Tuesday, January 24, 2012

JESUS CHRIST BIOGRAPHY - WHAT THE QURAN & HISTORY SAY?


THE QURAN SAYS
Surah 2: 4. Who believe in that which has been sent down to you (Prophet Muhammad) and what has been sent down before you (to Prophets Jesus and Moses) and firmly believe in the Everlasting Life.


Surah 2: 87. To Moses we gave the Book and after him we sent other Messengers. We gave (Prophet) Jesus, the son of Mary, veritable signs, and supported him with the Spirit of Purity (Gabriel). Will you then become proud whenever any Messenger comes to you with that which does not suit your fancies, and you belied some (Prophet Jesus) and killed others!


Surah 2: 136. Say, 'We believe in Allah and that which is sent down to us, and in what was sent down to Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, and the tribes; to Moses and Jesus and the Prophets from their Lord. We do not differentiate between any of them, and to Him we are submissive (Muslims).'

Surah 2: 253. Of these Messengers, We have preferred some above others. To some Allah spoke; and some He raised in rank. We gave (Prophet) Jesus, the son of Mary, clear signs and strengthened him with the Spirit of Purity (Gabriel). Had Allah willed, those who succeeded them would not have fought against one another after the clear verses came to them. But they differed among themselves; some believed, and others disbelieved. Yet had Allah willed, they would not have fought against one another. Allah does whatever He will.

Surah 3: 3. He has sent down to you the Book with the truth, confirming what preceded it; and He has sent down the Torah and the Gospel (of Prophet Jesus which has been lost)

Surah 3: 45. When the angels said, 'O Mary, Allah gives you glad tidings of a Word (Be) from Him, whose name is Messiah, Jesus, the son of Mary. He shall be honored in this world and in the Everlasting Life and he shall be among those who are close.

Surah 3: 55. Allah said, '(Prophet) Jesus, I will take you to Me and will raise you to Me, and I will purify you from those who disbelieve. I will make your followers (who died before Prophet Muhammad) above those who disbelieve till the Day of Resurrection. Then, to Me you shall all return, and I shall judge between you as to that you were at variance.

Surah 4:150. Those who disbelieve in Allah and His Messengers, and desire to divide between Allah and His Messengers (by believing in Him without them), and say, 'we believe in some (Prophets Moses and Jesus), and disbelieve in some of them (such as Prophet Muhammad),' desiring to take between this (and that) a way (between belief and disbelief)

Birth: Some would think of a Jesus Christ biography in terms of His life here on earth. For that we must begin not at His birth but at His conception, for both of these events were unlike any other in history. The earthly life of Jesus is the only one that begins with a spiritual conception, with no man present. This conception was foretold by the angel Gabriel in Luke 1:26-35. His birth was the only one to ever open a womb, since He was born of a young Jewish virgin. Because of a government census His mother, Mary, and His stepfather, Joseph, had to travel to Bethlehem. This is where Jesus was born in a lowly stable. His birth was announced by angels to shepherds, and by a special star to wise men in a far country. At eight days of age, he was dedicated in the Temple according to Jewish custom. 

Childhood: At an early age, Jesus and his family fled to Egypt because an angel warned Joseph in a dream of impending danger. When they returned from Egypt, they settled in Galilee, in the town of Nazareth. At the age of twelve, Jesus traveled to Jerusalem with Mary and Joseph to celebrate the Feast of the Passover. When His parents could not find Him in their group of relatives and friends on the return trip, they returned to Jerusalem and "After three days they found Him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. Everyone who heard Him was amazed at His understanding and His answers. When His parents saw Him, they were astonished. His mother said to Him, 'Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you.' 'Why were you searching for me?' he asked. 'Didn't you know I had to be in my Father's house?' "(Luke 2:46-49). After that, He returned to Nazareth with them, was obedient, and continued to grow "in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men." (Luke 2:52) 

Adult/ Public Ministry: At approximately 30 years of age, Jesus entered into the public awareness. John the Baptist had preached of the coming Messiah, preparing the way for Jesus' ministry. John baptized Jesus, and as Jesus prayed at the time of His baptism, "heaven was opened and the Holy Spirit descended on Him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: 'You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.'" (Luke 3:21-22). After this, Jesus went into the wilderness for a time of fasting and prayer in preparation for His ministry. Then the devil came to Him and tempted Him. Rather than succumbing to the temptations, Jesus answered with Scripture, setting a pattern for His followers to handle temptations for ages to come. 

