Apocalypse Unsealed: chapter 11

----------------------------------------------Start of page 147-- Chapter Eleven THE COURSE OF ISLAM The next three chapters are directed specifically to Islam. Chapter 11 and part of Chapter 12 have been interpreted by His Holiness 'Abdu'l-Baha_/1 and have been paraphrased by the writer of this book. The events alluded to are unfamiliar to most western readers, and it is recommended that the references be consulted. The events in the prophecies are correlated in figure 18 [p. 148]. 1 And there was given me a reed like unto a rod: and the angel stood, saying, Rise, and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein. 2 But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months. The Perfect Man is likened to a flute (hollow reed) from which come beautiful melodies played by the Divine Flute Player, God. The rod is the rod of the Divine Shepherd, used to guide the weak. Using the Perfect Man as his cubit,* John is asked to discover *See verse 21:17. the conditions, perfections, behavior, and attributes of those who dwell inside the Holy of Holies. But he is told that the court of the temple, that is, the physical temple, will be overrun by the Gentiles for 42 "months" or 1260 lunar years.Å_/2 ÅA "month" is 30 years. Lunar years are meant because the See Table, Chapter 2. Muslims use the lunar calendar. <G #6> ----------------------------------------------Start of page 148-- +----------------+ | First Woe | | Muhammad | --| 622 AD | | |----------------| | 'Ali | | +----------------+ | | | +----------------+ | | Fall of | | Jerusalem | | | 637 AD | +----------------+ | | | 1 +----------------+ 2 | Rise of | +----------+ +----------------+ 6 | Bani-Umayya | | War | | Beast overcome,| 0 | First beast |----| in |----| persecutes | | 661 AD | | Heaven | | the Bride | l |----------------| +----------+ +----------------+ u | Abu-Sufyan | n +----------------+ a | r | +----------------+ +--------------------------------+ y | Beclouding | | Pure word of God | e | of Islam |----| (the Bride) | a | The Caliph | | flees into wilderness | r +----------------+ +--------------------------------+ s | | | +----------------+ | Rise of | | | Abbasid- | | Turkish Empire | | | Second Beast | | 749 AD | | +----------------+ | | | +----------------+ | | Second Woe | +--------------+ +--------------+ --| The Bab | | Martyrdom | | Earthquake | | 1844 AD |----| of the Bab |----| at | |----------------| | and Quddus | | Shiraz | | Quddus | +--------------+ +--------------+ +----------------+ | | +----------------+ +---------------+ | Seventh Angel | | Temple of God | | Sounds |----| opened in | | Trumpet | | Heaven | +----------------+ +---------------+ | | +----------------+ | Third Woe | | Baha'u'llah | | 1852-3 AD | +----------------+ PROPHECIES TO ISLAM Chapters 11 to 13 Figure 18 ----------------------------------------------Start of page 149-- This is the span of time covered by the dispensation of Muhammad, ending in 1260 AH.* (1260 AH *"AH" means "After the coincides with 1844 AD of the Hegira," the beginning Christian calendar.) Thus John is point of the Muslim being told that the Holy City, calendar. Jerusalem, will be given over to the Gentiles for the duration of the Dispensation of Muhammad. When Jerusalem was conquered by the Muslims early in the seventh century AD, the Christian Bishop Sophronius place a condition upon the bloodless surrender of Jerusalem--that the Jews would be strictly excluded from the Holy Land._/3 During the next twelve hundred years, Palestine gradually became a land of desolation. In the year 1260 AH the Edict of Toleration was promulgated by the Turks_/4 allowing the Jews to reenter the Holy Land, ending the "time of the Gentiles" and the "abomination that makes desolate."_/5 (These events were prophesied by Jesus._/6) Throughout this period the Holy of Holies, that is, the spiritual Law of God, was respected and left inviolate. 3 And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth. 4 These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth. 5 And if any man will hurt them, fire proceedeth out of their mouth, and devoureth their enemies: and if any man will hurt them, he must in this manner be killed. The angel says that God will give power to His two Witnesses, Muhammad and 'Ali, <11:3 #1, 11:3 #2> whose prophecies clothed in sackcloth will prevail for 1260 years.