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Bible Prophecies Fulfilled in the Bahá'í Revelation

[Three Signs | False Prophets | The Name  | The Place | Why Rejected| Spiritual Return | Miracles | Good Shepherd ]

Even though in the Gospel, it is clearly written that except the Father no one knows the exact “Day & Hour” (Mat 24:36) of Christ's return, many Biblical prophecies clearly predicted that He will return on the Year 1844; and they can be confirmed in retrospect with amazing accuracy.

The Three Signs

Jesus gave three very extraordinary signs for His second coming and all of these three prophecies have been fulfilled in the Year 1844.

These are the three signs and their fulfillments.

1. The First: “And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.” (Matthew 24:14)

This prophecy was fulfilled in the Year 1844 when the missionaries preached the Bible in the last nations of Central Africa and Tibet in China. Now, if you go to any nation in this world, you will find at least few Christians with the “gospel of the kingdom”. The following two books confirm to this assertion:

“Christian missions began their activities amongst the African people in 1844.” (Year Book Guide to East Africa; Robert Hale Ltd).

“It was in 1842 that five treaty-ports in China were opened to commerce and to missions - advance steps in the opening of all China to the Gospel...” (Our Day in the Light of Prophecy; Spicer p.21).

2. The second:  “When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand)” (Matthew 24:15)

This is what is written in Daniel:

“How long shall be the vision concerning the daily sacrifice, and the transgression of desolation, to give both the sanctuary and the host to be trodden under foot? And He said unto me, Unto 2300 days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed. ... Understand, O son of man: for at the time of the end shall be the vision.” (Daniel 8:13-14;17)

In order to understand this, we must first understand that one-day means one-year according to the Bible prophecies. Otherwise, if we take this literally, this prophecy of return would have already come to pass in only 2300 days (or in about 6 years). But, according to the Bible:

“I have appointed thee each day for a year.” (Ezekiel 4:6)

“each day for a year . . . ” (Numbers 14:34)

This is from the going forth of the commandment to restore and build Jerusalem ... (Daniel9:24). The commandment to restore Jerusalem was issued by the Edict of King Artaxerxes in 457 B.C. (Ezra 7). Thus:

2300 days = 2300 years ...
457 B.C. + 2300 years = 1844 A.D.!!! (1843 + 1 for "0" A.D.)

Note: The 2300 “evenings and mornings” prophecy of Daniel 8:14 refers to exactly 2300 solar years and begins at the first of the Jewish month of Nissan 457 B.C.. The starting point of this and other prophecies is revealed by Gabriel in Daniel 9:25: “the issuing of the decree to rebuild and restore Jerusalem ... ”

3. The third is that the Jews shall return to their land after a long exile:

“And they [the Jews] shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles [non-Jews], until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.” (Luke21:24).

In Judaism, it was predicted that after 2,520 years of exile (Leviticus 26:14-33) the Jews would be free. 2,520 years from the captivity of King Manasseh (and the tribe of Judah) in 677 - 676 B.C. by Esarhaddon, the king of Assyria and Babylon was 1844 A.D. (2,520-676).

Note: On March 21 (which also is the Bahá'í New Year - called Naw Ruz), 1844, in Persia, the Turkish government (Turkey then controlled Palestine) signed into law “The Edict of Toleration”.  This edict allowed the Jews to worship freely and return home to the Promised Land (Palestine) after exactly 2,520 prophesied years!

After they rejected Christ, in or around 70 A.D., the Jews were expelled from the Holy Land by the Romans. Ever since then, they did not have a country they could call home.

Some went where there was economic gain, some may have had relatives in other places, and some just settled where the local population would tolerate them (or the local population was tolerable).

Ever since then, Israel had a law, but no state; a book, but no home. Israel was trodden by Gentiles (non-Jews) -- first by the Romans [non-Jews] then, later, by the 'Arabs [non-Jews], Persians [non-Jews] and Turks [non-Jews] just as Jesus had predicted.

During all of Medieval history, the Jewish people had to face mutual hostility by both Christians and Muslims alike; they were caught between the main combatants, and cut by both swords.

It was only in 1844 that the Ottoman Empire signed an Edict of Toleration to give the Jews an equal protection under the law in the Holy Land. Then, 100 years later, in 1948, British (who was colonizing Israel) gave them their own nation. Now the Jews have a country in this world where they could call home.

