Which is the devil and Satan and bound him a thousand years?
Whatever may happen to Satan at the end of the thousand years, it becomes naturally a crucial issue. And for that doubt also John gave the answer. He said that the Satan would be loosed for a season to deceive the nations and finally he would be cast into the lake of fire (Revelation 20.3). And John calls the attention of the people to the fact, that the faithful martyrs of the great tribulation are going to be resurrected at the beginning of the millennium as part of the first resurrection into life.” And I saw thrones and they sat upon them and judgement was given into them and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus and for the word of God and which had not worshipped the beast nor his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads nor (foreheads) in their hands and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years” (Revelation 20.4)
It is the policy of the nation to decide about the status of unfaithful who had died before the millennium. The impact of the resurrection upon the unfaithful is that they will participate in the second resurrection at the end of the millennium. Then there will be eternally consigned to hell at the great write throne judgment. John in his vision saw the decide small and great who were standing before God. He opened the books one after another it was the book of life and the dead were judged according to their works and the unfaithful would be east into the lake of fire. This is called the second death for such people that is to say whose over was not found written in the book of life would be east into the take of fire and regarding the Satan and the weekend died their position at the end of the millennium is given in revelation 20.11,14,15.
The discussion about the new heaven and new earth are freely discussed in revelation chapter 21 can be quite natural. So it will focus more in the beginning of the millennium but not on its end. The second point is that it has been argued again and again and come to a conclusion regarding the new heaven and new earth and there will be no sea. Apostle
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155 John also wrote about this in the following way. For the first heaven and the first earth wire passed away and there was no more sea but he bible indicate that there will be a sea during millennium. Basing on the above said information the elite are under the impression that the new heaven and the new earth must occur only after the millennium and this will like its course so, the only solution for the complicated issue to have a closer look at revelation chapter 21.1. At the same time it is affirmed that there are so many people who can say negatively about the existence of the sea in the new heaven and the new earth. That means the heaven and earth passed away a sea as part of man’s dominion must be also cleansed from defilement of sin to pass into the new age. Regarding the pouring out of second vial a bowl during the day of the lord is written that the second angel poured out his veal upon the sea and it became blood which is like that of a dead man and every living thing died in the sea at that time and were the rivers must have purged of defilement. And the third angel poured out his (bowl) upon the rivers and foundations of waters and all became blood. Generally the heaven and the earth spoken of for that entire God has created, this new heaven and new earth would in able a new sea. Apostle peter linked his teaching on etc “Day of the lord” with the new heaven and the new earth. He encouraged his readers with these words. Nevertheless we according to his promise look for his new heaven and new earth wherever derive the righteousness (2 peter). The outcome of the day of the lord, according to some prophets, revels that the day of the lord will be as follows.
1)A time of destruction from the almighty ( Isaiah 13.6)
2)A time of divine wroath and fierce angora ( Isaiah 13.13)
3)A time when God arisueth to shake terribly the earth (Isaiah 2.19)
4)A time when God will punish the world for its evil and the wicked for
their inequity (Isaiah 13.11)
5)A time when God’s indignation and fury will be directed against the
nations (Isaiah 34.1-2)
6)A time when God’s vengeance will be revealed (Isaiah 34.8)
7)A time of darkness in the heavens (Isaiah 13.9)
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8)A time fire from the lord (Joel 1.23)
The above mentioned verses from the book of prophet Isaiah are related to the judgment of the Lord at his second coming. It will be before the commencement of the millennium reign. If the teaching of Peter from ndrd 2 and 3 chapters are understand properly and placing the day of the lord at the end of the millennium is impossible then they follow his logic in his important discourse.