Å They are the two olive ÅA "day" is a year. See trees and the two candlesticks Table, Chapter 2. (sources of spiritual illumination) standing in the service of God. If anyone will hurt them, the power of the ----------------------------------------------Start of page 150-- Law will come from their mouths and their enemies will be exterminated. Clothed in sackcloth or in old raiment means that, in the beginning, their cause will not appear new. Muhammad's spiritual law (love, humility, detachment, moderation, justice, reverence, etc.) corresponds to that of the Gospel, while most of the laws relating to the material world of man (fasting, forms of worship and prayer, business transactions, indemnities, marriage, divorce, slavery, etc.) correspond to the Pentateuch. Olive trees_/7 refers to the fact that lamps were fueled by olive oil in the first century and are, therefore, like candlesticks, sources of spiritual illumination. The enemies of Muhammad and 'Ali were vanquished and put to flight by the power of their words. 6 These have power to shut heaven, that it rain not in the days of their prophecy: and have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to smite the earth with all plagues, as often as they will. 7 And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them. 8 And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified. The verses say that They will have the power to cut off the bounties of heaven (rain) and will have the same Prophethood as Moses; that is, to turn the waters into blood_/8 and to smite the earth with all plagues as often as they will._/9 And after they have performed that which they were commanded, the beast (the Bani-Umayyad dynasty)_/10 that ascends out of the pit of error will arise against the religion of Muhammad and the reality of 'Ali and gain the victory, so that the virtues and perfections diffused by the power of these two Witnesses will be entirely dispelled. The religion of God will lie as a body without spirit in the region ----------------------------------------------Start of page 151-- of the Middle East* that is under *RSV translates the word under the control of the Bani- "spiritually" in verse 8 Umayya._/11 as "allegorically." Turning waters into blood means that that which was the cause of their life, through their ignorance and pride, became the cause of their death. To smite the earth with plagues means that they have the power to chastise, correct, and educate the tyrannical and bloodthirsty. Rain in this case means bounty from heaven. To kill them means to destroy the spiritual reality of their teachings. 9 And they of the people and kindreds and tongues and nations shall see their dead bodies three days and an half and shall not suffer their dead bodies to be put in graves. 10 And they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoice over them, and make merry, and shall send gifts one to another; because these two prophets tormented them that dwelt on the earth. 11 And after three days and an half the Spirit of life from God entered into them, and they stood upon their feet; and great fear fell upon them which saw them. A "day" is also a "time" or 360 years.Å Therefore three days and a Å1 "day" = 1 "year" = 360 half are 1260 years. The prophecy years = 1 "time." See says that the nations, tribes, and Table, Chapter 2. peoples of Islam will make a spectacle of the Religion of God, only clinging to it in an outward appearance and not allowing the "body" of observances to be destroyed. This they will do for 1260 years, the duration of the Dispensation of Muhammad. The other nations of the earth will rejoice to see the corruption of morals that will infect the people of Islam, and they will assist each other (give gifts) because the two Prophets had been a torment to them. But after 1260 years the Divine teachings, heavenly virtues, perfections, and spiritual bounties of Muhammad and 'Ali will again be renewed by the appearance of the Bab and Janabi- ----------------------------------------------Start of page 152-- Quddus._/12 <11:3 #1, 11:11-14> Great fear will seize the populace. The Religion of God was renewed by the Bab with the help of Quddus and His other disciples during His six-year ministry beginning May 23, 1844 AD. His Declaration that He was the One foretold in numerous prophecies of Islam and other Faiths, and that He was the Forerunner of the Promised One of All Ages (Baha'u'llah) caused great fear among the Muslims, leading to armed attacks, confiscation of property, torture and martyrdom of the followers of the Bab. As 'Ali was to Muhammad, Quddus was to the Bab. He was the Bab's promoter and most devoted disciple, second only to the Bab in spiritual rank among His disciples. The disciples of the Bab were called the Eighteen Letters of the Living. 