Compare important issues in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam

Religion - Christianity - Judaism - Islam

Islam - Judaism - Christianity
Comparison of End Time Beliefs

*Similarities*	ISLAM	JUDAISM	CHRISTIANITY
The Purpose of 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)	The Messiah will defeat the gentile nations (Zech 14:10) and restore the kingdom of Israel (Zech 14). The Jews in exile will return and rule in an age of spiritual harmony (Zech 14:5). Isaiah 42:6 will be fulfilled and God will be recognized as the universal king (Zech 14:9).	Jesus will return to: Rescue Israel, defeat the Antichrist (Rev. 19:11-21) Judge the nations (Matt.25:31-46) and the wicked in Israel (Ezek. 20:33-38), Rule over the messianic Kingdom for 1000 years. (Matt. 19:28; Rev. 20:1-6)
Resurrection of the Body	Yes - all will assemble at the mount of olives to receive judgment.	Yes	Yes (1 Cor.15:4-7, 12-23)
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".	The Earth will be destroyed (excludes angels)	The Earth will be destroyed (excludes angels) II Peter 3:10
Signs will be seen preceding judgment day	Yes - The Jews will be gathered together. Final battle between Muslims and Jews. Quran also contains a version of the "Gog & Magog" war from the Bible with several differences.	Yes	Yes (Matthew 24:4-28)
*Similarities*	ISLAM	JUDAISM	CHRISTIANITY
Judgment announced with the trumpet of an archangel	Yes - Qu'ran 36:51 "And the trumpet shall be blown, and, lo! they shall speed out of their sepulchers to their Lord:"	Yes - shofar will announce beginning of messianic era, gather the scattered exiles, and serve as a summons to the heavenly court on the Day of Judgment)	Yes - Matthew 24:31 "And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other." (Also 1 Thessalonians 4:16)
Who must experience death?	All people will experience physical death	All people will experience physical death	All people will experience physical death except those living when Christ returns.
Basis for salvation / eternal life	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.	Works - by following the commandments given by God in the Torah.	Salvation is received by grace through faith in Jesus Christ who already paid the penalty for our sins.
Levels of Reward	Seven levels of reward	Three levels of reward	Not levels, but degrees of reward
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" 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;" Hell is eternal: Sura 74:21 "And who shall teach thee what Hell-fire is? It leaveth nought, it spareth nought, blackening the skin.	Bodies are sent to Gehinnon where they burn eternally in a fiery pit.	Those who are not saved will be thrown into the fire of hell for eternity. (Matthew 5:29) The lake of fire is the second death of the soul. (Rev. 20:14)

