In the process of research for the 4th book, I needed a little guidance from a professional. I visited our pastor on Monday who holds a doctorate in theology and he was very helpful with a few points. Then I have been doing some reading on line of various things regarding Islam.
And, no....this story is not your basic "Stop the Terrorist" story, even though it may include one...or two.
I wasn't surprised to learn that other religions were not part of my pastor's study in seminary. The reason was from speaking with a Secret Service agent several years ago. I was curious about counterfeit money and asked him if they, The Secret Service, had their agents study various types of counterfeit money in their training. His response was, "No. We handle and examine so much of the real thing, the fake stuff stands out like a sore thumb." I believe the same applies to the study of God's Word.
But in order to understand the Muslims a little and where they came from, I had a simple understanding, but it has recently become a LOT more clear and interesting. Reading the history of Abraham's two sons, Issac and Ishmael, makes what is going on in this world much more understandable. And then to read up a little on who Muhammad was (descendant of Ishmael), and how he became the ultimate profit of the Muslim people. And also, who reportedly gave him the words of the Qur'an and his marching orders.
I've read many accounts, but this one was extremely interesting.
https://p2alm.com/2014/10/04/isaac-...the-foundation-for-understanding-eschatology/
If nothing else, it's an interesting explanation of a few things to me that had been a little mysterious before. Now....back to writing...
And, no....this story is not your basic "Stop the Terrorist" story, even though it may include one...or two.
I wasn't surprised to learn that other religions were not part of my pastor's study in seminary. The reason was from speaking with a Secret Service agent several years ago. I was curious about counterfeit money and asked him if they, The Secret Service, had their agents study various types of counterfeit money in their training. His response was, "No. We handle and examine so much of the real thing, the fake stuff stands out like a sore thumb." I believe the same applies to the study of God's Word.
But in order to understand the Muslims a little and where they came from, I had a simple understanding, but it has recently become a LOT more clear and interesting. Reading the history of Abraham's two sons, Issac and Ishmael, makes what is going on in this world much more understandable. And then to read up a little on who Muhammad was (descendant of Ishmael), and how he became the ultimate profit of the Muslim people. And also, who reportedly gave him the words of the Qur'an and his marching orders.
I've read many accounts, but this one was extremely interesting.
What do I mean? … Mohammed, the founder of Islam… claims to be a direct descendant of Ishmael and Muslims, today, view themselves as both the physical and the spiritual descendants of Ishmael. And so here you have this story, this incredible event that took place in this child’s life. Two thousand six hundred years after these events took place, a direct descendant of Ishmael named Mohammed birthed forth a new religion into the world. And what does the religion teach? … It teaches God is not a father. God has no Son. And, thirdly, Ishmael, not Isaac, is the heir with regard to the promises of God to the earth. The very things that those issues of rejection and woundedness and brokenness that took place in Ishmael’s life were preserved in that line and two thousand six hundred years later, a man named Mohammed goes into a cave, has an incredibly dark encounter with some sort of spiritual being. It literally chokes the life out of him to where he feels as though he’s going to die, three times this presence comes over him and it demands of him to recite… On the third time, the words of the Qur’an begin to flow forth from his mouth.
Mohammed, himself, literally believed that he was demon-possessed. He was suicidal. He was terrified.” 1
https://p2alm.com/2014/10/04/isaac-...the-foundation-for-understanding-eschatology/
If nothing else, it's an interesting explanation of a few things to me that had been a little mysterious before. Now....back to writing...