This is a historical fact that no impartial reader could ignore or deny.

Now, let's go back to the numbers:

1844 is also equal to 1260 of Hejira (Islamic Calendar).

It was also prophesied that the “Gentiles” (that's non-Jews) “shall ...tread [Jerusalem] under foot forty and two months” (Revelation 11:2), which is equal to 1260. It is also a historical fact that the Palestinians (that's non-Jews) tread Jerusalem until 1260 Hejira Islamic Calendar (or 1844 European Calendar). 

“And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days [1260]” (Revelation 12:6).

Hejira means fleeing in Arabic. Thus from the time Mohamed's Hejira from Mecca to Medina, that is, from the revelation of Islam, to the time of the next revelation is 1260 years.

In fact, the number 1260 (42 months = 3.5 x 12 months) appears in a number of times in the Revelation of St. John (11:2; 11:9; 11:11; 12:6; 12:14; 13:5)

Daniel also had predicted the fulfillment of the prophecy on the same year: “a time, times and half a time” (Daniel 7:25; Daniel 12:7)

As you can see, this 1260 day time period is referred to 8 times in the Bible's prophecies:
3 times (as a time, times, and half a time);
3 times (as 42 months); and
2 times (as 1260 days).

Based on the 30-day calendar used by the Jews, these time periods are all the same amount of time: 3 1/2 years = 42 months = 1260 days.

According to IslamiCity.com, online Hijri-Gregorian Converter, 1260 Hijri is 1844.

Based on this book, The Indian Calendar: With Tables for the Conversion of Hindu and Muhammadan you can also make your own calculation.

Since the Muhammadan year invariably begins with the Heliacal rising of the moon or her first observed appearance on the Western horizon, shortly after the sunset, following the new moon, 1 year is 354 days, and of 355 in leap years. 1 extra day is added every 30 years to the last month 11 times in a cycle of 30 years. Therefore, 30 years are equal to (354 x 30 + 11) = 10,631 days and the mean length of the year is 354 days.

1 year of Hijrais equal to 0.96984126975 of a Gregorian year;

and, conversely, 1 Gregorian year = 1.0310965631 years of the Hijra.

Therefore, to convert a date in the Christian solar calendar to its equal Muslim lunar equivalent, we need to recall that the Hijira occurred in 622AD.
Thus, 1844 AD is (1844-622) X (1.0310965631) = 1260 AH.

All these calculations are bringing us to the Year 1844 AD (or 1260 AH) and 1844 AD is the exact Year that the Bahá'í Faith started.

The False Prophets

Jesus then warns against false prophets

Jesus has clearly warned His followers repeatedly not to listen to anyone who comes in *Christ's* Name when they see these signs fulfilled.

First, He said, in His second coming, He doubts if there would be any faith left on earth:

  “. . .Nevertheless, when the Son of man cometh, shall He find faith on the earth?”  (Luke 18:8)

  “And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold”   (Matthew 24:12)

Then, in His ominous warnings, He says:

“Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.” (Matthew 7:15)

“Behold, I have told you before.
Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, He [Jesus] is in the desert; go not forth: behold, He is in the secret chambers; believe it not.” (Matthew 24:25-6)

“For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and miracles to deceive even the elect --if that were possible.” (Matthew 24:24)  

Read carefully and you will understand. Jesus is warning against false prophets that will come in His Name.

The term prophet means someone who predicts the future. How often have we heard false prophets whose predictions have not come to pass? Haven't we heard many false prophets in Jesus' Name predicting that the world was going to end in the year 2000? Has the world ended in the year 2000? This becomes even more clear, specially, when seen in the mirror of what had happened in Uganda by Cult leader Joseph David Kibwetere, Jim Jones cult in Guyana, Koresh' in Waco, Texas, and many others that have misled and are still misleading many Christian communities all in *Jesus'* name.

Has not Christ warned?

“At that time if anyone says to you, `Look, here is the Christ!' or, `Look, there He is!' do not believe it. 
For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform signs and miracles to deceive the elect --if that were possible. 
So be on your guard; I have told you everything ahead of time.” (Mark 13:21-23)  

 There are now over 40,000 Christian sects and denominations each one is claiming to teach the truth --many of them claim that they could perform signs and miracles. If the truth is one, why are they divided into so many irreconcilable sects? Hasn’t Jesus warned against the hypocrites that will come in His Name? 

