Islamic eschatology

There are some similarities between Islamic eschatology and Christian eschatology. They believe in: 1. Christ’s Coming Jesus (Isa) will return to over-throw al-Dajjal in the battle of ‘Aqabat Afiq’ in Syria, or at the Lud gate in Jerusalem according to another account. Jesus will ” kill all pigs and break all crosses”, confirming Islam as the only true religion. After 40 years Jesus will die and be buried next to Muhammad in Medina (Islam teaches that Jesus didn’t die in A. D. 33 but has been in a state of ” suspended animation” since) 2. Resurrection of the Body All will assemble at the Mount of Olives to receive judgment. 3. Destruction of the present world Allah will destroy all the nations except Islamic ones. At the end of Jesus’ and the messianic Imam’s rule, the angels will be destroyed and the earth will ” spill out its contents”. 4. Signs preceding judgment day The Jews will be gathered together. There will be a Final battle between Muslims and Jews. The Qu’ran also contains a version of the ” Gog & Magog” war from the Bible with several differences. 5. Judgment will be announced with the trumpet of an archangel In Sura 36: 51 of the Qu’ran ” And the trumpet shall be blown, and, lo! They shall speed out of their sepulchres to their Lord:” 6. All people will experience physical death. 7. Works will be judged on the scales of justice which will be hung on a pillared structure on the eastern side of the Temple Mount platform. If the scales show more good works than bad, the Muslim believer receives eternal life. Some Muslims though of the Kharijite sect believe faith has to accompanied by works. A true Muslim is one who is rigorously observant of the Islamic teachings. (Esposito, p. 69) 8. They believe in Hell as an eternal punishment. Hell is a lake of fire where non-Muslims/infidels live in torment. Sura 4: 56 ” Some of them believe on the prophet [Mohammad] and some turn aside from him: – the flame of hell is their sufficing punishment” 9. Islam teaches that there are 8 levels of torment. Sura 14: 50 ” And thou shalt see the wicked on that day linked together in chains – their garments of pitch, and fire shall enwrap their faces – that God may reward every soul as it deserveth;” 10. Hell is eternal. (Sura 74: 21)