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Minggu, 04 September 2016

A Roman Catholic priest meets Jesus (Richard Bennett)

From Tradition to Truth
Born Irish, in a family of eight, my early childhood was fulfilled and happy. My father was a colonel in the Irish Army until he retired when I was about nine. As a family, we loved to play, sing, and act, all within a military camp in Dublin.
We were a typical Irish Roman Catholic family. My father sometimes knelt down to pray at his bedside in a solemn manner. My mother would talk to Jesus while sewing, washing dishes, or even smoking a cigarette. Most evenings we would kneel in the living room to say the Rosary together. No one ever missed Mass on Sundays unless he was seriously ill. By the time I was about five or six years of age, Jesus Christ was a very real person to me, but so also were Mary and the saints. I can identify easily with others in traditional Catholic nations in Europe and with Hispanics and Filipinos who put Jesus, Mary, Joseph, and other saints all in one boiling pot of faith.
The catechism was drilled into me at the Jesuit School of Belvedere, where I had all my elementary and secondary education. Like every boy who studies under the Jesuits, I could recite before the age of ten five reasons why God existed and why the Pope was head of the only true Church. Getting souls out of Purgatory was a serious matter. The often quoted words, "It is a holy and a wholesome thought to pray for the dead that they may be loosed from sins," were memorized even though we did not know what these words meant. We were told that the Pope as head of the Church was the most important man on earth. What he said was law, and the Jesuits were his right-hand men. Even though the Mass was in Latin, I tried to attend daily because I was intrigued by the deep sense of mystery which surrounded it.
We were told it was the most important way to please God. Praying to saints was encouraged, and we had patron saints for most aspects of life. I did not make a practise of that, with one exception: St. Anthony, the patron of lost objects, since I seemed to lose so many things.
When I was fourteen years old, I sensed a call to be a missionary. This call, however, did not affect the way in which I conducted my life at that time. Age sixteen to eighteen were the most fulfilled and enjoyable years a youth could have. During this time, I did quite well both academically and athletically.
I often had to drive my mother to the hospital for treatments. While waiting for her, I found quoted in a book these verses from Mark 10:29-30, "And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel's, But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life." Not having any idea of the true salvation message, I decided that I truly did have a call to be a missionary.
Trying to earn salvation I left my family and friends in 1956 to join the Dominican Order. I spent eight years studying what it is to be a monk, the traditions of the Church, philosophy, the theology of Thomas Aquinas, and some of the Bible from a Catholic standpoint. Whatever personal faith I had was institutionalized and ritualized in the Dominican religious system. Obedience to the law, both Church and Dominican, was put before me as the means of sanctification. I often spoke to Ambrose Duffy, our Master of Students, about the law being the means of becoming holy. In addition to becoming "holy," I wanted also to be sure of eternal salvation. I memorized part of the teaching of Pope Pius XII in which he said, "...the salvation of many depends on the prayers and sacrifices of the mystical body of Christ offered for this intention." This idea of gaining salvation through suffering and prayer is also the basic message of Fatima and Lourdes, and I sought to win my own salvation as well as the salvation of others by such suffering and prayer.
In the Dominican monastery in Tallaght, Dublin, I performed many difficult feats to win souls, such as taking cold showers in the middle of winter and beating my back with a small steel chain. The Master of Students knew what I was doing, his own austere life being part of the inspiration that I had received from the Pope's words. With rigor and determination, I studied, prayed, did penance, tried to keep the Ten Commandments and the multitude of Dominican rules and traditions.

Outward Pomp -- Inner Emptiness

Then in 1963 at the age of twenty-five I was ordained a Roman Catholic priest and went on to finish my course of studies of Thomas Aquinas at The Angelicum University in Rome. But there I had difficulty with both the outward pomp and the inner emptiness. Over the years I had formed, from pictures and books, pictures in my mind of the Holy See and the Holy City. Could this be the same city? At the Angelicum University I was also shocked that hundreds of others who poured into our morning classes seemed quite disinterested in theology. I noticed Time and Newsweek magazines being read during classes. Those who were interested in what was being taught seemed only to be looking for either degrees or positions within the Catholic Church in their homelands.
One day I went for a walk in the Colosseum so that my feet might tread the ground where the blood of so many Christians had been poured out. I walked to the arena in the Forum. I tried to picture in my mind those men and women who knew Christ so well that they were joyfully willing to be burned at the stake or devoured alive by beasts because of His overpowering love. The joy of this experience was marred, however, for as I went back in the bus I was insulted by jeering youths shouting words meaning "scum or garbage." I sensed their motivation for such insults was not because I stood for Christ as the early Christians did but because they saw in me the Roman Catholic system. Quickly, I put this contrast out of my mind, yet what I had been taught about the present glories of Rome now seemed very irrelevant and empty.
One night soon after that, I prayed for two hours in front of the main altar in the church of San Clemente. Remembering my earlier youthful call to be a missionary and the hundredfold promise of Mark 10:29-30, I decided not to take the theological degree that had been my ambition since beginning study of the theology of Thomas Aquinas. This was a major decision, but after long prayer I was sure I had decided correctly.
The priest who was to direct my thesis did not want to accept my decision. In order to make the degree easier, he offered me a thesis written several years earlier. He said I could useit as my own if only I would do the oral defense. This turned my stomach. It was similar to what I had seen a few weeks earlier in a city park: elegant prostitutes parading themselves in their black leather boots. What he was offering was equally sinful. I held to my decision, finishing at the University at the ordinary academic level, without the degree.
On returning from Rome, I received official word that I had been assigned to do a three year course at Cork University. I prayed earnestly about my missionary call. To my surprise, I received orders in late August 1964 to go to Trinidad, West Indies, as a missionary.

Pride, Fall, And A New Hunger

On October 1, 1964, I arrived in Trinidad, and for seven years I was a successful priest, in Roman Catholic terms, doing all my duties and getting many people to come to Mass. By 1972 I had become quite involved in the Catholic Charismatic Movement. Then, at a prayer meeting on March 16th of that year, I thanked the Lord that I was such a good priest and requested that if it were His will, He humble me that I might be even better. Later that same evening I had a freak accident, splitting the back of my head and hurting my spine in many places. Without thus coming close to death, I doubt that I would ever have gotten out of my self- satisfied state. Rote, set prayer showed its emptiness as I cried out to God in my pain.
In the suffering that I went through in the weeks after the accident, I began to find some comfort in direct personal prayer. I stopped saying the Breviary (the Roman Catholic Church's official prayer for clergy) and the Rosary and began to pray using parts of the Bible itself. This was a very slow process. I did not know my way through the Bible and the little I had learned over the years had taught me more to distrust it rather than to trust it. My training in philosophy and in the theology of Thomas Aquinas left me helpless, so that coming into the Bible now to find the Lord was like going into a huge dark woods without a map.
When assigned to a new parish later that year, I found that I was to work side-by-side with a Dominican priest who had been a brother to me over the years. For more than two years we were to work together, fully seeking God as best we knew in the parish of Pointe-a-Pierre. We read, studied, prayed, and put into practise what we had been taught in Church teaching. We built up communities in Gasparillo, Claxton Bay, and Marabella, just to mention the main villages. In a Catholic religious sense we were very successful. Many people attended Mass. The Catechism was taught in many schools, including government schools. I continued my personal search into the Bible, but it did not much affect the work we were doing; rather it showed me how little I really knew about the Lord and His Word. It was at this time that Philippians 3:10 became the cry of my heart, "That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection...."
About this time the Catholic Charismatic movement was growing, and we introduced it into most of our villages. Because of this movement, some Canadian Christians came to Trinidad to share with us. I learned much from their messages, especially about praying for healing. The whole impact of what they said was very experience-oriented but was truly a blessing, insofar, as it got me deeply into the Bible as an authority source. I began to compare scripture with scripture and even to quote chapter and verse! One of the texts the Canadians used was Isaiah 53:5, "...and with his stripes we are healed." Yet in studying Isaiah 53, I discovered that the Bible deals with the problem of sin by means of substitution. Christ died in my place. It was wrong for me to try to expidite or try to cooperate in paying the price of my sin.
"If by grace, it is no more of works, otherwise grace is no more grace.." Romans 11:6. "All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all" (Isaiah 53:6).
One particular sin of mine was getting annoyed with people, sometimes even angry. Although I asked forgiveness for my sins, I still did not realize that I was a sinner by the nature which we all inherit from Adam. The scriptural truth is, "As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one" (Romans 3:10), and "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23). The Catholic Church, however, had taught me that the depravity of man, which is called "original sin," had been washed away by my infant baptism. I still held this belief in my head, but in my heart I knew that my depraved nature had not yet been conquered by Christ.
"That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection..." (Philippians 3:10) continued to be the cry of my heart. I knew that it could be only through His power that I could live the Christian life. I posted this text on the dashboard of my car and in other places. It became the plea that motivated me, and the Lord who is Faithful began to answer.