Jesus has repeatedly warned us that, in spite of the glorious way of divine salvation, only few will find it and many Christians will be lost. “Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it” (Matt. 7:13-14). . . “Then said one unto Him, Lord, are there few that be saved? And He said unto them, Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able” (Luke 13:23-24). “So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen” (Matt. 20:16). . .  “I tell you, He will give them justice quickly. But when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on earth?” (Luke 18:8). . . “And just as it happened in the days of Noah, so it will be also in the days of the Son of Man” (Luke 17:26)

If His Name is going to be used by the false prophets and if these false prophets are going to mislead the majority of Christians, then He must come with a different Name and only few will find Him...

...this will take us to the next question.  

Why Name Change?

As we shall see in retrospect, Jesus has told us that He will come with a different name, namely, “Glory of His Father” (Matthew 16:27), that is to say,“Glory of God” or in Arabic “Bahá'u'lláh”. Bahá means Glory and Alláh means God. From these Scriptures, any unbiased observer can see that the false prophets will come in Jesus' Name and Jesus will come in the Name of the Glory of God or Bahá'u'lláh.

First, let's go back when Jesus came the first time:

When Christ was born, His parents named Him Jesus .  But, the Jewish prophecy foretold the coming of one called, “Emmanuel” (Isaiah 7:14). Joseph, not bound by a literal understanding of that prophecy, called His son, “Jesus” and not Emmanuel! Why then do many Christians demand the Name “Jesus” upon His return?

Now, as mentioned above, according to the Bible, Jesus has said that He shall come in “Glory of His Father”:

“For the Son of man shall come in the glory of His Father with His angels; and then He shall reward every man according to His works.”   (Matthew 16:27)

Bahá'u'lláh is Glory of God in Arabic as well as in Aramaic. In fact, Bahá'u'lláh was mentioned by Name when the Bible was translated into an Arabic language for the Arab speaking Christians before the coming of Bahá'u'lláh. But, it was retranslated again after the coming of Bahá'u'lláh.

In any case, according to Wikipedia, Aramaic was the language spoken by Jesus and His disciples . In Aramaic, Elah means God and Elahi means 'my God' and  Glory of God  is Beha-Elah. In fact, Jesus' last word before He died at the cross was  “Elohi Elohi, lama sabachthani?” (Mark 15:34). When the Bible was first translated into Geez (ancient language of the Ethiopians and Eritreans), it written: "ኤሎሄ ኤሎሄ ላማ ሰበቅታኒ?" ("elohe elohe lama sabachthani?"). The exact words remained in Geez for two thousand years.

If the language of Jesus and His disciples was Aramaic, it is not only in the above mentioned verse that Bahá'u'lláh is mentioned by name, we can also see "Beha-Elah" mentioned by Name in a number of places in the Old and the New Testament. ^{[see footnote]}

Revelation 15:8 
“And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God [Behá’-ʼĔlāh] and from His power, and no one could enter the temple until the seven plagues of the seven angels were completed.” 
Revelation 15:7-8

Revelation 21:11 
“It shone with the glory of God [Behá’-ʼĔlāh], and its brilliance was like that of a very precious jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal.” 
Revelation 21:10-12

Revelation 21:23 
“The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God [Behá’-ʼĔlāh] gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp.” 
Revelation 21:22-24

In the Old Testament, the prophet Isaiah had also predicted that He will come with a New Name: “and thou shalt be called by a New Name.” (62:2)

If the Messiah is going to come with a New Name, therefore, His followers must also be called with a new name:

“The Lord God shall. . . call His servants by another name.” (Isaiah 65:15)

That Isaiah is speaking of the time of the end and not of the time of Christ's first coming, is confirmed by the New Testament, Book of Revelation, where a new name is, once again, promised for the followers of Christ in the Day of His return:

1. “To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth save he that receiveth it.” (Rev. 2:17)

2. “I will write upon him (that overcometh) My New Name.” (Rev.3:12)

3. “I will confess his (new) name before My Father...” (Rev.3:5).

