Islam - The Summit of Religious Evolution — Page 123
123 time the nominal title of Caesar continued. The last rulers of Constantinople called themselves Caesar. On the fall of Constantinople this nominal title also disappeared. Islam displaced Christianity in all parts of the then known world. From the tenth century of the Hijra began to decline of Islam. Christianity began to re-assert itself in countries in which it was completely unknown at the time of the Holy Prophet's prophecy. Now for the last hundred years or so Christian nations have become so dominant in the world that the Holy Prophet's prophecy "the earth will be under the Romans" can be said to have been fulfilled to its very letter. Another sign foretold by the Holy Prophet was: 37 "Iraq will refuse to share her produce and her prosperity. So will Syria, so will Egypt. And you [meaning the Arab peoples] will become as divided and disunited as you once were". This prophecy has also been fulfilled. Iraq, Syria and Egypt are independent countries, no longer owing allegiance to Turkey and refusing to share their produce and wealth with the leading Muslim power. Arabs have become divided again. The recent Gulf War and the current state of the Muslim countries is an excellent example of Arab disunity and absolute dependence on non-Arab powers. Numerous important signs have also been foretold about the second coming of Jesus in the Christian and Muslim scriptures and the traditions of the Holy Prophet. Interestingly, the most visible and important sign foretold in both the New Testament and the traditions of the Holy Prophet is the same i. e. darkening of the moon and the sun. The manifestation of this sign is absolutely by Divine Design and beyond human control whatsoever. In the New Testament (New International Version), Jesus, narrating the signs of his second coming, said: 38 For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west, so will be the coming of the son of man. Wherever there is a carcass, there the vultures will gather. Immediately after the distress of those days "the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; The stars will fall from the sky, and the heavenly bodies will be shaken. " At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and all the nations of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky, with power and great glory. And he will send his angles with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other. This Biblical prophecy by Jesus himself unequivocally describes the conditions of his second coming. It compares his second coming to a flash of lightening in which the entire area is lit up and everything becomes visible. Likewise, at the time of his second coming, the falsehood will be exposed. Moreover, the prophecy unequivocally states that the lightening will initiate in the east and spread to the west. It describes the condition prior to Jesus’ second advent as distressed and