How can Christians find the true value of their ‘Cross’ and appreciate the value of being ‘crucified in Christ’? By following the truth in the meaning of the REAL CROSS as one must apply it to oneself! This is the secrettalk of the New Testament!
In other words, ‘your own personal road becomes your own personal redemption’! Depending upon intermediaries to carry your worship to GOD or depending upon physical abuse of the body or having others do your work for you (as in a personalized savior to get you off scot-free) is NOT walking the road Jesus (pbh) chose and accomplished!
And because he is a SIGN to all of mankind, according to the Quran, (in this adam-era at least), it behooves his followers to follow his directions to learn the truth. Those directions were to turn to the Spirit of truth featured in the Gospel of John and that which is declared a ‘Cleansing Spirit’ in the Dead Sea Scrolls so as to be upon the CORRECT AND SURE PATHWAY.
In this way, we can understand that the Records are truly ONE! And that the ‘Clear Path’ has already been laid down by the coming of Prophet Muhammad (pbh). So, if we are here to get to understand one another in truth and sincerity, we should realize that the basic logic of the Abrahamic Religions is from absolutely ONE SOURCE {GOD} and that it is man and his lopsided ego that has twisted this declaration of unity into a farce!
O mankind! WE created you from a single (pair) of a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes, that you may {get to} know each other (not that you may despise each other). Verily the most honored of you in the sight of ALLAH is (he who is) the most righteous of you. And ALLAH has full knowledge and is well acquainted (with all things) {that you are doing}. Quran (49:13)
As the New Testament declares:
Humble yourselves, therefore, under GOD’s mighty hand, that HE may lift you up in due time. 1Peter (5:6).
The meaning is clear. For SALVATION, one needs to surrender one’s animalistic ego (here called the flesh) through the activities of the Spirit and spiritual guidance that was given and is clear and open to all. And we can only know that ‘Spirit’ if we surrender our worldly ego to the truth of what Prophet Muhammad (pbh) brought as was prophesied throughout the Old and New Testaments.
Surrender in understanding and compliance from GOD-given sources (the Testaments) and to what they are directing one to. Good, moral, constrained and thoughtful behavior with the ability to honor the CREATOR LORD in hope and of fear of the consequences of our actions.
The emphasis at the time of those various ‘Holy Writings’ ( Old and New Testaments) was on the daily building of faith in practice and deed. The emphasis was NOT to wait until THAT PROPHET was to come for that would not happen for many, many centuries (going back to the time of Abraham (pbh).
So, one was required to build a ‘record’ of ones striving until one’s death, however that would be interpreted. We, who are in this physical world, cannot adequately interpret that first sentence in this paragraph. But one should be able to believe in the validity of these ‘HOLY Records’ as to showing what is called ‘true’ GUIDANCE. And in fact it appears in the Quran thusly:
Those who believe {with seriousness} (in the Qur’an), and those who follow the Jewish (scriptures {in truth and not for show}), and the Christians and the Sabians {doing the same},- any who believe in ALLAH {THE ONE AND ONLY GOD} and the Last Day {which shall be the Day of Judgment}, and work righteousness {done for the remembrance and sake of the ONE GOD including the acceptance of all the prophets HE sent}, shall have their reward with their LORD; on them shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve. Quran (2:62)
So, if a person believes beyond just verbalizing with his/her tongue, that person should ‘reach out’ to elevate his/her spiritual awareness in an attempt to go down that human road of real spiritual success. Why do we then retard this pathway of future success and welcome the humiliation of being derelict in our earthborn duties?
The reasons are many and have been pointed out several times in these writings. Mostly, it boils down to the belief and feeling that the invisible future life can be:
- Manipulated at any time we choose or will wait patiently for our wakeup response.
- All of this is just a bunch of nonsense and we will be able to bluff our way out of any situation when the time comes, if it comes at all.
- We create our own destiny/outlook to such a degree that if we are content with our understanding then that is just fine because we just happen to say so.
- We convince ourselves in our own goodness and magnify ourselves by deeming ourselves saved by the inventions of our minds. For if reality will not give us a kiss, then we must kiss ourselves and deem it holy.
Yasir Qadhi’s free videos that can be downloaded such as videos concerning the life in the ‘grave’ or Barzakh, The End Times, The Final Day of Judgment, Jannat and Jahannam series (Heaven and Hell) and the very valuable Seerah series dealing with the understanding of pre-Islam and the birth, life and death of Prophet Muhammad (pbh) will prove to be extremely valuable.