4. “I will not blot out his (new) name out of the book of life...” (Rev.3:5)

5. “These things saith He that is holy, He that is true, He that hath the key of David, He that openeth and no man shutteth...I have  set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou... hast not denied My Name.” (Rev. 3:7).

John then repeatedly writes: “He that hath an ear, let him hear...” (2:7; 2:11; 2:17; 2:29, 3:6; 3:13; 3:22)

In these Holy words, God has promised that in the Day of His return, Christ will have “a new Name”, He will be “the Holy” and the “True Key”, and that He will “open the door” to anyone who has “ears to hear”, and who will not deny His “new Name”.  

The Place  

Bahá'u'lláh came from Elam, Persia, and  His resting place  is now in Bahji, Israel and the shrine of His forerunner, the Bab, is in Mount Carmel. For Bahá'ís these two are most holy spots on Earth are Bahji and Mount Carmel. 

The Bible has many prophesies regarding Elam (today Iran, according the Encarta Encyclopedia) and Mount Carmel of Israel.

““I will set My throne in Elam and destroy her king and officials," declares the Lord.” (Jeremiah 49:38)

“that I was at Shu '-shan in the palace, which is in the province of Elam; and I saw in a vision . . .”(Daniel 8:2)

Regarding the mountain of the Lord, Isaiah has predicted:

“it will burst into bloom; it will rejoice greatly and shout for joy. The glory of Lebanon will be given to it, the splendor of Carmel and Sharon; they will see the * glory of the Lord*, the splendor of our God.” (Isaiah 35:2)

Moreover, predicting the future “splendor of Mount Carmel”, Isaiah has written:  

“And it shall come to pass in the Last Days, that the mountain of the Lord's house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it.” (Isaiah 2:2)

It is a historical fact that Israel was arid desert until Bahá'u'lláh came to it.  After Bahá'u'lláh came, however, it has burst into bloom .

This is what was prophesied:

“In that Day also He shall come even to thee from Assyria, and from the fortified cities, and from the fortress even to the river, and from sea to sea, and from mountain to mountain.” (Micah 7:12)

And this is what happened:

“... He shall come even to thee from Assyria,” -That is Persia which is the birthplace of Bahá'u'lláh

“...and from the fortified cities,” - Bahá'u'lláh was exiled first to Constantinople and then to Akka in Israel - both are fortified cities.

“... and from the fortress even to the river,” - Bahá'u'lláh went from the prison where He was held for two years in Akka, Israel, to an island in a river called Na'mayn

“...and from sea to sea ” - On the way to Constantinople, Bahá'u'lláh made the last part of His journey by way of the Black Sea . And on His way to Akka, Bahá'u'lláh made the last part of that journey by way of the Mediterranean Sea.

“...and from mountain to mountain.” - Prior to beginning His public mission, Bahá'u'lláh withdrew (just as Jesus did) to commune with God in the Kurdistani mountains near Baghdad. (This was His first place of exile). When He returned to Baghdad, He announced His mission publicly to the people. The second mountain was Mount Carmel in Israel near Haifa, where He journeyed to and where the seat of Bahá'í world center is located - Universal House of Justice.

Bahá'ís live in more than 100,000 localities and they come from every race, nation, ethnic group, religious background, culture, profession, and social or economic background. They all come together to worship at the Holy Land, just as it was predicted:

“And they shall come from the east, and from the west, and from the north, and from the south, and shall sit down in the kingdom of God.” (Luke 13:29)

It has also been predicted that He will come from

the way of the East:

“... the glory of the God of Israel came from the way of the east.” (Ezekiel 43:2)

The Glory of God (Bahá'u'lláh) came to Israel from Persia, which is located East of Israel. The Lord's coming from the East is also mentioned in many places of the Old Testament and the New ( Ezekiel 10:19; Isaiah 46:11;  Matthew 24:27, Revelation 7:2; Revelation 16:12)

“Who raised up the righteous Man from the east, called Him to His foot, gave the nations before Him, and made Him rule over kings? He gave them as the dust to His sword, and as driven stubble to His bow.” (Isaiah 41:2)  

Why was He Rejected?

Why didn't many people accept Bahá'u'lláh then?

