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Lindylou
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Username: Lindylou

Post Number: 130
Registered: 1-2005


Posted on Tuesday, February 28, 2006 - 8:46 am:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

My mom shared with me a tidbit from a book she has been reading by Reza F. Safa, entitled, "Inside Islam". It is quite interesting to read about how Mohammad received his "revelations from God."

The book tells about the origins of Islam and their prophet Mohammed. The author states that when Mohammed was 40 years old he had a
visitation from an angel who told him to recite, but then he received no more visions for 2 years and Mohammed became very depressed. He then
began having dreams and visions. When he would have a vision he would fall to the ground and foam at the mouth. Other people began writing down what he said and this became the Koran. Since Mohammed was illiterate the people said this had to be from God because no illiterate person could write those things.

As my mom and I were discussing this, we found it quite interesting how Mohammad's experiences were very similar to Joseph Smith and Ellen White. Makes one think, doesn't it?

This has lead me to ponder another thought, which is just purely curiousity:

I just don't see the logistics of how God is going to introduce the Muslim world to Christ as their Savior. If you and I were born into an Islamic family and raised as a Muslim, what are the chances of us being converted to Christianity? I would think that it would take something pretty spectacular and supernatural to get the Islamic fundamentalists' attention. Can it simply be a matter of "spreading the gospel to all kindred, tongues and people"? I know that God has it all under control. But from this earthly side of things it sure appears to be a big mess!

After growing up with all the talk about how the Catholic church will be the prominant factor in unfolding endtime events, it is most interesting to see how the Islamic world has taken center stage.

All I know is that it will be intriguing to see how things play out in the grand scheme of things. We know so little! And once we thought we knew so much!!! How humbling!
Lindylou
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Username: Lindylou

Post Number: 131
Registered: 1-2005


Posted on Tuesday, February 28, 2006 - 8:49 am:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

P.S. Sure hope this thread doesn't cause a riot! These days, one thinks twice before mentioning the "M' word in any sort of context.
:-(
Melissa
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Username: Melissa

Post Number: 1309
Registered: 7-2003


Posted on Tuesday, February 28, 2006 - 9:08 am:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

I have also had many of those same thoughts about Islam in the end time scenario. If one can alter the paradigm of the assumptions that have been made about what certain things mean, it's not hard to make islam fit at all. But I am not a theologian specializing in prophecy, so it's hard to be dogmatic about anything. Like you, I find it fascinating to speculate and wonder "what if". Then I think how other generations before us have acted on their speculations, and created strife and wars and conflict, all in the interest of "hastening" the return of Christ.... Isn't that such a peculiar thought...that "we" could expedite God's time table?? Every generation has thought this would be the last, and it's interesting to see nothing has changed in that respect.

There was a former muslim on Focus on the family a couple of months ago that told his story of conversion to Christianity. http://www.family.org/fmedia/broadcast/a0037117.cfm Like everything else, it just seems the Spirit has to come calling.

It's a good thing I have faith, elsewise it could be quite discouraging to see the ways of the world.
Melissa
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Username: Melissa

Post Number: 1310
Registered: 7-2003


Posted on Tuesday, February 28, 2006 - 9:27 am:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

I went that that person's website who spoke on the FOTF broadcast, and he has an interesting pdf on the differences in the Islamic jesus and the Biblical Jesus. The link is here if you're interested. It's one of those "dictionary" things..... There are a number of other interesting pdf resources, including the islamic version of salvation.

http://www.erguncaner.com/new/resources/Islamic%20Isa%20vs.%20Jesus.pdf
Colleentinker
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Username: Colleentinker

Post Number: 3464
Registered: 12-2003


Posted on Tuesday, February 28, 2006 - 9:52 am:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Last summer I read an interesting book entitled, "Is the God of Mohammad the Father of Jesus?" It was really well-done and discussed in detail the ways Islam and Christianity are similar and the fundamental ways they are different.

One of the illustrations the author used to show that God does the calling of those in Islam who are His was the story of a 16-year old girl. I can't remember now what her need wasóit seems she had some physical need which was causing her to seek God's help. At any rate, she knew about the Islamic idea of Jesus (not God, but a prophetic voice), and she aksed Him to help her.

This girl had what theologians call a "Christophony"óshe actually experienced Jesus appearing to her that night and revealing Himself for who He was to her. This girl accepted Him as her Savior, and she became a Christian.

I believe that God will do whatever necessary to reveal Himself to those who sincerely seek Him.

On the flip side of the coin, I remember reading one of Chuck Colson's books (I think it was 'Life In the Body) in the 90's in which he explained his conviction that Islam would become a growing world power and that it possibly would ultimately become the antichrist power. At the time I read the book (it was published in the early 90's), Islam was not a focus of attention in the US at least, and it certainly wasn't thought of much by the average citizen as a potential problem or world power.