The Ultimate Question

First, I discovered that God's Word in the Bible is absolute and without error. I had been taught that the Word is relative and that its truthfulness in many areas was to be questioned. Now I began to understand that the Bible could, in fact, be trusted. With the aid of Strong's Concordance, I began to study the Bible to see what it says about itself. I discovered that the Bible teaches clearly that it is from God and is absolute in what it says. It is true in its history, in the promises God has made, in its prophecies, in the moral commands it gives, and in how to live the Christian life. "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works" (II Timothy 3:16-17).
This discovery was made while visiting in Vancouver, B.C., and in Seattle. When I was asked to talk to the prayer group in St. Stephen's Catholic Church, I took as my subject the absolute authority of God's Word. It was the first time that I had understood such a truth or talked about it. I returned to Vancouver, B.C. and in a large parish Church, before about 400 people, I preached the same message. Bible in hand, I proclaimed that "the absolute and final authority in all matters of faith and morals is the Bible, God's own Word."
Three days later, the archbishop of Vancouver, B.C., James Carney, called me to his office. I was then officially silenced and forbidden to preach in his archdiocese. I was told that my punishment would have been more severe, were it not for the letter of recommendation I had received from my own archbishop, Anthony Pantin. Soon afterwards I returned to Trinidad.

Church-Bible Dilemma

While I was still parish priest of Point-a-Pierre, Ambrose Duffy, the man who had so strictly taught me while he was Student Master, was asked to assist me. The tide had turned. After some initial difficulties, we became close friends. I shared with him what I was discovering. He listened and commented with great interest and wanted to find out what was motivating me. I saw in him a channel to my Dominican brothers and even to those in the Archbishop's house.
When he died suddenly of a heart attack, I was stricken with grief. In my mind, I had seen Ambrose as the one who could make sense out of the Church-Bible dilemma with which I so struggled. I had hoped that he would have been able to explain to me and then to my Dominican brothers the truths with which I wrestled. I preached at his funeral and my despair was very deep.
I continued to pray Philippians 3:10, "That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection...." But to learn more about Him, I had first to learn about myself as a sinner. I saw from the Bible (I Timothy 2:5) that the role I was playing as a priestly mediator -- exactly what the Catholic Church teaches but exactly opposite to what the Bible teaches -- was wrong. I really enjoyed being looked up to by the people and, in a certain sense, being idolized by them. I rationalized my sin by saying that after all, if this is what the biggest Church in the world teaches, who am I to question it? Still, I struggled with the conflict within. I began to see the worship of Mary, the saints, and the priests for the sin that it is. But while I was willing to renounce Mary and the saints as mediators, I could not renounce the priesthood, for in that I had invested my whole life.

Tug-Of-War Years

Mary, the saints, and the priesthood were just a small part of the huge struggle with which I was working. Who was Lord of my life, Jesus Christ in His Word or the Roman Church? This ultimate question raged inside me especially during my last six years as parish priest of Sangre Grande (1979-1985). That the Catholic Church was supreme in all matters of faith and morals had been dyed into my brain since I was a child. It looked impossible ever to change.
Rome was not only supreme but always called "Holy Mother." How could I ever go against "Holy Mother," all the more so since I had an official part in dispensing her sacraments and keeping people faithful to her? In 1981, I actually rededicated myself to serving the Roman Catholic Church while attending a parish renewal seminar in New Orleans. Yet when I returned to Trinidad and again became involved in real life problems, I began to return to the authority of God's Word. Finally the tension became like a tug-of-war inside me. Sometimes I looked to the Roman Church as being absolute, sometimes to the authority of the Bible as being final. My stomach suffered much during those years; my emotions were being torn. I ought to have known the simple truth that one cannot serve two masters. My working position was to place the absolute authority of the Word of God under the supreme authority of the Roman Church.
This contradiction was symbolized in what I did with the four statues in the Sangre Grande Church. I removed and broke the statues of St. Francis and St. Martin because the second commandment of God's Law declares in Exodus 20:4, "Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image...." But when some of the people objected to my removal of the statues of the Sacred Heart and of Mary, I left them standing because the higher authority, i.e., the Roman Catholic Church, said in its law Canon 1188: "The practise of displaying sacred images in the churches for the veneration of the faithful is to remain in force."
I did not see that what I was trying to do was to make God's Word subject to man's word. My Own Fault While I had learned earlier that God's Word is absolute, I still went through this agony of trying to maintain the Roman Catholic Church as holding more authority than God's Word, even in issues where the Church of Rome was saying the exact opposite to what was in the Bible.
How could this be? First of all, it was my own fault. If I had accepted the authority of the Bible as supreme, I would have been convicted by God's Word to give up my priestly role as mediator, but that was too precious to me. Second, no one ever questioned what I did as a priest.
Christians from overseas came to Mass, saw our sacred oils, holy water, medals, statues, vestments, rituals, and never said a word! The marvelous style, symbolism, music, and artistic taste of the Roman Church was all very captivating. Incense not only smells pungent, but to the mind it spells mystery.

The Turning Point

One day, a woman challenged me (the only Christian ever to challenge me in all my 22 years as a priest), "You Roman Catholics have a form of godliness, but you deny its power." Those words bothered me for some time because the lights, banners, folk music, guitars, and drums were dear to me. Probably no priest on the whole island of Trinidad had as colorful robes, banners, and vestments as I had. Clearly I did not apply what was before my eyes.
In October 1985, God's grace was greater than the lie that I was trying to live. I went to Barbados to pray over the compromise that I was forcing myself to live. I felt truly trapped. The Word of God is absolute indeed. I ought to obey it alone; yet to the very same God I had vowed obedience to the supreme authority of the Catholic Church. In Barbados I read a book in which was explained the Biblical meaning of Church as "the fellowship of believers." In the New Testament there is no hint of a hierarchy; "Clergy" lording it over the "laity" is unknown. Rather, it is as the Lord Himself declared "...one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren" (Matthew 23:8).
Now to see and to understand the meaning of church as "fellowship" left me free to let go of the Roman Catholic Church as supreme authority and depend on Jesus Christ as Lord. It began to dawn on me that in Biblical terms, the Bishops I knew in the Catholic Church were not Biblical believers. They were for the most part pious men taken up with devotion to Mary and the Rosary and loyal to Rome, but not one had any idea of the finished work of salvation, that Christ's work is done, that salvation is personal and complete. They all preached penance for sin, human suffering, religious deeds, "the way of man" rather than the Gospel of grace. But by God's grace I saw that it was not through the Roman Church nor by any kind of works that one is saved, "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast" (Ephesians 2:8-9).

