FORGET NONE OF HIS BENEFITS, volume 8, number 25, June 18, 2009

FORGET NONE OF HIS BENEFITS, volume 8, number 25, June 18, 2009

And they will hammer their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks, Isaiah 2:4.

President Obama’s Cairo Speech to the Muslim World

The world listened with great interest to President Obama’s speech on June 4 to the Muslim world—a remarkable effort to reach out to Muslims, seeking to bring peace between clashing cultures and world views. I applaud the President’s effort at seeking to bring peace between the Palestinians and Jews, as well as his desire to felicitate dialogue amongst Christians, Jews, and Muslims. Certainly every effort should be made to end violence in the Middle East .

Mr. Obama claims, in his speech, to be a student of history, saying that Islam has a rich history of religious tolerance. He also suggests knowledge of theology when he mentions the story of Isra, saying that Jesus, Mohammed, and Moses met on the mountain to pray. This, of course, is a mythical story, and Islam has a sordid history of religious intolerance. Try getting into Dubai today if you are Jewish, as only one example.

Let’s assume for a moment that Hamas, the Palestinians, the Arabs, and the Iranians all agree to peaceful coexistence with Israel and the West. Let’s also assume that the vast majority of Muslims in the world want what we want—a life of peace. I am convinced, however, that Mr. Obama’s well intentioned overture to the Muslim world will end in disaster. I say this for one simple reason—the Muslim world is driven by a Qur’anic world view that is committed to the destruction of all world views it deems in opposition to Allah, especially that of Jews and the nation of Israel . The true followers of Muhammed do not wish to coexist with other world views. They want Sharia law, plain and simple. I know that most Muslims deny this hatred of Israel , and most Muslims do not practically embrace this vision. However the Qur’an clearly teaches it; and the Jihadists are committed to the fulfillment of it. Consider the following excerpts from the Qur’an and related Islamic documents.

Ignominy shall be their portion [the Jews'] wheresoever they are found... They have incurred anger from their Lord, and wretchedness is laid upon them... because they disbelieve the revelations of Allah and slew the Prophets wrongfully... because they were rebellious and used to transgress. [Surah 111, v. 112]

And thou wilt find them [the Jews] the greediest of mankind....[Surah 11, v. 96]

· Evil is that for which they sell their souls... For disbelievers is a terrible doom.[Surah II, v. 90]

· Taste ye [Jews] the punishment of burning.[Surah III, v. 18 1]

· Proclaim a woeful punishment to those that hoard up gold and silver.... Their treasures shall be heated in the dres of Hell, and their foreheads, sides and backs branded with them. . . . 'Taste then the punishment which is your due. [Surah IX, v. 35]

· "They [the Jews] are the heirs of Hell.... They will spare no pains to corrupt you. They desire nothing but your ruin. Their hatred is clear from what they say ... When evil befalls you they rejoice." Ibid. [Surah 111, v. 117-120]

· Those who disbelieve Our revelations, We shall expose them to the fire. As often as their skins are consumed We shall exchange them for fresh skins that they may taste the torment.[Surah IV, v. 56]

· Because of the wrongdoing of the Jews.... And of their taking usury ... and of their devouring people's wealth by false pretenses. We have prepared for those of them who disbelieve a painful doom.[Surah IV, v. 160, 161]

· Allah hath cursed them [the Jews] for their disbelief.[Surah IV, v. 46]

· In truth the disbelievers are an open enemy to you.[Surah IV, v. 101]

· Fight against such of those [Jews and Christians] ... until they pay for the tribute readily, being brought low.[Surah IX, v. 29]

· Allah fighteth against them [the Jews]. How perverse they are![Surah IX, v. 30]

· An early Hadith (an oral tradition reporting the deeds and words of Muhammed) called “The Killing of Dajjal (anti-Christ) and the Victory of the Muslims” says:

After the completion of congregational dawn prayers, Jesus will open the door behind him where Dajjal accompanied by 70,000 Yahudis (Jews) will be. He will indicate with his hand to move away between himself (Jesus) and Dajjal. Dajjal will then see Jesus. At that time every unbeliever on whom the breath of Jesus will reach, will die. His breath will reach up to the distance of his eyesight. The Muslims will then come down from the mountains and break loose on the army of Dajjal. There will be war, Dajjal will retreat, and Jesus will pursue Dajjal. Jesus will have two flexible swords and one shield with him and with these he will kill Dajjal at the Gate of Hudd. He willl show the Muslims the blood of Dajjal which will get on his shield. Eventually the Yahudis (Jews) will be selected and killed. The swine will be killed and the cross broken. People will revert to Islam. Wars will end, and people will return to their respective countries. One Jamaat (group) of Muslims will remain in his service and companionship.

Later Hadiths (appearing in the 1930s and 1940s under the influence of Hajj Amin Husseini) indicated the Messiah that all Jews wait for is the Dajjal, and "The resurrection of the dead will not come until the Muslims will war with the Jews and the Muslims will kill (exterminate) them."

This page was produced by Joseph E. Katz
Middle Eastern Political and Religious History Analyst
Brooklyn, New York [1]

While I am not one blindly to support Israel and while I believe the Palestinians, many of whom are our brethren in Christ, ought to have a homeland—believing that Israel long ago forfeited any covenantal right to the land due to their rejection of Messiah—to believe that Hamas, Iran, and the leaders of the Muslim world want anything but the annihilation of Israel is naïve. To think that Iran merely wants nuclear energy (when they pay the equivalent of 10 cents per gallon for gasoline) and is not preparing nuclear warheads for Israel is madness.

The prophetic vision of Isaiah—where the Jews will turn their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks—waits the consummation of the ages when Messiah returns, when He will establish a new heaven and new earth, when indeed the wolf will graze with the lamb, when the lion will eat straw like an ox. Until then or until the Muslim world bows the knee to the Prince of Peace the hatred for the Jews will continue unabated. Only conversion to Messiah will bring peace between Jew and Muslim. Only Jesus of Nazareth, Messiah, can break down the middle wall of partition between Jew and Gentile, between Jew and Muslim. Our job is to pray for the peace of Jerusalem and to labor for it by preaching the good news of the Kingdom to Jew and Muslim alike.

[1] From the website www.eretzisrael.org

FORGET NONE OF HIS BENEFITS is a weekly devotional by Reverend Al Baker, pastor of Christ Community Presbyterian Church in West Hartford, Connecticut.

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