Rebutal to The Goal of The Wise

Ves 3/25/2024

All quotes and italics are from the Forward of the book The Goal of the Wise.  Seems to me that this organization is high on list for qualifying as those who will usher in the Antichrist.  If you're a Christian, you may want to take note.  The format is I quote from the book, and then comment on it from a Christian perspective.

“Each of these books [talking about the holy books; Bible, etc..], without exception, were compiled and collected after its principal author(s) had long departed the earthly realm. What began as face-to-face, chest-to-chest, highly situated, oral communications rooted in embodied, organic relationships became fixed and detached words removed from their original context. As a result, these words became disembodied, decontextualized, and quite frankly incomplete. Even if the words of God’s chosen ones were recorded verbatim, there was and still is something missing. The written word is inherently incomplete when it comes to conveying the full scale of meaning. Critical questions remain: How were these words uttered? What was the context? What were the relationships between the interlocutors? What were the power dynamics at work? What were the intended meanings being conveyed?”

That is definitely a stretch if not outright lie. As it regards the New Testament (NT), it’s certainly not the truth. We have surviving fragments of the NT dated to around 130 AD. But that only tells us that the originals were written sooner, closer to the actual life of Jesus. Also, in the book of Luke, he tells us that many have undertaken to write an account of the events of Jesus’ life, “just as they were handed down to us by those who from the first were eyewitnesses”. Now Luke himself was a contemporary of Paul and travelled with him on at least some of the missionary journeys around the Mediterranean. And the last account of Paul’s life is at the end of the book of Acts, while he is still alive in Prison in Rome. Nothing is said about his death. So, Luke wrote his Gospel and Acts within Paul’s lifetime, and others wrote and passed down other accounts even before that. Clearly the NT was not written “long after it’s principal authors had long departed”. And certainly the letters which specifically name who wrote them, were written by Jesus’ eye witnesses (Peter, John, James, and Paul by Jesus’ revelation, and Peter’s confirmation). Though in the case of the Bible, it is true that the writings of the NT were not compiled into an official “canon” until hundreds of years later, thas nothing to do with when they were written and the fact that they were circulated throughout the early church.

The NT, along with the Old Testament, IS a total revelation of God, especially in the life of Jesus. It tells us everything we need to know:

1. Predicted Jesus’ coming

2. Explains what the Kingdom of God is

3. How one becomes saved and how we are expected to behave

4. What the future will bring and what will happen when Jesus returns as King of Kings.

In fact, we could decipher these things even if we had just a fraction of the NT; one or two Gospel’s and some of the letters. But we have much more than that, by at least 7 different authors, who completely agree on what it means to be saved, how people should live, and what the future brings.

So, no, there are no unanswered critical questions.

“For centuries, experts of language, rhetoric, and communication have demonstrated how much non-verbal actions and gestures are essential dimensions of communication and thought. 1 When it comes to the existing holy scriptures, none of this information is available to later generations. Even if we had access to digital recordings (which we don’t), we would still be limited in making sense of these words.”

Yes, you can’t have a relationship with laws and writings. That’s why God came in the form of Jesus. John 1:14 can best be rendered as “And the Word of God became a relationship and walked among us.” So we do understand God through his actions, emotions, and teachings. And sure there may be questions about what certain things mean, but none of those are essential or salvation issues. Certainly no one can come along 2000 years later and all of a sudden claim they have a new revelation. There’s only one King of Kings. He’s ruling his spiritual kingdom of believers now from heaven, through the Holy Spirit in us, and he will come again, to make that Kingdom the physical Kingdom of a New Earth. There’s nothing confusing about that. It’s only confusing is you have some reason to not want to believe it.

“This gap in communication between God’s chosen ones and their adherents has undoubtedly led to uncertainty and confusion amongst the people. A gap that has only increased over time to the point where the original communications, intentions, and meanings have been effectively lost at best and intentionally manipulated for worldly gain at worst”

Well, there is no doubt that there has been manipulation for gain and to commit atrocities, and there’s no doubt that there is uncertainty and confusion, but it’s not because the intention and meaning of the New Testament have been lost. It’s because people don’t read the New Testament, because they are content sitting listening to someone else’s explanation of what it says, and they allow themselves to be manipulated, rather than taking the time to read it for themselves. But mostly it’s because people rebel against God, and they prefer religion, over knowing God and being held to account for their sins.

