Page 72 - Demo

Let us follow the first interpretation of Shiloh as68given in the Pshitta version: “he to whom it belongs.” This practically means “the owner of the sceptre and the law,” or “he who possesses the sovereign and legislative authority, and his is the obedience of nations.” Who, then, can this mighty Prince and great Legislator be? Certainly not Moses (pbuh) , for he was the first organizer of the Twelve Tribes of Israel, and before him there never appeared a king or prophet in the tribe of Judah. Decidedly not David (pbuh) , because he was the first king and prophet descended from Judah. And evidently not Jesus (pbuh) Christ (pbuh) , because he himself repudiated the idea that the Messiah whom Israel was expecting was a son of David (pbuh) (Matt. xxii. 44, 45; Mark xii. 35-37; Luke xx. 41-44). He has left no written law, and never dreamt of assuming the royal sceptre; in fact, he advised the Jews to be loyal to Ceasar and pay him tribute, and on one occasion the crowds attempted to make him a king, but he escaped and hid himself. His Gospel was written on the tablet of his heart, and he delivered his message of “good news,” not in scripto, but orally. In this prophecy there is no question of the salvation from original sin by the blood neither of a crucified person, nor of a reign of a god-man over human hearts. Besides, Jesus (pbuh) did not abrogate the Law of Moses (pbuh) , but he distinctly declared that he had come to fulfil it; nor was he the last Prophet; for after him St. Paul speaks of many “prophets” in the Church.Muhammad (pbuh) came with military power and the Quran to replace the old Jewish worn-out sceptre and the impracticable and old-fashioned law ofsacrifices and of a corrupt priesthood. He proclaimed the purest religion of the one true God, and laid down the best practical precepts andrulesformorals andconduct ofmen.He established the religionofIslamwhichhasunitedintoonerealbrotherhood