The Invisible World – The Day of Judgment

“Man tries to make for himself in the fashion that suits him best a simplified and intelligible picture of the world; he then tries to some extent to substitute this cosmos of his for the world of experience, and thus to overcome it… Each (man) makes this cosmos and its construction the pivot of his emotional life, in order to find in this way the peace and security which he cannot find in the narrow whirlpool of personal experience.”[1]

Albert Einstein

“A scientist must uncover certain general principles by observing common traits that allow for precise formulation, which are found among a vast array of empirical facts. From there, one conclusion follows another, often revealing relationships that are far removed from the realm of reality from which the principles were derived.”[2]

Albert Einstein

“The supreme task of the physicist is to arrive at those universal elementary laws from which the cosmos can be built up by pure deduction. There is no logical path to these laws; only intuition, resting on sympathetic understanding of experience, can reach them.”[3]

Albert Einstein

The idea that the “physical world” could be understood and not just described shaped the way Einstein continued to work after his two theories of relativity were accepted. According to his colleagues, he transformed from a physicist into a metaphysician, a man exploring the essence of things. Indeed, after uniting space, time, and matter into an inseparable unity in the general theory of relativity, Einstein completely lost interest in the vast array of physical phenomena and focused on just one subject: finding a single law underlying all physical events. He did not find it by the end of his life. He often believed he was very close to achieving his life’s goal, but the general, fundamental principles remained a mystery to him. Somewhere in his work, he made a mistake! Where?

Einstein thought as follows:

For the physical reality of the universe, our ordinary space is only a part of the overall picture. A complete representation is obtained when time is added to space, uniting them into a world with four dimensions, not three. However, even this extension is insufficient, as it still presents the world as entirely flat. Einstein understood that matter is an integral part of this geometry and that what we perceive as matter is merely a hill on an otherwise flat terrain. This hill can be measured by its curvature. By calculating how much flat space is deformed by the presence of a piece of matter, we effectively convert that piece of matter into length. Thus, relativity, after transforming time into length, i.e. into an additional dimension of space, also transformed matter into a property of curvature of such a conceived space. In this way, the entire physical universe was turned into a form of existence of a certain type of geometry. With his geometric model, Einstein could explain all gravitational phenomena, but not all physical phenomena. This model had no place for electricity or the behaviour of radiation as both waves and particles. Although general relativity indicated that the geometry of our world is characterized solely by the gravitational field, Einstein, in his search for a solution to this problem, was willing to abandon it. He sought the solution in a more complex form of geometry. That was a mistake! Einstein was close to the solution. When asked whether there is a reality beyond us, he answered, “Yes, I believe in it.” Yet, he did not sufficiently consider the possible influence of that “reality beyond us,” in which he believed, on the physical properties of the reality to which he belonged and about which he knew more than others. It could be said that there was not much to think about. And indeed, even if such a “reality beyond us” exists, how could its place and manner of influence on physical reality be determined and understood? Although he saw himself more as a philosopher than a physicist, Einstein remained trapped in the idea that physics was the only path to understanding all laws in his search for and shaping of a unified view of the world. As a philosopher, he must have been aware of the question that all philosophers face sooner or later. That question is: how to determine and understand the place and manner of the influence of the spiritual on physical reality? Einstein failed to realize that the question of the influence of the spirit on matter and the influence of the “reality beyond us” on us is one and the same question.

The world is more complex than physicists imagine. What kind of image of the world would it be if, apart from unifying quantum and relativistic understandings of physical properties, it did not also include the laws governing the living world or spiritual reality? And, in general, what is the purpose of an image of the world if not to be comprehensive and to lead humanity out of ignorance? Nations do not go to war because humanity is unfamiliar with a unified physical theory. Ecological reality will not depend on such a theory either. A unified theory is not the goal, it is not the image of reality but rather a part of it, or better yet, a part of the path toward a unified image of the world. Einstein knew this. It is evident in his words:

“Scientific statements of facts and relations, indeed, cannot produce ethical directives. However, ethical directives can be made rational and coherent by logical thinking and empirical knowledge… Such ethical premises play a similar role in ethics, to that played by axioms in mathematics.”[4]

Albert Einstein

Can the image of the world be considered complete without ethical guidelines? Is logic what governs relationships between people? Is religion something that can be ignored? And finally – does God exist, and if He does, can we have any image of that existence? Guided by the requirements that a unified image of the world must fulfil, we arrive at the following conclusion: it is impossible to reach a unified image of the world while being confined within the boundaries of any isolated system of knowledge!