New Birth at Age 48

I left the Roman Catholic Church when I saw that life in Jesus Christ was not possible while remaining true to Roman Catholic doctrine. In leaving Trinidad in November 1985, I only reached neighboring Barbados. Staying with an elderly couple, I prayed to the Lord for a suit and necessary money to reach Canada, for I had only tropical clothing and a few hundred dollars to my name. Both prayers were answered without making my needs known to anyone except the Lord.
From a tropical temperature of 90 degrees, I landed in snow and ice in Canada. After one month in Vancouver, I came to the United States of America. I now trusted that He would take care of my many needs, since I was beginning life anew at 48 years of age, practically penniless, without an alien resident card, without a driver's license, without a recommendation of any kind, having only the Lord and His Word.
I spent six months with a Christian couple on a farm in Washington State. I explained to my hosts that I had left the Roman Catholic Church and that I had accepted Jesus Christ and His Word in the Bible as all-sufficient. I had done this, I said, "absolutely, finally, definitively, and resolutely." Yet far from being impressed by these four adverbs, they wanted to know if there was any bitterness or hurt inside me. In prayer and in great compassion, they ministered to me, for they themselves had made the transition and knew how easily one can become embittered. Four days after I arrived in their home, by God's grace I began to see in repentance the fruit of salvation. This meant being able not only to ask the Lord's pardon for my many years of compromising but also to accept His healing where I had been so deeply hurt. Finally, at age 48, on the authority of God's Word alone, by grace alone, I accepted Christ's substitutionary death on the Cross alone. To Him alone be the glory.
Having been refurbished both physically and spiritually by this Christian couple together with their family, I was provided a wife by the Lord, Lynn, born-again in faith, lovely in manner, intelligent in mind. Together we set out for Atlanta, Georgia, where we both got jobs.

A Real Missionary With A Real Message

In September 1988, we left Atlanta to go as missionaries to Asia. It was a year of deep fruitfulness in the Lord that once I would never have thought was possible. Men and women came to know the authority of the Bible and the power of Christ's death and resurrection. I was amazed at how easy it is for the Lord's grace to be effective when only the Bible is used to present Jesus Christ. This contrasted with the cobwebs of church tradition that had so clouded my 21 years in missionary garments in Trinidad, 21 years without the real message.
To explain the abundant life of which Jesus spoke and which I now enjoy, no better words could be used than those of Romans 8:1-2: "There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death." It is not just that I have been freed from the Roman Catholic system, but that I have become a new creature in Christ. It is by the grace of God, and nothing but His grace, that I have gone from dead works into new life.

Testimony to the Gospel of Grace

Back in 1972, when some Christians had taught me about the Lord healing our bodies, how much more helpful it would have been had they explained to me on what authority our sinful nature is made right with God. The Bible clearly shows that Jesus substituted for us on the cross. I cannot express it better than Isaiah 53:5: "But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed." (This means that Christ took on himself what I ought to suffer for my sins. Before the Father, I trust in Jesus as my substitute.)
That was written 750 years before the crucifixion of our Lord. A short time after the sacrifice of the cross, the Bible states in I Peter 2:24: "Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed."
Because we inherited our sin nature from Adam, we have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. How can we stand before a Holy God -- except in Christ -- and acknowledge that He died where we ought to have died? God gives us the faith to be born again, making it possible for us to acknowledge Christ as our substitute. It was Christ who paid the price for our sins: sinless, yet He was crucified. This is the true Gospel message. Is faith enough? Yes, born-again faith is enough. That faith, born of God, will result in good works including repentance: "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them" (Ephesians 2:10).
In repenting, we put aside, through God's strength, our former way of life and our former sins. It does not mean that we cannot sin again, but it does mean that our position before God has changed. We are called children of God, for so indeed we are. If we do sin, it is a relationship problem with the Father which can be resolved, not a problem of losing our position as a child of God in Christ, for this position is irrevocable. In Hebrews 10:10, the Bible says it so wonderfully: "...we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all."
The finished work of Christ Jesus on the Cross is sufficient and complete. As you trust solely in this finished work, a new life which is born of the Spirit will be yours -- you will be born again.

The Present Day

My present task: the good work that the Lord has prepared for me to do is as an evangelist situated in the Pacific Northwest of the U.S.A. What Paul said about his fellow Jews I say about my dearly loved Catholic brothers: my heart's desire and prayer to God for Catholics is that they may be saved. I can testify about them that they are zealous for God, but their zeal is not based in God's Word but in their church tradition. If you understand the devotion and agony that some of our brothers and sisters in the Philippines and South America have put into their religion, you may understand my heart's cry: "Lord, give us a compassion to understand the pain and torment of the search our brothers and sisters have made to please You. In understanding pain inside the Catholic hearts, we will have the desire to show them the Good News of Christ's finished work on the Cross."
My testimony shows how difficult it was for me as a Catholic to give up Church tradition, but when the Lord demands it in His Word, we must do it. The "form of godliness" that the Roman Catholic Church has makes it most difficult for a Catholic to see where the real problem lies. Everyone must determine by what authority we know truth. Rome claims that it is only by her own authority that truth is known. In her own words, Cannon 212, Section 1, "The Christian faithful, conscious of their own responsibility, are bound by Christian obedience to follow what the sacred pastors, as representatives of Christ, declare as teachers of the faith or determine as leaders of the Church." (Vatican Council II based, Code of Canon Law promulgated by Pope John-Paul II, 1983).
Yet according to the Bible, it is God's Word itself which is the authority by which truth is known. It was man-made traditions which caused the Reformers to demand "the Bible only, faith only, grace only, in Christ only, and to God only be the glory."

The Reason Why I Share

I share these truths with you now so that you can know God's way of salvation. Our basic fault as Catholics is that we believe that somehow we can of ourselves respond to the help God gives us to be right in His sight. This presupposition that many of us have carried for years is aptly defined in the Catechism of the Catholic Church (1994) #2021, "Grace is the help God gives us to respond to our vocation of becoming his adopted sons...."
With that mindset, we were unknowingly holding to a teaching that the Bible continually condemns. Such a definition of grace is man's careful fabrication, for the Bible consistently declares that the believer's right standing with God is "without works" (Romans 4:6), "without the deeds of the Law" (Romans 3:28), "not of works" (Ephesians 2:9), "It is the gift of God," (Ephesians 2:8). To attempt to make the believer's response part of his salvation and to look upon grace as "a help" is to flatly deny Biblical truth,
"...if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace..." (Romans 11:6). The simple Biblical message is that "the gift of righteousness" in Christ Jesus is a gift, resting on His all-sufficient sacrifice on the cross, "For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ" (Romans 5:17).
So it is as Christ Jesus Himself said, He died in place of the believer, the One for many (Mark 10:45), His life a ransom for many. As He declared, ...this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins" (Matthew 26:28). This is also what Peter proclaimed, "For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God..." (I Peter 3:18).
Paul's preaching is summarized at the end of II Corinthians 5:21, "For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.." (II Cor. 5:21).
This fact, dear reader, is presented clearly to you in the Bible. Acceptance of it is now commanded by God, "...Repent ye, and believe the gospel" (Mark 1:15).
The most difficult repentance for us dyed-in-the-wool Catholics is changing our mind from thoughts of "meriting," "earning," "being good enough," simply to accepting with empty hands the gift of righteousness in Christ Jesus. To refuse to accept what God commands is the same sin as that of the religious Jews of Paul's time, "For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God." (Romans 10:3)
Repent and believe the Good News!

