First Arabic Booklet Produced
June 8, 2010
The United Church of God has finished producing its first booklet in the Arabic language. “The Middle East in Bible Prophecy,” has been translated, proofread and uploaded to an Arabic page on our main Web site at www.ucg.org/booklets/AME. In addition, a limited number of printed booklets are being produced for those Arabic readers who would prefer a hard copy. The Web site offers both a PDF version, just like the printed copy, and a HTML version.
This has been an ongoing project for some time. It all began almost two years ago when we received a letter from an Iraqi radio broadcaster living in Bonn, Germany, who was offering to translate our booklet into Arabic. We determined that the offer was genuine and our friend (who wishes to remain anonymous in connection with the booklet) completed the translation in several months.
That was only half the work, though. The completed Arabic translation had to be typeset. After acquiring the necessary software with Arabic fonts, we began the process of importing the text from the Microsoft Word files to the booklet layout.
We had asked our translator to supply us a chapter at a time, with any sidebar articles highlighted, so we could determine where the text was supposed to go. We soon acquired the necessary skill to typeset the booklet in a language we could not even read.
However, the final task was an arduous proofreading session that took many, many days. We used the dedicated services of a long-time friend we worked with in Pasadena, a Lebanese member of the Church of God, Habib Akl, to complete the proofreading and finalize the typeset layout.
The final version includes all of the graphics, sidebars, timelines, charts and maps you’ll see in the English version. Download it for yourself and see. Keep in mind that you have to read it from right to left, and the booklet is bound on the right side, not the left side. Take a look.
Now, the United Church of God has its first publication in one of the world’s major languages: Arabic. We believe this is the very first time the Church of God has produced a full booklet in the Arabic language. It’s a very important step in preaching the gospel in the Middle East—in a language much of that population can understand. This particular booklet contains a number of biblical truths about what is to transpire in this pivotal region. After all, Jesus Christ will return to the Middle East to establish God’s Kingdom at Jerusalem.
Please pray for the success of this aspect of preaching the gospel, as well as all of our efforts wherever, whenever, and however that may be.
Peter Eddington
Operation Manager, Media and Communications Services
Inside United: Realtime 
This is so exciting really. I will be curious to see how it is responded to.
[…] June 8, 2010 The United Church of God has finished producing its first booklet in the Arabic language. "The Middle East in Bible Prophecy," has been translated, proofread and uploaded to an Arabic page on our main Web site at http://www.ucg.org/booklets/AME. In addition, a limited number of printed booklets are being produced for those Arabic readers who would prefer a hard copy. The Web site offers both a PDF version, just like the printed copy, and a … Read More […]
Pingback by First Arabic Booklet Produced (via Inside United: Realtime) « Forward to the Kingdom! | June 8, 2010 |
I suppose some would say this opens the door for UCG to be persecuted.
But the Arabic/Muslim section of the world truly is a field waiting to be harvested — so may the Gospel message be blessed by God there.
I am really excited to see this new booklet. It means so much to me to finally see this first forward. I’ve waited a long time for this. I’ve made friends here and oversees with Palestians, Arabs, Jordanians, Somolians, Iranians, Iraqi and Lebanese. This will open the door of Pure Freedom for these nations and peoples and many more!
What’s next!!
Please let us all know what the response is for this booklet! It most likely will be an underground item for a long time. GOD will open many more doors for us and many more!
This development of Arabic language literature has implications far beyond the Middle East since there are many Arabic readers in Europe, North America, Indonesia, and Africa.
Historically it has not been Muslims that have been the persecuters of true Christians, rather it has been Protestant, Roman Catholic and Orthodox Christianity as well as those who practiced Judaism–all of whom considered us subversive heretics.
One can only imagine how freaked out everyone from the Mossad and the IDF military heirarchy in Israel to Roman Catholic and Protestant officialdom in Europe will get when increasing numbers of Arabic speakers start keeping the weekly Sabbath and annual Holy Days.
I wonder, are there any plans to publish literature in Hebrew–at the very least for a witness? (Rom 11:7-8, II Cor 3:13-16). Keep up the good work!
Tim McCaulley
Jacksonville FL
This is what is in our hearts. To preach and publish to all the world the good news of Christ’s return, why and how it will happen. The need for Jesus Christ as personal savior and the only one who can save this world from distruction. Thank God and each and every one of you for starting such an important step in reaching the Arabic part of the world.
This is wonderful news. Not only do we need to understand why there is so much trouble in the Middle East so do those who live there. Good work.
The translation of our Church literature into Arabic opens a door of preaching the Gospel domestically in the USA.In Michigan as elsewhere in the country their are many Arabic people.One of our retirment jobs is keeping up racks of greeting cards in dollar stores owned by Arabs who are “born merchants”.We know at least 5 women [in the Church] who work for “Eden Hall” or “Halmark Greetings” in Michigan. I don’t believe it would be appropriate to distribute literature.We have talked to these Arabic people and they are very friendly and we heard the trials they had in loosing a store in Flint because Wal-Mart opened up a store taking them out of business and difficulties like anyone else.. What I would like to see is for our TV program to mention Arabic translations of such booklets available in areas of the country where their are many Arabs.