As for meaning, the NIV Bible (though not the only version of the Bible) uses all the scriptures that have been recovered over the years (unlike the KJV and the NKJV), to piece together the most accurate account, and to translate it to the modern language. It is also true that others have twisted the Bible, like the Jehovah's Witnesses, and Later Day Saints, in order to push their doctrines. So, yes, it’s a bit of a mine field out there, but the truth is still readily available, by sticking with the oldest copies of the New Testament. There’s nothing lost.

“This is a Book that is both a continuation and a clarification of previous communications between The God and His creatures. Its uniqueness lies in a fundamental claim common to all the previous Prophets and Messengers of God.”

As mentioned above, we don’t need clarification, all we need to know was revealed, and since various belief structures are in direct conflict, the only common denominator would be the lowest common denominator. And that will be a watered down message having a “form of spirituality, but lacking power” and denying the only Messiah, Jesus. The only commonality is that one day every knee will bow to Jesus Christ. Get ready for it.

“From Adam to Noah to Abraham to Moses to Jesus to Mohammed (PBUT), all of them claimed to be appointed by God based on the recorded Will of their predecessor. Each brought knowledge/signs to prove it, namely the Will (from their predecessor), Divine Knowledge, and calling to the Supremacy of God”

First, Mohammed appointed himself, and since he contradicts Jesus and the testimony we have of Jesus, he is a false prophet; seven witnesses against one, he loses. It’s not even close. He denies that Jesus was the Son of God, denies the crucifixion, denies the resurrection, all of which are tied to salvation. Mohammed denies God’s salvation plan. Unfortunately, for those who believe in Mohammed, they overlook large swaths of the Bible, but I doubt even he knew that, because he wasn’t even literate; and couldn’t read any of the scriptures. As for the other prophets of the Old Testament, they were appointed by God, and they prophesied the salvation of Israel and the coming of the Messiah, which Jesus fulfilled. Jesus also revealed that it’s was God’s intention to save the remnant of Israel, AND the Gentiles. And as far as signs go, no one did more signs and miracles than Jesus and his Apostles, including raising people from the dead. That’s how we know he was authentic.

This whole idea that Mohammed had to clarify scripture because it was corrupted is without basis. And this idea that both Jews and Christians “went beyond” scripture comes from most Jews rejected Jesus and Roman Catholics started worshipping images of dead saints. But both of those things can be shown to be against God’s plan; not biblical. This is not a shortcoming in the Bible, it’s a shortcoming in man. And You are doing the same thing he did; claiming that revelation is incomplete and needs further clarification, and that someone else is qualified to give this clarification. They are not.

The last prophet that spoke for God was John the Baptist, and he prophesied the coming of the Messiah and the Kingdom of God within his lifetime, and he testified it was Jesus. And Jesus fulfilled all the prophets. No more prophets necessary, and his kingdom is still here, and it will displace all kingdoms upon his return.

“The Goal of the Wise is backed by the divine authority (Wilayat) of Imam Mahdi, his successor Al-Yamani Ahmed Al-Hassan, and penned by the Companion of Egypt, Abdullah Hashem, Aba Al-Sadiq who are alive, accessible, and with us in the esh in this time and age. Its author(s) have claimed their divine successorship via the written Will of the last major known successor of God, Prophet Mohammed”

Just because you say so, doesn’t make it so. Jesus’ resurrection (HE is alive) and his words, and ALL the other miracles he and his Apostles did, say that all authority in heaven and earth has been given to him, the one and only Messiah, to the Glory of God. And every knee will bow to him when he returns. And since his Kingdom is here now, and it is eternal, you can claim anything you want, but you deny his Kingship and so therefore you are Antichrists, and false prophets. Your Mahdi is nothing but a mere man before Christ. God showed, by bringing salvation to the Gentiles, that it is not dependent on any bloodlines. It is a free gift to all who believe in the Son he sent. Of course Mohammed says God didn’t have a Son. Well, multiple witnesses to Jesus’ life, teachings, and resurrection claim otherwise, and since they are multiple witnesses, they negate Mohammed’s testimony.

“This Book is a living reminder that the doors of God’s mercy are always open for anyone whose ardent desire is God and the Messengers of God”

Luke 13:24 Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to.

