What in the World is Going On?
Biblical Answers to Prepare You for Tomorrow (Part IV)
"The Rise of Radical Islam"
Dr. Barry D. Lovett
According to a recent poll, 58% of Americans indicated that they knew either "not very much" or "nothing" about the Muslim religion, Islam,
The History of Islam
The name “Islam” literally means "submission," and so a Muslim is "one who submits to God."
The founder of Islam, Muhammad, was born in Mecca (in present-day Saudi Arabia) in A.D. 570.
The messages Muhammad received from Allah throughout his life form the verses of the Qur’an, which the Muslims regard as the divine word of God.
Muhammad slaughtered thousands of people in establishing and spreading Islam. He told his followers: "Who relinquishes his faith, kill him...I have been ordered by Allah to fight with people ‘til they testify there is no god but Allah, and Muhammad is his messenger."
When Muhammad died the Islamic community became divided over the question of who would be Muhammad's successor.
The Sunni comprise about 90% of the Islamic world. The Sunni believe that Muhammad's spiritual gifts died with him, and their only authority today is in the Qur’an.
The Shi'ites believe that their leaders, the imams, have authority on par with the Qur’an.
The Religious Practices of Islam
A. To Recite the Shahadah: This is the reciting of the creed, "There is no god but Allah, and Muhammad is His messenger."
B. To Pray (Salat): Muslims pray five times a day: The prayers are memorized and recited in Arabic.
C. To Fast (Sawm): Muslims refrain from food during the daylight hours during the lunar month of Ramadan.
D. To Give Alms (Zakat): Muslims are required to give one-fortieth of their income (2.5 percent) to the poor and needy.
E. To Make the Pilgrimage (Hajj): Those physically and financially able must visit Mecca at least once during their lifetime.
jihad actually means “struggle.” The "greater jihad" is the inner struggle of each Muslim to submit to Allah. The "lesser jihad" is the outward struggle to defend the Islamic community.
One of the elements of jihad that is martyrdom for the sake of Allah.
While the majority of the world's 1.5 billion Muslims attempt to live in peace with their neighbors, some experts say that 15-20 percent of Muslims are radical enough to strap a bomb on their bodies in order to kill Christians and Jews.
The Hopes of Islam
Islam Hopes to Rule the World
"The governments of the world should know that Islam cannot be defeated. Islam will be victorious in all of the countries of the world, and Islam and the teaching of the Koran will prevail all over the world…" Ayatollah Khomeini
Islam Hopes To Hasten the Return Their Messiah
"O Allah, the almighty and merciful, hasten the emergence of your last repository, the Promised One, that perfect and pure human being, the one that will fill this world with justice and peace." Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad
The Shites believe that the Twelfth Imam can only appear during a time of worldwide chaos.
“The rise of Islamic terror is setting the stage for the events in Ezekiel 38-39. These chapters prophesy an invasion of Israel in the end times by a vast coalition of nations, all of whom are Islamic today except Russia. The rise of Islam, and especially radical Islamic terrorism, strikingly foreshadows Ezekiel’s great prophecy.” John Walvoord, past president of Dallas Seminary
How to Respond to this Message? (So What! Now What?)
1. Do not Compare Islam with Christianity! - John 14:6
Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." John 14:6
Distinctions between Islam and Christianity:
· Christians do not preach the genocide of a particular race of people. Radical Muslims do.
· Christians do not call for homicidal bombers to slaughter innocent people. Radical Muslims do.
· Christians do not believe that they are to work for worldwide bloodshed, chaos and war to bring back their Messiah. Radical Muslims do.
· Christians desire the salvation of the Muslim people. Radical Muslims call for jihad against the infidels.(infidels being anyone who doesn’t believe in Islam.
2. Do not Consider Allah as God! - Psalm 86:10
When God introduced Himself to Moses, He gave His name as YHWH-Jehovah.
3. Do not Confuse Jihad with Salvation! - Titus 3:5
"…not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us...” Titus 3:5
Islam teaches that Allah's love and forgiveness is conditioned upon one's righteousness.
4. Do not Connect the Qur’an with the Bible - Psalm 119:89
Forever, O Lord, Your Word is settled in heaven. Psalm 119:89 The Bible was given by inspiration of the Holy Spirit to over 40 authors over a period of 1,400 years with a consistent message from Genesis to Revelation. The Qur’an is a self-contradicting book supposedly given by the angel Gabriel to Mohammad.
5. Do not Conclude that All Muslims will be Lost!
The Lord is…not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. II Peter 3:9
“love your enemies, bless those who curse you do good to those who hate you and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you.” Matthew 5:44
Answers to Sermon Notes Insert
According to a recent poll, 58% of Americans indicated that they knew either "not very much" or "nothing" about the Muslim religion of Islam.
The name “Islam” literally means "submission," and so a Muslim is "one who submits to God." The founder of Islam, Muhammad, was born in Mecca (in present-day Saudi Arabia) in A.D. 570.
The messages Muhammad received from Allah throughout his life form the verses of the Qur’an
At his death, the Islamic community became divided over the question of who would be Muhammad's successor.The Sunni comprise about 90% of the Islamic world. They believe the Qur’an is their authority.The Shi'ites believe that their leaders, the imams, have authority on par with the Qur’an.
jihad means “struggle.” The "greater jihad" is the inner struggle of each Muslim to submit to Allah. The "lesser jihad" is the outward struggle to defend the Islamic community. The highest value of jihad is the belief in martyrdom for the sake of Allah. Infidels are all non-believers in Islam and are to be converted or put to death.
Islam Hopes to Rule the World
Islam Hopes To Hasten the Return Their Messiah
1. Do not Compare Islam with Christianity! - John 14:6
2. Do not Consider Allah as God! - Psalm 86:10
3. Do not Confuse Jihad with Salvation! - Titus 3:5
4. Do not Connect the Qur’an with the Bible - Psalm 119:89
5. Do not Conclude that All Muslims will be Lost! Matthew 5:44