Page 26 - The Signs of Prophet Jesus' (pbuh) Second Coming
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Signs of Jesus’ (pbuh)
Second Coming
him. God raised him to Himself. God is Almighty, All-Wise.
(Surat An-Nisa’, 4:157-158)
Many people believe in the widespread assumption that the
Romans crucified Jesus. The Roman soldiers and Jewish priests who
arrested Jesus are said to have killed him on the cross. Although some
historical Christian sects such as Docetism have denied this, today,
the world of Christianity completely believes it, as well as that he was
resurrected three days later and, after several brief meetings with his
disciples and others, ascended into the heavens.
The Qur'an, however, says otherwise. The reality revealed in the
verses is clear. The Romans, abetted by some Jews' agitation, at-
tempted to kill Jesus but did not succeed. The expression "but it was
made to seem so to them" reveals this fact. God showed them a look-
alike and raised Jesus up to His presence. Our Lord also reveals that
those who made that claim had no knowledge of the truth.
In the early years of Christianity, several views on Jesus' fate
emerged. In the subsequent centuries and until the articles of faith
were fully formulated at the Council of Nicea (325), these ideological
differences continued to persist, and movements that claimed that
Jesus had not been crucified were accused of heresy and its members
were persecuted.
The Qur'anic Account of Jesus' Ascent
to God's Presence
Examining the words used in the narratives relating how the
Prophets died and the verses dealing with Jesus' ascent to God's pres-
ence reveals an important fact: Jesus did not die like the other
prophets did, nor was he murdered by the unbelievers. Rather, our
Lord took him up to His presence. In this chapter, we will examine the
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