Faith Matters

Someone asked a question, “How do we know that Jesus was a fake prophet and is now burning in hell for eternity?”

On a glance, this is already a sticky subject that most theologians would rather not confront. Undoubtedly, there is a lot of cynicism and contempt behind the question. There are plenty of people out there that will believe whatever it takes not to believe. However, there are enough clues in Jesus’ own words too. It’s only when we put Jesus in the middle that it makes sense.

Steering clear of religiosity is our strategy. That means rising above socio-political and cultural confines. It also means sitting on the fence and stay right there until we find a soft landing.

First, we begin by quoiting some of the most striking statements Jesus made about Himself as recorded in the Gospels.

• Before Abraham was born, I am! (John 8:57)
• I am the Door (John 10:9)
• I am the Vine (John 15:1,5)
• I am the Bread of Life (John 6:35)
• I am the Light of the World (John 8:12)
• I am the Good Shepherd (John 10:11,14)
• I am the Resurrection and the Life (John 11:25)
• I am the Way and the Truth and the Life (John 14:6)

Before we try to understand what Jesus meant by those ‘I am’ statements, let us take a peek at the following terminology.

• The word “Gospel” explains the ministry of Jesus in the Christian New Testament (NT) part of the Bible. It is synonymous of “Injil” mentioned in Quran mentioned as (Arabic الإنجيل) 12 times in 12 verses.
• The Quran recognizes Injil as one of the four Islamic holy books, along with the Zabur (the Psalms) and the Tawrat (the Torah).
• The Torah is Hebrew rendition of the five Books (by Moses) to the Christian Bible part of the Old Testament (OT).

We have just arrived at that intersection of what many refer to as the three “Abrahamic” faiths (Judaism, Christianity, Islam). Now we can try to answer that question:

“How do we know that Jesus was a fake prophet and is now burning in hell for eternity?”

Jesus identified Himself several times in a personal pronoun ‘I am’, coupled with the present first-person singular.

Elsewhere in scripture, we get to understand that with Jesus the ‘I am’ context is not restricted to “titles”, “roles” or “time”.

For example. One moment the Quran (sacred scripture of Islam) refers to Jesus as “messenger” (Prophet), the next, as “Messiah” (a saviour or liberator).

The Messiah, son of Mary, was no more than a messenger – (Al-Ma’idah 5:75) . . . and for boasting, “We killed the Messiah, Jesus, son of Mary, the messenger of Allah.”

Surah An-Nisa 4:157 – Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

Now then, let us return to what Jesus said in John 8:57, “Before Abraham was born, I am!”

According to the Bible, God’s prophetic ministry to the Abrahamic family of peoples began with Moses.

So, the LORD said to Moses: “See, I have made you as God to Pharaoh, and Aaron your brother shall be your prophet.”

Exodus 7:1 – New King James Version (NKJV)

“The LORD your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from your midst, from your brethren.”

Deuteronomy 18:15-18 (NKJV)

And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, He (Jesus) explained to them (disciples) what was written in all the Scriptures about Himself.

Luke 24:27 (NKJV)

Just before His ascendence to Heaven, Jesus prayed for His disciples. During this prayer He (Jesus) went a bit further by giving us a clue placing His origins outside of the natural time-zone limitations.

“And now, Father, glorify Me in Your presence with the glory I had with You before the world existed.”

John 17:5 (NKJV)

“Father, I want those You have given Me to be with Me where I am, that they may see the glory You gave Me because You loved Me before the foundation of the world.”

John 17:24 (NKJV)

Apparently, this invalidates the Quranic placement of Jesus as some “messenger” (prophet) of Allah. Why? Because Jesus predates Abraham, the spiritual father of the mainstream faiths. Not only that, but Abraham also predates all the other protagonists in scripture including Moses. The Abrahamic religious flavours often overlap doctrinally right there, one way or the other.

It is also comforting to note that the Quran itself grants the faithful thereof explicit freedom to consult the original scriptural content (Torah) for clarity amid confusion.

If you ˹O Prophet˺ are in doubt about ˹these stories˺ that We have revealed to you, then ask those who read the Scripture before you. The truth has certainly come to you from your Lord, so do not be one of those who doubt.

Surah Yunus 10:94 – Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

If you have been tracking with us so far, great. We can now confidently claim some answer to the first part of the question; “How do we know that Jesus was a fake prophet. . .?” He wasn’t. Especially if we put into consideration that scholars typically date the roots of Islam to the 7th century (610 – 622 A.D), making it the latest of the three Abrahamic religions. That moment when the Muslim calendar was constituted versus Jesus’ statement in (John 8:57) retrospectively speaks volumes . . . Before Abraham was born, I am! Now this brings us to the second and last part of the question;

“. . . and is (Jesus) now burning in hell for eternity?”

