The revelation of Moshiach

Mankind’s journey and Moshiach

Moses, Jesus and Muhammed are the pillars of Judaism, Christianity and Islam respectively. But one can’t help feeling that all three were abandoned by God towards the end of their lives. Moses delivered the Israelites from Egypt and led them to Canaan, the Promised land for forty years; gave God’s Commandments and the laws, yet was not permitted to enter the Canaan. Jesus established the Kingdom of God on Earth yet he cried “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? (My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?) on the cross before he dies. Muhammad brought forth the Quran and established the Islamic world yet endured sporadic pain during his last four years and said ‘I feel as if my aorta is being cut from that poison.’

I undertook a journey to understand why these three people who were chosen to lead people had to suffer. What did God expect from them and why did he forsake them? If I understood it I can understand what he expects from us now.

My journey had to start in the Eden Garden where God created man.

Mankind’s journey commenced when God created Adam. Though Adam was created as male and female initially, God separated the femininity from Adam and created Eve. God expected them to be perfect but they proved to be susceptible to sins and God decided that they shouldn’t be permitted to eat from the tree of Eternal life.

They should bear children and if those children were perfect, they could eat the fruits of Eternal life. But the ability to bear children was not there in the initial plans and that needed a lot of chances to be incorporated in man. Eve was prepared first. Adam knew his wife and the Holy Spirit shadowed on her and she bore Cain and said, I have gotten a man from the Lord. Later she gave birth to Abel.

Cain and Abel had to find spouses and the Children of God came into the picture. But Cain murdered Abel and proved that man was far from perfect.

Adam was then made capable of bearing children and he fathered Seth. Thus, the generations of Adam started from Seth and then Seth was made capable.

One thing led to the other and this was going on without an end. Man had to be made perfect with regards to procreation and his life span, which was around eight hundred years, was to be reduced to Hundred and twenty years.

Noah, his wife and their three children Shem, Ham and Japheth and their spouses were made to stay in an Ark and the changes were incorporated in them. It rained heavily and everything else was destroyed and mankind had a new beginning.

When they came out of the Ark God blessed them to multiply and fill the face of the earth. The children of man inherited the world from the Children of God.

Man was made capable of procreation but some minor changes had to be made here and there to make him perfect; assistance was given to each man by God and the Heavenly forces.

The entire mankind on this earth today are the descendants of these new men; Shem, Ham and Japheth.

From the sons of Japheth (Gomer, Magog, Madai, Javan, Tubal, Meshech and Tiras) were the isles of the Gentiles divided in their lands; every one after his tongue, after their families, in their nations.

Ham saw his father’s nakedness and his son Canaan was cursed by Noah for that. He was to be a servant of servants to his brethren.

From the sons of Ham (Cush, Mizraim, Phut and Canaan) cities like Babel and Nineveh sprang up and the Canaanites spread abroad. Families and tongues and nations and countries were named after the sons of Ham.

While the heavenly forces followed and assisted the children of Japheth and Ham, God followed the lineage of the firstborns of Shem; Arphaxad, Salah, Eber, Peleg, Reu, Serug, Nahor, Terah; Terah fathered Abram.

God’s work in making man a perfect one in terms of procreation was to end in Abram. God promised Abram that he would give a son to him and his wife, Sara, when they were very old.

Sara didn’t believe that she could conceive in that age and assigned Hagar, her maid, to sleep with Abram.  Hagar became pregnant from Abram and when Sara found that out, she dealt with Hagar in a harsh manner and made Hagar flee from there.

The Angel of the Lord found her and comforted her and said,’ I will multiply thy seed exceedingly, that it shall not be numbered for multitude. Behold, thou art with child and shalt bear a son, and shalt call his name Ishmael; because the Lord hath heard thy affliction.’ Hagar returned and gave birth to Ishmail.

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Then God made Abram walk before him to make him perfect. God made a covenant between him and Abram and said, I will multiply thee exceedingly and thou shalt be a father of many nations. Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee. And I will make thee exceeding fruitful, and I will make nations of thee, and kings shall come out of thee.  And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee. And I will give unto thee, and to thy seed after thee, the land wherein thou art a stranger, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God.

The heavenly forces did a commendable work in making the others perfect in terms of procreation. God asked Abraham to circumcise his people to distinguish the ones perfected by him from the others.

God then destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah where Lot, Abraham’s nephew, stayed with his wife and children. He asked them to flee from that place and asked them not to look back. When Lot’s wife looked back, she turned into a pillar of salt. There was no man in that land; Lot’s daughters made him drink wine and slept with him; the elder one became pregnant and gave birth to Moab, the father of Moabites; and the younger one gave birth to Ben-ammi, father of Ammonites.

God remembered Sara and she conceived from Abram and gave birth to Issac. God’s promise to Abraham and Sara was thus fulfilled. Issac was Abraham’s firstborn after he was made perfect and mankind was able to stand on its leg from that time onwards.

God tested Abraham’s faith by asking him to sacrifice Issac; Abraham got ready to sacrifice him on Mount Moria but was stopped at the last moment. A ram was given as a substitute and Abraham sacrificed it. God was mightily pleased with his obedience; this was something he had not seen even in Adam and Eve.

Abraham had many more children with Keturah and his concubines. He gave his inheritance to Issac and gave gifts to Ishmail and other sons. Issac married Rebekah and intreated God when his wife was not bearing him children and God intervened. She conceived twins who fought in her womb and she said, if it be so, why am I thus? And she went to enquire of the God and he answered, ‘Two nations are in thy womb, and two manner of people shall be separated from thy bowels; and the one people shall be stronger than the other people; and the elder shall serve the younger.’

She delivered the twins Esau and Jacob. Esau squandered the rights of the firstborn for a bowl of stew and was called Edom for that. Jacob, with the help of his mother, deceitfully took Issac’s blessings.

Jacob dreamt of a staircase reaching from earth to heaven, with angels ascending and descending. God appeared at the top of the ladder, reaffirming his covenant with Abraham and Issac and promising him prosperity, numerous descendants, and protection. Jacob later wrestled with God throughout a night and God touched the hollow of Jacob’s thigh. God blessed Jacob and changed his name to Israel.

Jacob had two wives, sisters Leah and Rachel, and two concubines, Bilhah and Zilpah, by whom he had thirteen children. (Twelve sons and one daughter Dinah). The twelve sons who form the basis for the twelve tribes of Israel are Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Dan, Naphtali, Gad, Asher, Issachar, Zebulun, Joseph, and Benjamin.

Joseph, despite being the second-youngest son, received double the inheritance of his brothers, treated as if he were the firstborn son (instead of Reuben because he slept with Bilhah and defiled his father’s bed) and Joseph’s tribe was later split into two, named after his sons, Ephraim and Manasseh.

Judah’s firstborn son, Er, married Tamar and died without producing children. Judah as per custom gave Tamar as a wife to his second son, Onan, so she could bear a child in his brother’s name. Onan wasted his sperm and God killed him for that. Tamar then disguised herself as a prostitute and met Judah, deceiving him into having a child with her and she thus ensured continuation of the family line.

Nebajoth, Kedar, Adbeel, Mibsam, Mishma, Dumah, Massa, Hadar, Tema, Jetur, Naphish, and Kedemah: these are the sons of Ishmael, and these are their names, by their towns, and by their castles; twelve princes according to their nations.