Matthew 7:14 But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few will find it.

Galatians 1:8 But if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let them be under God’s curse!

Yes, the door is there, and God wants everyone to come to repentance and be saved, but only a few will find the door. There is no other Savior or Gospel, than Jesus, who is the image of God. There aren’t other doors, there are no more messengers. All prophecy has been fulfilled in Jesus Christ, and trying to establish some worldly spiritual Kingdom, who’s leader is not Jesus, is the spirit of the Antichrist.

“The Goal of the Wise consists of forty-two chapters, or Doors beginning with the foundational idea of the Book and in particular the first seven Doors: The Covenants established between God and humanity. The emphasis on the idea of a Covenant speaks to the nature, function, and ultimate purpose of our creation. It is the Rock ”

There’s only two covenants, the Mosaic and Jesus. There’s only one door to salvation, Jesus, who died for our sins, and rose again on the third day. Believe, repent, confess Jesus as Lord, be baptized for the forgiveness of your sins, and receive the Holy Spirit. That’s it. We don’t need 42 chapters for salvation.

“We learn that with each major Covenant that God made with humanity, there was a breaking of the Covenant followed by a punishment, or a divine withdrawal. In other words, God’s restorative justice acts to recalibrate humanity”

True, sort of. Yes, man continually breaks God’s covenant, God warns them, if they don’t repent he punishes them. That is repeated multiple times over the millennia. And the fact is that everyone but the Jews were polytheists and idol worshippers throughout this time, and at times the Jews were corrupted by them, which is why God punished the Jews. But the same covenant was in place all the way to the coming of Christ. Christ established the new, second, covenant, fulfilling the first. There are no more covenants, and there certainly wasn’t seven of them. There’s only the old and new covenant, and that’s all Jesus and his Apostles talked about.

“We are to become God in Creation. Ultimately, this process comes down to words, not just in the literal sense, but in the co-creation of stories of empathy and pursuing the highest pathways of shared love, generosity, and meaning-making. Thus, our lives are a process of moving from incomplete words toward more complete words. If God is the Author of all creation, He is inviting humanity to be co-authors, collaborators, and co-designers in His grand plan.”

No, we are not creating anything. We are messing up God’s creation. Because we deny the reality of God and his creation. We live in a fantasy world where we think we can do anything we want. But what we do is evil, because we do not reconcile to God as he prescribes. We think we know better.

Yes we should pursue love and generosity. Jesus said why do you call me Lord but you don’t do what I command. Jesus said love one another. But the reality is that without salvation, and accepting the Holy Spirit in us, we are incapable of being loving like God, we are slaves to our desires, which is why the Holy Spirit is necessary in the first place, and which is why Jesus died on the cross, to forgive our sins, so that the Holy Spirit could live in us. The Holy Spirit is what gives us power and transforms us.

His grand plan is to end this world, destroy Satan and death, and create a new world where only the righteous exist, when Jesus returns. Since so little of the world actually obeys Jesus’ command to love one another, doesn’t believe in Jesus, and rejects God’s salvation, all we create is suffering and havoc. No human effort will overcome that. Only God working in us can transform us. But he already knows we will come to Armageddon. So, the only question is, are you going to accept his salvation plan, or will you be destroyed at the final judgment?

“topics of knowing the celestial bodies, reincarnation, transmigration of the soul, and soul family”

Tell me this is a New Age Religion without actually saying it. God says that we die twice, once only if we are saved. It was prophesied that Isiah would come before the Messiah. John the Baptist came. Jesus said if you can accept it, he was the Isaiah that was to come. That’s all we know about reincarnation. We have some secular investigations showing that people have lived multiple lives. This could all be work of demons, to mislead us. Satan comes as a messenger of light. I would say that all this “enlightenment” comes from him. Jesus and his disciples did not talk about these subjects, and knowledge of them it is certainly not necessary for salvation, and is a distraction. People find comfort in the idea that there is reincarnation, rather than in God and his salvation.

“we learn the true meaning of the Tree of Knowledge, the consequence of eating the forbidden fruit, the reason for Adam and Eve’s original exile from the Garden of Eden, the path of return, and the true location of the Garden of Eden, a place right here on Earth.”

