Muhammad in the Bible — Page 49
49 And then they said: Why baptizest thou then, if thou be not that Christ, nor Elias, neither that prophet? (1:25). It is evident from this that three prophecies were current in the time of Jesus: ( i ) the second coming of Elias; (ii) the birth of Christ; (iii) the coming of that Prophet, that is, the Promised One of the prophecy in Deuteronomy. The three were believed to be separate persons. Now Jesus has declared that John himself is Elias. Thus in Matthew (11:14) we have: And if ye will receive it, this is Elias, which was for to come. From Luke (1:17) it also appears that before the birth of John, his father Zacharias had the revelation: And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias. Then in Mark (9:13) we have Jesus declaring: That Elias is indeed come. And again in Matthew (17:12): That Elias is come already, and they knew him not, but have done unto him whatsoever they listed. From all these passages, it is clear that according to the Gospels, the second coming of Elias had taken place in John. As for Christ, it is agreed that he is no other than Jesus of the New Testament. Only “that Prophet” remains. He is neither John, nor Jesus, because he is different from both, a third. It is also known that “that Prophet” had not appeared until the time of Jesus. So it is clear that “that Prophet” of the Bible had to appear, according to the testimony of the Gospels, some time after Jesus. After Jesus, no one has claimed to be “that Prophet” and indeed no one seems to fulfil the signs attributed to “that Prophet” except the Holy Prophet of Islam. (d) In Luke (24:49) we have: And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you; but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.