A few of the world's 7 million+ Bahá'ís

This article is about --140-- pages long (depending on the browser and printer you use). It is not copyrighted. It represents the views and opinions of its author and is NOT an official Baha'i publication. You are free to make copies and distribute or publish this article without permission from the author.~Darrick T. Evenson.

This article reveals the Truth about the Second Coming of Christ as "a thief in the night" and "in the glory of His Father" and "in the clouds of heaven", the Mark of the Beast, the number of the Beast ("666"), the "Image" of the Beast", the Red Dragon, the meaning of Jesus' Parable of the Lord of the Vineyard, the Great Tribulation, the Rapture, the Antichrist, the False Prophet, the New World Order, Muhammed and Islam, Islamic terrorism, the Three Wise Men, Armageddon, the 7-Bowl Judgment, the 144,000, the Third Woe, the Millennial Kingdom, and the City of New Jerusalem.

Dear Christian,

Do you believe that Jesus died for your sins and mine~indeed all the sins of mankind~ upon the Cross of Calvary, and is the Very Savior of Man?

SO DO WE!

Do you believe that Jesus is the Son of God, born of a virgin by a miraculous act of God?

SO DO WE!

Do you believe that Jesus arose from the dead, appeared to His disciples, and ascended into Heaven to be at the right-hand of the Father?

SO DO WE!

Who are "WE"?

We are the Bah*aacute;'ís ("Bah-highz"); the followers of Bahá'u'lláh ("Bah-HAH-o-LAH").There are over 7 million of us in over 200 countries and territories in the world today.

The Spirit of Truth

Q. Who is this Bahá'u'lláh?

A. He is THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH that Jesus promised His disciples would come and teach us "all things" as pertaining to the Kingdom of God on earth!

The Lord of the Vineyard

He is the 'Lord of the Vineyard' that Jesus said would come to the Vineyard (The Holy Land) sometime after the "Son" was sent to the Vineyard and rejected and killed (Mark 12:1-9). In Jesus' Parable of the Lord of the Vineyard He says that Servants (Prophets) shall be sent to the Vineyard and be beaten, and some killed, then the Lord of the Vineyard would sent "His only beloved Son" to the Vineyard, and He would be rejected and killed, then the 'Lord of the Vineyard' (the Father) would come Himself to the Vineyard. Baha'u'llah identified Himself as the Manifestation of God Who came in the station of the "Father". He was exiled from His native Persia (Iran) to Baghdad, then to Turkey, and finally to the prison city of Akka; in what is now northern Israel. He pitched His tent upon Mount Carmel in the years 1890-91; which signified that the "Kingdom of the Father" had come. In Hebrew, CARM-EL means "Vineyard of God".

Baha'i Faith=Millennial Kingdom

The Baha'i Faith is not a "Church", but an independent World Religion. It seeks to establish the Kingdom of Heaven on earth. The Baha'i Faith accepts Jesus Christ as "the Very Savior of Man". It accepts the Bible as the "Word of God", but not the only Word of God. It accepts Christianity as a True Religion, but not the only True Religion; nor the last Revelation of God for mankind.

Baha'is believe that Baha'u'llah is the Manifestation of God for OUR DAY; meaning our time. We believe He is our "Heavenly Father" come in the flesh; just as the Son did. They believe that the Baha'i Faith is the "Kingdom of the Father" that Jesus spoke about, and that is mentioned in His prayer "Our Father in Heaven, holy be Thy Name, Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done, on Earth as it is in Heaven."(Luke 11:2 etc.).

Just about ALL Christians believe that JESUS shall come and reign for 1000 years over His Kingdom (referred to often as "The Millennial Kingdom"), but Jesus nowehere says this! The Bible doesn't say this! Jesus preached that the "Father's Kingdom" would come, and it has!

Jesus~the Son of God

Baha'is also accept Jesus as a Manifestation of God and the Only Virgin-born Son of God, but not the ONLY Son of God. Even Adam is referred to as "the Son of God". (Luke 3:38). Jesus is the only Son of God we know of to be born of a virgin. Hense, He is God's Only Virgin-born Son, but not His only Son. All the Manifestations of God are the Sons of God.

Even Paul writes that there are "Sons of God" other than Jesus:

"For the earnest expectation of the creation waiteth for the manifestation of the Sons of God." (Romans 8:10)

Baha'is are those who not only accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior, but they also accept Baha'u'llah as the promised "Spirit of Truth" Who was to come and teach us "all things" pertaining to the Kingdom of God the Father.

There are Baha'is in just about every country on the globe. They belong to almost every ethnic group. Most of them are former Roman Catholics, Orthodox, Protestants, Nestorians, Jacobites, Coptics, Anglicans, Baptists, Seventh-day Adventists, Jehovah's Witnesses, Pentecostals, Christadelphians, Mormons, Muslims, Methodists, Hindus, Sihks, Jains, Buddhists, Zoroastrians, New Agers, Pagans, Wiccans, Animists, Atheists, and Agnostics. They have heard the Words of Baha'u'llah being recited, and they have recognized the Father's Voice and have responded to His call to become "quickeners of mankind".

Salvation for all Humanity

The Message of Baha'u'llah is that Mankind is unjust and sinful and will incure the Wrath of God upon this planet unless the Justice of God is established worldwide.

Humanity's only future and hope as a living species upon this planet is the establishement of the World Order of Baha'u'llah; otherwise known as The New Jerusalem.

The Baha'i Faith is not a sect, or cult, or anti-Christian conspiracy. It is nothing more or less than the fulfillment of Bible prophecy concerning the coming of the Kingdom of God on earth.

A Brief History of the Baha'i Faith

About 600 years after Jesus a Prophet arose in Arabia named Muhammed. He was a pious man who worked as a traveling merchant. During His travels He met many Jews, Christians, Zoroastrians, Gnostics, and Hanifs (pure monotheists). He decided to be a Haneef; a pure worshipper of the One God. This enraged the members of His clan, the Quraysh, because they were the keepers of the Ka'aba; the cubic temple built by Abraham, but it became filled with idols. Muhammed hated idols. Yet, he became known as "Amin" (Arabic: "Faithful and True One") because of His honest business dealings.

Muhammad used to fast, pray, and meditate for days and weeks at a time in a cave in a hill near His home in Mecca. One night as He was meditating a man appeared in the cave and shouted "RECITE!" Muhammad though the "man" was a thief; because He entered the cave unannounced. Muhammad thought the man was a thief in the night. The "man" again said to Muhammad "RECITE!" Muhammad thought He meant "READ" (the word for read and recite are the same in Arabic) and told the man He couldn't read. The man shouted again, "RECITE!" Muhammad became perturbed and ran out of the cave, but then He saw the man standing in the air on the horizon everywhere He looked. He knew this was an Angel and not a man.

The Angel (later identified as the Archangel Gabriel) told Muhammed to "Recite" the Verses of God that the Holy Spirit would inspired Him with. From that day on Muhammed would go into trances and begin to recite an esquisite poetry in Arabic; one so rhythmic and exalted that~when heard by Arabic speakers~it brings them to tears. In Arabic, the word for "The Reciting" is "Al-Qur'an". His divinely-inspired poems were remembered by His followers, written down, and collected into one volume that became known as the Qur'an ("Khoor-rahn"). Over a billion people today believe that Muhammed was a true Prophet of God. Over 7 million of them are Baha'is.

The Prophet gathered around followers; known as "Muslims". He said that the religion He espoused was "Islam"; the Arabic word for "peaceful submission". Islam was the "peaceful submission" of one's will to the Will of God. A "Muslim" meant a "peaceful submitter" to His Will.

The pagan Arabs hated the Muslims and fought with them whenever they had a chance, but the Muslims (always outnumbered) won most of the battles; led by the Prophet carrying a bow and arrow (Muhammed was an archer). The Prophet went about conquering pagan Arab tribes, and making alliances with Arab Jewish tribes. He protected Christians, and never fought against them.

The Prophet's first convert and most dedicated follower was 'Ali Ibn~Talib; his cousin and the husband of His daughter Fatimah. At Muhammed's death there arose a controversy as to who would succeed Him. Muhammed said that He was the "seal of the Prophets" and no Prophet would succeed Him. Even though 'Ali was to be His rightful and legal successor, the majority of Muslims voted and chose an older and (they thought) wiser Muslim to be the "Khaleef" ("Successor") of the Prophet. Eventually 'Ali was made Khaleef, but he was opposed by an evil group of Gnostics who became Muslim in name only: the Ummayids. They decided to kill 'Ali and his sons; so they and their sons would rule the Muhammedan Empire. They suceeded in killing 'Ali, and they also eventually killed his sons Hasan and Husayn. The sons of Hasan went into hiding in Peria; beyond the rule of the Ummayyids.

The followers of 'Ali in Persia and southern Iraq became known as the "Party of 'Ali'"; or the "Partisans" (Arabic: "Shi'a") for short. 'Ali and his firstborn male descendants became known as the Imams ("Leaders") of Shi'a Islam. The Muslims who did not follow 'Ali or his party became known as Sunni ("Soonee") Muslims.

There were 12 Imams in Shi'a Islam. The 12th Imam was known as the Imam Mahdi (Leader Rightly-Guided). He disappeared soon after becoming Imam, but Shi'a prophecies said he would appear in the Last Days; to prepare the way for the return of Jesus, and to establish justice in the world.

The Bab

In 1844, in Shiraz, Persia (Iran), 'Ali Muhammed Shirazi (a descendant of Muhammed and 'Ali) proclaimed that He was the promised Imam Mahdi of Islam. He called Himself "Al Bab"; which means "The Gate" of God. At first, many Mullas (clergymen) accepted His claims, but then He began to teach things which are considered "heretical" in Islam. He taught that Jesus was the "Son of God", that He was crucified (Muslims believe another man was crucifixed in His place). He taught that women should not wear veils. He taught many things that Orthodox Muslims considered heretical and evil. He was opposed, and was imprisoned and tortured. The Mullas (Muslim clerics) persecuted His disciples, and had many of them arrested an tortured. Two young Babis whose parents were killed tried to assasinate the Shah of Iran (who refused to protect the Babis), and shot him while he was riding on his horse. But their pistols carried only bird-shot. Enraged, the Shah ordered the arrest of all Babis; who then armed and tried to defend themselves and their families. About 20,000 of His followers~called Babis ("bah-beez")~were killed.

In 1850 The Bab was taken to Tabriz (northwestern Iran) and tied up in a public square to be executed. The Muslim clerics brought in an Armenian company of riflemen to execute Him; because Shi'a Muslim prophecies said that the Imam Mahdi would be killed by Muslims, and the clerics did not want the Babis to claim The Bab's death a "fulfillment of prophecy". The 750 Armenian riflemen fired, and when the smoked cleared, The Bab was gone! The bullets had severed His robes. He was found later back in His cell; finishing one last epistle to His followers.

The Bab was executed and the Babis were persecuted by the Shi'a Muslims

The Armenian Christian regiment considered it a miracle and sign from God and utterly refused to fire upon The Bab again. So, a Muslim regiment had to be brought in. They fired, and The Bab was dead.

The remains of The Bab, and His disciple who was killed with Him, were secretly hid by the Babis, and then, after most of the Babis became Baha'is, the remains were taken to Akka, in northern Palestine (now Israel). Eventually, a beautiful shrine was built upon the northern slopes of Mt. Carmel; called The Shrine of The Bab; which remains today a major Baha'i Holy Place, and one of Israel's greatest tourist attractions.

The Shrine of The Bab on Mt. Carmel in Haifa

Baha'u'llah

One of The Bab's main disciples was Mirza Husayn 'Ali Nuri; a Persian of royal birth who was a descendant of King David as well as King Cyrus of Persia. The Bab gave each of His disciples new names. Mirza Husayn 'Ali Nuri became known as Baha'u'llah ("bah-hah-o-lah"); which in Arabic means "THE GLORY OF GOD". He was known as "The Father of The Poor" because of His great charity and concern for them. He was arrested and put into the 'Black Pit' of Tehran; the most fowl prison in all of Persia. After four months in the Black Pit, Baha'u'llah was exiled with His family and other Babis to Baghdad, in what was then part of the Turkish Ottoman Empire.

The Bab said that He was just a forerunner of One greater than Himself; Whom He called "He Whom God Would Make Manifest". In 1863 Baha'u'llah announced to the other Babis in Baghdad that He was "He Whom God Would Make Manifest". Most of the Babis knew of His wisdom and miracles already, and readily accepted His claim. They became known as Baha'is ("bah-highz"); the followers of BAHA'U'LLAH.

The Baha'is began to convert Shi'a Muslims in Baghdad, and this enraged the local Muslim clerics. So, they petitioned the Sultan of Turkey, and Baha'u'llah and His followers were exiled again; this time to Adrianople (Erdine), and then again to the prison city of Akka, in Palestine (now northern Israel).

Baha'u'llah was a political prisoner, but He became well-beloved by the people of Akka; because of His charity, kindness, and His miracles. The Muslims thought He was a Muslim holy man.

From 1868 to 1874 Baha'u'llah wrote epistles to the Pope, the Emperor of Russia,the Queen of England, the Kings of France and Austria, and well as others. He prophecied of them and their kingdoms, and His prophecies were all fulfilled. He announced to them that He was the Father come down to earth. He was the Promised One. He instructed that the remains of The Bab be entombed in a special shrine on the northern slopes of Mount Carmel. Such a shrine remains today, and is one of Israel's major tourist attractions.

In the years 1308 A.H. (1890-91 A.D.) Baha'u'llah pitched His tent upon Mount Carmel, and revealed the Tablet of Carmel; signifying that the "Lord of the Vineyard" had come and that the "Kingdom of the Father" had been established. Baha'u'llah wrote:

"The Most Great Law is come, and the Ancient Beauty ruleth upon the Throne of David." (Proclamation of Baha'u'llah, p.89

An 1868 passport photo of Baha'u'llah

Note: Baha'is are forbidden to keep photos of Baha'u'llah because His Face is considered too holy to be displayed commonly. His Face is shown here because most readers of this article are not Baha'is, and would be curious to know of His features.

Baha'u'llah was a descendant of King David via a daughter of a Jewish Exilarch who married a Persian prince.

Baha'u'llah died in 1892. At the time of His death many angels were seen and heard circling around His mansion in Bahji; circling it in a great heavenly chorus. His mansion at which remains to this day the most sacred Shrine in the Baha'i World.

The entrance to the Shrine of Baha'u'llah at Bahji

'Abdu'l-Baha

Baha'u'llah's successor was His Son Abbas Effendi; who became known as 'Abdu'l-Baha (Arabic: "Servant of Glory"). 'Abdu'l-Baha was knighted by the British in 1920 for His work among the poor and dying. He was the "Mother Teresa" of His day. He washed and fed and clothed and cared for the sick, diseased, and dying; even those their own families would not care for.

When American and British Baha'is came to visit 'Abdu'l-Baha in Akka they asked what they could do to serve God. 'Abdu'l-Baha replied they should go upstairs and wash and feed the sick and dying; because when they served them they were serving God.

Many of the American and British Baha'is who visited 'Abdu'l-Baha were wealthy (in a day when travel was extremely costly). 'Abdu'l-Baha would personally serve the Baha'is; often serving their black servants (who came along on the trip)first.

'Abdu'l-Baha traveled to Europe and to the United States in the years 1910 to 1912. He prophesied of World War I. He was entertained by the elite of Europe. While in England they purchased for Him a first-class ticket on a new luxury ship headed for America. He sold the ticket back to the steamship company, gave most of the money to the poor, and bought a much less expensive ticket on a ship far less luxurious. His firstclass ticket was for the maiden voyage of the Titanic.

'Abdul-Baha visited Baha'is in New York City, Maine, Chicago, Denver, Salt Lake City, and San Francisco. He spoke before Christians, Unitarians, Theosophists, Jews, Mormons, and agnostics. He told Christians that they expected Christ to return in "the glory of His Father", and that He had returned! He told Unitarians that they wanted World Peace and Race Unity, but these could not be achieved without the Hand of God, and the Hand of God was working through the Baha'i Faith. He told Theosophists that they if they believed there was no religion higher than "truth" then they should become Baha'is; because it was the latest edition of "Truth". He told Jews that they needed to accept Jesus as "the very Saviour of man" and not cling to the traditions and explanations of their fathers. He told agnostics that materialism was not the key to happiness in this life, and it would prove to be unrewarding in the Afterlife; for this life was only a preparation for the Afterlife. He told all who would listen that they needed to end racism, and love all peoples and races no matter their color or nationality or class. He told all who would listen that the mission of Baha'u'llah was to unite mankind into an international brotherhood of man in which peace, justice, equality, and harmony would reign.

'Abdu'l-Baha was a man known to have never angered. He was known for His charity, care for the poor and dying, and kindness everywhere. Baha'is believe He was a "Perfect Man"; a human being Who was not a Manifestation of God nor even a lesser Prophet, but One Who achieved perfection in morality (this is why Baha'is use capitals in reference to Him). He passed away in 1921.

Sir Abbas Effendi 'Abdu'l-Baha (1844-1921)

Shoghi Effendi

The successor of 'Abdu'l-Baha was His grandson Shoghi Effendi Rabbani; who was also the great-grandson of The Bab. Shoghi Effendi became the "Guardian" of the Baha'i Faith. He worked tirelessly for many years to organize and promote the Baha'i Faith throughout the world. Although not considered to be a "Prophet" by Baha'is, Shoghi Effendi correctly predicted the Second World War, race riots in America, the Internet, as well as things still in the future such as mankind's first contact with intelligent life on other worlds.

The Guardian foretold of many things, including (many believe), the Internet. On the 11th of March 1936 he wrote:

"A mechanism of world inter-communication will be devised, embracing the whole planet, freed from national hindrances and restrictions, and functioning with marvellous swiftness and perfect regularity." (The World Order of Baha'u'llah, p.203)

Shoghi Effendi was not a "Perfect Man" by any means. He is considered to be just an ordinary human being with an extraordinary sacred role. But he was "under the shadow" of Baha'u'llah, and his interpretations are considered infallible. He died in 1957.

Shoghi Effendi (1897-1957)

The Universal House of Justice

In 1963 the Universal House of Justice was established by Baha'is in Haifa, Israel. It is the Governing Body of the Baha'i Faith worldwide. It has 9 Members which are elected every 5 years by delegates chosen by each National Spiritual Assembly of Baha'is. Baha'is consider the "House" to be guided by the Holy Spirit; under the shadow of Baha'u'llah, but only in their collective pronouncements.

The 9 Members of the House are not considered to be Prophets lesser or otherwise; nor even "Seers" and certainly not "Perfect Men". They are merely ordinary Baha'is whom other Baha'is believe have the knowledge, commitment, education, experience, and faith to carry-out the duties of the House.

The Seat of the Universal House of Justice is a large Greek-columned building located in the Baha'i World Centre, on the northern slopes of Mount Carmel, in Haifa, Israel.

Seat of the Universal House of Justice

Members of the House do not "campaign" to be elected; this is forbidden. Rather, they are Baha'is who have become known because of their extraordinary service to the Cause of God.

The Universal House of Justice (1963)

The Manifestations of God

Baha'is believe in certain Major Prophets they refer to as "Manifestations of God". They include:

*Adam
*Noah
*Abraham
*Moses
*Krishna
*Zoroaster
*Buddha
*Jesus
*Muhammed
*The Bab
*Baha'u'llah

Baha'is believe that in one sense all of these Manifestation of God are equal, but in another sense they have various ranks or stations. All of them had unique missions to perform on earth.

Baha'u'llah~Our Father in Heaven

Baha'is believe that Baha'u'llah is our "Heavenly Father". He is God the Father. Baha'is do not believe that the Essence of God can incarnate. However, Baha'is believe that Baha'u'llah is the Manifestation of the "Father"; just as Yeh'o'shua (Jesus' true name) was the Manifestation of the "Son". The relationship of the Messengers of God with the Son (Jesus) and the Father (Baha'u'llah) is explained in Jesus' Parable of the Lord of the Vineyard in the Gospel of Mark, chapter 12.

The Word of God

Baha'is believe that the Bible is the Word of God, but not the only Word of God. Baha'is accept the Qur'an and the Holy Writings (Baha'i books of scripture) as the Word of God along with the Bible.

Heaven and Hell

Baha'is do not believe that "Heaven" or "Hell" are literal geographical places, but conditions of the soul. When we die we go on to the next World. If our souls have the condition of Heaven then the next world will appear as Heaven. If our soul in this life is in the condition of Hell then the next world will appear as Hell.

Baha'is believe that "Hell" is a condition of the soul, but that even the most evil souls can (but not necessarily will) progress in the Afterlife and change their condition from "Hell" to "Heaven". This change does not take place by merely "wishing" for the change, but when a soul begins to sincerely repent and take upon itself spiritual qualities. Evil men may outwardly appear "righteous" in this dimension, but in the next world spirituality cannot be faked or fabricated. Only those souls that truly have a desire to repent and serve God instead of "Self" will make progress in the Afterlife.

