Session 18

Q. Last episode we discussed two conditions that need be fulfilled in a person who seeks to know the Almighty, for God to fill this person's heart with faith. Dr. Nagi, would you please state those two conditions, adding others that need be fulfilled in this respect?

A. Last episode I said that for a person to know the truth, he has to come to the Almighty with longing, hunger and thirst to get to know His Glorious Person - coming with humbleness and meekness seeking the revelation of the Almighty about Himself. The second condition is to set aside any personal fanaticism, and not to come to the Almighty with predetermined theories, ordinances and obligations. This person should not be unwilling to give them up, but rather ready to accept whatever the Almighty reveals about Himself - no matter how strikingly amazing the revelation may see. I would also like to add a third condition. This person has to believe and have faith in whatever the Lord God Almighty reveals. Willingness to believe and having faith in a revelation are two separate things. Some people may be willing to know what God reveals about Himself, yet are not willing to believe His revelations. Those are the losers.

Q. Dr. Nagi, verse 45 in John 1 says that after the Lord Christ (Glory be to His Name) called Phillip to follow Him, Phillip found Nathaniel and said to him, 'We have found Him of whom Moses in the Law, and also the prophets wrote - Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph'. What does this statement mean? Who are the prophets?

A. Undoubtedly, the person whom Moses and the Prophets wrote about is the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ (Glory be to His Name). The statement, 'of whom Moses in the Law, and also the prophets wrote' refers to the books of the Old Testament figuratively known as the Torah. The Law is inherent I the first five books of the Old Testament, which are Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. Those were the books inscribed by Prophet of the Almighty, Moses, being inspired by the Almighty.

Q. Why does the Holy Scripture make a distinction here between Moses and other prophets? Why not have said, 'of whom the prophets wrote'? Also did all the prophets write about the Lord Jesus Christ (Glory be to His Name)?

A. This is because Moses, spokesman of God had a distinguished position in Judaism; he was dignified considerably. It was him who delivered the people of Israel from servitude in the land of Egypt. He was also the Prophet who received the first religious teachings and commandments from the hands of the Almighty, inscribed on two tables of stone. He wrote the Torah, in which there was guidance and mercy unto Man. Since the word 'Law', which was given to Moses is equivalent to the grace and truth fulfilled by the Lord Jesus Christ (Glory be to His Name) - of which we spoke in a previous episode - what Moses wrote, therefore, about the Lord Jesus Christ (Glory be to His Name) is of great significance. This is what should the Jews come to realize it today. Yet, the Holy Scripture states that it is not only Moses who wrote about the Lord Jesus Christ (Glory be to His Name) , but all prophets with no exception. Which means that the Lord Jesus Christ (Glory be to His Name) is the theme of the torah and the Gospel, the Law and the Grace.

Q. Dr. Nagi, would you please mention to us some prophets who wrote abut the Lord Christ (Glory be to His Name), and what they have written?

A. As I said, all prophets wrote about the Lord Christ (Glory be to His Name). In fact in every book of the Holy Bible there exists a prophecy or reference to His glorious person (translator). All their writings conform to one another with no exception, towards one end: The Lord Jesus Christ (Glory be to His Name) is God revealed in human flesh. He lived on earth, was crucified and died, and raised from the dead on the third day. He will come once more to judge the living and the dead, leading those who believe in Him to eternal life and glory. As for these who do not believe, as we previously mentioned are doomed to eternal death. It is possible to determine a true prophet - One who is sent by God - knowing he agrees with other prophets who witnessed to the Lord Christ (Glory be to His Name) . Among those other prophets are David, Solomon, Isaiah, Zechariah and others.

Q. Would you please tell us what Moses, spokesman of God, wrote about the Lord Christ (Glory be to His Name) in His books?

A. In fact we need a lot to time to mention all the prophecies, and all that the Prophets wrote. Moses for example wrote in Genesis, the very first book of the Old Testament, Chapter three that the seed of the woman shall bruise the head of the serpent. The seed of the woman in this context is referring to the Lord Jesus Christ (Glory be to His Name), whereas the serpent refers to the evil of the slinking whisperer (Satan). This prophecy was fulfilled in the crucifixion of the Lord Jesus Christ (Glory be to His Name). Galatians 4:4 say, 'But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law'. His Son of course does not imply a reproductive birth, but the natural spiritual parenthood of God Almighty to the Lord Jesus Christ (Glory be to His Name) - that which we have explained earlier in a previous episode. Also in Genesis 17, there is a prophecy about the Lord Jesus coming from the seed of Isaac, son of Abraham (translator). All those prophecies were mentioned in one book, Genesis, and all of which were fulfilled to the letter in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ (Glory be to His Name) .

Q. It is clear that Moses, spokesman of God mentioned a number of prophecies that were fulfilled completely in the person and life of the Lord Jesus Christ (Glory be to His Name) , how about other prophets?