According to the Quran, No. And here is why.

Indeed, the wicked will be in the torment of Hell forever.

Surah Az-Zukhruf 43:74 – Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

There is no record of wickedness attributed to any Quranic “prophet” on record. This means there is no place for them in hell either, is there?

Moreover, Islam teaches about the end-time return of Jesus from Heaven to earth upon the reappearance of Imam Mahdi (messianic figure).

So, if hell is about eternal damnation, how else could there be hope for Jesus’ return to earth via Heaven?

Biblical Eschatology is the theological lens that examines end-time prophetic aspects. In the NT book of Revelation, Jesus drives the point home.

“Behold, I am coming soon, and My reward is with Me, to give to each one according to what he has done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.”

Revelation 22:13 (NKJV)

That final ‘I Am’ right there represents the first person singular imperfective facet of the Hebrew word אֶהְיֶה‎ (Ehyeh).

It signifies; ‘to be’ and owing to the peculiarities of Hebrew grammar means ‘I am’, ‘I was’, and ‘I will be’.

Many times I have heard a lot of seasoned preachers out there claiming that “I AM” (Hebrew אֶהְיֶה‎) is the “name” of God. They defend their conclusions by quoting Moses’ epiphany with God at the burning bush.

And God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.” And He said, “Thus you shall say to the children of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you.’ ”

Exodus 3:14 (NKJV)

Ehyeh asher Ehyeh is the Hebraic translation of (I am who I am) or (I am that I am). Clearly, God felt the phrase got Moses quite perplexed and simplified it for him in the next verse.

“Thus, you shall say to the children of Israel: ‘The Lord God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you. This is My name forever, and this is My memorial to all generations.’

Exodus 3:15 (NKJV)

Finally, God crowned it all as follows:

“I am the Lord. I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, as God Almighty, but by My name Lord I was not known to them.”

Exodus 6:2-3 (NKJV)

The “Lord”, in both cases is the Hebrew word יהוה (YHWH), spelt Yud-Hey-Vav-Hey.

Notice the curious change here from the Hebrew אֶהְיֶה‎ (Ehyeh) to יהוה (YHWH), with the Aleph (אֶ) replaced by the Yud (י). What does that mean exactly?

Remember what I mentioned earlier . . .? It’s only going to make sense when we put Jesus in the middle of the picture.

Towards the conclusion of His ministry in the earth (physical realm), the gospels widely quote Jesus’ final statements. Here is one of the most important ones in the form of prayer for His disciples:

“Father, . . . I have revealed Your name to those You have given Me out of the world.”

John 17:5-6 (NKJV)

Other Bible versions phrase it slightly like this; “I have manifested your name.”

Flipping back to (John 8:57), “Before Abraham was born, I am”, we recognize Jesus combined the “past” and “present” tense coupling in the same statement. Remember, ‘I am’ – Hebrew אֶהְיֶה‎ (Ehyeh)?

In the Hebrew alphabet (Alef bet), the letter (אֶ) comes first, numerical value of one (1). The beginning. Pictographic meaning, ‘leader’.

The letter (י) Yud, Yod (Yohd) is the tenth in the alef bet, numerical value of ten (10). Pictographic meaning ‘hand’ (among others).

The Letter Vav (ו) is the sixth letter in the Hebrew alef bet, numerical value of six (6). Pictographic meaning of ‘hook’, ‘nail’, to ‘connect’.

The overall picture here is of Jesus. He was subjected to an ancient Roman form of execution called Crucifixion. By His hands nailed on the cross, Jesus connected the past (before time began) with the present (physical realm).

Speaking of Jesus’ capital punishment at the Roman cross, there is a lot of folks out there that maintain a mythical contention to it. In the Quran for example it says,

. . . and for boasting, “We killed the Messiah, Jesus, son of Mary, the messenger of Allah.” But they neither killed nor crucified him—it was only made to appear so. Even those who argue for this ˹crucifixion˺ are in doubt. They have no knowledge whatsoever—only making assumptions. They certainly did not kill him.

Surah An-Nisa 4:157 – Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

Well, I give you that. But here is the thing; Those who are telling you that it is too narrow, Jesus wouldn’t possibly have done all this for you . . ., they know something you don’t. They capitalize on scripture illiteracy. Why not for one day, try to step out and see, then go and tell. Don’t judge the words of Jesus. Judge the fruit of it for yourself?