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God devised a plan to end the Babylonian exile. King Ahasuerus of Persia, who ruled from India unto Ethiopia (mentioned in Daniel 9:1 In the first year of Darius the son of Ahasuerus, of the seed of the Medes, which was made king over the realm of the Chaldeans.) demanded the queen, Vashti, to appear before him. Her refusal infuriated him and he decided to take another queen and selected Esther, a Jewish woman to be the new queen. Haman, the minister, planned to execute the Jews as they were not respecting him enough. Esther’s cousin Mordecai, who spoke several languages discovered some people plotting to assassinate the king and asked her to warn him. The king was happy with her and she used her influence to expose Haman’s plan. The king ordered Haman’s execution and issued a new decree protecting the Jews. The festival of Purim is celebrated to commemorate this.

Esther, the Jewish queen, cultivated a feeling for the Jewish cause in her kin. Cyrus II, became the ruler of Persia in 550 BC and conquered Babylonia in 539 BC and issued an order in 538 BC allowing exiled Jews (tribes of Judah and Benjamin) to return and rebuild the Temple.

The second Temple was completed in 515 BC, when the dispersed of Judah were gathered together, 23 years after the death of Prophet Daniel.

God set his hand the first time to recover the remnant of his people. 

God had different plans for the children of Israel. He promised to set his hand again a second time in the future. This time it was going to be for all the tribes of Israel.  Isaiah 11: 11-12 says, And it shall come to pass in that day, that the Lord shall set his hand again the second time to recover the remnant of his people, which shall be left, from Assyria, and from Egypt, and from Pathros, and from Cush, and from Elam, and from Shinar, and from Hamath, and from the islands of the sea. And he shall set up a banner for the nations, and shall assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth.

Prophets like Jeremiah, Isaiah, and Ezekiel foretold a gathering of the dispersed and a restoration to the land.  Jeremiah 29:14 says, And I will be found by you, says the Lord, and I will return your captivity and gather you from all the nations and from all the places where I have driven you, says the Lord, and I will return you to the place whence I exiled you.

Prophet Isaiah prophesied about God’s future restoration and the coming of a king for Israel. Isaiah 9: 6-7 says, For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.’ Isaiah 42: 1-4 says, Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen one in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him and he will bring justice to the nations. He will not falter or be discouraged till he establishes justice on earth.

Prophet Malachi 4:5-6 said about a forerunner Behold, I will send you the prophet Elijah before that great and dreadful day of the Lord comes, he will turn the hearts of the fathers to the children and the hearts of the children to the fathers or else I will come and strike the land with a curse.

Ezekiel chapters 40-48 describe a vision of a future Temple in Jerusalem and the land of Israel restored to the twelve tribes of Israel.

The Israelis started to expect the arrival of the Messiah as prophesied by these Prophets  from the time the Babylonian exile was over and the temple was built. They had no way to foresee that God would set his hand a second time in the future as stated in Isaiah 11: 11  And it shall come to pass in that day, that the Lord shall set his hand again the second time to recover the remnant of his people.

Let’s update the history of Jerusalem to see how history was unfolding.

Nehemiah, a Jewish leader and a prominent figure in the Persian court, used his position and the king’s trust to obtain permission to return to Jerusalem and rebuild its walls. He led the rebuilding of Jerusalem’s walls (445-425 BC) marking a period of revitalization of faith.

In 332 BC Alexander the Greek invaded Jerusalem as part of his six-year campaign to conquer the Persian Empire. Then Jerusalem fell into the hands of Ptolemies of Egypt and in 198 BCE, the Seleucids, led by Antiochus III the Great, seized control of Jerusalem from the Ptolemies. 

In 164 BC, the Maccabees, a group of Jewish rebel warriors under the leadership of Judas Maccabee, successfully revolted against Antiochus IV Epiphanes and they recaptured and rededicated the Temple in Jerusalem and lighted the menorah. It’s written that the wicks of the menorah miraculously burned for eight days, even though there was only enough sacred oil for one day’s lighting. The festival Hanukkah (Festival of Lights) is celebrated to commemorate the rededication of the temple.

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Jerusalem was ruled by the Maccabean Dynasty (also known as the Hasmonean dynasty) till 63 BC when Roman general Pompey conquered Jerusalem and its surrounding areas.

Antipater, an Idumean leader, (Idumea, was the region south of Judea inhabited by the Edomites) gained power in Judaea. He had supported Pompey’s invasion and later Caesar’s Egyptian campaign. Julius Ceaser recognized Antipater’s organizational and administrative abilities and granted Roman citizenship to him and his son Herod.

Herod became the ruler of Jerusalem after executing King Antigonus  with the support of the Roman Empire, marking the end of the Hasmonean dynasty and the beginning of the Herodian dynasty.

The Roman Senate concerned about potential Parthian invasions (an Indo-Iranian nomadic tribe, who established a major empire in ancient Iran) saw Herod as a strong ally who could help defend the region against them and declared Herod the Great, “King of the Jews” in 40 BC. He expanded and renovated the Second Temple. In 6 BC, Judea became a directly administered Roman province, ruled by a governor. 

By now mankind had reached the Adulthood stage and God had stopped talking to mankind even through prophets. He looked at the world and saw that the gentiles had spread all over the world. He entrusted Gabriel, the angel, to establish the Kingdom of God, bring the gentiles together and give them the commandments.

The Jews were expecting a Messiah as per the prophecies to relieve them from Romans and to reclaim the Kingdom of David. It was in this context Jesus came into the picture.

Christianity

Gabriel picked a young woman Mary and said, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name Jesus. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: And he shall reign over the house of Jacob forever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.  Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man? And the angel answered and said unto her The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God. (Luke 1 30-35).

Gabriel had earlier informed Zechariah that his wife Elisabeth would bear him a son and he should be called John; he would go before the Lord in the power and spirit of Elijah. When Zechariah disbelieved and questioned Gabriel, he had struck him dumb until the prophecy was fulfilled. After his son’s birth and circumcision ceremony Zechariah’s relatives tried to name the child, but he insisted on the name John and his mouth was opened and ability to speak restored at that moment and he praised God. The child grew up and came to be known as John, the Baptist.

Mary’s child was born in Bethlehem (celebrated as Christmas) and he was named Yeshua (Jesus) and he grew strong in the spirit and was well versed with the Commandments.

Jesus came to the Jordan River to be baptized by John and saw the Holy Spirit descending upon him as a dove. He was thus initiated to his public work. He was then taken to the wilderness and tested by Satan (Temptations) and passed with flying colors.

He gave the Sermon on the Mount in which he said ‘Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. For verily I say unto you, till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.’

Gabriel was worried when he saw Jesus talking about the Kingdom of heaven when he was actually supposed to talk about the Kingdom of God*. He realized that his own message to Mary conveyed that Jesus was the Son of God, the Messiah, which implied that he had to establish the Kingdom of Heaven.

Jesus replaced the law ‘an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth’ with the law ‘That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloak also. And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain. (Mathew 5: 39-41)

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*Kingdom of God is the time period when people are given a chance to understand God better, keep the commandments and to make themselves worthy of the Kingdom of Heaven. Healing diseases and feeding masses which were miracles at the beginning of this period became common at the end of this period (which is now). Man learned to be in the clouds and man is still expected to conquer sins.

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His ministry was one of mercy, forgiveness, and healing, he had power to heal diseases and perform miracles.

He started to assert that he was the Messiah. His words I am in the Father and the Father is in me (John 14:11) and ‘I and the Father are one’ (John 10:30) implied that he was the Son of God, the Messiah. He claimed himself to be the Messiah to the Samaritan woman.

Jesus was first warned that his time hadn’t come yet by two men, possessed with devils, coming out of the tombs, who said What have we to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God? art thou come hither to torment us before the time? (Mathew 8: 29) Jesus then cast out the devils who then entered a herd of swine and drowned in water.

Jesus instructed his disciples ‘Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not: But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand. Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give. (Mathew 10: 5-8)

He was sending his disciples not to the gentiles but to the people of Israel; not to talk about the Kingdom of God but about the Kingdom of Heaven. Gabriel decided that it was high time that he conveyed the message properly to Jesus.

Jesus told his disciples, Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel, till the Son of man be come. (Mathew 10: 23) Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother-in-law. (Mathew 10: 34-35)

John, the Baptist, was also confused about Jesus’ mission. He sent his disciples and asked ‘Are you the one who was to come, or should we expect someone else?’ and Jesus said ‘Go back and report to John what you hear and see: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor. Blessed is the man who does not fall away on account of me. (Mathew 11: 2-6) John didn’t ask directly whether he was the Messiah and Jesus also didn’t reply directly.

Jesus’ claim that he was the Messiah, the Son of God was not accepted well by the Jews, people of Israel. His ministry was among people who were already the Gogs and they refused to accept him.  The Jews had neither scattered around the world at that particular time to be brought back as prophesied; and the Temple was standing intact and there was no need to rebuild it.

Gabriel clarified to Jesus about his mission; it was creation of the Kingdom of God and not the Kingdom of Heaven; he was to give the commandments to people who were not given it yet. The Kingdom of Heaven was to be established at a later stage. Jesus was asked to correct himself and was asked to convey the message that the Kingdom of Heaven was to be established in the future.

Gabriel also intimated him that the Pharisees and Sadducees were plotting to kill him and he would indeed be killed. He assured Jesus he wouldn’t be abandoned but would be resurrected on the third day. That was the best option to create the Kingdom of God. Jesus was saddened at this; Gabriel assured him that Jesus’ own power and spirit would return and guide the future Messiah to create the Kingdom of Heaven.

When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am? And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets. He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?  And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.

He told Peter, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.  And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. (Mathew 16:13-20)

At that instant he remembered Gabriel’s words and restrained his disciples from calling him the Messiah. And he then charged his disciples that they should tell no man that he was Jesus the Christ. From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day. (Mathew 16:20-21)

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Peter rebuked him and said, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee. But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.

After six days Jesus took Peter, James and John up a high mountain and was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light. Moses and Elias talked with him and a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him. (Mathew 17: 1-3)

That removed any doubts Jesus had about Gabriel’s plan; he became convinced that this was the plan of God himself; he was ready to accept whatever was demanded of him. He started to talk more convincingly about the Kingdom of God and taught that compassion was very important in his Kingdom. His disciples who were a part of the Kingdom would have authority in Heaven also. He said Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. (Mathew 18: 18)

He stressed the importance of adhering to the Commandments given by God. When the Pharisees came to question him about putting away one’s wife for every cause as per the law, he taught them that if you want to enter into life then ‘keep the commandments.’ (Mathew 19:17)

One man came and asked him what he should do to enter eternal life; Jesus asked him to keep the commandments. He said that he kept the commandments from his youth up and Jesus said, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me. (Mathew 19:21)

He taught that God’s grace was abundant and those who joined his Kingdom later were on equal terms with those who were already Gogs. In the parable of the vineyard he talks about a landowner who hires different groups of workers throughout the day for his vineyard, promising the first ones a penny each and others ‘whatsoever is right, that shall ye receive’. All received a penny each at the end of the day. This angered the ones who joined first as they had worked more and they protested against the goodman of the house saying These last have wrought but one hour, and thou hast made them equal unto us, which have borne the burden and heat of the day. And the goodman of the house answered, Friend, I do thee no wrong: didst not thou agree with me for a penny? Take that thine is, and go thy way: I will give unto this last, even as unto thee. Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is thine eye evil, because I am good? So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen. (Mathew 20: 1-16)

He went to Jerusalem to submit himself to the will of God on an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass. The people spread their garments in the way; others cut down branches from the trees, and strawed them in the way. And the multitudes that went before, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest. (Mathew 21: 1-9)

He went to the temple and cast out the money changers and those who sold doves saying that they have made the House of prayer a den of thieves. When the chief priest and the elders asked him ‘By what authority does thou these things? and who gave thee this authority?’ he refused to answer them stating that they couldn’t answer his question, The baptism of John, whence was it? from heaven, or of men?

But he started using the term the Kingdom of God more often. He told a parable about the Kingdom, A certain man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, Son, go work today in my vineyard. He answered and said, I will not: but afterward he repented, and went. And he came to the second, and said likewise. And he answered and said, I go, sir: and went not. Whether of them twain did the will of his father? They say unto him, The first. Jesus saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you. (Mathew 21:28-31). But his focus was still on the lost sheep of Israel and not gentiles.

Again, he said, Did ye never read in the scriptures, the stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord’s doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes? Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof. (Mathew 21:42-43)

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Let’s see what are the prerequisites to enter the Kingdom of God. A pure heart and eagerness to learn new things are the most important ones. Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. (John3:3) Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein. (Mark 10:15 and Luke 18:17) Luke, Mark and John used the term Kingdom of God but Mathew used the term Kingdom of Heaven; Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven (Mathew 18:3)

Humility was another requirement to enter the Kingdom. He washed the feet of his disciples and said If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet. (John 13:14)

He emphasised on two laws; love your Lord God with all your mind, soul and heart; and love your neighbour as thyself. The essence of all the laws given to Moses were in these two laws, he said. Those entering his Kingdom had to observe these two laws wholeheartedly apart from the Commandments.

He also clarified that the Messiah was not going to be a son of David, referring to Psalm 11:1. ‘The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool.’ God (Lord) was talking to the Messiah (my Lord) and there was no need for David to call his son my Lord. Since he called Messiah my Lord, Messiah was not the son of David, this was his argument.

Entry to the Kingdom of Heaven was going to be through the Kingdom of God, he taught. I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.  Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. (John 15: 1-6)

But entry into the Kingdom of God was not a guarantee to the Kingdom of Heaven. In the parable of the Marriage Feast (Matthew 22:1-14), a king hosts a wedding banquet for his son, but those initially invited refuse the invitation and are punished. The king then gathers others, the poor destitute from the roadside, to the feast. A guest is found without the proper wedding attire and is cast out. He said, For many are called, but few are chosen.

And he foresaw the destruction of the temple, when he said, See ye not all these things? verily I say unto you, there shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down. (Mathew 24: 2); then onwards he started to talk about the End times and the Kingdom of Heaven. Many False Messiahs would rise to mislead people at the end times. He further said, For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in diverse places. All these are the beginning of sorrows. Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name’s sake. (Mathew 24:7-9)

Towards the end of his ministry, he started to talk about the secrets of the Kingdom of Heaven; he used parables so that people could understand it better. In one parable the Kingdom of Heaven was like the Judge who goes out to dole justice fearing a woman, while another parable was about the unfaithful servant who reduces what the debtors owes the master yet was praised by the master.