Paradise and Hell are conditions of the soul with become manfest in the Afterlife

Baha'u'llah wrote:

"O Son of Man!
If thou lovest Me, turn away from thyself; and if thou seekest My pleasure, regard not thine own; for thou mayest die in Me and I may eternally live in thee." (The Hidden Words of Baha'u'llah #7)

Baha'is basically have 9 sacred duties:

*Worshipping only the One True God.
*Keeping the Baha'i Holy Laws.
*Observing the Baha'i Holy Days.
*Praying at least once per day.
*Fasting during the daylight hours during the Baha'i Month of 'Ala.
*Teaching the Faith to others.
*Obeying the Universal House of Justice and other Baha'i Institutions.
*Giving a portion of their income to the Cause of God and to charity.
*Making at least one pilgrimage during their lives (if they are healthy and can afford it) to the Holy Baha'i Shrines in the Holy Land.

The 9-Pointed Star

A popular Baha'i symbol is the 9-pointed star. It represents the number 9; which for Baha'is is sacred. In Arabic, the letter B (Bah) has the value of 2, and the letter H (Hah) has the value of 7. 2 + 7 = 9. The letters B and H make the sound of "Baha"; which in Arabic means "Glory". Baha'is are the follower of BAHA.

BAHA means Glory.

BAHA'I means belonging to Glory.

Jesus said the "Son of Man" would come "in the Glory of His Father". In Arabic, Baha'u'llah means "The Glory of God (the Father)".

Paul wrote that there are 9 Gifts of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:8-10), and that there are 9 fruits of a Spirit-filled Believer (Galatians 5:22-23). The number 9 is the signature of the Holy Spirit.

Baha'i Houses of Worship

Baha'i Houses of Worship are nine-sided, and have 9 entrances. They are places of prayer, meditation, singing the praises of the Lord (without musical instruments), and the reciting of the Word of God. The Baha'i Temple in New Delhi, India, is a magnificent structure that receives more visitors per year than any other religious structure.

The Baha'i "Lotus Temple" near New Delhi, India

Eventually, Baha'i Houses of Worship (of various sizes) will be built in every city and town; with hospices, humanitarian centers, and schools surrounding them.

But today, Baha'is meet in the homes of other Baha'is for worship and social meetings, or in small buildings called "Baha'i Centers".

The 19-Day Feasts

19 is also a sacred number with Baha'is. The Baha'i year is divided into 19 months of 19 days each. Baha'is meet every 19 days for the "19-Day Feast"; sort of an Agape Feast for Baha'is. During the Badi Month of 'Ala (19 days) Baha'is fast during the daylight hours and break the fast at night during communal meals.

Jesus~The Very Savior of Man

Unlike Muslims, Baha'is DO believe that Jesus is the "Son of God". Like Muslims, they believe He was virgin-born. Like Muslims, they believe in His miracles. Unlike Muslims, they believe He was crucifixed and rose from the dead. Baha'is believe that Jesus is "the very Savior of man". (Promulgation of Universal Peace, p.63)

Baha'is believe that Jesus' mission was to offer Himself "as a ransom for the sins and iniquities of all mankind." (Gleanings, p.100). The mission of Baha'u'llah, however, was to unite Humanity into the literal Kingdom of God the Father on earth; otherwise known as the New Jerusalem.

Christians the world over believe that God's Kingdom will be established when Christ comes to rule as "King of kings" and "Lord of lords". Baha'is believe He has already returned: in the Person of Baha'u'llah.

To understand how Jesus could return "in" the Person of Baha'u'llah one must only continue reading.

Christianity

Shoghi Effendi (1897-1957 A.D.) was the Guardian of the Baha'i Faith. He was the grandson of 'Abdu'l-Baha and the great-grandson of Baha'u'llah. His interpretations of the Faith are inspired by the Holy Spirit, and thus binding upon all Baha'is everywhere. Regarding Christianity he wrote:

"As to the position of Christianity, let it be stated without any hesitation or equivocation, that is divine origin is unconditionally acknowledged, that the Sonship and Divinity of Jesus Christ are fearlessly asserted, that the divine inspiration of the Gospel is fully recognized,....The Founder of the Christian Faith is designated by Baha'u'llah as the 'Spirit of God', is proclaimed as the One Who 'appeared out of the breath of the Holy Ghost,' and is even extolled as the 'Essence of the Spirit.' His mother is described as 'that veiled and immortal, that most beauteous countenance,' and the station of her Son eulogized as the 'station which hath been exalted above the imaginings of all that dwell on the earth,'...." ( The Promised Day is Come, pp.109-10)

The Son of God

Besides being a Manifestation of God, Baha'is also believe that Jesus was the "Son of God" and, as 'Abdu'l-Baha (Baha'u'llah's eldest son and Exemplar of the Faith) said, He was "the very Savior of man". (The Promulgation of Universal Peace, pp.62-3).

Baha'u'llah calls Jesus:

• "The Son"(TBA 9:2:2)
• "The Son of God"(WOB 105)
• "The Lord of All Being (ESW 100:156)
• "The Lord of the Visible and the Invisible"(GWB 57:23)
• "The Peerless Beauty" (KIQ 22:1:19)
• "The Daystar of the Heaven of Divine Revelation" (KIQ 132:2:43)
• "The Spirit of God" (ESW 81:130)

• "The Messiah"(SWA 42:19:11)
• "The Lord Christ"(SWA 161:139:6)
• "The Lord Jesus Christ"(Paris Talks 88)
• "The Son of God" (SAQ 63)
• "The Holy Being" (SWA 46:20:2)
• "The Word of God" (SWA 44:20:1)
• "His Holiness Christ" (Paris Talks 276)
• "The very Savior of man" (PUP 63)

Jesus was unique among the Sons of God in that He was born of a virgin.

Louis G. Gregory, an African-American Baha'i who visited 'Abdu'l-Baha in Haifa, Israel, with a small group of American Baha'is, asked Him about Jesus' standing and station among the Manifestations of God. He is what Mr. Gregory recorded:

'Abdu'l-Baha: "Jesus is the Perfect Mirror, in which the bounties and Perfections of God are reflected. Jesus is not separate from God, since His is the perfection of Divine Knowledge."

Mr. Meakin asked: "Are not all the Prophets Manifestations reflecting the Word?"

'Abdu'l-Baha: "Yes, but the Word as reflected in Jesus has a special meaning. The Sun shines in all the months, but in July it is brightest." (Pilgrim's Notes of Loius G. Gregory, p.10 online)

The Three Ranks of the Manifestations

Baha'u'llah wrote that all the Manifestations of God were of equal rank in the Station of Essential Unity:

It is clear and evident to thee that all the Prophets are the Temples of the Cause of God, Who have appeared clothed in divers attire. If thou wilt observe with discriminating eyes, thou wilt behold them all abiding in the same tabernacle, soaring in the same heaven, seated upon the same throne, uttering the same speech, and proclaiming the same Faith. Such is the unity of those Essences of Being, those Luminaries of infinite and immeasurable splendour! Wherefore, should one of these Manifestations of Holiness proclaim saying: 'I am the return of the Prophets," He verily, speaketh the truth. In like manner, in every subsequent Revelation, the return of the former Revelation is a fact, the truth of which is firmly established." (Gleanings, pp. 51-2)

"The other station is the station of distinction, and pertainieth to the world of creation, and the limitations thereof. In this respect, each Manifestation of God hath a distinct individuality, a definitely prescribed mission, a predestined revelation, and specially designated limitations. Each of them is known by a different name, characterized with a particular Revelation. Even as He saith: 'Some of the Apostles We have caused to excel the others. To some God hath spoken, some He hath raised and exalted. And to Jesus, Son of Mary, We gave manifest signs, and We strengthened Him with the Holy Spirit.' It is because of this difference in station and mission that the words and utterances flowing from these Wellsprings of Divine knowledge appear to diverge and differ. Otherwise, in the eyes of them that are initiated into the mysteries of Divine Wisdom, all Their utterances are, in reality, but the expressions of one Truth." (Gleanings, p.52)

"No distinction do We make between any of them." (Qur'an 2:136)

"Some of the Apostles We have caused to excel the others. To some God hath spoken, some He hath raised and exalted. And to Jesus, Son of Mary, We gave manifest signs [miracles], and We strengthened Him with the Holy Spirit." (Qur'an 2:253)

Baha'u'llah taught that all the Manifestation of God have _two stations_:

1. The Station of Essential Unity
2. The Station of Distinction

'Abdu'l-Baha taught that there were essentially three ranks among the Manifestations of God:

1. Father
2. Son
3. Servant/Messenger

"You have asked me two questions: That if the same Spirit is manfest in all the Manifestations and Prophets, then what is the distinction or difference between Christ (or rather Jesus) and the other Prophets; also between Father and Son? Know that the human spirit is one, but it manifests itself in various members of the body in a certain (measure or) form. The human spirit is existent in the sight (eyes); it is also existent in the brain, which is the location of great functions and powers; it is also existent in the heart, which organ is largely connected with the brain of the center of the mind, and the heart, of that center which is connected with the brain, has a distinct and separate function, effect, and appearance. In this connection, the hair and nails have no command (or direct feeling). Figuratively speaking, the Father is the center of the brain and the Son is the center of the heart; the rest of the Prophets are members and parts." (Tablets of 'Abdu'l-Baha, pp.102-3)

Notice the three ranks:

1. Father (Brain)
2. Son (Heart)
3. Other Prophets (other less important parts of the body)

In Jesus' Parable of the Lord of the Vineyard (Mark chapter 12) a man (the Father) plants a vineyard and rented it to husbandmen. Then the Father sends His servants (messengers) to tell the husbandmen(uninspired religious leaders) to clean up His vineyard and to prepare it for harvest. The husbandmen beat the servants (messengers) and send them back to the Lord of the Vineyard. Then the Lord of the Vineyard sends his only Son to the vineyard, and the hirelings kill the Son. Jesus said:

"6 Having yet therefore one Son, his wellbeloved, he sent him also last unto them, saying, They will reverence my Son.
7 But those husbandmen said among themselves, This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and the inheritance shall be our's.
8 And they took him, and killed him, and cast him out of the vineyard.
9 What shall therefore the Lord of the Vineyard do? He will come and destroy the husbandmen, and will give the vineyard to others." (Mark 12:6-9)

Jesus said that the Father Himself would come to this Earth! Specifically, the Holy Land!

Baha'u'llah was a native of Persia (Iran). He was exiled to Baghdad in 1853, and then to Turkey, and finally to the Holy Land in 1868. Baha'u'llah did not go to the Holy Land of His own free will, but was exiled there as a political prisoner.

But the Bible says "God is Spirit" (John 4:24). God the Father is pure Spirit, and can't incarnate as a man!

* Was not Jesus a "Spirit" before His incarnation?

Was not Jesus "God"?

Was not God then a "God-Man"?

Is not Christ still a Spirit?

Baha'is do not believe that Jesus still has a physical body, but that He can, as an omnipotent Spirit, appear as a man and materialize a body any time He wishes to; just as angels do, or as the LORD did when He appeared to Abraham and ate with Him in the heat of the day (Genesis 18:8).

A "spirit" has no body or form, but the Holy Spirit can appear as a perfect man when the need arises.

JESUS said (and He cannot lie) that the FATHER shall become incarnate on this Earth (and be sent to or go to the Holy Land) as 'The Lord of the Vineyard'!

The Essence of God did not incarnate, but the "Son" did! So did the "Father".

Think about that for a moment.

The famous 19th century British Orientalist, Professor Edward G. Browne of Cambridge University, lived in Persia for one year and met many Babis and Baha'is. One day in the city of Yezd he had a conversation with the Baha'i poet 'Andalib. Here is a portion of that conversation:

'Andalib: "How is it that the Jews, although in expectation of their Messiah, failed to recognize him in the Lord Jesus?"

Browne: "Because they looked only at the letter and not the spirit of their books, and had formed a false conception of the Messiah and his advent."

'Andalib: "May not you Chrisitans have done the same with regard to Him whose-advent you expect, the promised Comforter? May He not have come, while you continue heedless? Within a few miles of Acca is a monastery of Carmelite monks, who have taken up their abode there to await the return of Christ, because their books tell them that He will return there. He has returned there, almost at the very door, yet they recognize Him not, but continue to gaze up to Heaven, whence, as they vainly suppose, He will descend. Consider the Parable of the Lord of the Vineyard which is contained in your Gospel. First, He sent His servants to demand His rights from those wicked men to whom the Vineyard was let; these were the prophets before Christ. Then He sent His own Son, whom they killed; this was Christ Himself, as you yourselves admit. And after that what shall the Lord of the Vineyard do? He will come and destroy the husbandmen, and will give the Vineyard unto others."

Browne:"Do you then regard Baha'u'llah as the Lord of the Vineyard, that is to say, as God Himself?"

'Andalib: "What say your own books? Who is He who shall come after the Son?" ( A Year Among the Persians, pp.433-434)

When Jesus (the Son) became incarnate (was born of a human woman) He said "I am in the Father and the Father is in me?" (John 14:11).

What did He mean by that?

The Father was in Jesus! And when the Father Himself would come, as Lord of the Vineyard, Jesus would be in Him!

This a a great Mystery, but it is the Truth.

If the Son of God can become a God-Man, so can His Father!

And He did!

He was born Mirza Husayn 'Ali Nuri; a descendant of the House of David and the Kings of Persia. He became known as Baha'u'llah: the "Glory of Allah". He was sent to the Holy Land (Vineyard) as a prisoner of the Sultan of Turkey. In the year 1890 He pitched His tent upon Mount Carmel (in Hebrew CARM-EL means "Vineyard of God"). In 1891 He recited the Tablet of Carmel, which was His Great Announcement to the World that the Kingdom of the Father had come.

Notice the three ranks, or stations, mentioned in Jesus' Parable of the Lord of the Vineyard:

1. Father (Lord of the Vineyard)
2. Son (the only begotten Son who is killed by the husbandmen)
3. Servants (the messengers who are beaten and rejected by the husbandmen)

The ARC of the Baha'i World Centre, on the northern slopes of Mt. Carmel, Haifa, Israel

The Sect of the Nazarenes

In the Gospels Jesus is called "Jesus of Nazareth" but also "Jesus the Nazarene". The Greek term Iesou tou Nazaraiou is translated "Jesus of Nazareth" and simply means Jesus was from the city of Nazareth. The Greek term Iesou Nazaraios is translated "Jesus the Nazarene" and DOES NOT MEAN "Jesus from Nazareth", but rather "Jesus the Nazorean".

The Nazoreans were a sect of Jews considered to be heretics, or cultists, by the Orthodox Jews. Here are some Evangelical Christian and Messianic Jewish comments on the Nazoreans:

"The pre-Christ sect of Mt. Carmel Nazoreans brought forth John the Baptist and Yeshua (Essene Jesus)." ( Jesus on the Web~Legacy, p.2 online)

"This is an old movement stemming from the Jews who were followers of the Way, or Nazoreans,...." (The World of Messianic Judaism, p. 1 online)

"Nazoreans, THE OLDEST GROUP OF ESSENES, are the Northern branch of Essenes that lived around Nazarean Temples such as the one on Mount Carmel and the smaller one in the Essene Quarter of western Jerusalem." (Ebionites~Fathers of Humanity?, p. 3 online)

"The purpose of this article is to prove that Yah'o'shuah (Jesus) was primarily associated with the Essenes of Mount Carmel in Northern Israel, not the Essenes of Qumran in Southern Israel." (Essenes of Mount Carmel, p.1 online)

The Nasara'i had as part of their Holy Books the Aramaic work titled The Gospel According to the Hebrews; which says that the Father appeared as a divine cloud at Jesus' baptism, and descended upon Him, and Jesus became the "rest" (resting place) of the Father at that time. (New Testament Apocrypha 1:164) Thus, the Father was literally "in" the Son during Jesus' three-year ministry.

The Nazarenes (Nasara'i) were a sect of Essenes who married (unlike the Essenes along the Dead Sea who did not marry). The name "Essene" is Greek, and comes from the Aramaic word "Oseen"; which meant "Doers" of the Law of Moses. Paul wrote:

"For it is not the hearers of the Law that are just before God, but the doers of the Law shall be justified." (Romans 2:13)

"But be doers of the Word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves." (James 1:22)

Baha'u'llah wrote:

"O Son of Dust!
Verily I say unto thee: Of all men the most negligent is he that disputeth idly and seeketh to advance himself over his brother. Say, O brethren! Let deeds, not words, be your adorning." (The Hidden Words of Baha'u'llah 2:5)

Jesus, in His Parable of the Lord of the Vineyard in Mark chapter 12 (and elsewhere), said that the Father would come to the Vineyard after the Son was sent, rejectd, and killed. The Father would come just as the Servants (Prophets) and the Son (Jesus) came! All the prophets of Israel, and Jesus, was born of a woman and mortal! The Father could come to Israel, and He would be born of a woman, and mortal!

The late Enoch Olinga, a Baha'i Hand of the Cause of God (apostle) and martyr for the Faith, said in 1980:

"These are the days that have witnessed the coming of the Lord of Hosts, the Lord of the Vineyard. We're all familiar with the story in the Bible, the parable where it says that Jesus Christ taught that there was once upon a time a lord or a kind who had a vineyard which had had left in the hands of his servants or workmen. This story is very familiar. Shoghi Effendi said it is important to know that the Lord Jesus Christ was referring to Baha'u'llah, the Lord of the Vineyard, Who will come. As Baha'is we know that He has come. He has come to bring love, peace, unity." ( A Life of Service, p.1 online)

The Very Savior of Man

'Abdu'l-Baha, the Interpreter and Exemplar of the Faith, declared that Jesus was "the very Savior of man" (Promulgation, p.63). What does this mean? 'Abdu'l-Baha (pronounced "obdul-bah-hah") also said of Jesus:

"He is the Alpha and Omega. He is the One that will give unto him that is athirst of the Fountain of the water of life and bestow upon the sick the remedy of true salvation." (Selections from the Writings of 'Abdu'l-Baha, pp.12-13)

This is the real atonement that His Holiness Christ made--He sacrificed Himself for the life of the world." (Tablets of 'Abdu'l-Baha, p.543)

His Father, Baha'u'llah, wrote:

Know thou that when the Son of Man yielded up His breath to God, the whole creation wept with such a great weeping. By sacrificing Himself, however, a fresh capacity was infused into all created things.***Through Him the leper recovered from the leprosy of peversity and ignorance. Through Him, the unchaste and wayward were healed. Through His power, born of Almighty God, the eyes of the blind were opened, and the soul of the sinner sanctified." ( Gleanings, pp.85,86)

Baha'u'llah also wrote of Jesus:

"He is it Who purified the world. Blessed is the man who, with a face beaming with light, hath turned toweard Him." (Gleanings, p.86)

Jesus' mission among the Manifestations of God was to "purify the world" of sin. He did this by shedding His Blood on the Cross.

He is it Who purified the World

What Need of We of Baha'u'llah?

The only real answer that can be given is:

We need whatever the Lord says we need!

If all we need is Jesus' death on the Cross, then why do we need a Millennial Kingdom? Why do we need a final judgement? Why must the Father (the Lord of the Vineyard) come to the Holy Land? Why do we need a New Jerusalem on earth if Christians simply go to Heaven for all eternity when they die? Why?

Why do we need Baha'u'llah?

The answer is:

Because SALVATION is both personal and universal. What Jesus did 2000 years ago has to do with personal salvation; the salvation of the soul from the condition or dimension of Hell. But what the Father and the Son are doing now has to do with the salvation of the entire Human family. The Salvation of the WHOLE from the destruction of the Earth by fire.

Baha'is believe that Jesus Himself told His disciples of the coming of Baha'u'llah:

Jesus said:

However, when He, the Spirit of Truth has come. He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak of His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. He will glorify Me..."(John 16:3)

Verily, He Who is the Spirit of Truth is come to guide you unto all truth. He speaketh not as prompted by His own self, but as bidden by Him Who is the All-Knowing, the All-Wise." (Lawh-i-Aqdas 11:4-5)

Please remember, Jesus said:

1) The Father Himself is coming to the Holy Land. (Mark 12:1-9)

2) The Kingdom of the Father shall be established upon the EARTH as it is in Heaven. (Luke 11:2, etc.)

3) The Son of Man shall come "as a thief in the night" and "in the glory of His Father".

The Baha'is Faith is the KINGDOM OF GOD THE FATHER on earth.

Q. Why does Humanity need such a 'Kingdom'? Is Jesus is the Savior of my soul, why is such a Kingdom on earth necessary?

A. To save Mankind as a WHOLE~as a living species~ from the final bowels of the 7~Bowl Judgment; from the righteous Wrath of God upon an unjust, cruel, hypocritical, and godless planet!

