Harun Yahya & Joel Richardson
Also related: Israeli Sanhedrin Meet With Harun Yahya
As many of you know, I recently visited Istanbul, Turkey upon the invitation of Adnan Oktar, aka Harun Yahya for a time of personal connection and discussion. And as many of you also know, Adnan is a controversial though very influential Muslim leader and intellectual who has written over three hundred books. He is very well known throughout Turkey and the larger Muslim world with literally millions of his books in circulation in numerous languages. While in Istanbul, I was treated with great care and hospitality by Adnan and his supporters. My time there was wonderful and I am very thankful to Mr. Oktar for the invitation and for his very generous hospitality.
The initial plan was that I would meet only once with Adnan but instead I was able to have two substantial meetings that lasted perhaps a total of about five hours. The first meeting was definitely a bit more interactive, but it was not filmed. In this meeting, I shared my concern for Mr. Oktar and extended to him an invitation to Christianity and to become a follower of the Jesus of the Bible. Despite my very direct and somewhat confrontational comments, Adnan was very patient and gracious, generally expressing delight at my “sincere faith”. Adnan’s overall insistence was that Islam is at its core, peaceful and compassionate and that anything to the contrary was not true Islam. I expressed that in order to hold to this view, it required a radical reinterpretation of numerous Islamic texts and even required that he ignore vast portions of Islamic history. Instead, I explained, this deep desire for a peaceful, compassionate kingdom came from a divine deposit in his own heart but was ultimately not found in the Quran or Islam. Instead, these things would only be found in the Kingdom of Christ that all of the prophets spoke about long before Muhammad ever appeared on the scene. This yearning in Adnan’s heart is for the Jesus of the Bible, and not Islam. I was also able to present Adnan with a New Testament, a book on the resurrection by Josh McDowell and another by Pastor David Wickwire, all in Turkish. Mr. Oktar also presented me with some of his books as well.
The second meeting was filmed and you can watch it on his web-site. Click here to watch it.
Or you can read the full transcript here.
This meeting took place around 11:30 pm and went until perhaps 1:30 am. I say this because I look half dead in the video. I was running on minimal sleep. In this interview, I allowed Adnan to generally run with it. I wanted him to articulate his vision with regard to the coming of the Mahdi and his call for a Turkish Led Islamic Union. Only a small portion of the interview was edited out. Several significant issues were discussed. Surprising to me was the fact that Adnan has developed a very friendly relationship with the Israel Sanhedrin Rabbis who also are surprisingly very much in favor of this Turkish led Islamic Union. Most notable is Mr. Oktar’s friendship with Rabbi Menachem Fromen. Also of interest is Mr. Oktar’s call to rebuild the Jewish Temple. The remainder of the interview and all that was discussed is self-explanatory. I was invited to return to Istanbul, which I most certainly hope I am able to do. I would like this friendship and dialogue to continue. As I said, I was treated with the utmost of respect by Mr Oktar and his organization and I would ask that anyone who comments here make efforts to do the same. Please continue to pray for Adnan and his supporters that a revelation of the true Jesus would be extended and that their eyes would be opened to the deception that Islam represents to many very sincere Muslims who genuinely desire only to obey and serve God.
I also posted my photo album for anyone who is interested. Mostly architecture. Istanbul is absolutely beautiful.
June 26th, 2009 at 3:45 pm
Very good Joel, you were articulate and made the necessary points well, so your tiredness did not appear to handicap you. Perhaps the Spirit was helping you through it.
Regarding the words of Jesus at the crucifixion, I would have expanded on that, because it still begs the question of why Jesus uttered the words He did that they might be prophesised of in the first place. (i.e. if He said them just because He was prophesised to say them, then you have a paradox without meaning). This is my understanding:
The ultimate spiritual consequence of rebelling from God is to be cut off from His presence altogether. It’s impossible to imagine. The closest we can come to imagining it is to be so filled with despair that there is absolutely no hope left within us. Even the unfortunates who commit suicide have not reached this point of degeneration, for at least in death they see hope for the release of their pains. But spiritual death, complete isolation from God, is complete and abject misery with no hope of reprieve. Jesus had to suffer this feeling, this condition, to truly suffer the pains of spiritual death in order to fulfil our penalty. Even though Jesus understood the need and purpose of the Atonement, it was necessary for Him to be shocked by the nature and experience of it, even to the degree that He felt forsaken by the Father. Anything less than this would have made the Atonement incomplete.
