|
|
Published in the Egyptian Gazette on 9/3/2007
The coming of the Prophet
One of the major differences between the Gospel of Barnabas and the four Gospels is that Barnabas spoke a lot about the coming Prophet, foretold by previous prophets of Israel. There is much evidences that Moslems had nothing to do with the Gospel of Barnabas, Which contradicts many of the Moslems' beliefs.
Barnabas 19: 26- 34 reads “Whereupon one of them, seeing that he was healed, returned to find Jesus, and he was an Ishmaelite. And having found Jesus he bowed himself, doing reverence unto him, and saying: verily thou art an holy One of God, and with thanks he prayed him that he would receive him for servant. Jesus answered: ‘Ten have been cleansed; where are the nine? And he said to him that was cleansed: ‘I am not come to be served, but to serve’; wherefore go to thine home, and recount how much God hath done in thee, in order that they may know that the promises made to Abraham and his son, with the kingdom of God are drawing nigh.”. The healing of the Ishmaelite, and his coming back are evidence that the arrival of the promised Prophet from the descendants of Ishmael, firstborn of Abraham, is about to come true. The same story is found in the New Testament Luke 17: 12-19 “… And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God… There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger. And he said unto him, Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole.”
Barnabas 72: 10-24 reads “As for me, I am now come to the world to prepare the way for the messenger of God, who shall bring salvation to the world. But beware that ye be not deceived, for many false prophets shall come, who shall take my words and contaminate my gospel.” Then said Andrew “Master tell us some sign that we may know him.”
Jesus answered: “He will not come in your time, but will come some years after you, when my gospel shall be annulled, insomuch that there shall be scarcely thirty faithful. At that time God will have mercy on the world, and so He will send His messenger, over whose head will rest a white cloud, whereby he shall be known of one elect of God, and shall be by him manifested to the world. He shall come with great power against the ungodly, and shall destroy idolatry upon the earth. And it rejoiceth me because that through him our God shall be known and glorified, and I shall be known to be true; and he will execute vengeance against those who shall say that I am more than man. Verily I say to you that the moon shall minister sleep to him in his boyhood, and when he shall be grown up he shall take her in his hands. Let the world beware of casting him out because he shall slay the idolaters, for many more were slain by Moses, the servant of God, and Joshua, who spared not the cities which they burnt, and slew the children; for to an old wound one applieth fire. He shall come with truth more clear than that of all the prophets, and shall reprove him who useth the world amiss. The towers of the city of our father shall greet one another for joy; and so when idolatry shall be seen to fall to the ground and confess me a man like other men, verily I say unto you the messenger of God shall be come.”
The words “he will not come in your time, but will come some years after you” shows that the Gospel of Barnabas, even the copy which was found, was not written after Mohammad's advent, Never the less what Jesus said is right. The prophets regard time very differently from ordinary people, seeing that they all look to the eternity. Some of what this prophecy said has not been completely fulfilled. For example there are still idols today. As for the prophecy about the moon; “he shall take her in his hands”; may be what the Holy Quran says in Surat Al- Qamar (the chaoter of the moon): “The Hour (of Judgment) is nigh, and the moon is cleft asunder.” In his trip to the Levant a white cloud over shadowed Mohamed (PBUH) and it was noticed by a monk named Baheera who said that he would be a prophet.
The prophecy which says: “The towers of the city of our father shall greet one another for joy” is unclear, although it refers to “Adhan” (the way Muslims call for prayers).