12 And they heard a great voice from heaven saying unto them, Come up hither. And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud; and their enemies beheld them. 13 And the same hour was there a great earthquake, and the tenth part of the city fell, and in the earthquake were slain of men seven thousand: and the remnand were affrighted, and gave glory to the God of heaven. 14 The second woe is past; and, behold, the third woe cometh quickly. The voice is from the invisible heaven. They heard the voice of God saying, "You have performed all that was proper and fitting in delivering the teachings and glad tidings, you have given My message to the people and raised the call of God, and have accomplished your duty. Now, like Christ, you must sacrifice your life for the Well-Beloved, and be martyrs." --'Abdu'l-Baha_/13 <11 #1> The Bab and Quddus ascended to heaven on a "cloud of glory." The Bab was publicly executed by a firing squad of 750 soldiers on July 9, 1850, the 15th of Sha'ban 1266 AH. The body of Quddus was destroyed by fire. Many of their enemies "beheld them," that is, they testified to their greatness and perfection,. ----------------------------------------------Start of page 153-- The earthquake prophesied in verse 13 occurred in Shiraz, the birthplace of the Bab, in the year 1268 AH._/14 Those who were not killed were frightened, lamenting, praying, and glorifying God. The second woe, the Advent of the Bab, is past. The third woe, the Advent of Baha'u'llah, will follow shortly.* <11:3 #1, G #6, *The third woe appeared in 11:14 #1, 9:12 #1> the year Nine of the Babi Dispensation, 1269 AH. The "hour" is the "time of the end." See <11:13> <9:12> 15 And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ, and he shall reign for ever and ever. 16 And the four and twenty elders, which sat before God on their seats, fell upon their faces, and worshipped god, 17 Saying, We give thee thanks, O Lord God Almighty, which art, and wast, and art to come; because thou hast taken to thee thy great power, and hast reigned. The word "Christ" comes form the Greek _Christos_, meaning Messiah, King, or Anointed One._/15 All of God's Manifestations are Anointed Ones. It is in this sense of the word that Baha'u'llah asks of God: "Make this known unto them (the servants of God), that nothing whatsoever may shut them out from Thy Beauty, in these days whereon the Christ exclaimeth: 'All dominion is Thine O Thou Begetter of the Spirit (Jesus)..."_/16 Verse 15 reasserts that the Kingdom of God on earth will follow the blast of the seventh angel._/17 18 And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy ----------------------------------------------Start of page 154-- them which destroy the earth. 19 And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail. The prophecy says that with the seventh blast, the nations will be angry because God's teachings oppose the passions of the other peoples, and all who do not follow His precepts will be deprived of His everlasting bounty, and veiled from the light of the Sun of Reality. At that time, those who are deprived of the spirit of the love of God and do not have a share of the sanctified eternal life will arise and receive that which they deserve. The righteous_/18 will be distinguished by endless bounty, making them shine on the horizon of eternal honor. At that time the neglectful will be deprived, making manifest the blindness of the blind and the ignorance of the people of error. The temple of God in heaven will be opened and the Divine teachings will be diffused in all directions. The Book of His Testament and the Epistle of the Covenant_/19 <11:13 #1, 11:13 #2> will be established. There will be a great storm of the spirit. There will flash the lightnings of the anger and the wrath of God, the thunder of the violation of the Covenant, and even those who professed belief will fall into trials and temptations. <G #8> (The Covenant was broken by the archbreaker of the Covenant, Mirza Muhammad-'Ali, a half-brother of 'Abdu'l-Baha. _God Passes By_, p. 246.) Notes to Chapter Eleven 1. _Some Answered Questions_, Chapters XI and XIII. <11 #1; 12 #1> 2. The year 1260 also figures prominently in the history of the Christian Church. The twelfth century Calabrian abbot, Joachim ----------------------------------------------Start of page 155-- of Flora, deduced that the 1260 days meant that the end of the papacy would occur in 1260 AD. This interpretation had serious repercussion on the Church and influenced the arguments of early Protestants. (Reference 14, pp. 217, 233, 241.) 