The Father has come to unite Humanity as One; to establish the Kingdom of God on earth that unites all nations, peoples, religions, into One People and One Faith. This is when "all things become as one". When Humanity becomes One then the Wrath of God will be averted, and Humanity will be saved from His Righteous Wrath and they will continue as a living species in order to spread across the Cosmos and bring divine civilization to other worlds and eventually other galaxies.

Could Baha'u'llah be the Antichrist?

Many Evangelical Christians believe that in the last days before the return of Jesus to the earth (or the sky) a person will come and proclaim "Peace" and make a deal with Israel and the Arabs. He will become the head of a World Government; perhaps the U.N., perhaps the European Union, or "The New World Order". For 3 1/2 or 7 years he will bring peace and prosperity to the world, but sometime then he will appear in a rebuilt Jewish Temple in Jerusalem and proclaim himself "God". Then he will stamp "666" on everyone's foreheads, or perhaps install a computer chip (somehow related to "666") in everyone's forehead or their right-hand, and nobody will be able to buy or sell without it. He will receive a head wound (probably from a bullet), but miraculously recover from it. He will cause fire to come down from heaven.

The 'Mark' as a computer barcode.

At the beginning, or the middle, or the end of his 7-year reign of power, tens of millions of Christians will one day "disappear" from the earth; without a trace. If two true Christians are flying an airplane, they will be "taken" and the plane will crash; killing all aboard (except Christian passengers and the two Christian pilots). At the end of this 7-years, Jesus will return in the clouds of the sky, every eye will see Him. He will destroy this Antichrist, and come down to earth and establish His Millennial Kingdom.

The Bible in fact speaks of various "anti-christs". It speaks of "The False Prophet" and the "Man of Sin" and "The Beast". Many Evangelical Christians believe in one end-times "Anti-Christ", but most Bible scholars are convinced that the 'False Prophet' and 'The Beast' and '666' (things John the Revelator wrote about in The Book of Revelations) were codewords for things that existed at the time The Book of Revelations was written, for example:

• The False Prophet=Simon Magus.
• The Beast With 7 Heads/10 Horns=The Roman Empire built upon the 7 hills of Rome and the 10 Ceasars who ruled until the time John wrote the Apocalypse.
• The Mark of the Beast=The stamp of the image of the Emperor upon Roman Coins. Nobody could buy or sell without the "stamp" of Ceasar's image.
• The Number of the Beast ("666")=Neron Kesar in Hebrew gematria.
• The Man of Sin=Hadrian.
• The Beast With Horns Like A Lamb But Spoke As A Dragon=Simon Magus
• The 7 Heads=the seven hills of Rome and also the 7 Ceasars who ruled before the Apocalypse was written.
• The Woman Sitting Upon the Beast=apostate Israel who "played the Harlot" with Rome and the "kings of the earth" for financial gain.
• The Great Red Dragon=the 10 Umayyad Caliphs who ruled over 7 provinces.
• The Woman Clothed With The Sun=the Fatimids who represented the Law of God.
• The Man~Child that would Rule with a Rod of Iron=The Bab and His descendants: the Afnan.
• The New Jerusalem descending from Heaven=the World Order of Baha'u'llah.
• The 24 Elders=the 19 Letters of the Living (disciples of The Bab) plus 5 other Lights of Guidance (Muhammed/The Bab/Baha'u'llah/Abdu'l-Baha/Shoghi Effendi).

• The Three Angels=Muhammad, The Bab, and Baha'u'llah.
• The Third Woe=the Revelation of Baha'u'llah.
• The 7-Bowl Judgment=the Righteous Wrath of God upon the nations of the earth.

Jesus Himself told His disciples how to recognize a false christ (antichrist) or a false prophet. He said that a false christ would say: "I am Christ"(see Matthew 24:5). There have been thousands of people in the last 2000 years who have claimed to be Christ. Among them are Jesus and Baha'u'llah; the ONLY TWO Who never once said: "I am Christ" or "I am the Messiah".

A false prophet can be recognized when He gives a prophecy that fails to come to pass. The prophecies of Baha'u'llah have all been recorded, and anti-Baha'i authors have poured over them for many years. They can't find any that have not "come to pass". All of Baha'u'llah's prophecies have been fulfilled; to the letter, and you can read about their fulfillment in books like The Challenge of Baha'u'llah and The Prisoner and the Kings. These books are only available at Baha'i bookstores or Baha'i Center libraries. You can get a copy of either by attending a Baha'i Fireside (informational meeting).

The Rapture

Baha'is do not believe that one day all true Christians will suddenly "disappear". Baha'is believe that the 'rapture' refers to what happens to us at death, or when some holy people have mystical experiences. The Apostle Paul wrote that he knew a man "14 years ago" who was "caught-up into the third heaven". The word "caught-up" is the same word used for "rapture". It means to enter the Presence of the Lord, and this can take place either in the body (in a mystical experience) or out of the body (at death). Many people who have had NDEs (Near-Death Experiences) call it "rapturous" or their "rapture". They meet dead loved ones. This is what Paul was referring to in Second Thessalonians chapter 4. To "die" is to "be with the Lord".

The current popular Rapture doctrine was unknown in all of Christian history until a Jesuit priest named Ribera invented it in the 16th century. At that time, Protestants believed that the Pope (or the Papacy) was the Antichrist. The Jesuit priest thought he could counter this belief by saying that the Antichrist had not yet come, but would come in the end of time; just before the Second Advent of Christ. In 1830 a sect of Christians called the Irvingites in England accepted this interpretation, and later a man by the name of John Darby accepted it and travelled throughout North America advocating it. Eventually, almost all Evangelical Christians in America accepted it as Gospel Truth.

But it wasn't....

The ancient Christians believed in not ONE Antichrist, but MANY. They believed that Simon Magus was the "False Prohet" of Revelations. He was an ANTI~Christ as well because he both opposed Jesus and proclaimed that he was "Christ". He is claimed to have brought fire down from Heaven. He was an "enchanter" (hypnotist) who made people believe that the statues and busts of Nero could speak and move.

666

The ancient Hebrews used a science of numbers called "Gematria". Each Hebrew (and Greek) letter had a numerical equivolent. For example, the Hebrew letter Aleph was 1, Beth was 2, and Gammel was 3, etc. The Greek letter Alpha was 1, beta was 2, Gamma was 3, and all the way to Omega; which stood for 800.

In the ancient Sybylline Oracles, prophecies of Greek-speaking Jewish female Seers, we read:

"When the virgin shall give birth to the Word of God the Most High, she shall give to the Word a name, and from teh east a star will shine in the midst of day gleaming from heaven above, proclaiming to mortal men a great sign. Yes, then sahll the Son of the Great God come to men, clothed in flesh like mortals upon earth. Four vowels he has, and twofold the consonants in him, and now I will declare to you the whole number: eight monads [8], and to these as many decads [80], and eight hundreds [800] his name shall be." (Sybyilline Oracles 1:381-388)

As all Christians are aware:

*Jesus was born of a virgin.

*A star appeared in the East at His birth and three Magoi ("Wise Men") followed it and worshipped Him.

*He claimed to be the Son of God.

*He was like mortal men; capable of death, hunger, thirst, etc.

*His Hebrew name was Yeh'o'shuah ("Yeh is Salvation"). His Aramaic name was Yeshua ("Yeh Saves"). His Greek name was Iesous (there is no "J" in Greek), and IESOUS has four vowels (IEOU) and a consodant "twofold" (SS) and the gematria number of IESOUS equals "888"=

The Orthodox Jews did not accept the prophecies of the Sybils (the Greek-speaking Jewish Seeresses) because they believed that only their own Bible (called the "Tanakh"~which we call the Old Testament) was the Word of God. The Sybilline Oracles were considered "extrabiblical revelation", and thus rejected. They were told by their religious leaders, and they believed them, that all other revelation outside of the Tanakh ("Bible") was either made-up or inspired by the evil one!

So, the vast great majority of the Jews, Hebrew and Greek-speaking, simply dismissed the Sybilline Prophecies as fraudulent. Had they accepted them as real, they would have recognize Jesus as their Messiah, and would have not crucifixed Him between two thieves.

The ancient Christians believed that Nero Ceasar was "the Beast"; the man with the number "666". In Hebrew, Neron Kesar equals "666". Scholars have found references to Nero in some Dead Sea Scrolls (ancient Jewish sectarian writings) as "666". In Latin, Nero's name equals "616", and that is why the oldest Latin manuscripts of Revelations says the number of The Beast is "616".

The Greek word translated "mark" in "mark of the Beast" is charagma, and actually means "engraved etching"; like a relief on stone or an etching in metal. It means an "image" of a man or woman or god or "thing" which is "etched" into stone, wood, or metal. It means "to stamp" or etch someone's image into something.

The "Mark of the Beast" refers to the stamp (the Greek says "stamp" not "mark"); the image of Ceasar which was stamped upon Roman coins. Without the stamp, nobody could buy or sell; not even with unstamped metals of gold or silver. The Romans hoped to control all business in their empire by this means. Peoples in the Roman Empire did business with their "right hand" (because the left-hand was the toilet hand), and they paid a "head-tax". Thus, the 'mark' ("stamp") of Ceasar's image on coins was a 'mark' upon the right-hand in the case of business transactions, or, in the case of taxes, on the head.

The Beast

According to Evangelical Christians theologians C. Marvin Pate and Calvin B. Haines of the Moody Bible Institute of Chicago, the "Beast" of Revelations (actually the first Beast, the book speaks of two Beasts) refers to the pagan Roman Empire in general, and to Ceasar Nero in particular. They write:

"Nero's infamous character merits the title of 'beast' applied to him by the seer of the Apocalypse (v.1). Revelation 12:1-6 gives the generic background of the beast, which is the Roman Empire of the first century. The seven heads correspond to the seven hills of Rome, while the ten horns allude to the Ceasars of the first century, however one may number them (v.1). The Blashemous worship demanded by the beast distinctly reminds one of the imperial cult of the first century, and the war the beast wages on the saints cannot help but recall the intense persecutions Nero, and later Domitian, inflicted on Christians because they did not worship Ceasar....Nero's persecution of Christians from November A.D. 64 to June A.D. 68 could account, in part, for the forty-two months (or three and one-half years) of oppression mentioned in Revelation 13:5. The reference in Revelations 13:10 to those who kill with the sword being killed by the sword reminds one simultaneously of Nero's persecution of Christians and his own apparent suicide by the sword.***
Megalomaniac that he was, Nero had coins minted in which he was called "Almighty God" and "Savior". ( End-Time Visions, 1998, p.121)

"If one takes the name Nero Ceasar, translates it into Greek (Neron Kaisar), then transliterates it into Hebrew (NRWN QSR), and finally, gives each Hebrew letter its numerical equivalent (N=50, R=200, W=6, N=50, Q=100, S=60, R=200), the sum total of all the letters is none other than 666 (Rev. 13:18)." ( End-Time Visions, 1998, p.122)

The Book of Revelations says that the "mark" of the Beast (it says "stamp" of the Beast in Greek) is upon the "right hand" or "forehead". In Greek culture, the right-hand was considered the "business" hand; the hand to buy and sell with. There was no "income" tax, but a "head" tax upon every living "head" whether human or animal. Nobody could "buy or sell" (or pay their head-tax) without the image of ceasar "stamped" upon a piece of silver or gold.

A Roman coin with Nero's image stamped on it

The Apocalypse (Book of Revelations) actually speaks of two Beasts and a Red Dragon; three symbolic creatures in all.

The First Beast would arise from the sea, and have claws like a bear, a body like a leopard, 7 heads with mouths like a lion, and 10 horns. Most Bible scholars believe this refers to the pagan Roman Empire, which was founded in order to control the trade routes of the Mediterranean Sea. It was composed of parts of the old Babylonian (Lion with Wings), Persian (Bear), Greek (Leopard) empires; thus the Beast was composed of parts of those animals. The city of Rome was founded on 7 Hills, and the 10 horns with crowns on them represented the 10 Ceasars who ruled from Julius Ceasar until the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 A.D.

The Second Beast is said to have "horns like a lamb" but speak like a dragon. He gives "power" to the First Beast (pagan Rome) by making the "image of the Beast" appear to speak, and causing men to therefore "worship the image of the Beast". He also causes fire to come down from heaven in the sight of men.

The third creature is called a "great red dragon". This dragon has, like the First Beast, 7 heads and 10 horns. The Red Dragon chases a "Woman Clothed With the Sun" into the wilderness. She gives birth to a male child who is to "rule all nations" with the "rod of iron". The Red Dragon tries to devour the child, but is unsuccessful; although the dragon draws away "a third of the stars of heaven".

The two Beasts and the Red Dragon

Most Bible scholars believe that the First Beast is the pagan Roman Empire, and that the Second Beast is Simon Magus; the "False Prophet" of Revelations. Baha'is believe that the "Red Dragon" is a symbol of the Umayyads; a dynasty of Sunni Muslims who tried to destroy the Fatimids; the descendants of Muhammad's daughter Fatimah. They succeeded in killing a third of His descendants, but they escaped to the Wilderness of Arabia. The Umayyad Empire was composed of 7 lands, and 10 Caliphs ruled.

The "Woman Clothed With The Sun" with the Moon at her feet and 12 stars as a crown seems to represent the Fatimids; the descendants of Fatimah. The Fatimids arose from Islam (moon at her feet), and lived in the deserts of Arabia and Persia (clothed with the Sun) and from the Fatimids came the 12 Imams (12 Stars) of Shi'a Islam.

Baha'is believe that the "man~child" who would "rule all nations" is a symbol of the rulers who would be born of the lineage of The Bab; Who was a descendant of Fatimah. Shoghi Effendi was the great-grandson of both Baha'u'llah and The Bab. In the World Order of Baha'u'llah each country will have a king from this bloodline, and they will rule, with their queens, in accordance with the Law of God; as interpreted by the Holy Writings of the Faith, and as legislated upon by the Universal House of Justice. The descendants of The Bab are called by the name of Afnan (Arabic: "Small Branches"). Just as small branches are off~shoots of a large branch, so the Afnan (small branches) are off-shoots of THE GREAT BRANCH.

The Afnan shall rule the nations as literal kings and queens under the King of kings.

Baha'is believe that the World Order of Baha'u'llah will be established once all nations become Baha'i, and that is when the "Most Great Peace" will be established. The Most Great Peace is where strong nations (Lions) shall be at peace with weak nations (lambs); thus the "lion" (strong nations) shall lie down with the "lamb" (weak nations) and a "little child" (the Afnan) shall lead [rule] them." (Isaiah 11:6). The "little child" of Isaiah 11:6 is the "manchild" (the child of the Woman Clothed With The Sun) of Revelations who "shall rule all nations" with a "rod of iron" (i.e. according to the Kitab-i-Aqdas).

A little child shall lead [rule] them!

The Apocalypse symbolizes the World Order of Baha'u'llah as a City which comes down from heaven; with 12 gates and 12 foundationstones. This city is called "New Jerusalem".

But doesn't the Bible say that the Antichrist shall say "Peace, Peace" when there is no peace! Isn't this what Baha'is are saying? Don't Baha'is want to establish a 'New World Order'? Isn't this what the Antichrist is going to do?

It was "The Beast" that came forth up out of the sea, the Roman Empire, who justified their conquests by crying "Pax Romana" (Roman Peace); when in fact the Roman Empire was almost constantly at war. The Romans wanted to control the trade-routes of the Mediterranean Sea, and they justified their conquests by crying "Pax Romana"; that they just wanted to give the world "peace".

The Catholic Encyclopedia says:

"The beast of the sea that had received plentitude of power from the dragon, or Satan, is the Roman Empire, or rather, Ceasar, its supreme representative. The token of the beast with which its servants are marked is the image of the Emperor on the coins of the realm. This seems to be the obvious meaning of the passage, that all business transactions, all buying and selling were impossible to them that had not the mark of the beast (Ap. 13:17).***
The seven heads of the beast are seven emperors. Five of them the Seer [John] says are fallen. They are Augustus, Tiberius, Caligula, Claudius, and Nero. the year of Nero's death is A.D. 68. The Seer goes on to say "One is", namely Vespasian, A.D. 70-79. He is the sixth emperor. The seventh, we are told by the Seer, 'is not yet come, but when he comes his reign will be short.' Titus is meant, who reigned but two years (79-81). The eighth emperor is Domitian (81-96). Of him the Seer has something very peculiar to say. He is identified with the beast. He is described as the one that 'was and is not and shall come up out of the bottomless pit.' (17:8)***
Nero had made a name for himself by his cruelty and licentiousness. The Christians in particular had reason to dread him. Under him the first persecution took place. The second occurred under Domitian. But unlike the previous ones, it was not confined only to Italy, but spread throughout the provinces. Many Christians were put to death, many were banished (Eusebius, Hist. Eccl. 3:17-19). In this way the Seer was led to regard Domitian as a second Nero, 'Nero redivivus'. Hence he described him as 'the one what was, and is not, and that is to return.' Hense also he counts him as the eighth and at the same time makes him one of the preceding seven, viz. the fifth, Nero. The identification of the two emperors suggested itself all the more readily since even pagan authors called Domitian a second Nero (calvus Nero, Juvenal. IV 38). The popular belief concerning Nero's death and return seems to be referred to in the passage (13:3): 'And I saw one of its heads as it were slain to death; and its death's wound was healed.'***The Seer has marked the beast with the number 666*** Many scholars have come to the conclusion that Nero is meant. For when the name 'Nero Ceasar' is spelled in Hebrew letters, it yields the cipher 666."
( Catholic Encyclopedia: Apocalypse, pp.8-9 online)

The Book of Revelations, chapter 13, speaks of a 'False Prophet' who works miracles and gives "power" to the first Beast (Nero) by making the "image" of the Beast come alive. The the Acts of Peter (part of the Apocryphal New Testament~accepted as scripture by the Hebrew-speaking Nazoreans but not the Greek-speaking Christians) it is Simon Magus who gives "power" to Nero by making his statues appear to be alive and speaking. Simon was a Magus and an "enchanter" (hypnotist) who could make crowds believe statues spoke or he could bring fire from the sky). In ancient times, people who were hypnotized did not distinguish hallucination from reality. The Book of Acts said Simon did great wonders and miracles (Acts 8:9).

Simon the Sorcerer

That Simon was supposed to be able to bring stutues to life and speak is attested in ancient Christian writings such as the Clementine Recognitions (3.47), in the Apolgia (1.26) of Justin, and in Irenaeus' Against Heresies (1.23). Clement, Justin, and Irenaeus all identified Simon Magus as the "False Prophet" of Revelations chapter 13. Clement of Rome was a disciple of Peter and Paul, and was the scribe that wrote most of Paul's Epistles as Paul dictated to him. Irenaeus was the bishop of Lyons, and was as a youth a disciple of Polycarp, who himself was a disciple of John the author of The Book of Revelations (also called "The Apocalyse"). Justin was a early 2nd century Greek Christian writer and martyr.

Revelations chapter 13 says that the False Prophet "set up an image in honor of the Beast" (V.14) and "was give power to give breath to the image of the first Beast, so that it could speak and cause all who refused to worship the image to be killed." (V.15).

The ancient Christian historian Eusebius (c. 265-339 A.D.), the bishop of Ceasarea, in Palestine, had a chapter about Simon Magus in his now famous Eccesiastical History. He titled Book 2, Chapter 13, of his work: Simon Magus, The False Prophet. Eusebius is known today as the "Father" of Christian Church history.

The reason why the ancient Christians were killed by the Romans is because the Romans demanded that everyone in the Empire (except for Jews) worship the "image" of the Emperor (his statues) during the many festivals of the Roman year. The Jews were exempted from this because the Jews had made an agreement with the Romans long before that they would become part of the Roman Empire but they were be exempted from worshipping the pagan gods. When the Cult of the Emperor was formed at the time of Ceasar Augustus the Jews were exempted as per their agreement a century before with the Romans. However, Gentile Christians (Greeks, Romans, Syrians, etc.) were not considered to be "Jews" and if they refused to offer sacrifice to the statue ("image") of the Emperor it was considered treason, and they could be killed under Roman Law.

And this is what happened in great numbers.

Nero claimed to be a "god". He was the first Roman Emperor who claimed to be a god while still living. He claimed to be a "living god", and Simon Magus made people believe that his image (statue bust) could talk! He gave "power" to Nero ("The Beast") in this way.