1)In the last days there would be scoffers walking after their own lusts
(v-3)
2)They would ridicule the promise of Christs return (v-4a
3)The reasoning of the false teachers was based on their presumption of
an unimperated of history things would continue as they always had
(v-46)
4)Contrary to the philosophy of the scoffers, Peter noticed that God in
fact did intervene in the course of human events with judgment through
the noahaic flood
5)The present heavens and earth are reserved for the judgment once
again. The next time it will not be by water (flood) but by fire (v.7)
6)Judgment has been with held by a long suffering God Gering man the
opportunity to repent (v 8-9)
7)The day of the lord will come as a thief in the night and the heavens
and the earth will be judged by fire (v-10)
8)In the light of certain facts of the coming judgment men are to live holy
lives looking for the coming of Christ (v.11-12)
9)His coming will be followed by new heaven and new earth (v-13)
The entire argument of Peter revolves around the fact, that God entire the flow of human history for judgement with Noahic flood. But now God will enter human history for judgement for the second time during the day of the lord. Then the lord’s second coming and during that time only He will imprison Satan excrete the Christ people the earth destroy the false religion and judge the wicked. Then only he will bring a thousand year
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157 messianic age. Which cannot be seen as a divine intervention in history we see clearly here how Peter linked the new heaven and new earth with the day of the lord and since the day of the lord occur in connection with the second coming of Christ the new heaven and the new earth must be associate with the beginning of the millennium not the end. There are some additional facts from some writers that the new heaven and new earth will start at the beginning of the millennium but not at the ends. The new heaven and new earth of which prophet.
Isaiah spoke are the renovated heaven and earth” they will commence at the beginning of the millennium but not at the end. In addition to Isaiah confirmation there are light more prophets from the New Testament plus Dr. Luke, Paul and Peter in the New Testament gave some information about the facts concerning the day of the lord.
A New World:
In the life of man a new day will be coming. It would be really pitiable in the future of man’s life. But heaven and earth are destined to be purged, cleansed and restored to the perfections that were there before the advent of sin. That new age will be really glorious and the occupants of that new world would be abundantly blessed. But who are those blessed people? And who are going to occupy the renovated new heaven and new earth? Then the rapture of the church will take place. And the rapture will take place immediately prior to the opening of the sentence seal. Then the wrath of God will commence. This wrath will be for the purpose of purging the cosmos (world) of everything that has been definled by sin even then during that time the grace of God which continues to be manifested.
In this connection there are two witnesses who will continue to prophecy centre the end of the seventieth week (revelation 11.3). The result of the prophecy is that there will be 1,44,000 men from the twelve tribes sealed for protection in order o prove their fidelity to God next there will be an angelic being having the everlasting gospel to preach into them that dwell on the earth (Revelation 14.6-7) As a result, of the avidness there will be a gathering of the precious souls at Christ’s physical appearance
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to the earth at the end at the end of the seventh week of Daniel and the kingdoms of this world become the kingdoms of our lord and Jesus Christ (revelation 11.15). Among all those people who have survived physically at that time will be designated as sheep and goats”.
And before him all the nations shall be gathers and he will separate them one from another as a shepherd (Mathew 25.32). Then the goats will be sent into everlasting punishment and sheep into eternal life. This later group in mortal bodies will be cleansed through faith in Christ will enter new heaven and new earth. Keeping in mind the events that are mentioned in the book of revelation and the events that are described in the article, we can make an assortment that they only a small number of men and women from the earth that is about six billion people will survive the seventieth week. Those that are purged will be called sheep and they enter the millennial kingdom. Then the blessed people will have an extended life with the absence of death, war, disease and famine which were called natural catastrophic incidents Another surprising thing is they will have the gift of child bearing and quickly repopulate the new heaven and new earth. And then what will happen to those who were resurrected or raptured with the Christ who at present possess glorified immortal bodies? And also we have to think about them how they are related to the new heaven and new earth.
A New capital:
Apostle John saw not only a new heaven and new earth, but also he saw a city Solomon the holy city coming down from God out of heaven. She was prepared as a bride and decorated for her husband. Jesus Christ in the bible the joint reference to Jerusalem was the occasion when Abraham happened to meet melchizedek, who was otherwise known as king of Salem. Abraham happened to take Past in a battle in order to rescue his nephew Lot and while returning he met the king of righteousness called melchizedek. He was also a priest of ELE on the most high God. It was he who built the city called it Salem and became king to that the same city later it was called Jesus Salem. Melchizedek was recently appointed priest of Jerusalem. To
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159 the same city Abraham came to sacrifice his son Isaac, when God asked him to test his faith.