Differences

Differences	ISLAM	JUDAISM	CHRISTIANITY
The Nature of Man	Men are basically good. (Sura 7:23-29) Some have been guided toward right and some are left in error. We are inherently good, but Satan brings some into trouble as Allah wills.	There are two inclinations within man - Good and bad	Men have a sinful nature and are inherently wicked. We are made alive/changed through Jesus Christ unto good works. (Romans 9:20) Ephesians 2:1-5 "But, because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions - it is by grace you have been saved. Ephesians 2:10 "For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."
Belief in Purgatory (A non-scriptural based belief in a temporary hell where one can be purified or gain entry into heaven, particularly through prayers made on behalf of the dead by the living. Used as a means to monetary gain in the Roman Catholic church wherein prayers by the clergy are paid for by the layman)	Yes - called Barzakh	No	Evangelicals - No Catholics - Yes
Assurance of Salvation	It is impossible in this life to have any assurance of salvation. Good works will be measured against bad on the scales of justice on judgment day.	Yes, but only for observant Jews	Those who have accepted Jesus Christ as their savior have eternal life. (I John 1:12-13) Salvation is a free gift available to all willing to receive it. Colossians 1:22-23 "But now he has reconciled you by Christ's physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation if you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard..."
Nature of God as judge	Allah is arbitrary. Some are born to knowledge while others are not. Sura 35:8 "Verily God misleadeth whom He will, and guideth whom he will."	YHWH is a just God Genesis 18:25 - 26 "Far be it from you to do such a thing - to kill the righteous with the wicked, treating the righteous and the wicked alike. Far be it from you! Will not the Judge of all the earth do right? The Lord said, If I find fifty righteous people in the city of Sodom, I will spare the whole place for their sake."	God is a just God (Romans 3:26) II Peter 3:9 "The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance."
Beliefs on those who will experience the tribulation	Believers of Allah will be hidden with the prophet Mohammad, followed by a "wind of destruction" which will kill all the remaining people.	The whole world is to be destroyed, but Israel will be delivered out of it. Daniel 12:1 "At that time Michael, the great prince who protects your people, will arise. There will be a time of distress such as has not happened from the beginning of nations until then. But at that time your people - everyone whose name is found written in the book will be delivered." Jeremiah 30:7 "How awful that day will be! None will be like it. It will be a time of trouble for Jacob, but he will be saved out of it."	The church will be raptured (snatched away) and taken to be with the Lord. God's judgment will be poured out on the wicked of the earth. 3 Views: Pre-Tribulation rapture Mid-Tribulation rapture Post-Tribulation rapture
Christ will come again	Yes - "To break the cross and kill the swine" followed by an "eruption of fire in Eden".	No - The Messiah's coming has not yet happened, and will happen in the future at the end of the tribulation.	Yes - Jesus will return. John 14:3 "And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am." Titus 2:13 "While we wait for the blessed hope, the glorious appearing of our great God and savior Jesus Christ." See Also Rev. 22:20
Signs of the End Times	Major and minor signs will reveal that the end times have arrived (Sura 21:96, 27:82, 43:61) Major Signs: 1. Gross materialism 2. Women outnumber men 3. Muslims defeat Jews in battle; Muslims and Christians battle unbelievers together, then Muslims defeat Christians in battle. Minor Signs: 1. Increase in bloodshed and war 2. Contraction of time 3. Religious knowledge decreases 4. Prevalence of the ungodly	Ten signs will accompany the Messianic "birth pangs" of the end times (Sanhedrin 97b). 1. The world is either all righteous or guilty 2. Truth is in short supply 3. Inflation will soar 4. Israel begins to be repopulated 5. Wise people will be scarce 6. Jews will despair of redemption 7. The young will despise the old 8. Scholarship will be rejected 9. Piety will be held in disgust 10. Jews will turn against Jews	Beginning of birth pangs: 1. Wars between nations (Matthew 24:67a) 2. Famins & earthquakes (Matthew 24:7b) 3. False christs (Matthew 24:5) 4. Israel re-established (Isaiah 11:11-12) Birth pangs: 1. Temple worship restored and abomination of desolation (Daniel 9:27; Matthew 25:15; II Thessalonians 2:4; Revelation 11:1-2) 2. Jews persecuted (Matthew 24:9-10, 16-20) 3. False christs and prophets (Matthew 24:11,24) 4. Global preaching of kingdom (Matthew 24:14) 5. Celestial disturbances (Matthew 24:29; Revelation 6-19)
Result of End-time battle	A "Great Destruction" which destroys all but God, then a resurrection / recreation	War of Gog and Magog, in which God defeats Gentiles and establishes Israel in its kingdom over all the earth.	After Armageddon, Satan is bound and believers enter the Millennium. Following the thousand year reign of Christ there is a final battle with Satan (Revelation 20:7-9), the destruction of the cosmos (2 Peter 3:10-13) and recreation (Revelation 21:1)
The End-time ruler (following Armageddon)	Gog and Magog led by Darius, the king of Persia (Sura 21:96)	King Messiah as God's regent rules over the earth until time of re-creation.	Christ
Length of judgment	50,000 years	The world will exist for 6,000 years (2,000 Desolation; 2,000 Torah; 2,000 days of Messiah. The last 1,000 years (the Great Sabbath) will be a time of renewal (Sanhedrin 97a)	Eternal (Mark 9:43-48
Temporal dwelling for dead	Most scholars say the good and the bad will be with Allah until judgment, but some say "Alam Bazar" is for all people or for only the wicked.	She'ol - place of departed spirits.	Christians will be in Christ's presence (II Corinthians 5:8) Non-Christians will go to Hades (Luke 16:23, Revelation 20:13)
Eternal dwelling for believers	Janah ("Paradise")	Gan'eden (Heavenly abode)	Heaven/New Jerusalem Revelation 21:2-3 "I saw the Holy City , the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, Now the dwelling of God is with men, and He will live with them. They will be his people, and God Himself will be with them and be their God."
Nature of Eternal Life	Mutahsibir - sensual pleasure in sex with virgins, eating, and happiness Sura 55:56 "On couches with linings of brocade shall they recline, and