The Second Coming Belongs To
God Alone, Not To a Twelfth Imam
By Marie
Jon'
In the Bible, we read about the twelve disciples
working tirelessly to spread the Gospel to the ancient cities and countries of
their time. All twelve were sinners and were saved by God's grace.
Jesus
Christ, who is the son of God, died for us all so that we could be forgiven of
our sins. "We all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God." (Romans
3:23)
A number of sects of Islam believe in a mythical twelfth Imam. It
is interesting to contrast the gospel with an obvious mere imitation. The
Islamic twelfth Imam almost sounds like the Second Coming of Christ.
It
is rather strange to note that our visiting jihadist Ahmadinejad, promotes the
belief in an Imam who will "come again" to this earth. Yes, this is same man who
blasted Israel, and denied the existence of Iranian homosexuals as he spoke to
applauding, cheering students at the liberal Columbia University
campus.
Columbia President Lee Bollinger's scathing speech rang extremely
hollow. He was insensitive to the feelings of Americans who are serving their
country and those who support them. I imagine they were most offended knowing
that President Ahmadinejad is the same man responsible for many troop deaths in
Iraq. A terrorist should have never been invited to speak at the
university.
"I suggest that we have to take Ahmadinejad seriously. I
believe that he means what he says, and if given the opportunity will try to
carry out his murderous plans. I furthermore suggest that we need to look around
for the moral courage (the ability to make a stand on principle) to censure and
punish those who call for the killing of Jews and the destruction of Israel.
Have we no memory? Have we no courage?" (source) John W. Swails III, Ph.D. Chair
and Associate Professor of History, Department of History, Humanities, and
Government, Oral Roberts University
Sadly, President Ahmadinejad spreads
another type of deceit concerning a particular "hidden Imam." Let us look
closely at the comparison of a twelfth Imam to the Second Coming of Christ,
which has been part of the absolute truth since the Holy Scripture were
written.
Excerpts from Ashbrook Center for Public Affairs at Ashland
University:
"Iran's President and the Politics of the Twelfth
Imam"
By: John von Heyking
"Observers of Iran
have been puzzling over Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's actions lately.
A populist, but not terribly popular, president, he raised the ire of the West
and some of his domestic rivals when he recently proclaimed Israel should be
'wiped off the map.' Iran's nuclear ambitions are well-known. However, Western
observers have paid less attention to the political and religious ideology
behind some of Ahmadinejad's actions, which he has expressed in recent speeches
that have had messianic overtones and are deeply troublesome.
"In a
region known for bombastic (pardon the pun) politicians, it's unclear how to
understand the direction Iran is moving. This is due in part to its closed
decision-making process. Writing recently in the New York Review of Books,
Timothy Garton
Ash draws several
comparisons between Iran and the former Communist bloc. Interpreting the
intentions of the Iranian leadership resembles Kremlinology with its 'reading
the tea leaves' methodology of trying to interpret events with the slimmest of
evidence. Understanding Iran is further complicated by the fact that it lacks a
unitary structure, or sovereign that makes decisions. Iran in fact has two
governments: its formal democratic government run by Ahmadinejad and a
religious-ideological command structure headed by the Supreme Leader, Ayatollah
Ali Khamenei. Mediating these two power structures is the Expediency Council,
headed by former president Hashemi Rafsanjani, (whom Ahmadinejad defeated in the
recent presidential election) who has also recently been in the news accusing
Ahmadinejad of destroying the Iranian Revolution. Power is extremely
decentralized in Iran, with a myriad of patrons and cronies vying for control
over its institutions, leading Ash to conclude: 'No wonder Iranian political
scientists reach for terms like 'polyarchy,' 'elective oligarchy,'
'semi-democracy,' or 'neopatrimonialism.'" Ahmadinejad's bellicose speeches must
be understood in light of his ambitions amidst the faultlines of Iranian
domestic politics, but they may have ominous implications for the rest of
us.