It was the same Jerusalem which was under the control of Jebusites tribes and they called it Jebus. But later king David happened to defeat those Jebusite and made their fortress his capital. The first patriarch Abraham tried to sacrifice his son on the mount Moriah on the same mountain king Solomon built a temple called the house of God to live among his chosen people on earth. It was the same Jesus Salem where in the Lamb of God Jesus Christ died on the cross for the sake of the sinners of the world. To this same Jerusalem Jesus will come for his coronation as the lion of the tribe of Judah to become the king of kings and lord of lords.
Jerusalem:
1) Jerusalem is the centre and the capital city of human history.
2)New Jerusalem will be the centre and capital of Christ’s millennial
kingdom.
3)New Jerusalem is the city father Abraham looked for which fath
foundations whose builder and maker is God.
4)New Jerusalem is the city built for the church, the bride of Christ
(Revelation 21.9)
5)New Jerusalem is the city which will descend out of heaven like a
chandelier and rest upon the earth (Revelation 3.12:21.20)
6)New Jerusalem is a city in which God himself will dwell (Revelation 21.11:22.23)
7)New Jerusalem is a city constructed with the most precious material
(Revelation 21.18.21)
8)New Jerusalem is a city of safety and perpetual day (Revelation 21.25)
9)New Jerusalem is a city where nothing that defiles can enter (Revelation
21.27)
10)New Jerusalem is a city whose inhabitants will know only good and
endless life (Revelation 22.1)
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11)New Jerusalem is a city of un ending obedience and provision
(Revelation 22.2)
12)New Jerusalem is a city whose inhabitants have intimate access to
the same (Revelation22.3-4) New Jerusalem is a city of spectacular dimension. It may be in the shape of pyramid or in the form of a great mountain. The bible also describes that it must be twelve thousand furlongs in each direction and equivalent of 1500 thousand miles wide deep and high. It is composed of floors at one side intervals and there would be 1500 levels. There would be no other city to compare with this New Jerusalem. This will be home of all those who have been redeemed by the blood of the tomb of God. There are two words that might elite and from them only one will survive. The world that will survive has to be ruled by the son of God and saviour of men and women for a thousand years in the new heaven and new earth.
1)The new heaven and new earth are the present heaven and earth.
They are purged by fire and made the people perfect through
regeneration.
2)The new heaven and new earth commences from the beginning of the
millennial but not at the end.
3)After rapture of the church those left on the earth who survive the day
of the Lord and exhibit faith in Christ after His return are the sheep
who will enter the new heaven and new earth.
4)The New Jerusalem after it’s coming down from heaven as the capital
city of new heaven and new earth it will be the dwelling place of the
true Christ and the New Jerusalem shall be the bride of Jesus Christ.
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14. THE RELIGION OF ISLAM
Theological colleges and seminaries are regularly offering answers on non-Christian religions. So, student’s particularly future missionaries can better understand what others believe .Here, this article is written with the purpose and with biblical perception As a matter of fact it must be said regarding some defects of the teaching of Islam the knowledge of it that has been followed and believed by the people of the world. But this can help us more effectively regarding the Christian faith. Islam is a religion which became more prominent and came into forefront in American news because of politics and military struggle in the Middle East when some people are interested in historical background of the religion and the belief others are interested in questions and their ----first question is –who are the Sunnis and shitis? Let us try to find out some clue about the difference between these two divisions in Islam
Sunnis and Shiites’:
The name Sunnites or Sunnis refers to majority of those (groups) who practice Islam and differentiate themselves from the sheits or shias Sunnis are those who follow the Surea practices of the prophet Mohammed and who are loyal to the majority of the community Sunnis Muslims see Sarea practices as being in harmony with the Koran in its elaboration of Islamic laws Sheites is (derived from sheat Ali party of Ali) make up the second largest branch of Islam. After the the death of Mohammed a split took place concerning encouraging the leadership of Islam. The sheits insisted that only the members of Mohammad’s family especially the descendants of his daughter Fatima and her husband Ali should be the next caliph
Christianity and Islam are mutually exclusive
To understand briefly Christianity and Islam are theologically and mutually exclusive let us see what must be the difference between them
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1.Christianity teaches grace through faith to get salvation whereas Islam
requires certain things kings such as praying five times each day by
turning their faces toward Mecca in order to fulfill the requirements
such as studying the Koran (the Islamic scripture ) then only their men
or women would become righteous Christianity in the New Testament
makes it aware that an individual can be saved and the sins of his or
her be forgotten and also each individual shall be justified by believing
in Christ and a sinners forgiveness provide a place in heaven so it is
declared in Ephesians 12-8-9 “for by grace are ye saved through faith
and that not of yourselves it is the gift of God not of works lest any man
should boast”.
