In the Gospels, Jesus references the coming of individuals to come after him, including prophets, wise men, and teachers, as well as one he references three times in the Gospel of John as the Comforter or Advocate (Paraclete).
Matthew 23:34 – Prophets, Wise Men, and Teachers to Come
“Therefore I am sending you prophets and wise men and teachers. Some of them you will kill and crucify; others you will flog in your synagogues and pursue from town to town.”
Jesus foretells the sending of prophets, wise men, and teachers who will face persecution that are to come after him.
John 14:16-17, 26 – The Coming of the Comforter/Advocate (Paraclete)
“And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate, to be with you forever—the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.” (John 14:16-17)
“But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.” (John 14:26)
In these passages, Jesus speaks of a “Comforter” or “Advocate” (Greek: Paraklētos) whom the Father will send after him.
John 15:26 – The Spirit of Truth
“When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father—the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father—he will testify about me.”
Here, Jesus reiterates the promise of the Advocate or Comforter, often interpreted as the Holy Spirit, who will testify on his behalf. This Advocate is described as the “Spirit of truth,” suggesting divine guidance and understanding.
John 16:7-15 – The Work of the Comforter
“But I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. When he comes, he will prove the world to be in the wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment.” (John 16:7-8)
Jesus tells his disciples that it is necessary for him to leave so that the Comforter, or Advocate, may come. This figure will correct the world regarding sin, righteousness, and judgment.
Conclusion
In the Gospel of John, Jesus mentions the coming of the Holy Spirit three times in the form of an Advocate, who will guide his followers, convict the world, and testify about him. This reference is most likely about the Quran. The Quran was delivered to the prophet by means of the Holy Spirit and speaks the truth of Jesus’s mission and provides God’s final scripture to all of mankind.
[16:102] Say, “The Holy Spirit has brought it down from your Lord, truthfully, to assure those who believe, and to provide a beacon and good news for the submitters.”
(١٠٢) قُلْ نَزَّلَهُۥ رُوحُ ٱلْقُدُسِ مِن رَّبِّكَ بِٱلْحَقِّ لِيُثَبِّتَ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَهُدًى وَبُشْرَىٰ لِلْمُسْلِمِينَ
In 26:193, the Quran even uses the expression “the Honest Spirit,” which parallels the term “The Spirit of Truth” used
[26:192] This is a revelation from the Lord of the universe.
[26:193] The Honest Spirit (Gabriel) came down with it.
[26:194] To reveal it into your heart, that you may be one of the warners.
[26:195] In a perfect Arabic tongue.
[26:196] It has been prophesied in the books of previous generations.
[26:197] Is it not a sufficient sign for them that it was known to the scholars among the Children of Israel?
(١٩٢) وَإِنَّهُۥ لَتَنزِيلُ رَبِّ ٱلْعَـٰلَمِينَ
(١٩٣) نَزَلَ بِهِ ٱلرُّوحُ ٱلْأَمِينُ
(١٩٤) عَلَىٰ قَلْبِكَ لِتَكُونَ مِنَ ٱلْمُنذِرِينَ
(١٩٥) بِلِسَانٍ عَرَبِىٍّ مُّبِينٍ
(١٩٦) وَإِنَّهُۥ لَفِى زُبُرِ ٱلْأَوَّلِينَ
Notice that the above passages references the Quran delivered by the Holy Spirit—the Spirit of Truth—as a beacon, good news, and warning for the people, just like it was prophesized in the Gospel of John.
Additionally, Matthew 23:34 specifically references that after Jesus will come prophets in the plural as well as wise men and teachers. This is the clearest indication that Jesus was not the final prophet. Yet, Christians do not acknowledge any prophet after Jesus and hold that Jesus was the ultimate and final prophet, with no need for further prophets in a foundational sense. By doing this, they are rejecting the words of Jesus and falling into the same trap that the followers of previous prophets and messengers have fallen into. In this regard, the Quran provides the following example of the followers of Joseph.
[40:34] Joseph had come to you before that with clear revelations, but you continued to doubt his message. Then, when he died you said, “GOD will not send any other messenger after him. (He was the last messenger)!” GOD thus sends astray those who are transgressors, doubtful.
وَلَقَدْ جَآءَكُمْ يُوسُفُ مِن قَبْلُ بِٱلْبَيِّنَـٰتِ فَمَا زِلْتُمْ فِى شَكٍّ مِّمَّا جَآءَكُم بِهِۦ حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا هَلَكَ قُلْتُمْ لَن يَبْعَثَ ٱللَّهُ مِنۢ بَعْدِهِۦ رَسُولًا كَذَٰلِكَ يُضِلُّ ٱللَّهُ مَنْ هُوَ مُسْرِفٌ مُّرْتَابٌ
Similarly, Muslims are not exempt from this folly. While the Quran clearly states that Muhammad was the final prophet, as stated in Quran 33:40—making the Quran the final scripture—the Quran does not explicitly label him as the final messenger. Instead, the Quran informs us that a messenger will come after Muhammad to confirm the Quran and previous scriptures.
[3:81] GOD took a covenant from the prophets, saying, “I will give you the scripture and wisdom. Afterwards, a messenger will come to confirm all existing scriptures. You shall believe in him and support him.” He said, “Do you agree with this, and pledge to fulfill this covenant?” They said, “We agree.” He said, “You have thus borne witness, and I bear witness along with you.”
وَإِذْ أَخَذَ ٱللَّهُ مِيثَـٰقَ ٱلنَّبِيِّـۧنَ لَمَآ ءَاتَيْتُكُم مِّن كِتَـٰبٍ وَحِكْمَةٍ ثُمَّ جَآءَكُمْ رَسُولٌ مُّصَدِّقٌ لِّمَا مَعَكُمْ لَتُؤْمِنُنَّ بِهِۦ وَلَتَنصُرُنَّهُۥ قَالَ ءَأَقْرَرْتُمْ وَأَخَذْتُمْ عَلَىٰ ذَٰلِكُمْ إِصْرِى قَالُوٓا۟ أَقْرَرْنَا قَالَ فَٱشْهَدُوا۟ وَأَنَا۠ مَعَكُم مِّنَ ٱلشَّـٰهِدِينَ
For more details regarding this messenger, check out the following article.
Related Articles:
