Christian Versus Islam
| Christian | Islam |
|---|---|
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The Purpose of Christ's Coming |
|
| Jesus will come to rescue Israel, defeat the Antichrist (Revelation. 19:11-21), judge the nations (Matthew 25:31-46) and the wicked in Israel (Ezekiel 20:33-38), and rule over the messianic kingdom (Matthew 19:28; Revelation. 20:1-6) |
Jesus (Isa) will
return to over-throw al-Dajjal in the battle of 'Aqabat Afiq'
in Syria, or at the Lud gate in Jerusalem according to
another account. Jesus will "kill all pigs and break all
crosses", confirming Islam as the only true religion.
After 40 years Jesus will die and be buried next to Muhammad in Medina (Islam teaches that Jesus didn't die in A.D. 33 but has been in a state of "suspended animation" since)
|
|
Destruction of the present world |
|
|
The Earth will
be destroyed (excludes angels) II Peter 3:10 |
Allah will
destroy all the nations except Islamic ones. At the end of
Jesus' and the messianic Imam's rule, the angels will be
destroyed and the earth will "spill out its contents".
|
|
Signs preceding judgment day |
|
| Yes (Matthew 24:4-28) |
Yes - The Jews
will be gathered together. Final battle between Muslims and
Jews. Quran also contains a version of the "Gog & Magog" war
from the Bible with several differences.
|
|
Who must experience death? |
|
|
All people will
experience physical death except those living when Christ
returns.
|
All people will experience physical death |
|
Basis for salvation / eternal life |
|
| Salvation is received by grace through faith in Jesus Christ who already paid the penalty for our sins. |
Works will be
judged on the scales of justice which will be hung on a
pillared structure on the eastern side of the Temple Mount
platform.
If the scales show more good works than bad, the Muslim believer receives eternal life.
|
|
Levels of Reward |
|
|
Not levels, but
degrees of reward
|
Seven levels of reward |
|
Hell as an eternal punishment |
|
|
Those who are
not saved will be thrown into the fire of hell for eternity.
(Matthew 5:29) The lake of fire is the second death of the soul. (Revelation 20:14) |
Hell is a lake
of fire where non-Muslims/infidels live in torment. Sura 4:56 "Some of them believe on the prophet [Mohammad] and some turn aside from him: - the flame of hell is their sufficing punishment" Islam teaches that there are 8 levels of torment. Sura 14:50 "And thou shalt see the wicked on that day linked together in chains - their garments of pitch, and fire shall enwrap their faces - that God may reward every soul as it deserveth;" Hell is eternal: Sura 74:21 "And who shall teach thee what Hell-fire is? It leaveth nought, it spareth nought, blackening the skin. |
|
The Nature of Man |
|
|
Men have a
sinful nature and are inherently wicked. We are made
alive/changed through Jesus Christ unto good works. (Romans
9:20) Ephesians 2:1-5 "But, because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions - it is by grace you have been saved. Ephesians 2:10 "For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." |
Men are
basically good. (Sura 7:23-29) Some have been guided toward right and some are left in error. We are inherently good, but Satan brings some into trouble as Allah wills. |
|
Belief in Purgatory (temporary hell where one can be purified or gain entry into heaven) |
|
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Evangelicals -
No Catholics - Yes |
Yes - called Barzakh |
|
Assurance of Salvation |
|
|
Those who have
accepted Jesus Christ as their savior have eternal life. (I
John 1:12-13) Salvation is a free gift
available to all willing to receive it. Colossians 1:22-23 "But now he has reconciled you by Christ's physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation if you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard..." |
It is impossible
in this life to have any assurance of salvation. Good works
will be measured against bad on the scales of justice on
judgment day.
|
|
Nature of God as judge |
|
|
God is a just
God (Romans 3:26) II Peter 3:9 "The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance." |
Allah is
arbitrary. Some are born to knowledge while others are not.
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Beliefs on those who will experience the tribulation |
|
|
The church will
be raptured (snatched away) and taken to be with the Lord.
God's judgment will be poured out on the wicked of the earth.
|
Believers of Allah will be hidden with the prophet Mohammad, followed by a "wind of destruction" which will kill all the remaining people. |
|
Christ will come again |
|
|
Yes - Jesus will
return at the end of the tribulation. John 14:3 "And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. " Titus 2:13 "Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;" See Also Revelation 22:20 |
Yes - "To break the cross and kill the swine" followed by an "eruption of fire in Eden". |
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Signs of the End Times |
|
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Beginning of
birth pangs: 1. Wars between nations (Matthew 24:67) 2. Famine & earthquakes (Matthew 24:7) 3. False christs (Matthew 24:5) 4. Israel reestablished (Isaiah 11:11-12) Birth pangs: 1. Temple worship restored and abomination of desolation (Daniel 9:27; Matthew 25:15; II Thessalonians 2:4; Revelation 11:1-2) 2. Jews persecuted (Matthew 24:9-10, 16-20) 3. False christs and prophets (Matthew 24:11,24) 4. Global preaching of kingdom (Matthew 24:14) 5. Celestial disturbances (Matthew 24:29; Revelation 6-19) |
Major and minor
signs will Revelationeal that the end times have arrived (Sura
21:96, 27:82, 43:61) Major Signs: 1. Gross materialism 2. Women outnumber men 3. Muslims defeat Jews in battle; Muslims and Christians battle unbelievers together, then Muslims defeat Christians in battle. Minor Signs: 1. Increase in bloodshed and war 2. Contraction of time 3. Religious knowledge decreases 4. Prevalence of the ungodly |
|
Result of End-time battle |
|
|
After
Armageddon, Satan is bound and believers enter the
Millennium. Following the thousand year reign of Christ there
is a final battle with Satan (Revelation
20:7-9), the destruction of the cosmos (2
Peter 3:10-13) and recreation (Revelation
21:1)
|
A "Great Destruction" which destroys all but God, then a resurrection/recreation |
|
The End-time ruler (following Armageddon) |
|
| Eternal (Mark 9:43-48) |
Gog and Magog
led by Darius, the king of Persia (Sura 21:96)
|
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Temporal dwelling for dead |
|
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Christians will
be in Christ's presence (II
Corinthians 5:8) Non-Christians will go to Hell (the lake of fire) (Luke 16:23, Revelation 20:13) |
Most scholars say the good and the bad will be with Allah until judgment, but some say "Alam Bazar" is for all people or for only the wicked. |
|
Eternal dwelling for believers |
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Heaven/New
Jerusalem Revelation 21:2-3
"And I John saw the holy city, new
Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a
bride adorned for her husband. (3) And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.
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Janah("Paradise") |
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Nature of Eternal Life |
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Fellowship (Revelation
21:3, 7; 22:4)
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Mutahsibir -
sensual pleasure in sex with virgins, eating, and happiness Sura 55:56 "On couches with linings of brocade shall they recline, and there in shall be the damsels with retiring glances, whom nor man nor djinn hath touched before them: Like jacynths and pearls: Shall the reward of good be aught but good? And beside these shall be two other gardens: With gushing fountains in each: In each fruits and the palm and the pomegranate: In each the fai, the beauteous ones: With large dark eyeballs, kept close in their pavilions: Whom man hath
never touched nor any djinn: Their spouses on soft green
cushions and on beautiful carpets shall recline: Blessed by
the name of they Lord, full of majesty and Glory." |
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Future of Israel |
|
| Eternally restored (Jeremiah 31:35-37) | Eternally destroyed |
** Note all references are taken from the King James Version.