2.Christianity teaches that Jesus is Gods only begotten son, the messiah
as promised in the Old Testament prophecies. The prophecy teaches
us that he died on the cross voluntarily as a substitute for our atonement.
Then on the third day he rose from the dead and ascended to his
father. As he himself said he would come again to judge the quick and
the dead but Islam religion denies all the above said facts and believe
that they are the errors of the New Testament. They believe it was
Judas Iscariot who was put on the cross but not Jesus Christ and also
Jesus did not raise from the dead. The Muslim leaders finally concluded
that Jesus was only the tenth prophet out of fourteen prophets.
3.Christianity speaks about Jesus as the promised messiah and the only
savior sent from God (acts 4.12). But Islam rejects this fact also and
tells people that Mohammad superseded Jesus. They tried to correct
various errors according to them taught in the Christian New Testament.
4.Christianity has a theistic theology and in that God will answer all the
prayer of the believers if they are satisfied to the will of God. The
prayers are so powerful, that they can change things wonderfully where
as Islam requires submission to Allah will understand in a manner
wearing all things are written and settled and must be so accepted .
5.One of the fundamental principles of Christianity is that they must
forgive their enemies and pray for them. In this context Jesus said “but
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I say unto you love your enemies bless them that curse you do good to
them that hate you and pray for them that despitefully use you and
persecute you” (Matthew 5.34). Here this is not to advocate national
pacefecision but it shows how Christianity is always striving to establish
peace, while history speaks about the sad accounts of Christian’s
religious wars after the reformation the fact is that this is not the ideal
nor in the direction of our Lords teachings. These teachings of our lord
however stand in opposition to Islam or to any radical extremist. Such
people would promise heavenly reward to those by terrorism plant
bombs, that kill innocent men women and children
Beginning of Islam and the Koran:
Koran (Quran) is a sacred book of Islam religion. It is divided into 114 suras (sections chapter’s recitations). It was proclaimed for the first time during the seventh century AD. It is the Muslim belief that in the year 610 A.D. in the month of Ramadan Allah (the name of the Muslim God in Arabic language) revealed his words to Mohammad through the archangel Gabriel it appears like Judaism and Christianity are non atheistic but traces its roots back to Abraham through Ishmael. This Muslim revelation said to have begun with the words. In the name of God this compassionates the merciful In the Koran it is said that each chapter begins with prayers. The theme of that is there will be only one God (Allah) that he is great (Akbar). That is above all beings and beyond all human reasoning the introduction by the translator shows his reverence for it when he writes The Koran is the earliest and by far The finest work of classical Arabic Prose for Muslims it is the infalliable Word of God a transcript of a tablet Preserved in heaven revealed to the Prophet Mohammad by the angel Gabriel except in the opening verses And some few passages in which the Prophet or the angel speaks in the
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First person the speaker throughout is God
The Koran regularly distinguish between what is called “people of the book” (this is Christians and Jews, who were to be lived cautiously in peace and harmony although taxed) and infidels atheistic unbelievers or idol worshippers who were not to be tolerated. Following are some of the lines from Koran. Say people of the book you will attain Nothing until you observe the torah And the gospel and that which has Been revealed to you from your lord Believers Jews Saharans and Christians whoever believes in God? And the last days and does what is Right shall have nothing to fear or Regret (Koran surah the table 568-69)
Islam certainly welcomes converts but those who leave the faith of Islam are severally looked down upon. This was all the more true in geographical areas where there was no person of another faith in the town and where the language was only Arabic why because it was the language of Koran. So to say without Arabic bible translations conversion of a Muslim into Christianity or Judaism would find himself dealing with a foreign language. It may be Hebrew in which the Old Testament was written or Greek language in which the New Testament was written.