These parables were against logic as the Judge has to be a fearless one and the servant who makes loss to the master has to make the master angry. He left the story of the Prodigal son unfinished as the elder son, the obedient one, was last seen standing outside the house. We are not told whether he listens to his father and goes inside the house. This is an open ended story that would play out at the end times.

When the Saducees questioned him about husband wife relationship at the time of resurrection he said For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven. (Matthew 22:30)

– 9 –

He started taking about the Messiah who would come in his power and spirit during the End times. (Mathew 24: 27) For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. (Mathew 24: 30-31) And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

His confidence that it is his power and spirit that will return as the future Messiah is evident in John 14 when he uses the first person ‘I’ as well as the third person ‘he’.

In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.  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. (John 14-2-3)

But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again unto you. (John 14-26-28)

But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me: (John 15-26)

Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgement: Of sin, because they believe not on me; Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; Of judgement, because the prince of this world is judged. I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you. All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you. A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me, because I go to the Father. (John 16 7-16)

Jesus became confident of finishing the job entrusted on him. He lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee: As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him. And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.  I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.  And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was. I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me; and they have kept thy word. (John 17 1-6)

Then Jesus submitted himself to the people who came searching for him. When Peter took out a sword and cut off the ear of the chief priest’s servant Jesus rebuked him and said Put up thy sword into the sheath: the cup which my Father hath given me, shall I not drink it?

When Pilate questioned him, he said My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence.

Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice. Pilate saith unto him, What is truth? 

Jesus didn’t answer what the truth was. Gabriel had told his mother that he was the king; and had told him that he would come again in the future. But here he was standing in front of Pilate to be judged and the people were trying to get him killed. He was bearing witness to this truth and Pilate was not going to understand it.

Jesus was crucified on a Friday (observed as Good Friday) and on the cross he cried “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? (My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?).

An innocent blood was shed for no fault of his. He was supposed to work among gentiles to create the Kingdom of God but ended up working among the Jews to create the Kingdom of Heaven.

He was resurrected on the third day. (celebrated as Easter Sunday)

– 10 –

Jesus’ teachings spread mainly among gentiles. The resurrected Jesus became a beacon of hope to multitudes and Christianity grew worldwide. Christian missionaries focused in promoting education and healthcare.

Christians see his crucifixion as fulfilment of the Passover lamb sacrifice, his blood was shed as atonement for the sins of man; his body and blood constitute the New Covenant.

The Council of Jerusalem or Apostolic Council held in Jerusalem (around 50 AD) decided against circumcision for Gentiles. Paul, who called himself ‘the Apostle to the Gentiles’ wrote that faith in Christ was sufficient for salvation, not circumcision and observance of Torah law.

Paul took those decisions to make entry into Christianity easier and the decision regarding circumcision was correct because God had asked the Children of Abraham to circumcise so as to distinguish between the ones perfected by him and the ones perfected by the Heavenly forces.

The Christians started to see the Jews as villains who rejected and crucified Jesus. The Gospels of Mathew, Mark, Luke and John played a role in developing a negative perception about the Jews.  They were the Shylocks of this world.

The lack of clarity in Gabriel’s messages caused the confusion between the Kingdom of God and Kingdom of Heaven and that proved dearly for Jesus. Gabriel’s image took a beating in heaven. The growth of Christianity was the only consolation, Roman emperors became Christians and they spread across the world.

Meanwhile the Jewish rebellion against Rome (started in in 66 AD) ended with the Temple’s destruction in 70 AD leading to a major diaspora of the Jews.

The Bar Kokhba revolt, a Jewish rebellion against Roman rule, led by Simon Bar Kokhba (132–136 AD), was brutally suppressed, resulting in the destruction of Judea, and the banishment of Jews from Jerusalem. The Jews were scattered all over the nations and the Christians consider these as God’s punishment for crucifying Jesus.

Jerusalem remained under Roman control, and later, the Byzantine Empire, with Christianity gradually becoming the dominant religion. Jerusalem became a significant Christian pilgrimage site, with the Church of the Holy Sepulcher built in the 4th century.

Gabriel, to his dismay, soon noticed Christianity getting derailed. Christians started to see Jesus as the destination itself instead of seeing him as a bridge to reach their destination (God).

The First Council of Nicaea, convened in 325 AD by the Roman Emperor Constantine was a shocker. It was convened to avoid a split of the Christians between the teachings of Arius and the Archbishop Alexander of Alexandria. Arius and his followers asserted that the Father alone was eternal, and that the Son was created or begotten by the Father, and thus had a defined point of origin and was subordinate to the Father. Archbishop Alexander upheld the unity of Trinity (Father, Son and Holy Spirit).

The council upheld the teachings of the Archbishop. Nicene creed states, We believe in one God, the Father almighty, maker of all things visible and invisible; And in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the Son of God, begotten from the Father, only-begotten, that is, from the substance of the Father, God from God, light from light, true God from true God, begotten not made of one substance with the Father, through Whom all things came into being, things in heaven and things on earth, Who because of us men and because of our salvation came down, and became incarnate and became man, and suffered, and rose again on the third day, and ascended to the heavens, and will come to judge the living and dead, And in the Holy Spirit.

Jesus became God from God; he was the only begotten Son of God contradicting the fact that there were children of God here on earth in the initial days. The creed was in unison with what John 3:16 said ‘For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life which is factually wrong.

Christians were thus disobeying the two most important commandments: You shall have no other gods before me. You shall not make unto you any graven image. They didn’t take the Ten commandments for guidance, rather Christians were going against it.

They started to commit grave sins when the Messiah was actually supposed to end sins.

– 11 –

The Council of Ephesus convened by the Roman Emperor Theodosius II in 431 AD condemned the teachings of Nestorius, Patriarch of Constantinople. Nestorius had emphasized the distinction between Christ’s human and divine natures and argued that Mary should be called Christ-bearer but not God-bearer. Mary was declared as the mother of God and this reaffirmed that Christianity was indeed on wrong tracks.

People started praying to Mary; people made her as an intercessor between them and Jesus. Mary’s words were obeyed by Jesus at the Marriage in Cana, this was their justification. Idols of Jesus, Mary, the disciples and saints started to appear in places of worship.

Christianity was left to mend its own way.

This necessitated the raise of another religion. Gabriel was to correct the mistakes and tread carefully this time. The new religion would bring people under its fold first and then would be converted to Gogs.

If a child of Issac was selected last time this time it was going to be a child of Ishmail.  God had promised Ishmael that he would be blessed, fruitful, and greatly increased in number, becoming the father of twelve rulers and a great nation. It was time to fulfill it.

Gabriel decided to convey to the candidate in the beginning itself that he was not the Messiah. He would be the Messenger of God, nothing more; he was not to draw attention to himself, the focus would remain solely on God. He was to lead an exemplary life and those who emulated him would be given entry to the Paradise. The stage was set for the rise of Islam.