Miracles in India

In January, 1999 I spent a couple of weeks in India, in the southern State of Kerala. In the course of my trip there I had the opportunity to speak to a number of Christians, and also to unbelievers, telling them about Jesus and what God can do. I also had the opportunity to pray for the sick in Jesus' name.
Quite a number of people were healed of all sorts of medical conditions through faith in the name of Jesus. There were people healed of breathing problems, back problems and a variety of other things. But the one miracle that stood out to me was a young girl brought to me by her father. She was totally deaf mute. I prayed for her one night but nothing seemed to change. The next night she was brought to me and I commanded the deaf-mute spirits to come out of her in Jesus' name. I want to praise God for this, because she actually began, first of all to hear, and then to make sounds for the first time in her life. Many people believed in Jesus because of these healings in this remote Indian village.
All this has resulted in the establishment of a new church in that area. The new pastor, I am told, has a lot of work on his hands - plenty of enquirers. More reports of healing have come back, including one of a lady who was totally blind but is now reading her Bible. To God be the glory!
Jesus said, "These signs will follow those who believe. In my name they will drive out demons, they will speak with new tongues ... they will lay hands on the sick and they shall recover." (Mark 16:17,18). How can we expect unbelievers to trust the Word of God if we Christians don't even believe it ourselves? But if we do believe it, then let us act on it ALL, and trust God to confirm His Word with signs following.
Has God appointed anyone to tell believers which parts of the Bible we should no longer believe and act upon? If not, lets get motivated and draw near to God, so we can understand the meaning of Jesus when He said, "All things are possible to those who believe."
Note: This was not my last trip to India. On my next trip to India we recorded more miracles on video tapes. We had 5 hours of testimonies recorded from people healed in those meetings. Even the muslim cameraman got healed of a growth on his arm! To God be the glory.
Brother Michael

SEVEN DAYS IN HEAVEN

Emmanuel Tuwagiraimana is from Rwanda, central Africa. Before 1994, he had been living as a Christian but he was not faithful in his walk with God. During the Rwandan genocide of 1994, Emmanuel and his friends were trapped in Kabwai School, Gitarama town, about 45km from Kigali, the capital of Rwanda. Emmanuel could not walk as he had suffered severe bomb sharpenels that had left him with severe wounds all over the body. They could not move out of the school because it was risky and very dangerous. Due to lack of medical attention, one morning Emmanuel was found dead by his friends. They wrapped his swollen and smelling body in a bed cover and pushed it in a far corner in the room. By now, smelling fluids were oozing out of Emmanuels dead body.
Emmanuel says he did not know how suddenly he went out of his body. He found himself at a big gate. Two men stood at that gate and intoduced themselves. They said: "We are angels. Now you are standing at the gate of the heaven" When Emmanuel looked upon himself, he realised that he was putting on a very beautiful body, unlike the earthly one. The two men took him through sweet smelling garden of flowers. They took him to a man who introduced himself as Christ. Jesus presented himself to Emmanuel in two forms. First he presented himself with a body of scars. He showed Emmanuel the scars made by nails at the cross. After Jesus knew that Emmanuel had no more doubts, He (Jesus) started moving with Emmanuel while he put on a very beautiful body with no scars. Jesus told Emmanuel many things. Then they came together back to earth. They went to Rwanda and stood in the very room where Emmanuel's body lay. They stood in the air and morever, no one could see them. Jesus showed Emmanuel his dead body. Emmanuel says it looked terrible. "It looked like a dead cow!" Emmanuel says. They could hear the voices of people in the room. They were saing:"Oh, the saved man had died!"
Jesus told Emmanuel that one day he would go back into that rotten body.
Jesus took Emmanuel back to heaven and showed him a city of very beautiful houses. Emmanuel says he has never seen such houses. Then he was shown a lake. Jesus told him that his time had not come yet so he coulkd not cross that lake. Accross the lake he could see living persons. When he looked closely, he saw a Moslem man he had known in Rwanda. Also, he could recognise some Christians he had worked with. He asked Jesus how these people could be there. Christ told him that these people succeeded to make it to heaven to be with God. Emmanuel asked how a Moslem could be among them. Jesus told him: "As he was dying, that man called upon my name and I saved him from eternal fire". Then Emmanuel asked about a certain dead Sister in the Lord with whom they had been ministering to in Rwanda. Jesus told him that she could not come to heaven because she died with a lot of unforgiveness and bitterness in her heart.
She had refused to forgive her fellow Christians who did not visit her in a Rwandan hospital. Then Emmanuel asked about a certain dead man with whom they were praying. Jesus told him that man could not go to heaven because he kept on stealing money collected by Christians to help the sick in hospitals.
Emmanuel was taken to hell. Hell is filthy and people are made to work day and night. There is no rest. All beings there are naked.
Then Jesus brought something that looked like a chocolate bar. Jesus told Emmanuel to eat it. He ate it and true, it tated like chocolate. He ate the whole of it. Jesus told him: "You have eaten the Bible. Now it is in your head, you will be able to memorise it every where you go" [This is true. Emmanuel has all the scriptures in his head].
Seven days after he had died on earth, Jesus told Emmanuel it was time to go back in his body. At first Emmanuel refused leaving heaven. But Jesus just touched him with the tip of his finger. Emmnuesl found himself in a dead rotten body. He says he struggled with one arm to keep the maggots out of his mouth. His friends in the room could not believe their eyes when they saw Emmanuels moving body. The straps got loose and Emmanuel sat down. His friends run out of the school shouting that they had seen a ghost! But Emmanuel also shouted calling them and assuring them he was not a ghost. He aws given food and taken to the hospital.
One of Emmanuel's arms had rotten to the extent of almost falling off. Doctors in Rwanda decided to amputate it but God told Emmanuel not to accept. In God's supernatural working ways, God appeared to a white doctor in Australia. He told him to go to Rwanda to do surgery on Emmanuel's arm so that it is not amputated. In a strange vision, God gave this doctor a picture of Emmanuel and the address of the Rwandan hospital. This Doctor obeyed and saved Emmanuels right arm in Rwanda! [note: from 1994 to 1999 Emanuel had a supporting metallic support structure on his arm fixed by this doctor. Now he had removed it].
After healing, Emmanuel started his ministry of testifying what happened to him and his visit to heaven.

Kamis, 22 Oktober 2015

50 Proofs Muhammad is the Antichrist.

To: Everyone who wants to know the truth about the Antichrist.
From: Richard Nata

Shalom.

I was an author who knows a lot about the Scriptures.
Please read my article (2841 words) that relate to my books entitle "100 + Proofs Muhammad is the Antichrist."
=====================
50 Proofs Muhammad is the Antichrist.
This article will change the way you see the Antichrist. Because  we can recognize the Antichrist through their characteristics.

Millions of people are happy to discuss the end of time. This is because basically humans have the nature of curiosity. The curiosity that led to many articles, books and films specially made to discuss the issue of the end of time. Many of which became the best sellers. 