Today, people claim that the Scriptures are only fiction; thus, they are busy and obsessed with materialism and do not care at all regarding the “return” and they are busy eating, drinking, buying, selling, building, exchanging marriages; while, others complaining why God is failing to intervene.  In Luke 17:25-30, when Jesus was speaking about His second coming, He had predicted that He will suffer many things and will be rejected by this generation:

25. But first must He suffer many things, and be rejected of this generation.
26. And as it was in the days of Noah, so shall it be also in the Days of the Son of man.
27. They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all.
28. Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they built;
29. But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all.
30. Even thus shall it be in the Day when the Son of man is revealed.

Just as in the days of Noah, Bahá'u'lláh has been rejected by this generation.

Moreover, Jesus has also said that He will come “like a Thief in the night” (1 Thessalonians 5:2) 

“But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let His house be broken into.  So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an Hour when you do not expect Him.” (Matthew 24:43-44)

“But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what Hour the thief was coming, he would not have let His house be broken into.  You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an Hour when you do not expect Him.” (Luke 12:39-40)

The owner of the house only knows after the Thief has already left.  

He also said that He will come like “the Bridegroom” who comes at unexpected time and finds His virgins unprepared.

“But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut.” (Matthew 25:10)

The Great Disappointment
Based on these predictions many Christian scholars and clergymen confidently predicted that Jesus would physically return between 1843 and 1844. When Jesus did not physically return from the physical heaven, however, the historians dubbed this period in the Christian history as the time of “The Great Disappointment.”

William Miller, a Baptist preacher, organized an Adventist group known as the Millerites in anticipation of Christ's return in 1843/1844. Today's Seventh Day Adventist Church and other Adventist churches as well trace their origins to William Miller and His teachings.

In the middle of the 19th century, a Christian Adventist group known as The Templars moved thousands of miles from their homeland in Germany to the foot of Mount Carmel in Palestine to await the return of the physical Jesus. Their descendants lived there until recent years.

Why then the world did not end in 1844? (Matthew 24:3).

Note:* “End of the World” ... The first Christian Bibles were written in Greek. The original Greek word used for “world” was “aion” - which means “age” or “Messianic period” - and did not suggest the end of the “physical” world as some Christians who espouse a literal reading of the Bible (in its translated English versions) assert. The Greek word for the literal, physical world would have been “kosmos,” but was never used in the Bible regarding the end times.  

The Spiritual Return

The only reason they did not accept Bahá'u'lláh (the Glory of God) was because He did not come from heaven. Even in Christ's first coming, even though He was born form His mother's womb, He said that He came down from heaven.

Again, let the Bible speak for itself:

“And they said, Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? how is it then that He saith, I came down from heaven?” (John 6:42)

Why do Christians then demand that Jesus must return physically from the physical heaven?

Furthermore, in the Old Testament, it was predicted that Elijah will come before the Messiah:

“See, I will send you the prophet Elijah before that great and dreadful Day of the LORD comes.”  (Malachi 4:5)

But, when His disciples asked Christ why Elijah did not come first,  Jesus replied To be sure, Elijah comes and will restore all things. But I tell you, Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him, but have done to him everything they wished. In the same way the Son of Man is going to suffer at their hands. Then the disciples understood that He was talking to them about John the Baptist. (Matthew 17:11-13)

Now, the Jews knew that Elijah did not die; because, according the Old Testament, He was physically taken into the physical heaven:

“As they were walking along and talking together, suddenly a chariot of fire and horses of fire appeared and separated the two of them, and Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind.”  (2 Kings 2:11)

Therefore, the Jews were waiting for Elijah to return from the physical heaven. But Jesus said John the Baptist is the return of Elijah.

Then, we read,

“They asked him [John the Baptist], Then who are you? Are you Elijah? He said, I am not.” (John 1:19-21)

This appears to be a contradiction. Jesus says John the Baptist is Elijah and John the Baptist says I am not Elijah. Which one of them is telling the truth?

The answer is very simple. John the Baptist is the spiritual return of Elijah. The Jews were expecting the physical Elijah to come down from the physical heaven as He has gone up. However, in the Gospel according to Luke, John the Baptist did not come down from the physical heaven. In fact, He was the son of Elizabeth and Zachariah. (Luke 1:13). Even though Elijah and John the Baptist are different physically, they are one in Spirit. Therefore, it is clear, just as John the Baptist is the Spiritual return of Elajah, Bahá'u'lláh is also the Spiritual return of Jesus Christ. Therefore, Bahá'u'lláh and Jesus are one in Spirit.