And reality points precisely in that wrong direction. The more knowledge there is, the more it is directed toward strictly defined scientific fields. Professional scientists differ significantly from one another and excel only within their narrow areas of expertise.

The gap between the knowledge of scientists and that of people who do not engage in science is even greater. It is extremely difficult to adapt the advanced insights of one scientific field to the level of knowledge of ordinary people, or even to people working in another scientific field.

Try to imagine yourself in this situation. Somehow, you have avoided strict affiliation to one scientific field so that you can enjoy the beauty of scientific findings in general. You were not obliged to report your reflections to anybody. You did not have to memorize anything and devoted yourself exclusively to understanding the laws of nature and the laws of spirit. Suppose that you, as a freethinker, identified new relations between physical values, and not just any, but those that escaped Einstein and all those before you. Suppose that this new understanding was reflected in other fields of science and that it made it possible to understand the spiritual reality, i.e. all the principles by which the body influences the brain and reason and vice versa. Suppose that over time you realized that this new interpretation had an unexpected power to interpret God’s Revelations in a new way and that you, apart from recognizing this dimension of your discovery, also discovered instructions in the Holy Books for further deepening of your knowledge and the creation of a clearer picture of the World. Suppose that the same code, the same understanding, was present while reading the Quran, God’s Revelation to Muhammad, and the Bible. And finally suppose this: in the moment when you become certain that you have a unique physical theory, that you understand the function of the brain, that your theory enables complete integration of science and God’s Revelations without a single contradiction, i.e. that science accepts God’s Revelations as proven truth and thus accepts the existence of God, that is, at the moment when the antagonism between religions and science and the antagonism between Judaism, Christianity and Islam would end, you would find yourself facing a wall of incomprehension, inertia of the human mind, and all problems related to the announcement of such a radical change in understanding both the laws of nature and the laws of God. Then more difficulties would follow. The quoted Einstein’s thoughts, which are indeed true, imply that there is no logical path leading to the elementary laws, but only intuition. How can one guide a reader along that “intuitive path”?

My name is Josip Stančić. I find myself in exactly the kind of situation you were meant to imagine yourself in, guided by the previous instruction. The book you are reading is my attempt at “breaking through the wall.” In it, I claim that the Old and New Testaments and the Quran are indeed God’s Revelations, that they are true down to the smallest detail, that they contain all the achievements of science, and finally, that the message written within them was intentionally hidden so that, at the moment determined by God, it could be correctly interpreted.
The essence of my message is that the Day of Judgment, foretold in the Holy Books, has come and that this time, this place, and the people living here – especially the Bosniak people – have been chosen to fulfil all the prophecies related to the Day of Judgment.

Messages from the Holy Books contain stories about people, nations, and events. One of the more significant events described is the exodus of the people of Israel from Egypt, a land where they were oppressed and forbidden to believe in the God they worshiped.

“All this Jesus said to the crowds in parables; indeed he said nothing to them without a parable.“[5]

For the Day of Judgment, the restoration of the chosen people was foretold. If the messages in the Holy Books are indeed given in parables, nothing prevents us from assuming a hidden message in the places where the Books mention the people of Israel, and from comparing the texts of the Holy Books with the known fate of another people – to uncover to whom the prophecies truly refer. By consistently applying this criterion, you will be able to recognize that the fate of the people of Israel described in the Holy Books aligns in detail with the fate of the Bosniak people.

We indeed have the “exodus” of the Bosniak people from a country (Yugoslavia) where belief in God was considered undesirable. We also have the prevention of that exodus and numerous confirmations in the events surrounding the exodus of Bosniaks from Yugoslavia, which align in detail with the description of the exodus of the Israeli people from Egypt. In my interpretation, I will use quotes from both the Bible and the Quran, as I believe they are truly the word of God and pure truth.

