Geshtinnanna,
You say: “Can you answer the questions with YOUR own opinion.”
I say: Why, yes I can. But in a discussion of religion based on holy writings that claim to be from God, why would I? As for the personal opinions of humans, they are like noses—everybody has at least one and some are more prodigious than others. My “opinion” is nothing more than that, “my opinion,” and carries no more weight than your personal opinion which might be wrong and may get us both, if I were influenced to believe it also, into hot water with God. Rather than run that risk, would not it be better to always seek and then rely on God’s already stated “opinion?” I believe so and I try very hard to practice my beliefs.
The recorded history I find in my holy book tells me about a man named Adam and a woman named Eve and how they were persuaded to rely on their personal opinions rather than on God’s; I do not wish to repeat their mistakes. Jesus sets the pattern for Christians to follow and what he did when someone was trying to get him to lean on his own understanding was he refused; each time he rejected the wrong ideas by quoting God’s word (Matthew 4: 1-11; Luke 4: 1-13). Please excuse me for thinking, excuse me again, for knowing that is the best way for me to do things.
If your complaint is that I am using the Bible then I submit that you are unaware of what the Quran teaches:
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YUSUFALI: Then if they reject thee, so were rejected messengers before thee, who came with Clear Signs, Books of dark prophecies, and the Book of Enlightenment.
PICKTHAL: And if they deny thee, even so did they deny messengers who were before thee, who came with miracles and with the Psalms and with the Scripture giving light.
SHAKIR: But if they reject you, so indeed were rejected before you messengers who came with clear arguments and scriptures and the illuminating book.
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YUSUFALI: And if they reject thee, so did their predecessors, to whom came their messengers with Clear Signs, Books of dark prophecies, and the Book of Enlightenment.
PICKTHAL: And if they deny thee, those before them also denied. Their messengers came unto them with clear proofs (of Allah's Sovereignty), and with the Psalms and the Scripture giving light.
SHAKIR: And if they call you a liar, so did those before them indeed call (their messengers) liars; their messengers had come to them with clear arguments, and with scriptures, and with the illuminating book.
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YUSUFALI: It was We who revealed the law (to Moses): therein was guidance and light. By its standard have been judged the Jews, by the prophets who bowed (as in Islam) to Allah's will, by the rabbis and the doctors of law: for to them was entrusted the protection of Allah's book, and they were witnesses thereto: therefore fear not men, but fear me, and sell not my signs for a miserable price. If any do fail to judge by (the light of) what Allah hath revealed, they are (no better than) Unbelievers.
PICKTHAL: Lo! We did reveal the Torah, wherein is guidance and a light, by which the prophets who surrendered (unto Allah) judged the Jews, and the rabbis and the priests (judged) by such of Allah's Scripture as they were bidden to observe, and thereunto were they witnesses. So fear not mankind, but fear Me. And My revelations for a little gain. Whoso judgeth not by that which Allah hath revealed: such are disbelievers.
SHAKIR: Surely We revealed the Taurat in which was guidance and light; with it the prophets who submitted themselves (to Allah) judged (matters) for those who were Jews, and the masters of Divine knowledge and the doctors, because they were required to guard (part) of the Book of Allah, and they were witnesses thereof; therefore fear not the people and fear Me, and do not take a small price for My communications; and whoever did not judge by what Allah revealed, those are they that are the unbelievers.
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YUSUFALI: And in their footsteps We sent Jesus the son of Mary, confirming the Law that had come before him: We sent him the Gospel: therein was guidance and light, and confirmation of the Law that had come before him: a guidance and an admonition to those who fear Allah.
PICKTHAL: And We caused Jesus, son of Mary, to follow in their footsteps, confirming that which was (revealed) before him in the Torah, and We bestowed on him the Gospel wherein is guidance and a light, confirming that which was (revealed) before it in the Torah - a guidance and an admonition unto those who ward off (evil).
SHAKIR: And We sent after them in their footsteps Isa, son of Marium, verifying what was before him of the Taurat and We gave him the Injeel in which was guidance and light, and verifying what was before it of Taurat and a guidance and an admonition for those who guard (against evil).
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YUSUFALI: Let the people of the Gospel judge by what Allah hath revealed therein. If any do fail to judge by (the light of) what Allah hath revealed, they are (no better than) those who rebel.
