say to you, arise!” The dead man sat up and began to speak. And Jesus gave him back to his mother. Fear gripped them all, and they began glorifying God, saying, “A great prophet has arisen among us!” and, “God has visited His people” This report concerning Him went out all over Judea and in all the surrounding district.
7. JESUS PASSED UNSEEN THROUGH A CROWD ATTEMPTING TO MURDER HIM [Luke 4:28-30]
And all the people in the synagogue were filled with rage as they heard these things; and they got up and drove Him out of the city, and led Him to the brow of the hill on which their city had been built, in order to throw Him down the cliff. But passing through their midst, He went His way.
8. JESUS CAUSED HIS DISCIPLES TO CATCH A GREAT QUANTITY OF FISH
[Luke 5:4-11]
When He had finished speaking, He said to Simon, “Put out into the deep water and let down your nets for a catch.” Simon answered and said, “Master, we worked hard all night and caught nothing, but I will do as You say and let down the nets.” When they had done this, they enclosed a great quantity of fish, and their nets began to break; so they signaled to their partners in the other boat for them to come and help them. And they came and filled both of the boats, so that they began to sink. But when Simon Peter saw that, he fell down at Jesus’ feet, saying, “Go away from me Lord, for I am a sinful man!” For amazement had seized him and all his companions because of the catch of fish which they had taken; and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not fear, from now on you will be catching men.” When they had brought their boats to land, theyleft everything and followed Him.
[John 21:4-11]
But when the day was now breaking, Jesus stood on the beach; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. So Jesus said to them, “Children, you do not have any fish, do you?” They answered Him, “No.” And He said to them, “Cast the net on the right-hand side of the boat and you will find a catch.” So they cast, and then they were not able to haul it in because of the great number of fish. Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord.” So when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put his outer garment on (for he was stripped for work), and threw himself into the sea. But the other disciples came in the little boat, for they were not far from the land, but about one hundred yards away, dragging the net full of fish.
So when they got out on the land, they saw a charcoal fire already laid and fish placed on it, and bread. Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish which you have now caught.” Simon Peter went up and drew the net to land, full of large fish, a hundred and fifty-three; and although there were so many, the net was not torn.
9. VARIOUS DISEASES WERE HEALED AND DEMONS WERE DRIVEN OUT BY JESUS [Luke 4:38-41, Matt 8:14, & Mark 1:30]
Then He got up and left the synagogue, and entered Simon’s home. Now Simon’s mother-in-law was suffering from a high fever, and they asked Him to help her. And standing over her, He rebuked the fever, and it left her; and she immediately got up and waited on them.
While the sun was setting, all those who had any who were sick with various diseases brought them to Him; and laying His hands on each one of them, He was healing them. Demons also were coming out of many, shouting, “You are the Son of God!” But rebuking them, He would not allow them to speak, because they knew Him to be the Christ.
10. JESUS HEALED A CENTURION’S DYING SERVANT [Luke 7:1-10 & Matthew 8:5]
When He had completed all His discourse in the hearing of the people, He went to Capernaum.
And a centurion’s slave, who was highly regarded by him, was sick and about to die. When he heard about Jesus, he sent some Jewish elders asking Him to come and save the life of his servant. When they came to Jesus, they earnestly implored Him, saying, “He is worthy for You to grant this to him; for he loves our nation and it was he who built us our synagogue.” Now Jesus started on His way with them; and when He was not far from the house, the centurion sent friends, saying to Him, “Lord, do not trouble Yourself further, for I am not worthy for You to come under my roof; for this reason I did not even consider myself worthy to come to You, but just say the word, and myservant will be healed. “For I also am a man placed under authority, with soldiers under me; and I say to this one, ‘Go!’ and he goes, and to another, ‘Come!’ and he comes, and to my slave, ‘Do this!’ and he does it.” Now when Jesus heard this, He marveled at him, and turned and said to the crowd that was following Him, “I say to you, not even in Israel have I found such great faith.” When those who had been sent returned to the house, they found the slave in good health.
11. JESUS HEALED A MAN WITH DROPSY ON THE SABBATH [Luke 14:1-6]
It happened that when He went into the house of one of the leaders of the Pharisees on the Sabbath to eat bread, they were watching Him closely. And there in front of Him was a man suffering from dropsy. And Jesus answered and spoke to the lawyers and Pharisees, saying, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath, or not?” But they kept silent. And He took hold of him and healed him, and sent him away. And He said to them, “Which one of you will have a son or an ox fall into a well, and will not immediately pull him out on a Sabbath day?” And they could make no reply to this.
12. LEPERS WERE HEALED BY JESUS
[Luke 17:11-19]
While He was on the way to Jerusalem, He was passing between Samaria and Galilee. As He entered a village, ten leprous men who stood at a distance met Him; and they raised their voices, saying, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” When He saw them, He said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And as they were going, they were cleansed. Now one of them, when he saw that he had been healed, turned back, glorifying God with a loud voice, and he fell on his face at His feet, giving thanks to Him. And he was a Samaritan. Then Jesus answered and said, “Were there not ten cleansed? But the nine—where are they? “Was no one found who returned to give glory to God, except this foreigner?” And He said to him, “Stand up and go; your faith has made you well.”
[Mark 1:40-45, Matthew 8:1-4, & Luke 5:12-16]
And a leper came to Jesus, beseeching Him and falling on his knees before Him, and saying, “If You are willing, You can make me clean.” Moved with compassion, Jesus stretched out His hand and touched him, and said to him, “I am willing; be cleansed.” Immediately the leprosy left him and he was cleansed. And He sternly warned him and immediately sent him away, and He said to him, “See that you say nothing to anyone; but go, show yourself to the priest and offer for your cleansing what Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.” But he went out and began to proclaim it freely and to spread the news around, to such an extent that Jesus could no longer publicly enter a city, but stayed out in unpopulated areas; and they were coming to Him from everywhere.
13. JESUS RESTORED THE CUT EAR OF A HIGH PRIEST’ SERVANT [Luke 22:47-53]
While He was still speaking, behold, a crowd came, and the one called Judas, one of the twelve, was preceding them; and he approached Jesus to kiss Him. But Jesus said to him, “Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?” When those who were around Him saw what was going to happen, they said, “Lord, shall we strike with the sword?” And one of them struck the slave of the high priest and cut off his right ear. But Jesus answered and said, “Stop! No more of this.” And He touched his ear and healed him. Then Jesus said to the chief priests and officers of the temple and elders who had come against Him, “Have you come out with swords and clubs as you would against a robber? “While I was with you daily in the temple, you did not lay hands on Me; but this hour and the power of darkness are yours.”
14. JESUS FED THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WITH FEW LOAVES OF BREAD AND FEW SMALL FISH
[Matthew 15:32-38 & Mark 8:1-10]
And Jesus called His disciples to Him, and said, “I feel compassion for the people, because they have remained with Me now three days and have nothing to eat; and I do not want to send them away hungry, for they might faint on the way.” The disciples said to Him, “Where would we get so many loaves in this desolate place to satisfy such a large crowd?” And Jesus said to them, “How many loaves do you have?” And they said, “Seven, and a few small fish.” And He directed the people to sit down on the ground; and He took the seven loaves and the fish; and giving thanks, He broke them and started giving them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people. And they all ate and were satisfied, and they picked up what was left over of the broken pieces, seven large baskets full. And those who ate were four thousand men, besides women and children.
[Matthew 14:13-21, Mark 6:30-44, Luke 9:10-17 & John 6:1-15]
As evening approached, the disciples came to him and said, “This is a remote place, and it’s already getting late. Send the crowds away, so they can go to the villages and buy themselves some food.” Jesus replied, “They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat”. “We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish,” they answered. “Bring them here to me,” he said. And he directed the people to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people. They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. The number of those who ate was about five thousand men, besides women and children.
15. JESUS CAUSED THE FIG TREE TO WITHER [Matthew 21:18-22 & Mark 11:12-14]
Now in the morning, when He was returning to the city, He became hungry. Seeing a lone fig tree by the road, He came to it and found nothing on it except leaves only; and He said to it, “No longer shall there ever be any fruit from you.” And at once the fig tree withered.
Seeing this, the disciples were amazed and asked, “How did the fig tree wither all at once?” And Jesus answered and said to them, “Truly I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and cast into the sea,’ it will happen. “And all things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.”
16. JESUS CAST OUT DEMONS
[Matthew 12:22-29; Luke 11:14-21]
Then a demon-possessed man who was blind and mute was brought to Jesus, and He healed him, so that the mute man spoke and saw. All the crowds were amazed, and were saying, “This man cannot be the Son of David, can he?” But when the Pharisees heard this, they said, “This man casts out demons only by Beelzebul the ruler of the demons.”
And knowing their thoughts Jesus said to them, “Any kingdom divided against itself is laid waste; and any city or house divided against itself will not stand. “If Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself; how then will his kingdom stand? “If I by Beelzebul cast out demons, by whom do your sons cast them out? For this reason they will be your judges. “But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. “Or how can anyone enter the strong man’s house and carry off his property, unless he first binds the strong man? And then he will plunder his house.
[Mark 1:21-27 & Luke 4:31-36]
They went into Capernaum; and immediately on the Sabbath He entered the synagogue and began to teach. They were amazed at His teaching; for He was teaching them as one having authority, and not as the scribes. Just then there was a man in their synagogue with an unclean spirit; and he cried out, saying, “What business do we have with each other, Jesus of Nazareth? Have You come to destroy us? I know who You are—the Holy One of God!” And Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be quiet, and come out of him!” Throwing him into convulsions, the unclean spirit cried out with a loud voice and came out of him. They were all amazed, so that they debated among themselves, saying, “What is this? A new teaching with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey Him.” Immediately the news about Him spread everywhere into all the surrounding district of Galilee.
[Matthew 15:21-28 & Mark 7:24-30]
Jesus went away from there, and withdrew into the district of Tyre and Sidon. And a Canaanite woman from that region came out and began to cry out, saying, “Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David; my daughter is cruelly demon-possessed.” But He did not answer her a word. And His disciples came and implored Him, saying, “Send her away, because she keeps shouting at us.” But He answered and said, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” But she came and began to bow down before Him, saying, “Lord, help me!” And He answered and said, “It is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.” But she said, “Yes, Lord; but even the dogs feed on the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table.” Then Jesus said to her, “O woman, your faith is great; it shall be done for you as you wish.” And her daughter was healed at once.
[Luke 9:37-43, Matthew 17:14-21, & Mark 9:14-29]
On the next day, when they came down from the mountain, a large crowd met Him. And a man from the crowd shouted, saying, “Teacher, I beg You to look at my son, for he is my only boy, and a spirit seizes him, and he suddenly screams, and it throws him into a convulsion with foaming at the mouth; and only with difficulty does it leave him, mauling him as it leaves. “I begged Your disciples to cast it out, and they could not.” And Jesus answered and said, “You unbelieving and perverted generation, how long shall I be with you and put up with you? Bring your son here.” While he was still approaching, the demon slammed him to the ground and threw him into a convulsion. But Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, and healed the boy and gave him back to his father. And they were all amazed at the greatness of God.
17. JESUS CAST OUT LEGION OF DEMONS [Matthew 8:28-34 & Mark 5:1-20]
When He came to the other side into the country of the Gadarenes, two men who were demon-possessed met Him as they were coming out of the tombs. They were so extremely violent that no one could pass by that way. And they cried out, saying, “What business do we have with each other, Son of God? Have You come here to torment us before the time?” Now there was a herd of many swine feeding at a distance from them. The demons began to entreat Him, saying, “If You are going to cast us out, send us into the herd of swine.” And He said to them, “Go!” And they came out and went into the swine, and the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the sea and perished in the waters. The herdsmen ran away, and went to the city and reported everything, including what had happened to the demoniacs. And behold, the whole city came out to meet Jesus; and when they saw Him, they implored Him to leave their region.
18. JESUS HEALED A WOMAN WITH INFIRMITY CAUSED BY SATAN [Luke 13:11-17]
And there was a woman who for eighteen years had had a sickness caused by a spirit; and she was bent double, and could not straighten up at all. When Jesus saw her, He called her over and said to her, “Woman, you are freed from your sickness.” And He laid His hands on her; and immediately she was made erect again and began glorifying God. But the synagogue official, indignant because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, began saying to the crowd in response, “There are six days in which work should be done; so come during them and get healed, and not on the Sabbath day.” But the Lord answered him and said, “You hypocrites, does not each of you on the Sabbath untie his ox or his donkey from the stall and lead him away to water him? “And this woman, a daughter of Abraham as she is, whom Satan has bound for eighteen long years, should she not have been released from this bond on the Sabbath day?” As He said this, all His opponents were being humiliated; and the entire crowd was rejoicing over all the glorious things being done by Him.
19. JESUS STOPPED A STORM AND SURGING WAVES [Matthew 8:23-27, Mark 4:35-41, & Luke 8:22-25]
On that day, when evening came, He said to them, “Let us go over to the other side.” Leaving the crowd, they took Him along with them in the boat, just as He was; and other boats were with Him. And there arose a fierce gale of wind, and the waves were breaking over the boat so much that the boat was already filling up. Jesus Himself was in the stern, asleep on the cushion; and they woke Him and said to Him, “Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?” And He got up and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Hush, be still.” And the wind died down and it became perfectly calm. And He said to them, “Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?” They became very much afraid and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey Him?”
20. JESUS HEALED A BLEEDING WOMAN AND RESURRECTED JAIRUS’ DAUGHTER [Mark 5:21-43, Luke 8:40-56, & Matthew 9:18-26]
When Jesus had crossed over again in the boat to the other side, a large crowd gathered around Him; and so He stayed by the seashore. One of the synagogue officials named Jairus came up, and on seeing Him, fell at His feet and implored Him earnestly, saying, “My little daughter is at the point of death; please come and lay Your hands on her, so that she will get well and live.” And He went off with him; and a large crowd was following Him and pressing in on Him.
A woman who had had a hemorrhage for twelve years, and had endured much at the hands of many physicians, and had spent all that she had and was not helped at all, but rather had grown worse—after hearing about Jesus, she came up in the crowd behind Him and touched His cloak. For she thought, “If I just touch His garments, I will get well.” Immediately the flow of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of her affliction. Immediately Jesus, perceiving in Himself that the power proceeding from Him had gone forth, turned around in the crowd and said, “Who touched My garments?” And His disciples said to Him, “You see the crowd pressing in on You, and You say, ‘Who touched Me?’” And He looked around to see the woman who had done this. But the woman fearing and trembling, aware of what had happened to her, came and fell down before Him and told Him the whole truth. And He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace and be healed of your affliction.”
While He was still speaking, they came from the house of the synagogue official, saying, “Your daughter has died; why trouble the Teacher anymore?” But Jesus, overhearing what was being spoken, said to the synagogue official, “Do not be afraid any longer, only believe.” And He allowed no one to accompany Him, except Peter and James and John the brother of James. They came to the house of the synagogue official; and He saw a commotion, and people loudly weeping and wailing. And entering in, He said to them, “Why make a commotion and weep? The child has not died, but is asleep.” They began laughing at Him. But putting them all out, He took along the child’s father and mother and His own companions, and entered the room where the child was. Taking the child by the hand, He said to her, “Talitha kum!” (which translated means, “Little girl, I say to you, get up!”). Immediately the girl got up and began to walk, for she was twelve years old. And immediately they were completely astounded. And He gave them strict orders that no one should know about this, and He said that something should be given her to eat.
21. JESUS WALKED ON THE SEA [John 6:16-21, Matthew 14:22-27, & Mark 6:46-52]
Now when evening came, His disciples went down to the sea, and after getting into a boat, they started to cross the sea to Capernaum. It had already become dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them. The sea began to be stirred up because a strong wind was blowing. Then, when they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and drawing near to the boat; and they were frightened. But He said to them, “It is I; do not be afraid.” So they were willing to receive Him into the boat, and immediately the boat was at the land to which they were going.
22. JESUS TRANSFIGURED [Matthew 17:1-8 & Mark 9:2-8]
Six days later Jesus took with Him Peter and James and John his brother, and led them up on a high mountain by themselves. And He was transfigured before them; and His face shone like the sun, and His garments became as white as light. And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Him. Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here; if You wish, I will make three tabernacles here, one for You, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” While he was still speaking, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and behold, a voice out of the cloud said, “This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well-pleased; listen to Him!” When the disciples heard this, they fell face down to the ground and were terrified. And Jesus came to them and touched them and said, “Get up, and do not be afraid.” And lifting up their eyes, they saw no one except Jesus Himself alone.
23. JESUS CHRIST RESURRECTED [John 20:11-18 & Luke 24:6-7]
But Mary was standing outside the tomb weeping; and so, as she wept, she stooped and looked into the tomb; and she saw two angels in white sitting, one at the head and one at the feet, where the body of Jesus had been lying. And they said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him.” When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, and did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” Supposing Him to be the gardener, she said to Him, “Sir, if you have carried Him away, tell me where you have laid Him, and I will take Him away.” Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to Him in Hebrew, “Rabboni!” (which means, Teacher). Jesus said to her, “Stop clinging to Me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, ‘I ascend to My Father and your Father, and My God and your God.’” Mary Magdalene came, announcing to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord,” and that He had said these things to her.
24. EVIL SPIRITS SUBMITTED TO SEVENTY-TWO APOSTLES [Luke 10:17-20]
The seventy-two returned with joy and said, “Lord, even the demons submit to us in Your name.” So He told them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. Behold, I have given you authority to tread on snakes and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy. Nothing will harm you. Nevertheless, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”
25. JESUS ASCENDED TO HEAVEN [Luke 24:50-52]
When He had led them out to the vicinity of Bethany, he lifted up His hands and blessed them, while He was blessing them, He left them and was taken up into Heaven, then they worshipped Him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy.
26. THE APOSTLES PERFORMED MANY MIRACLES BY FAITH IN JESUS [Acts 5:12-16]
The people saw the apostles perform many miracles and do amazing things. The believers had a common faith in Jesus as they met on Solomon’s Porch. None of the other people dared to join them, although everyone spoke highly of them. More men and women than ever began to believe in the Lord. As a result, people carried their sick into the streets. They placed them on stretchers and cots so that at least Peter’s shadow might fall on some sick people as he went by. Crowds from the cities around Jerusalem would gather. They would bring their sick and those who were troubled by evil spirits, and each person was cured.
27. PETER HEALED A LAME IN JESUS NAME [Acts 3:2-8]
And a man lame from birth was being carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple that is called the Beautiful Gate to ask alms of those entering the temple … But Peter said, “I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!”. And he took him by the right hand and raised him up, and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong. And leaping up he stood and began to walk, and entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God.
28. PETER RAISED DORCAS OF JOPPA TO LIFE [Acts 9:36-41]
In Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (which is translated as Dorcas),cwho was always occupied with works of kindness and charity. At that time, however, she became sick and died, and her body was washed and placed in an upper room. Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples heard that Peter was there and sent two men to urge him, “Come to us without delay.” So Peter got up and went with them. On his arrival, they took him to the upper room. All the widows stood around him, weeping and showing him the tunics and other clothing that Dorcas had made while she was still with them. Then Peter sent them all out of the room. He knelt down and prayed, and turning toward her body, he said, “Tabitha, get up!” She opened her eyes, and seeing Peter, she sat up. Peter took her by the hand and helped her up. Then he called the saints and widows and presented her to them alive.
29. PAUL DROVE OFF AN EVIL SPIRIT FROM A WOMAN IN THE NAME OF JESUS [Acts 16:16-18]
One day when we were going to the place of prayer, a female servant met us. She was possessed by an evil spirit that told fortunes. She made a lot of money for her owners by telling fortunes. She used to follow Paul and shout, “These men are servants of the Most High God. They’re telling you how you can be saved.” She kept doing this for many days. Paul became annoyed, turned to the evil spirit, and said, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her!” As Paul said this, the evil spirit left her.
30. PAUL HEALED A LAME MAN [Acts 14:8-11]
A man who was born lame was in Lystra. He was always sitting because he had never been able to walk. He listened to what Paul was saying. Paul observed him closely and saw that the man believed he could be made well. So Paul said in a loud voice, “Stand up.” The man jumped up and began to walk. The crowds who saw what Paul had done shouted in the Lycaonian language, “The gods have come to us, and they look human.”
31. PAUL HEALED PUBLIUS’ FATHER AND OTHER SICK PEOPLE [Acts 28:7-9]
A man named Publius, who was the governor of the island, had property around the area. He welcomed us and treated us kindly, and for three days we were his guests. His father happened to be sick in bed. He was suffering from fever and dysentery. Paul went to him, prayed, placed his hands on him, and made him well. After that had happened, other sick people on the island went to Paul and were made well.
