What do Muslims Believe?

Intro:

1. Before I get into the exposition of Ezek 38-39, I want to compare the beliefs of Islam and Christianity. These differences of belief will explain why the Islamic nations play a key role in the war to come in the tribulation period and their hatred for Israel and America.
2. The sovereignty of God has brought Muslims and Islam to the forefront for these last days events.

Transition: Lets examine 9 facts about Islam and Muslims.

Christians and Muslims do not worship the same God.

Islam is a cult- Islam is a religion of works and Christianity is by Grace.

Islam is not a great religion.

Islam is not a great religion that has been hijacked by Islamic fundamentalists.

Muslims hate Israel and us because we befriend Israel.

Their hatred for Israel is what drives their obsession of terror. Why?

1. Jews are descendants of Abraham’s son Isaac. The Arabs are descendants of Abraham’s son Ishmael [Gen 16:1-16].
2. Isaac was the promised seed who would inherit the promises to Abraham [Gen. 21:1-3]. They believe Ishmael was the promised seed.
3. Ishmael would live in hostility toward all his brothers [Gen. 16:11-12].
4. When the United nations gave land to Israel in 1948, this inflamed the Arabs. Biblically this is the Jews land.

Not all Arabs are Muslims, and not all Muslims are Arabs.

Followers of Islam are Muslims. Islam means “submission to Allah.”

The founder of Islam

1. Islam was founded by Muhammad who lived from 570 A.D. to 632 A.D. He is believed to be the last and greatest prophet of God by Muslims. He established Islam in Mecca, Arabia in 630 A.D. and united Arab tribes and turned them from idolatry to Islam.
2. Main sects are Sunni and Shiite.
3. There is an estimated 1 billion Muslims in the world, with 5 to 8 million in America.

Muhammad claimed to have received divine truth.

Muhammad claimed to have received divine truth from the angel Gabriel in Arabic, which he recorded in the Muslim holy book “Qur’an.”

1. The Qur’an accepts the law of Moses, Psalms of David, and Gospels of Jesus, but teach that Jews and Christians have corrupted these original revelations.
2. Over 22 years Gabriel revealed the Qur’an to Muhammad.

The Muslim “Qur’an”

The Muslim “Qur’an” gives Muslims the command to convert people to Islam or kill them, by the Holy war called “Jihad.” Radical Muslims are called Jihadists or Islamists Fundamentalists.

1. Killing an infidel is their only assurance of Paradise with 72 virgins. They can go by keeping the five pillars of Islam, but they have not real assurance unless they kill an infidel or kill themselves while killing an infidel.
2. Three levels of Jihad- humiliation, shock, and war.

The five pillars [tenets] of Islam

1. The Confession of Faith– The declaration that there is no god but Allah [Arabic for God], and Muhammad is his prophet.
2. Prayer– The Muslim is required to pray five times a day facing Mecca- Sunrise, noon, mid-afternoon, sunset, and before bed. They quote the Qur’an and do this in their “Mosque.”
3. Almsgiving– They are required to give 2.5 percent of their wealth to the poor and/or for the furtherance of Islam.
4. The Fast– During the month of Ramadan [9th month of Islamic calendar], a fast is to observed from sunrise to sunset. Ramadan is the month they remember the giving of the Qur’an to Mohammad.
5. Pilgrimage– All Muslims are required to travel to Mecca once in their lifetime. There they travel around the Kaahab [black rock] seven times. This is where Adam and Abraham built an altar.

Differences Between the Muslim Jesus and the Biblical Jesus

I want to share some differences between the Muslim Jesus and the Biblical Jesus. I have given you handouts on Islam works, Jihad, Muhammad, and comparison charts on Christianity vs Islam.

1. Islam believes Jesus was created and not eternal.
2. Jesus was a messenger of Allah to declare the coming of Muhammad. He was the son of Mary but not the son of God.
3. Jesus was not crucified and there is no resurrection. They substituted another man and Allah raised him up to heaven.
4. There was no sending of the Holy Spirit.
5. Salvation is only found in keeping the five pillars of Islam.
6. Jesus was a slave of Allah.
7. Jesus is not God in the flesh as the Messiah, and there is no trinity.
8. Jesus is not to be worshipped, he was only a messenger.
9. Jesus is not the mediator between God and man.
10. Jesus will return wearing light yellow garments. You will recognize him because he is a man of medium height with reddish hair.
11. He will return to Damascus, Syria on the wings of two angels. He will invite the whole world to be Muslim including Christians and Jews, if not, they will be killed by Muslims.
12. Jesus destroys the Antichrist and a great slaughter of Jews results and the nation of Israel will be exterminated.
13. Jesus will then marry and have children and live 40 years. He will be buried beside Muhammad.

Con: We treat Muslims like we do lost people.

Pray that God will change their heart and open their eyes [2 Cor. 4:4]. Pray that God will convince them of their need for salvation thru Jesus [John 3:16; 16:7-11]. Live a Godly example before them [1 Pet. 3:1-2]. We must be bold in our witness [Rom. 10:9-10]. Leave the results to God.