PICKTHAL: Let the People of the Gospel judge by that which Allah hath revealed therein. Whoso judgeth not by that which Allah hath revealed: such are evil-livers.
SHAKIR: And the followers of the Injeel should have judged by what Allah revealed in it; and whoever did not judge by what Allah revealed, those are they that are the transgressors.
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YUSUFALI: Rejected were the messengers before thee: with patience and constancy they bore their rejection and their wrongs, until Our aid did reach them: there is none that can alter the words (and decrees) of Allah. Already hast thou received some account of those messengers.
PICKTHAL: Messengers indeed have been denied before thee, and they were patient under the denial and the persecution till Our succour reached them. There is none to alter the decisions of Allah. Already there hath reached thee (somewhat) of the tidings of the messengers (We sent before).
SHAKIR: And certainly messengers before you were rejected, but they were patient on being rejected and persecuted until Our help came to them; and there is none to change the words of Allah, and certainly there has come to you some information about the messengers.
It is the Devil that does not want God’s guidance to reach man. According to the Quran the earlier holy writings, including the Bible, are part of the “unchangeable” or “unalterable” guidance that God has provided. So let me ask you, “Why would you object to my use of the Bible?”
You say: “I am curious to see what other [people] within the same religion actually believe within themselves.”
Please consider this: I am not being flip or disrespectful toward you and your request but is not the situation that all false religion is based on an opinion other than the true God’s? I am certain that within Islam and Christendom one can find many people willing to express their personal opinions and even some willing to do so as if they were speaking from God but why listen to them when God is fully capable of and already has spoken for himself?
Second, experience has thought me that words are cheap and that it is very easy to talk a good fight but something else to actually live it. For example a young man, a former workmate that I like a lot because he is so personable, and I had a very short conversation about religion in which he stated that he practices his religion by helping care for the needs of the unfortunate and cited some specific examples. However, in other conversations he has mentioned his bedroom conquests, he being a single man, clearly showing his preference for his opinions rather than God’s. True worshippers know God’s words and live by them and also share them with others; doing so is what identifies them, not their opinions but their deeds.
You say: “I would like very specific answers to my very specific questions.”
I say: No problem; but turn about is fair play. Please be so kind as to answer my questions also. OK, here goes:
You say: My questions for you:
What/who is the Anti Christ? “John’s inspired statements show the term to be broad in its application, embracing all those who deny that “Jesus is the Christ,” and who deny that Jesus is the Son of God who came “in the flesh.”” Also, “Thus it applies as much to imitation and errant Christians as it does to non-Christian opposers. Even kingdoms, nations, and organizations are similarly shown to be part of the antichrist in the symbolic description at Revelation 17:8-15; 19:19-21; compare Psalm 2:1, 2.” And finally, “I am unaware of the Bible ever referring to an “ultimate” individual—“The Antichrist.” To me Satan the Devil is the “ultimate” antichrist and any and all that knowingly or unknowingly cooperate with Satan thereby become antichrist.”
When will we see it? “Therefore John did not restrict the appearance, existence, and activity of such antichrist to some future time only but showed that the antichrist was then present and would continue on (see 1 John 4:3).”
Who created the Anti Christ? Since the term “antichrist” is so “broad in its application” there is no one answer to that question. Let me give the closest thing a can think of to a universal answer. I stated, “To me Satan the Devil is the “ultimate” antichrist,” so let me answer your question using him as the example.
Jesus tells us at John 8:44 that “he did not stand fast in the truth” or was “not holding to the truth.” In other words, just as is the case with all apostates, he chose to leave the truth thus creating himself. I will not go into more detail than that as I have previously done so on this site and it is already there for you to read, if you are interested. That is as close to a universal answer as I can give. Obviously, organizations, etc. do not create themselves but they do reflect the “opinions” of the creators of them who do turn themselves into antichrist by their choices, the course of action they follow.
Is it inevitable? “the antichrist was then present and would continue on”—sounds that way to me. There is another way to understand your question. If that is what you are asking then I touch on those implications here: http://www.jesus-christ-forums.com/home/viewtopic.php?t=6242
Finally, let me use your words: “So tell me, with your [own] words, what you specifically believe as to my questions.” Only I do prefer that you use the Quran as much as possible, if you can, as I am just as interested in, perhaps even more so, its teachings than I am in you opinions. Either way I await your replies.