32. PAUL CAUSED AN ANNOYING PERSON TO BECOME BLIND [Acts 13:8-12]
Elymas, whose name means [astrologer], opposed them and tried to distort the meaning of the faith so that the governor wouldn’t believe. But Saul, also known as Paul, was filled with the Holy Spirit. He stared at Elymas and said, “You are full of dirty tricks and schemes, you son of the devil! You hate everything that has God’s approval. Quit trying to distort the truth about the way the Lord wants people to live. The Lord is against you now. For a while you will be blind, unable to see the light of day.” Suddenly, Elymas couldn’t see a thing. He tried to find people to lead him. When the governor saw what had happened, he believed.
33. PAUL RESURRECTED A YOUNG MAN [Acts 20:9-12]
A young man named Eutychus was sitting in a window. As Paul was talking on and on, Eutychus was gradually falling asleep. Finally, overcome by sleep, he fell from the third story and was dead when they picked him up. Paul went to him, took him into his arms, and said, “Don’t worry! He’s alive!” Then Eutychus went upstairs again, broke the bread, and ate. Paul talked with the people for a long time, until sunrise, and then left. The people took the boy home. They were greatly relieved that he was alive.
Protestant’s doctrine: “we are under grace, not law”
For the Protestant Churches who keep believing and teaching that we mankind are under grace and can be saved by faith alone, you are wrong! because faith and obedience of the law are both required in our journey to the kingdom of Heaven. What you believe in your religion today was already practiced by the Christians at the time of the apostles, and they rebuked this practice. To prove that, here is what the Bible says;
1. [Psalm 119:44] So shall I always keep thy law, for ever and ever.
2. [Isiah 42:24] Who gave Jacob up for spoil, and Israel to the plunderers? Was it not the LORD, against whom we have sinned? They were unwilling to walk in His ways, and they would not obey His law.
3. [Isaiah 48:18] If only you had paid attention to My commandments, your peace would have been like a river, and your righteousness like waves of the sea.
4. [1 Chronicle 22:12] Above all, may the LORD give you insight and understanding when He puts you in command over Israel, so that you may keep the Law of the LORD your God.
5. [Psalm 119:34] Give me understanding that I may observe Your law, and follow it with all my heart.
6. [Ezra 7:26] If anyone does not keep the law of your God and the law of the king, let a strict judgment be executed against him, whether death, banishment, confiscation of property, or imprisonment.
7. [2 John 1:8] Watch yourselves, so that you do not lose what we have worked for, but that you may be fully rewarded
8. [James 1:22-25] Be doers of the word, and not hearers only. Otherwise, you are deceiving yourselves. For anyone who hears the word but does not carry it out is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror, and after observing himself goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But the one who looks intently into the perfect law of freedom, and continues to do so—not being a forgetful hearer, but an effective doer—he will be blessed in what he does.
9. [James 2:8] You are doing right if you obey this law from the highest authority: “Love your neighbor as you love yourself.”
10. [James 2:14-26] What good is it, my brothers, if someone claims to have faith, but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you tells him, “Go in peace; stay warm and well fed,” but does not provide for his physical needs, what good is that? So too, faith by itself, if it is not complemented by action, is dead. But someone will say, “You have faith and I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds. You believe that God is one. Good for you! Even the demons believe that—and shudder. O foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is worthless? Was not our father Abraham justified by what he did when he offered his sonIsaac on the altar? You see that his faith was working with his actions, and his faith was perfected by what he did. And the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,” and he was called a friend of God. As you can see, a man is justified by his deeds and not by faith alone. In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute justified by her actions when she welcomed the spies and sentthem off on another route? As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.
11. [Romans 2:13] For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but it is the doers of the law who will be declared righteous.
12. [Romans 3:20] Therefore no one will be declared righteous in God’s sight by the works of the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin.
13. [Romans 3:27-28] Where, then, is boasting? It is excluded. Because of what law? The law that requires works? No, because of the law that requires faith. For we maintain that a person is justified by faith apart from the works of the law.
14. [Galatians 2:16] know that a person is not justified by the works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law, because by the works of the law no one will be justified.
15. [Galatians 3:2] I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by believing what you heard?
16. [Galatians 3:5-6] So again I ask, does God give you his Spirit and work miracles among you by the works of the law, or by your believing what you heard?
17. [Galatians 3:10] For all who rely on the works of the law are under a curse, as it is written: “Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law.”
18. [1 Thessalonians 1:3] Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father;
19. [2 Thessalonians 2:17] encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good word and deed.
I came across an anti-catholic video on Youtube telling that the Roman Catholic Church is the Beast foretold in the Bible. And I also spotted a comment claiming that he is a catholic, but he throws all statues and stopped worshiping the Saints including Mother Mary. I know this man was only pretending he’s catholic to gain some sympthy from Catholics who already doubted the Church because of the anti-catholic propaganda. I argued his statement and our argument became a lengthy debate. I copy pasted the content of our debate and posted here.
Boy Bautista
I am a Catholic and throw all statue or Saints devotion or worship, I stop praying Hail Mary because , Mary is not God. I only call God the Father , Holy Spirit ant Jesus the Son od God and the Messiah.
Renz @Boy Bautista, If you are really Catholic, you should have known the role of statues in Catholicism. Images and Saints are not worshiped in Catholicism, reverence and worship are not the same. We can ask help from Saints so that God will have mercy on us and be admitted to Heaven. Mary is the mother of Jesus, most probably Jesus cannot refuse her if she will request Him to include you in Heaven. Images are just expressions of the Catholics’ love and faith in God and his Saints. If you hold a picture of your loved one and kiss it, will you commit the sin of idolatry? Jesus and His apostles teach us to worship God in spirit (mind and heart), whether you use images or not, as long as your mind and heart are directed to God above. Psalm 2:12 commands us, ”Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him”. If you want to kiss God, how can you express it if He’s originally a spirit or unapproachable light? Let’s not understand the Bible by picking two or three verses only, let’s understand the Bible by its context. We should also use our common sense. God said His words do not change, and His founded kingdom is for everlasting, and it cannot be overcome by the gates of hell. To accuse the Catholicism of corrupting the Church is the same as accusing God that He’s lying. Of all the religions, it is only the Catholicism that can defend their Faith.
Boy Bautista @Renz , Mary and all other saints cannot hear your prayers because they’re all dead. If truly you don’t worship those images, take them down from the altar, because altar is for God only. And you are kneeling down before those images, and the images will remain in your subconscious as you continue worshiping even with closed eyes.
Renz @Boy Bautista, not all people died, for example Enoch and Elijah did not experience death [2 kings 2:11 & Hebrews 11:5]. And not all dead are asleep because Abel though he was dead, he could still speak to God because of his faith, kindly read;
[Hebrews 11:4] “By faith Abel offered God a better sacrifice than Cain did. By faith he was commended as righteous when God gave approval to his gifts. And by faith he still speaks, even though he is dead.”
As
I had said in the previous, we should understand the Bible not by only one or
few verses, we should understand its context. The image is not really the issue
of God’s hatred, but because people were worshiping gods other than Him. I
think you are not familiar about the Ark of the Covenant. In (Exodus 25: 18),
God instructed Moses to make two gold cherubim [Cherubim is pl. form of Cherub
means angel statue] and placed them over the Ark of the Covenant. Then He
commanded the Israelites to pray or request before that Ark. Joshua fell and
prayed before that ark, and the Lord answered him (Joshua 7:6-11). Even King
David held a feast for the Ark of the Covenant with the two cherubim over it (2
Samuel 6: 15, 19). He sacrificed burnt offerings and fellowship offerings
before it, he was dancing and leaping with all his might before it (2 Samuel 6:
13, 14). David was despised by his wife Michal for what he had done, so the
Lord closed her womb (2 Samuel 6: 16, 20, 23). What Michal did is comparable to
what the non-Catholics are doing today who despise the Catholics for
celebrating a feast and dance before a holy image. King Solomon made Cherubim
too under the instruction of God and placed them in the inner sanctuary of
God’s Temple (1 Kings 6: 23-27). God also instructed Moses to make a bronze
statue of snake, and put it up on a pole. Then when anyone was bitten by a
snake and looked at the bronze snake, he lived (Numbers 21: 8-9). Therefore,
God does not prohibit the people to revere or use an image devoted to Him and
His kingdom, as in the case of Micah’s carved silver image (Judges 17: 3).
Judges chapter 18 tells about Micah’s carved silver image which was brought by
Danites when they attacked Laish, and God let them conquered Laish.
Boy Bautista @Renz , Then, why you don’t have Patron Saint Enoch and Patron Saint Elijah? Besides, your reasoning did not raise Mary from the dead. Have you not seen the Cherub in the Ark of Covenant? They are facing each other, not facing the people. None like them in the Catholic churches all over the world. Your images are clearly dead idols (I know it as I was with it for 30 years). No idolaters can enter the kingdom of God (Revelation 21:8). You must acknowledge that you are sinner and need a savior from heaven and ask Jesus Christ to come-in into your life as Lord & Savior. That’s it, no transferring of religion, just come to Jesus Christ in prayer.
Renz @Boy Bautista
: You are funny, the issue here is the worshiper facing the image, and not the image facing the worshiper. If you try to argue that it was permissible by God to pray before the carved cherubim because they were facing sideward, then a worshiper can easily avoid the sin of idolatry, all he has to do is to turn his face towards the side of the image. So your reasoning is inconsistent.
: In (John 21:25), Apostle John says that there are still many works of Jesus which are not written down. And beside the Bible, we should also use our common sense. If Jesus could bring a criminal to His paradise [Luke 23:43], how much more his own mother? Mary is certainly in Jesus’ paradise. Moreover, there are many people around the world claiming that holy Mary appeared to them.
:
Enoch and Elijah were born long time before Christianity, therefore, the
Catholic Church is not in the position to declare them as holy. Besides they
are already in paradise, there is no need for them to be canonized.
:
Saints or holy people although they are dead, are not asleep, they are with
Jesus. Kindly read;
[Revelation 6:10] And they cried out in a loud voice, “How long, O Lord, holy and true, until You judge those who live on the earth and avenge our blood?”
: No Catholic that will say his God is the image that he faces while praying. All Catholics know that their God is spirit and in Heaven. Whether you face an image or not in praying, God will judge us by our mind and heart, and not by gesture or food. Instead of accusing the Catholics, you better examine your own religion because your religion is only good at accusing but cannot defend its own doctrine.
Boy Bautista @Renz , You obviously did not see the cherubs at the Arc of Covenant, they are facing each other closely with both wings touching each other, you cannot go in between and worship one of them. Besides, it is absolutely not permissible to worship any form of image in behalf of God. Religion is business, true Christianity is not religion but personal relationship with the Savior – knowing each other intimately.
Renz @Boy Bautista, I have seen it. In fact before I bring up comments, I checked them first. However the issue is not the positioning of the images, but the Catholicism is accused by Christian sects for committing idolatry because they use images in their worship method. Images are just regarded holy and not worshiped in Catholicism. Christian sects always used [Exodus 20:4-5] to justify their accusation. Let us read these passages starting from verse 3 for us to have a better understanding;
3You shall have no other gods before Me.
4You shall not make for yourself an idol of any kind, or an image of anything in the heavens above, on the earth beneath, or in the waters below.
5You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on their children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me
COMMENT: in verse 3, God begins his commandment by saying, “you shall have no other gods before Me”. The issue here is not really the images themselves, but people who worshiped other gods (like Molech, Golden calf, Asherah, Baal, Bel, Amon, Dagon, Tammuz, Zeus, Hermes, Artemis, and many others). Why God hated the said images? Because these were the images of gods that the Israelites worshiped. The Catholicism is the owner of the Holy Scriptures, so they know better than all rebellious groups.
: One of the purposes of God to send Jesus to the world was to found His Church. Jesus said to Simon Peter, “I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven” (Mt. 16: 19). So if we want eternal lives, we need to be bound by this Church or religion. God only found one Church for eternity. Those Churches which are founded by mere men are not authorized by God. How come these groups can enter the kingdom of Heaven?
Boy Bautista @Renz , you don’t worship them? Why kiss them and bow down before them? “5You shall not bow down to them”. You are bowing down before them, bowing down is an act of worship… that is clear. The Catholicism did not own the Holy Scriptures, in fact, all of them were written by Hebrews not even a single Roman writer. The “key” of the kingdom is Jesus Christ himself and the church is every person having the Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit living in them NOT the church/religion made by men. RC was founded by Emperor Constantine in Constantinople – now Istanbul. The church founded by Jesus Christ is his creation not the creation of people. How to enter God’s kingdom? Please read John 3:5 and Matthew 18:3. If you really own the Holy Scriptures, you should have written: “You must be a Catholic to enter God’s kingdom”, but instead, you wrote” “You must be born again” – John 3:7.
Renz @Boy Bautista
A. If we kiss something, it doesn’t mean we worship that something. If you kiss the hand of your grandpa it doesn’t mean you worship him, but you respect him. If you kiss your wife, it doesn’t mean you worship her, but you love her. If you bow to a being it doesn’t always mean you worship that being, it can also mean you revere or honor that being. If a Japanese bow to you, it doesn’t mean he worships you, but he respects you. And this what a Catholic is doing, he shows his love, respect, and reverence to God or Saints by kissing and bowing to their images.
B. It appears that you have no knowledge about the History of the Roman Catholic Church. The earliest Christian Church in Rome was not founded by Romans or an emperor, but by Peter and Paul (the Hebrews who owned the Scriptures).
A BRIEF HISTORY OF CHRISTIANITY
In 32 A.D. after the ascension of Jesus Christ, the apostles spread the good news initially from Jerusalem throughout the Roman Empire. In Rome, the apostle Simon Peter together with Paul established the Church which Jesus Christ told to Simon Peter, “and I tell you that you are peter [“peter” derived from Greek “petros” means rock], and on this rock I will build my Church, and the gates of hell will not prevail against it” (Mt. 16: 18). In the year 107, St. Ignatius of Antioch named this Christian Faith as the Catholic Church [catholic derived from Greek katholikos means universal]. It became the state religion by Armenia in 301; Georgia in 319; and in the year 380, Theodocius 1 declared this Faith as the official religion in Rome. It is only the Catholic Church that can trace their root to Jesus.
C. Jesus is not the key himself, but He holds the keys of the kingdom. “Key” means authority, and Jesus assigned these authorities of the kingdom to Peter alone. So the notion that you can go to Heaven by yourself or by another church is false. Try to examine yourself if you have the capability to fly into Jesus’ abode. It is only by the power of Jesus that we can be transported to Heaven. Therefore, we must follow Jesus’ instructions and should not be isolated from His Church. The kingdom of God is not His creation because this creation will vanish like smoke (Isaiah 51:6 & 34:4). The Church (body of people) is the kingdom itself, Jesus preached about this kingdom (Matthew 9:35). Jesus is the head of the Church or king of the kingdom. Unknown to many, the said kingdom of Heaven is the Catholic Church which was established on Earth by Jesus (Matthew 16:18) and this will continue forever or in the afterlife, kindly read the verses below;
1. [Daniel 2:44] “At the time of those kings, the God of heaven will establish a kingdom that will never be destroyed. No other people will be permitted to rule it. It will smash all the other kingdoms and put an end to them. And it will be established forever”
2. [1 Chronicles 22:10] ‘He shall build a house for My name, and he shall be My son and I will be his father; and I will establish the throne of his kingdom over Israel forever.’
3. [Matthew 16:18] “I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it.
4. [Matthew 9:35] Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness.
5. [Revelation 5:10] You have made them into a kingdom, priests to serve our God, and they will reign upon the earth.”
D. The baptism is only your entrance to the Church, You cannot be saved by being baptized alone. But you must believe that Jesus is your savior besides obeying the law For there is no salvation if we are not justified by faith aside from obeying the law [Romans 3:28]. Without faith in the salvation provided by Christ, we will all perish [Isaiah 51:6 & Luke 13:3].
E.
You don’t need to look for a “Catholic” word in the Bible as proof of
Catholicism. All you have to do is to trace back the origin of Catholicism if
it can connect to Peter. The Catholic Church has so much evidence to show their
authenticity.
F.
To find the name of your church in the Bible is not a basis of authenticity,
The New Testament was written in the first century, and your church was
established in the 19th century (1,900 years gap). Anyone can found his own
church and copy its name from the Bible, and claim that this church is the
truth. This is also the ploy of “Iglesia ni Cristo” claiming that their church
is the truth because it is found in the Filipino Bible.
Boy Bautista @Renz You are kneeling down before those idols, you talk to them directly in prayers, I know it because I was a devoted Catholic for 30 years. Peter and Paul were killed by the Roman Catholics, please check your history. The rock is Jesus not Peter, please review your hermeneutics.
John
14:6 Jesus said, I am THE WAY, THE TRUTH, and THE LIFE, no one comes to the
Father except through me. He is the WORD. He is the DOOR, He is the KEY. There
is no “keys” that is in plural form, only one key that is JESUS
CHRIST alone. Your keys CANNOT open the DOOR in heaven. The true CHURCH is not
the religious organizations making money and grabbing political power and
invented many “keys” to heaven but the heart of individual person
that received Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior and Confirmed/Sealed by the Holy
Spirit. Iglesia ni Cristo is another cult of Filipino version. But, RC has more
chances to come to Jesus than INC and Eli Soriano’s Dating Daan, they’re deeply
inverted by twisted doctrine.
Renz @Boy Bautista
1. Again, kneeling down before something is not always an act of worship. If an adulterous husband kneels down before his wife to ask for forgiveness, it doesn’t mean he worships her. If a Christian mentions Saints in his prayer, does it mean he worship them? If a child pleads his parents to give him new shoes, does it mean he worship his parents? As I had said, God examines our faith in spirit, not in our gestures or food we eat. A Christian only pleads the Saints for intercession or to ask help, pleading is not worship. Catholic Church never teaches its believers to worship idols. If indeed you were a devout Catholic in the past, you should have known that images were just symbols, and not gods.
2. Peter and Paul were killed by Roman pagans not Catholics, you are lying if not ignorant of the history. In fact, the name Catholic was not yet used by the time of Peter and Paul, use your common sense.
3.
“Rock” has several meanings in the Bible, it can mean strength, fortress,
refuge, shield, or foundation. God is called rock because He is the fortress or
refuge of the people, kindly read;
[Psalm 18:2] “The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my Savior, my God, my rock in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the strength of my salvation, my stronghold”
Simon
is called peter or rock because he is the foundation of the Church. When we
build a house, we need to lay a rock or foundation on the ground first.
4. You don’t understand, I was pointing about the keys of the kingdom which were given by Jesus to Peter (Matthew 16:18). And these keys are not literal, they mean authorities. There is no such thing as “Jesus is the key” in the Bible, you are inventing a verse. You know what, Churches founded by mere men are given to lying because they cannot defend their doctrines. “Door” and “key” definitely are not synonymous. “Door” is the opening thru which we enter a house or kingdom, while “key” is a piece used to open or close a locker. If we say Jesus is the key, it implies that we use Jesus as our key to Heaven which is illogical! Jesus holds the key(s) and not the key Himself, verses about Jesus who holds the keys;
[Isaiah 22:22] “Then I will set the key of the house of David on his shoulder, When he opens no one will shut, When he shuts no one will open.
[Revelation 1:18] “the Living One. I was dead, and behold, now I am alive forever and ever! And I hold the keys of Death and of Hades”
5. The Catholic Church never ask a 10% from the income of the people. During Mass, it is okay for the Church if a believer give just a peso or none. How can non-Catholics accuse the Catholic Church for making them poor? Italy is predominantly Catholic but they are not poor. And what power of the Government that the Catholic Church grab? Have you heard a position of the government that is held by a Bishop? These accusations by non-Catholics are baseless. I sense that rebellious churches keep inventing stories to topple the Catholic Church. But as Jesus said, to attack this Church is like kicking against the prick (Acts 26:14). Catholics are now 1.3 Billions, the biggest of all the religions of the world. This is what Jesus had promised to Peter, that the gates of hell (other religions) cannot prevail His Church. God laid down steps in the Bible for people to know how to enter the kingdom of Heaven. But people like your group are disposed to rebel and make their own teachings. Saint Paul already predicted this rebellion or apostasy in his epistles, he says;
[2 Timothy 4:3-4] “for the time is coming when men will not endure sound teaching. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths”
6.