Doesn't it seem that God fairly consistently breaks down our paradigms and gives us new ways to look at reality? I'm not remotely pretending to know what or whom the antichrist power will actually be, but it is interesting to watch things happen. It seems life has a way of blindsiding usóthis fact is why I believe it's so important for us to ask God to keep us grounded in truth and to protect us from deception.

Colleen
Melissa
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Username: Melissa

Post Number: 1311
Registered: 7-2003


Posted on Tuesday, February 28, 2006 - 10:16 am:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

http://www.christianitytoday.com/tcw/2004/002/6.44.html

This is another article on sharing Christ with Islamic women. It is very interesting.
Lindylou
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Username: Lindylou

Post Number: 132
Registered: 1-2005


Posted on Tuesday, February 28, 2006 - 5:23 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Good thoughts ladies. Thanks for the information to find out more about this topic. Melissa, it IS interesting to see how not much has changed in regards to each generation thinking they have something to do with wrapping things up here on earth. We all like to think we are important somehow in the grand scheme of things. But to think that God's timetable of ending life as we know it on earth is up to ME is just too much responsibility. Thanks goodness HE is in control!

I agree with your statement, Colleen:
"I believe that God will do whatever necessary to reveal Himself to those who sincerely seek Him." It will just be interesting to see how that happens - IF it happens in our lifetime.

In some ways, one has to admire the extremist mindset to be willing to die for their beliefs, and yet on the other hand, their radical approach seems so demonic - to think that a person would be called by God to iradicate another sect of people is just unbelievable. So much damage has been done in the name of "God".

My mind is wandering here...... I was just reading the story of Abraham being asked by God to sacrifice Isaac. It seems strange to me that God would ask Him to do that. It was so contrary to God's way of doing things. If you or I heard that "voice" would we believe it? Wouldn't we say, "It can't be God speaking because He wouldn't ask that of me." Abraham must have been VERY intimate with God to know that it was God doing the talking.

I've often wondered about the idea of something being done with the full belief that you were following God's will - and then later finding out that what you did was really very wrong and harmful to yourself or others. How does God look at that? I suppose that is what happened to Saul/Paul. And because God is who He is, He can take any situation and turn it around. I would guess that if and when God's gets His hands on the Islamic people, that they would become very devote Christians and give Him their all!

Enough rambling.....:-)
Flyinglady
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Username: Flyinglady

Post Number: 2349
Registered: 3-2004


Posted on Tuesday, February 28, 2006 - 5:58 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

I met a lady last winter who had been Muslim. She told me God appeared to her in a dream. I did not get to talk any further with her because friends were waiting for her. I have not seen her since then.
I agree with Colleen that God will use what is necessary to reach the individual.
He is always so awesome.
Diana
Riverfonz
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Username: Riverfonz

Post Number: 1363
Registered: 3-2005
Posted on Tuesday, February 28, 2006 - 6:14 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Interesting topic. Just to amplify on Colleen's statement, I know Ravi Zacharias is quoted as saying that 90 per cent of the muslims he knows who have become Christians did so in the way Colleen described where God revealed the truth of His Son by way of a vision or some other dramatic presentation. The proof that that is genuine would be the fact that what seems impossible with us, is possible for God. It is the Holy Spirit that must open their spiritual eyes, and bring them to salvation. God is drawing people to Himself from all over the world, and from all types of cultures. But the important point here is that they do come to believe in the true Jesus.

As far as Islam being the anti-christ, I doubt it very much. I still believe the anti-christ will come from within false Christianity--probably Catholicism. I still think of J. Vernon Mcgee's recent Sunday sermon where he said that he believes that the visible organized Christian church will become apostate before Christ comes. I suppose that apostate Christianity could form an alliance with Islam to bring in a one world government to solve hunger and illness would be also probable. Eschatology is one area I usually try to avoid, because I think much is not revealed in scripture, so instead we walk by faith.

Stan
Belvalew
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Username: Belvalew

Post Number: 965
Registered: 7-2004
Posted on Wednesday, March 01, 2006 - 10:32 am:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Lindylou, I'm just catching up on this thread and I wanted to say something about Abraham. Yes, he must have been intimately acquainted with the voice of God to be willing to take his "son of promise" and offer him as a sacrifice. Abraham is applauded for his faith, and this one act is pivotal. Did you notice what he said to his servant when he and Isaac left him to go on up the hill to do their sacrifice? Abraham said, "We will be back." There was his statement of faith. Abraham by then had a long history with God, and it looks like he believed that if God wanted him to sacrifice Isaac that God could raise him back up, because all of the promises made to Abraham about future generations had been funneled through Isaac. Abraham knew that and trusted in it.

Belva

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