The Beast is NOT a Computer in Belgium

Many Evangelical Christians (especially in North America) in the 1970s and 1980s believed that the "Beast" was a supercomputer in Belgium, and that bar-codes (those black lines whereby computers in markets identify an item and its price) would be stamped on people's foreheads by the coming Anti-christ, or perhaps a "computer chip" would be installed under the skin in their right-hands or foreheads with some sort of "666" bar-code. But the Evangelical Christian writer and researcher Richard Abanes reveals in his book End-Times Visions that there is in fact "no" supercomputer in Belgium and "no" plan for "666" bar-codes stamped on people's foreheads or imbedded under the skin! He reveals the fact that the Belgium supercomputer and "666" bar-code rumors were based upon a work of fiction titled Behold a Pale Horse by Joe Musser; an Evangelical Christian fiction writer who wrote End-Times scenarios based upon Dispensationalism (i.e. Darby's interpretatations of Bible prophesy based upon the "Rabbi Ben Ezra").

It is all pure fiction!

Is the "Beast" a supercomputer with a 666 barcode?

Still today the myth of supercomputers and "666" bar-codes is being promulgated in Evangelical Christian circles via films and books; such as the multimillion selling "Left Behind" series by Tim LaHaye. Yet, most Christian scholars know that the "Beast" of the Apocalypse is not some supercomputer in Belgium, or some future "PR guy" for "The Antichrist", but in fact represents very clearly the pagan Roman Empire; which terribly persecuted Christians of the first three centuries. Rome was built upon 7 Hills (the 7 heads of the Beast). The "Woman" who sat upon the Beast represented Apostate Israel; who had "played the harlot" with Rome and the "kings of the earth" for the sake of wealth and financial gain.

The New Jerusalem

New Jerusalem descends from Heaven

The Apocalypse (Book of Revelations) speaks of John seeing a "city" descend from Heaven and land upon the Earth. He describes the city as foursquare, and being about 1500 square miles, and having 12 gates and 12 foundationstones. Most Evangelical Christians believe this is not symbolic, but literal; that a literal Heavenly City will descend from space like a huge spaceship and land upon the earth, and that the saved will dwell in the city with Jesus for 1000 years.

For Baha'is, on the other hand, the City of New Jerusalem in the Apocalypse is a "symbol" (like almost everything in that book) of the World Order of Baha'u'llah; based upon the 12 Principles of the Faith.

Indeed, the very mission of Baha'u'llah was to establish His New World Order; which is based upon the 12 Principles.

Many Christians believe that the "New World Order" is the evil Reign of the Antichrist; in which he will rebuild the Temple of Jerusalem, proclaim himself "God", and mark everyone on the righthand or forehead with a "666" barcode. When Christians hear that Baha'is want to bring the world "peace" they are often 'SHOCKED', because they are taught that this is what the Antichrist and False Prophet will promise the world: World Peace and a "New World Order".

Baha'is do want to bring World Peace, but they believe this will be brought about because the purpose of the Baha'i Faith is the "Millennial Kingdom" of Christ which seeks to establish the "World Order of Baha'u'llah" based upon the 12 Principles. Christians await the "New Jerusalem" to descend from Heaven. The name "Jerusalem" comes from the Canaanite "Ur~u~Salem" and means "City of Peace". For Baha'is, New Jerusalem is not a huge extraterrestrial cube (or pyramid) that comes from outerspace and lands on Earth! What John saw in vision was symbolic of the real New Jerusalem; which for Baha'is represents the World Order of Baha'u'llah; a worldwide Order based upon 12 Heavenly Principles that brings all nations and peoples of the world "Peace".

But "peace" is not just the end to war! It means a kind of Godlike "peace". The Arabic word for "Peace" is Salaam; from which one gets the word Islam ("Submission"). The kind of Peace that the World Order of Baha'u'llah will bring is when all nations and peoples peacefully and willingly submit to the Will of God; as revealed by Baha'u'llah via His Book of Laws: the Kitab-i-Aqdas ("Most Holy Book").

Peace will come to the earth not from Humanism, nor mere human efforts, but from Baha'is who will establish the World Order of Baha'u'llah which is based upon His Revelations. He is the Messiah ben David Who was to come to bring World Peace.

Baha'u'llah's mission was to unite Mankind into one Brotherhood of Man; where all nations, races, tribes, tongues, and peoples would be united into the World Order of Baha'u'llah; otherwise known as "The New Jerusalem". A secular super-state will precede it, and that superstate may indeed be evil and godless, but the ultimate outcome will be a united humanity under the Law of God as revealed by our Heavenly Father Who came down to earth as 'Lord of the Vineyard'. In Hebrew, Carm-El means "Vineyard of God">

Even though the False Prophet of the Christian dispensation was Simon Magus, and the "666" refers to Nero, this does not mean that the "spirit of Antichrist" is no longer in the world. It certainly is. The mission of Baha'u'llah was to defeat and bind that unholy spirit, and establish the Millennial Reign of Christ upon the Earth.

It is the spirit of Antichrist that is behind the Nazis, the Ku Klux Klan, the Mafia, as well as racial, ethnic, and religious strife. The Mission of Baha'u'llah, as Michael the Archangel, is to defeat and "bind" Satan for 1000 years! This 1000 years is call the "Dispensation of Baha'u'llah".

But we've been taught as Christians that the New World Order is evil and the work of the Antichrist!

Where does it say that the New World Order is 'evil' or from the Antichrist? The Bible? No. This comes from men; uninspired men.

Many Evangelical Christians today (especially in North America) believe that the coming "New World Order" is the "Reign of the Antichrist".

Why is this?

Most assume the answer is: "Because the Bible teaches it!"

Actually, the Bible nowhere has the phrase "New World Order". The Apocalypse does speak of a "Beast" from the Sea and a second "Beast" from the land. It does speak of a woman who "rides the Beast". However, the ONLY reference the Bible has to any sort of "one-world government" is when it speaks of the coming "King of kings" Who shall "put all nations under His feet". Christians believe that the "King of kings" is Jesus Christ; returned in His Glory.

Most Evangelical Christians will be somewhat shocked to learn that the first to equate the term "New World Order" with "Antichrist" was Wesley Swift; the founder of the "Christian Identity Movement".

Wesley Swift was a man who believed that the Anglo-Saxons were the "lost tribes of Israel", and that the Jews were not Israelites, but in fact the descendants of a Turkish tribe called the Khazars. He taught that the "Jews" of today are not the descendants of Judah (the son of Israel), but in fact the descendants of Cain, who was himself the son of Eve and Satan. When the Bible has Eve saying, "The serpent hath seduced me", Swift interpeted that to mean that Satan had sexual intercourse with Eve; producing Cain. Thus, Cain became the father of the "Jews" of today and other "mud races". Swift himself had been influenced by the writings of Albert Pike and other Gnostics (pronounced "Nostiks"~the 'G' is silent).

Swift had radio programs during the 1930s and 1940s where he blamed the "Jews" ("sons of Cain") for the Depression. In 1957 he founded a church in California named The Church of Jesus Christ Christian; later to become known as Aryan Nations. Timothy McVey, the "Oklahoma City Bomber", and his associates, were members and supporters of various organizations that Swift either formed or inspired.

The Anti-Defamation League writes of the Christian Identity Movement:

"Christian Identity is an ideology which asserts that the white Aryan race is God's chosen race and that whites comprise the ten lost tribes of Israel.***Interpreting the Book of Genesis, Christian Identity followers assert that Adam was preceded by other, lesser races, identified as beasts of the field (Gen. 1:25). Eve was seduced by the snake (Satan) and gave birth to two seed lines: Cain, the direct descedent of Satan and Eve, and Abel, who was of good Aryan stock through Adam. Cain then became the progenitor of the Jews in his subsequent matings with the non-Adamic races. Christian Identity adherents believe the Jews are predisposed to carry on a conspiracy against the Adamic seed line and today have achieved almost complete control of the earth.***Christian Identity also believes in the inevitability of the end of the world and the Second Coming of Christ. It is believed that these events are part of a cleansing process that is needed before Christ's Kingdom can be established on earth. During this time, Jews and their allies will attempt to destroy the white race using any means available. The result will be a violent and bloody struggle--a war, in effect--between God's forces, the white race, and the forces of evil, the Jews and nonwhites.***Some contend there will be a race war in which millions will die; others believe that the United Nations, backed by Jewish representatives of the anti-Christ, will take over the country and promote a New World Order." ("Christian Identity", ADL-CI, pp.1,3 online)

Of course, the vast great majority of Evangelical Christians are pro-Israel, support the U.S. Government, love the Jewish people, are not "racists", and belong to inter-racial churches and Christian fellowships.

How then did Christian Identity teachings equating the 'New World Order' with the 'Reign of the Antichrist' enter Evangelical Christianity? The only answer is: through the back door!

Christian Identity preachers know they will never convert many Evangelical Christians to their anti-Semitic and racist worldview. But...they also know that if they preach a few things Evangelicals might accept, while not revealing who they really are, they might get Evangelicals to "buy" part of the horse without seeing the entire animal!

This is what they do! Christian Identity preachers and operatives use the Internet, meetings, and the radio to promulgate a few of their teachings; the ones they know Evangelical Christians might "buy"; like when they say that the "Illuminati" is trying to build "the New World Order" and that the "New World Order" will be the "empire" of "The End-Times Antichrist". That's all they say. Evangelical Christians listen, and some believe. Sometimes Christian pastors will believe this; so they write sermons about it. Sometimes Christian authors will write books on this theme, and so it goes.

Today, the belief that the "New World Order" is in fact the "Reign of the Antichrist" is believed by a large majority of Evangelical Christians in North America who have no idea where this belief originated! If you ask them, they say, "It's in the Bible!" Very few, if any, of these Evangelical Christians would "buy" the Christian Identity worldview. Yet, they have "bought" the New World Order/Anti-Christ connection.

Even today, some anti-Baha'i Evangelical Christians are writing and preparing materials on the Internet and elsewhere; saying that Baha'is are part of a "conspiracy of Luciferians" by promoting the formation of a "NEW WORLD ORDER".

Do Baha'is promote the New World Order?

YES! They do! But Baha'is believe the "New World Order" is nothing more or less than the "Millennial Reign of Christ" on earth. They believe that the "New World Order" is the "City of New Jerusalem"; the City built upon "12" foundationstones which is symbolic of the world at Peace when all nations shall beat their swords into plowshares, and when all nations submit to the Law of God.

Baha'is would never follow anyone who said "I am Christ" (Baha'u'llah never did)! Baha'is are followers of Baha'u'llah; Who claimed to be the "Father"; the Lord of the Vineyard. Baha'is would never support any "New World Order" that was not based upon the 12 Principles of the Faith.

Why should we as Christians give up Christianity and Jesus and become Baha'is?

The Interpreter of the Baha'i Faith, 'Abdu'l-Baha, said:

"The Cause of Baha'u'llah is the same as the Cause of Christ...." ( Baha'i World Faith, p.400)

"When Christians act according to the teachings of Christ, they are called Baha'is. For the foundations of Christianity and the religion of Baha'u'llah are one. The difference between them is one of terminology only." (Promulgation, p.247)

Please remember that Jesus never called His religion "Christianity"! Paul never called it "Christianity". The term "Christianity" was invented by Clement of Alexandria in the early 4th century A.D. Jesus simply called His religion the "Way of the LORD" as did Paul and others. The early Christians were called "Nazarenes" or "Saints" (Holy Ones) and only called "Christians" by pagans in Antioch. The true name for the One Religion of God is Islam; which means "peaceful submission" to the Will of God. The Lamb of God in The Book of Revelations with "seven eyes" is Islam; which has had Seven Messengers:

1) Abraham
2) Joseph
3) Moses
4) Jesus
5) Muhammed
6) The Bab
7) Baha'u'llah

These are the Seven Churches, the Seven Lamps, the Seven Angels, and the Seven Stars of The Book of Revelations.

The earliest disciples of Jesus did not call themselves "Christians". They were not known to others as "Christians". They did not refer to their belief system as "Christianity". This is from an Evangelical Christian author:

"Originally all Christians were called Nazoreans (Acts 24:5). Beginning in Antioch, the term 'Christian' gradually displaced the earlier term in the Greek-speaking Gentile [non-Jewish] churches (Acts 1:26). 'Nazorean' was retains by Jesus' followers in the Near East, most of whom were Jews. A form of the name 'Nazorean' is still used by the Syriac and Armenian churches and by Jews and Muslims referring to Christians." (Gates of Zion Homepage, p.1 online)

"And there shall come for a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a BRANCH [nazar] shall grow out of its roots and bear fruit." (Isaiah 11:1) In other words, one does not have to be called a "Christian" to be a true disciple of Jesus! The term "Christian" was what Pagans called His disciples. He never referred to them as such! He simply referred to them as His "brethren", His "disciples", or the "children of Light".

A Nasara'i means "belonging to THE BRANCH".

A Baha'i means "belonging to THE GLORY".

A true follower of Jesus is one who truly accepts Him as their Lord and Personal Savior regardless of what name they call themselves or what name they are called by others!

The only name that is important is JESUS!

Baha'u'llah is the Spirit of Truth

Jesus said that the Spirit of Truth would come to teach us "all things". Why should the Spirit of Truth come to teach Christians anything? Is not the Bible sufficient? The Bible is sufficient for salvation, but the establishment of Christ's Kingdom on earth is not about personal salvation, but indeed about the redemption of humanity as a whole.

A Christian who becomes a Baha'i does not cease to be a Christian. Rather, they simply become Christians of the Second Advent. Christ of the Second Advent is called "Baha'u'llah"; so His followers would be called "Baha'is".

Christ has returned with a New Name (Rev. 3:12), and so His disciples of the Second Advent will have a "new name" as well.

A Baha'i then is NOT a person who rejects Jesus in order to follow Baha'u'llah, but a person who follows Jesus _and_ the Spirit of Truth Whom Jesus said God would send. All other Christians are those who have not yet heard the Spirit of Truth, or believe the Spirit of Truth came at Pentecost and taught Christians "all things". Yet, Jesus referred to the Spirit of Truth as "the Son of Man" (Luke 21:27); the chosen human being or "descendant of Adam". The Spirit of Truth would be a descendant of Adam (and thus a human being) Who would teach humanity all things pertinent to the establishment of the literal Kingdom of God on earth.

Those who reject the Spirit of Truth (Baha'u'llah) without hearing Him do the same thing as those Jews who refused to hear Jesus' Words, but merely DISMISSED Him as a false messiah; just one among many.

Will Christians make the same mistake so many Jews made 2000 years ago?

But isn't the Baha'i Faith a CULT?

The Baha'i Faith is an independent World Religion. It is the latest Revelation of God to Mankind. It is Christ's Millennial Kingdom which seeks to establish the "New Jerusalem" (World Order of Baha'u'llah) upon the earth. It is not a "cult". It is not a heretical "sect".

Sometimes the term "cult" is used exclusively for those religious organizations which use "mind control" and other coersive techniques in order to recruit and retain members. The Baha'i Faith engages in no "mind control" nor any coersive or deceptive practices commonly associated with "cults".

Another way the term "cult" is used is "false church or religion". Evangelical Christians are told to believe that all religions other than "Biblical Christianity" (i.e. Evangelical Christianity) is a "cult"; meaning a false religion. Therefore, the Baha'i Faith would be, in their eyes, a "cult"; just one "cult" among many! The Baha'i Faith is seen by them just one "cult" among many others; like the Mormons, Jehovah's Witnesses, Christadelphians, Christian Science, Roman Catholics, Moonies, New Ager sectatrians, etc.

But...

Please recall why the Jews rejected Jesus! Why? Because they thought that the "Nazarenes" (the name of Jesus' disciples before they became known as "Christians") were heretics: cultists!

Indeed, in the Talmud the Nazarenes (Christians) are called Minim (Hebrew for "cultists"), and the Nazarene Faith (later known as Christianity") called Minuth (Hebrew for "Cultism"). The Nazarenes were considered to be just one "cult" among many "cults" or heretical Jewish sects. The Nazarenes were "lumped in" with other minim ("cults") recognized as such at that time; such as the Essenes, Gerists, Merists, Hemerobaptists, Masabotheans, Boethusians, etc. The Nazarenes were considered to be just one "cult" among many. Jesus was just one "false messiah" among many. John the Baptist was considered just one "false prophet" among many.

Yeh'o'shua (Jesus) was considered just one "false messiah" among many who had come and proclaimed "I am the Messiah". It was almost a weekly occurence! Jesus was called by the priests (Sadducees), Bible scholars (Scribes), and ministers (Pharisees) of His day by the term "That Deceiver!" (Matthew 27:63)

The Rabbi Solomon ben Isaac wrote of Jesus:

"Jeshu the Nazarene...a magician and perverter of the people." (Israelis, Jews, and Jesus, p.88)

The ancient Christian writer Justin Martyr wrote Dialogue with Trypho the Jew in which Trypho tells Justin (a Christian) that Jesus was a "false Messiah"; just one false messiah among many, and that when Christians accept His resurrection they have "accepted a groundless report" and "invent a Christ for yourselves". Justin replies:

"You Jews have sent chosen men into every part of the empire...proclaiming, 'A godless and libertine heresy has arisen from a certain Jesus, a Galilean magician. We had him crucified, but his disciples came and stole him by night from the tomb where he had been put when taken down from the cross, and they (Christians) deceive people, saying that he has risen from the dead and ascended to heaven.' You slander Jesus, saying that He taught those godless and unholy things that you report to every race of men in your attacks against those who confess Christ as both their own Teacher and the Son of God." (The Ante-Nicene Fathers 1:203)

The "chosen men" that Justin referred to were "cult-fighters"; ministers who travelled around from synagogue to synagogue holding seminars on the "cults"; with special emphasis on the most dangerous "cult" of all: the Nazarenes. They told people that the Nazarenes ("Christians") "deceive people".

One such cult-fighter was the Rabbi David Kimchi who wrote Answer to the Christians in which after a very "careful study" of all the Messianic prophecies he came to the conclusion that in Jesus "not one had been fulfilled." (Israelis, Jews, and Jesus, p.89)

Before Paul had his vision of Jesus on the road to Damascus, he was named Saul, and he was a Pharisee chosen to be a "cult-fighter"; with a countercult ministry with special emphasis on the "sect of the Nazarenes". He had Nazara'i (Christians) sent before the Sanhedrin to be tried, and many of them were stoned to death for "blasphemy" in saying that Yeh'o'shua was the Messiah, and saying that the Messiah was the "Son of God". Such things were utter blasphemy to the Pharisees and Sadducees! But after Saul had become a Christian, and renamed himself "Paul", he travelled to many different synagogues preaching that Jesus was the Messiah (Christ). The Jews told him that while they hadn't heard anything against him, they had heard all sorts of negative things about the Nazarenes. Luke, the author of The Book of Acts, wrote:

"21 And they said unto him [Paul], We neither received letters out of Judea concerning thee, neighter any of the brethren that came shewed or spake any harm of thee.
22 But we desire to hear of thee what thou thinkest: for as concerning this sect, we know that everywhere it is spoken against." (Acts 18:21-22)

When Paul was a countercult missionary he was a highly paid and highly-respected Pharisee. However, after he converted to the Nazara'i Faith ("Christianity" as it was later called) he became " a pestilent fellow, and a mover of sedition among the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes." (Acts 24:5)

The Nazarene "cult" was spoken against everywhere. Rumors were put forth as truths. Ex-Nazarenes were paid to make-up false or exaggerated stories. Men were commissioned to travel to synagogues to preach against the Minim ("cultists"); the Nazarenes being considered just one among many.

Chosen men were sent to warn people against the Nazarene cult.

If they did not want to believe that Jesus was the Messiah, then they could explain-away all the prophecies as being fulfilled in Jesus!

It was easy!

The Nazarenes were considered just one heretical sect, or "cult", among many! John the Baptist was considered just one "false prophet" among many, and Yeh'o'shuah (Jesus) was considered just one "false messiah" among many.

Most Jews refused to even hear the Nazara'i Message because their priests and rabbis had told them that Yeh'o'shua (Jesus) was a false messiah. They put their faith in their human leaders. to guide them.

But the Nazarene Faith was NOT just one "heretical sect" among many! It was the FULFILLMENT of all the Jewish hopes and prophecies conerning the coming of the Messiah ben Joseph; otherwise known as "Yeshua ben Yosef" (Jesus son of Joseph).

But He wasn't Joseph's son! He was the Son of God!

In the First Advent the clergy were the ones who opposed Christ. They opposed Him everywhere; at every turn. They considered Him a "false christ". When He cast out demons they screamed, "It is only because He does it with the power of the Prince of Demons!" They screamed, "He is a deceiver! He is a drunkard, a winebibber! This is of the Evil One! Beware! Beware!" When He claimed to be God they wished to stone Him. They paid men to bear false witness against Him. When they did not find His body after the crucifixion they paid the Roman guards to say that His disciples stole His body, etc.

So worried were the Jews about cults and false christs and false prophets that they quickly concluded Jesus was simply another false messiah; one among many.