God says His Covenant brought by Jesus is everlasting, so there will be no more
Church to be founded. He says that the kingdom founded by Jesus on Earth is for
eternity, so the Catholic Church or kingdom of Jesus will be the kingdom in
Heaven. Let us remember that God’s mind and words do not change, kindly read;
[Numbers 23:19] “God is not like people. He tells no lies. He is not like humans. He doesn’t change his mind. When he says something, he does it. When he makes a promise, he keeps it.”
Boy Bautista @Renz , Even having an image on altar is already idolatry how much more when you kneel down before them. Not worshiping? You are lying to yourself. Roman Catholicism is paganism from the very start up to now. Roman Catholicism killed millions of Christians and Jews, there is no way that religious group is of God. Look at the lives of the majority of RC members, they are living in sinful lives, true Christians must be living in holy lives – you are not.
Jesus
is the everything. He is the creator of heaven and earth (John 1:1-3). Jesus is
not something literal or physical, He is the Almighty God, the perfect face of
the Father. Jesus is the kingdom, the door, the way, the key, the secret code,
the truth, the eternal life, he is sovereign God. Narrow is the way to heaven
and only few coming to, but wide is the way to hell and many are going to: 1.3
billion from RC and more billions from other groups. You can think it further
and deeper, you can come to Jesus personally, talk to Him seriously and ask Him
what is really the truth. I will never ask to join my group, but, I will ask
you to come to Jesus Christ personally, He is the Savior not my group.
Renz @Boy Bautista
You are so ignorant of the history, the Romans who killed Jews and Christians were not Catholics.
If Jesus says He is the “door”, it means He is our way/path to the Father. If the Bible says “God is everything”, it means He can do everything, it does not mean that His being is everything. For God is definitely not an object, planet, building, airplane, space, animal, etc.. My goodness! God is not a kingdom Himself, where did you get this learning? Your church teach you falsehood. God is called a king because He has a kingdom. A kingdom is composed of a king, area, and subjects. In the Old Testament, God keeps telling that He will establish a kingdom on Earth for eternity. He will install His Son as king. This kingdom is composed of King Jesus, the 12 apostles as judges, priests, and people. Whoever enters this kingdom thru other gate is a thief (John 10:1-2). When I said that the Catholics are 1.3 Billions, I did not mean all of them can make it to Heaven. As I had said, baptism alone cannot save us. We need to believe that Jesus is our Lord and Savior plus obeying the law. Brother, you are the one who needs enlightenment by Jesus. Ask him personally what’s the real truth about Him. Certainly He will answer you, “I am not a kingdom, a key, or code, and leave your church for they are teaching you falsehood”.
Boy Bautista @Renz , Jesus is the key in the house of David, he is also the only door, he is also the way upon entering the door into the kingdom, he is also the kingdom that has no bounds. You should know who Jesus is, he is the Almighty God. The church is the person having the Holy Spirit NOT the church per your understanding that are making money and grabbing political power like the Rome, etc. Italy is now predominantly atheist and their economy is collapsing following Greece.
Renz @Boy Bautista
1.
Man, don’t make any perception that is not mentioned in the Bible, it would
only make your mind more confused. And also God cannot be an instrument
Himself, it’s inconsistent. Furthermore, when you make a claim from the Bible,
put forward a verse to back up your claims. For nowhere in the Bible that says
Jesus is the key in the house of David. “Holding the key” and “the Key Himself”
are not synonymous. The Bible teaches that Jesus holds the key of the house of
David, here read;
[Isaiah 22:22] “I will place on his shoulder the key of the house of David. What he opens, no one can shut; what he shuts, no one can open”
[Revelation 3:7] “To the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: These are the words of the One who is holy and true, who holds the key of David. What He opens, no one will shut; and what He shuts, no one will open”
Boy Bautista @Renz , you already said that is not material but spiritual, you are confused. You need to come to Jesus, don’t stay with Mary or else you shall never arrive with Jesus.
you
already said that it is spiritual not physical, why are you confused? You
cannot limit what God can do. Italians still claiming Catholics but don’t go to
church anymore.
the Isaiah 22:22 is prophetically referring to Jesus, but, RC is claiming to have the authority in lieu of Jesus thus RC is basically an Anti-Christ. Anti-Christ is not against Christ but claiming to be the salvation, has the keys of salvation. Christ is the key, and the salvation. The key is the way to open the door of salvation. Only Jesus can do that. Only Jesus is the Alpha and Omega, from the beginning to end He is God
there is no other
means to salvation. His name is Salvation, Savior, Yeshua, Jesus, Christ,
Messiah, etc. There is no Mary in the path to heaven.
Renz @Boy Bautista
1. Don’t go around your mistake, admit it _that Jesus is not the kingdom or the key Himself so that you will learn. Either God meant literal or spiritual, it is illogical to say that Jesus is the kingdom or key Himself. You cannot learn if you don’t know how to accept mistakes. And also you mentioned that the church is the person having the holy Spirit. We can have many churches by your definition because there are many persons who have the holy Spirit. Jesus established only one church. The word “church” is a translation of the Greek word ekklesia, which is defined as “an assembly” or “called-out ones.” The root meaning of church is not that of a building, but body of people.
2. Yes, [Isaiah 22:22] is referring to Jesus, but Jesus pass this key or authority to Peter (the head of Catholicism);
[Matthew 16:19] I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”
See? The Catholic Church has the authority. It is sad to say that your church has no authority from Jesus. No permit, and yet you claim that your church is the truth. You better ponder about this fact. Or else Jesus will call you a thief for you try to enter the Kingdom of Heaven other than its gate.
Boy Bautista @Renz , the many churches that are people living holy lives is called the body of Christ (you can read it in Corinthians) . I never seen a single Catholic person living holy life simply because of wrong teachings. You need to accept Jesus Christ first as Lord & Savior by faith in order to see Him. That is called born again experience (John 3:3), because no matter how I tell you, you can never see nor understand who Jesus is until Jesus himself will reveal it to you personally.
Renz @Boy Bautista Where in the Corinthians? There are 1 & 2 Corinthians, and what verse? After telling Jesus is a key or kingdom, you now have another claim. How did you know that no Catholic lives a holy life? Are you God who knows the inner part of a person? Don’t you know that “holy” means sinless or perfect? Is there any perfect man except Jesus? Are you perfect? You are a joke. After you showed to me your ignorance of the Bible and history, you have the cheekiness to declare that Jesus personally revealed to the Born Again believers the understanding, and this is called Born Again experience, Wow!
But why you are ignorant Biblically and historically? Are you sure it was Jesus who revealed to you that understanding? Because Jesus knows everything but His Born Again people are ignorant. You know what, the Bible says those people who cannot understand are evil;
[Proverbs 28:5] “Evil people do not understand judgment, but those who seek the LORD comprehend fully”
[John 8:47] “Whoever belongs to God hears the words of God. The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God.”
Furthermore, we cannot be saved by just believing the saving work of Jesus alone. It should be faith plus obedience of the law;
[Romans 3:28] “For there is no salvation if we are not justified by faith aside from obeying the law”
IF I WERE YOU, LEAVE THAT CULT SO
THAT YOU WILL BE ENLIGHTENED BY THE TRUE GOD.
Boy Bautista @Renz , Romans 3:28 King James Version (KJV) 28 Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law. hhhmm… it is without the law, you are twisting the word of God.
Renz @Boy
Bautista. Numerous translators translated that way;
New International Version For we maintain that a person is justified by faith apart from the works of the law.
English Standard Version For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law.
Berean Study Bible For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the Law.
New American Standard Bible For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the Law.
Christian Standard Bible For we conclude that a person is justified by faith apart from the works of the law.
International Standard Version For we maintain that a person is justified by faith apart from the actions prescribed by the Law.
NET Bible For we consider that a person is declared righteous by faith apart from the works of the law.
New Heart English Bible For we maintain that one is justified by faith apart from the works of the law.
New American Standard 1977 For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the Law.
American Standard Version We reckon therefore that a man is justified by faith apart from the works of the law.
English Revised Version We reckon therefore that a man is justified by faith apart from the works of the law.
Weymouth New Testament For we maintain that it is as the result of faith that a man is held to be righteous, apart from actions done in obedience to Law.
World English Bible We maintain therefore that a man is justified by faith apart from the works of the law.
Young’s Literal Translation therefore do we reckon a man to be declared righteous by faith, apart from works of law.
LET US BE HONEST, IN YOUR OPINION, CAN YOU BELIEVE IN GOD WITHOUT DOING HIS LAW? WHY DON’T YOU KILL OR RAPE, ISN’T IT BECAUSE YOU ARE DOING HIS COMMANDMENT?
The book of
Romans (KJV) concluded that the law should not be made void;
[Romans 3:31] Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law.
THE BOOK OF
JAMES CONFIRMS THAT FAITH WITHOUT DEEDS IS WORTHLESS;
James 2:18 But someone will say, “You have faith and I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds.
James 2:20 O foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is worthless?
James 2:24 As you can see, a man is justified by his deeds and not by faith alone.
SEE? THE ABOVE VERSES WERE MAIN REASONS WHY MARTIN LUTHER WANTED TO EXCLUDE THE BOOK OF JAMES FROM HIS OWN BIBLE VERSION.
Boy Bautista @Renz , 1 Corinthians 12:12 King James Version (KJV) 12 For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.
Renz @Boy Bautista So what about this verse? It confirms my previous statements that the Church is a body of people.
Boy Bautista @Renz , I was a Catholic and still surrounded by Catholics, I never seen even one not living in sins. By their fowl words, vices, and image worship. While the real born-again Christians are full of praise and thanksgiving to God and good words and good works. Yet, our holiness and righteousness were not earned but imputed to us by Jesus Christ.
Renz @Boy Bautista So you are living
in a sinless life now, how sure are you? You know what, whatever your Church
does, it does not matter to God, it is useless because you rebelled from His
Church, You are not belong to God anymore. You made your own gate to Heaven
rather than the gate made by Christ on Peter. Saint Paul predicted already the
people like you;
[2 Timothy 4:3] For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires,
Here in my place, the priests keep holding masses every day from dawn to evening, the Catholics around me are worshiping God warmly. They don’t keep attacking other religions. They are brave, they spread the Gospel even the most dangerous Muslim area. But you (born again), do not, you take your converts from Catholics, investing their children, poisoning their minds that Catholic are worshiping images. You don’t go to dangerous area because you are afraid (weak faith). You just wait when an area become Catholic, And then you enter there, poisoning the products of Catholics.
Boy Bautista @Renz , “the gate made by Christ on Peter”, you created your own gate with your out of context interpretation. Jesus said, “thou art Peter and upon this rock I will build my church”. He’s referring to himself the rock of all ages, existed from everlasting to everlasting. Jesus did not said, “I will build my church upon Peter”.
Renz @Boy Bautista It shows that you are not aware of the origin of the name, “Peter”. It originated from the Greek word, “petros” which means rock. Peter’s previous name was Simon, Jesus called him as rock or Petros because He made him the foundation of His Church. In other word, Jesus said to Simon, “you are rock and on this rock I will build my Church”
Boy Bautista @Renz, a body of people without the Holy Spirit living in them cannot become a church that is holy dwelling place of God. They are basically categorized as cult, RC is a cult.
Renz @ Boy Bautista, Wrong, the Church was already built by Jesus on Simon Peter, how can you say the Church of God cannot become a church? The Church (body of people) is not the dwelling place of God, but His kingdom founded on Earth for eternity. What is more cult, the group that can connect its origin to Peter, or the group that can connect only its origin to Martin Luther?
Boy Bautista @Renz, Romans 10:17 King James Version (KJV) 17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
Renz @Boy Bautista your KJV teaches you already that the law should not be made void through faith (Romans 3:31), and faith is worthless without deeds (James 2:20). So you better don’t propose a verse anymore to prove your doctrine. I sense that you have no interest in seeking the truth.
Boy Bautista @Renz , Origin to Peter church is so shameful because he denied Jesus 3 times. The Living Church is everyone born with new life on JESUS. The RC cannot understand this even the pope.
Renz @Boy Bautista If Peter’s church is so shameful, then why your church copied the Bible? Why your church use the book of Peter in your Bible? Since your church followed the Scriptures of a so shameful church, therefore, your church is also so shameful, right? You don’t know what you are talking about. If RC (which is the originator of the Bible) does not understand God’s teachings, how much more your own church, which was founded very recently? Your “faith alone” doctrine even contradicts the teachings of the Bible. And yet you have the audacity to claim that you know the Bible better than the Catholic Church.
Boy Bautista @Renz , The Truth is Jesus. The law is there for you to know that you are a SINNER. No sinner can save himself by doing good works. If ever can, Jesus should have not come and paid all sins by His blood.
Renz @Boy Bautista The law was made only to let us know
that we are sinners, so after Jesus saved us, don’t we need to follow the law
and continue sinning? This is ridiculous. Why is it that Jesus told the
prostitute woman to sin no more if the law is no longer necessary? No matter
how hard you do good works, but you have no faith the saving work of Jesus, you
cannot be saved also _this is what Saint
Paul meant in his teaching. The Bible teaches us that faith and doing the law
should go together in order to save our lives.
Boy Bautista @Renz , Jesus did not say, “On you Peter”. Perhaps the reason is you don’t who Jesus is, The Rock, The Foundation, The Kingdom, The Word, The Almighty God, The Way, The Truth, The Life. etc, etc..
Renz @Boy Bautista If truly you know Jesus and His firm
believer, don’t play game, let us be honest. Jesus founded His Church on rock
(peter). Jesus changed Simon’s name into Peter because He chose him as the
foundation of His Church. This is one of the sicknesses of rebellious
Christians who could not topple the Catholic Church’s doctrine, they will
resort to word-for-word basis. We are no longer a child that cannot understand
a simple sentence. Love the truth because Jesus is the truth.
Boy Bautista @Renz , The Truth is Jesus. The law is there for you to know that you are a SINNER. No sinner can save himself by doing good works. If ever can, Jesus should have not come and paid all sins by His blood.
Renz @Boy Bautista It is not knowing
that you are a sinner, but the law is there for us to stop sinning. No sinner
can save himself by doing good works if you don’t have faith the saving work of
Jesus. You must believe the saving work of Jesus first. Because there are
people who do good works but don’t believe the salvation provided by Jesus, for
instance the Muslims, they believe that by doing good works alone, they can go
to paradise.
Boy Bautista @Renz , All of the books in the Bible were written by Hebrews, no single Catholic contributed. Salvation can be received from Jesus Christ alone. Good works that shall follow are fruits of salvation, but, if you continue the sinful lifestyle, that means you have not Jesus Christ nor believe nor have faith in Him. Works to earn salvation are direct rejection of Jesus Christ’s offer of free salvation. You obviously don’t understand “salvation by grace”, because you want to earn it.
Renz @Boy Bautista where did the protestants get the Bible in 1517? don’t tell me the Bible suddenly went into their hands? the Catholics were the ones who kept the Scriptures. and they were the ones who selected the inspired books then compiled them as bible. You should read the history so that you wouldn’t end up lying.
If salvation comes first (through faith) therefore good works comes as a result, then why there are protestants who still sinning? I don’t think they don’t believe the saving work of Jesus. There is a Born Again Church closed to our house built 8 years ago, And I had noticed that their number grew from one to more than a hundred. But I had also noticed two years after their number declined, their number today is less than 20 mostly children. I asked why their number declined, one of the ex-member said, (who is my cousin) that their number started declining when the members found out that their pastor had affairs with 3 lady members. I don’t think that this pastor doesn’t believe the saving work of Jesus. So your doctrine is inconsistent. The teaching of Saint Paul is very clear, that we can be saved through faith aside from obeying the law.
I DID STUDY. AND THIS IS WHAT I HAVE LEARNT; GOD FOUNDED A KINGDOM ON EARTH FOR ETERNITY,
[Psalm 78:69] (Aramaic Bible in Plain English) “He built His holy place upon the height and He prepared it in the earth for eternity.
[Daniel 2:44] “At the time of those kings, the God of heaven will establish a kingdom that will never be destroyed. No other people will be permitted to rule it. It will smash all the other kingdoms and put an end to them. And it will be established forever”
GOD SAYS HE WILL SET JESUS OVER HIS HOUSE (THE CHURCH AND KINGDOM FOREVER);
[1 Chronicles 17:14] I will set him over my house and my kingdom forever; his throne will be established forever.
GOD SAYS THIS KINGDOM WILL NOT BE DESTROYED AND WILL ENDURE FOREVER, THEREFORE NO MORE KINGDOM AFTER THIS;
[2 Samuel 7:16] “Your house and your kingdom shall endure before Me forever; your throne shall be established forever.”
[Daniel 7:14] “And to Him was given dominion, Glory and a kingdom, that all the peoples, nations and men of every language might serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion which will not pass away; And His kingdom is one which will not be destroyed”.
[Jeremiah 50:5] “They will ask for the way to Zion, turning their faces in its direction; they will come that they may join themselves to the LORD in an everlasting covenant that will not be forgotten.
JESUS ASSURED THAT THE CHURCH HE FOUNDED ON PETER WOULD NOT BE OVERCOME BY THE GATES OF HELL (OTHER RELIGIONS). SO IT IS NOT TRUE THAT THE CATHOLIC CHURCH WAS CORRUPTED:
[Matthew 16:18] You are Peter, and I can guarantee that on this rock I will build my church. And the gates of hell will not overpower it.
JESUS PREACHED THIS CHURCH OR KINGDOM TO THE PEOPLE;
[Matthew 9:35] Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness.
If you are a member of a Church which does not believe or teach about Holy Ones (Saints) and holy things, it’s best for you to leave your present religion right away because the Bible is teaching about Saints and holy things. God is commanding us to be holy or become Saints if we want to enter into His kingdom.
[Numbers 10:21] Then the Kohathites set out, carrying the holy things. The tabernacle was to be set up before they arrived.
[Deuteronomy 33:2] He said: “The LORD came from Sinai and dawned upon us from Seir; He shone forth from Mount Paran and came with myriads of holy ones, with flaming fire at His right hand.
[1 Chronicles 29:3] Moreover, in addition to all that I have provided for the holy house, I have a treasure of my own of gold and silver, and because of my devotion to the house of my God I give it to the house of my God:
[2 Chronicles 6:41] Now therefore arise, O LORD God, into thy resting place, thou, and the ark of thy strength: let thy priests, O LORD God, be clothed with salvation, and let thy saints rejoice in goodness.
[Isaiah 35:8] And a highway will be there; it will be called the Way of Holiness; it will be for those who walk on that Way. The unclean will not journey on it; wicked fools will not go about on it.
[Psalm 37:37] Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright: for the end of that man is peace.
[Psalm 48:1] Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised, in the city of our God, His holy mountain.
[Psalm 50:3-5] He will break the long silence which Heaven has observed. “Our God shall come, and shall not keep silence…He shall call to the heavens above, and to the earth, that He may judge His people. Gather my saints together unto me; those that have a covenant with me by sacrifice.”
[Isaiah 63:15] Look down from heaven, and behold from the habitation of thy holiness and of thy glory: where is thy zeal and thy strength, the sounding of thy bowels and of thy mercies toward me? are they restrained?
[Psalm 149:5] Let the saints be joyful in glory: let them sing aloud upon their beds
[Zechariah 14:5] You will flee by My mountain valley, for it will extend to Azal. You will flee as you fled from the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah. Then the LORD my God will come, and all the holy ones with Him.
[Zechariah 14:21] Indeed, every pot in Jerusalem and Judah will be holy to the LORD of Hosts, and all who sacrifice will come and take some pots and cook in them. And on that day there will no longer be a Canaanite.
[Daniel 7:18] ‘But the saints of the Highest One will receive the kingdom and possess the kingdom forever, for all ages to come.’
[Daniel 7:21] As I watched, this horn was waging war against the saints and prevailing against them, until the Ancient of Days arrived and pronounced judgment in favor of the saints of the Most High, and the time came for them to possess the kingdom.
[Daniel 7:22] until the Ancient of Days arrived and pronounced judgment in favor of the saints of the Most High, and the time came for them to possess the kingdom.
[Daniel 7:25] And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.
[Daniel 7:27] And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey Him.
[Matthew 27:53] and coming out of the tombs after his resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many.
[Romans 1:7] To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ
[Romans 15:25] Now, however, I am on my way to Jerusalem to serve the saints there.
[1 Corinthians 6:2] Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if you are to judge the world, are you not competent to judge trivial cases?
[1 Thessalonians 3:13] so that He may establish your hearts in blamelessness and holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all His saints. Amen.
[Philemon 1:5] hearing of your love and the faith that you have toward the Lord Jesus and toward all the saints,
[Philemon 1:7] I take great joy and encouragement in your love, because you,brother, have refreshed the hearts of the saints.
