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Mohamad Mostafa Nassar
Twitter@NassarMohamadMR
Lately, people have been talking a lot about 72 virgins in afterlife in Islam, but what does Christianity say about virgins in the afterlife?
Humiliation and insult of women in the Church
The bible on virgins in the afterlife
The discussion about Islam and 72 virgins as a way to vilify the religion spurred me to thinking. What about the afterlife promises in Christianity? Is there a similar promise for Christians in heaven?
I found that in fact, Christianity, like Islam, does share the virgins in paradise offering. I found after looking it up that the bible has quite a few references to virgins. Women and virginsβ young girls (young girls could be any age) are promised to men if they win a war. In the book of Numbers βThe plunder remaining from the spoils that the soldiers took was 675,000 sheep, 33 72,000 cattle, 34 61,000 donkeys 35 and 32,000 women who had never slept with a man.β (13:32-35 32).
But what about other issues, like rape? In 31:1-54 there is a discussion about that. Also, in Judges 21:10-24, βSo they sent twelve thousand warriors to Jabesh-gilead with orders to kill everyone there, including women and children.
‘This is what you are to do,’ they said. ‘Completely destroy all the males and every woman who is not a virgin.’β Among the residents of Jabesh-gilead they found four hundred young virgins who had never slept with a man, and they brought them to the camp at Shiloh in the land of Canaan.
The Israelite assembly sent a peace delegation to the little remnant of Benjamin who were living at the rock of Rimmon. Then the men of Benjamin returned to their homes, and the four hundred women of Jabesh-gilead who were spared were given to them as wives. But there were not enough women for all of them.
The people felt sorry for Benjamin because the LORD had left this gap in the tribes of Israel. So, the Israelite leaders asked, “How can we find wives for the few who remain, since all the women of the tribe of Benjamin are dead?
There must be heirs for the survivors so that an entire tribe of Israel will not be lost forever. But we cannot give them our own daughters in marriage because we have sworn with a solemn oath that anyone who does this will fall under God’s curse.”
Also, in (Then they thought of the annual festival of the LORD held in Shiloh, between Lebonah and Bethel, along the east side of the road that goes from Bethel to Shechem. They told the men of Benjamin who still needed wives, “Go and hide in the vineyards. When the women of Shiloh come out for their dances, rush out from the vineyards, and each of you can take one of them home to be your wife!
And when their fathers and brothers come to us in protest, we will tell them, ‘Please be understanding. Let them have your daughters, for we did not find enough wives for them when we destroyed Jabesh-gilead. And you are not guilty of breaking the vow since you did not give your daughters in marriage to them.'” So, the men of Benjamin did as they were told.
They kidnapped the women who took part in the celebration and carried them off to the land of their own inheritance. Then they rebuilt their towns and lived in them. So, the assembly of Israel departed by tribes and families, and they returned to their own homes.)
A woman who is raped should be killed as it so clearly states in Deuteronomy 22:23-24: if within the city a man comes upon a maiden who is betrothed, and has relations with her, you shall bring them both out of the gate of the city and there stone them to death: the girl because she did not cry out for help though she was in the city, and the man because he violated his neighbors wife.
This is hard for Christians to accept but it is found directly within their scripture. It is still in the bible and this is Judaic law and Jesus came to fulfill the law not to destroy it. Meaning, Christians still have to follow it Paul is the only one that said you didnβt. so, which one of them is the liar?
Other verses of note for people who wish to research the bible regarding rape and virgins:
Deuteronomy 20:10-14, Deuteronomy 22:28-29, David’s Punishment – Polygamy, Rape, Baby Killing, and God’s “Forgiveness” (2 Samuel 12:11-14, Deuteronomy 21:10-14), Judges 5:30
Exodus 21:7-11, God Assists Rape and Plunder (Zechariah 14:1-2).
A word of caution to those who have negative perceptions about Islam be fair, do not throw stones when you live in a glass house. In judging the religion of Islam,
keep in mind your own biblical teachings.
Rape in the Bible
100 wives for Christians in Heaven! Matthew 19:29
Paul the False Apostle of Satan
The value of Woman in the Bible
72 Virgins in Christianity- Seventy-Two virgins in Christianity
72 Virgins! Does Allah give sexual bribe?
Eating and Drinking Alcohol and Wine in Heavens in The Bible
Allah knows Best