It should not surprise us that at the time of the Second Advent (our day) both Muslim and Christian clergy will be the ones opposing Baha'u'llah and His Message most vehemently. They will scream, "It is a cult! It is false! It is of Satan himself! Baha'u'llah is a false christ! Beware! Beware!"

In the early days of the Baha'i Faith Muslim clerics would stir-up crowds against the Baha'is; often leading to many innocent Baha'i men, women, and children being killed. Today, this continues in Iran and some other Muslim countries.

In the West, however, the persecution is usually not physical, but Christian ministers will begin to warn their flocks against the Faith when the time comes that the Faith begins to attract many Christians to it. Anti-Baha'is in the West shall tell people to avoid it; because it is a "cult" and Baha'u'llah is a "false christ" and a "false prophet"! Many Christians will refuse to listen or consider.

Many Christians will refuse to even hear the Baha'i Message because their pastors have told them that Baha'u'llah is a false christ. They put their faith in their human leaders to guide them.

But...that is alright! Because the "sheep" must be separated from the "goats". And the sheep will recognize the Voice of the Shepherd!

History truly does repeat itself!

But how could Baha'is be saved when the Bible clearly states that there is only ONE NAME under Heaven whereby mankind may be saved: Jesus Christ!?

Baha'is are saved by that name as well! They accept Jesus as the Son of God, virgin-born, and the "very Savior of man" (Promulgation of Universal Peace, p.63).

Evangelical Christians believe that Jesus only saves them. On the other hand, Baha'is believe that Jesus saves ALL who accept Him as their Lord and personal Savior; the "very Savior of man" as 'Abdu'l-Baha said.

Anyone who accepts Jesus as the only virgin-born Son of God, and as "the very Savior of man" whose death on the Cross "sanctifies the soul of the sinner" and who confesses Him as "Lord" is SAVED! It matters not what that persons calls his or herself! They could be a Catholic, a Buddhist, a Jain, a Sikh, a Muslim, or whatever! If they believe in their heart that Jesus is their personal Savior, and confess with their mouth that He is "Lord" they shall be saved!

Baha'is are SAVED.

Jesus said that we can't serve TWO Masters! How can Christians serve Jesus and Baha'u'llah both?

Baha'is DO NOT serve two Masters! Baha'is strive to serve God! For Baha'is God is the only Master; whether He is Manifest in Jesus or Baha'u'llah. The Father and the Son are not in "competition". They are One!

Jesus said, "Ye cannot serve God and mammon." (Matt. 6:24). The word mammona is Aramaic, and means "worldly goods, health, wealth, material riches, success,prosperity". Most people in the world today who are "religious" are actually trying to get "Mammon". They offer prayers and sacrifices to God, or "gods", in the hopes of procuring for themselves wordly success and material possessions (i.e. "Mammon").

A servant of Mammon

Many people in India offer sacrifices to the gods for "mammon". Many people in Japan offer money or other things to the kami (nature-spirits) for "mammon". Some Christians give large amounts of money to various preachers and "ministries" in the hopes of receiving "health" or "wealth" or "success in business" or other wordly rewards in return. In other words, for the hope of "Mammon".

Jesus said, "You CANNOT serve God and Mammon! Only one can be your Master!"

On the other hand, Baha'is believe that they should serve their fellow man, even the least among our brothers and sisters, and, in this way, we are serving God; our Master. This is "pure religion". While pure religion may not bring earthly rewards, it does bring "treasures in Heaven".

Baha'u'llah wrote:

"O My Servant!
Abandon not for that which perisheth an everlasting dominion, and cast not away celestial sovereignty for a wordly desire. This is the river of everlasting life that hath flowed from the well-spring of the pen of the merciful; well is it with them that drink!" (The Hidden Words of Baha'u'llah 2:37)

Most Baha'is would agree with the Sufi Muslim poetess Rabi'a, who wrote long ago:

"If I love Thee in fear of Hell may I burn in Hell.
If I love Thee in hope of Heaven, deny me Heaven.
But if I love Thee for Thine Own sake, deny me not the beauty of Thy Face." (Poems of Rabi'a 11:8-12

Baha'u'llah wrote:

"O My Servant!
Abandon not for that which perisheth an evaerlating dominion adn cast not away celestial sovereighty for a wordly desire." (Hidden Words 2:37)

To be in "heaven" or in "hell" depends upon the condition of our soul; not whether we have been born in the right organization, or in the right lineage, or in the right family, or in a particular religion or church. It depends upon whether or not we have truly been "born again"; born of the Spirit of God. And Baha'is believe that "born-again Christians" are not the only ones who have been born again, or who can be born again.

The concept of being "born again" exists not only in Christianity, but in Hinduism (being "twice born"), Zoroastrianism, mystical Shi'ite Islam, mystical Judaism, Buddhism, and, of course, the Baha'i Faith. The term is not always the same, but the meaning is.

Baha'is who follow Baha'u'llah are following the Father and the Son; because Jesus has returned in the Person of Baha'u'llah.

All of the Manifestations of God are the Manifestations of ONE MASTER.

But Jesus said He was the Way, the Truth, and the Life, and that no man came to the Father except by Him!

True! Baha'is accept that 100%! Baha'u'llah IS THE FATHER! Nobody can accept Baha'u'llah without also accepting Jesus as Lord and Savior of man.

Baha'is believe that all the Manifestations of God are ONE; meaning they all spoke with the Voice of God. If any of Them were to say, "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life" it would be true! They are not in competition with each others; although Their "followers" seem to be.

Krishna, Whom Baha'is believe was a Manifestation of God, said:

"I am the Way, the Fosterer, the Lord, the Witness." (Bhagavad-Gita 9:18)

"I am the Way, the Master Who watches in silence; thy Friend and thy Shelter and thine Abode in Peace." (Bhagavad-Gita 9:17-18)

The Evangelical Christian will say of Krishna's claim to be "the Way":

"O, he is NOT the Way! Only Jesus our Lord and Personal Savior is the Way! Krishna was a false teacher! He was of the Devil!"

Likewise, the Devotee of Krishna will say of Jesus' claim to be "the Way:

"O, he is NOT the Way! Only Lord Krishna is the Way! Jesus was a false teacher! He was of Maya, the Evil One!"

A Christian believes that "Christ" is the "only Way" to God. A Hindu believes that "Krishna" is the "only Way" to God. A Buddhist believes that "Buddha" is the "only Way" to God. A Muslim believes that "Muhammed" is the "only Way" to God.

On the other hand, Baha'u'llah wrote:

"Every one of them is the Way of God that connecteth this world with the realms above....They are the Manifestations of God amidst men, the evidences of His Truth, and the Signs of His Glory." (Gleanings, pp.49,50)

Were any of the Manifestations of God to say "I am the Way" He speaks the Truth! The Eternal Truth! When Jesus said, "I am the Way" He was speaking the Eternal Truth! Why? Because He was a Manifestation of God, and God was being "manifested" through Him! Jesus was not the "Way" for His life only, nor until Muhammed, but He remains the "Way of God" forever! And this is true for every other true Manifestation of God.

When Krishna said, "I am the Way" He too was speaking Eternal Truth! Because He was a Manifestation of God!

Yeh'o'shua (Jesus) is not the only Son of God! He is the Only Virgin-born Son of God! His station as "Son" is unique, but so is the station of the "Father" (Baha'u'llah).

All of the Manifestations of God are the "Way" to God; because They are the "perfect mirrors" that reflect the Holy Spirit to humanity.

Of course, the uninspired religious leaders tend to "divide" instead of unite! This is why Christians think they have the only true religion exclusively, the Hindus believe they have it, and Buddhists that they have it exclusively, and so do the Muslims, etc. They all say, "The Truth, the Truth! We have the Truth! Nobody else has the Truth but us! If you do not believe in the Truth we have, then you will burn in Hell forever!"

On the other hand, a Baha'i says: "All of you have various degrees of the Truth! All of the Prophets spoke the Truth! They were all One! The Baha'i Faith is merely the latest edition of One Truth! 'Heaven' or 'Hell' are conditions of the soul, and whether you experience one or the other in the Afterlife depends upon your own desire to seek and know God!'

Truth is ONE, but mankind divides it. God never does.

This does not mean 'all religions are true'! They are not! Only the religions founded by the Manifestations of God are true, and they are only "true" insofar as they were revealed by the Manifestation and His legal successors; not the uninspired men who came long after Them.

The Prophet Muhammed said:

"The Prophets are brothers of different mothers, but their religion is One." (Kanzul 'Ummal 17:1033)

What men call Sabianism, Hinduism, Judaism, Zoroastrianism, Buddhism, Christianity, Islam, the Babi religion, and the Baha'i Faith are really only different revelations of One Religion; which is called the Way, the Cause of God, the Straight Path, the Strait and Narrow Way, the Way of Heaven, the Way of the LORD, the Truth, Islam (Peaceful Submission), the Cause of God, and the Faith.

Ye Must Be Born Again

Baha'is believe that one must be "born again" to be saved. Baha'u'llah wrote:

"Even as Jesus said, 'Ye must be born again.' Again He saith: 'Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the Kingdom of God. That which is born of flesh is flesh; and that which is born of Spirit is spirit.' The purport of these words is that whosoever in every dispensation is born of the Spirit and is quickened by the breath of the Manifestation of Holiness, he verily is of those that have attained unto 'life' and 'resurrection' and have entered into the 'paradise' of the love of God. And whosoever is not of them, is condemned to 'death' and 'deprivation,' to the 'fire' of unbelief, and to the 'wrath' of God'" (Kitab-i-Iqan, p.118)

'Abdu'l-Baha said of those who become Baha'is:

"Glory be to God, you have been born again, you have been baptized by the fire of the Love of God; you have been plunged in the Sea of Life and regenerated by the Spirit of Love!" (Paris Talks, p.170)

Baha'u'llah referred to Jesus as "the Spirit". Since to be "born again" means to be baptized by the Spirit, then one is baptized by Jesus with the fire of the Love of God.

Baha'is do not believe that water-baptism is necessary. It was a symbol only, and that symbol is no longer needed. But, they must be "born of the Spirit" in order to attain unto Eternal Life.

But how can Baha'u'llah be the 'Return of Christ'? Jesus said 'He' would return in a cloud! Is Baha'u'llah the reincarnation of Jesus? Isn't reincarnation a false doctrine?

Baha'u'llah is NOT the reincarnation of Jesus. Baha'is believe that reincarnation is indeed a false doctrine (at least in reference to other lives on this planet).

Baha'is believe that Jesus (the Spirit of God) has returned in the Person of Baha'u'llah!

Jesus has returned in the Father.

But this is not reincarnation!

What is it?

Jesus said that the Son of Man would come "in the glory of His Father" and "in the clouds of Heaven".

The Sacred Verses that say that the "Son of Man" or Jesus would return "in a cloud" does not mean the clouds of the sky, or a white puffy cloud. They mean The Glory of the LORD; the glory cloud that contained the Presence of Jehovah on earth.

A Pillar of Fire by night and a Pillar of Smoke by Day

The Glory of the LORD over the Tabernacle and later over the Temple of Solomon

"the glory of the LORD appeared in the cloud." (Exodus 16:10)

"The LORD said...I come unto thee in a thick cloud." (Exodus 19:9)

"the cloud filled the house of the LORD" (1 Kings 8:10)

"...the house filled with the cloud." (Ezekiel 10:4)

"...then the glory of the LORD departed." (Ezekiel 10:18)

"...a voice came out of the cloud." (Mark 9:7)

A DIVINE CLOUD that appeared to Moses and the children of Israel after they came out of Egypt appeared to them as a Pillar of Smoke during the day, and as a Pillar of Fire during the night. This divine cloud was NOT an ordinary white puffy cloud; nor even a "cloudy sky".

What was it?

It was the Presence of God the Father on earth. It was called in Hebrew Ha Kabod-i-Yehweh; which means "The Glory of God". In Arabic Bibles, it is named Baha'u'llah.

The Glory of the LORD led Israel for 40 years in the Wilderness

Who or what was the DIVINE CLOUD?

The CLOUD was the Father!

How do we know this?

In the Gospel of Matthew we read that Jesus took Peter, James, and John (His three main disciples) up to a mountain, and upon this mountain Jesus was "transfigured". There appeared with Jesus the prophet Moses and Elijah. Peter, seeing this, offerred to make booths for all three of them: Jesus, Moses, and Elijah:

"5 While he yet speak, behold a bright CLOUD overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the CLOUD, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased: hear ye him.
6 And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their face, and were sore afraid.
7 And Jesus came and touched them, and said, Arise, and be not afraid." (Matthew 17:5-7)

Jesus, Moses, Elijah, on the Mount of Transfiguration

WHO was the CLOUD?

WHAT was the CLOUD?

Was it NOT the Father Who said, "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well please; hear ye him"(Matt. 17:5)?

What did Jesus mean when He said He could return in a "cloud" in "the glory of His Father" (Matt. 8:38, 16:27)?

For Baha'is, He meant He would return: 1) in the Father

2) Whose Name would be "The Glory of God".

Jesus would return in the Glory of the Father.

The name Baha'u'llah means "The Glory of God (the Father)".

Baha'u'llah is the Father Who appeared as a CLOUD in the Old Testament, and in the New Testament at Jesus' baptism and on the Mount of Transfiguration.

Jesus said He would return in a CLOUD and in the Glory of His Father.

In The Gospel According to the Hebrews, which was thE gospel of the Nazarenes (Nasara'i), the ancient Jewish Christians who spoke Aramaic, it says:

"And it came to pass when the Lord (Jesus) was come up out of the water, the whole font of the Holy Spirit descended and rested upon him and said to him: My Son, in all the prophets was I waiting for three that thou shoudest come and I might rest in thee. For thou art my rest;...." (New Testament Apocrypha 1:164)

The Father was in Jesus; beginning at His baptism by John the Baptist where John sees the Holy Spirit in the form of a dove come and "rest" upon Jesus.

Jesus' baptism by John the Baptist

Jesus said that the Father was "in" Him, and He was "in" the Father. This is a great mystery. How can it be explained?

It can't.

But it was true.

The Apostle Paul wrote:

"For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily." (Colossians 2:9)

After Jesus' resurrection (where He appeared to His disciples in visions for 40 days), the final vision they had of Jesus was on the Mount of Olives. There, they saw Him ascend into Heaven. When most Christians think of His "ascending into Heaven" they think of His physical body ascending up into a cloudy sky. But the Book of Acts, in the original Greek, does not say that. It says that Jesus was engulfed by a cloud on the top of the Mount of Olives (just outside Jerusalem). His disciples saw a vision of Jesus being enguled by The Glory of the LORD; the glory-cloud which was the presence of GOD THE FATHER on earth.

Jesus being engulfed by the Glory Cloud

What does this mean?

Does this mean that Jesus shall come again in a "cloudy sky"? For Baha'is, it means that Jesus shall come again IN THE GLORY OF GOD! He shall return in God the Father; just as the Father was in Jesus during the time of His baptism until His crucifixion when He said, "Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?" ["My God, My God, why hast thou forsaken me?"](Matt. 27:46). God the Father, Who was in Jesus, did not suffer with Him on the Cross, so He left, and Jesus felt Him leave and became dispondant and cried out "Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?"

It was the unique mission of the Son of God to suffer and die for the sins and iniquities of all mankind upon the Cross.

Evangelical Christians (scholars, ministers, and laymen) still can't quite understand why Jesus would accuse God of deserting Him on the Cross. According to their beliefs, Jesus was God, so how could Jesus accuse God of foresaking Him?

The Father Who was in Jesus leaves Him before His death.

In truth, the Father had left Jesus to suffer and die on the Cross; just as Abraham had offerred his son alone as a sacrifice to God. The Father would do His own suffering when He would later come to earth, to the Vineyard of God (the Holy Land), as a prisoner of men.

The meaning of the vision of the disciples on the Mount of Olives, was that Jesus would return just as He ascended into the Glory Cloud; He would return in the Person of God the Father: BAHA'U'LLAH.

The Father Himself would come to this earth as a mortal man, and the Son would be "in" Him. The Lord of the Vineyard would come to His vineyard.

And He did.

"I have seen the Father of Christ!"

In 1868 a Baha'i named Nabil was arrested in Cairo, Egypt, for teaching the Baha'i Faith. He was sent to a prison in Alexandria. While in prison he met a Christian physician, a missionary in Egypt, named Dr. M. Faris. Teaching Muslims was illegal in Egypt, and converting a Muslim to Christianity (or the Baha'i Faith) might bring death or a very long prison sentence to the teacher as well as the convert! Both of the men tried to convert each other. Nabil told Dr. Faris that if he appealed to Baha'u'llah he would be set free. The physician had been praying for many months to be released from prison, and was now almost beyond hope.

The missionary was a physician and a dedicated Bible-believing Christian. To appeal to Baha'u'llah would be tantamount to blasphemy; to admit that Baha'u'llah was God the Father! Yet, secretly, Dr. Faris took what must have seemed to him an act of utter desperation.

Baha'u'llah was on a steamship headed for Akka, in Palestine (now Israel). He was still a prisoner of the Sultan of the Ottoman Empire. He was being transferred from Adrianople to the Turkish prison city of Akka; in what is now northern Israel. The steamship docked for a few days in Alexandria, and Nabil heard this from other Baha'is in Egypt. He told his Christian friend. The doctor wrote a letter to Baha'u'llah and gave it to a young Christian watchmaker in Alexandria named Constantine. He did not tell Constantine what the letter contained (wanting to keep the transaction a secret from other Christians~it would not look good, to say the least, for a Christian missionary to be appealing to be released from prison to a Man on a prison-ship Who claimed to be the Father of Christ!). Dr. Faris' letter was a plea to be released. A few days later Constantine returned to the prison. He had been crying, and was shaking. He had a letter from Baha'u'llah addressed to Nabil; with a note to the doctor saying he would soon be released. Dr. Faris asked Constantine why he was crying and shaking, and Constantine said:

"I have seen the Father of Christ!" (The Chosen Highway, 6:IV)

Dr. Faris was released from prison three days later.

How can Baha'u'llah be Christ returned when only Jesus is the Christ?

The Bible speaks of two messiahs; not one only. Here are a few Christian scholars speaking of this fact:

"In ancient times, Jewish sages taught the concept of two Messiahs." (J.R. Church, Ancient Jewish Prophecies: Israel's Two Messiahs, p.1 online)

"When one studies the rabbinic views of the Messiah one finds something very interesting. Many ancient rabbis spoke of two Messiahs, one who was the 'Son of David' and another who was the 'son of Joseph'." (Fred Klett, The Two Messiah Theory, p.1 online)

"Attempting to resolve this paradox, some Talmudic rabbis argued that the prophets probably spoke of two separate Messiahs. The Messiah who was to suffer and die for the sins of others was termed the 'Son of Joseph', after the Genesis account of righteous Joseph who was humiliated and tormented as a youth and sold into slavery by his brothers, and who later saved his family. Another Messiah who would reign in power was designated the 'Son of David'. The second Messiah would raise the first Messiah from the dead, and then establish the Messianic Kingdom of peace on earth." (Dr. Charles Halff, What the Rabbis Believe About the Messiah, p.5 online)

"There is also the typological foreview that Joseph gives of the coming of One who is to suffer.***
...many of the rabbis say in their writings that there must be two Messiahs. They called one 'Messiah Ben-joseph' or Messiah the son of Joseph, and the other 'Messiah Ben-david' the Messiah the son of David. Messiah ben David was said to be the kingly One, Messiah ben Joseph is the Suffering One." (Ray C. Stedman, Four Faces of Christ, p.1 online)

The Jews expected two messiahs (or christs); not one only. This was based upon the vision of Zechariah, where the Lord shows him two olive trees.