Islam (Surrender to the will of God)

Six centuries after Jesus, Gabriel (Jibreel), the angel, set out again and this time (in 610 AD) he picked a 40-year-old Muhammad ibn Abdullah ibn Abd al-Muttalib ibn Hashim (born in Mecca in Saudi Arabia, about 1240 KM from Jerusalem) of the clan of Quraysh. He was fatherless at birth; his mother died when he was young, and was brought up under the protection of his grandfather and an uncle. He married an older woman, a wealthy widow named Khadijah. He began to venture into the hills outside Mecca to engage in solitary spiritual activity and angel Gabriel introduced himself in the cave of Hira and asked him to Read. When Muhammad said he could not read Gabriel embraced him tightly and started revealing the first verses of Quran.

There was no need for Gabriel to repeat all the revelations again as it was there in the Torah. The texts of the new testaments were also available. A Christian Arabian ascetic, Waraqah ibn Nawfal, was Mohammed’s connection to the Bible. He introduced Muhammad to the Old and New testaments.(*)

Allah was one of the many deities of the Arabs at that time and this deity was believed to have three daughters al-Lat, Manat, and al-Uzza. Muhammad picked Allah as the name of the God.

Initially very few were ready to accept Muhammad but their number grew and soon he began to preach to the public which some of his followers memorized while some of the literate ones recorded it in writing.

Soon Waraqah died there was none to guide Muhammad; he was desperate and tried to jump off cliffs.  Gabriel stopped him and assured him that he was the messenger of God (rasul Allah) and calmed him down and continued revelations.

These revelations became the Quran (114 Surahs starting with Surah Al-fatiha (The opening) and ending with Surah An-nas (The people)). Quran became the source for the Islamic laws (Sharia). Muhammad projected himself as a prophet (last prophet) and his teachings, actions, and practices, documented in hadiths constitute the Sunnah which provides a practical guide to live according to Islamic principles.

Gabriel informed Muhammad that his followers were required to surrender to God completely. Muhammad informed his followers that Prayer (five times a day), charity, fasting especially during the month of Ramazan (holy month when Quran was revealed), Pilgrimage to Mecca, Patience, Repentance and constant remembrance of Allah were the seven gates (an eight would be added later) through which his followers could enter Paradise.

(*) Daniel 2: 31-33 Thou, O king, sawest, and behold a great image. This great image, whose brightness was excellent, stood before thee; and the form thereof was terrible. This image’s head was of fine gold, his breast and his arms of silver, his belly and his thighs of brass. His legs of iron, his feet part of iron and part of clay. 

– 12 –

Circumcision was made compulsory as he wanted his followers to be counted as the children of Abraham. As per Quran God asked Abraham to sacrifice his son; the name is not mentioned there and the following verses talk about Issac’s birth implying that it was Ishmail who was asked to sacrifice. (Surah As-Saffat 99-115)

Jacob’s dream of the staircase to heaven inspired Muhammad’s dream to heaven (Miraj) where he dreamt of meeting other prophets.

Jesus was seen as a prophet and a messenger of God who was neither killed nor crucified, but was raised alive to heaven. Jews and Christians were seen as ‘the people of the Book’ and were seen as allies.

Gabriel guided him whenever required and warned him against mixing divine and personal revelations. If he ever gave his personal opinion as divine revelation nothing would save him from God’s wrath. And if the messenger were to invent any sayings in Our name, We should certainly seize him by his right hand, And We should certainly then cut off the artery of his heart: Nor could any of you withhold him (from Our wrath). (Surah Al-Haqqah 69: 44-47)

Muhammad and his followers (Muslims) met with a lot of opposition from his own clan, the Quraysh. They were polytheists who drew their religious and political power from its polytheistic shrines in Mecca; they couldn’t accept monotheism and tried to suppress the growing Muslim community.

In 619 AD when he was 50 years old his wife Khadijah died. He lost the light that guided him. He led an exemplary life till then.

After her death he started showing signs of withering away. Aisha, a child of six and daughter of his friend Abu Bakr, was betrothed to him after Khadijah’s death.

In 622 AD, when Muhammed was 53 years old, he migrated from Mecca to Medina with his followers (this migration is known as Hijrah and the Islamic calendar starts from this year) to escape from persecution by the Meccans. The people of Yathrib (Medina) had pledged to protect him and his followers. 

Among the first things Muhammad did there was negotiating a written constitution with the local tribes and the Muslim immigrants from Mecca known as the Constitution of Medina; aimed to foster peace and cooperation among diverse communities and addressed issues like warfare, blood-wit, and organization of tribal groups.

Caravan raids were common among the nomadic tribes as it was a means of survival and acquiring economic resources. When times were hard, raiders would capture livestock and other goods from enemy tribes leading to frequent fights. The Constitution of Medina aimed to settle the long-standing disputes among the tribes. Conditions of the pact included boycotting the Quraysh, assistance of one another if attacked by a third party, as well as defending Medina in case of a foreign attack.

He consummated his marriage with Aisha while in Medina. When Abu Bakr asked Muhammad’s daughter Fathima’s hand in return it was not granted and Fathima was married off to his cousin 22-year-old Ali ibn Abi Talib.

From then onwards his character underwent a drastic change. The division between divine revelations and personal revelations vanished and he started giving his own opinions as revelations, at times to suit his purpose. There was no way to differentiate between the two.

Gabriel watched with horror when Muhammad ordered caravan raids mainly on Meccan traders and doled out Quranic verses regarding distribution of spoils of raids. Surah Al-Anfal, 8:1 says They ask you concerning the spoils of war. Say: ‘The spoils are for Allah and the Messenger; Later this was modified to Surah Al-Anfal, 8:41 which says And know that whatever of war booty that you may gain, verily, one-fifth of it is assigned to Allah, and the Messenger, and the kindred, and the orphans, and the needy, and the wayfarer.’ He made Allah a partner in crime to create an impression that these raids were approved by Allah.

Muhammad asked his followers to take up sword against pagans and infidels. Surah Al-Baqarah:216 revealed in the first years of Hijrah says ‘Fighting is prescribed for you, and it is hateful to you; but it may be that you dislike something, and it is good for you, and it may be that you love something, and it is bad for you; and Allah knows, and you do not know.’

The gate of striving (Baab Al-Jihad) was now the eighth gate to Paradise. Muslims who have sacrificed their lives or wealth in the cause of Allah, whether through actual combat or other forms of struggle in the path of righteousness, will be admitted through this gate. Paradise was offered as reward for loyalty to Muhammad.

This was a serious offence as far as heaven was concerned. Kingship was taken away from Saul because he had dared to offer sacrifice without waiting for Prophet Samuel. Sword never left the House of David because he took Bathsheba deceitfully. And here was Muhammad doling out his opinions as divine revelations. He was doling out verses that were against the actual purpose of the creation of the religion.

– 13 –

Gabriel warned him against all sorts of aggression and Muhammad revealed Fight in the cause of Allah those who fight you but do not transgress limits for Allah loves not the transgressors, (Surah Al-Baqarah :190) implying that if someone initiated fight then Muslims were allowed to fight.

Gabriel’s name was dragged into the Battle of Badr in 624 AD. It was a clash between a small Muslim army led by Muhammad and a larger, well-equipped force of the Meccan Quraysh. Muhammad and followers won and claimed that they were aided by angels led by Gabriel in the battle.

Muhammad took a dangerous path when he turned against Jews who as a group possessed substantial independent power and had assumed a contentious attitude towards Muhammad.