[Jude 1:14] Enoch, who lived in the seventh generation after Adam, prophesied about these people. He said, “Listen! The Lord is coming with countless thousands of his holy ones
[Ephesians 1:4] For He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless in His presence. In love
[Ephesians 4:24] And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness
[Revelation 5:11] Then I looked, and I heard the voices of many angels and living creatures and elders encircling the throne, and their number was myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands.
[Revelation 14:12] Here is a call for the endurance of the saints who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.
[Revelation 17:6] I could see that the woman was drunk with the blood of the saints and of the witnesses for Jesus. And I was utterly amazed at the sight of her.
The books in Tanakh (Hebrew Bible) was written from thousands to hundreds of years before the Birth of Jesus. But amazingly, the thing about the son was already told in Tanakh who is also the mighty God and the everlasting Father. The Muslims cannot accept that God has a Son and accuse the Bible to be corrupted. Some Christian sects reduce Jesus into a mere man and reject some books of the Bible. Jesus said He exists even before the foundation of the world (John 17:5 & 24) and He come down from Heaven (John 16:28), so how come He is only a man? The existence of the Son in Tanakh proves that Christians (Catholics) have root in worshiping Jesus as God. Below are Biblical verses mentioning about the Son of God or the Son of Man.
Quoted from Tanakh/Old Testament
1. [Proverbs 30:4] Who has gone up to heaven and come down? Whose hands have gathered up the wind? Who has wrapped up the waters in a cloak? Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is his name, and what is the name of His Son? Surely you know!
2. [Psalm 2:11-12] Worship the LORD with reverence and rejoice with trembling. Do homage to the Son, that He not become angry and you perish in the way, For His wrath may soon be kindled. How blessed are all who take refuge in Him!
COMMENT: This verse says that the Son can be angry and has the power to perish us, but those who will take refuge of Him will be blessed. Jesus Christ is our blessed hope, our great God and Savior [Titus 2:13].
3. [Psalm 2:7] The king proclaims the LORD’s decree: “The LORD said to me, ‘You are My Son. Today I have become your Father.
4. [Psalm 80:15] Even the shoot which Your right hand has planted, And on the Son whom You have strengthened for Yourself.
5.[Psalm 89:27] And I will appoint him to be my firstborn, the most exalted of the kings of the earth
6. [2 Samuel 7:12-14] And when your days are fulfilled and you rest with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, who will come from your own body, and I will establish his kingdom. He will build a house for My Name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. I will be his Father, and he will be My son.
COMMENT: In this verse God tells king David that after he died He will establish a forever kingdom on his descendant. He will be the father to this offspring, and he will be the son to Him. Jesus is a descendant of David and claimed that God is His Father (John 6:40) to confirm the prophesy. God alos acknowledged and declared Jesus as His Son (Mark 9:7 & Matthew 17:5).
7. [1 Kings 15:4] Nevertheless, for David’s sake the LORD his God gave him a lamp in Jerusalem by raising up a Son to succeed him and by making Jerusalem strong.
8. [1 Chronicles 17:13-14] I will be his father, and he will be My son. I will never take my love away from him, as I took it away from your predecessor. I will set him over my house and my kingdom forever; his throne will be established forever.”
9. [Isaiah 7:14] Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin will be with child and will give birth to a Son, and she will callHim ‘Immanuel’ (God with us).
10. [Isaiah 9:6] For unto us a child is born, unto us a Son is given, and the government will be upon His shoulders. And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
COMMENT:This verse tells us that the son to be born is GOD almighty, the everlasting FATHER, and wonderful COUNSELOR (Spirit of Truth, John 15:26)
11. [Daniel 3:25] He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.
12. [Daniel 7:13] “In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a Son of Man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence.
13. [Hosea 11:1] When Israel was a child, I loved him, and I called My Son out of Egypt.
Quoted from New Testament
1. [Matthew 3:17] And a voice from heaven said, “This is My Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased
2. [Matthew 8:20] Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay His head.”
3. [Matthew 14:32-33] And when they had climbed back into the boat, the wind died down. Then those who were in the boat worshiped Him, saying, “Truly You are the Son of God!”
4. [Matthew 16-17] Jesus said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven.
5. [Matthew 17:5] While he was still speaking, a bright cloud covered them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is My Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!
6. [Luke 9:26] If anyone is ashamed of me and my message, the Son of Man will be ashamed of that person when he returns in his glory and in the glory of the Father and the holy angels.
7. [Luke 22:70] So they all said, “Are you the Son of God, then?” Jesus answered them, “You say that I am.”
8. [Luke 17:22-24] And He said to the disciples, “The days will come when you will long to see one of the days of the Son of Man, and you will not see it. “They will say to you, ‘Look there! Look here!’ Do not go away, and do not run after them. “For just like the lightning, when it flashes out of one part of the sky, shines to the other part of the sky, so will the Son of Man be in His day
9. [Luke 21:27-28] At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. When these things begin to happen, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”
10. [Luke 22:70] So they all said, “Are you the Son of God, then?” Jesus answered them, “You say that I am.”
11. [Mark 1:10-11] Just as Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: “You are My Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.
12. [Mark 2:27-28] Then he said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath”.
13. [Mark 9:7] Then a cloud appeared and covered them, and a voice came from the cloud: “This is My Son, whom I love. Listen to him!”
14. [Mark 14:21 & Matthew 26:24] For the Son of Man must die, as the Scriptures declared long ago. But how terrible it will be for the one who betrays him. It would be far better for that man if he had never been born!”
15. [John 1:33-34] John (the Baptist) testified saying, “I have seen the Spirit descending as a dove out of heaven, and He remained upon Him. “I did not recognize Him, but He who sent me to baptize in water said to me, ‘He upon whom you see the Spirit descending and remaining upon Him, this is the One who baptizes in the Holy Spirit’. “I myself have seen, and have testified that this is the Son of God.“
16. [John 3:13] No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven—the Son of Man.
17. [John 3:14] Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up,
18. [John 3:17-18] For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.
19. [John 3:36] Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them.
20. [John 5:25] Truly, truly, I tell you, the hour is coming and has now come when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live.
21. [John 5:27] And He has given Him authority to execute judgment, because He is the Son of Man.
22. [John 6:40] For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.
23. [John 8:28] So Jesus said, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He, and that I do nothing on My own, but speak exactly what the Father has taught Me.
24. [John 10:36] what about the one whom the Father set apart as his very own and sent to the world? why then you curse me of blasphemy because I said, “I am God’s Son? Do not believe me unless I do what my Father does. But if I do it, even though you do not believe me, believe the miracles that you may know and understand that the Father is in me, and I in the father.
25. [John 12: 34] The crowd replied, “We have heard from the Law that the Christ will remain forever. So how can you say that the Son of Man must be lifted up? Who is this Son of Man?”
26. [1 John 5:20] We know also that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true. And we are in him who is true by being in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.
27. [Hebrews 1:5] For to which of the angels did God ever say, “You are My Son; today I have become your Father”? Or again, “I will be his Father, and he will be my Son”?
“But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars—they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.”
[Revelation 21:8]
Quoted from Old Testament
1. [Job 19:25-17] I know that my redeemer lives, and that in the last hour he will stand on the earth. And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God; I myself will see him with my own eyes.
2. [1 Samuel 2:10] Those who oppose the LORD will be shattered. He will thunder from heaven against them. The LORD will judge the ends of the earth and will give power to His king. He will exalt the horn of His anointed.”
3. [Psalm 9:7-8] But the LORD abides forever; He has established His throne for judgment, And He will judge the world in righteousness; He will execute judgment for the peoples with equity.
4. [Psalm 50:3-5] He will break the long silence which Heaven has observed. “Our God shall come, and shall not keep silence…He shall call to the heavens above, and to the earth, that He may judge His people. Gather my saints together unto me; those that have a covenant with me by sacrifice.”
5. [Psalm 96:12-13] He shall have the homage of inanimate creation. “Then shall all the trees of the wood rejoice before the Lord: for He cometh, for He cometh to judge the earth: He shall judge the world with righteousness, and the people with His truth,”
6. [Psalm 140:10] May burning coals fall on them; may they be thrown into the fire, into the miry pits, never to rise again.
7. [Isaiah 24:19-20] The earth will crack and shatter and split open. The earth itself will stagger like a drunk, sway like a hut in a storm. The world is weighed down by its sins; it will collapse and never rise again.
8. [Isaiah 24:23] then the moon will be abashed and the sun ashamed, For the LORD of hosts will reign on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem, And His glory will be before His elders.
9. [Isaiah 26:19] Your dead will live; Their corpses will rise You who lie in the dust, awake and shout for joy, For your dew is as the dew of the dawn, And the earth will give birth to the departed spirits.
10. [Isaiah 26:21] For behold, the LORD is coming out of His dwelling to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity. The earth will reveal her bloodshed and no longer conceal her slain.
11. [Isaiah 27:2] In that day, the Lord will punish with his sword– his fierce, great and powerful sword– Leviathan the gliding serpent, Leviathan the coiling serpent; he will slay the monster of the sea.
12. [Jeremiah 25:31] His cry of judgment will reach the ends of the earth, for the LORD will bring his case against all the nations. He will judge all the people of the earth, slaughtering the wicked with the sword. I, the LORD, have spoken!'”
13. [Daniel 7:10] A river of fire was flowing, coming out from His presence. Thousands upon thousands attended Him, and myriads upon myriads stood before Him. The court was convened, and the books were opened.
14. [Daniel 7:22] until the Ancient of Days arrived and pronounced judgment in favor of the saints of the Most High, and the time came for them to possess the kingdom.
15. [Daniel 12:2] And many who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake, some to everlasting life, but others to shame and everlasting contempt. Then the wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness will shine like the stars forever and ever.
16. [Malachi 4:1] “Surely the day is coming; it will burn like a furnace. All the arrogant and every evildoer will be stubble, and that day that is coming will set them on fire,” says the LORD Almighty. “Not a root or a branch will be left to them.”
17. [Jude 1:14-15] Enoch, who lived in the seventh generation after Adam, prophesied about these people. He said, “Listen! The Lord is coming with countless thousands of his holy ones to execute judgment on the people of the world. He will convict every person of all the ungodly things they have done and for all the insults that ungodly sinners have spoken against him
Quoted from New Testament
1. [Matthew 3:12] Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.
[Matthew 13:40-43] “The Son of man will send his angels, and they will gather out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all evildoers, and throw them into the furnace of fire; there men will weep and gnash their teeth”As the weeds are collected and burned in the fire, so will it be at the end of the age. The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will weed out of His kingdom every cause of sin and all who practice lawlessness. And they will throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father
2. [Matthew 16:27] For the Son of Man will come in His Father’s glory with His angels, and then He will repay each one according to what he has done.
3. [Matthew 19:28] Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, in the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on His glorious throne, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
4. [Matthew 24:43] But understand this: If the owner of the house had known in which watch of the night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into.
5. [John 5:25-30] Very truly I tell you, a time is coming and has now come when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and those who hear will live. For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself. And he has given him authority to judge because he is the Son of Man. “Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming when all who are in their graveswill hear his voice and come out—those who have done what is good will rise to live, and those who have done what is evil will rise to be condemned.
6. [John 6:40] For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.
7. [John 12:48] There is a judge for the one who rejects Me and does not receive My words: The word that I have spoken will judge him on the last day.
8. [John 14:2-3] My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to myself, that where I am, there you may be also.
9. [Mark 13:24-26] However, after the tribulation of those days, ‘The sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in the clouds with great power and glory. And He will send out the angels to gather His elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven.
10. [Luke 12:39]But understand this: If the homeowner had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into.
11. [Luke 20:34-36] “Jesus replied, ‘The people of this age marry and are given in marriage. But those who are considered worthy of taking part in that age and in the resurrection from the dead will neither marry nor be given in marriage, and they can no longer die; for they are like the angels. They are God’s children, since they are children of the resurrection.’”
12. [1 Corinthians 6:2-3] Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if you are to judge the world, are you not competent to judge trivial cases? Do you not know that we will judge angels? How much more the things of this life!
13. [1 Thessalonians 4:16] For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a loud command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will be the first to rise.
14. [2 Peter 2:1-3] But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will also be false teachers among you, who will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing swift destruction upon themselves. Many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of the truth will be maligned; and in their greed they will exploit you with false words; their judgment from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep.
15. [Hebrews 9:28] so also Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many; and He will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who eagerly await Him.
16. [Philippians 3:20-21] But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for him to return as our Savior. He will take our weak mortal bodies and change them into glorious bodies like his own, using the same power with which he will bring everything under his control.
17. [Revelation 1:8] “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.
18. [Revelation 6:10] And they cried out in a loud voice, “How long, O Lord, holy and true, until You judge those who live on the earth and avenge our blood?”
19. [Revelation 9:6] In those days people will seek death but will not find it. They will long to die, but death will flee from them!
20. [Revelation 20:4] Then I saw the thrones, and those seated on them had been given authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their testimony of Jesus and for the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or its image, and had not received its mark on their foreheads or hands. And they came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.
21. [Revelation 20:15], “And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.
22. [Revelation 21:4] He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the former things have passed away.”
23. [Revelation 21:6-7] He said to me: “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty I will give water without cost from the spring of the water of life. Those who are victorious will inherit all this, and I will be their God and they will be my children.
24. [Revelation 21:8] But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars—they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.”
25. [Revelation 21:27] Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life.
26. [Revelation 22:13-15] I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.” Blessed are those who wash their robes. They will be permitted to enter through the gates of the city and eat the fruit from the tree of life. Outside the city are the dogs—the sorcerers, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idol worshipers, and all who love to live a lie.
And when the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for Him what was customary under the Law, Simeon took Him in his arms and blessed God, saying: “Sovereign Lord, as You have promised, You now dismiss Your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen Your Salvation (Jesus)
Luke 2:27-30
The word ‘Jesus’ is derived from the word ‘Iesous’, the Greek word for the Hebrew word ‘Yeshua’ which means “God saves” or “God’s salvation”. Below are Biblical verses proving that God really intends salvation for mankind. He sent Jesus as salvation for those who will believe in Him. So those who won’t accept this salvation won’t be be saved. Jesus said, “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life, no one can come to the Father except through me”
Quoted From Old Testament
1. [Exodus 15:2] “The LORD is my strength and song, And He has become my salvation; This is my God, and I will praise Him; My father’s God, and I will extol Him.
2. [Job 13:16] “This also will be my salvation, For a godless man may not come before His presence.
3. [1 Samuel 2:1] At that time Hannah prayed: “My heart rejoices in the LORD in whom my horn is exalted. My mouth speaks boldly against my enemies, for I rejoice in Your salvation.
4. [2 Chronicles 6:41] Now therefore arise, O LORD God, into thy resting place, thou, and the ark of thy strength: let thy priests, O LORD God, be clothed with salvation, and let thy saints rejoice in goodness.
5. [Isaiah 12:2-3] Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the LORD GOD is my strength and my song; He also has become my salvation. Therefore with joy shall you draw water out of the wells of salvation.
6. [Isaiah 25:9] And it shall be said in that day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us: this is the LORD; we have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation.
7. [Isaiah 46:13] I am bringing my righteousness near, it is not far away; and my salvation will not be delayed. I will grant salvation to Zion, my splendor to Israel
8. [Isaiah 45:17] Israel has been saved by the LORD With an everlasting salvation; You will not be put to shame or humiliated to all eternity.
9. [Isaiah 49:8] Thus says the LORD, “In a favorable time I have answered You, And in a day of salvation I have helped You; And I will keep You and give You for a covenant of the people, To restore the land, to make them inherit the desolate heritages;
10. [Isaiah 51:5-6] My mercy and justice are coming soon. My salvation is on the way. My strong arm will bring justice to the nations. All distant lands will look to me and wait in hope for my powerful arm. “Lift up your eyes to the sky, Then look to the earth beneath; For the sky will vanish like smoke, And the earth will wear out like a garment And its inhabitants will die in like manner; But My salvation will be forever, And My righteousness will not wane.
11. [Isaiah 56:1] Thus says the LORD, “Preserve justice and do righteousness, For My salvation is about to come And My righteousness to be revealed.
12. [Isaiah 59:16] And He saw that there was no man, And was astonished that there was no one to intercede; Then His own arm brought salvation to Him, And His righteousness upheld Him.
13. [Isaiah 63:5] “I looked, and there was no one to help, And I was astonished and there was no one to uphold; So My own arm brought salvation to Me, And My wrath upheld Me.
14. [Psalm 9:14] that I may declare all Your praises–that within the gates of Daughter Zion I may rejoice in Your salvation.
15. [Psalm 13:5] But I have trusted in Your loving devotion; my heart will rejoice in Your salvation.
16. [Psalm 28:8] The LORD is the strength of his people, a fortress of salvation for his anointed one (Messiah).
17. [Psalm 35:9] Then my soul will rejoice in the LORD and exult in His salvation
18. [Psalm 51:12] Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and make me willing to obey you.
19. [Psalm 62:1] Truly my soul finds rest in God; my salvation comes from him.
20. [Psalm 67:1-2] God be merciful to us and bless us, and cause His face to shine upon us, that Your way may be known on earth, Your salvation (Yeshua) among all nations”
21. [Psalm 68:18-19] You have ascended on high, you have led captivity captive: you have received gifts for men; yea, for the rebellious also, that the LORD God might dwell among them. Blessed be the Lord, who daily loads us with benefits, even the God of our salvation.
22. [Psalm 85:9] Surely His salvation is near to those who fear Him, That glory may dwell in our land.
23. [Psalm 111:9] He has sent redemption to His people; He has ordained His covenant forever; holy and awesome is His name.
24. [Psalm 118:14] The LORD is my strength and song, And He has become my salvation.
25. [Psalms 149: 4] For the LORD takes pleasure in his people; he adorns the humble with salvation.
26. [Jeremiah 3:23] Truly in vain is salvation hoped for from the hills, and from the multitude of mountains: truly in the LORD our God is the salvation of Israel
27. [Habakkuk 3:13] You went forth for the salvation of Your people, For the salvation of Your anointed. You struck the head of the house of the evil To lay him open from thigh to neck.
Quoted From New Testament
1. [John 4:21-22] Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe Me, an hour is coming when neither in this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father. “You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews
2. [Mark 16:16] Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.
3. [Luke 1:69] He has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of His servant David,
4. [Luke 2:25-32] Now there was a man in Jerusalem named Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. The Holy Spirit had revealed to him that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. Led by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. And when the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for Him what was customary under the Law, Simeon took Him in his arms and blessed God, saying: “Sovereign Lord, as You have promised, You now dismiss Your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen Your salvation, which You have prepared in the sight of all people, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to Your people Israel.”
5. [Luke 19:10] For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.
6. [Luke 18:26-27] Those who heard this asked, “Who then can be saved?” Jesus replied, “What is impossible with man is possible with God.”
7. [Luke 21:28] And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draws near.
8. [Acts 2:21] And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.
9. [Acts 4:12] Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.
10. [Acts 13:47] For this is what the Lord has commanded us: “I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.”
11. [Acts 16:31] They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.”
12. [2 Timothy 1:9] He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time.
13. [Titus 2:11-12] For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age.
14. [Hebrews 9:28] So Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.
15. [1 Peter 1:8-9] Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
16. [2 Peter 3:9] The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.
17. [1 Corinthians 6:9-10] Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.
18. [2 Corinthians 6:2] For he says, “In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.” I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.
19. [Romans 1:16] For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentiles.
20. [Romans 10:10] For with the heart man believes unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
21. [Titus 2:11] For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men.
22. [Hebrews 6:9] After he had finished his work, he became the source of eternal salvation for everyone who obeys him.
23. [Ephesians 6:16-17] In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
24. [Revelation 19:1] And after these things I heard a great voice of many people in heaven, saying, Alleluia; Salvation, and glory, and honor, and power, unto the Lord our God.
“A religion that discourages their believers to study on divine Scriptures is afraid of the truth, therefore this religion is false. Without the knowledge of Tanakh, we believers are like flotsams which float on the sea of uncertainty, not knowing where we came from and where will we land up.”
A sculpture depicting crucified Jesus
While there are billions of people who believe that Jesus is God, there are also billions of people who don’t believe the Godhood of Jesus. The main cause is they are not familiar with the Holy Bible. Some have Bibles in their homes but they don’t spend time and effort to study it like what most Catholics do, the reason they are easily convinced by Antichrist Faiths. Others have read and heard the message of the Bible but simply cannot understand it, or refuse to understand it because their hearts are hardened by false belief. They stick to their own judgment and refuse to be converted, this is to fulfill the prophecy of Isaiah which says;
He has blinded their eyes, and hardened their hearts; that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their hearts, and be converted, and I should heal them [Isaiah 6:9].