Similarly, Jesus rejects that He is the Son of David (Luke 20:41).  The Jews were expecting Christ (the Messiah) to be the fulfillment of the prophecy that He will come from of the seed of David (2 Samuel 7:12–16). Elsewhere, Paul says, “As to His earthly life [Christ Jesus] was a descendant of David” (Romans 1:3).  At first, the latter appears to contradict the former.  The truth is Jesus is not the physical Son of David; but, he is the spiritual son of David. 

The Miracles

How about the rolling up of the heavens, the darkening of the sun and the moon, and the coming down of the New Jerusalem from heaven? 

The Holy Scriptures could have many meanings and, at the same time, they all could be true interpretations. Briefly these are some of the symbolic terms used in the Holy Scriptures.

Among the biggest signs of the Day of the coming of the Kingdom of God on earth prophesied by all three greatest Middle Eastern religions (Judaism, Christianity, and Islam) are:

1. The rolling up of the heavens.
2. The darkening of the sun, the moon, and the falling of the stars
5. The resurrection of the dead from their tombs.
6. Vicious animals will make peace with grazing animals.
7. They will share the same pasture and food.
8. The children will play with poisonous serpents.
9. The coming down of a New City from heaven

Besides a mere mention of these, there is no explanation given in any of the Holy Scriptures where they are mentioned. Consequently, for thousands of years, the Christians could not convince the Jews that Jesus was the promised Messiah in their books because they do not know the explanation of these prophecies. Some said that those promises were literal statements and not subject to interpretation and must therefore be fulfilled outwardly. Others stated that those promises were symbolic and that they were words requiring interpretation in order that their real meaning might thereby become evident; i.e., that the Seal of the Book might be opened in the latter Days.

Since the literal fulfillment of these prophecies would mean contradictory to nature and science, the hermeneutics of these verses that leave open a different interpretation seems more viable than their literal fulfillment. 

The Resurrection of the Dead

First, let it be clear, there is a big difference between a physical body and a spiritual body.

In John, we read the following words:

“Whoso eateth My flesh, and drinketh My blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last Day.
For My flesh is meat indeed, and My blood is drink indeed.
He that eateth My flesh, and drinketh My blood, dwelleth in Me, and I in him.” (John 6:54-6)

Now, is Jesus talking about physical blood and physical flesh or spiritual? This obviously does not mean that the disciples were eating Jesus' flesh and drinking His blood. 

Let's say, for example, there were some cannibals in some remote islands. Let's say, those first Christian missionaries that went there to preach the Gospel of Christ were all cannibalized . On the second attempt, the second group of evangelist were able to convert the cannibals to accept Jesus Christ.

The questions is, who will be resurrected on the Day of the resurrection? The cannibals or the evangelists that were eaten by the cannibals?

Therefore, the resurrection of the dead doesn't mean the physical resurrection of the dead body. There are compelling evidences in the Bible that support to the spiritual meaning of the resurrection. Thus, whenever Jesus says "dead", He only meant "spiritual death", not "physical death". For example, we read in the gospel: 

“...another of His disciples said unto Him, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father.  But Jesus said unto him, Follow Me; and let the dead bury their dead.” (Matt. 8:21-2)

This verse does not mean physically dead people burying another dead man. It only means spiritually dead people bury their physically and spiritually dead man.

St. Paul says:

“They are buried as natural human bodies, but they will be raised as spiritual bodies. For just as there are natural bodies, there are also spiritual bodies.” (1 Corinthians 15:44)

He also teaches that the body perishes:

“What is sown is perishable….” (1 Corinthians 15:42)

“Now I declare to you, brothers, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable.” (1 Corinthians 15:50)

With these explanations, the meaning of “The dead shall arise from their tombs” is the spiritually dead people arising from their tombs of heedlessness.

Then again, we read:

“Jesus said to her, I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?” (John 11:25)

Even though in these verse, it says that Jesus “hath abolished death” with the light of the gospel, all Christians have been dying ever since the beginning of Christianity. Therefore, there is a big difference between a spiritual death and a physical death.

