Islamic Conference on the Second Coming

28 October 2001

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ADVENTIST LECTURES AT ISLAMIC CONFERENCE ON SECOND COMING

On Sunday 28 October Pastor Peter Roennfeldt, Ministerial and Global Mission director at the Trans-European Division, presented the Seventh-day Adventist understanding of the doctrine of the Second Coming at a Muslim interfaith seminar held at the Islamic Centre of England in Maida Vale, London. The seminar was entitled, "Second Coming - The Return of Christ and Mahdi", and speakers were invited from Evangelical, Jewish, Anglican, and Muslim, as well as Adventist traditions. Among the lecture topics were: "The Signs of the End of Time", by Hojatol Islam Val Muslemin Shirazi, and "Global Peace at the Time of Christ and Imam Mahdi", by Ayatollah Araki.

Adventist representation had been invited several months ago by seminar organiser Professor Ali Haydar, who is a director of the Department of Interfaith Dialogue at the Islamic Centre of England. Also known by his original name, Thomas McElwain, Professor Haydar is well acquainted with Seventh-day Adventists. He graduated from the Seminar du Saleve in 1972 and then continued his studies in religion at Andrews University before entering the University of Uppsala. For the last twenty years he has lectured in the field of Comparative Religion at the University of Stockholm.

In his 30-minute presentation on "Adventists and the Second Coming of Christ" Peter Roennfeldt highlighted the lifestyle similarities which exist between Muslims and Adventists, such as abstinence from tobacco and alcohol, and also emphasised the common theological ground which Muslims and Adventists share. After discussing the history of the Adventist Church, including the Great Disappointment, he moved on to the subject of the Second Coming. "Our beliefs are based only on the Holy Books, the Torah, the Zaboor, and the Injil," he said. "If we can all work from the word of God, as revealed through His servants the prophets, we will have a sound basis for further discussion and dialogue."

Pastor Roennfeldt then went on to quote freely from the New Testament (the Injil), concentrating particularly on Matthew 24 where Jesus speaks of the "sign" of His return. "We are told that we will have wars, famines, and earthquakes," he said. "There will be hatred and wickedness and we will see the appearance of the antichrist. All of these are signs, but they are not the 'sign' that Isa, may peace be upon Him, was referring to. No, the ultimate 'sign' is Isa appearing personally in power and great glory, in the clouds, surrounded by countless thousands of His angels."

The 200-strong, mainly Muslim congregation had already heard presentations on the Muslim understanding of the Second Coming, where Jesus will be accompanied by the Imam Mahdi. However, having heard several presentations from radically different viewpoints they were gracious in their acceptance of Pastor Roennfeldt's words. "I respectfully submit to you," he continued, "that in the writings of the Injil there is no reference to another person present at the second coming. Isa alone is the Saviour."

A number of Seventh-day Adventists attended the seminar, including ministers, lecturers from Newbold College, and students on Newbold's Islamic Studies course. Dr Ron Emmerson, a member of the Newbold church, said, "This was an excellent conference, I have learned so much. At this time of tension between Islam and Christianity it has also provided a great opportunity to break down barriers and build bridges."

Pastor and Mrs Roennfeldt stayed behind at the Islamic Centre for several hours after the seminar closed, sharing a meal with their Muslim hosts. "I have made many new friends," he said after the event. "We need to keep up these friendships and find new opportunities to dialogue together. We will only get to understand each other better when we are prepared to fellowship together."