“Then Joseph died (we know who Joseph[6] was in these regions), and all his brothers, and all that generation. But the descendants of Israel were fruitful (we gradually introduce the parallel meaning ‘but the Bosniaks were fruitful’ – because they indeed were) and increased greatly; they multiplied and grew exceedingly strong; so that the land was filled with them. Now there arose a new king over Egypt (Yugoslavia), who did not know Joseph. And he said to his people, ‘Behold, the people of Israel are too many and too mighty for us. Come, let us deal shrewdly with them, lest they multiply, and, if war befall us, they join our enemies and fight against us and escape from the land.’ (In the case of Yugoslavia, there was a fear that the Bosniaks might align with the Croats and, in the event of war, leave the country). Therefore they set taskmasters over them to afflict them with heavy burdens; and they built for Pharaoh (a military leader) store-cities (in Bosnia, residential areas and cities often resembled storehouses due to the heavy industry that developed there)… But the more they were oppressed, the more they multiplied and the more they spread abroad. And the Egyptians were in dread of the people of Israel. So they made the people of Israel serve with rigor, and made their lives bitter with hard service, in mortar and brick, and in all kinds of work in the field; in all their work they made them serve with rigor… Then Pharaoh commanded all his people, ‘Every son that is born to the Hebrews you shall cast into the Nile.’ (Thus, when they failed to prevent their development, when they failed to prevent this people from becoming powerful, they decided to achieve their aims through force).”[7]

About the one who decides to attack the people of Israel (Bosniaks), the Book says:

“In the latter years you will go against the land… upon the mountains of Israel… On that day thoughts will come into your mind, and you will devise an evil scheme and say, ‘I will go up against the land of unwalled villages; I will fall upon the quiet people who dwell securely, all of them dwelling without walls… or gates’; to seize spoil and carry off plunder; to assail… the people who were gathered from the nations, who have gotten cattle and goods, who dwell at the center of the earth. On that day when my people Israel are dwelling securely, you will bestir yourself…”[8]

Bosniak people too, who can be described as “the people who were gathered from the nations”, are peaceful people living in an undefended country, which is in the center of the former Yugoslavia. It is true that this people had no army to defend them.

“And the Lord sent thunder and hail, and fire ran down to the earth. And the Lord rained hail upon the land of Egypt; there was hail, and fire flashing continually in the midst of the hail, very heavy hail, such as had never been in all the land of Egypt since it became a nation. The hail struck down everything that was in the field throughout all the land of Egypt, both man and beast… Only in the land of Goshen, where the people of Israel were, there was no hail.”[9]

If we recall the analogy between Egypt and Yugoslavia, and between the Israelites and the Bosniaks, it becomes clearer that this refers to the bombing of the nation that attacked the chosen people. Indeed, of this bombing – unprecedented in strength and effect – it could be said, “only where the Bosniaks were, there was no bombing”.

“And ˹remember˺ when We appointed forty nights for Moses, then you worshipped the calf in his absence, acting wrongfully. Even then We ˹still˺ forgave you so perhaps you would be grateful.”[10]

What kind of God’s assistance is this about? Did God also help the Bosniaks during their exodus in this way, fulfilling promises to their leader over forty nights?

On the night of August 30, 1995, NATO forces commenced military strikes against the aggressor’s positions in Bosnia. The NATO strikes were accompanied by a strong offensive by the Army of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The results were truly significant, but under pressure from global centers of power, the offensive had to be halted. The agreement on the mandatory cessation of all offensive actions came into effect at the first minute of October 10, 1995. Between August 30 and October 10, exactly forty full nights passed! Enough said for those who understand!

“I will be as the dew to Israel; he shall blossom as the lily… Whoever is wise, let him understand these things; whoever is discerning, let him know them.”[11]

Why would understanding this message require reason and wisdom? This is truly direct proof because the word “lily” is indeed very strongly associated with the Bosniaks.

“The punishments did not come upon the sinners without prior signs in the violence of thunder, for they justly suffered because of their wicked acts; for they practiced a more bitter hatred of strangers… these made slaves of guests who were their benefactors.”[12]

After the bombing, the Serbian people, at one point, turned members of the “Red Cross” and soldiers from other countries, tasked with ensuring the operation of humanitarian organizations and politicians, into prisoners.