Moreover, while hanging on the cross, Jesus told to one of the thieves:

“Today you will be with Me in Paradise” (Luke 23:43)

How is that possible to enter into Paradise before the second coming of Christ?

All these verses indicate that if we believe in Jesus Christ, we will never die (spiritually). 

Therefore, the meaning of resurrection is the raising of spiritually dead people and giving them a spiritual life.

On Mathew 24, as the signs of His return, Jesus had predicted the rolling up of the heavens, darkening of the sun and the moon, and the falling of the stars.

In John 8:12, it is written,

“Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth Me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.” 

Here, Jesus is telling us that He is the light of the world. In fact, Jesus refers Himself as the Light of the World in a number of places (Matthew 5:14; John 1:4; John 3:19; John 9:5; John 12:35; John 12:36; John 12:46; 1 John 1:6)

This doesn't mean that Jesus is a physical light of the world. It simply means that He is a spritual light of the world.

These prophecies about the sun, moon and the stars should also be symbolic. Therefore, when Jesus says the sun will be darkened, He is not speaking about turning the physical sun into complete darkness. The sun shall be darkened means the truth will disappear. Now that we have over 40,000 Christian sects and denominations each claiming to interpret the truth, this prophecy has been fulfilled.

Similarly, these prophecies about the heavens, the moon and the stars should be symbolic. 

After the sun goes down, it is the moon and the stars that give us the natural light. So, after Jesus died, it was the priests and the preachers that were giving us the spiritual light. Therefore, the meaning of 'the stars shall fall from heaven' means the priests, that were heavenly and spiritual, will fall and become earthly and physical. Since the moon does not have its own light and since it only reflects the light from the sun, once the truth disappears, it means, the preachers and the teachers shall not teach the truth.

Adding the meaning of these metaphors together, the rolling up of the heavens also means the rolling up of religions and their being cleft asunder into many divisions. Otherwise, if we take the darkening of the moon literally, if the stars fall on earth and if the sun stops giving light for even one second, the entire solar system will disintegrate and there will not be earth anymore, even if one star falls on this earth. Where will then be the kingdom of God established?
 

“The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them.” (Isaiah 11:6)

By their nature since these animals cannot mingle and associate with each other in kindness and love, therefore, this prophecy symbolizes unity and agreement of races, nations, and peoples. It means the agreement of races, nations and peoples who will come together in attitudes and intelligence, illumination and spirituality.  It means ferocious and contending religions, hostile creeds and divergent beliefs will reconcile and associate overcoming their former hatred and antagonisms.

The Faith of Bahá'u'lláh has united all religions, races, nationalities, creeds and classes that have sought its shadow, and have pledged solid allegiance to its cause. It has changed the hearts of its believers, burned away their prejudices, calmed down their passions, exalted their conceptions, ennobled their motives, coordinated their efforts, and transformed their outlook. Briefly,  His sheep that were scattered have recognized His voice and came together as one.  We, Bahá'ís, are the fruits of one tree, the waves of one sea, and the flowers of one garden.  He has promised that the whole world will become one country and its citizens one family.   

The rebuilding of the “New Jerusalem” in Daniel 9:12 (and the “Holy city and the New Jerusalem” repeated by the Revelation of John 21:2) does not mean to rebuild a city with bricks and stones. It only means a New Law of God and a New Revelation. Let's ask ourselves. Which one is better? To rebuild a city with water and clay or to renew and restore the Laws of God for this troubled day and age that is fast declining unto chaos and confusion?

Having explained these symbolic prophecies, we all can now see that science and religion are not necessarily contradictory. In fact, science and religion are like the two wings of one bird. They both are neither static nor exclusive. Both are progressive and universal. It is just the misinterpretation of what the prophecies mean with our limited understanding of them that they seem contradictory. If religion is without science, it becomes superstition and if science is without religion it becomes materialism.

The Good Shepherd

“I am the good Shepherd.” says Christ, “The good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep. He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.” (John 10:11-18)

Obviously,the hired hands are the priests and the preachers. After Jesus left, they were the custodians and the guardians of His church. However, unfortunately, instead of protecting the Church of God from division, they have divided it. Indeed, Christianity has been divided and scattered into 40,000 separate sects and denominations. 

