One of the earliest and most essential teachings of Christianity is that Jesus of Nazareth was crucified, dead, and buried  under Pontius Pilate and rose from the dead on the third day.

It is hard to conceive of any form of Christianity surviving the first century without the Resurrection of Jesus. Messianic movements by the hundreds had come and gone in Judea and disappeared in the sands of time when their ‘Messiah’ died or was killed. In fact, for one to die on the cross was considered to be ‘a curse’ to the Jewish folk of Jesus’ day.

One of the earliest and most authoritative references to the resurrection was made by Paul in I Corinthians 15. In fact, the Apostle Paul claims that over 500 folks had seen Jesus after his resurrection. In short, no resurrection—no Christianity.

Islam teaches that Jesus was only a prophet and did not die on the cross so had no need to be Resurrected. He only appeared to die and later was taken directly into Heaven by God:

That they said  (in boast), “we killed Christ Jesus, the son of Mary, the messenger of Allah,” but they killed him not, nor crucified him, but so it was made to appear to them, and those who differ therein are full of doubts, with no (certain) knowledge, but only conjecture to follow, for of a surety they killed him not. -Sura 4:157

Most Muslims believe that someone else died in the place of Jesus and that he never suffered crucifixion. Since he never died –than the resurrection never happened. In fact according to Islamic teaching, Jesus never died period. God took Jesus directly to Paradise alive like he had done with Enoch and Elijah:

But Allah took him unto Himself –Sura 4:158

Response: Again, it is hard to conceive of Christianity surviving the first century except for the resurrection. Again one of the greatest disparities between Christianity and Islam revolves around Jesus—who he is, what he did, and what he is going to do.

If the prophet Muhammad is to be believed than the Apostles and the 500 or so followers of Jesus who saw the Resurrected Lord are all liars and suffered persecution and many times horrible deaths to preserve a lie. This doesn’t make sense at all. No, the very lives, actions, testimonies, and martyrdom of the Apostles stand against Islam and the ‘prophet’ Muhammad.            *Top

Links to previous posts in this series:

Comparing Islam and Christianity #6 -The Divinity of Jesus

Comparing Islam and Christianity #5 -Miracles and Spiritual Gifts

Comparing Islam and Christianity #4 -The Holy Spirit

Comparing: Islam and Christianity #3 -The Virgin Birth of Jesus

Comparing: Islam and Christianity #2 -The Righteousness and Justice of God

Comparing: Islam and Christianity #1 -God’s Love?

Related Posts?:

1. -Dueling Jesuses: Isa of Islam Vs. The Son of God of Christianity
2. -The Resurrection of Jesus

From Operation513-Apologetics Blog:

“When Jesus died, did both of his Natures die?”

Q&A with Dr. William Lane Craig

Question:

My question is one I have never been able to get a clear answer on. When Jesus died on the cross, did God die? That being, did the essence of Jesus actually die? …

Response:

<<Read Dr. Craig’s clear and able response>>

There really could be dueling Jesuses in the future—Isa-Almasih (Jesus Messiah in the Quran) of Islam verses Jesus Christ of Christianity.

First of all the birth of Jesus is portrayed in similar ways by both religions but the results are quite different. Both teach that Mary was a virgin and the angel appeared to her but in the New Testament, God is the Father of Jesus while the Quran teaches that the angel Gabriel was somehow responsible.

As strange as it seems, I believe that there is a strong possibility that the two might actually meet up and battle each other at the end of history—That’s right—two claiming to be the real Jesus.

One who supports the coming Mahdi and tries to destroy all who reject Islam particularly the Jews, and another who is the Son of God who comes in the clouds with the host of Heaven where everyone can see Him and saves Jerusalem and what is left of Israel.

What it really amounts to is dueling scriptures—the Quran verses the New Testament.

I started thinking about this possibility when I received the following in a comment from a Mohammad in Pakistan:

“I believe soon the promised one will reappear and fill this earth with justice.  …we are waiting for the promised one our Mahdi our imam our love our respect our leader our heart. …O my imam my leader soon we will pledge with you along with all good inhabitants in this world along with Jesus Christ who will pray behind you and will ask his followers to accept the straight path of Islam.”

There is one scenario I can see where the prophetic eschatological expectations of both the Quran and the Bible may be largely fulfilled.

Those in Islam are looking for a Mahdi to appear on the scene and become the ruler over the entire world—with one world government and one official World religion–Islam. Isa-Almasih, the historical Jesus is supposed to come back and support the Mahdi and ask all of his followers—the Christians to convert. Those who don’t are to be beheaded. Meanwhile he is also suppose to be instrumental in conquering Jerusalem, defeating the Dajjal (Evil One) and finally killing off the Jews who naturally refuse to join.

In the New Testament there is an  almost identical scenario presented, only the one world ruler is called ‘The Anti-Christ’ and the religious leader who supports him is referred to as ‘The False Prophet’. Thousands of Christians will be martyred by beheading and millions of Jews will also be killed. Just when it looks like Jerusalem will be conquered and all Israel will be eliminated, Jesus Christ appears in the clouds with the Hosts of Heaven, everyone shall see him, and He will touch down in Jerusalem and save the day. By the way—the Anti-Christ (Mahdi?) and his False Prophet (Isa?) are thrown alive into the Lake of Fire.

Like I said, the scenarios are quite similar but in a potential battle between the two Jesuses, Jesus Christ the Jewish Messiah and Son of God will prevail, the Muslims might call him the ‘Dajjal’ but it is the pretenders who will be overthrown. All of the scriptures in the Bible will be fulfilled, and He will reign for 1,000 years on planet Earth.            *Top

A continuation of the Evangelical/Mormon dialogue started with the book “How Wide The Divide” by Craig Blomberg and Stephen Robinson and continued in “Bridging The Divide” by Robert L Millet and Gregory C.V. Johnson.

Dr. Robert L. Millet is professor of religious education at BYU and Dr. Gerald R. McDemott is professor of religion and philosophy at Roanoke College and teaching pastor at St/ John Lutheran Church.  <<Read my review>>        *Top

Related Posts?:

1. -“Jesus, The Final Days”

It was written by Ekaputra Tupamahu and posted on his blog. Ekaputra currently teaches theology at Satyabhakti Advanced School of Theology (STT Satyabhakti), Indonesia.

He concludes and identifies a number of points of contact between the Muslim understanding of Isa and the Biblical Jesus. These intersecting areas can form the basis for dialogue between Christians and Muslims and potentially provide opportunities for evangelism.

Ekaputra notes that at the Second Coming, Jesus fulfills all the Biblical provisions of a Messiah that both the Christian and Jewish religions are looking for, and also could complete the Muslim expectations of a coming ‘Mahdi’.

Here are links to the 6 articles:

Isa Almasih and Jesus Christ – Part 1 -Isa as an Islamic Version of Christology

Isa Almasih and Jesus Christ – Part 2 -Historical Consideration

Isa Almasih and Jesus Christ – Part 3 -Isa as Almasih or Messiah in the Quran

Isa Almasih and Jesus Christ – Part 4 -Messianic Idea Among Muslim People Today

Isa Almasih and Jesus Christ – Part 5 -Islam (Isa Almasih) and Christianity (Jesus Christ): Some Point of Contacts

Isa Almasih and Jesus Christ – Part 6 -Some Implications

*Top

Related Posts?:

1. -Dueling Jesuses: Isa of Islam Vs. The Son of God of Christianity