“And you shall say to Pharaoh, ‘… Israel is my first-born son… if you refuse to let him go, behold, I will slay your first-born son.'”[13]

If Pharaoh is the military leader, then this event also came to pass. The leader who tried to prevent the Bosniaks from leaving lost his child in the war due to an unfortunate accident.

“And you shall hallow the fiftieth year, and proclaim liberty throughout the land to all its inhabitants; it shall be a jubilee for you, when each of you shall return to his property and each of you shall return to his family.”[14]

In Israel, every fiftieth year was a jubilee, during which land was returned to its original owner. The people of this region, including the Bosniaks, entered Yugoslavia (SFRJ) in 1945. The fiftieth anniversary of each nation’s return to its land and the restitution of land to its rightful owner occurred in 1995, exactly fifty years after 1945.

The events related to the Day of Judgment are also related to the final battle between good and evil – at HARMAGEDON (ARMAGEDDON). If you look closely at this word, you will notice that it consists of two parts.

HARMA – GEDON = HAG (Hague)

The Hague is home to the Court of Justice and the tribunal for war crimes following the dissolution of Yugoslavia. The Hague is the foretold place of the battle against evil for the Day of Judgment.

“Condemned are the makers of the ditch – the fire ˹pit˺, filled with fuel – when they sat around it, watching what they had ˹ordered to be˺ done to the believers, who they resented for no reason other than belief in Allah – the Almighty, the Praiseworthy.”[15]

Moses spoke to Pharaoh. He wanted to lead the people of Israel out of Egypt. That is what the Holy Book – the Bible – says. In the Quran, an additional interpretation of this event is provided.

“Pharaoh said to the chiefs around him, ‘He is indeed a skilled magician, who seeks to drive you from your land by his magic…'”[16]

“He (Pharaoh) said, ‘Have you come to drive us out of our land with your magic, O  Moses?'”[17]

I claim that the Holy Books speak in parables and that these passages also describe the exodus of the Bosnian people – Bosniaks, Serbs, and Croats – from Yugoslavia. The Serbian people had to choose between two options:

–           leaving Yugoslavia together with the Bosniaks and Croats, or

–           preventing the Bosniaks and Croats from leaving Yugoslavia.

The leaders of the Serbian people believed that the second option should be chosen.

The fact that the leader of the Bosniak people could not lead only his own people, the Bosniaks, out of Yugoslavia without also leading part of the Serbian people, Pharaoh’s people, confirms that the cited passages describe the conversation between the Bosniak and Serbian leaders, as well as the conversation between the Serbian leader and his elders.

History does not confirm that Moses wanted to lead Pharaoh and his “chiefs” out of Egypt together with the Israelites, yet the passages point precisely to this.

The foundation of all monotheistic religions is the belief in God’s decree. It is indeed easy to say, “I believe in it because God is almighty”. But when people are faced with hardships, they are not ready to accept that this, too, is God’s will. Such is the case with the war in Bosnia.

“No calamity befalls ˹anyone˺ except by Allah’s Will…”[18]

“No calamity ˹or blessing˺ occurs on earth or in yourselves without being ˹written˺ in a Record before We bring it into being. This is certainly easy for Allah.”[19]

“Go in to Pharaoh; for I have hardened his heart and the heart of his servants…”[20]

Believers should believe in these words and that the war in Bosnia was the will of Allah (God) and that it was written in the Book.

I said that the Bosniak people were chosen to fulfil the prophecies related to the Day of Judgment and that there is proof for this in both the Bible and the Quran. I know that Christians will find it difficult to accept this selection. For them, the Bosniaks are nonbelievers. But the Book clearly says:

“Those who were not my people I will call ‘my people’…”[21]

The leader of the Bosniak people wanted to lead his people out of Yugoslavia and teach them God’s laws. He did not have military power at his disposal to achieve this. He placed his faith in God’s help.

“And We certainly delivered the Children of Israel from the humiliating torment of Pharaoh… And indeed, We chose the Israelites knowingly above the others.”[22]

“Count it all joy, my brethren, when you meet various trials…”[23]

“It was not because you were more in number than any other people that the Lord set his love upon you and chose you, for you were the fewest of all peoples…”[24]

“For by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not your own doing, it is the gift of God – not because of works…”[25]

How could the choice of the Bosniak people be justified? They are neither the greatest, nor the wealthiest, nor the most influential, nor the smartest. That is not what God found pleasing in them. God did not decide on His choice today or yesterday. He has been preparing this people to fulfil His will on Earth since their inception. Neither the choice of the Bosniak people nor their history is coincidental.