I think the meaning behind Jesus’ words need to be explored and understood if we are to give Muslims good reason to consider that it really was Jesus on the cross and not an impostor.
June 27th, 2009 at 2:34 am
What an awesome opportunity! And Joel I must say that you are courageous my friend! Preaching in Turkey can be hazadous to your health! Way to stand up for Jesus!
June 27th, 2009 at 7:02 am
really great joel. i hope you are catching up on your sleep…maybe it’s the spiritual director in me, but take concern for the longhaul of ministry, and when God calls you to go all out, He also calls you afterward to come away to a deserted place.
peace be upon you
June 27th, 2009 at 2:31 pm
I just want to say a big thank you for all the work you have done; and the obvious love and respect you have for those who follow Islam. This is a real inspiration; to remember to aim our prayers for love of our neighbour.
Me and my family will be praying for Mr Oktar. We will also be praying thanks that God called you and for all the work he is leading you to do!!!
Blessings.
June 29th, 2009 at 11:18 pm
Hi Joel:
I too am impressed with the good will that you show in your dealings with Oktar and others whom you disagree with — I remember you had nice things to say about Gershom Gorenberg, although you obviously wouldn’t be totally aligned with his take on the End of Days.
Since there’s quite a bit of “militant” language in evangelical and end times circles these days, with talk of “spiritual warfare” and even “Joel’s Army” — though I don’t think you’re *that* Joel, right? — and since i recall you saying something on the topic of Christian forebearance and the peaceable nature of the Gospel, I wonder if you’d like to say anything explicit about your sense of our times and the end times battles.
Is there any place for violence on the part of Christians, in your view, before the Second Coming?
June 29th, 2009 at 11:50 pm
I applaud you for undertaking this kind of endeavor. Astonished to hear that he is in favor of rebuilding the Beit HaMikdash (Temple). This corresponds to the recent Jerusalem Post article which quoted the founder of the Islamic Movement in Israel as saying,
“The mahdi will decide whether or not to rebuild the Temple. If he decides that it should be rebuilt, I will go out to the Temple Mount and help carry the rocks.” I think they will rebuild it on the north side of the mountain.
Turkey being so prominently mentioned (references to Magog, Javan, etc.) we should expect Turkish prominence to accelerate.
June 30th, 2009 at 6:00 am
Charles,
Ironic that my site is blocked by the US gov and the Baracuda firewall as a “hate site” is it not? Also, I must reiterate that Adnan and his people were exceedingly kind toward me as well, so being kind in return was quite natural.
But as for your question regarding Christians and violence, from the personal opinion of this one “apocalyptic” Christian: While Christians should entrust their own personal justice to the Lord (ie. turn the other cheek - and defer their legitimate desire for justice to the Lord to be ultimately brought about when He returns), I would myself not hesitate to fight for instance to defend my children or any other little lambs that were placed under my care. I am not a pacifist in that regard. My view of Christianity is that all of the turning of the cheek is simply an acknowledgment that only Christ, who is himself God, has the ability to truly judge rightly and execute genuine justice. As such, rather than making efforts to watch out for our own justice, and inevitably foul it up in the process, we are to “turn the other cheek” and await the coming of the truly righteous judge. But that doesn’t mean that we sit by while someone assaults our wife, or tries to enter my home at night - or invade my country for that matter.
Along these lines, as a (hopefully) funny story: after Adnan and I met the first evening, much of our discussion revolved around the issue of whether or not Islam was inherently violent. He insisted that it was not, and I said that while I was happy that he taught this, I simply could not see how one could justify this in light of the abundance of violence in the foundational scriptures and history of Islam as well as the example of Muhammad’s life. This conversation went on for some time. As the meeting ended, we exchanged the traditional kiss on both cheeks and a hug. Adnan asked through his interpreter if I lift weights / work out. To which I replied, “Of course, I am preparing for the final battle.” And then just in case, I clarified that this was a joke (as I often must clarify after most of my odd ball jokes).
