Islam - The Summit of Religious Evolution — Page 65
65 for behold I create a Jerusalem a rejoicing, and her people a joy. I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and be glad in my people; The same promise is repeated later 84 (emphasis added): For as the new heavens and the new earth which I will make shall remain before me, says the Lord; so shall your descendants and your name remain. From new moon to new moon, and from Sabbath to Sabbath, all flesh shall come to worship before me, says the Lord. In the above verses, God promises the creation of new heavens (plural) and a new earth (singular). A little consideration of the words indicate that God’s promise is not for the creation of additional physical or material heavens but for new spiritual heavens or world order (or law) for the earth. Reading the above in conjunction with prophecies about a new law in Deuteronomy, Habakkuk and Isaiah, one can see the same promise being repeated. Interestingly, Jesus also used the same description during his famous Sermon On the Mount. Thus Jesus is quoted as saying 85 (emphasis added): "Think not that I have come to abolish the law and the prophets; I have come not to abolish them but to fulfil them. For truly, I say to you till heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot will pass from the law until all is accomplished. Whoever then relaxes one of the least of the commandments and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but he who does them and teaches them shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Thus Jesus described his mission at the Sermon on the Mount and stated that his goal is to fulfill and not abrogate the Law of Moses. He further said that till this heaven (singular) and earth (meaning the current world order or God’s law) does not pass away, not a tittle or iota of the law (of Moses) will be changed. Jesus in fact accomplished his mission for he revived the Law of Moses and preached to the tribes of Israel. Later, in accordance with Biblical prophecies, the advent of Islam superseded the Law of Moses and thus, in Biblical terms, a new heaven was created. Consequently, according to Biblical teaching, the old law should not be remembered and/or practiced. God affirms in the Quran that Islam is the final law and is applicable to all mankind. 86 VIII. Isaiah describes the new law as: 87* For it is precept upon precept, precept upon precept, line upon line, line upon line, here a little, there a little. Nay, but by men of strange lips * This verse has since been altered in newer editions of the Bible. It now reads: For it is: Do and do, do and do; rule and rule, rule and rule; a little here, a little there; Very well then, with foreign lips and strange tongues, God will speak to his people. (The verse has been drastically modified in the NIV; its original meaning has been totally obliterated. )