Important figures at the end of time
Important figures must exist before the world ends. Because the world will not end before they came.List of important figures that will appear before the Day of Judgment:
1. Jesus shall come in glory (Matthew 16:27, 19:28, 24:30, 25:31, Mark 8:38, 13:26, Luke 9:26, 21:27) because Jesus came down from heaven accompanied by His angels. Twice Jesus came into the world. The first time two thousand years ago as the Savior of the world (John 4:42, 1 John 4:14), which taketh away the sin of the world (John 1:29). The second coming is as the King of kings and Lord of lords (Revelation 17:14, 19:16).
2. The spirit of truth (1 John 4:6).
3. God's angels.
4. The devil / Satan / dragon (Revelation 12:1-9, 13-18, 13:1-4, 16:13-14, 20:1-10).
5. Beelzebub, the prince of the devils (Matthew 10:25, 12:24-27, Mark 3:22, Luke 11:15, 18-19). 
6. The unclean spirits (Revelation 16:13).
7. The spirits of devils (Revelation 16:14).
8. The seducing spirits (1 Timothy 4:1).
9. The god of this world (2 Corinthians 4:4).
10. The spirit of error (1 John 4:6).
11. The spirit of antichrist (1 John 4:3). 
12. Antichrist (1 John 2:18, 22, 1 John 4:3, 2 John 1:7). Twice Antichrist comes into the world. The first time one thousand four hundred years ago as a vile person, to whom they shall not give the honors of the kingdom: but he shall come in peaceably, and obtain the kingdom by flatteries (Daniel 11:21). He was also a false Savior. The second time Antichrist coming up out of the earth (Revelation 13:11), shall ascend out of the bottomless pit (Revelation 11:7, 17:8), and Hell followed with him (Revelation 6:8) as the eighth kings (Revelation 17:11), the prince of this world (John 12:31, 14:30, 16:11), the ruler of the world that is cruel and evil (Revelation 13:11-18). For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved (Matthew 24:21-22, Mark 13:19-20). He shall speak [great] words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High (Daniel 7:25), who make war against two witnesses and kill them (Revelation 11:3-7), stand up against the Prince of princes (Daniel 8:25), make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings (Revelation 17:14, 19:19-21), made war with the saints, and prevailed against them (Daniel 7:21).
13. The children of the devil (1 John 3:10).
14. The messenger of Satan (2 Corinthians 12:7).
15. The man of sin (2 Thessalonians 2:3-4).
16. A deceiver (2 John 1:7).
17. A liar (1 John 2:22).
18. Abomination of desolation (Matthew 24:15, Mark 13:14).
19. The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition (Revelation 11:7, 17:8), the beast is himself also the eighth king, and is one of the seven, and is going to perdition (Revelation 17:11).
20. The Beast rises up out of the sea (Revelation 13:1, 15, 14:9).
21. The Beast coming up out of the earth (Revelation 13:11).
22. A king of fierce countenance, and understanding dark sentences (Daniel 8:23). He had eyes, and a mouth that spoke very great things (Daniel 7:8, 20). He shall subdue three kings. (Daniel 7:24). He changes times and laws (Daniel 7:25). He will rise up against the Prince of princes (Daniel 8:25). he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make [it] desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate (Daniel 9:27). His arms shall stand on his part, and they shall pollute the sanctuary of strength, and shall take away the daily [sacrifice,] and they shall place the abomination that make desolate (Daniel 11:31). And the king shall do according to his will; and he shall exalt him, and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak marvelous things against the God of gods, and shall prosper till the indignation be accomplished: for that that is determined shall be done. Neither shall he regard the God of his fathers, nor the desire of women, nor regard any god: for he shall magnify himself above all. But in his estate shall he honour the God of forces: and a god whom his father’s knew not shall he honor with gold, and silver, and with precious stones, and pleasant things. Thus shall he do in the strongest holds with a strange god, whom he shall acknowledge [and] increase with glory: and he shall cause them to rule over many, and shall divide the land for gain (Daniel 11:36-39).
23. False Christs (Matthew 24:24, Mark 13:22).
24. For many shall come in Jesus name (Matthew 24:5, Mark 13:6, Luke 21:8).
25. Another Jesus (2 Corinthians 11:4).
26. False prophets (Matthew 7:15, 24:11, 24, Mark 13:22, 1 John 4:1, 4, Revelation 16:13, 19:20, 20:10).
27. False apostles (2 Corinthians 11:13).
28. False teachers (2 Peter 2:1, 3, 17).
29. MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH (Revelation 17:5).
30. Two witnesses of God (Revelation 11:1-12).

You certainly do not believe that the number of 12-28 are prophecies that fulfilled by the Antichrist. :)

The Antichrist
If we discuss the issue of the end of times, we must discuss the issue of the Antichrist. Because the antichrist should show up and rule the world in advance before the Apocalypse. Many world figures in the past, now and in the future has been accused of being the Antichrist. Nimrod, Emperor Nero, Muhammad, Hitler, Napoleon, the Pope and Obama are some examples of names that have been accused of being the Antichrist. Almost all of the allegations proved to be wrong.

I do not want to arbitrarily accuse someone as ANTICHRIST. I prepare arguments carefully so that after reading and studying carefully then you will agree to my view. 

Let's start first what it means in terms of language ANTICHRIST. The word "Antichrist" comes from the language of Greece, namely the "ANTIKHRISTOS."The word "antiKhristos" combines of the two words, namely: αντί (anti) + Χριστός (Khristos). ANTI means "AGAINST" or "OPPOSITE OF" or "REPLACEMENT" or "TAKE THE OTHERS."KHRISTOS means Christ. So antichrist means AGAINST CHRIST, OPPOSITE OF CHRIST, REPLACE CHRIST, or TAKE PLACE OF CHRIST.

Antichrist = Christ replacement, or take the place of Christ.

Basically the antichrist is the imitation of Christ.

Everything can be said to be imitations if have much in common, although many differences. They both look similar but not the same. They both look similar but different qualities.

Jesus and Muhammad
If we are honest, we must admit that when talking about the end of times, we must look to Jesus and Muhammad, two great figures of this world. Why is that? Because all people, nations, and languages, should serve them. Jesus had followers around two billion people while Muhammad had followers around one and a half billion people. You will never find anyone else in histories that have affected humanity as Jesus Christ and the Prophet Muhammad. 

Christ means the Savior aka Messiah aka Al-Maseeh.

Although Muhammad never claimed to be a Savior, but as we all know that without the existence of Muhammad then there is no salvation in Islam.

Most prophecies in the Bible is about Jesus and the second most prophecy is about false prophets, false apostles, false messiahs, false Christ are fulfilled by Muhammad.

Jesus or Muhammad, they both look similar but not the same. You'll be surprised if you see there are so many similarities between them.