Muhammad initiated the siege of the Jewish tribe Banu Qaynuqa (in 624 AD, after the Battle of Badr) alleging violation of the Constitution of Medina and harassment of Muslim women and men. In Surah Al-Imran 10-13 he talked about the Jews when they refused to accept Islam, Those who reject Faith,- neither their possessions nor their (numerous) progeny will avail them aught against Allah: They are themselves but fuel for the Fire. (Their plight will be) no better than that of the people of Pharaoh, and their predecessors: They denied our Signs, and Allah called them to account for their sins. For Allah is strict in punishment. Say to those who reject Faith: “Soon will ye be vanquished and gathered together to Hell,-an evil bed indeed (to lie on)! There has already been for you a Sign in the two armies that met (in combat of Badr): One was fighting in the cause of Allah, the other resisting Allah; these saw with their own eyes Twice their number. But Allah doth support with His aid whom He pleaseth. In this is a warning for such as have eyes to see.”

Muhammad banished the Banu Qaynuqa and divided their property among his followers, taking a fifth share of the spoils for the Islamic State for the first time.

The Banu Qaynuqa left to the north of Medina and from there to Syria where they assimilated with the Jewish communities there. 

Gabriel realized the danger instantly; the attacks on Jews, the chosen people of God, was sure to invite the wrath of God. His miscommunication had cost the life of Jesus tarnishing his image. Here the people meant to be made Gogs were fighting against the Gogs.

The sooner he disassociated with Muhammad the safer he was.

Muhammad and his Muslim force suffered a major setback in the Battle of Uhud, (March 625 AD) against Meccan army; he was injured in the battle. This setback put considerable financial strain on them.

Two months later he attacked another Jewish tribe Banu Nadir on the pretext that they tried to kill him when he had gone there for monetary assistance. He made them to vacate their land and banished them from Medina. They moved to Khaybar and prospered there.

Gabriel had enough of Muhammad and decided to abandon him. The Kingdom would progress better without Muhammad and his lineage; it would be easier to give the Commandments to the Muslims without him.

During the Battle of Trench in 627 AD, when the Quraysh and Banu Nadir besieged Medina, the Jewish tribe Banu Qurayza had provided equipment to the Muslims to dig trenches. Gabriel appeared to Muhammad and instructed him to attack Banu Qurayza. The Muslims accused Banu Qurayza of treachery (betrayal of the Peace Treaty) and attacked them and captured them.

Muhammad sensed the danger of killing the Jews and tried to play safe by assigning Sa’d ibn Mu’adh, a Muslim convert and former ally of the tribe, to decide the fate of the Banu Qurayza. Sa’d stated his decision, the men should be killed, the property divided, and the women and children taken as slaves.

The Jewish blood that was shed was enough to turn a river red and that massacre was more than enough to remove Muhammad’s divine protection.

Muhammad and his army attacked the members of the banished Banu Nadir in Khaybar the next year (in 628 AD) and defeated them. They distributed the spoils including the wives of the slain warriors among them. Jizyah Tax was levied on the non-Muslims (kafirs) in exchange for protection and the privilege of practicing their religion. They were allowed to continue living in the region on the condition that they would give one-half of their produce to the Muslims. (The Jews were later expelled in 642 AD by Caliph Umar.)

Muhammad tortured Kenana ibn al-Rabi, the treasurer of Banu Nadir for treasure. Kenana kept silent but a Jewish man informed about a ruined spot which Kenana used to visit often. They dug that place and some treasure was found. Kenana was killed and Muhammad took his widow, the 17-year-old Safiyya, to his bed on the very night of the day when her husband and family were slaughtered.

– 14 –

Muhammad led the evening prayers in congregation and returned to his tent; the meal served to him was poisoned by Zaynab bint Al-Harith, a Jewish woman whose husband, father and uncle were killed by the Muslims. Muhammad spit it out after tasting, saying ‘This bone informs me that it has been poisoned’ while his companion died after swallowing it. They brought Zaynab before him and when asked why she did it, she answered ‘You know what you’ve done to my people. I said to myself: If he is truly a prophet, he will know about the poison. If he’s merely a king, I’ll be rid of him’.

Muhammad endured sporadic pain from that time onwards. Once when the pain became unbearable, he told O `Aisha! I still feel the pain caused by the food I ate at Khaybar, and at this time, I feel as if my aorta is being cut from that poison.’ That was the punishment he had earlier revealed to endure if he ever invented any sayings in the name of God.  

In AD 630, Muhammad led his followers from Medina to Mecca, cleansed the Kaaba by destroying all the pagan idols, and then consecrated the building to God. 

In AD 632, Muhammad performed his only and last pilgrimage with a large number of followers, and instructed them on the rites of Hajj. It was from this point that Hajj became one of the five pillars of Islam, the others being Declaration of faith, Prayer, Charity (Zakat) and Fasting.

Then he revealed Surah At-Taubah 3-5 which states: And an announcement from Allah and His Messenger, to the people (assembled) on the day of the Great Pilgrimage, that Allah and His Messenger dissolve (treaty) obligations with the Pagans. If then, ye repent, it were best for you; but if ye turn away, know ye that ye cannot frustrate Allah. And proclaim a grievous penalty to those who reject Faith. (But the treaties are) not dissolved with those Pagans with whom ye have entered into alliance and who have not subsequently failed you in aught, nor aided any one against you. So fulfil your engagements with them to the end of their term: for Allah loveth the righteous. But when the forbidden months are past, then fight and slay the Pagans wherever ye find them, an seize them, beleaguer them, and lie in wait for them in every stratagem (of war); but if they repent, and establish regular prayers and practise regular charity, then open the way for them: for Allah is Oft-forgiving, Most Merciful.

This verse motivates the Jihadis to take up arms against non-believers even to this day without realizing that Gabriel had stopped revealing messages to Muhammad long back.

Muhammad had a painful death in 632 AD. His followers waited for three days expecting a resurrection just like that of Jesus; and then they buried him.

His life was a paradox; he was in the light and wasn’t, he was a prophet and wasn’t, he was a Messenger of God and wasn’t, he led an exemplary life and didn’t, his revelations were divine and weren’t, his religion is a religion of peace and isn’t.

(Daniel 2: 41-43 says And whereas thou sawest the feet and toes, part of potters’ clay, and part of iron, the kingdom shall be divided; but there shall be in it of the strength of the iron, forasmuch as thou sawest the iron mixed with miry clay. And as the toes of the feet were part of iron, and part of clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong, and partly broken. And whereas thou sawest iron mixed with miry clay, they shall mingle themselves with the seed of men: but they shall not cleave one to another, even as iron is not mixed with clay.)

By the time of his death majority of the Arabian Peninsula had converted to Islam.

Abu Bakr, Muhammad’s friend, succeeded him (all the 3 sons and 3 daughters of Muhammad died before him, only his daughter Fatima outlived him) and he was the first Caliph of the Islamic community. He established the Rashidun Caliphate (632–661 AD) and Sunni Muslims accept him as the proper successor of Muhammad.

Umar ibn Khattab was the second caliph, Uthman Ibn Affan, the third caliph, and Ali ibn Abi Talib, Muhammad’s son-in-law, was the fourth caliph. Shia Muslims believe that Ali is the true successor of Muhammad.