God did not choose a people who, with His help, would rule over others, as the Jews expect. God’s will is not for this people to enter Paradise because it has earned it through its deeds, nor to send other peoples to Hell.

The Day of Judgment brings us awareness of the existence of the invisible world – the cosmos of knowledge. The only possible way for reason to develop to the level of awareness of the invisible cosmos is through the simultaneous acquisition of knowledge about material reality and knowledge about spiritual reality.

History has developed an intuitive knowledge of spiritual reality among the Bosniak people. This makes them exceptional. They truly “met various trials”.

The Bosniaks live in the Balkans. Many powerful nations have sought to claim that part of the continent. Conquerors have come and gone, bringing with them many cultures and religions. Wars were frequent, and it was the weakest that suffered. More often than not, those were the Bosniaks. They could not resist the conquerors.

They were forced to find other ways to survive. They developed the ability to adapt to harsh living conditions, to live and develop under occupation, to adapt to the customs of those they were forced to live with, and even to abandon their own customs and adopt foreign ones when it was the only way to survive. The Bosniaks quickly realized – they could only survive if they eliminated arrogance, excessive pride, aggressiveness, intolerance, and greed from their behaviour, and if they could adapt quickly to new conditions, new conquerors, and their customs. To adapt quickly, they had to know their neighbours and conquerors well. The Bosniaks also had to know themselves very well. Being able to predict the psychological reaction of those who ruled over them was, in frequent critical moments, of vital importance. Knowing how to act to reduce the number of such critical moments was an even greater wisdom. God developed these traits in them. The question arises – if He chose them, why did He allow their great suffering in this war? In His Revelations, God foretold this suffering and the destiny of the Bosniak people after it.

“I will restore the fortunes of my people Israel, and they shall rebuild the ruined cities…”[26]

“At that time I will bring you home, at the time when I gather you together; yea, I will make you renowned and praised among all the peoples of the earth, when I restore your fortunes before your eyes, says the Lord.”[27]

Indeed, for the Bosniaks, after being attacked by a great military power, the only possible fate seemed to be suffering, a heavy defeat, and the acceptance of imposed living conditions. Bosniak cities were destroyed, and they were scattered across the world. God will demonstrate His power by changing the Bosniaks’ fate.

To them, He sends this message:

“It is not for your sake, O house of Israel, that I am about to act, but for the sake of my holy name…I will sprinkle clean water upon you, and you shall be clean from all your uncleannesses… A new heart I will give you, and a new spirit I will put within you.”[28]

“And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to observe my ordinances… you shall be my people, and I will be your God… It is not for your sake that I will act, says the Lord God; let that be known to you. Be ashamed…”[29]

The message is clear. The chosen people are merely a chosen instrument to fulfil God’s will on Earth. God decides on everything.

After asserting the possibility of comparing the Bosniak people to the Israelites described in the Holy Books, I also claim that this time, this place, and all the peoples living here have been chosen for the fulfilment of the foretold events – related to the Day of Judgment.

Due to its uniqueness, among all the cities in the former Yugoslavia during this war, Sarajevo is an exception. It is the key location for all events. I claim that Sarajevo is the foretold New Jerusalem. I will provide examples to support this claim. These examples describe events foretold in the Books for the Day of Judgment and the New Jerusalem, and they are truly not difficult to compare with Sarajevo.

“Then I was given a measuring rod like a staff, and I was told: ‘Rise and measure the temple of God and the altar and those who worship there, but do not measure the court outside the temple; leave that out, for it is given over to the nations, and they will trample over the holy city for forty-two months. And I will grant my two witnesses power to prophesy for one thousand two hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth’.”[30]

This is a part of the text describing the final events. The Book predicts the destruction of a city lasting 42 months. Sarajevo was destroyed for exactly 42 months, to the day. This destruction and siege began on April 5, 1992, and ended on October 5, 1995. Then, on October 12, 1995, a sixty-day ceasefire was agreed upon. That ceasefire expired on December 12, 1995. I claim that this day, when the Bosniak people finally left the country that had prevented them from doing so, marks the beginning of the Day of Judgment, and I will provide arguments to support this claim.