Now we see imitation of what is being done by Muhammad.
1. Many prophecies in the Bible were fulfilled by Jesus. Muhammad was too.
2. Jesus has many titles or positions. Muhammad was too.
3. Jesus is the Amen, the faithful and true witness (Revelation 3:14). Muhammad was known as al-Ameen, meaning "Muhammad the Trustworthy."
4. Jesus is Alpha (Revelation 1:8, 11, 22:13), the beginning (Revelation 1:8, 22:13), the first (Revelation 1:11, 17, 2:8, 22:13). Muhammad was al-fatih, "the opener."
5. Jesus is Omega (Revelation 1:8, 11, 22:13), the ending (Revelation 1:8, 22:13), the last (Revelation 1:11, 17, 2:8, 22:13). Muhammad was Khatim an-Nabiyin, the seal of the prophets (Surah al-Ahzab: 40), the last prophet, the final prophet and Khatamur rusli (the seal of the Apostles), the last messenger, the final messenger.
6. Jesus existed before the world was created. Nur Muhammad was too.
7. Jesus is the beginning of the creation of God (Proverbs 8:22-23, Revelation 3:14), the firstborn of every creature (Colossians 1:15). And he is before all things and he is before all things (Colossians 1:17). Nur Muhammad was too.
8. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God (John 1:1). In the beginning Allah created the light of its own light. The light is Nur Muhammad.
9. Jesus is the image of the invisible God (Colossians 1:15). Jesus is the brightness of [his] glory, and the express image of Yahweh (Hebrews 1:3). And he is before all things, and by him all things consist (Colossians 1:17). On the first day God created light (Genesis 1: 3-5). In the beginning Allah created the light of its own light. The light is Nur Muhammad. 
10. The universe was created by Jesus (John 1:3, 10, Colossians 1:15-17, Hebrews 1:2-3). Allah created all things by Nur Muhammad.
11. Jesus is the light of the world (John 8:12), great light (Isaiah 9:2, Matthew 4:16). Muhammad is an-Nur (the light personified).
12. Jesus (the Lamb) is "the light thereof" (Revelation 3:14). Muhammad is as-Siraj-un-Munir (the light-giving lamp). 
13. Yahweh and Jesus are one (John 10:30). Allah and Muhammad is unity. Shahada and more than 70 passages from the Koran show it.
14. Jesus is the begotten Son of Yahweh (John 1:14, 18, 3:16, 18, 1 John 4:9). Muhammad was the only son of Abdullah ibn Abdul-Muttalib and Aminah.
15. Jesus is the son beloved by Yahweh (Matthew 3:17, 17:5, Mark 1:11, 9:7, Luke 3:22). Muhammad is the beloved of Allah.
16. Yahweh is witness of Jesus. Allah is witness of Muhammad.
17. The Christians are witnesses of Jesus. Muslims are witnesses of Muhammad.
18. Jesus's followers or Christians are those who acknowledge Jesus as Lord and personal Savior. Muhammad's followers or Muslims are those who acknowledge Muhammad as a messenger of Allah.
19. Jesus is the Word who became flesh. Muhammad was nur Muhammad who had become a man.
20. Meaning of the name of Jesus is Yahweh saves. Meaning of the name Muhammad is the most praised one.
21. John (17:3) Jesus said, "And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent." The Shahada, "There is no god but God and Muhammad is the prophet of Allah."
22. The angels of God ascending and descending upon Jesus (John 1:51).The Angel Jibrail down up to conveys the revelation to Muhammad.
23. Jesus taught to pray in the name of Jesus. Prophet Muhammad taught for "salawat (plural of salat)” the Prophet Muhammad. 
24. Jesus is KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS (Revelation 19:16). Muhammad is the king.
25. Jesus is the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6). Muhammad is the king of terror.
26. Jesus is the captain of the host of the LORD (Joshua 5:14). Muhammad was a warlord. 
27. Jesus fought in the last days (Revelation 19:11-16). Muhammad was too as imam al Mahdi aka false messiah (Daniel 8:25).
28. Jesus fought against the Antichrist. Imam al Mahdi Muhammad fought against Dajjal.
29. Jesus is the prophet. Muhammad was the prophet (an-nabi) too.
30. Jesus is the Apostle. Muhammad was the Apostle too. 
31. Jesus had 12 disciples called as the apostles. Muhammad has 12 squad leaders. 
32. Jesus is a master. Muhammad was too.
33. Jesus is a Teacher. Muhammad was too.
34. Jesus is the messenger of Yahweh. Muhammad was the messenger of Allah.
35. Jesus is the savior of the world (John 4:42, 1 John 4:14). Muhammad prayer could save Muslims as it passes through the bridge Sirat-Al-Mustaqim.
36. Jesus is the final judge when a court in the Day of Judgment (Matthew 25:31-46). Muhammad was a judge in Medina which handles disputes between Arabs by Jews.
37. Jesus is the High Priest (Hebrews 2:17, 3:1, 4:15, 5:1, 5, 10, 6:20, 7:11, 26-28, 8:1-3, 9:11, 10:21, 13:11), the Great High Priest (Hebrews 4:14). Muhammad was the Imam Mosque.
38. Jesus is the Servant of the Lord (Isaiah 50:4-6) suffering (Isaiah 53:13-53:12). Muhammad was 'Abd-Allah' means "servant of Allah."
39. Jesus was the first begotten of the dead (Revelation 1:5). Muhammad was the first to be resurrected on the day of judgement.
40. Yahweh gives power as kings to Jesus (Daniel 7:14). God/Satan/dragon gave his throne and great authority to the beast/Antichrist/Muhammad (Revelation 13: 4), so Muhammad called Shahibut-taj (which had a crown of glory).
41. All power in heaven and earth is given to Jesus (Matthew 28:19, John 3:35). Muhammad was Sayyidu kawnayn (leader of the world and the hereafter).
42. Jesus was transfigured in the presence of God before the world was (John 1:14, 17:5), on the mountain (Matthew 17:1-5, Mark 9:1-8, Luke 9:29-36). Muhammad was glorified Allah (Hafiyy).
43. Luminous face of Jesus (Matthew 17:2, Mark 9:1-8, Luke 9:29). Muhammad was too.
44. At the time Jesus was on the mountain together with Peter, James and John, Jesus then meet and converse with Moses and Elijah, then there came a bright cloud overshadowed them (Matthew 17: 1-5; Mark 2: 7, Luke 9: 28-35). When Muhammad was 12 years old, he asked his Uncle Abu Talib trade to the country Syria, in the course of it he is always shaded white clouds and then met a Nestorian Christian monk named Bahira.
45. Jesus is the rock (Matthew 16:18, 1 Corinthians 10: 4), the cornerstone (Psalm 118: 22, Isaiah 28:16, Matthew 21:42, Mark 12:10, Luke 20:17, Acts 4: 11, Ephesians 2:20, 1 Peter 2: 6-7). Muhammad is the last brick.
46. Jesus is the good shepherd (John 10:11). Muhammad is a goatherd who was sent.
47. I am (Jesus) the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep (John 10:11). Muhammad is a hired goatherd (John 10:12).
48. Jesus was sent to the Israelites. Muhammad was sent to the Arabs.
49. Jews wanted to kill Jesus. Arabs want to kill Muhammad.
50. Jesus commanded to spread the gospel throughout the world (Matthew 28:19, Mark 16:15, 20). Allah and Muhammad ordered to Islamize the world.

Conclusion
Now let us think to use common sense. Is it possible coincidence that there are so many similarities between Jesus and Muhammad? Of course it's not likely to happen. That there is Muhammad deliberately made him to be like Jesus. So Muhammad knows many stories about Jesus. Then he acts as if he is Jesus. He wanted to equate himself with Jesus even beyond Jesus. That the characteristics of the antichrist. 

Therefore Muhammad fulfilled prophecy below.
1 John {2:18} little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time. {2:19} they went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would [no doubt] have continued with us: but [they went out,] that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.

After seeing the similarities that exist between Jesus and Muhammad, the author dared to say that "there is no Antichrist besides Muhammad." Because you may not be able to rebut the 50 proofs gave in this article.

If you can refute some proof that the author provide then it will not make the author is wrong in taking the conclusion. Because the author still has dozens of other evidence that has not been the author entered as evidence in this article.

And if you do not agree with the conclusions of the author then you are deceiving yourself.


Thank you.

Lord Jesus bless you.
Amen.

Regards,


Richard Nata
P.S. The author still save dozens of evidence because the author is planning to make a book entitle “100 + Proofs Muhammad is the Antichrist”  which is the development of this article. 

P.P.S. Currently the evidence that I gave already more than 100 proofs. And this evidence will continue to grow because I have not finished the book. Estimated completion 3-6 months.

P.P.P.S. Any financial support and prayers from you can save Muslims from Islam. In addition to saving the lost souls of muslims, you also help save the lives of your own. :)

P.P.P.P.S. There is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth (Luke 15:10).




About the Author : 
Richard Nata is an author, novelist, blogger and ghost writer. His articles, including short stories have been published in magazines and newspapers since 1994. He has written a lot of books, both fiction and non-fiction. So He was a professional in the field of writing, both fiction and non-fiction.