But, Jesus Christ has promised that He will gather all His Sheep that the wolves have scattered and His Sheep will recognize Him by His voice:

“I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to My voice, and there shall be one flock and one Shepherd” (John 10:16) 

As you can see, Jesus has said that He has believers that are not from the Christian fold. He will also bring them and there shall be one flock and one Shepherd . 

Just as many rivers join to the sea, Bahá'u'lláh has united all of the following religions and made them one. 

1. Sabean - Unknown 
2. Jewish - Moses 
3. Hindu - Krishna 
4. Zoroastrian - Zoroaster (Zarathustra) 
5. Buddhist - Gautama Buddha 
6. Christian - Jesus Christ (1) 
7. Islam - Muhammad (AD 622) 
8. The Babi religion -the Bab (AD 1844) 
9. The Bahá'í Faith Bahá'u'lláh (AD 1863)

The first 7 religions are mentioned in the Revelation of John as  “the seven churches which are in Asia” that Jesus will come and unite them in His second coming (Rev. 1:4 + Rev. 1:11).

Archaeologists and scientists agree that this world has been in existence for millions of years and human beings have walked on this earth for millions of years. However, it is only during the past 170 years or so (i.e., ever since Bahá'u'lláh has come) that this world has been transformed with a lightning speed with all these sciences and technologies. Bahá'u'lláh has come and illuminated this world. When the sun is at its zenith, everyone gets its benefits. The peoples of the world could not explain why all over the sudden this world has been transformed. John has written: “The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God [Beha-Elah] gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp.” Revelation 21:22-24   

The Bahá'í Faith is a nonviolent movement. During the time of Bahá'u'lláh, over 20,000 Bahá'ís were killed in Iran.  The Bahá'ís simply sacrificed their life without resorting to violence.

The older the religion, the more they believe in status, idols, and they are more superstitious.  When they become Bahá'ís, however, they must leave their superstitions and accept the oneness of God and the oneness of all religions. 

The Bahá'í Temple has 9 doors, 9 fountain pools, and 9 gardens. It is built to serve all 9 religions. 

Any Christian who has read the Words of Christ, when reading this prayer he or she will immediately recognize the voice of Christ:

O my God! O my God! Unite the hearts of Thy servants, and reveal to them Thy great purpose. May they follow Thy commandments and abide in Thy law. Help them, O God, in their endeavor, and grant them strength to serve Thee. O God! Leave them not to themselves, but guide their steps by the light of Thy knowledge, and cheer their hearts by Thy love. Verily, Thou art their Helper and their Lord.  ~ Bahá'u'lláh

All these commutative evidences are indicating that the Appointed Hour has at last struck and God has, once again, spoken through His Prophet, Bahá'u'lláh.

Bahá'u'lláh message could be summarized with the following principles:

• The oneness of God 
• The oneness of religions. 
• The oneness of mankind. 
• Universal peace upheld by a world government. 
• Independent investigation of truth. 
• The common foundation of all religions. 
• The essential harmony of science and religion. 
• Equality of men and women. 
• Elimination of prejudice of all kinds. 
• The abolishing the extremes of poverty and extremes of wealth. 
• Universal compulsory education. 
• A spiritual solution to the economic problem. 
• A universal auxiliary language. 

If we follow His teachings and commandments, we will have a fulfilled life, worthy of man and acceptable to God. If people had listened and lived as He instructed, had turned away from evil, had practiced love instead of hate, justice instead of oppression, most of the evil and most of the suffering would be removed from the world.

On the Day, when His sheep become “one flock with One Shepherd” (Jn 10:11-18), that will be the Day when “the earth shall be full of knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea.” (Isa 11:9); that will be the Day when the earth will be transformed into paradise, and the daily prayer of the Christians that the “Kingdom of God on earth” (Mat. 6:10) will be fulfilled; that will be the Day when “tears are turned in to laughter, hate to love, war to peace, and everyone to everyone's neighbor, misery and suffering would be forgotten forever.”  In that Kingdom of God, nations “shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning-hooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore.” (Isa 2:4) 

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Foot Notes:

End Notes:

Barnabas Araya Yohannes.

P.S. All thanks is due to http://BibleGateway.com and http://biblehub.com for making the entire Holy Bible available for the public on the Internet.

Questions, critics, and/or feedbacks are always welcome. Email me at yohannesb@hotmail.com