They are extremely valuable as it pertains to and reinforces the message of the New Testament’s Gospel of John:
However, when he, the Spirit of truth is come, he will GUIDE {as in instruction} you into ALL TRUTH: for he shall NOT speak of himself {on his own authority}; but whatsoever he shall hear {from on HIGH as in Revelation}, that shall he speak: and he will show you things to come {that will take place in the future or basically life after death, the Resurrection of all souls, the Day of Judgment, the levels of heaven and hell and the descriptions of heaven and hell and their rewards and punishments, etc.}.
He will glorify me {by telling the truth about me}, for he will take of what is mine {prophethood} and declare it to you {that he is truly GOD’s Prophet}. John (16:13-14)
Say: “Shall WE tell you the greatest losers in respect of (their) deeds {doings}?
“Those whose EFFORTS HAVE BEEN WASTED in this life while they IMAGINED that they were acquiring good by their deeds.
They are those who deny the {REAL} Signs and Evidences of their LORD and the meeting with HIM (in the Hereafter {as to Judgment}). So their works are in VAIN and on the Day of Resurrection, WE shall assign NO weight for them. Quran (18:103-105)
“YOU HAVE MET THIS FATE because you rejoiced on the earth in things OTHER than the Truth, AND THEN EXULTED IN IT {while pushing out the real realities of our true purpose of living on this planet}.” Quran (40:75)
Also, according to Paul in the New Testament:
And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness {found} in them that perish; because they DID NOT receive {believe in or fight for} the love of the truth {SO} that they might be saved.
AND FOR THIS REASON {contempt for GOD’s TRUTH} GOD shall send {upon} them STRONG DELUSION that they should believe {in} a lie {focus not on doing what is right FOR THE SOUL- the real food for the soul}
That they all might be damned who didn’t believe the truth {OR EVEN SHOW SIGNS THAT THEIR HEART CARRED ABOUT IT} but had pleasure in {took their comfort in doing other than the truthful WAY}unrighteousness. 2 Thessalonians (2: 10-12)
Some people feel that the battle of Armageddon found in the Revelation of John in the New Testament is about one dynamic and final battle. However, what is meant is that it is basically a spiritual concept what has been ongoing for many, many decades according to our times.
The spirit of man is of a much higher nature than the physical part of man. The spirit of man does not decay when it turns rotten but the physical body decays upon death. So, let’s bring a ‘spiritual’ definition to this term ‘Armageddon’.
As a small example:
Put under the microscope the people’s reaction to the election for President in the year 2020. Even way before this time, it was readily apparent to those sensitive enough to feel it that the Republican nominee in the year 2016 was an unfit person to even represent even one individual much less a whole nation.
There is some truth to the notion that ‘birds of a feather flock together’ although one must be very carefulnot to pre-judge things!
The point being the damage caused by the actions of this repugnant individual upon clearly losing the race for the presidency in 2020 and those caught up in the delusional world of politics at that time. How can people be so ‘stuck’ on this narcissistic, delusional soul? It is as if he is one of their own reflecting an inward pride to be arrogant and blind!
Each for their own reason but go back to Pharaoh and his people of ancient times. Did they not acquiesce in following him as their god? And then rejoice in feeling something innately special inside their own selves leading to a continuing detachment from reality?
As to the deluded peoples in any age:
And when they will dispute in the Fire, the WEAK will say to those who were arrogant: “Verily, we followed you, can you {now} then take from us some portion of the Fire?”
Those who were arrogant will say; “We are all (together) in this (Fire)! Verily, ALLAH has judged between (HIS) slaves!”
And those in the Fire will say to the keepers (angels) of Hell: “Call upon your LORD to lighten for us the torment for a day!”
They will say: “Did there not come to you, your Messengers with (clear) evidences (and signs)?” They will say: “Yes.” They will reply: “Then call (as you like)! And the invocation of the disbelievers is nothing but in VAIN (as it will NOT be answered by ALLAH)!” Quran (40:47-50)
On the other side of the coin, there are those special people who are ‘spiritualistic’ and who being released from their ‘spiritual prison’ (found in Prophet Isaiah Chapter 42) and who have seen the LIGHT of TRUTH, will be able to accomplish what the world would call impressive phenomena!