It happened the way it happened because it could not have happened any other way. Before God created beings with free will, the angels and us, he knew there would be rebellion, and God’s entire plan is to overcome that rebellion and bring us to a point where we freely chose to be reconciled back to him, through his Savior. Not everyone will make that choice.

Yes, the Garden of Eden was on Earth, and when God creates the New Heaven and Earth, and Eden, the believers will be there again.

“ambiguous metaphors and symbols of the past scriptures are clarified throughout the Book leading to a more cohesive narrative that connects the dots across previously disparate scriptures. It is a fulfillment of the verse, “Though I have been speaking figuratively, a time is coming when I will no longer use this kind of language but will tell you plainly about my Father.””

There is nothing important in the Bible which is ambiguous, and it doesn’t need clarification. And that quote is from Jesus. After he resurrected he opened the minds of the Apostles to all of scripture. He also started talking to them plainly shortly before his crucifixion. And he sent the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost. Clearly as the Apostles stared preaching and the Church grew, all truth was revealed to them, and it’s recorded for us in the New Testament. If you mean to claim that you now will have some new insight into his teachings, and that you are going to reconcile them with the teachings of religions, then I’m going to have to see some serious miracles for you to establish yourself as approved and speaking for God. Saying you have that right because you’re of some family line doesn’t qualify.

“Never again will I bring doom upon the world on account of what people do, though the human mind inclines to evil from youth onward.”

That completely ignores the teachings of Jesus and the reaffirmation from Peter and other Apostles... 2 Peter 3 explains that just as the world was destroyed by water, it is currently reserved for destruction by fire... everything will be destroyed and the elements will melt in the heat... but we look forward to the promise of a new creation.

“We learn about unseen cosmic forces that impact our lives such as the role and function of Archangels, Jinn, Death, the reality of Heaven & Hell, the Source of Evil, and Alien and Extraterrestrial life. The Book delves into salient topics to help us better understand our gnostic capacities and higher cognitive functions such as the reality of dreams, lucid dreaming, past life memories, and other aspects of mindfulness and complete self-actualization. These topics collectively help us better understand the cosmic context of our existence. Like all previous Prophets and Messengers (PBUT) who were commissioned to perfect human character and ethics, the Door on Morals and Manners provides practical guidelines for humanity under the Seventh Covenant”

Yes, well, there are definitely unseen cosmic forces, heavenly forces, and nothing we know or don’t know about them effects salvation, same goes for all the rest of this stuff. The only power that now perfects human character is the Holy Spirit, which is given freely to those who believe in and accept Jesus as Lord and Savior. There’s going to be no perfection of human character without salvation; one person at a time repenting of their sins and turning to God.

“No written scripture whether with black ink on white paper, or electronic fonts on a screen can ever be final. The Goal of the Wise represents an authentic divine renewal, a new beginning that will reveal the remaining twenty-five letters of knowledge so that humanity can continue perfecting its contemplation of the Divine and embracing a more intimate relationship with God and His creatures”

Jesus said, on the cross, it is done, and his final revelation was the Revelation to John. There is nothing else we will be told, until his return.

Humanity isn’t perfecting anything. The Holy Spirit is working in those who accept God’s salvation, and other than that, until we die and resurrect and see Jesus face to face, there is no other intimate relationship with him. He lives in the believers, that’s as intimate as it gets for now, and that is sufficient.

“The Goal of the Wise is a Gospel for apocalyptic times, ”

Congratulations, you’re officially cursed by God, because you admit that you’re presenting a new Gospel.

“Indeed, humanity is destined to fulfill its ultimate purpose: to repair the world through reconciliation with the absolute source of all through recognition of the Philosopher King of every age and realizing Plato’s Republic, the Divine Just State.”

No, humanity is not repairing the world, and we’ll never get rid of the corruption and evil that would make that possible because Satan still influences. God is going to recreate the world, after Armageddon. We definitely need to reconcile with God, through Jesus Christ, but as for the philosophers:

1 Corinthians 1:20 Where is the wise person? Where is the teacher of the law? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. Jews demand signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified: as stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.

Isaiah 28:16 See, I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and precious cornerstone, and the one who trust in him will never be put to shame.

Isaiah 8:14 A stone that causes people to stumble, and a rock that makes them fall.

Luke 20:18 Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces; anyone on whom it falls will be crushed.

That stone is Jesus, and you, and you’re whole new religion will be crushed by it.