The second, third and fourth Caliphs were assassinated but Islam spread aggressively beyond Arabia into regions like Iraq, Syria, Palestine, Egypt, and Iran by the end of the Rashidun Caliphate.

Muawiyah, a relative of Uthman took charge after Ali in 661 AD and founded the Umayyad dynasty which was replaced by the Abbasid Caliphate in 750 AD.

Gabriel stopped his mission and the commandments are not yet given to Muslims and they remain as Magogs till date.

However, Islam got the most important commandment right; You shall have no other gods before me. They adhere to this Commandment with all their mind, heart and soul. And Muslims uphold the concept of equality within their community and there is a force of cohesion within the community.

But it disqualifies itself regarding the second commandment, You shall not make unto you any graven image because of the importance given to the Black Stone in Kaaba in Mecca (Muslims believe that this stone was given to Adam on his expulsion from paradise in order to obtain forgiveness of his sins).

                                                                                     – 15 – 

Islam is like the moon, which plays a significant role in it, sometimes it emits pleasant light (like the numerous astronomers, mathematicians, physicians, philosophers during the Middle Ages) and sometimes it gets caught in darkness when its members indulge in terrorism.

It fails to treat others as creations of the same God and treat them as non-believers (Kafirs). Women’s status took a beating as they are not considered equal to men. Headscarf and abaya are mandatory and limitations on travel and education are imposed upon them. Child marriage is rampant.  A man is permitted to marry up to four women and divorce (Talaq) is an easy affair; man has only to pronounce the word Talaq three times.

Let’s follow the history of Jerusalem from the time of birth of Islam.

In 638 AD, the Rashidun Caliphate, led by Caliph Umar, conquered Jerusalem, marking the beginning of Islamic rule in the region. Al-Aqsa Mosque and Dome of the Rock were built on the Temple Mount in 691 AD.  

The site remained under Muslim control until the Crusades seized Jerusalem and the Temple Mount in 1099 AD. It returned to Islamic control after Saladin, founder of the Ayyubid dynasty, captured the city in 1187 AD and then it came under the Mamluk Sultanate and later became part of the Ottoman Empire. The British forces captured Jerusalem from the Ottoman Empire in 1917 AD.

The state of Israel was established in 1948. Israel captured Jerusalem and Temple Mount during the Six-day war in 1967 but after the war the administration of the Temple Mount was given to Jerusalem Islamic Waqf, a Jordanian-appointed body while Israel maintains its security and regulates visitors.

One religion

Mankind’s journey through Judaism, Christianity and Islam manifests God’s love and care for his creation. All these religions were created with a definite goal i.e. to bring man closer to his creator. 

Prophet Daniel saw the image of mankind as a single being with its head made of fine gold, his breast and his arms of silver, his belly and his thighs of brass, His legs of iron, his feet part of iron and part of clay.

But believers of these religions fight with each other without understanding this core concept of God’s love.

Christianity (the leg) sought peaceful ways while Islam (the feet) sought aggressive ways to bring billions of people under its umbrellas. The Torah became widespread which wouldn’t have happened otherwise.

Now is the time to fulfill the purpose of creations of Christianity and Islam. Both religions are required to keep the Ten commandments from now on.

Christianity needs to implement the first two commandments strictly. They need to understand what God is to understand the seriousness of their mistake.

God is the totality, the sum total of power and knowledge (spirit) in this universe. It is omnipresent, omniscient and omnipotent; beyond what human mind can comprehend. God manifests to us in any form it wants.

A simple command like ‘let there be light’ is enough to create light and when he says ‘let there be plants and trees’ it is enough to create plants and trees. Creation and destruction are in his hands. A command like ‘destroy’ will disintegrate water or flip over tectonic plates and all life on earth will be destroyed. Heavenly forces wait for his words and none of his words go unfulfilled.

If God is the ocean of power and knowledge, Jesus is that power and knowledge taken in a small container. Then it becomes true that God is in him and he is in God. Even if he called himself the Son of God that means he received from that Power and Knowledge; it doesn’t mean that he is equal to God or should be worshipped as equal to God.

God is a universal power whereas Jesus’ words are meant only for humans, which is one among the many creations on this miniscule planet.

See Jesus only as a bridge to God. Stop worshipping and venerating the deck and girders of that bridge; this practise has divided the Kingdom of God to numerous factions.

Islam needs to reignite its light and shed its darkness. Muslims need to understand that the Quran is derived from the Torah and Quran isn’t complete without the Torah. Torah was revealed by the God while Quran was revealed by Gabriel.

Woman should be treated with dignity, as your equals. She should be given freewill in terms of dressing and education.

Jihad is not an obligation to bring an Islamic revolution but it should be a Holy war against evil, mainly one’s own ego, selfishness, greed, lust etc. Attacking non-believers (Kafirs) and martyrdom in Jihad against them are not going to gain entry into the Paradise.

– 16 –

All fights in the name of God have to stop. A fight or a murder in the name of religion is going to put everyone in the hierarchy from its founder till the one who committed it in trouble. If one kills in the name of religion, he is not going to get paradise but he is contributing to pull down the founders of his religion to hell. So, from now onwards it’s a collective responsibility to safeguard the founders of your religion.

This is very important as God takes the centerstage now.

Now is the time for every member of mankind, including people who follow polytheism, to understand that man has only one creator. Everyone descended from the men that came out of Noah’s Ark. Atheists need to understand that the brain with which they deny God has been given by that very God.

Everyone has to overcome the barriers of religions and worship the one and only one God single-mindedly. Let there be only one religion that worships that Supreme Power.

Man’s immaturity to throw out his belief in God whenever he has peace, happiness and prosperity, and remembers him only during the time of suffering has to end. Man has to understand that it is not good for him to forget God even during good times. That is the way to end suffering on earth.

(Daniel 2: 34-35 says Thou sawest till that a stone was cut out without hands, which smote the image upon his feet that were of iron and clay, and brake them to pieces. Then was the iron, the clay, the brass, the silver, and the gold, broken to pieces together, and became like the chaff of the summer threshingfloors; and the wind carried them away, that no place was found for them: and the stone that smote the image became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth. Daniel interprets this vision and says (2: 44-45) And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever. Forasmuch as thou sawest that the stone was cut out of the mountain without hands, and that it brake in pieces the iron, the brass, the clay, the silver, and the gold; the great God hath made known to the king what shall come to pass hereafter: and the dream is certain, and the interpretation thereof sure.)

You might ask who I am to talk all these things.

The Moshiach

I, Binu Peter from India, am the Intercessor or the Parakkalitha who stands between mankind and God. I am the Son of Man who will Judge the world and decide who should be on the right side (the ones that go to heaven and eat from the tree of everlasting life) and who should be on the left side (the ones that would be condemned to hell) and who all should continue their sleep.

I wrote a book by the name ‘A Day with Manual’ which throws light into the early days of creation, with the message that the days of the God is at hand. I distributed copies of it to the priests, media and people in my locality. It didn’t create any impact and was soon forgotten. Then I got married and did odd jobs to survive. I live with my father, my wife and my two children, a son and daughter, are studying. I developed a first aid to protect skin from burns; it also helps in the treatment of burns.

