|
JESUS' RETURN ACCORDING TO THE BIBLE
We have remarked in the previous chapters that Jesus' return is very important to Christians. The reason for this is that the Bible, which comprises the Old Testament (the Torah [its first five books] and other Jewish writings) and the New Testament (the Four Gospels, various letters and accounts of leading early Christians, and the Revelation of St. John), contains many revelations about the End Times. Jesus' second coming figures prominently in the New Testament.
The Old Testament and the New Testament provide various explanations about future events. As we know, while the Old Testament does not mention Jesus by name, it reveals the coming of a savior. The holy personage known as the “Messiah,” whose coming the Jews await in the End Times, is in fact “Hazrat Mahdi” anticipated by Muslims. (For details, see The Mahdi Is A Descendent of the Prophet Abraham (pbuh), 2008) The “Mahdi” of Islam therefore appears as the “Messiah” in Jewish scriptures. An examination of the Torah and other holy Judaic writings shows that the personage described as the “Messiah” has the same characteristics, will do the same things and will be instrumental in bringing about the same changes as Hazrat Mahdi (as).
But the Prophet Jesus, whose return to Earth as the “Messiah” Christians await, is not “Mahdi (as).” Muslims also believe that the Prophet Jesus will return in the End Times: but when the Prophet Jesus appears he will follow Mahdi (as), and these two blessed personages together will be instrumental, by God’s leave, in the moral values of Islam, the one true faith, coming to rule the world. This information, which appears in numerous authentic hadiths, shows that the Prophet Jesus and Hazrat Mahdi will meet together and speak to one another in the End Times.
The New Testament is full of revelations concerning Jesus' second coming, the accompanying signs, and the End Times.
The Qur'an reveals that both the Torah and the Gospel have been tampered with over time and that, as a result, they contain false beliefs. While some parts may have remained true to their original form, other parts have been modified, altered, and added to by various people. Given this, we can rely only on their revelations insofar as they are compatible with the Qur'an and the hadiths. As the following examples will demonstrate, there is a great deal of similarity between the Jewish, Christian, and Islamic sources on Jesus' second coming and the EndTimes.
As the Christians consider their holy book (the Bible) to consist of both the Old Testament and the New Testament, they interpret the relevant subjects in light of these two books. When we examine the Bible, we see that Jesus' second coming is a central theme. The revelations here relate the natural phenomena and social events that will take place before and after his return. When we look at the Prophet's (may God bless him and grant him peace) hadiths relating these events, we notice that the signs of the End Times appear to be more imminent than they were in the past. (For detailed information, see Harun Yahya, Signs of the Last Day, Global Publishing, Istanbul, 2003) Interestingly, almost all of signs heralding the advent of the Last Day have appeared in our time. Therefore, we can say that given the information in the Islamic sources, as well as in the Old and New Testaments, the End Times have arrived.
The New
Testament's Account of Jesus' Second Coming
Out of the New Testament's 259
chapters, 210 of them contain 318 references about
Jesus' second coming. Clear statements are given
below on Jesus' ascent to God's presence and his
return to Earth, as follows:
"... I am going
there to prepare a place for you. And if I go
and prepare a place for you, I will come back
and take you to be with me, [so] that you also
may be where I am." (John 14:2-3)
"So if anyone
tells you: 'There he [the Messiah] is, out in
the desert,' do not go out; or: 'Here he is, in
the inner rooms,' do not believe it. For as lightning
that comes from the east is visible even in the
west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man."
(Matthew 24:26-27)
So you also must
be ready, because the Son of Man will come at
an hour when you do not expect him. (Matthew 24:44)
... The appearing
of our teacher Jesus, which God will bring about
in His own time-God, the blessed and only Ruler,
the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone
is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light,
whom no one has seen or can see. To him be honor
and might forever. Amen. (1 Timothy 6:15-16)
Now there is in
store for me the crown of righteousness, which
the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me
on that day-and not only to me, but also to all
who have longed for his appearing. (2 Timothy
4:8)
And this gospel
of the kingdom will be preached in all the world
as a testimony to all the nations, and then the
end will come. (Matthew 24:14)
"At that time,
the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the
sky and all the nations of Earth will mourn. They
will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of
the sky, with power and great glory." (Matthew
24:30)
"Men of Galilee,"
they [angels] said, "why do you stand here looking
into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken
from you into Heaven, will come back in the same
way you have seen him go into Heaven." (Acts 1:11)
"For our citizenship
is in Heaven, from which we also eagerly wait
for ... the teacher Jesus Christ." (Philippians
3:20)
"Look, he is coming
with the clouds, and every eye will see him."
(Revelation 1:7)
I do not want you
to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers, so that
you may not be conceited: Israel has experienced
a hardening in part until the full number of the
Gentiles has come in. And so all Israel will be
saved, as it is written: "The deliverer will come
from Zion; he will turn godlessness away from
[the line of] Jacob. (Romans 11:25-26)
Now learn this
lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs
get tender and its leaves come out, you know that
summer is near. Even so, when you see all these
things, you know that it [the coming of Jesus]
is near, right at the door. (Matthew 24:32-33)
When the Son of
Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with
him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory.
(Matthew 25:31)
As stated earlier,
Jesus will inauguate an era of justice, wealth,
and virtue upon his second coming. As the New
Testament says:
Blessed are the
meek, for they will inherit the earth. (Matthew
5:5)
This, then, is
how you should pray: ... Your kingdom come ...
(Matthew 6:9-10)
People will come
from the east and the west, and [from] the north
and the south, and will take their places at the
feast in the kingdom of God. Indeed, there are
those who are last who will be first, and first
who will be last. (Luke 13:29-30)
He [Jesus] told them this parable: "Look at the fig tree and all the trees. When they sprout leaves, you can see for yourselves and know that summer is near. Even so, when you see these things happening, you know that the kingdom of God is near.” (Luke 21:29-31)
Then the King will say to those on his right, “Come, you who are blessed by ... [God]; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.” (Matthew 25:34)
Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? ... (1 Corinthians 6:2)
Clearly, there are striking similarities between the accounts of Islam, Christianity, and Judaism concerning the portents that will come about in the End Times and the global rule of religious morality. This harmony has engendered a great anticipation in all three religions. The era in which we live is probably the one in which the anticipation of this miracle has reached its apex and is also near to be fulfilled. This is a great news that helps the believers retain their high morale.
BACK |