3. See Reference 12, p. 127. 4. The exact date of the Edict of Toleration was 21 March 1844 AD. In the Jewish calendar this date is the first of Nisan. It was exactly 2300 years from the first of Nisan, 457 BC, the day on which Ezra left Babylon in compliance with the decree given in the seventh year of Artaxerxes. This date figures prominently in the Book of Daniel. (See Appendix B of this book.) The number of days from the fall of Constantinople until the Edict of Toleration was 142,731. The date of the second woe was the Declaration of the Bab, May 13, 1844 AD, the 5th day of Jamadiyu'l-Avval, 1260 AH. This date also corresponds with the birth of 'Abdu'l-Baha, designated by Baha'u'llah as the Center of the Covenant and the Mystery of God. 5. See Daniel 8:14 and Luke 21:20. Israel's call to return will be given by the Lord of Hosts, Baha'u'llah. (Isaiah 5:24-26) 6. Matthew 24:15, 29, 30; Mark 13:10, 14, 24-27; Luke 21:20, 24-28. 7. The dyad of olive trees is a symbol also used in Zechariah 4:3, 11-14 to represent the Bab and Baha'u'llah. 8. Exodus 4:9. See also Psalm 72:6. 9. Exodus 4:21. 10. Many Biblical scholars equate the "beast" with the so-called "Antichrist." (See II Thessalonians 2:1-4.) The doctrine of the Antichrist rests upon questionable premises, especially in view of I John 2:18, 22, 4:3. Although the Bani-Umayyad dynasty can be considered as an Antichrist in the sense of I John 2:22, it was composed of a group of rulers instead of a single individual. If there ever was such an individual it was Haji Siyyid Muhammad-i-Isfahani who is often called the "Antichrist of the Baha'i Revelation" because of his actions against Baha'u'llah and His Revelation. (Reference 21, p. 233.) The "antichrists" of II John, verse [1:]7 were the Gnostics who believed that Jesus was actually a god and only seemed to have come in the flesh. (Reference 14, p. 65.) 11. In the allegory of the _Zohar_, Egypt is the home of spiritual darkness. (Reference 4, p. 108.) In Gnostic writings, Egypt symbolizes the material world. (Reference 3, p. 118.) ----------------------------------------------Start of page 156-- 12. See _The Dawn-Breakers_. 13. _Some Answered Questions_, p. 64. 14. The earthquake of 1268 AH was accompanied by cholera, famine, and havoc. God Passes By_, p. 53; _Some Answered Questions_, p. 65. In addition to the earthquake described in Revelation 11:13, an earthquake shook Constantinople (Istanbul), the seat of the caliphate, on the day following the martyrdom of the Bab. "Juillet.--Le 10, 3h. 10 m. du matin, a Udine, forte secousse ondulatoire de quelque duree. Entre 3 et 4 heures du matin, a Trieste and Goritz, tremblement ondulatoire. Dans le courand du jour, deux nouvelles secouses legeres a Goritz. "Le meme jour, un peu avant 5 heures du matin, a Constantinople, une secousse du N. au S., sans dommages. 'Ya-t-il la plus d'un fait? C'est peu probable. La difference des longitudes and l'inexactitude des heures indiquees peuvent laisser supposer l'identite. "Je lis encoure dans la lettre de M. Meister: 'nuit du au 15 (sic) entre 11 heures du soir and 8 heures du matin, 6 secousses, dont la plus forte a 2 h. 45m.' S'agit-il du 11 au 12, et de Goritz, Trieste ou Constantinople?"--Reference 34. 15. Originally "messiah" or "anointed one" was simply a king. for example, Cyrus is called an anointed one in Isaiah 45:1. The term gradually became identified with the Messiah of the Age of Redemption. The greek rendering, _Christos_, became simply a proper name in early Christendom. The title "Kyrios" was the most popular designation of Jesus, characterizing Him as a mystery deity. (Reference 20, pp. 81, 86, 90, 93, 176, and 216 n. 38.) 16. _Prayers and Meditations of Baha'u'llah_, p. 68. 17. See Revelations 10:7. 18. In the early Church the term "prophet" meant a preacher. (Reference 14, p. 56.) 19. _God Passes By_, p. 239, 249. Shoghi Effendi names 'Abdu'l-Baha as the "Ark of His (God's) Testament."