Some people believe that I am the Antichrist as they believe that the Antichrist should precede the Second coming of Jesus. I tell them, God has the power to foresee and stop the Antichrist if he was coming to deceive this world. That was a phase in my own life. I acted as the Antichrist for a brief period of time. It was a turbulent period when I worked against God and Jesus. I was not ready to take up this duty when called upon. I believed that God didn’t protect Jesus when he was crucified.  I resisted God’s call by trying to prove that Jesus’ and Lazarus’ resurrection were staged acts. If I worked against Jesus I wouldn’t be called to work for God, this was my logic.

For me the three wise men (Magi) visiting infant Jesus was a fictional story as there was no way Mathew, who wrote the Gospel, could know about the dream the Magi had when they returned to their country taking another route to avoid Herod.

In my opinion Jesus should have created systems and procedures to feed thousands with a few loaves and to turn water into wine; thereby eradicating hunger and thirst from the face of earth instead of performing one-time miracles. He should have cemented his position as the Son of God by teaching others how to heal the sick and treat diseases properly. He should have eradicated diseases forever.

For this rebelliousness I was condemned to death; if the fig tree was not producing fruits it had to be cut down.  I was ready to accept my fate but my mother intervened; she sacrificed her life (6^th Jan, 2004) and prolonged my days. The day she died the Antichrist inside me died.

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I was lost but the parables of Jesus enlightened me on what was happening in my life. Without Jesus I would have been totally lost. Jesus was the Prophet Elijah to me who showed me the way. For me Jesus was talking about himself in Mathew 11: 7-10. What went ye out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken with the wind? But what went ye out for to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? behold, they that wear soft clothing are in kings’ houses. But what went ye out for to see? A prophet? yea, I say unto you, and more than a prophet. For this is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.’ I disagree with Mathew when he says ‘And as they departed, Jesus began to say unto the multitudes concerning John’, Jesus mentions the name of John only afterwards.

I am the Judge who sets out to dole out justice fearing a woman. If I don’t do my duty, I would be denying justice to my mother who gave me birth and prolonged my life. (Recently Isaiah 50: 1 caught my attention, Thus saith the Lord, where is the bill of your mother’s divorcement, whom I have put away? or which of my creditors is it to whom I have sold you? Behold, for your iniquities have ye sold yourselves, and for your transgressions is your mother put away.)

When my mother prolonged my life, I changed to a new leaf and became the Son of Man. I presented my case along with my book to Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, the then President of the International Theological Commission. He later became Pope Benedict. He had one important job, that was to receive the Son of Man but he blew it. I sent emails to around hundred and fifty theologians in USA who also ignored me.

I tried to exert a little pressure on Pope Benedict and he resigned.

The seat of the Pope was supposed to be left vacant because of that resignation. But Pope Francis, the false one, sat on it. Benedict, the Beast; and Francis, the False one, were both condemned to the bottomless pit. That ruling marked the end of my days as the Son of Man. (let the chair of the Pope in Vatican be Sede Vacante)

I asked God for guidance and (in 2024, last year) found that the Jewish people were waiting for their Moshiach. And I have been wandering for the last 27 years without a receptive audience. I saw a dream about me declaring from a podium that I was the Messiah and at the same time I was sitting in the audience listening to it. I wrote to some Rabbis whose email addresses I gathered from the net.

If I was the Messiah then who were Jesus and Mohammed and why did they suffer towards the end of their lives? I had to find an answer before declaring myself as the Messiah; I gathered as much knowledge as possible about these religions and prayed to God to show me mankind’s journey from an elevated angle. I persisted like a child and this narrative is the outcome.

As the Parable of the Prodigal son says the servants loyal to the Father can accept the Prodigal Son easily when he returns but the servants loyal to the elder son will find it difficult to accept him. God is the father and Jesus is the Elder Son; it implies that the Jews and Muslims will accept the Prodigal Son easily but not the Christians.

The current situation is that Mankind is in its last stages. Mankind deserves peace and happiness in these days. Just like guidance has to be given in the infancy stage it has to be given in the old age also.

Therefore, I have modified the Ten Commandments (of God) for God and reinstate it for the entire mankind. Let there be only the Gogs who observe these Commandments.

1. I am the Lord your God, you shall have no other gods before me.
2. You shall not make for yourself an idol or image in the form of anything. You shall not bow down to them or worship.
3. Your body is my handiwork which you have to return without any misuse or abuse.
4. Treat each other with dignity and respect other’s personal space.
5. Observe Sabbath, in its spirit.
6. Honor your father and your mother.
7. You shall not murder.
8. You shall not commit adultery nor sexual abuse.
9. You shall not steal nor commit fraud/financial crimes in cloud or physical world.
10. Love your neighbor as thyself.

Circumcision is not mandatory anymore. God don’t want to distinguish between man anymore.

The law of the land supersedes the law of the Books when in conflict.

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The Heavenly forces will be looking for the brightness in you at the time of Judgement; so, all your deeds should be aimed at increasing it.

Abusing minors (below sixteen) and sexual assaults will surely reduce your brightness. Rape will reduce it drastically. If a rape victim becomes pregnant from that crime and decides to abort then that sin would be added to the rapist and she would be acquitted.

Abusing your body with drugs and drug trafficking will be dealt seriously. 

Cowardice; of not speaking up against injustice and not supporting the ones who talk up can also reduce your brightness.

When in doubt ask your inner self for guidance; it will guide you for that is the voice of God in you.

If someone transgress against you present your case before God and wait patiently. You will see your transgressor falling with his own transgressions. Take care not to be the transgressor. 

Consider yourself as the Judge and you are standing in front of that judge to hear the judgment on you. What changes would like the person in front of you make so that you select him for eternal life. Make those changes in your life and make yourself worthy in the eyes of God.

God wants to have a one-to one connection with the ‘New you’. You might have sinned here and there and might be wondering how a sinner can build a relationship with God. Well, God has already seen Adam, Eve, Cain etc. sinning. Didn’t he himself say that man’s heart was leaned more towards sin?

Your sins won’t surprise him; but you can surprise him by repenting and atoning your sins. He is expecting you to take the initiative.

Build a relationship like that of a child to its parents. Ask him if you need something, persist if you don’t get it and give God time to act. He will check whether you deserve it and act.

Won’t it be a smart move to identify the real master and build a relationship with him? Be well versed in Torah as you can take the first step by learning more about him. People of other religions can read till the story of Jacob at least to understand the struggle he undertook to make mankind stand on its legs.

Another very important thing regarding Jerusalem. The children of Issac occupy the Promised Land and toiled hard to make milk and honey flow. The children of Ishmail occupy Petroleum Land where milk and honey flow.

Abraham had given his inheritance to Issac and had given only gifts to Ishmail. But God corrected it and today the land occupied by Ishmail’s children is manifold of the land occupied by Issac’s children.

The Promised Land and Jerusalem belongs to the children of Issac only. And Jerusalem is where God’s Temple should be. It’s time to build the Third Temple.

Jews, Muslims and Christians; build it together. You have the Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Dome of the Rock there now. Muslims, clear the place because God is above the prophet.

People of all religions including Hindus should be able to pray there. Worship God as per his instructions not as per your wishes.

I want each one of you to be an active member of the new world. If you become Gogs and observe the Commandments you can create the New World and the Day will come when there will be peace, happiness and tranquility in this world; At that time The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them. (Isaiah 11:60)

That will complete the circle and man will be back in the Garden. He will then be invited to eat from the Tree of Eternal Life.

– 19 –