Minggu, 21 Juni 2015

ISLAM, QURAN AND 666


For discussion of this page please join us in the forum by clicking here.

Here are links to an archived Islamic site with an animated home page that might be enough to make a Bible believer's hair stand on end, with the following excerpt taken from this page, with the site's contents at this link.

"The truth is that This Quran is the 666 , The Book from The Lord of the Universe.
GOD made His Messenger a witness with the letter Qaf and the number 666."

The following links are to more Islamic sites that connect the Quran (Koran Kuran), and Islam's "Messenger", to the number 666. Scroll down (or Ctrl+f) on this link for the following quote:

"This book is the Quran; and the Quran is '666.'"


"They say, '666 is the sign of the Anti Christ, the sign of the Anti Church.' Obviously the Church has recognized the importance of the 666, they believe that the number represents a force that shall rise against them."

Since the false prophet Muhammad denied the whole subject of the Gospel.....

Surah 4:157 That they said (in boast), "We killed Christ Jesus the son of Mary, the Messenger of Allah";- but they killed him not, nor crucified him, but so it was made to appear to them, and those who differ therein are full of doubts, with no (certain) knowledge, but only conjecture to follow, for of a surety they killed him not:-

.....and his followers are commanded to conquer all kingdoms and subjugate all people to denying the Son of God and rejecting the blood He shed for us all, is it really a stretch to consider that Muhammad could be THE false prophet of the book of Revelation, and hisIslamic kingdom "beast" the final foe of God's people?

Bukhari, V1 B2 #24 Narrated Ibn 'Umar: Allah's Apostle said: "I have been ordered (by Allah) to fight against the people until they testify that none has the right to be worshipped but Allah and that Muhammad is Allah's Apostle, and offer the prayers perfectly and give the obligatory charity, so if they perform a that, then they save their lives an property from me except for Islamic laws and then their reckoning (accounts) will be done by Allah."

Surah 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. 30 The Jews call 'Uzair a son of Allah, and the Christians call Christ the son of Allah. That is a saying from their mouth; (in this) they but imitate what the unbelievers of old used to say. Allah's curse be on them: how they are deluded away from the Truth!

Links to sections on this page include The 666 BeastThe Tragedy of the Mark andSaved By the Grace of God.
Here's a link to a 9 minute video regarding that site.
Here's a video of a Muslim that has 666 written on the page edges of his Quran.

"The sum of sura numbers from Sura 1 to Sura 36 is 666 (Table 7)."

Revelation 13:18 Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number ofthe beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number [is] Six hundred threescore [and] six.

Not such a surprise for a Christian to find an association when we learn that the single most egregious and only unforgivable sin in Muhammadanism, is committed if a Muslim were to confess that Jesus is the Son of God or even pray in Jesus' name. Ascompared to child rape or cold-blooded mass murder, for example, which may be forgiven. (more on Islam's sin of "shirk")
 
"Allah" = 666 (link to this spot)

On the Zola Levitt program, Walid Shoebat, a former PLO terrorist now Christian evangelist, said that when he saw the Greek symbol that is translated in the Bible as 666, he immediately read it as the Arabic character “Bismillah” (some spell Bismilla) which means "in the name of Allah." (Though it looks more like the character for "Allah").

Here's a seven minute video of Walid Shoebat on 666 at a different venue:

Below (left) are photos of Greek symbols translated in the Bible as 666, from Free Jesus.net:  The gold symbol (bottom and right) is Arabic for "Allah" when turned and mirrored.  Additionally, crossed swords are a symbol for Islam.  So in 666 we may find symbols for both "Islam" and "Allah".


If Shoebat's account seems a stretch, even though Arabic was his first language and Islam the religion he was indoctrinated into, consider how this Arabic character is stylizedinto many different artistic forms.  Consider also how some look for this character in trees, clouds and virtually everywhere, as this search link attests - even in a fish!

Can you make out the word in the picture below?


 
"This Quran is the 666" (link to this spot)

There is at least one sect of Islam, the Submission sect (Bahattin Uzunkaya), that considers the number 666 as well as the number 19, to demonstrate the perfection of the Koran and the proof that Muhammad is the prophet of Allah.



"The number 666 is highly publicized all over the world and it is associated with evil and danger.
However, it is not what it seems. It was a Satanic trick.
The trick was to prevent the people approaching the 666.
Satan knew that the 666 is the book of GOD and the people should be kept away from it.
According to his plan, he placed a bad image to the number 666."

"The truth is that This Quran is the 666 , The Book from The Lord of the Universe."

"The First Sura in the Quran, 666, is Praise. This sura is the gift of GOD to us to establish Contact with Him through our daily Contact Prayers. "

"GOD made His Messenger a witness with the letter Qaf and the number 666."

You can search - quran 666 - or try - sura 1 to sura 36 is 666
 
The 666 Beast (link to this spot)

This 666 connection is, however, just one anecdotal component of Bible prophecy pointing to the Middle Eastern Islamic empire as the leopard-bear-lion beast of Revelation 13.

This 666 "miracle" is found on a Turkish website that seems to have embellished Rashad Khalifa's prime number gematria, who began his research in 1968, or the year after the "times of the Gentiles" were fulfilled in Jerusalem. When first brought forward, Rashad Khalifa's mathematical "miracle" was widely embraced by Muslims throughout the Islamic world, including the Middle East. Khalifa eventually determined that according to his gematria, a few verses did not belong in the Quran, and as a result lost favor to the extent that he was eventually "stabbed 29 times and his body was drenched in xylol but not set alight". Submitters still believe Khalifa was a messenger of God. It is interesting to note, that out of the entire universe of numbers that Rashad's computer "miracle" could have arrived at as holy, that the number 666 would be one of the few.

Revelation 13:18 Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number [is] Six hundred threescore [and] six. {666}

Hermeneutics support that the Islamic empire is the "beast" kingdom of the above verse.

"...for it is the number of a man..."  
"GOD made His Messenger a witness with the letter Qaf and the number 666."

Exposing Muhammad as the "man" referenced.

Since most Muslims do not ascribe to this group that labels the Quran and Muhammad with the number 666, could this Islamic 666 "miracle" be a warning from God to Christians, Jews, and Muslims, as yet another fulfillment of the related prophecy in the Book of Revelation, now that we find ourselves in this "time of the end"?

The book of Daniel defines the term "beast": Daniel 7:23 Thus he said, The fourth beastshall be the fourth kingdom upon earth,…. Thus we learn that the term beast = kingdom when used in the figurative language of a dream or vision in prophecy, and particularly in the context of Daniel's lion, bear, leopard and fourth "dreadful", beasts. Bible scholars - Christian and Jew - almost universally understand these four "beasts" to be the successive kingdoms of Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, and the Roman Empire. The leopard-bear-lion beast of Revelation then, is the Islamic empire, since it's occupies the same seat as those successive empires, today in Iraq (Babylon - lion), Iran (Medo-Persia - bear) and Syria/Lebanon (ancient Greece - leopard). These beasts are explored in more detail on their own page here, and in "The False Prophet" in this chapter.

Revelation 13:2 And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as [the feet] of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority.


 
The Tragedy of the Mark (link to this spot)

Revelation 19:20 And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wroughtmiracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.

Revelation 19:20 And the beast was taken,..." As explained in the prior section the "beast" is the false prophet Muhammad's Islamic empire - his followers. More on the beast here.

"... and with him..." Daniel's beasts were assigned the masculine gender: "...and his nails [of] brass ..... and stamped the residue with his feet:"

"...the false prophet..." The false prophet Muhammad who founded his antichrist Islamic kingdom "beast".