Unfortunately some Muslims who want to embrace Christianity have to face some problems while contemplating on the biblical truth especially with Christian missionaries who sometimes pose as western foreigners. As a matter of fact Muslims were taught from their early age to hate Christian crusaders because of their invasion of Arab lands. Added to that the western society has become more ungodly and more secularized. But this crossing of language and culture made it more difficult for an isolated Muslim to consider other faiths and hear the good news of Jesus Christ. The Muslim community in a close observation and association expressed their fear about
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165 Christianity, they also declared that if any family wished to embrace Christianity such family would forego some benefits like social standing educational opportunities and even safety from any untoward events. So to say their impression about Jesus was very pathetic. They used to think that Jesus was only a prophet. They elevated Mohammad by saying that he was the last and greatest of the prophets where as their idea about Jesus was that he was a true prophet of God but not divine and he was never crucified. Regarding Mary (Jesus mother) she was taken to be model of woman and of purity (Koran 4.155-59; 66.12)
Muslim view point is that the Koran would correct and explain as well as adding to the past revelations given to Prophet Moses and Jesus. They used to think about Koran as the book of which would prescribe to practice (prayer pilgrimage etc.). The faithful Muslims used to observe their prayers pilgrimage to Mecca in order to please their God. Their religion is called Islam which means submission it is peace (1 salaam) a true Muslim is he who submits himself the will of God thereby have peace of mind (me salaam). As the readers of the bible the believers can understand the similarity between Arabic and Hebrew words; salaam and shadom. Both the words are spelled with the consonants SLM some years ago the common saying used by the westerners was moslim, but today Muslim is preferred.
Mahammad was a prosperous leader in the western part of the Arabian Peninsula. He happened to marry a rich widow at the age of 25 and her name was khadijah. Islamic text says he received revelations when he was about 40 years old. Since then he was known as the prophets. And the Muslims accepted him as the last and final prophet in the list of prophets including Abraham and Jesus. As it is written in their traditions Mohammad had a vision and according to that he was lifted up to heaven on his horse. It is said he used to pray upon which now encased inside haram alsharief the Dome of the rock in Jerusalem. Due to this Jerusalem is also considered the third holiest place (city) the first and second being Mecca and medina.
During the middle ages when the Muslim rule was at its peak and the influence over Middle East was also at the highest, Bagdad was
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considered the greatest city among the Muslim cities for a long time. The Muslim calendar began in the year 622 AD. When Mohammad made his “flight” (Arabic Hegira) from Mecca to medina where he started the Muslim religion. Mahammed happen to flee from Mecca due to persecution in the city of gatherib which is about 273 miles. The city (received him with honor it was called medina So, the Muslims have finally three important pilgrimage cities and they are called casted Mecca, medina and Jerusalem Mohammad died in 632 AD at the age of 63. After his death Abu Baker was chosen as his successor of the next caliph (the chief Muslim civic and religious ruler)
The teachings of Islam:
In medina the first revelation of SHARIOC (religious based law or tradition) is said to have come out with its prophecies of URRNA which means friendship with fellow Muslims Justice including right sentence in criminal cases; compassion especially toward slaves who were to be freed if they accepted Islam right to life particularly against the practice at the
time of killing unwanted female babies; then ADDAN which means the
call to prayer five times daily QEBIA which means prayer should not be done while facing JERUSALEM; but any person while praying must look at Mecca only. In addition to the above said important points the Muslims should show their tolerance toward the people of the book called Jews and Christians.
According to the principles of Islamic religion Muslims are prohibited from drinking alcohol gambling and eating of pork. They also hold among other things like status and pictures are a violation of the second commandment. They should not keep any images either in their houses or any important places. The five pillars of Islam the principal duties are:
SHADADAH: which means witnessing to their faith?
SARAT: means prayer of adoration and submission and also praying five
times daily by turning the face toward Mecca
ZAKAR: giving arms to the poor.