In them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled: ‘You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving. [Matthew 13:14]
It is not easy to fathom what the Bible is conveying, but as you dig deeper with an open heart, you will get amazed and start feeling the presence of divine being. For those who have not yet touched the Bible, I will give you a brief background about this greatest book so that you may become acquainted with the Godhood of Jesus Christ.
*KNOWING TANAKH*
To know Abrahamic Faith, we should first study Tanakh (Hebrew Bible). Tanakh is the earliest Scriptures portraying the existence of God written by Moses, prophets, and other divinely inspired writers. This prehistoric book had been preserved by the Jews through rewriting and oral tradition, and passed it down from generation to generation. Tanakh is composed of 39 books and categorized into three, namely; the Torah (Instruction/Five books of Moses), Nevi’im (Prophets), and Ketuvim (Writings). This holy book records the creation of the universe, animals, humans, and plants. It also records the sins of man and the great love of God. The writers are acclaimed to be inspired by holy spirit. This divine being though claims He is the God of all creations, He is mostly known as the God of Abraham. Because according to Torah, Abraham was willing to sacrifice his only child to his wife just to display his firm belief in God. Because of what he did, God was pleased and made a covenant with him in return. God promised to give him numerous descendants like the stars in number. And through Abraham, all inhabitants on Earth shall be blessed [Genesis 12:1-3].
Since Islam also claims that they believe the God of Abraham, our beloved Muslims should trace back what the earliest Scriptures are telling about Abrahamic God. Studying Tanakh (also called the Old Testament) is important for Abrahamic God believers so that they can know the root of their religion. And in such a way that this acquired Abrahamic learning will become their guide to draw a wise judgment on examining their present Faith. A religion that discourages its believers to study the Hebrew Bible (like what Islam does) is afraid of the truth, therefore this religion is false. Without the knowledge of Tanakh, we Abrahamic Faith believers are like driftwoods that float on the sea of uncertainty, not knowing where we came from and where will we land up.
Ketuvim Joshua 1 Samuel 2 Samuel 1 Kings 2 Kings Isaiah Jeremiah Ezekiel Hosea Joel Amos Obadiah Jonah Micah
Nahum Habakkuk Zephaniah Haggai Zechariah Malachi
Nevi’im Psalms Proverbs Job Song of Songs Ruth Lamentations Ecclesiastes Esther Daniel Ezra Nehemiah 1 Chronicles 2 Chronicles
The Books in Tanakh (Hebrew Bible)
*KNOWING THE HOLY BIBLE*
Tanakh is also the main source of the Old Testament in the Holy Bible which was compiled by Catholic Church. The Holy Bible includes 73 books and is categorized into two parts; the Old Testament and the New Testament. From Malachi (the last book in the Old Testament), it took about 400 years before the writing of the Gospel. The New Testament includes 27 books, the first four books are called Gospels. It records the fulfillment of the promised Messiah in the Old Testament, the life and teachings of Jesus Christ, the works and writings of the apostles, and Jesus’ second coming on Judgment Day (also called the Last Day or Resurrection Day).
Matthew Mark Luke John Acts Romans 1 Corinthians 2 Corinthians Galatians Ephesians Philippians Colossians 1 Thessalonians 2 Thessalonians
1 Timothy 2 Timothy Titus Philemon Hebrews James 1 Peter 2 Peter 1 John 2 John 3 John Jude Revelation
The Books in the New Testament
*THE INHERITED SIN AND DEATH PENALTY*
A lot of us do not believe the fact about original or inherited sin taught by Catholicism, because we thought that it is a normal process for humans to die. We thought that we are just born on this Earth to beget children, be worn out, and then rest in peace. Many of us do not know that this dying process was caused by the sin of our first parents (Adam and Eve). It is ironic that we reject the said teaching, while each day, we suffer from sickness, aging, and death. For God commanded Adam;
“You are free to eat from any tree in the garden, but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die” [Genesis 2:16-17].
But Adam and his wife disobeyed the warning of God, they succumbed to the temptation of Satan [Genesis 3:1]. They wanted to become like God as lured by the Serpent [Genesis 3:5]. And this is the beginning of sin which spread upon the world, the beginning of man’s sufferings. Man was ejected from paradise and lost his immortality [Genesis 3:23]. Man expired physically and be killed spiritually thru death penalty on Judgment day. Death entered into the world since the penalty for sin is death [Proverbs 10:16 & Romans 6:23]. And this is what we inherited as heirs of Adam and Eve, the death, for we are born sinners [Psalm 51:5 & 58:3].
*SALVATION OF THE WORLD BY GOD*
At the beginning in the Bible, God already announced the coming of a Savior. Right after the first parents fell to sin, God already had set up a plan to destroy the work of Satan, He said to the Serpent Satan;
“And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel” [Genesis 3:15].
COMMENT: This seed of a woman is fulfilled in Jesus who’s born to Mary. The reason why Jesus was sent by God is to destroy the devil’s work through His death. So that in His death, He might deliver us from the power of death inflicted by Satan. Kindly read;
[1 John 3:8] He that commits sin is of the devil; for the devil sins from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil
[Hebrews 2:14-15] Since then the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.
God just like a loving and righteous father who after disciplining and ejecting his rebellious son. He can’t help but to express his love, mercy, and righteousness to him. He wants his child to come back to him, God says;
[Isaiah 54:8] “In an outburst of anger I hid My face from you for a moment, But with everlasting loving kindness I will have compassion on you,” Says the LORD your Redeemer.
[Isaiah 44:22] “I have wiped out your transgressions like a thick cloud And your sins like a heavy mist. Return to Me, for I have redeemed you.”
God redeemed the world because of His great love and mercy [Psalm 103:2-4, Isaiah 51:5, & Ephesians 2:4], and not because of therighteousness of the people [Philippians 3:9]. For there’s no righteous man, all people are enslaved by the power of sin [Isaiah 64:7 & Romans 3:9]. If we won’t believe the original sin which is the cause of man’s separation from God, then why there is a need for the Almighty to save mankind? The Old Testament repeatedly announced that God will send His salvation to Earth. The fact is, God saved His people since they fell from His glory due to sin [Romans 3:23]. And only in the renewed communion with God, man can regain his eternal life. But what a sinner must undergo to achieve that everlasting life? he needs to be sinless or pure again [Leviticus 11:44, Deuteronomy 23:14, & Revelation 21:27]. But who can bring the pure from impure? It is God alone who can purify a sinner [Job14:4]. God is holy, thus no sinful being can enter His abode. And this is the reason why God, in the human body, entered the world and brought salvation personally to the descendants of Adam [Luke 22:20]. This salvation brought by Jesus Christ is the new and everlasting covenant which is sealed with His blood. This new covenant is the fulfillment of God’s promise announced by prophet Jeremiah which says;
“The days are coming,” declares the LORD, “when I will make a new covenant with the people of Israel and with the people of Judah. It will not be like the covenant I made with their ancestors when I took them by the hand to lead them out of Egypt, because they broke my covenant, though I was a husband to them,” declares the LORD [Jeremiah 31:31-32].
God is spirit (John 4:24) and can distribute itself (Joel 2:28). He sent forth an amount of His spirit and dwelt a human body (John 4:10), and took the name Jesus. It was man who fell to sin and died, therefore it is also man who should rise from the dead and redeem himself. This is the reason why the spirit of God (the savior) should be human. Jesus showed a lot of miracles to the people as proofs of His Godhood. He let His human body be killed on the cross and raised from the dead to show His power over death [Acts 2:24]. Before the eyes of men, He demonstrated the reality of resurrectionthat we will experience on the Last Day [John 6:40]. By presenting Himself as an atoning sacrifice, God showed His great love and righteousness so that those who have faith in Him would become righteous and justified [Isaiah 53:11 & Romans 3:25-26]. For there is no salvation or purification if we are not justified by faith aside from obeying the law [James 2:24]. Without faith in the salvation through Christ, we will allperish [Isaiah 51:6 & Luke 13:3].
*APOSTOLIC EVIDENCE OF THE EXISTENCE AND GODHOOD OF JESUS*
1. JESUS DISCIPLES HAD WITNESSED THE VOICE OF THE FATHER DECLARING THAT JESUS IS HIS SON
[2 Peter 1:16-19] For we did not follow cleverly devised fables when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of His majesty. He received honor and glory from God the Father when the voice came to him from the Majestic Glory, saying, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” We ourselves heard this voice that came from heaven when we were with him on the sacred mountain.
2. MORE THAN 500 BELIEVERS HAD WITNESSED THE DEATH AND RESURRECTION OF JESUS
[Acts 1:2-3] until the day He was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles He had chosen. After His suffering, He presented Himself to them with many convincing proofs that He was alive. He appeared to them over a span of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God..
[1 Corinthians 15:3-9] I passed on to you the most important points of doctrine that I had received: Christ died to take away our sins as the Scriptures predicted. He was placed in a tomb. He was brought back to life on the third day as the Scriptures predicted. He appeared to Cephas. Next he appeared to the twelve apostles. Then he appeared to more than 500 believers at one time. (Most of these people are still living, but some have died.) Next he appeared to James. Then he appeared to all the apostles. Last of all, he also appeared to me. I’m like an aborted fetus [who was given life]. I’m the least of the apostles. I’m not even fit to be called an apostle because I persecuted God’s church.
3. THE DISCIPLES HAD WITNESSED THE ASCENSION OF JESUS TO HEAVEN
[Luke 24:50-52] When He had led them out to the vicinity of Bethany, he lifted up His hands and blessed them, while He was blessing them, He left them and was taken up into Heaven, then they worshiped Him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy.
[Acts 1:9-11] After He had said this, they watched as He was taken up, and a cloud hid Him from their sight. They were looking intently into the sky as He was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen Him go into heaven.”.
4. SAUL (THE FORMER CHRISTIANS PERSECUTOR) HAD SEEN JESUS IN THE FORM OF LIGHT
[Acts 22:3-10] “I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but raised in this city. I was educated at the feet of Gamaliel in strict conformity to the law of our fathers. I am just as zealous for God as any of you here today. I persecuted this Way even to the death, detaining both men and women and throwing them into prison, as the high priest and the whole Council can testify about me. I even obtained letters from them to their brothers in Damascus, and I was on my way to apprehend these people and bring them to Jerusalem to be punished. About noon as I was approaching Damascus, suddenly a bright light from heaven flashed around me. I fell to the ground and heard a voice say to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me?’ ‘Who are You, Lord?’ I asked. ‘I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting,’ He replied. My companions saw the light, but they could not understand the voice of the One speaking to me. Then I asked, ‘What should I do, Lord?’‘Get up and go into Damascus,’ He told me. ‘There you will be told all that you have been appointed to do.’
*EVIDENCE OF THE EXISTENCE OF JESUS OUTSIDE THE BIBLE*
1. EXCERPT FROM THE WRITING OF TACITUS
[A.D. 54-119] Nero fastened the guilt … on a class hated for their abominations, called Christians by the populace. Christus, from whom the name had its origin, suffered the extreme penalty during the reign of Tiberius at the hands of … Pontius Pilatus, and a most mischievous superstition, thus checked for the moment, again broke out not only in Judaea, the first source of the evil, but even in Rome…
COMMENT: Though this knowledge of Tacitus about Christ is affected, nevertheless it confirms the existence of Jesus and his execution by Pontius Pilate, as well as the spread of Christian religion from Judea to Rome.
2. EXCERPT FROM THE WRITING OF PLINY THE YOUNGER
[A.D. 61-115] They were in the habit of meeting on a certain fixed day before it was light, when they sang in alternate verses a hymn to Christ, as to a god, and bound themselves by a solemn oath, not to any wicked deeds, but never to commit any fraud, theft or adultery, never to falsify their word, nor deny a trust when they should be called upon to deliver it up; after which it was their custom to separate, and then reassemble to partake of food – but food of an ordinary and innocent kind.
COMMENT: This writing of Pliny describes accurately that the early Christians performed the Holy Eucharist or Mass regularly. This writing also confirms that Christianity is not evil as mentioned by Tacitus above, on the contrary, Christians bowed not to do any type of wicked deeds. And also early Christians were not afraid to stand up for their religion.
3. EXCERPT FROM ‘ANTIQUITIES’ BY FLAVIUS JOSEPHUS
[A.D. 37-94] Now there was about this time Jesus, a wise man, if it be lawful to call him a man; for he was a doer of wonderful works, a teacher of such men as receive the truth with pleasure. He drew over to him both many of the Jews and many of the Gentiles. He was [the] Christ. And when Pilate, at the suggestion of the principal men amongst us, had condemned him to the cross, those that loved him at the first did not forsake him; for he appeared to them alive again the third day; as the divine prophets had foretold these and ten thousand other wonderful things concerning him. And the tribe of Christians, so named from him, are not extinct at this day.
COMMENT: This testimony of Flavius hints that Jesus Christ was a supernatural man. This also agrees with the Gospel that Jesus was crucified under the order of Pontius Pilate and restored to life on the third day. This writing also confirms that Jesus’ believers loved Him so much and their religion continued to exist.
4. EXCERPT FROM BABYLONIAN TALMUD
[A.D. 70-200] On the eve of the Passover Yeshu was hanged. For forty days before the execution took place, a herald … cried, “He is going forth to be stoned because he has practiced sorcery and enticed Israel to apostasy.
COMMENT: “Yeshu” is an acronym for Hebrew word “Yeshua” which means “salvation”. This was the name given to Yeshua by the people who did not believe Him. “Yeshua” was translated as “Iesous” in Greek, and “Iesous” became “Jesus” in Latin. The testimony above although affected, also agrees with the Gospel that Jesus was hanged on the cross on the eve of Passover. And also He led the Jews from Judaism (the Old Covenant) to Christianity (the New Covenant), in which the Jews regarded this act as an apostasy. In addition, this writing also bears the trace of the existence of Jesus.
I and the Father are one.” At this, the Jews again picked up stones to stone Him. But Jesus responded, “I have shown you many good works from the Father. For which of these do you stone Me?” “We are not stoning You for any good work,” said the Jews, “but for blasphemy, because You, who are a man, declare Yourself to be God.”
John 10:30-33
There are many statements in the Holy Bible about the oneness of Yahweh and Jesus as described in the Old Testament and the New Testament respectively. The following verses are about their common characteristic, power, and authority which prove that Jesus is God in the flesh. The maroon-highlighted verses are the attributes of God describe in the Old Testament, and the red-highlighted verses are the attributes of Jesus described in the New Testament;
1. YAHWEH OR JESUS TOOK THE NAME, “I AM WHO I AM/I AM HE”
[Exodus 3:13-14] “If I come to the people of Israel and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ what shall I say to them?” God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.” And he said, “Say this to the people of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you.
[Isaiah 43:10] “You are my witnesses,” declares the LORD, “and my servant whom I have chosen, so that you may know and believe me and understand that I AM HE. Before me no god was formed, nor will there be one after me.
[John 13:19] “I am telling you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe that I AM WHO I AM.
[John 8:23-24] You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world. I told you that you would die in your sins; if you do not believe that I AM HE, you will indeed die in your sins.”
2. YAHWEH OR JESUS IS THE CREATOR OF THE UNIVERSE
[Isaiah 42:5] Thus says God the LORD, Who created the heavens and stretched them out, Who spread out the earth and its offspring, Who gives breath to the people on it And spirit to those who walk in it,
[Colossians 1:16] For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities–all things have been created through Him and for Him.
3. YAHWEH OR JESUS IS THE FIRST AND THE LAST
[Isaiah 44:6] “This is what the LORD says– Israel’s King and Redeemer, the LORD Almighty: I am the first and I am the last; apart from me there is no God.
[Revelation 2:8] To the angel of the church in Smyrna write: These are the words of the First and the Last, who died and returned to life.
4. YAHWEH OR JESUS HAS AN EVERLASTING KINGDOM
[Psalm 145:13] Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures through all generations. The LORD is trustworthy in all he promises and faithful in all he does.
[2 Peter 1:11] and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
5. YAHWEH OR JESUS IS A KING
[Isaiah 43:15] “I am the LORD, your Holy One, The Creator of Israel, your King.”
[John 18:37] “You are a king, then!” said Pilate. Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. In fact, the reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.”
6. YAHWEH OR JESUS IS THE LORD OF LORDS
[Deuteronomy 10:17] “For the LORD your God is the God of gods and the Lord of lords, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God who does not show partiality nor take a bribe.
[Revelation 17:14] They will make war against the Lamb, and the Lamb will triumph over them, because He is Lord of lords and King of kings; and He will be accompanied by His called and chosen and faithful ones.”
7. YAHWEH OR JESUS HAS ANGELS
[Genesis 32:1] And Jacob went on his way, and the angels of God met him.
[Matthew 24:31] And He will send out His angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather His elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.
8. YAHWEH OR JESUS IS A HOLY ONE
[Isaiah 43:15] “I am the LORD, your Holy One, The Creator of Israel, your King.”
[Luke 1:35] “How will this be”, Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”. The angel answered, “the Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the Holy One to be born will be called the Son of God”
9. YAHWEH OR JESUS IS A SAVIOR
[Isaiah 43:11] Before me no god was formed, nor will there be one after me. I, even I, am the LORD, and apart from me there is no Savior.
[Titus 2:13] while we wait for the blessed hope–the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ.
10. YAHWEH OR JESUS FORGIVES SINS AND HEALS DISEASES
[Psalm 103:2-4] Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits— who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion.
[Mark 2:5] When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralyzed man, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”
11. ALL KNEES WILL BOW TO YAHWEH OR JESUS
[Isaiah 45:23] “I have sworn by Myself, The word has gone forth from My mouth in righteousness And will not turn back, That to Me every knee will bow, every tongue will swear allegiance.
[Philippians 2:9] that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth.
12. YAHWEH OR JESUS WILL JUDGE ON THE LAST DAY
[Jeremiah 25:31] His cry of judgment will reach the ends of the earth, for the LORD will bring his case against all the nations. He will judge all the people of the earth, slaughtering the wicked with the sword. I, the LORD, have spoken!'”
[Matthew 13:41-42] “The Son of man will send his angels, and they will gather out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all evildoers, and throw them into the furnace of fire; there men will weep and gnash their teeth”
Renz Pejana: I challenge every Muslim to defend this contradictions. Failure to explain these, means Qur’an is fake and invented by Muhammad;
CONTRADICTIONS IN QUR’AN
According to [Qur’an 11:42-43], a son of Noah is drowned in the flood, But according to [21:76] all sons of Noah are saved from the flood. Which of statements is true?
In [Qur’an 5:90], wine is prohibited on Earth because it is the handwork of Satan, But ironically in [47:15 & 83:22-25], rivers of wine is the prize for the righteous. So it means there will be numerous drunkards in Heaven?
[Qur’an 3:59] says, Jesus is created by Allah from dust, so He is an ordinary human; But in [66:12, 19:17, & 3:45] Jesus is formed by Allah through breathing his Spirit or Word into the body of virgin Mary. Analyzing these verses, Jesus is not an ordinary human because he has no human father, in fact he is the Spirit or Word of Allah; But behold in [43:61 & 4:159] Jesus becomes a Deity for He is the knowledge of Resurrection or Judgment Day. Who is Jesus really in Qur’an, an ordinary human, Son or Spirit from Allah, or God?
[Qur’an 66:12, 19:17, & 3:45] tells us that Jesus is originated from the spirit or Word of Allah; But in [5:17] says that following Christ is a blasphemy, and Allah will destroy Christ. So it means Allah will destroy his own Spirit or Word?
[Qur’an 2:62] says, those who believe in Qur’an, and follow Jewish Scriptures, and Christians will have rewards from their Lord; But in [5:17] says that following Christ is a blasphemy, and Allah will destroy Christ.
[Qur’an 5:5] it is lawful to marry a chaste woman among the people of the Book (take note that Muslims view Christians as non-believers), But in [2:221] says, do not marry unbelieving woman. Which of these regulations is true?
[Qur’an 2:256] says, “let there be no compulsion in religion”, But [2:191 & 9:5] commands Muslims to slay the disbelievers”. Which of these commandments is true?
[Qur’an 55:14] says man is created from a ringing clay; But [15:26 &28] tells, man is created from a sounding clay and black mud; But worse [20:55] says, man is made from earth or soil; But even worse [25:54] says, man is created from water; But worst [16:4 & 80:19] says, man is created from a sperm-drop; But even worst [96:2] states that man is created from a clot of blood; But even so worst [19:9, 19:67, & 52:35] state that, man is created from nothing. Which of these seven contradicting verses is true?