Several Messianic Jews (Jews who believe that Yeshu', or Jesus, was the true Messiah) write:

"In the Talmud there are two Messiahs: Messiah ben Joseph and Messiah ben David. Messiah ben David is the king, but Messiah ben Joseph is the one who dies a redemptive death." (Jesus...The Jewish Messiah, p.2 online)

"We believe Messiah ben Joseph has come in the person of Yeshua the Nazarene, having taken upon himself all the diseases and pains and sufferings of Israel, as Scripture says; 'Surely our diseases he did bear....'" ( Statement of Beliefs, p. 1 online)

"Joseph (Yosef) was a type of the role of Yeshua [Jesus] during His first coming when He came to fulfill the role of the Suffering Messiah known as Messiah ben Joseph." (The Seven Festivals of the Messiah, 5:4 online)

"As Moshiach [Messiah] ben Yosef [Joseph], He suffered and died (Matthew 27) and rose again (Matthew 28), as Moshiach ben David, He will return to establish the Kingdom of G-d upon the earth (Matthew 24)...." (Is Yehua the Messiah? p. 2 online)

Several Evangelical Christian pastors and evangelists have written:

"The original meaning of 'Messiah ben Joseph' was the Messiah Jesus, the son of Joseph the carpenter of Nazareth." (Jesus Christ, p.18 online)

"The Lord Jesus is so great that He became the servant King, Messiah ben Joseph (Ben, meaning the son of Joseph). Not that Jesus was literally Joseph's son, but, like Joseph, he would suffer in order that we might become heirs of the Kingdom." (Bless Those That Persecute You, p.1 online)

"The first, Messiah ben Joseph, would be more of the humble servant. He would in fact be killed. The second, Messiah ben David, would avenge the death of Messiah ben Joseph and usher in the Millennial Kingdom." (Book of Matthew Study--Reproof and Rebuke, p.1 online)

"The Messiah ben Joseph is the dying Messiah who perishes in the Messianic catastrophe....By contrast, all of the utopian interest is concentrated on the Messiah ben David." (The Purposes of the Messiah, p.3 online)

A Catholic priest writes:

"Jesus fulfills all the prophecies about Messiah ben Joseph. When He comes in glory, He will fulfill all the prophecies of Messiah ben (son of) David." (Celebrating Holy Week At St. Patrick Parish, p.1 online)

Jesus, Who was known as 'the Son of Joseph' (although He was actually the Son of God) was the Messiah ben Joseph; the Suffering Messiah Who was to bear the sins of many and die, but be raised from the dead.

"The Father is in Me."

When Jesus came He did not come alone, but said that "The Father is in me, and I am in the Father." (John 14:11). The Spirit of Truth, the Father, was in Jesus when He came to this Earth.

How could God the Father be "in" Jesus?

We don't know. It's a mystery. Science could never explain it. We can't possibly understand it. Yet, it was so.

In like manner, when the Father Himself became incarnate as Baha'u'llah the Son was in Him; just as He had been in the Son 1800 years earlier.

The Father was "in" the Son, and the Son was "in" the Father!

But there just can't be two Messiahs. Only Jesus is the Messiah. Jesus was called "the son of David". The Jewish scribes were mistaken. Messiah ben Joseph and Messiah ben David are really One Messiah: Jesus! One refers to His first coming, and the second to His glorious Second Coming when He shall come as King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

That's simply NOT what the Bible actually says:

"I see, and behold, a lampstand all of gold, with a bowl on the top of it, and seven lamps on it, with seven lips of earth on the lamps, which are on the top of it. And there are two olive trees by it, one on the right of the bow and the other on its left." (Zech. 4:2,3)

The prophet Zechariah asked the Angel of the LORD to explain about the two olive trees. The angel said:

"These are the two anointed ones who stand beside the Lord of the whole earth." (Zech. 4:14)

In Hebrew "anointed one" is meshiakh, and is translated into English Bibles as "Christ".

The Bible identifies two messiahs; literally "two christs" who were to come! Not "two" comings of one Olive Tree, or two advents, but "two christs"! TWO OLIVE BRANCES!

The very symbol of the State of Israel is based upon the expected TWO CHRISTS; based upon Zech.4:14:

Seal of the State of Israel

Zechariah: "What are these TWO BRANCHES of the olive trees, which pour out the oil through the golden pipes?"

Angel of the Lord: "Do you not know what these are?"

Zechariah: "No, my lord."

Angel of the Lord: "These are the TWO ANOINTED ONES Who stand by the Lord of the whole earth." (Zechariah 4:12-13)

In Hebrew "anointed one" is Meshiach (Messiah). It Greek "anointed one" is Kristos (Christ). The Angel of the LORD told the prophet, "These are the TWO CHRISTS...."

God did NOT mislead His prophet Zechariah when His angel said two christs would come! They are Yeh'o'shua (Jesus) and Baha'u'llah.

Messiah ben Joseph would suffer and dies for ours sins, and Messiah ben David would establish the literal Kingdom of Heaven on earth.

True, Jesus was called "son of David"; this meant any descendant of King David. Mary's husband Joseph was also called "son of David" (Matt. 1:20). Jesus was known as the "son of Joseph" (ben Joseph).

Baha'u'llah was a decendant of King David via Solomon. When the Babylonians invaded Judah in 600 B.C. they killed all the men of royal Davidic descent, but they kept the Davidic women alive. They brought most of the Jews back to Babylon. The Medes and Persians then conquered the Babylonians, and were friendly to the Jews. The first Imam, 'Ali the son-in-law of Muhammad, gave a Persian princess as a wife to the Jewish Exilarch in Babylon. Baha'u'llah is a direct descendant of that Davidic Exilarch and the Persian princess. He is a descendant of King David via King Solomon, and a descendant of ancient Persian Kings as well.

He is the Messiah ben David!

The ministry of Baha'u'llah lasted 40 years (1852 to 1892 A.D.); the same amount of years that the Glory of the LORD (Divine Cloud) led Israel in the Wilderness.

The two anointed ones are symbolized by the two CHERUBIM on the Ark of the Covenant; the holy chest that was kept in the Most Holy Place in the Temple.

The Ark of the Covenant

But the Bible tells us Christians that Jesus Himself will come again just as He ascended into Heaven~in a cloud! The Father isn't coming to this Earth! But His Son, Jesus, is returning just as He ascended up in Heaven!

In Jesus' Parable of the Lord of the Vineyard (Mark chapter 12:1-9) He says that Father sent the Prophets to Israel and the Husbandmen beat them, then the sent the Son to Israel, and He was rejected and killed, but then the Lord of Vineyard Himself, the Father, would finally come Himself to the Vineyard (Israel) and set all things right.

But is Jesus to come again?

Yes! He already has! He came once as a thief in the night with a "shout" and "the voice of the archangel" and again "in the Glory" of His Father! Thieves who come in the night don't knock the door down and announce their coming! They come quietly~trying not to wake up the people sleeping inside~then leave quietly.

The Apostle Paul wrote:

"For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the Archangel, and with the trump of God; and the dead in Christ shall rise first." (1 Thessalonians 4:16)

Now, Baha'is believe that the Day of Resurrection occurs when a new Manifestation of God appears on earth. Baha'is believe that the next Manifestation of God after Jesus was Muhammed. Over 1 BILLION people of earth today believe that Muhammed was a true Prophet of God. Over 7 million of them are called "Baha'is".

In Baha'i teachings then, the "dead in Christ" must have been raised when Muhammed came! But this resurrection occurred in the spiritual dimension, and not the physical dimension.

Notice here what Paul was saying:

1) The Lord Himself (Jesus) shall descend from heaven with a shout.

COMMENT: Doesn't say He will descend upon the Mount of Olives. Only says He shall descend with a "shout" (hardly the action of a "thief in the night").

2) He shall come "with the voice of the Archangel" and "the trump of God".

COMMENT: What is Jesus doing with an Archangel's voice or God's "trumpet"?

All these mysteries are made clear when one understands the story of the Prophet Muhammed.

He was a Seeker of Truth in Arabia in the 7th century A.D. He was a Bedouin: a descendant of Abraham's firstborn son Ishmael. His tribe, the Quraysh, controlled the Ka'aba of Mecca; which was orginally built by Abraham, but was now a small cubic temple with many idols. Muhammed rejected the idols and tried to worship the One God, but neither Judaism nor the various Christian sects of the desert satisifed Him. He used to meditate in a cave near Mecca for days on end; fasting and praying.

One day a "man" appeared to Him in the cave unannounced. In ancient Arabia people did not knock; because many live in tents. Rather, they "shouted" outside who they were before they entered. If a man was in your tent or home or cave without first announcing himself, he was considered to be a "thief" and could be killed.

One night while in his cave, Muhammad was praying and meditating. He looked up and saw a man, and the man said to Him "IQUAAH" ("recite" or "read" or "shout"). The word qur'an ("khoorrr-rawn") in Arabic means "Reciting". Muhammed thought the man wanted Him to read something, so He replied He couldn't read. The man then again said, "RECITE!!!"

The Archangel Gabriel appeared to Muhammed and told him to "SHOUT" (i.e. recite the Verses of God He would reveal to the Prophet. Muhammed then noticed that the "man" was standing in the air. He became frightened; thinking he was seeing a Jinn (Ghost), so He went outside. There, He saw the "man" standing upon the horizon in the air; in every direction He looked.

The Archangel Gabriel standing upon the horizon

Over the rest of His life Gabriel revealed to Muhammad many poems (called "surahs") which comprise the Qur'an ("The Reciting").

The Archangel Gabriel

In the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox traditions Gabriel is known as the "Archangel" Gabriel, and he is often pictured as blowing a trumpet.

Here are some comments from Evangelical Christian authors about Gabriel:

David Bruce:

"Gabriel, whose Hebrew name may mean 'God is Powerful' is an Archangel who acts as the Messenger of God. He appeared to Daniel (Dan 8:16), Zacharias (Luke 1:19), and the Virgin Mary (Luke 1:26-38). All these appearances of Gabriel are connected with the promise of the coming Messiah. There is also a passage that may link Gabriel with Christ's return. He might be the Archangel whose trumpet blast announces the return of Christ cf. 1 Thess. 4:16; Matt. 24:31)." (Gabriel the Archangel, p.4 online)

"The angel Gabriel, an important figure in the Bible...Later Christian tradition made him the trumpeteer of the Last Judgment. A popular figure in art, Gabriel if often pictured appearing to Mary or with trumpet raised." (Gabriel, Jabril, p.1 online)

The ancient Jewish apocrhyphal book titled The Book of Enoch (which the New Testament writers sometimes quote~as in the Epistle of Jude) tells us even more of Gabriel. Evangelical Christian author David Bruce writes:

"In 1 Enoch 40, Gabriel is considered one of the top four [angels] in rank, perhaps second only to Michael. Gabriel's duties included intercession on behalf of God's people (1 Enoch 9:1; 40:6) as well as being the instrument of destruction of the wicked (1 Enoch 9:9-10).***As an agent of God's supreme power, he sits at his right hand (2 Enoch 24:1)." (The Archangel Gabriel, p.6 online)

Peter told the Jews gathered in Jerusalem about Jesus, and said:

"This Jesus God raised up, wherefore we are all witnesses. Therefore being by the right hand of God, exalted..." (Acts 2:32)

Stephen, an early disciple of Jesus, was before the Sanhedrin (Jewish Council) as looked up into Heaven and saw Jesus on the right hand of God:

"55 But being full of the Holy Ghost looked up steadfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing on the right hand of God.
56 And said, behold I see the heavens open and the Son of Man standing on the right hand of God." (Acts 7:55-6)

The Sadducees (priests) and Pharisees (teachers of the Law) considered this UTTER BLASPHEMY to say Jesus (whom they considered a false messiah) was standing at God's right hand (the position of the Archangel Gabriel). So, they had Stephen stoned to death.

The stoning of Stephen

The Apostle Paul says that Jesus "sat down at the right hand of Majesty." (Hebrews 1:3), and also that the Father did "according to his mighty power which he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places." (Ephesians 11:20)

Could Jesus and the Archangel Gabriel be the same Being? When Paul wrote that Jesus would descend from Heaven with a "shout", with "the voice of the Archangel" does this refer to the "Rapture" or to something else entirely?

What is Jesus doing with the voice of the Archangel anyway?

In the Book of Acts, first chapter, opening verse, we read the following from the pen of Luke, a disciple of Paul, author of the Gospel of Luke:

"The former treatise [The Gospel According to Luke] have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach,
2 Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen:
3 To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion [death] by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God: (Acts 1: 1-3)

Not all of the ancient Christian writings made it into the New Testament. There was no "New Testament" until the 4th century A.D. Before that time Christians read, along with the Gospels, such books as The Pastor of Hermas, The Wisdom of Solomon, The Apocalypse of Peter, The Apocalypse of Paul, the Epistles of Ignatius, The Epistle of Barnabus, etc. Arab Christians read The Infancy Gospel of Jesus. Many of these books did not make it into the New Testament canon; which the canon was compiled in the 4th century by an ecumenical council who "voted" on which books to include in the canon and which to exclude. The votes were often very close. Many voted for The Pastor of Hermas and other books while many voted against 2 Peter, Jude, and the Book of Revelations. Some books were declared "false" and other "questionable". The Book of Revelations (the "Apocalypse") was at first considered "questionable" and not included among the first New Testament canons. Yet, it was eventually included.

The Christians in Armenia have books which are not in the Greek New Testament (the one Catholics and Protestants use). Also, the Coptic Church of Egypt, the Abyssinian Church of Ethiopia, the Nestorian churches of Iraq, Iran, and India, have more books than can be found in the popular New Testament of the West.

One book that many Christian communities in the first few centuries read was Pistis Sophia; whose author claimed to be Philip; one of the twelve apostles of Jesus. The book claims that Jesus appeared to His disciples in visions off and on for 11 years after the crucifixion. The Pistis Sophia contains teachings of Jesus to Philip during one of these visions.

In the Pistis Sophia Jesus says to His disciples of the annunciation of Gabriel to Mary:

"Jesus continued again speaking and said, 'Now it happened after this, through the command of the First Mystery, I looked down again upon the world of mankind, I found Mary who is called my mother according to the material body. I spoke to her in the type of Gabriel,..." (Pistis Sophia chap. 8)

Later in the work Mary herself says to Jesus:

"Thou didst take the type of Gabriel, thou didst look down upon me from Heaven, thou didst speak with me; and when thou didst speak with me thou didst sprout from me." (Pistis Sophia chap 62)

Jesus identifies Himself as the Angel Gabriel, and Mary confirms this, in the Pistis Sophia.

Most Christians today do not realize that some books not in their Bibles were onced believed by Christians to be part of the Bible; such as The Pastor of Hermas, the Apocalypse of Paul, and so forth. The Pistis Sophia was also believed by many ancient Christians to contain many of the teachings of Jesus after His death and resurrection; when He appeared to His disciples often in visions. These teachings were considered to be the "meat" for mature Christians while the Gospels and Epistles (the current New Testament) was considered the "milk" for "babes in Christ".

Gabriel appears to Mary in a vision

Jesus Returning In A Cloud

Many Christians believe that Jesus Himself will descend from a cloud (or perhaps a "cloudy sky") upon the Mount of Olives just outside of Jerusalem!

Why?

Did Jesus ever say He would?

No.

Did Paul or any of the apostles or early Christian writers say that Jesus would descend from a cloud down upon the Mount of Olives?

No.

Then why do most Christians believe He will?

Because in The Book of Acts, chapter 1, the disciples are gathered on the Mount of Olives and Jesus appears to them. They see a "cloud" come and engulf Him, and He then He disappears in the cloud:

"9 And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight [GREEK: "out of their heavenly vision"].
10 And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel;
11 Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven." (Acts 1:9-11)

Jesus' Ascension into a cloud on the Mount of Olives after His post-resurrection 40-day ministry

Based upon these Verses, hundreds of millions of Christians around the world believe that He shall descend from Heaven a second time in like manner as He went up; He shall descend upon the Mount of Olives from a literal cloud in the sky!

What does this mean?

A literal meaning is that He was descent from Heaven while ascending into a cloud.

Remember, Jesus "ascended" into a cloud. He didn't "descend" from one.

After all, if Jesus is to return exactly as He left then He must return descending UP INTO a cloud and NOT descend down from one!

But Baha'is don't believe that Jesus will return descending from a cloud (or a cloudy-sky) down upon the Mount of Olives as some Christians believe, nor in a "cloudy sky" over every city and town and ship on the sea, as some other Christians believe!

Jesus was supposed to return "as a thief in the night" but also "in the clouds of heaven" and "in the glory of His Father". How can Jesus return as a quiet "thief in the night" while at the same time "in the glory of His Father" with clouds, trumpets, fire, and tens of thousands of angels in the sky?

Does that sound like a "thief in the night" to you? A thief in the night does NOT brake down the door and announce his coming with trumpets and blazing lights! He sneeks into the house while the inhabitants sleep, and then sneeks out without waking anyone up!

He comes "as a thief in the night" and yet "in the GLORY of His Father".

Strange contradiction isn't it?

Not so for Baha'is!

Baha'is don't believe Jesus' ascending into heaven was a literal physical event. They believe that Jesus' appeared to His disciples after death in heavenly "visions". What the disciples on the Mount of Olives saw was a "vision". What that vision symbolically represented was Jesus ascending into a "cloud"; not a "cloudy sky", but a very specific divine CLOUD!

In the Old Testament these divine CLOUDS were called "The Glory of the LORD". They were pillars of dust by day, and pillars of fire by night. They were NOT an ordinary white puffy "cloud" were they merely a "cloudy sky". They were DIVINE CLOUDS.

Jesus' disciples saw Him in a vision taken-up by a glory cloud out of their sight (Acts 1:9). These clouds were called "The Glory of God". They were pillars of smoke by day, and pillars of fire by night. The name of Baha'u'llah means in Arabic "The Glory of God".

The vision that the disciples had of Jesus ascending "into a Divine Cloud" on the Mount of Olives was a literal vision, but it was symbolic of this:

1) Jesus would return in the Father! During His mortal life the Father was "in" Him. But He would return "in the glory of His Father". He would return "in" God the Father!

2) The Father when He came as "Lord of the Vineyard" would be called by the same term as what the Divine Clouds were called in the Old Testament: The Glory of GOD, or, in Arabic Bibles, Baha'u'llah.

The symbolic meaning of the vision was this: Jesus would return in God the Father, Baha'u'llah! When Jesus came He said "I am in the Father, and the Father is in me." (John 14:11)

Baha'u'llah, the Father, has come! Jesus spoke through Him because Jesus is in Him just as He was in Jesus 2000 years ago! This is why Baha'u'llah wrote:

"O Jews! If ye be intent upon crucifying once again Jesus, the Spirit of God, put Me to death, for He hath once more, in My Person, been made manifest unto you." (Gleanings, p.101)

Jesus has returned in a CLOUD! He has returned in THE GLORY OF GOD! Jesus spoke through the Father in the Tablet Revealed on the Day of Ridwan this of Baha'u'llah:

"The Kingdom of God circleth around Him and it is because of His Love that I adorned the Cross with My body. Verily, I rose from the dead to complete My mention of His Name amognst men. O people of the Gospel! Do not make mention of Me (Jesus) when you have turned away from My Father, the All-Glorious."

(first published in Tasbih-va-Tahlil, Baha'i Publishing Trust of India, p.155, provisional translation by Khazeh Fananapazir)

Jesus could speak through Baha'u'llah because Jesus has returned "in" the Glory of God!

Jesus said, in other words: "If you claim to be My disciple then don't EVEN MENTION My Name if you have rejected My glorious Father--Baha'u'llah!"

The Everlasting Father/Prince of Peace

Just about all Christians believe that only Jesus will return to this earth; not the Father because "God is a Spirit" (John 4:24) and they seem to believe that the Father simply cannot be born of a woman like the Son did. But Paul wrote that Christians are...

"Looking for that blessed hope and the glorious appearing of the Great God and our Savior Jesus Christ." (Titus 2:13)

Indeed, the Old Testament says that God the Father would be born of a woman:

"For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given, and the government shall be on His shoulder, and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace." (Isaiah 9:6)

Baha'i Hand of the Cause (evangelist) John E. Esslemont wrote:

"With regard to the titles 'everlasting Father,' 'Prince of Peace', Baha'u'llah repeatedly refers to Himself as the manifestation of the Father, of whom Christ and Isaiah spoke, whereas Christ always referred to Himself as the Son; and Baha'u'llah's declared His mission to establish peace on earth, while Christ said: 'I came not to send peace but a sword.'" (Baha'u'llah and the New Era, chap. 13)

Baha'u'llah Himself wrote:

"Say, O concourse of bishops! Trembling hath seized all the kindreds of the earth, and He Who is the Everlasting Father calleth aloud between hearth and heaven. Blessed is the ear that hath heard, and the eye that hath seen, and the heart that hath turned toward unto Him Who is the Point of Adoration of all who are in the heavens and all who are on earth." (The Promised Day is Come, p.101)

The "Prince of Peace" was never a title of Jesus! There is a popular song (Handel's Messiah) in which Jesus is called "Everlasting Father", but the Bible nowhere calls Him such! Jesus is never referred to in the Bible, nor in ancient Chrisitan literature, as "Prince of Peace" nor "Everlating Father".

Baha'u'llah was actually a 'prince'; a member of the Persian royalty. He was born into the Nawkar (government-official class). He was literally "born" into a family which had the government on their sholders! On the other hand, Jesus was a descendant of David, but the descendants of David in His day had no government responsibility at all. The government in Jesus' day was controlled by the Herod family and Roman prelates. The government was NOT upon Jesus' sholders.

Baha'u'llah was often called the "The Father of the Poor" because of His great charity, and "The Prince of Peace" because of His great wisdom is settling disputes between others peacefully. He referred to Himself, and Baha'is referred to Him, as "The Everlasting Father" because He came in the station of the "Father" as Jesus came in the station of the "Son".

Before He came to earth, Jesus was a Spirit. Indeed, the very "Spirit of God". Before He came to earth, Baha'u'llah was also a Spirit (John 4:24). Both Jesus and Baha'u'llah was born of mortal women. Jesus had no earthly Father. Baha'u'llah did have an earthly father. Yeh'o'shua (Jesus's true Name) was the Son come in the flesh. Baha'u'llah was the Father come in the flesh.

If the Son could incarnate, so could the Father.

Baha'u'llah wrote:

"Blessed is the Lord Who is the Father! He, verily, is come unto the nations in His most great majesty. Turn your faces towards Him, O concourse of the righteous!" (The Promised Day Has is Come, p.32)

Jesus is never referred to as "The Everlasting Father" or "The Prince of Peace" in the Bible. Jesus said:

"I did not come to bring peace, but a sword." (Matthew 10:34)

The "glorious appearing" of the Father and the Son has already happened!

The meaning of Jesus' return in a "cloud" is that He would reture in God the Father.

The Bible says that Jesus would return "as a thief in the night" but also "in the glory of His Father".

He has!

But Jesus said 'Many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ, and deceive many.' (Matt. 24:5). Didn't Baha'u'llah say 'I am Christ'? Why should we accept his claim when so many others have made similar claims?

Jesus told His disciples how to recognize a false christ!

How?

The false christ will always say "I am Christ". The word "Christ" is Greek, and is a translation of the Hebrew word "Messiah". So, the false christ/messiah will ALWAYS say "I am Christ" or "I am the Messiah". For example:

Simon Magus (Samaritan sorcerer and contemporary of Jesus): "I am Christ." (Hippolytus, On the Antichrist, chap.9)

Simon Bar Kochba (1st century Jewish rebel leader that most Jews at that time accepted as the Messiah~until he was killed by the Romans): "I am the Messiah." (Talmud, Sanhedrin 93b)

Sun Myung Moon (Unification Church) "I am Messiah. You have to follow me." (The Completed Testiment Era and Me, Feb 14, 1993, p.15 online)

Jim Jones (People's Temple): "I'm the Messiah." (Salvation and Suicide, 1988, p.61)

David Koresh (Branch Davidians): "If the Bible is true, then I am Christ." (See No Evil, 1993, p.139)

Ghulam Ahmad (Ahmadiyyah Movement): "I am the Promised Messiah!" (Haqiqatal-Wahy, 15 May 1907, p.194)

Mirza Muhammad Khan (Shah Ni'matu'llahi Dervish Order): "Lo, I am Christ." (A Year Among the Persians, p.501)

Meher Baba (Sufism Reoriented): "But I will convince you that I have gained the state of Christhood and that I am the Christ." (Lord Meher, p.1440)

'Lord' Maitreya (New Age messiah) "I am the Christ-light that you seek to know." (Love and Respect for All, p.1 online)

Shoko Ashara (AUM Shinrikyo): "I will prove that I am Christ...." (Declarying Myself the Christ, p.2 online)

There have been hundreds, perhaps thousands or men (and a few women) who have said "I am Christ" or "I am the Messiah" since Jesus! The only two who never once said "I am Christ" or "I am the Messiah" are:

1) Yeh'o'shuah (Jesus)

2) Baha'u'llah

Jesus never once said "I am Christ" or "I am the Messiah". He only confirmed what others said by saying "as you say" or "I am He". So did Baha'u'llah.

But maybe Baha'u'llah knew this criteria and simply never said 'I am Christ' but was a false christ anyway?

Jesus TOLD His disciples how to recognize a false christ! He did not say to them, "Don't worry about it! I'll meet you in a cloud in the sky!" He didn't say that. He didn't say, "Anyone who claims to be Christ but Me is a false christ!" He didn't say that either. He was very specific! He said:

"For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ, and deceive many." (Matthew 24:5)

Sun Myung Moon waited for many years without saying "I am Messiah", but he eventually said it. Because Jesus didn't lie! All false christs will say "I am Christ" or "I am the Messiah". They always slip! Baha'u'llah never once did.

Baha'is don't expect Christians to accept Baha'u'llah's claims merely because He claimed to be the Father, the Lord of the Vineyard! But we do expect Christians to investigate His claims! If they don't, then they'll be making the same mistake the Jews made 2000 years ago.

Jesus said that He would return in the Glory of His Father.

Jesus spoke Aramaic, a language closely related to Arabic. In Aramaic (and Arabic) God the Father's name is ALLAH. Jesus was to return to this earth "IN the Glory of God (the Father)"; in the "Glory of Allah".

He has!

In Arabic, the term for The Glory of Allah is BAHA'U'LLAH!

Baha'u'llah did NOT give this name to Himself! He was given to Him by The Bab; His forerunner. Baha'u'llah did NOT go the Holy Land by His own free will! He was sent there as a prisoner.

In the First Advent the Father was in the Son.

In the Second Advent the Son was in the Father!

Jesus has returned in the Glory of God.

But Christians know that only Jesus was sent by God because while the tombs of Muhammad and the Bab and Baha'u'llah are full the tomb of Jesus Christ is empty!

Baha'u'llah affirms that Jesus rose from the dead and appeared to His disciples after His death and entombment. In fact, Jesus Himself, speaking through Baha'u'llah, says:

"Verily, I rose from the dead to complete My mention of His Name amongst men. O people of the Gospel! Do not make mention of Me when you have turned away from My Father, the All-Glorious." (Tashih-va-Tahlil, p155 Provisional translation by Khazeh Fananapazir)

The Apostle Peter says in The Book of Acts that Jehovah had promised David that the Messiah "would not see corruption". The Greek says "would not have decomposition". 'Abdu'l-Baha said that the tomb was empty because "the body of Christ was crucified and vanished,..."(Tablets of 'Abdu'l-Baha 1:194) but that after His death His disciples "saw Christ living, helping, and protecting them." (Some Answered Questions, pp.106-7).

1) Jesus' body "vanished".

2) Jesus' disciples "saw Christ living", helping, and protecting them after His death.

The Gospels say that 3 days after His death and entombment Jesus' tomb was empty

The Babylonian Talmud says that "Yeshu" was crucified on the eve of Passover (the Yearly Sabbath), but that His disciples stole His body and that is why the tomb was empty.

"On the eve of Passover they hanged Yeshu the Nazara'i." (Baraitha Sanhedrin 43a)

The year Jesus died, the Passover fell on a Wednesday night/Thursday day, so Jesus was crucifixed on a Wednesday afternoon. He spent Wednesday night, Thurday day and night, Friday day and night, and Saturday day lying dead in the tomb; that is exactly three days and three nights. By the time the women had appeared at the break of dawn Sunday morning, an angel appeared to them and said, "He is not here. He is risen!" (Matt. 28:6)

Jesus then appeared to Mary Magdalene; who thought He was the gardener. He said to her, "Touch me not, for I am not yet ascended to my Father, but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and you Father, and to my God, and your God." (John 20:17)

Mary Magdelene then ran to the disciples and told them that the tomb was empty, and Jesus was alive. Peter and John then ran to the tomb; finding the tomb empty; all that remained were the burial shroud and napkin.

Baha'is believe that each literal Verse of God has "1 and 70" meanings; one literal meaning, and 70 (i.e. a great multitude) of symbolic or metaphorical meanings. Several inner meanings of Christ dying and being placed into the tomb is that the Cause of Christ (His teachings) and the Body of Christ (His disciples) had died when Jesus did. After three days, when His disciples "saw Christ living" this revived them as well as His teachings. So, the Cause of Christ (His teachings) and the Body of Christ(His disciples) became alive again.

Baha'is do not believe that Jesus arose in a physical body and ascended into a material sky. Jesus' physical body was not resurrected. It "vanished". Abdu'l-Baha said:

"For Christ had an elemental body and a celestial form. The elemental body was crucified, but the heavenly form is living and eternal, and the cause of everlasting life." (Some Answered Questions, p.98)

In Mystical Islam there are 5 Divine Realms:

Hehut (the Realm of the Essence of God)
Lehut (the Realm of His Names and Attributes)
Jabarut (the Realm of Spirits)
Malakut (the Realm of Angels)
Nasut (the Realm of Humans)

Within Nasut ("Nah-soot") there are Four Kingdoms:

*Minerals
*Plants
*Animals
*Humans

Humans are composed of a spirit, a physical body, a soul (nafs), and an ethereal body. Each exists in its own Realm. Our spirits exist in Jabarut. Our ethereal bodies exist in Malakut. Our physical bodies exist in Nasut. Our souls (minds) are an interface between our animal bodies which exist in Nasut and our spirits which exist in Jabarut.

The ethereal body resembles the physical body, but it is not made of matter, but of spiritual heavenly elements. The ethereal body is NOT a spirit, but is a heavenly body which is the likeness of our physical bodies. When we die out physical body returns to dust, and becomes part of the earth, or trees, or grass, and is eaten, and helps to form other physical bodies; whether human or animal. The physical body is dust that returns to dust; never again to be "us". But we remain "us" because we have an ethereal body that is made of heavenly elements which do not decompose. At death, we drop the physical body like a bird that escapes from its cage! Our ethereal body can do many things our physical body cannot do.

What his disciples saw after Jesus' death was not His physical body, but His spiritual body; which can only be seen in supernatural visions. It is also called a "Heavenly Body" or a "Celestial Form" or a "Subtle Body" or an "Ethereal Body".

The Gospels say that Jesus' dead body was placed into a sepulcre (Greek: "tomb"), and that on the third day, the woman who were His disciples got up at dawn to go anoint His body with spices; in preparation for permanant buriel. But, they discovered the stone in front of the tomb had been rolled-away, and they were told, "He is Risen!" Mary Magdalene was the first to see the risen Christ, but, eventually, all of His disciples saw Him in visions at one time or another for 40 days after His resurrection; when He taught them "things pertaining to the Kingdom" (Acts 1:1-2) which neither The Book of Acts nor any other book in the Bible reveals.

The last time Jesus' own disciples saw Him, He was on top of the Mount of Olives; when The Glory of the Lord (the Glory Cloud) engulged Him, and they saw two angels telling them that Jesus would return "in like manner" as they saw Him go into Heaven (i.e. He would return in The Glory of God).

The only person seeing Jesus after that was Paul; on the road to Damascus (Acts chapter 9). Paul was a Pharisee who was appointed by the Sanhedrin to arrest any and all Nazara'i ("Christians") he found. The charge? Blasphemy! They were "Minim" ("Cultists"). Yet, when Paul was on his way to Damascus to arrest more Nazara'i, he had a vision of Jesus Who said, "Saul, Saul, why dost thou persecute me?" Paul (then called Saul) said, "Who art thou Lord, that I should persecute?" Jesus replied, "I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom thou persecutest!" Saul was struck blind by the vision, but was later healed by Agabus; a Nazara'i prophet in Damascus. Saul became Paul; an apostle of Jesus Christ.

Mary Magdalene and the other disciples saw Jesus in vision just as Paul had years later on the road to Damascus.

Not all the Manifestations of God came with the same miracles or 'signs'. Had God wanted to make the bodies of all the Prophets vanish He would have done so, but this was not His Way.

The Body of Guru Nanak Vanishes

The Sihks, the 20 million followers of the Indian Saint Guru Nanak, believe also that his body vanished soon after his death. When Guru Nanak died they placed large amounts of flowers upon his corpse, and put a sheet over both. Guru Nanak had both Muslim and Hindu disciples, and they argued one with another as to his burial. The Muslims wanted to bury him as was Muslim custom. The Hindus wanted to cremate him as was Hindu custom. After some hours they reached a compromise: his Hindu disciples would cremate him and his Muslim disciples would bury the cremated remains. But when they lifted the sheet that draped his body they found only the flowers! His body had vanished.

Saint Guru Nanak

Does this make Guru Nanak the equal of Jesus Christ?

Of course not! While Guru Nanak was a saint (holy man) he was not even a lesser Prophet; much less a Manifestation of God! The difference between Jesus and Nanak is the difference between the Sun and a spark! Both are "light", but not in the same quantity.

Catholic and Hindu Saints

Various Catholic saints were exhibited miracles by the power of God. One saint had the ability to fly in the air. Another saint, St. Francis, bore the wounds of Jesus. Another saint, St. Bernadette, died and, over 100 years later, shows no signs of decomposition (although her body did not vanish and is still on display).

St. Bernadette died in 1879. This is a 1997 photo of her remains in Nevers, France.

Many Hindu and Muslim saints have reported similar miracles. The purported miracles of Sai Baba of Shirdi are more numerous than those of Jesus! Does this mean he was greater than Jesus? By no means! He was a holy man, but he wasn't even a Prophet; much less a Manifestation of God!

Sai Baba of Shirdi

Sai Baba of Shirdi appeared to several of his disciples after his death.

The Muslim saints Rumi and Mansor al-Hallaj were known to perform many miracles.

Followers of Yogananda Paramahansa, a Hindu Yogi, believe his report that his teacher, Sri Yukteswar, was resurrected from the dead:

Yogananda: "But it is you, Master, the same Lion of God? Are you wearing a body like the one I buried beneath the cruel Puri sands?"
Yukteswar: "Yes, my child, I am the same. This is a flesh and blood body. Though I see it as ethereal, to your sight it is physical." (Autobiography of a Yogi, p.476)

Sri Yukteswar and his disciple Yogananda

When Sri Yukteswar appeared to Yogananda after his death, Yogananda thought he was seeing the physical body of his dead master, but Yukteswar said it was his ethereal body; a body of flesh and blood that appears in visions, and is not material/physical in nature.

Most Evangelical Christians believe that only miracles mentioned in the Bible are true, or of God, since only the Bible is the Word of God. Many believe that only "Biblical" miracles are true; those in the Bible and those within their own Evangelical Community. All other miracles are either fakes, myths, or of the Devil. When Jesus did miracles, His enemies said He did it with the power of Belzeebub; the "prince" of the devils!

But Baha'is believe that God grants miracles to many prophets and holy men and women of many different religions; because all the religions founded by the Manifestations of God are ONE; ultimately from One Source.

That Source is GOD.

Miracles Not 'Proof'

But Baha'is don't use "miracles" as a form of "proof". Why? Because some "miracles" can be faked. Some are not of God. Some are illusions. Others are mere stories. Jesus did not perform miracles in front of those who were unbelieving.

The Bab and Baha'u'llah performed many miracles, but Christians would simply discount them as fables, made-up tales, or miracles done with the power of Satan. When Jesus cast out devils the clerics of His day said He did it by the power of the chief of the devils!

Baha'is will not offer the miracles of The Bab and Baha'u'llah as 'proof' of Their divine mission. They will offer only Their Words, and the pure-in-heart will recognize that They are from God.

Those who wish to read about the miracles of The Bab and Baha'u'llah can glean them from works such as The Dawnbreakers and The Revelation of Baha'u'llah; both available at Baha'i Centers.

Post-mortem Visions of Baha'u'llah

After the ascension (death) of Baha'u'llah many of the Baha'is saw Him living! The same thing happned to the disciples of Jesus after His death. One Baha'i reported:

"After the death of the Blessed Perfection [Baha'u'llah], one day the chief of the Muhammadan priests of Acca came to our Lord ['Abdu'l-Baha] and said he had seen the door of his room open and the Blessed Perfection [Baha'u'llah] came into his room." (Dwight Barstow Collection, pilgrim's note 43-A)

The Muslim cleric was not even a Baha'i; yet he claimed that Baha'u'llah openned his door and came into his room after His death. Many Baha'is~even in far distant lands~reported the same thing. Many Baha'is had visions of a great company of angels which circled the mansion of Baha'u'llah at Bahji (near Akka) after His death.

Similar things were reported by Baha'is after the death of 'Abdu'l-Baha in 1921!

Signs of God Not Always the Same

God could have easily sent 7 legions of angels to save Jesus from the Cross had He wanted to. He could have also caused the remains of all the Prophets to vanish as He did with Christ. Yet, the remains of Abraham still exist in Hebron; next to the remains of Joseph of Egypt. Because Jesus' body vanished as a sign from God, but it should not be used to try to say only He was sent by God, and not the rest! All of the Prophets that Baha'is accept as Prophets were sent by God. Their names were different. Their miracles were different. Their missions were different. But they were all One.

My Sheep Hear My Voice!

Jesus said, "My sheep hear my voice" (John 10:27). If Baha'u'llah is the Father, and if Christ has returned "in the Glory of God", then you will recognize Him if you hear His Words being spoken. Because 2000 years ago the Son came with the Voice of the Father, and a century ago the Father came with the Voice of the Son. You will recognize the Shepherd's Voice if you hear His Words being recited. That is how you judge things by the Spirit of God. And before you can judge by the Spirit you must attend a Baha'i Fireside (informal informational meeting) and HEAR the words of Baha'u'llah being spoken.

The true Christians are those who shall recognize the Voice of the Shepherd. The "Christians" in-name-only will not. The true spirit-filled Christians will recognize Baha'u'llah as Heavenly Father if they hear His Words being recited. The carnal "Christians" will not; but they will persecute the Baha'is, call Baha'u'llah a "False Prophet" and "Anti-Christ". The Sheep shall be separated from the Goats in this method. The Sheep shall inherit the literal Kingdom of the Father on earth (as well as in Heaven), but the Goats shall be "left behind".

The Sheep shall be separated from the Goats

The Sheep will then "have the Father's Name written on their foreheads" (Rev. 14:1). The Father's Name is not "Jesus" nor even "Christ". The Father's Name is BAHA'U'LLAH; thus the Sheep shall receive a New Name: BAHA'I ("Belonging to BAHA").

The Father's Name shall be written on their foreheads

Baha'u'llah Himself says to you:

"Verily, He (Jesus) said, 'Come after Me, and I will make you to become fishers of men.' In this day, however, We say: Come ye after Me, that We may make you to become quickeners of mankind."

(The Proclamation of Baha'u'llah , p.91)

The Truth About End-Times Doctrines

Evangelicals Christians are fascinated by the Apocalypse (Book of Revelations). They believe that:

*7 years before the Second Advent the False Prophet (of the Apocalypse) will arise and be the "front man" or "PR man" for the End-Times Anti-christ.

*The end-times Anti-christ shall be a political leader; either the head of the European Union, or the "New World Order"; which shall somehow be divided into 10 regions or divisions.

*At this time, a Third Jewish Temple will be rebuilt upon the Temple-Mount in Jerusalem (Evangelicals don't know that the Third Temple was built in the days of the Roman Emperor Hadrian, and defiled by him).

*The man who is to become known as "The Anti-christ" will be the head of the European Union, or perhaps a 10-divisioned "New World Order". He will mark everyone with "666" (the number of his name") on their right-hands or forehead; either a literally tatoo or a computer-chip imbedded under the skin which somehow relates to "666". All those who refuse the mark will be put to death.

*At one point the Anti-christ will walk into a rebuilt Jewish Temple, and walk into the Holy of Holies (Most Holy Place) of the Temple and proclaim himself "God" and demand to be worshipped. The False Prophet will make the "image" (statues) of the Anti-christ appear to speak; thus making the Pagan peoples of the world (i.e. all non-Christians) worship the "image" of the Anti-christ. This will mark the beginning of a 7-year period leading to the Second Advent (i.e. return of Christ in the "clouds of heaven" and "in the glory of His Father").

*Either at the beginning (pre-trib), or the middle (mid-trib) or the end (post-trib) of this 7-year period, God will rapture ("catch-away") all true Christians (i.e. all truly born-again Evangelical Christians); meaning they will one day simply "disappear". This means that all true Christians will "disappear" and invisibly meet with Jesus in the clouds of the sky. Some Evangelicals (those not truly born-again but either pretend to be or think they are but are not) shall be "left behind". They shall refuse the 'Mark' and be persecuted. Many shall be killed, but others shall flee to the mountains and hide.

*For 42 Months (3 1/2 years) of these 7-years all who refuse the Mark ("666") shall be great persecuated; this being the "Great Tribulation".

*During the 7-years God shall send 7 plagues; known as the "7-Bowl Judgment". The 7 Plagues are mentioned in the Book of Revelations chapter 6 through 8:1. Seven vials (bowls) filled with the "Wrath of God" will be poured out upon the earth during the 7 "last years" before the Second Advent when Jesus returns "in the clouds of Heaven" and "in the glory of His Father".

*Jesus will return in a sky with clouds over Jerusalem, and descend upon the Mount of Olives; which will split and form a valley. He will walk through the East Gate of the city, kill the False Prophet and the Anti-christ, and take His seat in the Temple and rule, with the surviving Christians who shall be "changed" in a "twinkling of an eye" from mortals to immortals, and they will reign with Him over the earth for 1000 years.

These are known as "End-Times" doctrines.

