Islam and the Jews: The Real Story
by Stephen Yulish PhD
by Stephen Yulish PhD
What does the Bible tell us about peace especially in the turbulent Middle East? It says people cry, peace, peace, but there is no peace (Jeremiah 6:14). It tells us that this feud goes back thousands of years to the half brothers of Abraham, Isaac and Ishmael. While it says that God made his covenant with Isaac (Genesis 17:19) not with Ishmael as Islam alleges, and thus the Land of Israel belongs to God and He will not let it be destroyed, it also says that this feud will continue and culminate in the battle of Armageddon (Revelation 16:16). It says that there will not be peace until the Prince of Peace, Jesus Christ, (Isaiah 9:6) comes back to rule and reign from a rebuilt Temple in Jerusalem for 1000 years (Revelation 20:6).
The Bible also states that both the Muslims as well as the Jews need Jesus Christ or they will continue to fight each other forever, eternally separated from the one and only true God. Thus, as opposed to Farley's revelation that both the Muslim and the Jewish faiths need to be destroyed for world peace, the Bible says that all peoples, including the currently warring Jews and Muslims, need to find the Prince of Peace because "all who call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved" (Romans 10:13). Apparently, there is more mercy and compassion in Christianity than amongst these Guardians of Light.
Both Judaism as well as Islam are works oriented religions that believe that a person's good deeds must outweigh their bad deeds, but ironically in both cases, only God or Allah ultimately decides who enters heaven or goes to hell. There is no blessed assurance of salvation as there is to all who believe in Jesus Christ like there is in Christianity.
According to the Talmud (B'rakhot 28b), even Rabbi Yochanan Ben-Zakkai, one of the greatest rabbis in Jewish history, who after the destruction of the Temple in 70 AD, convened the Yavneh Council to determine the future of Judaism, did not know where he was going when he died. He prayed, was kosher, and was pious more than anyone else and still he did not know.
"Now I am being led before the supreme King of Kings, the Holy One, Blessed be He who lives and endures forever. If He is angry with me, He is angry forever. If He imprisons me, He imprisons me forever. If He puts me to death, he puts me to death forever. I can't persuade Him with words or bribe Him with money. Moreover, there are two ways ahead of me-one leads to Gan-Eden (Paradise-Heaven) and one leads to Gay-Hinnom (Hell) and I do not know which one will take me. How can I do anything but weep?"
Thus, while Jews are mandated to do good works, even the most righteous of rabbis did not know on his deathbed if he would go to heaven or to hell. It was all up to God. This is very similar to Islam which is not surprising because Muhammad was very influenced by the Jew's Torah, the Prophets, the Talmud, the Midrash and even some apocryphal works.
The Quran states: "Allah forgives whom he pleases and punishes whom he pleases for Allah has power over all things" surah 2:284
"Then those whose balance (of good deeds) is heavy, they will be successful. But those whose balance is light will be those who have lost their souls; in hell they will abide" surah 23:102-103
Muhammad departed from Judaism in many ways which led the Jews to reject his teachings. In particular, he departed from Judaism in calling for a violent propagation of Islam. In fact he called for the death of the unbelieving Jews.
"Fight against them until there is no dissension and the religion is for Allah." surah 2:193
One sure way for a Muslim to get into heaven was to die a martyr. In Christianity, Jesus came to be our sin bearer and to die for us (Ephesians 1:7). He shed His blood so we do not have to. In Islam, Muhammad commanded his followers to shed their blood and the blood of others to get into heaven. Muhammad spoke of your blood while Jesus spoke of His blood.
"And if you are slain or die in the way of Allah, forgiveness and mercy from Allah are far better than all they could amass." surah 3:157
"The blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from all sin." John 1:7
When a Christian lies on his deathbed, he does not have to weep not knowing if Jesus will take him to heaven or send him to hell. He does not have to kill others or die a martyr to have assurance of heaven. All he has to have done is call upon the name of Jesus to save him from his rightful destiny in hell and bear his sins and make him righteous in Him.
"For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." Romans 10:13
We are saved by God's grace not our works.
"For by grace you are saved through faith and that is not of yourselves, it is a gift of God not of works lest any man should boast." Ephesians 2:8-9
"Come unto me all who labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest." Matthew 11:28-30
And we know that this peace and this salvation only come through the name of Jesus Christ-not Moses nor Muhammad nor Mary nor Guardians nor Ascended Masters.
"And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved." Acts 4:12
Therefore, salvation (i.e. going to heaven) is not based on what we do (Ephesians 2:8-9) but on Who we know (Luke 23:42-43, John 3:16-17, Acts 4:12).
Damnation (i.e. going to hell) is not based on what we do but on what we don't do (2Thessalonians 1:8-9).
That is why there are some thieves, murderers, adulterers, homosexuals, serial killers, rapists, psychics, Satanists, Muslims and Jews in heaven and some Popes, evangelical preachers, Nobel Prize winners, physicians and caregivers, as well as many self proclaimed christians in hell.
Our eternal destiny, no matter what that may ultimately be, thus depends entirely upon our relationship with Jesus Christ not on our deeds (works) no matter how good or how bad they may have been. For Christ's death on the cross and his resurrection on the third day provides for repentance for forgiveness of all our sins (Luke 24:46-47) and thus all who call upon the Lord will be saved no matter how "bad" they may have been (1Timothy 1:15). Likewise, all who do not call upon Jesus, no matter how "good" they may have been, will perish (2Thessalonians 2:12).
Its all about what He did not what we did (Romans 3:23-24).
Thank God for His amazing grace and mercy to all of us unworthy sinners.
We as believers in the Lord Jesus Christ have that blessed assurance of eternal life with Him (John 5:24, 1John 5:13). We don't have to earn it or kill for it. All we have to do is to believe. It is so easy yet it is foolishness for those who are perishing (1Corinthians 1:18).
The Rabbis say "Whoever mocks the words of Sages [becomes a Christian] is punished [in hell] with boiling hot excrement" Talmud, B.Gittin 57a
Muhammad said "Whoever changes his Islamic religion-kill him" Hadith 9:57
We all need to pray that both the Muslims as well as the Jews have their eyes opened to the truth of Jesus Christ, for this is the only way that they will ever be at peace with one another or with God. This is especially hard for Jews and Muslims because both have severe repercussions for their people who become Christians. May God give them strength and boldness in their decision to call upon the name of the Lord.
This is a far better alternative then the call for destroying them in the name of world peace and enlightenment.
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