A. Prophet Isaiah, who lived about 1000 years B. C. wrote about the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ (Glory be to His Name) from a chaste Virgin, who was never touched by Man - thus in Isaiah 7. Isaiah also mentioned some of the attributes of the Lord Christ (Glory be to His Name) in chapter 11 of the same book. He prophesied about His silence during His trial in Isaiah 53, that He would be slapped on the face in Isaiah 50, and that He would suffer of many pains on the hands of people in Isaiah 53. In the same chapter, He prophesied that the Lord would be crucified among the wicked and buried among the rich. All of which was literally fulfilled in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ (Glory be to His Name).

Q. Could you please mention to us some examples of the prophecies of King and Prophet David about the Lord Jesus Christ (Glory be to His Name)?

A. The prophecies of King David are not less significant that those of Prophet Moses, nor are they less in number or clarity. King David prophesied that the Jews would reject Him in Psalm 2. He mentioned some of the attributes of the Lord Jesus in Psalm 45, and also that there would be fierce witnesses testifying against Him, yet He would remain silent in the face of their cruelty and unfairness in Psalms 35 and 38. David prophesied that the Lord would be detested and hated for no reason (Psalm 109), that He would be crucified, and that nails would pierce into His hands and feet (Psalm 22). He prophesied that the Jews would offer Him vinegar while hanging on the cross (Psalm 16), that He would rise from the dead (Psalm 106), and ascend to heaven (Psalm 68). All of these prophecies were literally fulfilled in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ (Glory be to His Name).

Q. are there other prophets who prophesied on the Lord Jesus Christ (Glory be to His Name) before He came to earth?

A. In the Book of Micah, Prophet Micah prophesied of the place of His birth in the village of Bethlehem. Prophet Daniel prophesied of the time He was born. Prophet Jeremiah, in the Book of Jeremiah, prophesied of the massacre of the children that concurred with the birth of the Lord Christ (Glory be to His Name) and was incurred by King Herod for fear of Him. Prophet Hosea, in Hosea 11, prophesied of His escape along with His mother and stepfather Joseph to Egypt. Prophet Zechariah, in Zechariah 9, prophesied of His victorious advent to Jerusalem. In chapter 11 of the same book, Zechariah prophesied of His being sold for 30 pieces of silver, and that those were returned to the priests who paid it to buy the potter's field. In fact many are the prophecies that were literally fulfilled regarding the birth, life, crucifixion, resurrection and ascension of the Lord Jesus Christ (Glory be to His Name).

Q. Are there other prophecies about the Lord Jesus Christ (Glory be to His Name) that were not fulfilled, even though they were recorded in the Holy Scripture?

A. Indeed, many prophecies are not yet fulfilled. All of those are related to His second coming to earth. As for the prophecies that spoke of His life on earth, crucifixion, death, resurrection, and ascension to heaven, those were all fulfilled with no exception. This is a confirmation that all the prophecies speaking of His second coming to earth will undoubtedly be fulfilled much like the rest of them.

Q. Dr. Nagi, could you please give us two or three examples of prophecies that are not yet fulfilled related to the second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ (Glory be to His Name) to earth.

A. There is a prophecy that was uttered by the two angels who appeared to the disciples after the Lord Jesus Christ (Glory be to His Name) ascended to heaven, as they were staring at Him. This prophecy is recorded in Acts 1:9-11, 'He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, tow men stood by them in white apparel, who also said, 'Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.' This prophecy will be fulfilled the day He comes again to earth in the same manner He took off to Heaven.

Q. What other prophecies were said to this effect, and have not yet been fulfilled?

A. There is another prophecy about the Lord Jesus Christ (Glory be to His Name) saying that He will judge the living and the dead, rewarding each person according to his acts; He will come to reign on all that is in the universe. The first time He came, He was meek and humble in order to redeem Man. His second coming is to reign and judge all those who rejected His rule on them. This prophecy is recorded in the second Epistle of St. Paul to his disciple, Timothy referring to the Lord Jesus Christ (Glory be to His Name) , 'Who will judge the quick and the dead at His appearing and His Kingdom.' 2Timothy 4:1 Also in the Epistle of St. Jude, the Holy Scripture says, 'The Lord comes with ten thousand of His saints to execute judgment upon all and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against Him'. Jude: 14, 15

Q. Dr. Nagi, based on this answer, I would like to ask a side question. You said that the Lord Jesus Christ (Glory be to His Name) would judge the living and the dead. It is well known that no one has the right to judge Man save God Almighty, the most fair judge - no one else. What do you mean by that statement? Are you admitting that the Lord Jesus Christ (Glory be to His Name) is God Almighty revealed in human flesh?

A. Indeed this is an obvious confession that the Lord Jesus Christ (Glory be to His Name) is God Almighty revealed in human flesh, or else He wouldn't have had the right, nor the authority to judge Man. The fair judge is One, and is associated with no partner.

Q. Did the Lord Jesus Christ (Glory be to His Name) ever say a prophecy to the effect that He will judge the living and the dead?