“So when you see the desolating sacrilege… standing in the holy place (let the reader understand)… And alas for those who are with child and for those who give suck in those days! … For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be. And if those days had not been shortened, no human being would be saved; but for the sake of the elect those days will be shortened.”[31]

The war on the territory of Bosnia and Herzegovina suddenly came to a halt through military intervention, something few believed would happen. Without such an intervention, an end to the war through the victory of any side was nowhere in sight.

“For the days shall come upon you, when your enemies will cast up a bank about you and surround you, and hem you in on every side.”[32]

“As it is written, ‘For thy sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered‘.”[33]

“But in truth, I tell you, there were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, when there came a great famine over all the land.”[34]

Sarajevo was surrounded by a trench, its inhabitants were kept trapped like sheep that were killed daily, its skies were closed to flights for 42 months, and the city was full of widows while great famine prevailed. The similarity is obvious, and I am citing only a few of the numerous passages that could confirm this.

“But as to the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need to have anything written to you. For you yourselves know well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. When people say, ‘There is peace and security,’ then sudden destruction will come upon them…”[35]

The Day of Judgment lasts a thousand years, and it began on December 12, 1995. This event is connected to this region, and during those days, there was indeed the most talk about peace and security, as everyone had had enough of war.

“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem… How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you would not! Behold, your house is forsaken and desolate.”[36]

In interpreting the accuracy of determining the date of the beginning of the Day of Judgment, I will use another fact. In the Islamic world, it is known that the Quran is protected by the number nineteen, in the sense that most of its text follows this pattern: the sums of characteristic elements are divisible by 19.

When it comes to the Bible, we quickly notice that the number 42 holds special significance. In a way, the biblical message is protected by this number. I claim that these two numbers can also be recognized as safeguards of the date of the Day of Judgment and the events within it.

12/12/1995 is protected by the number 19 in the following way:

The year 1995 consists of 19 centuries and 19 twentieth-parts of the twentieth century (one twentieth of a century is 5 years; multiplying 5 × 19 = 95).

Then, by 12/12, 19 parts of the ninety-fifth year had passed (one twentieth of a year is about 18 days; multiplying 18 × 19).

12/12 is exactly 19 days away from the end of the year.

The text of the Holy Bible, when interpreted correctly, confirms that 1995 was indeed the year marking the beginning of the Day of Judgment.

“But do not ignore this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.”[37]

If one day is like 1,000 years, then 2 days = 2,000 years.

“From that time Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders… and be killed, and on the third day be raised.”[38]

The third day comes after 2,000 years. Jesus was born in 6 B.C. When we add 2,000 years to the date of his birth, we arrive exactly at the year 1995.

“Avoid such godless chatter, for it will lead people into more and more ungodliness, and their talk will eat its way like gangrene… who have swerved from the truth by holding that the resurrection is past already. They are upsetting the faith of some.”[39]

God placed the exodus of the Bosniaks from Yugoslavia in the hands of one man. This man, through his vote in the Presidency as a representative of Bosnia and Herzegovina, significantly influenced the events. There is no doubt about God’s influence. That man’s name is Bogić Bogićević.

I will provide a few more examples of how Judgment Day is protected by the numbers 19 and 42, based on which we can recognize God’s direct influence on the events around us. I emphasize – the instruction states that God delivers His message in parables.

The region of Arabia, where the Revelations occurred and where Moses led the exodus from Egypt, is located at 42 degrees latitude and 19 degrees longitude. This point is situated in the sea between Arabia and Egypt. When it comes to Yugoslavia, from which the Bosniaks, analogous to the Israelites, made their exodus, there is – again in the sea – a point within Yugoslavia located at 19 degrees latitude and 42 degrees longitude.

The Book states that without God’s influence in protecting the chosen people, no one would have been saved in this war and the siege of the Holy City – Sarajevo. The war took on a new dimension after the Markale massacre. This event significantly shortened the duration of the war. With the number 42, God placed His “signature” on this event as well. The massacre occurred on 08/28/1995. The sum of the digits equals 42.