In [Qur’an 3:39], John is a confirmer of the word of Allah, but in [5:46 & 61:6] Jesus is the confirmer of the Word of Allah. Which of the two is the truth?
[Qur’an 4:153] Allah forgave Moses and his people for worshiping golden calf, But in [4:48 & 4:116] Allah does not forgive those who worship gods other than him. Which of the two is true?
Kit Snow :
Renz Pejana, Your understanding of context throughout these verses is lacking. You must consider verses pertaining to wartime for example, when you are permitted to slay an enemy etc. The verse of Noah, his family was saved from the flood, it does not say all of his sons were saved, the translation states family. I have reread everything you stated and I dont see a solid argument, all of the verses can be argued in favor of being not a contradiction. I have not seen one single proven error or contradiction in the Quran
Renz Pejana : Kit Snow, why don’t you go on answering each of my questions? Even if there is no war, your Koran commands you to kill the disbelievers. Here is the verse;
[9:5] “But when the forbidden months are past, then fight and slay the Pagans wherever ye find them, an seize them, beleaguer them, and lie in wait for them in every stratagem (of war); but if they repent, and establish regular prayers and practise regular charity, then open the way for them: for Allah is Oft-forgiving, Most Merciful”.
And also there is force applied on disbelievers, if they don’t accept Islam, they will be killed..
Kit Snow :
When we read from verse 1 of chapter 9, it states that there was a treaty which the Pagan Arabs broke. Thus, Allah in the Quran says, that HE gave them four months. Verse 9:4 states that Allah will punish those who broke the treaty, this verse is only aimed at those who broke the treaty, it did not affect those who abided by the treaty. When we read the passage (9:5), it is evident, it’s talking about a war with the pagan Arabs. This was a historical event that happened in the lifetime of Prophet Muhammad (p). Furthermore, verse 9:13 provides proof that it was the pagans who started this war. The verse states, “Would you not fight a people who broke their oaths and determined to expel the Messenger, and they had begun to attack you first?” This is proof that Prophet Muhammad (p) did not start this war, but it was those treacherous pagan Arabs that started to expel and fight the Messenger. Again, context means everything.
The Quran states you cannot take an innocent life unless its for murder or corruption of the land. Even in the USA up until 1990, if you are charged with murder or treason, which could be “corruption of your land” it is punishable by death. Chapter 5 verse 32: “Because of that, We decreed upon the Children of Israel that whoever kills a soul unless for a soul or for corruption [done] in the land – it is as if he had slain mankind entirely. And whoever saves one – it is as if he had saved mankind entirely. And our messengers had certainly come to them with clear proofs. Then indeed many of them, [even] after that, throughout the land, were transgressors.”
Renz Pejana :Kit Snow, there is no treaty broken by the pagans, [9:1] clearly states that Allah/Muhammad himself was the one who declared cancellation from his treaty with pagans. He revoked the covenant of every party. Allah/Muhammad gave the pagans four months to accept Islam, or else they will be killed. After these four months Allah or Muhammad has no more obligation of the treaty _ this is the whole story. Islam apologists tried so hard to cover this barbaric commandments of Muhammad/Allah. He was the one who initiated the attack or war. This is the story how or where chapter 9 of Koran originated. Kindly read;
The Book of the Major Classes, (Kitab al-Tabaqat al-Kabir) volume 2, pages 208-9, written by Ibn Sa’d Then (occurred) the Pilgrimage of Abu Bakr al-Siddiq with the people in Dhu al-Hijjah of the ninth year from the hijrah of the Apostle of Allah.
They (narrators) said: The Apostle of Allah appointed Abu Bakr al-Siddiq to be in charge of the hajj. He set out with three hundred persons from al-Madinah. The Apostle of Allah sent with him, twenty sacrificial animals, whom he had adorned with necklaces, and whose humps he had pierced with his own hands. Najiyah Ibn Jundab al-Aslami was in charge (of the sacrificial animals). Abu Bakr carried five sacrificial animals with him. When he reached al-‘Arj, Ali Ibn Abi Talib joined him and he was riding al-Qaswa the she-camel of the Apostle of Allah. Thereupon Abu Bakr said to him: Has the Apostle of Allah given you charge of the pilgrimage? He said: No, But he has sent me to read to the people “Freedom from obligation” and the dissolution agreements of all parties. Then Abu Bakr proceeded and performed Hajj with the people. Ali Ibn Abi Talib read to the people: “Freedom from obligations,” on the day of sacrifice, near al-Jamrah, and revoked the covenant of every party; and he said: After this year no polytheists will make a pilgrimage nor a naked person will circumambulate (the Ka’bah).
To support my argument that Muhammad really meant killing the disbelievers of Islam whether in war or not, I provide another sword verses. Kindly read;
[4:104] And do not weaken in pursuit of the enemy. If you should be suffering – so are they suffering as you are suffering, but you expect from Allah that which they expect not. And Allah is ever Knowing and Wise.
[4:89] “They but wish that ye should reject Faith, as they do, and thus be on the same footing (as they): But take not friends from their ranks until they flee in the way of Allah (From what is forbidden). But if they turn renegades, seize them and slay them wherever ye find them; and (in any case) take no friends or helpers from their ranks.”
[8:12] “I will cast terror into the hearts of those who disbelieve. Therefore strike off their heads and strike off every fingertip of them”
[9:41-42] Go forth, light-armed and heavy-armed, and strive with your wealth and your lives in the way of Allah! That is best for you if ye but knew. Had it been a near adventure and an easy journey they had followed thee, but the distance seemed too far for them. Yet will they swear by Allah (saying): If we had been able we would surely have set out with you. They destroy their souls, and Allah knoweth that they verily are liars.
Furthermore, the Islamic ‘suicide bombing, beheading, and mutilation of bodies’ in different places are evidences prompted by these Koranic laws. These facts prove that even if Islam is not under attack, they will kill innocent people.
Muhammad even raided caravans and killed people during Kaaba pilgrimage. Kindly read;
The Truth:
After his eviction by the Meccans, Muhammad and his Muslims found refuge many miles away in Medina where they were not being bothered by their former adversaries. Despite this, Muhammad sent his men on seven unsuccessful raids against Meccan caravans before finally finding one – whereupon they murdered the driver and plundered the contents. This particular caravan was especially vulnerable because the attack came during the holy months, when the merchants were least expecting it due to the generally agreed upon rule that the tribes of the area would not attack each other during that time;
[A Muslim raider] who had shaved his head, looked down on them [the Meccan caravan], and when they saw him they felt safe and said, “They are pilgrims, you have nothing to fear from them.” (Ibn Ishaq/Hisham 424, Ibn Kathir V.2 p.242) The shaved head caused the Muslims to look like pilgrims rather than raiders, which instilled a false sense of security in the drivers. However, Islam was a different sort of religion from what the Meccans were used to: [The Muslim raiders] encouraged each other, and decided to kill as many as they could of them and take what they had. Waqid shot Amr bin al-Hadrami with an arrow and killed him… (Ibn Ishaq/Hisham 425; see also Ibn Kathir V.2 p.243) According to Ibn Kathir, the Muslims living in Mecca did not dispute that their brethren in Medina had killed, captured and stolen from the Quraish, but they were reluctant to accept that this had occurred during the sacred months: The Quraysh said that Muhammad and his Companions violated the sanctity of the Sacred Month and shed blood, confiscated property and took prisoners during it. Those who refuted them among the Muslims who remained in Makkah replied that the Muslims had done that during the month of Sha`ban (which is not a sacred month). (Ibn Kathir) Faced with losing face by admitting his error, Muhammad went into his hut and emerged with a convenient and timely revelation “from Allah” that provided retroactive permission for the raid (and, of course sanctioned the stolen possessions for his own use);
“They ask you concerning the sacred month about fighting in it. Say: Fighting in it is a grave matter, and hindering (men) from Allah’s way and denying Him, and (hindering men from) the Sacred Mosque and turning its people out of it, are still graver with Allah, and persecution is graver than slaughter” (Quran 2:217)
Notice that the Quran does not say that the Meccans were guilty of killing Muslims, only that they were “persecuting” them by preventing them from the ‘sacred mosque’ (the Kaaba). The killing of the Meccan driver by the Muslims was the first deadly encounter between the two adversaries. This is of acute embarrassment to contemporary Muslim apologists, who like to say that Islam is against killing for any reason other than self-defense.
For this reason, there has arisen the modern myth that the Muslims of that time were simply “taking back” what was theirs – rather than exacting revenge and stealing. Contemporary apologists like to say that Muhammad and his followers were basically robbed by the Meccans on their way out of town. (The 1976 movie, “The Message,” perpetuates this misconception as well).
Apologists are somewhat vague as to how property theft justifies killing (particularly on the part of someone they otherwise like to portray as the paragon of virtue); nor do they attempt to explain how the particular victims of subsequent Muslim raids (usually the caravan drivers and laborers) were directly responsible for this supposed theft. A larger problem is that there is no evidence to support the misconception that the Muslims were “taking back what was theirs”; in fact, it is specifically contradicted by the early historical record.
The event of the first attack on Meccan caravans is detailed quite well by Muhammad’s biographer, Ibn Ishaq/Hisham, but nowhere does he mention the contents of the caravan as being Muslim property. In fact Ishaq explicitly describes the goods as belonging to the Meccans: “A caravan of Quraish carrying dry raisins and leather and other merchandise of Quraish passed by…” (Ibn Ishaq/Hisham 424)
Note also that the cargo plundered from the caravan included raisins, which would have long since perished had they been from grapes grown and dried by the Muslim before they left Mecca nearly a full year earlier. Moreover, a fifth of the loot was given to Muhammad as war booty, which would not have been the case if it rightfully belonged to another Muslim (Ibn Ishaq/Hisham 425).
Most of the Muslims living in Mecca had few assets to begin with, having been drawn largely from the lower rungs of the social ladder, but those who did would have had several years to liquidate their assets or transport them to a new location. As the instigator of the discord, Muhammad was the only Muslim literally forced to flee Mecca in the dead of night, but even his business affairs were sewn up on his behalf by Ali, his son-in-law: Ali stayed in Mecca for three days and nights until he had restored the deposits which the apostle held. (Ibn Ishaq/Hisham 335)
So, if the Muslims at Medina weren’t trying to recover stolen goods, why were they plundering Meccan caravans? Muhammad explains the real reason for the looting and the killing;
“If you have killed in the sacred month, they have kept you back from the way of Allah with their unbelief in Him, and from the sacred mosque, and have driven you from it when you were its people. This is a more serious matter with Allah then the killing of those of them whom you have slain. ‘And seduction is worse than killing.’ They used to seduce the Muslim in his religion until they made him return to unbelief after believing, and that is worse with Allah than killing.” (Ibn Ishaq/Hisham 426)
Thus, the justification for killing the Meccans and stealing their goods is purely religious. The only thing stolen from the Muslims was their ability to enter the sacred mosque (ie. complete the Haj ritual at the Kaaba). The innocent caravan drivers were fair game for Muhammad’s deadly raids simply because Muslims felt “kept back from the way of Allah” by the “unbelief” of the Meccan leadership. This is all the more apparent by the next major episode in which Muhammad sent his men to plunder caravans, which precipitated the Battle of Badr:
When the Apostle heard about Abu Sufyan coming from Syria, he summoned the Muslims and said, “This is the Quraish caravan containing their property. Go out to attack it, perhaps Allah will give it as a prey.” (Ibn Ishaq/Hisham 428) In this case the Meccans were returning to Mecca from a business trip to Syria. Any goods they were carrying would have been purchased from the Syrians.
Over the next nine years, the principal source of income for Muslims was wealth forcibly extracted from others. The targets of misfortune expanded well beyond the Meccans. By the time Muhammad died, his men were finding excuse to raid and steal from many other Arab tribes, Jews and Christians. Like the mafia, a protection racket gradually evolved where other tribes were allowed to live peacefully provided they paid tribute to Muslim rulers.
Kit Snow :
We could go back and forth forever on “history books and hadiths” that may or may not be accurate, the prophet Mohammed had the most books written against him than any other individual in history, so quoting me criteria that advises the prophet murdered and was a thief (which goes against the teachings of the Quran) is hard to take seriously. Let’s stay on topic of the Quran, God’s word and not on history books written and edited by man. I’m open to debate misconceptions in the Quran.
Renz Pejana : That is the last defense of Islam, deny the evidence as much as possible. These facts are supported by not just one author. Just reflect on Muhammad’s personal life whether he’s moralist or not. He fucked a nine year old girl and grabbed his adopted son’s wife. If you were in the shoes of his adopted son, how would you feel? Muhammad had no sense of delicacy and respect. By this, we can analyze that he’s not a righteous man.
Kit Snow :
“Evidence”?, “Facts”? Where are the facts about his wife being 9, actually if you do the math she is much older, supposedly. Look up Zakir Naiks talk on her age. And continuing on about facts…if what you stated was a fact, there would he no rational argument, but the actual fact is this topic of the caravans has been argued on both sides forever. It comes down to logic. If Mohammed did have a revelation and followed the revelation he recited. Than what is more likely, the accusation he raped, murdered and was a thief or that he didn’t?
Renz Pejana : These are the facts bout Aisha’s age;
Narrated Aisha: The Prophet engaged me when I was a girl of six (years). We went to Medina and stayed at the home of Bani-al-Harith bin Khazraj. Then I got ill and my hair fell down. Later on my hair grew (again) and my mother, Um Ruman, came to me while I was playing in a swing with some of my girl friends. She called me, and I went to her, not knowing what she wanted to do to me. She caught me by the hand and made me stand at the door of the house. I was breathless then, and when my breathing became all right, she took some water and rubbed my face and head with it. Then she took me into the house. There in the house I saw some Ansari women who said, “Best wishes and Allah’s Blessing and a good luck.” Then she entrusted me to them and they prepared me (for the marriage). Unexpectedly Allah’s Apostle came to me in the forenoon and my mother handed me over to him, and at that time I was a girl of NINE YEARS of age. (Sahih Al-Bukhari, Volume 5, Book 58, Number 234)
Narrated Hisham’s father: Khadija died three years before the Prophet departed to Medina. He stayed there for two years or so and then he married ‘Aisha when she was a girl of six years of age, and he consumed that marriage when she was NINE YEARS OLD. (Sahih Al-Bukhari, Volume 5, Book 58, Number 236)
About the revelations, of course Muhammad invented those in order to justify his acts, or else his followers would leave him. And about Zakir Naik, don’t believe him for he is a proven liar. He even thought that vitamin C was invented.
Here are another facts that Muhammad fucked Aisha at nine years in case you are not contented with my earlier facts given to you;
Narrated ‘Aisha that the Prophet married her when she was six years old and he consummated his marriage when she was NINE YEARS old, and then she remained with him for nine years (i.e., till his death). (Sahih Al-Bukhari, Volume 7, Book 62, Number 64; see also Numbers 65 and 88)
SAHIH MUSLIM
‘A’isha (Allah be pleased with her) reported that Allah’s Apostle (may peace be upon him) married her when she was seven years old, and he was taken to his house as a bride when she was NINE, and her dolls were with her; and when he (the Holy Prophet) died she was eighteen years old. (Sahih Muslim, Book 008, Number 3311)
SUNAN ABU DAWUD
Aisha said: The Apostle of Allah (may peace be upon him) married me when I was seven years old. The narrator Sulaiman said: Or six years. He had intercourse with me when I was NINE YEARS old. (Sunan Abu Dawud, Number 2116)
Narrated Aisha: Ummul Mu’minin: The Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) married me when I was seven or six. When we came to Medina, some women came. According to Bishr’s version: Umm Ruman came to me when I was swinging. They took me, made me prepared and decorated me. I was then brought to the Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him), and he took up cohabitation with me when I was NINE. She halted me at the door, and I burst into laughter. (Sunan Abu Dawud, Book 41, Number 49)
AND if you are really open for a debate about your Koran without outside source, I just give you only four questions to answer. Prove to the Christians that Koran is the inspired word of God. If you can’t, I hope you can realize how fake is Islam. Here they are;
Islam believes Allah and the God of Abraham in the Bible are one. Qur’an says, none can change the word of God [6:115], How come Islam accused the Bible to be corrupted? It shows that Muslims don’t believe what Allah is declaring that his word cannot be corrupted or changed
Allah claimed that he is God, (the all-wise, all-knower, and knower of the unseen). In verses [4:171 & 5:116] Allah thought that the persons in Trinity are Jesus, Mary, and Spirit of God/Allah (in truth it is God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit). How come he failed to know the persons of Trinity? It turned out that he is the ignorant God. If Allah does not know a simple topic here on Earth, how much more on matters about spirit and heavens?
[Qur’an 12:39, 3:6, & 58:21] say Allah is almighty, strong, and wise, but Satan was able to sneak his words during Allah’s revelation to Muhammad [53:19-20]. It turns out that he has no control over Satan and Muhammad in uttering Satanic verses. [Deuteronomy 18:20] says, “But the prophet, which shall presume to speak a word in my name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or that shall speak in the name of other gods, even that prophet shall die.” So if Muhammad had uttered other gods and Allah was not able to stop him, the verdict is, these two are fake.
In [Qur’an 15:19, 20:53, 43:10] Allah says that the Earth is spread out like carpet or shaped flat, but in actual, the Earth is globular or circle. The all-knower Allah turns out to be unknowing Allah.
Kit Snow :
How old was Mary, mother of Jesus when she married Joseph? 12. How old was the age of marriage in the USA just 100 years ago? Utah was 7, California was 10, all through out the USA it was 7-10 years of age. How old were the brides of Europen kings throughout History? 5-10 years old was common, yet I don’t see you pointing fingers at USA or Europe or antywhere else in the world . Marrying young was obviously common place even just 100 years ago all around the world.
There was no school or education or career a women is saving herself for back in those days, when she is scientifically and biologically fit to become a mother then she married, there was nothing else for a woman to do in those days besides make a family.
I always find anyone against Islam to always be angry in their debates, use disturbing language and name call.
What was the ‘Age of Consent’ in European and American history, prior to the 20th century? In this article, I shall bring forth evidences which demonstrate that the ‘Age of consent’ was indeed, very young, even by today’s standards. I will provide academic sources which show that girls were allowed to be married at the age of 10 years old and sometimes times, as young as 7 years old, legally. It was norm just over 100 years ago to see girls being married off at very young ages. In most cultures, the marriage would have been consummated at the onset of puberty. 1. Professor of history Margaret Wade Labarge “It needs to be remembered that many Medieval widows were not old, Important heiresses were often married between the ages of 5 and 10 and might find themselves widowed while still in their teens.” [1] 2. Professor Richard Wortley and Professor Stephen Smallbone, both of whom state that prior to the 1900s girls married very young, “In Medieval and early modern European societies, the age of marriage remained low, with documented cases of brides as young as seven years, although marriages were typically not consummated until the girl reached puberty (Bullough 2004). Shakespeare’s Juliet was just 13, and there is no hint in the play that this was considered to be exceptional. The situation was similar on the other side of the Atlantic; Bullough reports the case in 1689 of a nine-year-old bride in Virginia. At the start of the nineteenth century in England, it was legal to have sex with a 10 year-old girl.” [2] 3. In the book, ‘Sex and Society’, “Until the late 20th century U.S. age of consent laws specifically names males as perpetrators and females as victims. Following English law, in which the age was set at 12 in 1275 and lowered to 10 in 1576, ages of consent in the American colonies were generally set at 10 or 12. The laws protected female virginity, which at the time was considered a valuable commodity until marriage. The theft of a girl’s chastity was seen as a property crime against her father and future husband. If two people were married and had sex, no matter what their age, no crime was committed because a woman was her husband’s property. In practice, too, the consent laws only protected white females, as many non-white females were enslaved or otherwise discriminated against by the legal system.” [3] 4. Richard A. Posner is chief judge of the U.S court of appeals, Seventh Circuit Chicago. Katherine B. Silbaugh is associate Professor at Boston University School of Law, they say that before the 1900s age of consent was ten years old, “The law governing the age of consent has changed dramatically in the United States during this century. Most states codified a statutory age of consent during the nineteenth century, and the usual age was ten years.” [4] 5. The Scottish Law prior to 1900s by Sir John Comyns and Stewart Kyd, “By the law of Scotland, a woman cannot contrabere sponsalia before her age of seven years. 1 Rol. 343. I. 20. But by common law, persons may marry at any age. Co. Lit. 33. A. And upon such marriage the wife shall be endowed, if the attain the age of nine years, of what whatsoever age her husband be; but not before the age of nine years. Co. L. 33. A.” [5] 6. Professor of Sociology Anthony Joseph Paul Cortese says that a 50 year old man being with a girl under 10 (being intimate) Under United States law was legal until the mid 1960s, “In 1962, the American Law Institute recommended that the legal age of consent to sex- that is, the age below which sex is defined as statutory rape- be dropped in every state to age 10 (Katchadourian and Lund 1972: 439). In fact, until the mid 1960s, the legal age of consent in Delaware was 7 (Kling, 1965: 216). So a 50 year old man could legally have sexual intercourse with a 7 year old boy or girl.” [6] 7. Maureen Dabbagh is a writer and author. Born in Michigan, she serves as a Virginia Supreme Court Family Mediator, she echoes the same statements as previous authors, “…the nineteenth century, the minimum age of consent for sexual intercourse in most American states was 10 years. In Delaware it was only 7 years.” [7]
Renz Pejana : Kit Snow, being a prophet, a messenger of the word of God, Muhammad should have known the marriageable time for woman prescribed by God. He should set himself as a model of a Godly or refined behavior. Yes this activity was practiced before, but it doesn’t mean God instructed or allowed it. I’ll give you verses in the Bible about the marriageable age for woman;
[Ezekiel 16:7-8] ” I made you grow like a plant of the field. You grew and developed and entered puberty. Your breasts had formed and your hair had grown, yet you were stark naked. ‘Later I passed by, and when I looked at you and saw that you were old enough for love, I spread the corner of my garment over you and covered your naked body. I gave you my solemn oath and entered into a covenant with you, declares the Sovereign Lord, and you became mine.