"...that wrought miracles..." Some reject Muhammad as the false prophet because he did not perform a single miracle, however the Koine Greek word "semeion" translated as "miracles" and "signs", is defined in Strong's as "that by which a person is distinguished from others and is known". That makes Muhammad a perfect fit for the false prophet, since he is his known for his Quran, and has without question been distinguished from others by it for 1400 years. Muhammad's Quran is the "semeion" that he wrought before his people - Muslims - the "beast".

"...before him,..." From Strong's "before" meaning "in the presence of" - the beast.

"...with which he deceived them..." Muhammad's followers deceived by the Quran.

"...that had received the mark..." The number 666 according to some of Muhammad's own followers.
Also consider the physical prayer marks and bumps in Muhammad's followers foreheads.


"...of the beast, and them..." Islamic kingdom, Muhammad's followers

"...that worshipped his image." Today's Islam and second Jihad, are the image of the first Islamic Jihad, and the beast's ambition to conquer all the kingdoms of the world, and subjugate all people to Muhammad's followers.  Jihad is the pinnacle of worship in Islam.

"These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone." Does thewrath of God get any more serious than that?

Revelation 20:10 And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet [are], and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.

Exegesis:

Revelation 20:10 And the devil that deceived them..." "them" the followers of Muhammad's Islamic kingdom "beast"

"...was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast..." Muhammad's Islamic empire

"...and the false prophet..." Muhammad

"...[are], and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever." Serious business indeed. Tormented forever and ever without rest, in a lake of fire and brimstone.

If we consider an ethnographic hermeneutic of John's whole "world" - that is looking through John's eyes at the time he penned the book of Revelation, which is required because his assignment was to:
Revelation 1:19 Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter;
Those things John saw, sees and shall be - after John. Thus John's world would have been limited to the whole known world, or the Middle East area, and perhaps extending into the lands of the Roman Empire at that time.  The Bible was written about the Holy Land and God's people, not about Peoria Illinois.  

Eze 5:5 Thus saith the Lord GOD; This is Jerusalem: I have set it in the midst of the nations and countries that are round about her.

Through this view we find Iraq, Iran and Syria/Lebanon (geographically the seat of the leopard-bear-lion beast of Revelation, and successive kingdom beasts of Daniel) to be from 90 to 99% Muslim. Other countries in the area are similarly Islamic - like Saudi Arabia at 100% and Turkey at 99% Muslim.  


In other words most everyone in the whole "world" that John knew, is today Muslim, and thus already have the mark.  In Saudi Arabia if a national announces they have converted to Christianity they are beheaded.  The penalty for "apostasy" or turning away from Islam,is death.  This is the prescribed punishment for Christian converts, from Islam to Christianity. The true hallmark of a dangerous cult.


Revelation 13:17 And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast {Islam - Muslim}or the number {666of his name.

And thus it is in much of the Middle East - or John's whole world - TODAY.  When we exercise the discipline of hermeneutic rules in our Bible study we find that prophecy is nearly fulfilled, and our Lord and Savior's return is truly imminent.

When I visited YouTube in about December of 2007 I did a search of - mark beast microchip - and found around 150 videos. When I did the same search on July 27, 2009 I found 645. On October 24, 2011 I found 2,220.

2 Timothy 4:3-4 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away [their] ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.

Some Muslims suggest that the Bible was corrupted or mistranslated to demonize Islam, and their above number of perfection 666, but Muhammad wasn't even born until over 500 years after the Bible was complete. By Muhammad's day scripture had already been copied thousands of times and in many languages. Changing the Bible 500 years after the fact would have been an obvious impossibility.  See Bible manuscript page.

Their absurd claims of corruption are even refuted by verses in their own book

Sura 80.13 (It is) in Books held (greatly) in honour, 14 Exalted (in dignity), KEPT PURE AND HOLY,15 (Written) by the hands of scribes- 16 Honourable and Pious and Just.

Sura 5:68 Say: "O People of the Book! ye have no ground to stand upon unless ye STAND FAST BY the Law, THE GOSPEL, and ALL THE REVELATION that has come to you from YOUR Lord."
 
Saved By the Grace of God - The Good News (link to this spot)

God invites all those that today follow a false prophet, as well as those that are simply lost or unrepentant, to come to know the love of the one true God through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ:

1 John 1:3 That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship [is] with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.
1 John 2:23 Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: [(but) he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also].
1 John 4:14 And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son [to be] the Saviour of the world.
2 John 1:9 Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.
John 5:22 For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son:

Micah 6:8  He hath shewed thee, O man, what [is] good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?

Revelation 13:8 And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.

The Father and the Son are coexistent and the Lamb (Jesus) was slain from the foundation of the world by the sinful nature of mankind.

ISLAM IN PROPHECY - FREE ONLINE BOOK - THE FALSE PROPHET by Ellis Skolfield -
Skolfield has written about the central role of Islam in end-times prophecy for nearly 30 years using the traditional continuous historic view and the day-year, or day = year, principle of prophecy.

PLUS A FREE ONLINE BOOK - ISLAM REVIEWED - M. ALI

Here is the website for Ellis Skolfield
Here is the website for Muslims for Christ.
On this link are videos of Muslims who have come to know the love of God.
Here is the website for Walid Shoebat, a former PLO terrorist - now saved Christian.
Here is a free book "Islam reviewed" written by a Nigerian that was raised Muslim, and is now a Christian evangelist.
Here is a Bible translated into Arabic, and much more, including an Arabic audio New Testament.
Answering Islam is an excellent site by X-Muslims that answers most any question you could have regarding Islam.

Training of children to Jihad in the Palestinian territories that you can view on this video link.
 
miracles
New Testament Greek Definition:
4592 semeion {say-mi'-on}
from a presumed derivative of the base of 4591; TDNT - 7:200,1015; n n
AV - sign 50, miracle 23, wonder 3, token 1; 77
1) a sign, mark, token
1a) that by which a person or a thing is distinguished from others and is known
1b) a sign, prodigy, portent, i.e. an unusual occurrence,
transcending the common course of nature
1b1) of signs portending remarkable events soon to happen
1b2) of miracles and wonders by which God authenticates the men
sent by him, or by which men prove that the cause they are
pleading is God's

 
before
New Testament Greek Definition:
1799 enopion {en-o'-pee-on}
neuter of a compound of 1722 and a derivative of 3700;; prep
AV - before 64, in the sight of 16, in the presence of 7,
in (one's) sight 5, in (one's) presence 2, to 1, not tr 2; 97
1) in the presence of, before
1a) of occupied place: in that place which is before, or over against,
opposite, any one and towards which another turns his eyes


Things certainly haven't changed over the 100 years since Churchill.

“How dreadful are the curses which Mohammedanism lays on its votaries! Besides the fanatical frenzy, which is as dangerous in a man as hydrophobia in a dog, there is this fearful fatalistic apathy. The effects are apparent in many countries. Improvident habits, slovenly systems of agriculture, sluggish methods of commerce and insecurity of property exist wherever the followers of the Prophet rule or live…The fact that in Mohammedan law every woman must belong to some man as his absolute property, either as a child, a wife, or a concubine, must delay the final extinction of slavery until the faith of Islam has ceased to be a great power among men. Individual Moslems may show splendid qualities…but the influence of the religion paralyzes the social development of those who follow it. No stronger retrograde force exists in the world. Far from being moribund, Mohammedanism is a militant and proselytizing faith. It has already spread throughout Central Africa…and were it not that Christianity is sheltered in the strong arms of science, the science against which it had vainly struggled, the civilisation of modern Europe might fall, as fell the civilisation of ancient Rome.” - by Sir Winston Churchill - The River War, Vol. II, pp. 248-50, London; Longman, Green & Co., 1899

resource : http://www.beholdthebeast.com/islam__quran_and_666.htm
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