Jesus began to preach a message of repentance, and from among His follower’s hand-picked twelve men with whom He worked most closely, teaching them even more intensely than to the multitudes. These men have come to be known as the twelve disciples, or the apostles. The teaching and preaching of Jesus convicted, challenged, or encouraged those who heard, while some were simply entertained and others were angered. Jesus performed many miracles of healing and restoration, as well as miracles designed to teach a lesson. 

A Jesus Christ biography is intensely interesting - and can be studied in depth in the pages of Scripture, especially the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. However, the primary reason for Jesus' earthly life was "to seek and to save that which was lost." (Luke 19:10) Jesus sought the lost through His teaching and preaching. Then He provided the way of salvation from sin (the only way to Heaven) by way of the ultimate sacrifice, the one that only He could make - His crucifixion on Calvary, followed by His resurrection from the dead after three days. Thus He conquered death and the grave for all who would put their faith in Him. 

Saturday, January 21, 2012

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY ABOUT ARMAGEDDON?


Armageddon is actually a battle. According to the bible it’s the battle where God finally comes in and takes over the world and rules the WORLD. It should have been ruled all along. The reason it’s called Armageddon means mount of MEGDDO IN HEBREW. I don’t know how much background you have in Bible prophecy, so I will keep to the basic Scriptural evidence. This division of theology covers a very broad spectrum, and can include much fanciful speculative. I even get carried away sometimes! Let me take you to view the Battle of Armageddon.
The Bible teaching about the Battle of Armageddon reveals that the times will be so desperate on earth that humanity will turn to anyone to deliver them – except God. At first the united world armies are reluctant to take on the forces of God led by the Lamb of God, which is Jesus (Revelation 6:15-17).
Consequently, Satan sends out, “spirits of demons, performing signs, which go out to the kings of the whole world, to gather them together for the war of the great day of God, the Almighty…And they gathered them together to the place which in Hebrew is called Har-Magedon” (Revelation 16:14, 16).
The miracles of Antichrist and his henchmen are enough to convince the world leaders that Antichrist has the wits and power to defeat God. They are under tremendous pressure. On the one hand the economic, military, social, physical, and political world is in chaos.
On the other hand, they refuse to turn to God. Thirdly, this charismatic, intellectual, crafty, and powerful figure cons them into believing he can defeat God with their help. Times are terrible, and they must act quickly. However, they are led into a horrifying ambush – the huge trap called the Battle of Armageddon.
The outcome of this ghastly battle is that the leadership will be captured. The Antichrist and his expert theologian, the false prophet, will be thrown alive into the lake of fire which burns with brimstone (Revelation 19:20). The rest were killed. Satan, however, will have a different ending. He will be bound and sealed in the abyss for one thousand years, according to the Bible.
His access to the earth will be terminated. However, at the end of that imprisonment, he will be released, and allowed to assemble another futile effort against God. He loses.
The Bible states, “And the devil who deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the best and the false prophet are also; and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever” (Revelation 20:10).
The outcome of this ghastly battle is that the leadership will be captured. The Antichrist and his expert theologian, the false prophet, will be thrown alive into the lake of fire which burns with brimstone (Revelation 19:20). The rest were killed. Satan, however, will have a different ending. He will be bound and sealed in the abyss for one thousand years, according to the Bible.
His access to the earth will be terminated. However, at the end of that imprisonment, he will be released, and allowed to assemble another futile effort against God. He loses.
The Bible states, “And the devil who deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the best and the false prophet are also; and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever” (Revelation 20:10).