It is He Who sent down to thee (step by step), in truth, the Book, confirming what went before it; and He sent down the Law (of Moses) and the Gospel (of Jesus) before this, as a guide to mankind, and He sent down the criterion (of judgment between right and wrong). (Qur'an, 3:3)
"'(I have come to you), to attest the Law which was before me. And to make lawful to you part of what was (Before) forbidden to you; I have come to you with a Sign from your Lord. So fear Allah, and obey me. (Qur'an, 3:50) |
We have remarked in the previous chapters that Jesus' return is very important to Christians. The reason for this is that the Bible, which comprises the Old Testament (the Torah [its first five books] and other Jewish writings) and the New Testament (the Four Gospels, various letters and accounts of leading early Christians, and the Revelation of St. John), contains many revelations about the End Times. Jesus' second coming figures prominently in the New Testament.
... "O Mary! Allah giveth thee glad tidings of a Word from Him: his name will be Christ Jesus..."
(Qur'an, 3:45) |
The Old Testament and the New Testament provide various explanations about future events. As we know, while the Old Testament does not mention Jesus by name, it reveals the coming of a savior. The holy personage known as the “Messiah,” whose coming the Jews await in the End Times, is in fact “Hazrat Mahdi” anticipated by Muslims. (For details, see The Mahdi Is A Descendent of the Prophet Abraham (pbuh), 2008) The “Mahdi” of Islam therefore appears as the “Messiah” in Jewish scriptures. An examination of the Torah and other holy Judaic writings shows that the personage described as the “Messiah” has the same characteristics, will do the same things and will be instrumental in bringing about the same changes as Hazrat Mahdi (as). But the Prophet Jesus, whose return to Earth as the “Messiah” Christians await, is not “Mahdi (as).” Muslims also believe that the Prophet Jesus will return in the End Times: but when the Prophet Jesus appears he will follow Mahdi (as), and these two blessed personages together will be instrumental, by God’s leave, in the moral values of Islam, the one true faith, coming to rule the world. This information, which appears in numerous authentic hadiths, shows that the Prophet Jesus and Hazrat Mahdi will meet together and speak to one another in the End Times. The New Testament is full of revelations concerning Jesus' second coming, the accompanying signs, and the End Times. The Qur'an reveals that both the Torah and the Gospel have been tampered with over time and that, as a result, they contain false beliefs. While some parts may have remained true to their original form, other parts have been modified, altered, and added to by various people. Given this, we can rely only on their revelations insofar as they are compatible with the Qur'an and the hadiths. As the following examples will demonstrate, there is a great deal of similarity between the Jewish, Christian, and Islamic sources on Jesus' second coming and the EndTimes. As the Christians consider their holy book (the Bible) to consist of both the Old Testament and the New Testament, they interpret the relevant subjects in light of these two books. When we examine the Bible, we see that Jesus' second coming is a central theme. The revelations here relate the natural phenomena and social events that will take place before and after his return. When we look at the Prophet's (may God bless him and grant him peace) hadiths relating these events, we notice that the signs of the End Times appear to be more imminent than they were in the past. (For detailed information, see Harun Yahya, Signs of the Last Day, Global Publishing, Istanbul, 2003) Interestingly, almost all of signs heralding the advent of the Last Day have appeared in our time. Therefore, we can say that given the information in the Islamic sources, as well as in the Old and New Testaments, the End Times have arrived. The New Testament's Account of Jesus' Second Coming
Then We sent Our Messengers following in their footsteps, and sent Jesus son of Mary after them, giving him the Gospel… (Qur’an, 57:27) |
Out of the New Testament's 259 chapters, 210 of them contain 318 references about Jesus' second coming. Clear statements are given below on Jesus' ascent to God's presence and his return to Earth, as follows: "... I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me, [so] that you also may be where I am." (John 14:2-3) "So if anyone tells you: 'There he [the Messiah] is, out in the desert,' do not go out; or: 'Here he is, in the inner rooms,' do not believe it. For as lightning that comes from the east is visible even in the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man." (Matthew 24:26-27) So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him. (Matthew 24:44) ... The appearing of our teacher Jesus, which God will bring about in His own time-God, the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see. To him be honor and might forever. Amen. (1 Timothy 6:15-16) Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day-and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing. (2 Timothy 4:8) And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come. (Matthew 24:14) "At that time, the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky and all the nations of Earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky, with power and great glory." (Matthew 24:30) "Men of Galilee," they [angels] 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." (Acts 1:11) "For our citizenship is in Heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for ... the teacher Jesus Christ." (Philippians 3:20) "Look, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him." (Revelation 1:7) I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers, so that you may not be conceited: Israel has experienced a hardening in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in. And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: "The deliverer will come from Zion; he will turn godlessness away from [the line of] Jacob. (Romans 11:25-26) Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. Even so, when you see all these things, you know that it [the coming of Jesus] is near, right at the door. (Matthew 24:32-33) When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. (Matthew 25:31) As stated earlier, Jesus will inauguate an era of justice, wealth, and virtue upon his second coming. As the New Testament says: Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. (Matthew 5:5) This, then, is how you should pray: ... Your kingdom come ... (Matthew 6:9-10) People will come from the east and the west, and [from] the north and the south, and will take their places at the feast in the kingdom of God. Indeed, there are those who are last who will be first, and first who will be last. (Luke 13:29-30) He [Jesus] told them this parable: "Look at the fig tree and all the trees. When they sprout leaves, you can see for yourselves and know that summer is near. Even so, when you see these things happening, you know that the kingdom of God is near.” (Luke 21:29-31) Then the King will say to those on his right, “Come, you who are blessed by ... [God]; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.” (Matthew 25:34) Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? ... (1 Corinthians 6:2) Clearly, there are striking similarities between the accounts of Islam, Christianity, and Judaism concerning the portents that will come about in the End Times and the global rule of religious morality. This harmony has engendered a great anticipation in all three religions. The era in which we live is probably the one in which the anticipation of this miracle has reached its apex and is also near to be fulfilled. This is a great news that helps the believers retain their high morale. |
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