When I was in Singapore 10+? years algo a Chinese person told me potatoes are’t available.The Moslem contact I had at “Reed Rock Tool” took me to a nice cafe and we toured the kitchen where he pointed out a sack of potatoes from Idaho…saying “Real Arabic Men eat Idaho potatoes” Bumper Sickers anyone? Arabic people with that type of humor are needed in the kingdom of God! They too are “The People of the Book” and sons of Abraham like us.
As a member of the Church and of Arabic descent I am very excited about this milestone.
THIS IS AWESOME NEWS, AN OUTSTANDING DEVELOPMENT!!
WE ARE PRODUCING BOOKLETS IN RUSSIAN TOO, AMONG OTHER LANGUAGES.
I, FOR ONE, BELIEVE THAT WE WILL NEED TO TRANSLATE AND PRODUCE BOOKLETS IN CHINESE FOR THE SCRIPTURE TO BE FULFILLED THAT SAYS THE GOSPEL IS TO BE “PREACHED IN ALL THE WORLD”.
thank you very much about the first booklet in the Arabic language. “The Middle East in Bible Prophecy because I was need to read all your booklets in my language
again thank you & GOD pleace you
atef amin
EGYPT
Dear friends at the UCOG:Your efforts to reach the other branch of the heirs of the Patriarch Abraham is remarcable; as the Times of the End are coming to the possible scenarios given by the prophets; as a Jewish writer, and i am thankful for your publications-as we are almost on the same track, that leads me to agree that if you do what we are not allowed by our rabbis (not to reach anybody outside of our commuities) then your efforts will shurely be blessed by G-d; the arabic sepacking peoples have the key to the future: it is in peace or in war; the house of peace or the house of war, unfortunately the majority of the islamic believers ara fatalists, they ben to the will of the warriors, therefore the peace making sheiks are silenced, but it is also true that if the christian world were to do its job, then the peace may be reached with not so much war, or terrorism from the yijadists, the answer is in the air: as we do believe that the free will give to us by the creator was so we would not continue bein another version of cain & abel two brothers in clash figuring each has the better offering to G-d; when love is absent hate fills the void. Good work! thaks to your great efforts
Eco ben Yojanan
Torah teacher & deep Kabbalah student on the theme of prophecy.
[…] The back story of this prodigious effort is amazing and inspiring, and you can read it at “First Arabic Booklet Produced.” Arabic translation of "The Middle East in Bible Prophecy" […]
Pingback by Taking the Good News to All Nations? « Forward to the Kingdom! | June 17, 2010 |
I am curious as how they have translated “God” in the publication. Did they use “Allah?” Anyone who reads Arabic could please respond to this post.
Ana,
In the PDF and printed versions, there is a note inside the front cover that explains this. Basically, it says that the word for God used in this booklet represents the God of all creation, not to be compared with any false god, idol or other deity. It says that the word for God stands for the eternal, merciful creator God of all the universe, the God of Noah, Abraham and Israel.
Thank you for clarifying that. I’m glad that Ana brought up this very important point that is the crux of this booklet.
Okay–so does the Arabic language have any other word for “God” than “Allah” or did you use “Allah” and with an asterik make the clarifications previously elaborated above.
Tim McCaulley
Jacksonville FL
Could you please clarify what word for God was used specifically? Thanks.
It appears God truly opened the door for the Arab world to know the truth of the Gospel as a witness.
Unfortunately, the vast majority will not accept the truth. They have been brainwashed for so long, being told that the Bible has been corrupted, especially by the apostle Paul. They believe this to be the reason God called Muhammad and produced the Koran. They will not likely believe any part of the Gospel.
Roger Charron says:
“Unfortunately, the vast majority will not accept the truth. They have been brainwashed for so long, being told that the Bible has been corrupted, especially by the apostle Paul. They believe this to be the reason God called Muhammad and produced the Koran. They will not likely believe any part of the Gospel.”
My questions for Roger are:
How does the fact that “the vast majority (of Arabic peoples)will not accept the Truth” make them any different than the vast majorities of any other group of people in this world today? (Rev 12:9)
How does the fact that “they have been brainwashed for so long…” differentiate them from any other grouping of humanity extant on this earth? (Jer 17:9)
Put nmore succinctly, how does any unconverted person’s state today differ in any respect from any member of the Eklesia of God prior to their own calling, conviction, repentance, and baptism?
(I Cor 1:27-29)
There is one group of people singled out for special blinding by God (for their own and everybody elses good) and those are the Jews in general and religiously observant practitioners of Judaism in particular. (Rm 11:25, II Cor 3:14-15)
Tim McCaulley
Jacksonville FL
groupis suppossed “brainwashing” any different than, say, the
It is news to me that the Moslems follow Mohamid because of the teachings of the Apostle Paul? They follow Mohamid and the Koran. I always believed that the most Christains believe Paulean theology taught against the laws of God {10 commandments}.The truth of this is that Paul was addressing Judaism and Gnostic teachings that had “Works of Law” beyond what God, Moses, Ezra ,the prophets or Christ ever commanded! If the Moslems really understood the epistles of Paul they would see thru the errors of Judaism, the Gnostics… and their own error! The issue here is not Moslems but the whole world has been taught lies by the Devil so skillfully that for someone to speak the “Plain Truth” he would be called a lunatic!In the “Kingdom of God” the vail will be lifted to a beautiful ending when all mankind will be called and learn directly from “the real” God.Today we have direct access to his throne with no priest or holy man to pray to God for us.”Try it!” YOU WILL LIKE IT! This is the “Work of God.
Jim on the Hill