Reliability of Prophecy
Now, here are some of the things I have learned about
Islam’s relationship to the Bible.
2 Peter 1: 16-19
ου γαρ σεσοφισμενοις μυθοις εξακολουθησαντες
εγνωρισαμεν υμιν την του κυριου ημων ιησου χριστου δυναμιν και παρουσιαν αλλ
εποπται γενηθεντες της εκεινου μεγαλειοτητος
16 For we have not followed cunningly devised fables,
when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but
were eyewitnesses of his majesty.
λαβων γαρ παρα θεου πατρος τιμην και δοξαν
φωνης ενεχθεισης αυτω τοιασδε υπο της μεγαλοπρεπους δοξης ο υιος μου ο αγαπητος
μου ουτος εστιν εις ον εγω ευδοκησα
17 For he received from God the Father honour and glory,
when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my
beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
και ταυτην την φωνην ημεις ηκουσαμεν εξ
ουρανου ενεχθεισαν συν αυτω οντες εν τω αγιω ορει
18 And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when
we were with him in the holy mount.
και εχομεν βεβαιοτερον τον προφητικον λογον
ω καλως ποιειτε προσεχοντες ως λυχνω φαινοντι εν αυχμηρω τοπω εως ου ημερα
διαυγαση και φωσφορος ανατειλη εν ταις καρδιαις υμων
19 We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto
ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place,
until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:”
Peter says that prophecy is more accurate and reliable
than a voice from heaven. Naturally,
this would also mean that any prophecies about Muhammad would be more reliable
than anything we might read about Muhammad’s life. The Quran says that such a prophecy exists.
Quran 5: 46
وَقَفَّيْنَا عَلَىٰٓ
ءَاثَرِهِم بِعِيسَى ٱبْنِ مَرْيَمَ مُصَدِّقًۭا لِّمَا بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ مِنَ
ٱلتَّوْرَىٰةِ ۖ وَءَاتَيْنَهُ ٱلْإِنجِيلَ فِيهِ هُدًۭى وَنُورٌۭ وَمُصَدِّقًۭا
لِّمَا بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ مِنَ ٱلتَّوْرَىٰةِ وَهُدًۭى وَمَوْعِظَةًۭ
لِّلْمُتَّقِينَ
“And in their footsteps We sent Jesus the son of Mary,
confirming the Law that had come before him: We sent him the Gospel: therein
was guidance and light, and confirmation of the Law that had come before him: a
guidance and an admonition to those who fear Allah.” (Yusuf Ali)
Quran 7: 157
ٱلَّذِينَ يَتَّبِعُونَ
ٱلرَّسُولَ ٱلنَّبِىَّ ٱلْأُمِّىَّ ٱلَّذِى يَجِدُونَهُۥ مَكْتُوبًا عِندَهُمْ فِى
ٱلتَّوْرَىٰةِ وَٱلْإِنجِيلِ يَأْمُرُهُم بِٱلْمَعْرُوفِ وَيَنْهَىٰهُمْ عَنِ
ٱلْمُنكَرِ وَيُحِلُّ لَهُمُ ٱلطَّيِّبَتِ وَيُحَرِّمُ عَلَيْهِمُ ٱلْخَبَٓئِثَ
وَيَضَعُ عَنْهُمْ إِصْرَهُمْ وَٱلْأَغْلَلَ ٱلَّتِى كَانَتْ عَلَيْهِمْ ۚ
فَٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ بِهِۦ وَعَزَّرُوهُ وَنَصَرُوهُ وَٱتَّبَعُوا۟ ٱلنُّورَ
ٱلَّذِىٓ أُنزِلَ مَعَهُۥٓ ۙ أُو۟لَٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلْمُفْلِحُونَ
"Those who follow the messenger, the
unlettered Prophet, whom they find mentioned in their own (scriptures),- in the
law and the Gospel;- for he commands them what is just and forbids them what is
evil; he allows them as lawful what is good (and pure) and prohibits them from what
is bad (and impure); He releases them from their heavy burdens and from the
yokes that are upon them. So it is those who believe in him, honour him, help
him, and follow the light which is sent down with him,- it is they who will
prosper.“(Yusuf Ali)
The above quotes from the Quran indicate that we should
find a book given by God to Jesus and this book would contain prophecies about
Muhammad. Do we have such a book?
Revelation 1: 1
αποκαλυψις ιησου χριστου ην εδωκεν αυτω ο
θεος δειξαι τοις δουλοις αυτου α δει γενεσθαι εν ταχει και εσημανεν αποστειλας
δια του αγγελου αυτου τω δουλω αυτου ιωαννη
“The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him,
to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent
and signified it by his angel unto his servant John:”
This verse clearly identifies the Book of Revelation as a
book that was given by God to Jesus. The
events in Revelation chapter 9 (symbolized by the fifth and sixth trumpets) I
believe are a prediction of Muhammad and the Islamic world up through the
Ottoman Empire.
If you talk to different theologians, they will give all
kinds of interpretations for the trumpets in Revelation. So, before we must first determine if
Scripture actually supports the interpretation of the fifth and sixth trumpets
as being about Islam. Then we can see if
the Bible describes Muhammad in a positive or negative light. First, I would like you to know that the
Islamic interpretation of Revelation 9 was very common among Protestants up
into the 19th Century. They
interpreted it very negatively, but they still saw it as talking about Muhammad
and Islam.
If this is new to you, then do a quick search for
“Revelation 9 Islam” on the internet.
You will find many pages that talk about this, although they will
consistently insist that the symbols in Revelation 9 are very negative towards
Islam.
I intend to show that, when you let the Bible interpret
itself, it supports Muhammad’s claim to be a messenger of God. But first, I need to show you why you should
believe that Revelation 9 is talking about Islam.
It starts with the Book of Daniel. Daniel sets up the framework for interpreting
apocalyptic prophecy. Revelation is
connected with and builds on Daniel. You
will soon see why.
