Nuggets from “Judgment Day: Islam, Israel, and the Nations” by Dave Hunt
In contrast to Muhammad’s alleged but unwitnessed ascension to heaven, the eleven apostles (Judas, the twelfth and false disciple, had “hanged himself”- (Matthew:27:5And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself.
See All...) all witnessed Christ’s ascension from Mount Olivet to heaven after His resurrection (Acts:1:9-13 [9] And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.
[10] And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel;
[11] Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.
[12] Then returned they unto Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is from Jerusalem a sabbath day's journey.
[13] And when they were come in, they went up into an upper room, where abode both Peter, and James, and John, and Andrew, Philip, and Thomas, Bartholomew, and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon Zelotes, and Judas the brother of James.
See All...). As for His resurrection, this foundational belief of all true Christians (for which there were more than five hundred witnesses other than the apostles -1 Corinthians:15:6After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep.
See All...) is vehemently denied by Islam (see Surah 4:157-58). Paul logically argues, “If Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain. Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ….And if Christ be not raised…ye are yet in your sins [and those who died trusting] in Christ are perished. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable – 1 Corinthians:15:14-19 [14] And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain.
[15] Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not.
[16] For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised:
[17] And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.
[18] Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished.
[19] If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.
See All...).
In further contrast, Muhammad’s successors fought among themselves, killed one another, and spread Islam by the sword. But Christ’s disciples all died at the hands of others as true martyrs, who did not take the life of a single person with them. And they died not only as martyrs, out of devotion to Christ, but as witnesses to the life, miracles, sinless character, death, and resurrection of Christ. No one is fool enough to die for what he knows is a lie. The fact that none of the disciples saved his own life by promising his would-be executioners that he would expose the miracles and resurrection as lies is proof of the validity of their testimony – testimony that stands as irrefutable proof today.
Neither Islam nor any other religion has even one such witness to its validity. Christianity is opposed not only by Islam but by all of the world’s religions. There is a choice that every person must make. We pray that Muslims will have the courage to face the truth and make this choice on the basis of the evidence, not of emotion nor of human persuasion. In the case of Muslims, the choice is between a cult of death and despair, and the gospel of life and joy eternal.