Blessings, Joel
June 30th, 2009 at 3:37 pm
I find it very interesting that Mr. Oktar favors rebuilding the Temple. I guess I need to study up a bit on this guy. One question I would have is where he favors rebuilding it; on the Temple Mount?
June 30th, 2009 at 5:53 pm
Yes, on the Temple Mount.
July 10th, 2009 at 1:59 am
I had the weirdest feeling while watching this video. All I could think of was…”by peace, he will destroy many”. I’m just going out there and say it… could he be him? Did that cross your mind in this interview? He all but admitted that he had all the necessary attributes and physical characteristics. His fable about the crucifixion of Judas was too much. And he never answered your question about the disciples. Referring always to the trustworthy hadiths. And the white outfit… :^)
I saw another one of his videos talking about evolution and creationism. It was really bazaar.
July 12th, 2009 at 4:38 am
[…] Recently, the Sanhedrin has been forging links with Adnan Oktar, a Turkish Muslim who has churned out hundreds of books on Islam and other subjects. Joel Richardson recently met him, and told us that: Surprising to me was the fact that Adnan has developed a very friendly relationship with the Israel Sanhedrin Rabbis who also are surprisingly very much in favor of this Turkish led Islamic Union. Most notable is Mr. Oktar’s friendship with Rabbi Menachem Fromen. Also of interest is Mr. Oktar’s call to rebuild the Jewish Temple. […]
July 12th, 2009 at 9:45 am
[…] Även pseudonymen Joel Richardson på bloggen Joels Trumpet har tagit bort sin bloggpost med uttalanden från mötet efter att Sanhedrin kontaktat honom. Joel Richardson har nyligen besökt Adnan Oktar i Turkiet, där han intervjuat honom och försökt ombända honom till tro på Jesus Kristus. […]
July 13th, 2009 at 1:44 pm
BigFinn, I have same kind of feeling about Obama. When he speaks there’s always some kind of strange “electricity” on the air. Obama has really strong power and authority in his voice and I think it is not just about the vocal tone or something like that but there’s kind of a “spiritual tone” in his voice and appearance.
For me, Harun Yahya sounds and feels like some ordinary guy with some utopistic ideas and who likes to wear white clothes. But he feels like very friendly person and I believe that Joel had great time with him in Turkey.
July 13th, 2009 at 1:45 pm
And for Obama: with peace, hope and CHANGE he will destroy many.
August 5th, 2009 at 11:31 pm
May God bless your sincere efforts for His Kingdom to lead this man, Adnan Oktar, to a genuine saving knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ our God.
I have not personally met Adnan Oktar but have definitely read a number of his works. Although he uses the pen name: “Harun Yahya”, I knew that it was none other than Adnan Oktar. He deserves to be given credit for his negation of the false theory of evolution. In fact, we Christians can acknowledge his good work in negating evolution and allowing the consideration of Creation as a sound alternative. It is interesting to note that he actually learnt a lot from many Christian scientists who have found good scientific grounds to negate evolution. In fact, a lot of these Muslims have to learn from us Christians how to negate evolution.
However, there are some concerns I do have regarding Adnan Oktar. In the past, he has written a book denying the Holocaust. Although he has totally changed that stance, yet he still maintains an anti-Israeli approach and often attacks “Zionism” as “racist” ideology equivalent to Hitler’s Nazism. This is the exact rhetoric of the Muslim terrorists. We should also add that Mr. Oktar whilst seeming to be conciliatory towards both Jews and Christians, still maintains the attitude of fault-finding with the Israelis but has virtually next to nothing to say against the Islamic terrorist groups that deliberately target civilians.
For him to seemingly endorse the building of the Third Temple is interesting, since that is the exact Temple where the Antichrist shall herald himself and stab the Jews in the back.
We should pray for Mr. Adnan Oktar and for his repentance. However, since Islam is imbued with an Antichrist spirit, we should ever be cautious.
November 5th, 2009 at 8:41 am
Salam to joel and all believers,
to Timotheos Chrysostomos Kwoh,
It is your right to be cautious, but if you already read ‘a number’ of Harun Yahya’s book, you should already know to who should you be cautious.