For conciseness’ sake, let us try to reconnect with what Jesus said in John 17:5-6. “I have manifested your name . . .”

In the eleventh book of the New Testament (NT) Bible, the Apostle Paul revealed something of colossal prophetic implications about Jesus.

“Therefore, God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name, which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

Philippians 2:9-11 (NKJV)

Rabbis in their teachings usually explain the “Lord”, Hebrew יהוה (Yud-Hey-Vav-Hey) as follows:

• היה meaning “He was.”
• הוה meaning “He is.”
• יהיה meaning “He will be.”

The twenty-seventh (last) book of the New Testament (NT) Bible proclaims that Jesus will return to earth from Heaven as Messiah, King of Kings, and Lord of Lords (Zechariah 14:9 | Revelation 19:11-16).

As you can see that packs into the “past”, “present” and “future” tense manifestation.

I can almost hear you say, ‘how come I didn’t see that before!’ Well, that is exactly where I was until I began to study scripture independent of religious interpretations. Ironically, many are conditioned to believe that scripture is the preserve of highly decorated class or individuals of a religious order to explain. That is far from the truth and closer to a dense fog of confusion.

God wants to equip you, so you know how to decode His Word and get the answers yourself independent of the religious influence.

Just before we close, here are some more points I would like to highlight.

• Contrary to what certain religious factions teach, the verb “I Am” (Ehyeh) is not God’s name.
• God used the term “I Am” (Ehyeh) to imply the infinite nature of all creation where He is sovereign (Exodus 3:14).
• Jesus echoed the term “I Am” (Ehyeh) throughout his ministry to make manifest God’s complete plan (John 5:19 | 14:9).
• When people use phrases such as “I am tired”, I am (x) years old”, “I am single / married”, “I am happy”, “I am so grateful”, etc., they are practically in alignment with God’s original intent when He said, “Let Us make mankind in Our image, according to Our likeness; . . .” (Genesis 1:26). The Bible describes God as “Spirit” (John 4:24). He created man as a spirit embodied in flesh. Jesus came from eternity as God manifest in the earth to help man comprehend the wider picture.
• God adopted the “I Am” (Ehyeh) concept and shared it between Himself, Jesus, and man. This by no means equates man with God. It is simply the Creator’s idea of keeping those He made in His own Image connected with Him. To those who believe Jesus becomes the mediator of this relationship (1 Timothy 2:5).
• The great mystery of the ‘I Am (Ehyeh) of Jesus simply means, “I came to you so you can go to Him” (John 14:9). The moment Jesus goes out of the picture, scripture ceases to make sense thus, giving rise to a multitude of toxic theories.
• Usage of the “I Am” (Ehyeh) terminology by God, Jesus, and man shouldn’t lend traction to lame doctrines such as ‘little gods’, or ‘polytheism’. The Bible is clear, “God is one”, there is no other (Deuteronomy 6:4).

• The “Lord”, Hebrew יהוה (YHWH), is not an evolution of the term “I Am” אֶהְיֶה‎ (Ehyeh). God said, “I am the LORD; that is My name!” (Isaiah 42:8). You cannot put it any clearer than that. While as YHWH represents God’s awesome divine credentials, Ehyeh is all about the infinite nature thereof . . . “So that all the peoples of the earth may know that the LORD is God. There is no other! (1 Kings 8:60).
• Jesus’ great commission recorded in Matthew 28:19 unveils something quite interesting about God.

“Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit,”

Matthew 28:19 (NKJV)

In this context, the “Lord”, Hebrew יהוה (YHWH), is that “name” Jesus is referring to. Notice the singular, “the name” . . . It debunks the theory of the ‘trinity’ and ‘polytheism’ (Deuteronomy 6:4 | 1 Kings 8:60).

In summary, Jesus is divine and pre-existent. It is easier to understand who God is from studying the Torah and the life of Jesus (Isaiah 53 | John 10: 30 | 14:9-11 | 20:28). Religious titles such as ‘prophet’, ‘bishop’, ‘imam’, etc do not apply. Wild imaginations of heaven or hell don’t apply. Time-zone limits do not apply either. Just like Jesus, man can trace roots back to eternity though exist in spiritual embodiment (Genesis 1:26 | Ephesians 1:4 | 2 Timothy 1:9 | John 14:3). Scripture interprets itself and not out of reach (Deuteronomy 30:14 | John 8:32).

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