The year 1995 corresponds to the 1415^th year of the Hijri calendar, the Islamic lunar calendar. If we reflect correctly on this fact, we find yet another confirmation of the protection of foretold events by the number 42.

1995 – 1415 = 580 years. According to this, one might think that the Hijra took place in the year 580, but we know it did not. It occurred in the year 622. The difference is 42 years. This discrepancy accumulated due to the lunar calendar system, where one month = 28 days.

There is yet another very strong proof of God’s influence on the events around us. It is said that the seal of the Day of Judgment will be 144,000 sons of Israel (marked with the seal). In this war, more than 140,000 Bosniak sons lost their lives.

Some may feel that the parallel between the Israelites and the Bosniaks overlooks an obvious fact – that these two peoples belong to different religions. This is merely an illusion. Just as Christians are uncertain about the correct interpretation of the Bible and even question the authenticity of its text, Muslims, those who now call themselves that, do not know the correct interpretation of all parts of the Quran and Hadiths. Christians do not accept the Quran, and Muslims do not accept the Gospels. When it comes to faith, the only common ground they share is what the Jews believe. Because they do not accept the Bible and are uncertain about the true meaning of the Quranic message, Islam is no closer to Bosniaks than it is to Christians and Jews. The foundation of Islam – faith in all Revelations – has not been fulfilled.

The self-proclaimed Muslims seek and find numerous reasons for rejecting the earlier Revelations, remaining completely blind and deaf to the clear messages in the Quran and Hadiths that affirm the validity of what is written in the Bible.

The Quran unequivocally instructs that one should believe in all prophets and all Revelations. In the introduction to the Bosnian translation of the Quran, it is written:

“Following the indisputable call to believe in one God, almighty, comes the requirement to believe in all His messengers, without distinction among them. Accordingly, a true and genuine follower of the Quran can only be someone who believes in all other prophets, just as they believe in Allah’s last messenger, Muhammad S.A.A.S. The same status applies to the Revelations sent before Muhammad S.A.A.S.“[40]

In the Quran, there are clear instructions regarding the obligations of believers.

“…The righteous are those who believe in Allah, the Last Day, the angels, the Books, and the prophets…”[41]

“This is a blessed Book which We have revealed – confirming what came before it…”[42]

“Whenever We sent a messenger or a prophet before you ˹O Prophet˺ and he recited ˹Our revelations˺, Satan would influence ˹people’s understanding of˺ his recitation. But ˹eventually˺ Allah would eliminate Satan’s influence. Then Allah would ˹firmly˺ establish His revelations…”[43]

The grounds for the criticism of the authenticity of the biblical message is precisely in the claim that someone has altered something. Here, it is unequivocally stated that such criticism is unfounded because even if someone had changed something, God would have corrected it and then reinforced His words.

“We have revealed to you ˹O Prophet˺ this Book with the truth, as a confirmation of previous Scriptures and a supreme authority on them.”[44]

This passage also states that someone watches over the Books, and that someone is not just anyone but – God Himself.

“O believers! Have faith in Allah, His Messenger, the Book He has revealed to His Messenger, and the Scriptures He revealed before. Indeed, whoever denies Allah, His angels, His Books, His messengers, and the Last Day has clearly gone far astray.”[45]

“The Book We have revealed to you ˹O Prophet˺ is the truth, confirming what came before it.”[46]

“Do not argue with the People of the Book unless gracefully, except with those of them who act wrongfully. And say, ‘We believe in what has been revealed to us and what was revealed to you. Our God and your God is ˹only˺ One. And to Him we ˹fully˺ submit.'”[47]

“You will surely find… the most gracious (towards the believers) to be those who call themselves Christian.”[48]

“Surely those who deny Allah and His messengers and wish to make a distinction between Allah and His messengers, saying, ‘We believe in some and disbelieve in others,’ desiring to forge a compromise, they are indeed the true disbelievers…”[49]

It is precisely forging a compromise that is disputable in the interpretation and acceptance of the biblical message. After so many indications that everything is clear, that the Bible is the word of God, and that God protects it like all His Revelations, the only way to justify the rejection of the Bible was through compromise alone, without a solid foundation in Revelation.