: The woman’s height has fully grown, her breast and pubic hair have grown and developed, and she is old enough for love (meaning she is morally conscious). Aisha was not fully grown and developed physically and mentally when Muhammad touched her. Why Muhammad failed to know the sexual prescription by God? Because it was not God who sent him. No prophets recorded in the Bible touching a child and raping women.
Contrary to the Bible, Quran permits touching a child girl. Verses [65:1-4] provide the specifications on when to divorce a wife. Verse [65:4] mentions a wife who has not menstruated as yet, or an immature girl. Kindly read;
[65:4]
SAHIH INTERNATIONAL
“And those who no longer expect menstruation among your women – if you doubt, then their period is three months, and [also for] those who have not menstruated. And for those who are pregnant, their term is until they give birth. And whoever fears Allah – He will make for him of his matter ease.
MUHSIN KHAN
And those of your women as have passed the age of monthly courses, for them the ‘Iddah (prescribed period), if you have doubts (about their periods), is three months, and for those who have no courses [(i.e. they are still immature) their ‘Iddah (prescribed period) is three months likewise, except in case of death]. And for those who are pregnant (whether they are divorced or their husbands are dead), their ‘Iddah (prescribed period) is until they deliver (their burdens), and whosoever fears Allah and keeps his duty to Him, He will make his matter easy for him.
AND also Quran permits raping (slave) woman [23:6]. Verses [23: 1-6] narrate the successful believers: those who are humble in their prayers; those who avoid vain talk; those who are active in deeds of charity; and those who abstain from sex except from their wives and SLAVES. Kindly read;
[23:6]
MUHSIN KHAN
“Except from their wives or (the captives and slaves) that their right hands possess, for then, they are free from blame”
: this verse tells that it is not sinful for a Muslim man to fuck his slave. I doubt if these facts for you are righteous. I doubt if you can afford to give your child daughter in marriage or you have a sexual urge for a child. These are proofs that, it is Islam which corrupted or twisted the moral teaching of the Bible. Their allegation that the Bible is corrupted has no basis. Supposing that God really looked at the Bible as being corrupted, He must have given to Muhammad the original, the pure one. In contrast, God would be a liar if His word becomes corrupted, since He said that none can change His word.. The Bible teaches to have one wife only, but Koran teaches polygamy; the Bible teaches to love your enemy, but Koran teaches killing of disbelievers and even its believers if necessary.
About an angry audience or debater, Christians and Muslim alike have tendency to get angry.. From my own point of view, the main cause why Christians get angry at Islam debaters because they are liars, they are inventing lies just to appear they are correct in the eyes of Muslims. So far I have not yet watched a Muslim debater who is not lying. Muslims just didn’t know their leaders’ falsehood since they are ignorant of the Bible and even their own Koran. On my part, I am not angry, I am just telling the truth so that Muslims will know that they are misled by a fake religion.
And about Mary’s age when married, the Bible does not specify her age. And if you say the Quran has said that, I don’t believe it, because Quran does not even know Mary personally, It thought that Mary was Merriam the sister of Aaron and Moses, daughter of Imran.
Kit Snow :
To answer your questions:
1.) Islam believes Allah and the God of Abraham in the Bible are one. Qur’an says, none can change the word of God [6:115], How come Islam accused the Bible to be corrupted? It shows that Muslims don’t believe what Allah is declaring that his word cannot be corrupted or changed
ANSWER : Sura 6:115 states “And the word of your Lord has been fulfilled in truth and in justice. None can alter His words, and He is the Hearing, the Knowing.” Muslims believe that the message sent to all the prophets, including Moses(Tora) and Yeshua(Injeel / Gospel) was meant for those specific people at that specific time. And it was never preserved. Now, the message of the Quran was meant for all mankind and is the last revelation. It has not been touched and remains preserved in it’s original language for over 1400 years to this day.
Renz Pejana : Brother, where is your evidence that the previous revelation was never preserved? God himself said none can change His revelation. You make God a liar by what you are saying. And where is your proof that Quran is meant for mankind? And how can you say Quran is pure? For after Muhammad’s death, there were many conflicting versions of Koran occurred. Uthman in his effort to solve the trouble, commanded to burn all copies except the version of Hudaifa.
2.) Allah claimed that he is God, (the all-wise, all-knower, and knower of the unseen). In verses [4:171 & 5:116] Allah thought that the persons in Trinity are Jesus, Mary, and Spirit of God/Allah (in truth it is God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit). How come he failed to know the persons of Trinity? It turned out that he is the ignorant God. If Allah does not know a simple topic here on Earth, how much more on matters about spirit and heavens?
ANSWER :
Sura 4:171 states “O People of the Scripture, do not commit excess in your religion or say about Allah except the truth. The Messiah, Jesus, the son of Mary, was but a messenger of Allah and His word which He directed to Mary and a soul [created at a command] from Him. So believe in Allah and His messengers. And do not say, “Three”; desist – it is better for you. Indeed, Allah is but one God. Exalted is He above having a son. To Him belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth. And sufficient is Allah as Disposer of affairs.”
Sura 5:116 states“And [beware the Day] when Allah will say, “O Jesus, Son of Mary, did you say to the people, ‘Take me and my mother as deities besides Allah ?'” He will say, “Exalted are You! It was not for me to say that to which I have no right. If I had said it, You would have known it. You know what is within myself, and I do not know what is within Yourself. Indeed, it is You who is Knower of the unseen”
Nowhere in there does it claim that Allah thinks Mary is part of the trinity. in Sura 5:116 it mentions Mary because the Roman Catholics pray to statues of Mary as a saint. Brother, your understanding of these verses is off, maybe because you already have your mind made up instead of opening your heart and mind.
Renz Pejana : Brother, you are the one who should wake up, you are covering falsehood in Quran, don’t deny it, it is clear as the sky. Before my explanation, I should first put my own sources from revered translators of Quran because I have noticed you are eluding something. Here they are:
[4:171]
MUHSIN KHAN
O people of the Scripture (Jews and Christians)! Do not exceed the limits in your religion, nor say of Allah aught but the truth. The Messiah ‘Iesa (Jesus), son of Maryam (Mary), was (no more than) a Messenger of Allah and His Word, (“Be!” – and he was) which He bestowed on Maryam (Mary) and a spirit (Ruh) created by Him; so believe in Allah and His Messengers. Say not: “Three (trinity)!” Cease! (it is) better for you. For Allah is (the only) One Ilah (God), Glory be to Him (Far Exalted is He) above having a son. To Him belongs all that is in the heavens and all that is in the earth. And Allah is All-Sufficient as a Disposer of affairs.
YUSUF ALI
O People of the Book! Commit no excesses in your religion: Nor say of Allah aught but the truth. Christ Jesus the son of Mary was (no more than) a messenger of Allah, and His Word, which He bestowed on Mary, and a spirit proceeding from Him: so believe in Allah and His messengers. Say not “Trinity” : desist: it will be better for you: for Allah is one Allah: Glory be to Him: (far exalted is He) above having a son. To Him belong all things in the heavens and on earth. And enough is Allah as a Disposer of affairs.
[5:116]
PICKTHALL
And when Allah saith: O Jesus, son of Mary! Didst thou say unto mankind: Take me and my mother for two gods beside Allah? he saith: Be glorified! It was not mine to utter that to which I had no right. If I used to say it, then Thou knewest it. Thou knowest what is in my mind, and I know not what is in Thy Mind. Lo! Thou, only Thou, art the Knower of Things Hidden?
SAHIH INTERNATIONAL
And [beware the Day] when Allah will say, “O Jesus, Son of Mary, did you say to the people, ‘Take me and my mother as deities besides Allah ?'” He will say, “Exalted are You! It was not for me to say that to which I have no right. If I had said it, You would have known it. You know what is within myself, and I do not know what is within Yourself. Indeed, it is You who is Knower of the unseen.
: VERSE [4:171] warns the Christians not to worship Trinity or three gods. And verse [5:116] clearly emphasizes the gods of Trinity. Which are, “TAKE ME (JESUS) and MY MOTHER (MARY) as deities besides ALLAH.
Brother, Koran points out JESUS and MARY as deities besides ALLAH.. “Deity and Saint” are not synonymous. Verse [5:73] confirms [5:116] that it really meant Trinity and Allah is taken as the third of the three gods. It says;
[5:73]
PICKTHALL
They surely disbelieve who say: Lo! Allah is the third of three; when there is no Allah save the One Allah. If they desist not from so saying a painful doom will fall on those of them who disbelieve.
YUSUF ALI
They do blaspheme who say: Allah is one of three in a Trinity: for there is no god except One Allah. If they desist not from their word (of blasphemy), verily a grievous penalty will befall the blasphemers among them.
Kit Snow :
3.) [Qur’an 12:39, 3:6, & 58:21] say Allah is almighty, strong, and wise, but Satan was able to sneak his words during Allah’s revelation to Muhammad [53:19-20]. It turns out that he has no control over Satan and Muhammad in uttering Satanic verses. [Deuteronomy 18:20] says, “But the prophet, which shall presume to speak a word in my name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or that shall speak in the name of other gods, even that prophet shall die.” So if Muhammad had uttered other gods and Allah was not able to stop him, the verdict is, these two are fake.
ANSWER : Sura 53:19 “So have you considered al-Lat and al-‘Uzza?” Sura 53:20 “And Manat, the third – the other one?” Sura 53:21 ” Is the male for you and for Him the female?” Sura 53:22 “That, then, is an unjust division.” Sura 53:23 “They are not but [mere] names you have named them – you and your forefathers – for which Allah has sent down no authority. They follow not except assumption and what [their] souls desire, and there has already come to them from their Lord guidance.”
Let’s look at verse 23 again shall we, where Allah is saying the three fake gods people worshipped before have no authority. Again, you have quoted out of context my friend. There was no satanic verses.
Renz Pejana : Brother, I don’t know if you intend to mislead me, thinking that I had not done research before I made my questions, or you are just not aware about Satanic verses in Quran. In case you don’t know, I quoted statements from wikiislam for you. Here it is;
“The Satanic Verses (also the Gharaniq incident) was an incident where Prophet Muhammad acknowledged Allat, Manat, and al-Uzza, the goddesses of the Pagan Meccans in a Qur’anic revelation, only to later recant and claim they were the words of the Devil. Satanic Verses
Kit Snow :
4.) In [Qur’an 15:19, 20:53, 43:10] Allah says that the Earth is spread out like carpet or shaped flat, but in actual, the Earth is globular or circle. The all-knower Allah turns out to be unknowing Allah.
ANSWER :
Sura 15:19 “And the earth – We have spread it and cast therein firmly set mountains and caused to grow therein [something] of every well-balanced thing.”
Sura 20:53 “[It is He] who has made for you the earth as a bed [spread out] and inserted therein for you roadways and sent down from the sky, rain and produced thereby categories of various plants.”
Sura 43:10 “[The one] who has made for you the earth a bed and made for you upon it roads that you might be guided”
None of these verses suggest the earth is flat. It does indeed say he made the earth for us like a carpet, which it is for a human like a carpet.
Renz Pejana : First, I add another sources to clarify the said verses more. Here they are;
[15:19]
YUSUF ALI
And the earth We have spread out (like a carpet); set thereon mountains firm and immovable; and produced therein all kinds of things in due balance.
PICKTHALL
And the earth have We spread out, and placed therein firm hills, and caused each seemly thing to grow therein.
[20:53]
YUSUF ALI
“He Who has, made for you the earth like a carpet spread out; has enabled you to go about therein by roads (and channels); and has sent down water from the sky.” With it have We produced diverse pairs of plants each separate from the others.
SAHIH INTERNATIONAL
[It is He] who has made for you the earth as a bed [spread out] and inserted therein for you roadways and sent down from the sky, rain and produced thereby categories of various plants.
[43:10]
MUHSIN KHAN
Who has made for you the earth like a bed, and has made for you roads therein, in order that you may find your way
YUSUF ALI
(Yea, the same that) has made for you the earth (like a carpet) spread out, and has made for you roads (and channels) therein, in order that ye may find guidance (on the way)
: Brother, we don’t need to look for a specific “flat” word, just analyze the verses. We cannot spread out a ball (globe) like a carpet or bed. Quran describes the Earth having a flat surface, plane, or bed.
If I may add, I will give you prophetic verses from the true word of God (the Bible) about the Earth;
[Isaiah 40:22] It is He who sits above the circle of the earth, And its inhabitants are like grasshoppers, Who stretches out the heavens like a curtain, And spreads them out like a tent to dwell in.
: . . . above the circle of the Earth . . . If we look at the Earth from the moon or outer space, we can see that the Earth is a circle.
[Job 26:7] He stretches out the north over empty space; He hangs the earth on nothing
: . . . He hangs the Earth on nothing . . . If we look at the Earth from the outer space, we can see that the Earth has nothing to sit on or to cling to. The Bible accurately describes the position of the Earth. It is placed in an empty space, and it is as if hanged on nothing.
2. Why Christian women don’t cover their heads when it is commanded in Corinthians 11:5-6?
[1 Corinthians 11:5-6] And every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head, for it is just as if her head were shaved. If a woman does not cover her head, let her hair be cut off. And if it is shameful for a woman to have her hair cut or shaved off, she should cover her head.
ANSWER. The verse merely says that a woman should cover her head when she prays because it dishonor her head, for it is just as if her head were shaved. It doesn’t say that a woman should cover her head when she goes around the public as the Muslim woman does, because men might be attracted to her sexually. Besides, a Muslim woman is commanded to cover not only her head, but her whole body except the eyes. This means that to cover their heads alone is not Islamic, kindly read;
Narrated ‘Aisha: The wives of the Prophet used to go to Al-Manasi, a vast open place (near Baqia at Medina) to answer the call of nature at night. ‘Umar used to say to the Prophet “Let your wives be veiled,” but Allah’s Apostle did not do so. One night Sauda bint Zam’a the wife of the Prophet went out at ‘Isha’ time and she was a tall lady. ‘Umar addressed her and said, “I have recognized you, O Sauda.” He said so, as he desired eagerly that the verses of Al-Hijab (the observing of veils by the Muslim women) may be revealed. So Allah revealed the verses of “Al-Hijab” (A complete body cover excluding the eyes).
COMMENT: This hadith tells us that it was Umar who urged Muhammad to cover his wives. And amazingly, the god of Muhammad granted his wish. In Christianity, there’s no compulsion for women to cover their heads while praying. God also commands us to worship Him in spirit (mind and heart) and not by the food, dress, appearance, or gesture.
3. Why Christians don’t fall facedown while praying when Jesus did it? (Matthew 26:39)
[Matthew 26:39] “Going a little farther, He fell facedown and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me. Yet not as I will, but as You will.”
ANSWER: Firstly, the meaning of the idiom ”fall face down” is ”to lay one’s body flat on the ground or floor with the face downward”. It’s not to kiss one’s forehead on the ground while raising your buttocks to the air as Muslims do. In the Bible, God’s people prayed either in prostrate or kneeling position. Secondly, whether you fall facedown or kneel while praying, it doesn’t matter to God. What more important is the contents of your heart and mind. God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit [Deuteronomy 6:5 & John 4:24]. An action cannot transform your personality, feeling, thought, or Faith. If Jesus was really a Muslim, Muhammad should have followed his commandments. Jesus teaches to love all people including your enemy, don’t kill a man, don’t steal, forgive your fellow 77 times, marry only one wife and don’t divorce her. Muhammad taught and practiced the opposite of what Jesus teaches in the Bible.
4. Why Christians don’t remove their shoes during prayer though God required it?(Exodus 3:5)
[Exodus 3:5] “Do not come any closer,” God said. “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.”
ANSWER: An action or gesture doesn’t make you a true believer. God wants us to worship Him in spirit (mind and heart). If a Muslim kneels while praying, it cannot make him a Christian. Moses took off his sandals in response to the commandment of God and to show respect to His presence, and not because he was going to pray. You can pray to God anytime and anywhere whether you wear footgear or not. On the part of Islam, there is no holiness in its center of worhip. The Kaabah was the worship house of the pagans in the past, it contained 360 idols in pre-Islamic time. Even Muhammad did not look at Kaabah as holy for he killed an ex-Muslim inside it.
5. Jesus said “do not worship me” (Revelation 22:9)
[Revelation 22: 9] But he said to me, “Do not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers the prophets, and with those who keep the words of this book. Worship God!”
ANSWER: The verse in Revelation 22:9 is not the words of Jesus but it came from an angel. Kindly read its preceding statement (verse 8), it says;
[Revelation 22:8] And I am John, who heard and saw these things. And when I had heard and seen them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who had shown me these things.
Next time, check the verses first before raising it, ok? You Muslims don’t seek the truth, you’re just out there trying all you can to discredit the Bible. I will show you a verse from the Book of Revelation that Jesus claimed Godhood;
[Revelation 21:6-7] He said to me: “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty I will give water without cost from the spring of the water of life. Those who are victorious will inherit all this, and I will be their God and they will be my children.
6. Jesus cannot be compared to God because he’s born of a woman (Job 25:4)
[Job 25:4] “How then can a man be just with God? Or how can he be clean who is born of woman?
ANSWER: Yes it’s true but the question is, was Jesus an ordinary man? Both Christianity and Islam teach that Jesus was born without a human father. He claimed that he went out from the father and came down from heaven. When Jesus stayed in Mary’s womb, it’s not him who became unclean by a woman (Mary), but rather it was Mary who became purified because Jesus is our purifier. Why is it that in Islam Jesus is the Judge of mankind if He’s a mere man? Isn’t only the king can judge in a kingdom? No doubt, Jesus is God in Islam.
7. Jesus cannot be God because God is not a human being (Numbers 23.19)
King James Bible God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?
New International Version God is not human, that he should lie, not a human being, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill?
ANSWER: Put in mind that God is spirit, He is an unapproachable light, energy/power, and wisdom. Can energy be distributed? Yes it can, the electricity for example can spread or distribute itself. Every nation uses electricity, these electricities are separated yet they are one nature. God can pour His spirit upon all flesh [Joel 2:28]. He can send His spirit though he is present everywhere pls. read;
[Psalm 104:30] You send forth Your Spirit, they are created; and you renew the face of the earth.
: Notice also that the sent spirit is a creator, Jesus was the creator of the universe. Kindly read;
[Colossians 1:16] For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him.
: Jesus claimed that he came down from Heaven and was sent by the Father (source spirit). He says;
[John 6:38] For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but to do the will of Him who sent Me.
: Jesus was a portion of God’s spirit that came down on Earth and took a human form. I will show verses telling Jesus is one with the Father;
[Isaiah 9:6] ”For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”
[John 10:30]. Jesus said; I and the Father are one
[John 14:9-10] Jesus said to him, “Have I been so long with you, and yet you have not come to know Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? “Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father is in Me?
The human body was just the vessel of the sent forth spirit of God. Jesus claimed that the spirit of God dwelt in him, and that made him God also.
