Written by Ivor Thomas

Brethren Of Christ Articles - Israel

THE QUR’AN ensures peace in the Middle East is IMPOSSIBLE.

WHY?

Because of the COMMAND in the Qur’an!

“O ye who believe!  Take not the Jews and the

Christians for your friends and protectors:”  (Sura 5:51)

The fundamental problem in the Middle East is that Islam is based on animosity towards the Jews.

The fact that Jesus Christ, a Jew, said that “salvation is of the Jews” (John 4:22), automatically brought Christianity into the Jewish camp.

America, which is probably the most powerful and influential nation on earth, is predominantly Christian, with a notable Jewish community.  This explains why it is considered ‘The Satan’ or arch enemy of Islamic countries.

If we consider the command in the Qur’an, that Jews and Christians are not to be considered as friends or protectors, we can begin to appreciate why there is so much turmoil in the Middle East.

Any Muslim who befriends a  Jew or Christian, is soon warned by Islamic clerics, that they cannot be true Muslims if they violate the clear teachings of the Qur’an.  They are threatened with exposure and rejection, so they quickly learn that they must shun friendly Jews and Christians, if they are to survive in an Islamic community.

Speak to any Muslim, especially converts, and you will soon hear that all the world’s problems are caused by the Jews.

American leaders seem unable to grasp that their failure to help the Shia’s in Iraq in their uprising against Saddam, is used by Islamic ‘clerics’ to point out the accuracy of the command in The Qur’an.  America, they say, cannot be a ‘protector’ but is purely interested in gaining control over their oil, etc, and must be opposed.

At the best, they are tolerated, but not welcomed!

Islam is a religion that is today, based on fear of the Mullahs and Ayatollahs, who can issue fatwahs (religious reprisals) against any that they dislike, rather than the fear of God.

Considering the implications of the Qur’anic command, we find that if one cannot take a person as a friend, then the only alternatives are:

(a)     To tolerate them.

(b)      To hate them.

In any community where toleration is the limit of acceptance, any negative incident, can be used to change toleration to hate.  The dividing line is so small, that envy may in itself, be the trigger to make that change.  Even when Jewish communities are expelled from Islamic countries, having had all their properties and possessions confiscated, Islam is not satisfied, and complain when the Jews go to the only place that they are welcomed -- the land of Israel.

 

Islam proclaims that The Qur’an is but a continuation of the Jewish and Christian teachings. This is patently not the case!

BOTH the ‘Jewish’ Old Testament and the ‘Christian’ New Testament teach that God is in control of retribution.  ‘Vengeance belongs to God, and not man.  “To me belongeth vengeance, and recompence,” (Deuteronomy 32:35).  “LORD God, to whom vengeance belongeth; O God, to whom vengeance belongeth, shew thyself, (Psalms 94:1).  “Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord, (Romans 12:19).  “For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord, (Hebrews 10:30).

In fact, Christ taught His followers to “Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them that despitefully use you, and persecute you;” and “Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.” that is, to do unto others as you would like them to do unto you, (Matthew 5:44 and 22:39).

This response is alien to Islam, who cannot be friends with Jews and Christians!  ‘Islamic Vision’ issues a leaflet with the title “Islam: the voice of human nature”.

As The Bible teaches that human nature is the enemy of God, (Jeremiah 17:9, Proverbs 14:12, Romans 8:7), there is constant friction between the teachings of the Bible and the Qur’an.  Anyone who is prepared to point out the shortcomings of The Qur’an, runs the risk of violent retribution at the hands of Islamic clerics, who decide to act as judge and jury, rather than leave any retribution in the hands of their God.

However imperfect the actions of Christendom, it allows the Muslims to build their own mosques and worship freely in this country, but this is not reciprocated in Islamic countries!

As true Peace is impossible now, in the Middle East, what hope is there for a troubled world? Are suicide bombers to be a continual feature of life in Israel?

So what of the future of Israel, and the Middle East?

Eventually, the world will declare that ‘Peace and Safety’ has been achieved.  This, however, is the prelude to destruction that will surpass every imagination. Israel will be invaded.  Half of Jerusalem and two thirds of the land will be taken captive, and it is at this point that the Jews will turn back to God, knowing that He alone can save them.  God will send the Jewish Messiah -- Jesus Christ, their king whom they rejected, to remove all the wickedness from the face of the earth, and establish a worldwide kingdom where God’s will is done, and he will ensure that God is worshipped in truth.

Despite the shortcomings of The Qur’an, it has one overriding feature that must be acknowledged.  It continues to teach what Abraham and all the prophets believed - that there is ONE God, and that the pagan teachings of the Trinity are abhorrent to all true believers.

It is because of this, and that they are also of the seed of Abraham, that the Arabs also will then be restored to favour in God’s purpose, and all wars and animosities will cease.

 

The Bible foretells of the animosity between Arabs and Jews in Genesis 16:12, and all the events leading up to the establishment of God’s kingdom on the earth.

 

Why not find out what else is revealed, and how you can be effected?

 

References taken from The Holy Qur’an, translated by Abdulla Yusuf Ali, Dean of the Islamic College, Lahore and endorsed by IPCI: Islamic Vision, Birmingham. and their other promotional material.