“Recite what has been revealed to you from the Book of your Lord. None can change His Words, nor can you find any refuge besides Him.”[50]

Therefore, not even the Prophet (Muhammad) is capable of changing anything in the word of God, let alone someone else.

“…O People of the Book! You have nothing to stand on unless you observe the Torah (Old Testament), the Gospel (New Testament), and what has been revealed to you from your Lord (Quran)…”[51]

Pay attention – “You have nothing to stand on”. Such an explicit way of addressing is not without significance. If the Old and New Testaments were not authentic, the message would still stand. It could be stated: “You have nothing to stand on, and you never will, because the condition is to adhere to the Torah, the Gospel, and the Quran.”

“If you ˹O Prophet˺ are in doubt about ˹these stories˺ that We have revealed to you, then ask those who read the Scripture before you.”[52]

“‘You will follow the ways of those nations who were before you, span by span and cubit by cubit (i.e., inch by inch) so much so that even if they entered a hole of a mastigure, you would follow them.’ We said, ‘O Allah’s Apostle! (Do you mean) the Jews and the Christians?’ He said, ‘Whom else?'”[53]

“Convey (my teachings) to the people even if it were a single sentence, and tell others the stories of Bani Israel (which have been taught to you), for it is not sinful to do so.”[54]

Theologians of Islam are aware of all these quoted instructions. However, in this regard, they have their own particular attitude. They silently disregard even this instruction sent to Muhammad:

“˹O Prophet!˺ Nothing is said to you ˹by the deniers˺ except what was already said to the messengers before you…“[55]

“In fact, they ˹hastily˺ rejected the Book without comprehending it and before the fulfilment of its warnings…”[56]

To protect ourselves from “rejecting” and from interpretations that incorporate the personal stance of the interpreter, which is often in direct contradiction to the fundamental principles of faith, let us follow the guidance from the right source.

“Read the Quran as if it were written to you.“[57]

The same rule, although unwritten, applies to reading the Bible as well.

I am a Croat, a Catholic, and I accept the Quran as a true Revelation of God. However, I do not accept anything from the way Islamic theologians interpret it. Likewise, I do not accept anything from the way Christian theologians interpret the Bible. How can one take seriously those who interpret their Holy Book in this way: “Without a doubt, certain books of the Israelite Bible have a limited historical scope and contain elements of imperfection.” According to these same interpreters, the Bible is not a book based on scientific truths, but rather on “religious truths,” and the “concepts of the world and nature recorded in it reflect the level of social thought development of the contemporary time in which the authors lived”.[58]. I will support my claim that Christians are not entirely certain about the interpretation of the Bible and its infallibility with the views of Christian leaders from the Vatican Council (1962–1965) – that is, from the most authoritative source.

“At the Second Vatican Council, after five revisions, a compromise text was agreed upon:
‘Now the books of the Old Testament, in accordance with the state of mankind before the time of salvation established by Christ, reveal to all men the knowledge of God and of man and the ways in which God, just and merciful, deals with men. These books, though they also contain some things which are incomplete and temporary, nevertheless show us true divine pedagogy.'”

At first glance, one might think that “imperfection and obsolescence” refer only to the Old Testament. However, a different perspective emerges when we consider that the writers of the Gospels and the Apocalypse (Revelation) very often support their claims with quotations from the Old Testament.

Contrary to the belief that some books are temporary and contain imperfections, I claim that in both the Bible and the Quran, every word, every thought, every comma is pure truth, clear and unambiguous, and that there exists an interpretation free from human influence. The Bible itself directs us toward this:

“No prophecy of scripture is a matter of one’s own interpretation … but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.”[59]

“If any one imagines that he knows something, he does not yet know as he ought to know.”[60]

“God gave them a spirit of stupor, eyes that should not see and ears that should not hear, down to this very day.”[61]

For the claim that there is a more mature way to interpret Christ’s message, I will provide a proof from the Holy Book:

“About this we have much to say which is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need some one to teach you again the first principles of God’s word. You need milk, not solid food; for every one who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a child. But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their faculties trained by practice to distinguish good from evil. Therefore let us leave the elementary doctrine of Christ and go on to maturity… And this we will do if God permits.“[62]