W. Robert Godfrey

So the threat of Islam to the West was a serious and ongoing one through the Middle Ages, and that's why in the 16th century for the Reformers it was often difficult to be sure who the Antichrist really was.

Was it the Pope or was it Muhammad?

It was a close call for a number of the reformers.

And it was easier when you had the beast from the land and the beast from the sea.

That was the Pope and Muhammad.

So it simplified things.

But there was this profound sense at times, not at all times, but at a number of times in medieval history of this rising power following a prophet

a prophet who claimed not to be entirely at odds with the Old Testament and the New Testament, but to have gone beyond the Old Testament and the New Testament.

In effect, Muhammad was the first postmodern person, post-Christian person.

Muhammad taught that Jesus was a prophet.

He was in the line of prophets, but that the New Testament had falsified things about Jesus.

so that most of what was taught in the New Testament about Jesus was true up until the point of His death and resurrection.

He did not die on the cross, and He was not raised from the dead.

He was a prophet who taught from God.

He had miracles.

He was virgin-born, but He did not die for the sins of His people, and He certainly was not divine.

From a Muslim point of view, the claim that Jesus is divine is polytheistic.

And they continue to insist that however much Christians claim to be monotheists, their doctrine of the Trinity is inherently tinged with polytheism.

And so that's part of the conflict, part of the contrast that exists between Christians and Muslims.

Now the theology of Islam is based on the Quran, which it is claimed is immediately inspired by God.