"In a speech on November 16th, Ahmadinejad spoke of his belief in the
return of the Twelfth Imam. One of the differences between Sunni and Shi'ite
Islam is that the latter, who dominate Iran and form the majority in Iraq,
believe that Allah shielded or hid Muhammad al-Mahdi as
the Twelfth Imam until the
end of time. Shi'ites expect the Twelfth Imam, which Jews and Christians would
recognize as a messianic figure, to return to save the world when it had
descended into chaos." Full
Article
The blessed hope is contained within the Second
Coming of Jesus Christ. It is the columniation of our salvation. Our God is in
control of all things. He is the true and faithful servant. He keeps His
promises as well as the prophecies found in His Word. There is belief in this
truth because there is truth in the belief.
The first advent began with
His first coming. Jesus came to earth as a baby in a manger in Bethlehem. Jesus
fulfilled the prophecies of the Messiah during His birth, life, ministry, death,
and resurrection.
The Second Coming of Christ will be the fulfillment of
the remaining prophecies. In His first coming, Jesus was the suffering servant.
In His Second Coming, Jesus will be the conquering King.
In His first
coming, Jesus arrived humbly. In His Second Coming, Jesus will arrive with all
the angels of Heaven at His side.
After Jesus ascended into Heaven, the
angels spoke clearly to the apostles: "Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking
into the sky? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come
in just the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven." (Acts 1:11) "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 14:1)
In the book
of Matthew (24:30) it declares, "At that time the sign of the Son of Man will
appear in the sky, and all the nations of the earth will mourn."
They
will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky, with power and great
glory. Titus 2:13 describes the Second Coming as a "glorious appearing." All
eyes shall see Him." (Isaiah 33:17)
The Second Coming of Jesus is spoken
of with immense passion and preciseness. In the book of Revelation his coming is
described: Rev. 9:11-16 "And I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and
He who sat on it is called Faithful and True. And on His robe and on His thigh
He has a name written, "King of kings, and Lord of Lords."
This very act
will be the beginnings of a newly created Earth and the heavens.
"Heaven
and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away." (Matthew 24:35).
The happy outcome will mark the ending of the controversy between good and
evil.
"Sin and sinners are no more. The entire universe is clean. One
pulse of harmony and gladness beats through the vast creation. From Him who
created all, flow life and light and gladness, throughout the realms of
illimitable space. "From the minutest atom to the greatest world, all things,
animate and inanimate, in their unshadowed beauty and perfect joy, declare that
God is love." (source) The Great Controversy By E.G. White
The results of
this Imam's coming (in theory) will be death by cruel torture and subjugation of
all infidels. Threads of truth mixed in with these lies is the basis of all
false teachings, including counterfeit belief systems. How does one escape being
deceived? Study the genuine article, the Bible. Federal agents don't learn to
spot counterfeit money by studying the counterfeit bills. The same applies to
religion.
To think we are fighting a war on terror with a political and
religious ideology that wills to physically force its beliefs on mankind is
unthinkable to most Americans and the free world. We best see what is happening
about us. An Islamic Caliphate is soon to come to the entire world, possibly in
our lifetime. It is with most urgency that we win the War on Terror as well as
the hearts and minds of the world with a faith that is about love and
redemption.
The
Second Coming belongs to
God alone and not to a twelfth Imam. God is a gentleman who knocks at the door
of man's hearts. Learn of Him and the truth shall set you free. We are living in
days where we need to consider our spirituality. We are not promised our
tomorrows. In Christ we are promised an eternity of love with Him. He paid the
ultimate price. Take the free gift and smile. He is coming again. However, "no
man knows the day or the hour." (Matthew 24:36) Make today the day of your
salvation; invite Him into your heart.
Related Readings:
Video of Ahmadinnejad
CLICK HERE
Who is
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad?
CLICK HERE
Ahmadinejad
Awaits the Hidden Imam
CLICK HERE