A. No, the Holy Scripture reflects many prophecies to this effect but through different people other than the Lord Jesus Christ (Glory be to His Name) such as St. Paul the Epistle, and other disciples. As for the Lord Jesus Christ (Glory be to His Name), He announced this truth when He told the Jews in John 5:21-23, 'For as the Father (God Almighty established on His throne eternally) raises the dead and gives life to them, even so the Son the Lord Jesus Christ, Glory be to His Name, gives life to whom He will, for the Father judges no one, but has committed all judgment to the Son. That all should honor the Son just like they honor the Father.' He said those words, as they were about to kill Him for healing a paralyzed person on a Sabbath.

Q. Dr. Nagi, these are indeed serious words. In those few verses, the Lord Jesus Christ (Glory be to His Name) announced that He is the Fair Judge; that He raises the dead much like God Almighty does; and that whoever does not honor Him, does not honor the Almighty. All such are but sequential declarations on the Divine nature of the Lord Jesus Christ (Glory be to His Name) that are stated personally by the Lord Jesus Christ (Glory be to His Name) .

A. Indeed these are serious words, but coming out of the mouth of the master of the entire earth, the Lord Jesus Christ (Glory be to His Name) , this is indeed not Atheism, nor is it associating a partner with God Almighty as we said early into the study. Throughout the Holy Scripture, it is quite clear that the Lord Jesus Christ (Glory be to His Name) is the essence of God, rather God revealed in a human mortal body, much like ours. If we say that God Almighty the Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ (Glory be to His Name) are two separate persons, then we are indeed associating partners with God Almighty; for God forbids, we'd be speaking of two gods. But as we say that the Almighty and His word, the Lord Jesus Christ (Glory be to His Name) are one, we wouldn't therefore be associating partners with God, nor would this be considered atheism. We have but One God Almighty.

Q. What does it mean that the LORD Christ (Glory be to His Name) will judge people? Who are those people that the Lord Christ (Glory be to His Name) will judge?

A. Well, the Lord Jesus Christ (Glory be to His Name) will judge all people: the righteous and the wicked. He will judge Adam and eve, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, Elijah, Zechariah and the entire human race. He will judge prophets, messengers of God and all those who pretended to have had prophetic calls in all ages and all times. All Mankind will stand before Him on the Day of Judgment, holding every person accountable for having accepted Him as a personal savior, and forgiver of sins and trespasses, or rejecting Him. On that day all those who took refuge in Him, and His shed blood on their behalf; His irreplaceable atonement will find a safe haven to shelter them. In those will be fulfilled the words, 'There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ (Glory be to His Name) Jesus', Romans 8:1, for those are the ones who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ (Glory be to His Name). As for those who do not believe, they will suffer great torture from the Almighty for all their (unforgiving sins - translator) The Lord Jesus Christ (Glory be to His Name) is the only Person whose intercession will be accepted on the great Day of Judgment. Those who denied His wonders, not believing that He is God Almighty revealed in human flesh, and that He died on behalf of Mankind, will come to realize on that day that they lived in utter deception; but then regret is of no use.

Q. There is no doubt that the Day of Judgment is a horrible day. Even though this is not our main topic, yet thinking of this day gives me the creeps.

A. In fact, there is so little that we know about that day in comparison to the horrors and tribulation that non-believers in the Lord Christ (Glory be to His Name) will fact - those who hadn't received Him to be their savior and redeemer of their lives. Had people known that the Great Day of Judgment is undoubtedly coming and that on that day no person can help another, and where no money or child is of worth. Had they believed in what God Almighty had revealed in His Holy Scripture, as is stated in Revelation 6:12, inscribed by St. John the Evangelist, 'behold there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became like blood. And the stars of heaven fell to the earth, as a fig tree drops its late figs when it is shaken by a mighty wind. Then the sky receded as a scroll when it is rolled up, and every mountain and island was moved out of its place. And the kings of the earth, the great men, the rich men, the commanders, the mighty men, every slave and every free man, hid themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains, and said to the mountains and rocks, "fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb!", they wouldn't have had to face such a tribulation. The lamb here is the person of the Lord Jesus Christ (Glory be to His Name) , being compared to the Passover lamb in being a sacrifice offered on behalf of the entire human race, dying to atone for each and every one of them - for the wickedness of Mankind.

Q. Dr. Nagi, at the end of this episode, I would like to ask you if there is a way to escape the horror of the great Day of Judgment. Is there a way to escape this intolerable torture?

A. The only hope to escape all this is believe all that the Holy Scripture has recorded, that the Lord Jesus Christ (Glory be to His Name) is the only way, only savior, and the only redeemer. He is also the one intercessor, and One Judge before whom the entire human race should stand. Accepting Him therefore has to be in heart, and not only by words. Man needs to call upon Him in prayer saying, 'Lord Christ, I believe in you, and in all that you have recorded in your Holy Scripture, the Torah and the Bible. I ask you to rescue me on the great Day of Judgment, and to allow me into your eternal life. I believe that you died on behalf of all my sins - those committed early in my life and later on. I take refuge in you, and in your intercession. You are the Most Merciful ever. Come into my heart and change it. Reveal to me the ultimate truth that I may live and die for you, and from hence to eternity. Should Man believe those facts, and pray as such genuinely, God Almighty will forgive all His sins and transgressions - those committed early in life and later on. Else he will discover himself to be one of the losers.