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167 SAWN: means fasting during the day light in the entire month of Ramadan. HAJE: means taking a pilgrimage to Mecca. This has to be accomplished at least once in their life time. There the religion or Haji performs various traditional ceremonies around the kaba (Arabic for lube) which has been the central shrine of Islam from the beginning.
Jerusalem and the Dome of the rock:
The Dome of the rock in Jerusalem was built on the summit of Mount Moriah according to the Bible Genesis 22 chapter it was the same place to which patriarch Abraham happened to take his only son Isaac to sacrifice when God asked him to do so. God did all that just to test the faith of Abraham. And also it was the same places king Solomon built a wonderful temple of God after one thousand years of this event unfortunately this glorious temple was miserably destroyed in 586 BC by the Babylonian army. Then the second temple was built on the same foundations between 536-516 BC and that was also destroyed by the Romans in 70 AD
Caliph Abdal Malik an eminent Muslim leader built the octagonal domed shrine known today as the Dome of the rock between 689-691 A.D. and at that time the Dome was covered with lead only. And finally that Dome of the rock became a holy site in Jerusalem because the Muslim believe that (1) Abraham took Ishmael to that to sacrifice, but according to the bible it was Isaac not Ishmael (2) Abraham was called father of faith (3) that place was identified as the location and basing on the tradition they believe that Mohammad prayed in that place and was taken to heaven either bodily or in a vision. Then under Suleiman the magnificent of (1520- 1566) AD the ottoman Turk empire reached its pinnacle and Suleiman built the walls of Jerusalem which remained till today. He retained the eastern and western walls and moved old south wall line to the north. He also moved part of the southwest hill of mount Zion outside the city.
During his time only the Dome of the rock was covered with gold. It is said in the recent years that golden Dome was regarded with even more gold. Every believer must remember that the holiest place to Muslims in
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Jerusalem is the “Dome of the Rock”. The holiest site for the Jews is the western wall or waiting wall and for many Christians the holiest site is the holy sepulcher church and for some believer is the golden tomb. The western wall and the church of the holy sepulcher are located in the Christian colony.
In 1917 British general along with some allied forces fought against the Turks and with their other supporters conquered Jerusalem. Then it was held by the British under mandate by the League of Nations from 1917-1947, until the United Nations voted for the partition. As a result the sovereign state of Israel was created. Jerusalem and the dome of the rock were cut out of the land which was given to the young country Jordan. Then in 1967 June 6-11 Israel had to fight six day war knowing that it was going to be attacked by the surrounding Arab nations. So Israel launched a pre emptive strike and conquered the territory of the west bank. It was controlled by Jerusalem in spite of controversies both external and internal. Since the dome of the rock is a holy site for Muslims, Israel gave it to the local management and security over the Muslims authorities. For centuries, Muslims, Christian and Jesus have had varying relationship and lived in peace and harmony with mutual tolerance. In other times the Muslims armies ran across Europe and North Africa conquering Christian lands. The crusaders of 12th and 13th centuries saw Christian’s armies on the march and tried to recover those lands and the holy sites in Israel
Some Muslim today would like to see saria (Muslim law) the law over different nations. They seemed to be too western or too moderate by not making Islamic law concerned to religion, the official legal law of their countries. They have taken violence and terrorism as the only means to undermine those governments. At the same time there are some moderate Muslims who always prefer peace, but they too are warned of attacks and threats by the world terrorist. So far the believers can understand through this article that there is no peace and harmony between Christians and Muslims on any occasion. They have been living as perpectual enemies. Basing on the above said information regarding the relationship between the Christians and Muslims the readers can make it clear that it is the desire
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169 of the Christians to see the Muslims to be evangelized toward the fulfillment of (revelation 7.9-10) which God will surly bring about. “After this I be held and to a great Multitude which no man could Number of all nations and kindred’s And people and tongues stand before The throne and before the Lamb Clothed with white robes and palms in Their hands and cried with a loud Voice saying salvation to over God Which siteth upon the throne and Unto the lamb (Revelation 7.9-10) Say ye not there are yet four Months and then cometh harvest Behold I say unto you lift up your Eyes and look on the fields for they Are white already to harvest” (John 4.35)
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