Additionally, you quoted [Numbers 23;19] telling God won’t tell a lie, is your Allah truthful? Isn’t he the best of the deceivers? [Koran 3:54]. The Bible says that Satan is the father of deceptions [John 8:44] the same attribute as your Allah.
1.) Prophet Jesus (Pbuh) never claimed to be God at any time, on the contrary he said, my father is greater than I, My father is greater than all, I can of my own self do nothing.
ANSWER: First, I will tackle the Godhood of Jesus (marked as “A.”), and then I’ll touch next the issue on why Jesus said, “my father is greater than me” (marked as “B.”).
A.) Jesus literally did not say “I am God, worship me”, but there is so much evidence in the Old and New Testaments that Jesus is God. I will give you proofs;
JESUS TOOK THE NAME/TITLE USED BY GOD (OF ABRAHAM), “I AM HE/I AM WHO AM”:
[John 8:23-24] “You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world. I told you that you would die in your sins; if you do not believe that I AM HE, you will indeed die in your sins.”
[John 13:19] “I am telling you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe that I AM WHO I AM.
Compare these verses to [Isaiah 43:10 & Exodus 3:13-14];
[Exodus 3:13-14] “If I come to the people of Israel and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ what shall I say to them?” God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.” And he said, “Say this to the people of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you.
[Isaiah 43:10] “You are my witnesses,” declares the LORD, “and my servant whom I have chosen, so that you may know and believe me and understand that I AM HE. Before me no god was formed, nor will there be one after me.
JESUS IMPLIED THAT HE’S GOD:
[John 10:30] “I and the Father are one.” At this, the Jews again picked up stones to stone Him.
[John 13:13] “You call Me Teacher and Lord; and you are right, for so I am.
[John 14:2-3] My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also.
[John 14:9-10] Jesus said to him, “Have I been so long with you, and yet you have not come to know Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? “Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father is in Me?
[Matthew 7:22-23] Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you workers of lawlessness’”.
[Matthew 28:18] Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in Heaven and Earth has been given to me”
[Mark 13:24-26] However, after the tribulation of those days, ‘The sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in the clouds with great power and glory. And He will send out the angels to gather His elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven.
[Mark 14:62] “I am,” said Jesus, “and you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of Power and coming with the clouds of heaven.”
[Luke 23:43] And Jesus replied, “I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
JESUS WAS TREATED AS GOD BY HIS APOSTLES AND OTHER PEOPLE:
[John 1:18] No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is himself God and is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known.
[John 11:32] When Mary came to Jesus and saw Him, she fell at His feet and said, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.”
[John 20:27-28] Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.” Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!”
[Matthew 2:11] On coming to the house, they saw the Child with His mother Mary, and they fell down and worshiped Him. Then they opened their treasures and presented Him with gifts of gold and frankincense and myrrh.
[Matthew 8:2] Suddenly a leper came and knelt before Him, saying, “Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.”
[Luke 5:8] When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees. “Go away from me, Lord,” he said, “for I am a sinful man.
[Philippians 2:10] that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
[Revelation 21:6-7] And he also said, “It is finished! I am the Alpha and the Omega—the Beginning and the End. To all who are thirsty I will give freely from the springs of the water of life. All who are victorious will inherit all these blessings, and I will be their God, and they will be my children.
JESUS WAS ANNOUNCED IN TANAKH AS THE COMING GOD:
[Malachi 3:1] And the Lord, whom you seek, will suddenly come to His temple; and the messenger of the covenant, in whom you delight, behold, He is coming,” says the LORD of hosts.
: This verse says that God will send a messenger prior to His coming, this person is fulfilled by John (the Baptist) who prepared the Lord’s way by baptizing the people with water [John 1:33-34]. After that, the Lord will come to His Temple, and at the same time, He will be the messenger of the covenant that the people will delight. Jesus introduced this covenant to his disciples [Luke 22:20 & Matthew 26:28].
[Micah 5:2] “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.”
: Notice the last words of this statement, the coming ruler or king exists from ancient times, so He is God. Jesus claims that He exists even before the Creation (Isaiah 48:16, John 17:5, & John 17:24).
[Isaiah 9:6] For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
: This verse clearly informs that the son to be born is God and the Everlasting Father.
THE SENDING OF A SPIRIT BY THE SPIRIT OF GOD:
[Isaiah 48:16] “Come near unto me, hear this; I have not spoken in secret from the beginning; from the time that it was, there am I: and now the Lord GOD, and his Spirit, has sent me”
: The speaker of this verse is clearly God for He was there before the time took place, but in the second sentence, He said He is sent by the Lord God and His Spirit. This is the Spirit that descended to the Earth and took a human flesh. Jesus said, He came down from Heaven and sent by Father [John 6:38 & John 8:18]
THE KINGDOM OF GOD OR JESUS:
The Coming of the Messiah/Christ/King
Christ is derived from the Greek word Christos which means the Anointed, it is equivalent to Messiah a Hebrew word. Anointing is a ritual act of pouring or smearing with oil over a person’s head or body. This was used as a form of medicine by Jews thought to avert sickness and dangerous spirits. This was also used by Jews for ceremonial blessings such as the coronation of a King. The Old Testament states a lot about the coming of the Messiah. Jesus claims He is the Messiah predicted in the Old Testament [John 4:25-26], so, He is the Christ or King. The following are verses in Tanakh about the promised Messiah, King, or Christ;
[Micah 5:2] As for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, seemingly insignificant among the clans of Judah – from you a King will emerge who will rule over Israel on my behalf, one whose origins are in the distant past
[Zechariah 9:9] Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout in triumph, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your King is coming to you; He is just and endowed with salvation, Humble, and mounted on a donkey, Even on a colt, the foal of a donkey.
[Isaiah 52:7] How lovely on the mountains Are the feet of him who brings good news, Who announces peace And brings good news of happiness, Who announces salvation, And says to Zion, “Your God reigns!”
: Notice the last words of this verse, “Your God reigns!” .So it is God Himself who will come and reign as King
God is a King in the Old Testament
[Isaiah 43:15] “I am the LORD, your Holy One, The Creator of Israel, your King
[Isaiah 44:6] “This is what the LORD says– Israel’s King and Redeemer, the LORD Almighty: I am the first and I am the last; apart from me there is no God
Jesus is a King in the New Testament
[John 18:37] “You are a king, then!” said Pilate. Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. In fact, the reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.”
[Mark 15:2] Pilate asked Jesus, “Are you the king of the Jews?” Jesus replied, “it is as you say.”
In the Old Testament, God says He has Kingdom
[Isaiah 66:1] Thus says the LORD, “Heaven is My throne and the earth is My footstool Where then is a house you could build for Me? And where is a place that I may rest?
[Jeremiah 10:10] But the LORD is the only true God. He is the living God and the everlasting King! The whole earth trembles at his anger. The nations cannot stand up to his wrath.
In the New Testament, Jesus says He has Kingdom
[John 18:36] Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world.”
[Luke 22:30] that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
[Luke 23:42] Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom, ”Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you shall be with me in paradise.”
Analysis of the Kingship
Jesus says He has kingdom not of this world and He came from heaven [John 6:38], therefore, He is the king in Heaven. If He is the king in Heaven, it means He holds the highest position in Heaven, so He is God.. Jesus said, “I and the Father are one”, so there is no conflict of their Godhood. God is one nature, but He has the capability to spread His spirit [Joel 2:28]. Just like an electricity, one nature, but it has the capability to light Billions of households. For Jesus to claim He is the king in Heaven is no different from claiming He is God.
The Kingdom is the Church
[Matthew 9:35] Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness.
[Matthew 5:10] “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
The Kingdom established by Christ on Earth is the Catholic Church
[Matthew 16:18] And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.
: Simon Peter was the first head or pope of the Catholic Church.
B.) NOW, to your question that, “Jesus said, my father is greater than I, My father is greater than all, I can of my own self do nothing”.
Jesus came out from the source Spirit, the Father God [Isaiah 6:8 & John 15:26], for this reason the Father is greater than Him, no sender is greater than the one who is sent [John 13:16]. Moreover, Jesus went to the world only to serve and do the will of the father, consider the following verses;
[John 6:38] For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but to do the will of Him who sent Me.
: This verse says, Jesus is obeying the will of the Father. God laid a system to be followed, and this system none can change. Moreover from this statement, Jesus is originally from Heaven, so He’s not an ordinary human.
[Luke 22:27] For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who is at the table? But I am among you as one who serves.
: In this verse, Jesus pointed out that the Father Spirit is greater than him in the sense that the Father is sitting at the table, than Himself who is serving the Father at the table. For instance, you serve food to your visitor at the table, he is greater than you in that sense, because you are serving him, but it doesn’t mean he is greater than you in the whole sense. In the other hand, Jesus also says He is equal with the Father, kindly read the next verses;
[John 14:10] “He who has seen Me has seen the Father; how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father is in Me?”
: In this verse, Jesus claims the oneness of the Father and Him, that they are one in Spirit.
[John 10:30] Jesus says, “I and the Father are one.” At this, the Jews again picked up stones to stone Him.
: Notice the reaction of the crowd when Jesus said this statement, they stone him because He claimed equality of God.
2.) And remember that Jesus(pbuh) said, and on that day(Day of Judgement, they will say unto me(Christians), Lord, Lord, did we not do profess in thy name? and do mighty works in thy name? and cast out devils in thy name? I will say unto them, depart from me I never knew you. He isn’t gonna say it for the Muslim or the Hindu or the Jew. He will say it to the people who speak in his name.
ANSWER: First, I lay down the complete statements that you mentioned. They are from [Matthew 7:21-23];
21 Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.
22 Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’
23 Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you workers of lawlessness’”.
: In verse 21, Jesus is referring to the Christians by words, who do not follow the will of God. In verse 22, Jesus is referring to the Godly Christians who were endowed with divine power, but became corrupted. And in verse 23, Jesus revealed who are these people He mentioned, they are lawbreakers, that’s why He won’t allow them to enter into His kingdom. If some Christians cannot enter into Heaven, how much more to the people who don’t believe the Father and the Son? Who is the liar? It is whoever denies that Jesus is the Christ. Such a person is the Antichrist _denying the Father and the Son [1 John 2:22].
3.) And more, he says, I am not sent but to the lost sheep of the house of Isreal. Are you an israeli ? Or even nearer to that, like sons of ishmael, an arab ? The answer is know.
ANSWER: Because of the faithfulness of Abraham, God blessed him and made a covenant with him. Through Abraham, all people shall be blessed [Genesis 12:3]. He promised descendants to Abraham as numerous as the stars or sand [Genesis 22:17], God kept this covenant through Jacob (a descendant of Abraham) whom later called Israel by Him. And this is the reason why Israel became God’s choice. At the time of Abraham, there were no nations yet aside from Middle East, so we could not say why our nation was not chosen. In fact we are products of this blessing, since we are part of the numerous descendants of Abraham today, the Earth has now 7.5 Billions of people.
The ultimate plan of God is to redeem the lost sheep, and who are these lost sheep? they are all of us, since all of us sinned. Consider this;
[Isaiah 53:6] All of us like sheep have gone astray, Each of us has turned to his own way; But the LORD has caused the iniquity of us all To fall on Him .
The Salvation through Christ is from the Jews and then for all generations. Consider these verses;
[Isiah 51:8] “For the moth will eat them like a garment, And the grub will eat them like wool But My righteousness will be forever, And My salvation to all generations.”
[John 4:22] You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews.
Jesus was sent for all the people, kindly read below what was His last message to His disciples before ascending to Heaven;
[Matthew 28:19] Therefore go and make disciples of all nations baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
4.) At the end, I tell you, isaiah 29:12 says, Then the book will be given to the one who is illiterate, saying, “Please read this.” And he will say, “I cannot read.” That is Muhammed. Thank you so much my brother, I respect your religion, and I think I also deserve it from you that you should respect mine even if you disagree.
ANSWER: First, I wanna say sorry for offending you Brother, I didn’t mean it, I am only revealing the truth. I respect a group that is not spreading lies and misleading people. I hope, we will not cover their lies (esp. when they are endangering our spiritual lives) for the sake of respect. I did this because I care for you, this is for your own good, that you may know that Jesus is the true God. He said the greatest love that you can give to your loved one is to give up your life to them. And that’s what He did for us, He died on the cross in loving us. He promote love and peace. Love your enemy as he said. The one who doesn’t believe the Father and the Son is the Anti-Christ. The Anti-Christ is Satan. Satan is the father of lies and he deceived manyaccording to the Bible. On the other side, Allah is the best of deceivers according to Koran [3:54]. He plotted against Jews and Christians. He does not recognize the Father and Son. He tortured and corrupted Muhammad. He promote killing and fornication. Guess who he really is.
NOW, let us proceed to the verse you quoted from [Isaiah 29:12]. Brother, Islamic leaders are lying. To better understand this claim, I posted Isaiah chapter 29, from verse 9 to 12. Here they are;
[Isaiah 29:9-12]
9 If you confuse yourselves, you will be confused. If you blind yourselves, you will be blinded. You are drunk, but not from wine. You stagger, but not from liquor.
10 The LORD has poured out on you a spirit of deep sleep. He will shut your eyes. (Your eyes are the prophets.) He will cover your heads. (Your heads are the seers.)
11 To you all these visions will be like words in a book that is closed and sealed. You give this book to someone who can read, saying, “Please read this.” He answers, “I can’t read it. It’s sealed.”
12 Then you give the book to someone who can’t read, saying, “Please read this.” He answers, “I can’t read.”
: These statements of God are addressed to the unbelieving Jews who disregarded His Scriptures (this is comparable to Muslims of today that even of the evidences in front of them, still they refuse to believe on God’s original Scripture, but instead believe on man-made book [Isaiah 29:13].
In verse 9, God tells the Jews that, since they blind themselves towards His Scripture despite of the evidences, He will make them mentally blinded in actual. God will daze or confuse their minds as if they are drunk.
In verses 10-12, God says He will shut the understanding of the prophets so that people can’t understand His Scriptures, like a sealed book that no one can read its contents, they even pass the book among them (literate and illiterate alike) for reading, but no one can read and understand it.
Now Let us compare [Isaiah 29:11-12] with [Sahi Bukhari, Volume 1, Book 1, Number 3]
[Sahi Bukhari, Volume 1, Book 1, Number 3]
The angel came to him and asked him to read. The Prophet replied, “I do not know how to read. The Prophet added, “The angel caught me (forcefully) and pressed me so hard that I could not bear it any more. He then released me and again asked me to read and I replied, ‘I do not know how to read.’ Thereupon he caught me again and pressed me a second time till I could not bear it any more. He then released me and again asked me to read but again I replied, ‘I do not know how to read (or what shall I read)?’ Thereupon he caught me for the third time and pressed me, and then released me and said, ‘Read in the name of your Lord, who has created (all that exists) has created man from a clot. Read!
VERSUS
[Isaiah 29:11-12] is only a description on what will happen if God close His Revelation or Scripture. The people will not understand it, since God will make their wisdom vanished
In [Isaiah 29:14], God does not say He will look for an illiterate non-Jew and have His Revelation understood by him. Likewise in these verses, the presenter of the Scripture to the readers are the people themselves who pass the Scripture to one another. These verses are not talking about Muhammad.
While [Sahi Bukhari, Volume 1, Book 1, Number 3] is a scene of the so-called angel Gabriel revealing the word of Allah to Muhammad. In this passage, the presenter of the Revelation is the angel. Moreover, this angel applied force on Muhammad to have his revelation read. So this passage is far different from [Isaiah 29:11-12] where there is no force applied specifically.
Islam keeps accusing the Bible that it is corrupted, but on the other hand, keeps inserting Muhammad into the Bible. That’s the wonder of Islam.
Contrary to the belief of most nonCatholics and Muslims, the Bible teaches intercession. Abraham, Job, Moses, Samuel, Jeremiah, and other prophets prayed to God for their fellowmen to be forgiven or be healed. Jesus made intercession too and commanded His believers to pray for one another. The prayer of a holy or righteous man is powerful and effective. Can’t Saints hear the prayer of the living because their souls are asleep? Contrary to the belief of nonCatholics, the souls of the holy Ones (Saints) are not asleep (Revelation 6:10). In fact, Enoch and Elijah went to paradise without tasting death. If you have completely followed the will of Jesus perfectly you become righteous in the eyes of God, thus you won’t undergo God’s judgment. The court is intended only for crime committers, therefore if you are sinless, your soul will go directly to God’s paradise.
QUOTED FROM OLD TESTAMENT:
1. [Genesis 20:7] Now return the man’s wife, for he is a prophet; he will pray for you and you will live. But if you do not restore her, be aware that you will surely die–you and all who belong to you.”
2. [Genesis 20:17] Then Abraham prayed to God, and God healed Abimelech and his wife and his maidservants, so that they could again bear children–
3. [Job 42:7-8] After the LORD had spoken these words to Job, He said to Eliphaz the Temanite, “My wrath is kindled against you and your two friends. For you have not spoken about Me accurately, as My servant Job has. So now, take seven bulls and seven rams, go to My servant Job, and sacrifice a burnt offering for yourselves. Then My servant Job will pray for you, for I will accept his prayer and not deal with you according to your folly. For you have not spoken accurately about Me, as My servant Job has.”
4. [2 Chronicles 30:18-20] Although most of the many people who came from Ephraim, Manasseh, Issachar and Zebulun had not purified themselves, yet they ate the Passover, contrary to what was written. But Hezekiah prayed for them, saying, “May the Lord, who is good, pardon everyone who sets their heart on seeking God—the Lord, the God of their ancestors—even if they are not clean according to the rules of the sanctuary.” And the Lord heard Hezekiah and healed the people.
5. [1 Kings 13:6] Then the king responded to the man of God, “Intercede with the LORD your God and pray that my hand may be restored.” So the man of God interceded with the LORD, and the king’s hand was restored to him as it was before.
6. [1 Samuel 2:25] If someone sins against a man, God will mediate for him, but if someone sins against the Lord, who can intercede for him?” But they would not listen to the voice of their father, for it was the will of the Lord to put them to death.
7. [1 Samuel 7:5] Then Samuel said, “Assemble all Israel at Mizpah, and I will intercede with the Lord for you.”
8. [1 Samuel 7:8] and said to Samuel, “Do not stop crying out to the LORD our God for us, that He may save us from the hand of the Philistines.”
9. [1 Samuel 12:19] They pleaded with Samuel, “Pray to the LORD your God for your servants so that we will not die! For we have added to all our sins the evil of asking for a king.”
10. [1 Samuel 12:23] As for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the LORD by ceasing to pray for you. And I will continue to teach you the good and right way.
11. [Isaiah 59:16] And He saw that there was no man, And was astonished that there was no one to intercede; Then His own arm brought salvation to Him, And His righteousness upheld Him.
12. [Jeremiah 15:1] Then the LORD said to me, “Even though Moses and Samuel were to stand before Me, My heart would not be with this people; send them away from My presence and let them go!
13. [Jeremiah 27: 18] If they are indeed prophets and if the word of the LORD is with them, let them intercede with the LORD of Armies not to let the articles that remain in the LORD’s temple, in the palace of the king of Judah, and in Jerusalem go to Babylon.’
14. [Jeremiah 42:2] Jeremiah the prophet and said, “May our petition come before you; pray to the LORD your God on behalf of this entire remnant. For few of us remain of the many, as you can see with your own eyes.
15. [Ezekiel 22:30] “I searched for a man among them who would build up the wall and stand in the gap before Me for the land, so that I would not destroy it; but I found no one.
QUOTED FROM THE NEW TESTAMENT:
1. [Matthew 5:44] But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
2. [Matthew 18:19] Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven.
3. [Luke 6:28] bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.
4. [Luke 23:34] Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do notknow what they are doing.” And they divided up His garments by casting lots.
5. [John 9:31] We know that God does not listen to sinners, but He does listen to the one who worships Him and does His will.
6. [Acts 7:60] Falling on his knees, he cried out in a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep.
7. [Acts 8:24] Then Simon answered, “Pray to the Lord for me, so that nothing you have said may happen to me.”
8. [Acts 19:18] Many of those who believed now came and openly confessed what they had done.
9. [2 Corinthians 1:11] And you are helping us by praying for us. Then many people will give thanks because God has graciously answered so many prayers for our safety.
10. [1 Timothy 2:1] First of all, then, I urge that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgiving be offered for everyone
11. [Romans 8:34] Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.
12. [Hebrews 7:25] Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.
13. [Hebrews 9:15] For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance–now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant.
14. [Hebrews 13:18] Pray for us: for we trust we have a good conscience, in all things willing to live honestly. 23. [James 5:16] Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man has great power to prevail.