Mu’adh ibn Jabal reported that The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: The greatest war {between Roman forces and Islamic forces}, the {re-}conquest of Constantinople and the coming forth of the Dajjal (Antichrist) will take place within a period of seven months. (Sunnan Abu Dawood)
Abu Hurairah reports that the Prophet (pbh) said: “Have you heard of a city a portion of which is within the land and a portion of which lies by the sea?” They said, “Yes, O Prophet of ALLAH”. He said: “The Last Hour will not be established until 70,000 from the offspring of Isaac {converts to Islam} attack it. When they come to it, they will alight and will not fight with weapons nor will they throw any spear. They will say, “There is none which has the right to be worshipped except ALLAH and ALLAH is the GREATEST” and one half of it would fall down and then they will say it a second time, “There is none which has the right to be worshipped except ALLAH and ALLAH is the GREATEST” and relief will be granted to them so they will enter and conquer Constantinople from the enemy that is holding it. When they enter this city they will be collecting and dividing the booty when a crier will come to them {falsely} saying, “The Anti-christ has emerged {amongst your families} so they will leave everything and return to the gathering place in Syria. (Muslim)
Spiritual awareness or the lack thereof separates the true believer from the one who just exists for just existence sake:
And he {Jesus} said unto another {person}, follow me. But he said, lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father. Jesus said unto them let the dead bury their dead: but you go and preach the Kingdom of GOD. And another also said, lord, I will follow you; but let me first go bid them farewell, which are at home at my house. And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the Kingdom of GOD. Luke (9:59-62)
And Jesus (pbh) further reiterates again:
For wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and many enter through it {to their own destruction}.
But SMALL is the gate and NARROW the road that leads to life {the Kingdom of Paradise}, and ONLY A FEW FIND IT. Matthew (7:13-14)
The Gog and Magog or the ‘unprincipled people’ are the bad souls that have gone rotten. One saying by Prophet Muhammad (pbh) has them being numbered as 99 out of 100 or 999 out of 1000 when it comes time for Judgment towards the end of the world.
Abu Said Al Khudri said that the Prophet (pbh) said, “On the day of Resurrection ALLAH will say, ‘O Adam!’ prophet Adam (pbh) will reply, ‘Labbaik my LORD, and Sa’daik’ meaning I respond to Your Call, I am obedient to Your Orders. Then there will be a loud call (saying), ALLAH orders you to take out (or assign) from among your offspring a mission {time spent} for the Hell-Fire. Adam (pbh) will say, ‘O LORD! Who are the mission for the (Hell) Fire?’ ALLAH will say, ‘Out of each thousand, take out 999.’Then Prophet Muhammad (pbh) recited:
On the DAY {the end} you shall see it, every nursing mother will forget her child she was nursing, and everypregnant woman will abort her pregnancy, and you will see mankind in a drunken state, yet they will not be intoxicated; but the punishment of ALLAH is severe. Quran (22:2)
(When the Prophet (pbh) mentioned this, the companions were so distressed that their faces changed color, whereupon the Prophet (pbh) said, “From the tribes of Gog and Magog peoples – nine-hundred ninety-nine will be taken out {for the hell fire} and one from you {your side}! You Muslims (compared to the large number of other people) will be like a black hair on the side of a white ox, or a white hair on the side of a black ox, and I hope that you will be one-fourth of the people of Paradise.”
On that, the companions declared “Allahu-Akbar!” Then the Prophet (pbh) said, “I hope that you will be one-third of the people of Paradise.” The companions again declared, “Allahu-Akbar!” Then the Prophet (pbh) said, “(I hope that you will be) one-half of the people of Paradise.” And the companions declared again: Allahu Akbar.” (Bukhari)
Warning: We can’t interpret this hadith without caution!!!!!! Basically, it does not condemn the near entire human race to the pangs of Hell-Fire forever. A fraction of a second in the Fire is worse than a lifetime of suffering on this Earth. And then relief will come to those whom relief will come.
Nevertheless, it would be wise for English speaking peoples to turn to a concise and true understanding of these things by downloading Yasir Qadhi’s materials spoken about previously in this writing. In this way one can better come to grips with the concerns dealing with SALVATION without falling into the ditch of falsehoods and false propaganda thrown up by nefarious groups seeking to sow discord.
The ability to be born into the ‘Christ kingdom’ (as of being born again of water and the spirit), when he (Jesus) returns, must be taken into account and what has been repeated in my previous writings concerning that ‘other crass kingdom’ that will come after the lifting up of the Quran and the person who has only a mustard seeds worth of faith in his heart.
Then will be left people who have only darkness in their hearts and who will behave like unruly jackasses. These will be the peoples who have taken Satan as their god and who are deserving of the Fire!
Humble yourselves {willingly}, therefore, under GOD’s mighty hand {in HIS sent down GUIDANCE GUARDED FROM CORRUPTION}, that HE may lift you up in due time. 1Peter (5:6).