Dispensationalism

Most Evangelical ("Bible-believing") Christians today believe in what is called "Dispensationalism". This was a term invented by a Englishman named John Darby; in the late 19th century. Darby was a founder of the Plymouth Brethren; a small sect of Christians who first met in Plymouth, England. They were known as "Dissenters"; because they dissented from the Church of England. They considered all Christian churches of the day "corrupt", and simply met as Christian "Brethren" (brothers and sisters) to obey the Gospel as they found it recorded in the Bible.

John Darby read a book by a man named "Rabbi Ben-Ezra"; who claimed to be a Spanish Jew who converted to Protestantism. Ben-Ezra had taken a number of Bible verses from various locations in the Bible, and put them together to form an End-Times prophecy scenario in which the False Prophet and the Anti-christ would appear 7-years before the second advent of Christ. This was a radically new interpretation of Bible prophecy in Darby's day. Yet, he read it, and accepted it as true. In Darby's day, all Protestants believed that the "False Prophet" of the Apocalypse (Book of Revelations) was Muhammad; the founding-prophet of Islam. They all believed that the "Anti-Christ" was the Papacy! This is what the Protestant Reformers had taught, and all Protestants simply accepted what they taught as "Gospel Truth".

Yet, this Rabbi Ben Ezra was saying that the False Prophet and the Anti-christ (Man of Sin) of the Apocalypse had yet to come. John Darby accepted this. Darby also taught that God had divided human history into a number of Dispensations. He called the time of Adam and Eve, before they partook of the Forbidden Fruit, the "Dispensation of Innocence". He called the time when Israel was under the Law of Moses the "Dispensation of Law". He called the Dispensation of Christianity the "Dispensation of Grace"; because Christians were saved by "grace" and not by the works of the Law. Eventually, Darby's teachings became known as "Dispensationalism".

In Darby's day there was a group of Christians known as the "Irvingites"; the followers of Edward Irving, who had been a Church of England minister. Irving read the works of the "Rabbi Ben Ezra" and left the Church of England and founded the Catholic Apostolic Church; a denomination which had new apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers; according to the New Testament church pattern. Some of the "prophets" were female. One prophetess that the Irvingites accepted was Margaret MacDonald. In one of her visions, she claimed all true believers (i.e. the Irvingites) would one day disappear and meet Jesus in a cloudy sky before the Great Tribulation would occur. John Darby accepted her visions; although he never joined the Irvingites.

The belief that one day all true Christians would "disappear" and meet Jesus invisibly in the clouds of the sky is today called the "Rapture" or sometimes the "Secret Rapture". Many Evangelical Christians believe that the "secret rapture" will take many millions of true born-again Christians to meet Jesus invisibly in a cloudy sky, but millions will be "left-behind" because, although they called themselves "born-again Christians" they had never really been born-again, and so they were left-behind.

"At the time of the Reformation, the first Protestants widely believed and taught that the Papacy was antichrist, and the Roman Church the Harlot System of Revelation 17. It therefore became necessary for certain Romish theologians to take the pressure off the Pope by inventing a new school of prophetic interpretation known as Futurism. It was a Jesuit priest named Ribera (1537-1591) who first taught that the events prophesied in the books of Daniel and Revelation would not be fulfilled until three and a half years at the end of the age when an individual world dictator called Anti-Christ would arise."

"It may come to a shock to some who read these lines, but it is a fact, nonetheless, that the 'rapture' teaching was not taught by the early Church, it was not taught by Church of the first centuries, it was not taught by the Reformers, it was not taught by anyone (any Protestant) until about the year 1830."

"It would shock many evangelical Christians to learn that their theology comes from the Roman Catholic Church. A Jesuit, named Ribera (1537-1591) who first taught that Daniel and Revelation were "futuristic" in their fulfillment, began a line of theological thinking that would be expanded upon. The Roman church was losing hundreds of people a day from their church as people hard and agreed with the Reformers. The bleeding Roman Church was trying to stop the flow of income it was losing and also was trying to distract people from the Roman Church [being identified as "The Beast"] by showing through a new theology that it was not the antichrist but rather it was yet to come. Another priest, Cardinal Bellarmine, helped Ribera in his charade." (Rapture Beginnings, p.1 online)

Pastor CSJ Claasen:

"The Church of the Middle Ages knew of no secret catching away. To them the BOOK OF REVELATION was historical; the Antichrist being the Papacy. Thus taught Luther, Melanchthon, Calvin, Zwingli, Wyclif, Tyndale, Canmer, Latimer and Ridley.
The Theory that there will be a secret coming for the Church before the actual 2nd Advent, and that the Church will be caught up (Raptured) for 3 years (some say 7 years) during which time the Great Tribulation will come on the earth, after which the Lord will return and set up His Kingdom, was started by the Roman Catholic Jesuit Priest, Ribera in the 16th century. He taught the theory to throw dust in the eyes of the people, because the Protestant Reformers were showing that the Papacy was identified with the 'Great Whore' of Revelation 17, and the Papal Church was the 'Woman...drunken with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus.' (Revelation 17:6)" ( The Secret Rapture Fact ...Or Fiction?, p.1 online)

The Rapture Theory invented by Ribera, in his attempt to prevent Catholics from becoming Protestants, was later championed by another Jesuit priest: Emmanuel Lacunza. He wrote a book in Spanish in 1812 that taught that the Pope was not the Antichrist (as ALL Protestants then believed), but the Antichrist and the False Prophet would appear 7 years before Christ returns, and the 7-year period would be the 'Great Tribulation'. Lacunza knew that Protestants would NEVER accept his views if he wrote under his true name as a Jesuit priest. So, he wrote under the name of "Rabbi Ben-Ezra"; claiming to be Jewish rabbi who converted to Protestantism.

That of course...was a grand lie!

An Anglican (Church of England) minister named Edward Irving accepted the views of "Rabbi Ben-Ezra", and even translated his book into English in 1827. Irving later left the Church of England and founded the Catholic Apostolic Church in 1830. This Church claims to be the only true Christian church on earth; with modern apostles, prophets, evangelists, etc.

One "prophetess" that Irving promoted with Margaret Macdonald; a young Scottish woman who fell into trances and claimed heavenly visions. In several of them she "confirmed" the new Rapture doctrine, and the other doctrines put-forth by "Rabbi Ben-Ezra". Macdonald also prophecied that the Rapture and Second Coming would occur in her lifetime.

One Englishman who read Irving's translation of Ben-Ezra's (i.e. Lacunza's) book was John Darby (1800-1882). He was the founder of the Plymouth Brethren; a British Evangelical Christian fellowship. Darby became convinced of "Ben-Ezra's" interpretation of the Book of Revelations, and he traveled throughout Great Britain and North America promulgating the new "Rapture" doctrine and the new doctrines that "The Beast", "The Antichrist", and the "Great Tribulation" would take place 7-years before Christ's Return.

Most Christian pastors and evangelists at that time did not accept Darby's views. Yet, he made converts. One convert was Cyrus I. Scofield (1843-1921); who published the "Scofield Reference Bible". Scofield claimed to be a bible scholar and often wrote as "Dr. Scofield". These claims were later proved false. He actual had no formal training in seminary or Biblical languages. Yet, he produced a Reference Bible that became extremely popular with Pentecostal Christians, and then eventually with Evangelical Christians in North America and then around the world. His Bible was essential a King James Bible with his own "footnotes" where he popularized Darby's doctrines (called "Dispensationalism" today because Darby taught that God had divided human history into various "Dispensations"). Of course, Darby's interpretations were based upon "Rabbi Ben-Ezra's" book that Edward Irving had translated from Spanish into English. Scofield accepted these end-times scenarios as valid, and popularized them in his Scofield Reference Bible. He later helped to start the Dallas Theological Seminary; the very "center" of Dispensationalist theology.

Cyrus I. Scofield

Eventually, the new "Rapture" doctrine and the new "End-Times" doctrines became very popular among Pentecostal Christians, and then among all Evangelical Christians of North America. Missionaries from Evangelical churches spread these new doctrines around the world.

Today, MOST Evangelical Christians the world over believe in the "Rapture", and that the Beast, the False Prophet, and the Antichrist have not yet appeared, but will appear 7-years before Christ returns. Many believe that when Jesus appears "in the clouds of heaven" (i.e. a cloudy sky) then all true born-again Christians will be "raptured" to the cloudy-sky to meet Him "in the air". Airplanes piloted by born-again Christians will crash. Cars and buses driven by born-again Christians will also crash.

An Evangelical view of Jesus coming in a cloudy-sky to rapture all true Christians

Other Evangelicals believe that the Rapture won't be "secret" at all.

Baha'is do not believe in the popular Evangelical "Rapture" doctrine; other than certain saints and mystics can indeed "meet the Lord in the air" (2 Thessalonians 4:17), but this refers to mystical states and visions and not the literal physical body being transported. This also may explain NDEs (near-death experiences) where people claim to see a Light and meet with Jesus and loved ones then return to their physical bodies.

In fact, this is what Paul was referring to:

"But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep [died], lest you sorrow as others who have no hope [of seeing their dead loved-ones again] . For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus. For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from haven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air." (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 NKJV)

Believers of Darby's and Scofield's "dispensationalist" interpretation of the End-Times believe that they will be 'raptured' bodily into the sky to meet Jesus somewhere in a cloudy sky.

But the Greek doesn't say that.

The Greek says "meet the Lord in the air. The word "air" in Greek is "aer". It is never used to mean the "sky". The Greek word for "sky" is "ouranos". The word "aer" in Greek refers to the unseen world that surrounds us, and the word "ouranous" refers to the sky; where the birds fly and the clouds hang.

The Greeks believed that the 'aer' was the Unseen World. They could feel the wind, but couldn't see it. They knew that something was there to breathe in and out, and it was unseen. So, by "aer" they meant the spiritual world, and Paul uses that to designate the Unseen World. Baha'is believe that the spiritual Worlds of God are not beyond the clouds in the sky or beyond the planets, but in fact right here and in fact everywhere the material creation is, but in other dimensions; unseen dimensions.

Often English Bibles will translate two different Greek words into one English word. This causes confusion, and has led to many misinterpretations of scripture. For example, English Bibles translate "aer" (unseen realm) and "ouranos" (sky/realm of the stars) BOTH into "air", but clearly they are referring to two different things:

"...cast off their clothes, and threw dust into the air [aer]." (Acts 10:12)

"...the fowls of the air [ouranos]." (Acts 22:23)

Evangelical Christian scholar David B. Curtis writes:

"The word 'air' is another word for heavenly or spiritual realm." ( Up, Up and Away-The Rapture, p.14 online)

Paul was saying to Christians, 'Don't be sad about your loved ones who have passed away as do the pagans who don't have a hope of the resurrection as we do. We shall meet with them when the Lord returns with the voice of the Archangel in the spiritual realm.'

Loved ones meet again in Paradise

Paul wrote that he "knew a man" 14 years before he wrote his epistle ????? who was "raptured" ("caught up") to the "third Heaven" and heard words it was not lawful to utter.(??????????). This confirms the Baha'i belief that "rapture" is referring to one's soul, or ethereal body, being "caught up" in vision, and not to one's physical body being jolted up into a cloudy sky.

In most parts of the world, the sky is not cloudy.

Baha'is do not believe that the resurrection is a PHYSICAL event that occurs in the physical plane (dimension), but it is a spiritual event that occurs in the spiritual realm, or Unseen World; otherwise known as "Paradise". Baha'is believe that the resurrection occurs when another Manifestation of God appears on earth. Thus, the righteous dead that lived during the Dispensation of Moses were resurrected with Christ. The true Christians who had died during Jesus' dispensation were resurrected when Muhammad came; in the Unseen World.

Baha'is believe that the next Manfestation of God after Jesus was the Prophet Muhammad . Muhammad came with "the voice of the Archangel Gabriel". The Angel Gabriel appeared to Muhammed in a cave in a hill near Mecca, and said to Him "Recite!". From then, Muhammad recited the Verses of God that the archangel revealed to Him, and that became known as the Qur'an ("Khoor-ran").

The Resurrection takes place in the Unseen World; not the physical world, but the Unseen World can be "seen" in visions.

The Rapture doctrine invented by Christopher Ribera, expounded upon by "Rabbi Ben-Ezra" (Emmanuel Lacunza), preached by Edward Irving and John Darby, promulgated by Cyrus Scofield, and believed by most Evangelical Christians today is not the true rapture doctrine of the Bible, but an invention of uninspired men.

In Summary:

*The Ancient Christians believed that the "False Prophet" was Simon Magus. They called Jesus "The True Prophet" and Simon "The False Prophet". They believed that the 'Mark' of the Beast was the 'stamp' of the Emperor's image on coins. The right-hand was the business-hand (coin was exchanged, the left hand being the toilet hand). People also paid "head-tax" using the marked coins. There was no income tax, but a "head-tax". They believed that the 'Number of the Beast' ("666") was Neron Kesar in Hebrew Gematria. Nero's Latin gematria is "616", and this is why the oldest Latin manuscripts of the Apocalypse have "616" instead of "666". They also believed that the Beast with 7 heads and 10 horns referred to the Roman Empire; founded on 7 hills, and that had 10 Ceasars until the time the Apocalyse was written. The Woman Riding the Beast was apostate Israel; doing business with (i.e. "whoring with") the Beast (Romans) for material riches.

*During the Middle-ages the Roman Catholic Church did many questionable things in the name of religion. This led many people to leave it. They became known as "Protestants" because they were Roman Catholics who "protested" the abuses of Papal power and authority. Protestants believed as Eternal-Bible-Truth that the Papacy was "The Antichrist" and Muhammad "The False Prophet" of Revelations (The Apocalyse).

*To counter the popular belief that the Papacy was the Anti-christ, a Jesuit Catholic priest invented an end-times anti-Christ scenario; where the Anti-Christ would come 7 years before Jesus' return; fronted by the False Prophet. He wrote a book under the pseudonym of "Rabbi Ben Ezra"; claiming to be a former Jew who converted to Protestantism. The Jesuit priest had hoped to destroy the Protestant belief that the Papacy was the Anti-Christ. For the most part, it worked (although it took centuries). Today, only a very small minority of Protestants believe that the Papacy is the Anti-christ.

*The "Rabbi Ben Ezra's" book was translated into English by Edward Irving; a Church of England minister who formed his own church. A woman in that church claimed to be a prophetess, and her "visions" and "revelations" confirmed "Ben Ezra's" writings. This was the very beginning of the "Rapture" doctrine; that millions of Christians would one day "vanish" into thin air; to meet Jesus in a cloudy sky. The woman, Margaret Macdonald, later recanted. Yet, her "rapture" legacy continues.

*John Darby, a member of the Plymouth Brethren (small Christian sect in the South of England) read Irving's translation of "Ben Erza's" book, and believed it. He began to preach this interpretation; calling it "Dispensationalism".

*Darby traveled to America and preached Dispensationalism. Most Protestant ministers at the time rejected every word; continuing to believe that the Papacy was the Anti-Christ. However, Darby did get recruits. One was Cyrus Schofield; who wrote a Bible commentary that eventually became commonly-used among most Protestants (now called "Evangelicals") in North America. These North American Evangelicals spread Dispensationalism around the globe via thousands of missionaries and via Christian television programs. Today, 95% of Evangelical Christians believe in the "Rapture" and the coming "False Prophet" and end-times "Anti-christ" first formulated by "Rabbi Ben Ezra".

*Thanks to Scofield (his Bible commentary and the Dallas Theological Seminary he founded) and others who came after him, and American Evangelical missionaries and satellite television, Dispensationalism has become extremely popular among Evangelicals worldwide.

*Today, books like The Late-Great Planet Earth and the Left Behind series is making Dispensationalism more and more popular, and more and more accepted as "Eternal Bible Truth" by Evangelical Christians everywhere.

The Baha'is, on the other hand, have beliefs much closer to the ancient Christians on the subject of the False Prophet, the Anti-christs, the Rapture, and the End-Times.

The Man of Sin/Lawlessness

The Apostle Paul wrote to the Christians living in Thessalonia the following:

"Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him;
2 That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter, as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.
3 Let no man deceive you by any means, for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and the man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition.
4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself agove all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself to be God." (2 Thessalonians 2:1-4)

The "Man of Sin" (also called "Man of Lawlessness" is described by the prophet Daniel in The Book of Daniel:

*He will have no desire for women. (Dan. 11:37)

*He will honor the "god of fortresses [forces]" (Dan. 11:38)

*He will have authority. (Dan. 7:20)

*He will be shrewd, deceitful, powerful. (Dan. 8:28)

Many preterists (Christian scholars who believe that the Apocalypse is speaking of things at the time John wrote it) believe the "Man of Sin" is the Roman Emperor Hadrian.

Hadrian's full name was Publius Aelius Hadrianus. He was a homosexual ("no desire for women"), and had a well-known affair with a handsome teen named Antonious (who later was drowned in the Nile). Hadrian had been a very successful Tribune (general) in the Roman Army. Although married (a political move~not for love), he had no children, but adopted. He was known to be very shrewd, cunning, and used strategem (deceit) to defeat enemies.

The image of Hadrian on a Roman coin

Like all Roman Emperors after 44 A.D., his image (bust or statute) was worshipped, and he was thought of as a "living god".

Hadrian was a traveling emperor. He traveled all throughout the empire. He visited Judea, and found that the Jews had rebuilt part of the city. The Jewish Temple had been completely destroyed in 70 A.D.; during the First Jewish Revolt. Hadrian ordered that a the temple be rebuilt, and that a statue of himself be erected to stand in the Holy Place of the Temple. To the Jews this was utter blasphemy! He also ordered that the Jewish rebuilt part of the city be torn down, and that Jerusalem be rebuilt as "Aelia Capitolina" (i.e. "Aelius' Capitol"). He forbade Jews to step foot into the city on pain of death. He also renamed Judea "Syria Palaestina". He also commanded that the Jews could no longer practice circumcision, keep the Sabbath day, or engage in Jewish feasts.

Hadrian's abominations prompted the Jews to revolt a second time; this being the Second Jewish Revolt (the first occurred from 67-70 A.D. when the Temple of Herod was burned to the ground). At the head of this second revolt was Simon Bar Kochba; who proclaimed he was the "Messiah" who would drive out the Romans. Almost all Jews in Judea followed him. For 42 months during 132-135 A.D. the war continued; until finally the Jewish forces were completely defeated, and the Jews dispersed from the Holy Land completely. This was the beginning of the "Jewish Diaspora". The Jews would not have a homeland again until 1948.

The ancient Christian historian Eusebius wrote that Hadrian "erected a temple to Jupiter upon the site of the Jewish temple and caused an image of himself to be set up in the pat which answered to the Most Holy Place." (Ecclesiatical History 1:23)

The Jewish Temple was divided into the Court of the Gentiles (where all Jews), the Court of Levites (where only Levites and Priests could go), and the Most Holy Place, or Holy of Holies, where only the High Priest could enter. Hadrian had built a temple to Jupiter, placing a statue (image) of himself standing in the Most Holy Place. The Jews knew that Hadrian (like all Ceasars after Augustus) claimed to be a "god", and his image in the Most Holy Place was for the Jews the same as if he proclaimed himself the Most High God; for the Holy Place was the earthly abode of Jehovah. During the first and second Jewish Temples it housed the Ark of the Covenant. The Presence of Jehovah on earth was considered to be on the Mercy Seat; which was just above the lid of the Ark; between the two Cherubim.

By placing his image in the Holy Place, Hadrian was identifying himself (in the minds of the Jews) with GOD! The Jews revolted, but they were defeated by the Roman Legions; after millions were killed.

Jesus told His disciples (about 32 A.D.):

"And when you shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh. Then let them which are in Judea flee to the mountains; and let them which are in the midst [of the city] depart out. (Luke 21:20) When you therefore shall see the Abomination of Desolation, spoken of by Daniel the Prophet, standing in the Holy Place. Then let them which be in Judea flee into the mountains.(Matthew 24:15) For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be."(Matthew 24:21)

When Hadrian allowed the building of a third Jewish temple, the Jews thought that they would be able to continue their daily and yearly sacrifices. But, instead, Hadrian had defiled the Temple by dedicating it to Jupiter, and then standing a statue of himself in the Most Holy Place. Hadrian probably identified himself as Jupiter.To the Jews, this was an abomination, so they revolted against the Romans a second time. The false messiah Simon bar Kochba led them. But the Jewish Christians (called "Nasara'i") did not follow Simon, but did as Christ had said, and fled to the mountains of Jordan and Lebanon. They thus escaped the 42-month "great tribulation"; in which millions of Jews had died, and the rest were sold into slavery or scattered. The Jews would not have a homeland again until 1948.

Most Evangelicals do not realize that a third Jewish Temple was already built (and defiled). The Emperor Constantine, the first Christian emperor, destroyed the third Temple because it was considered "defiled"; because it was dedicated to Jupiter, and had the image of Hadrian standing in the Holy Place. The Temple Mount today is actually the remains of this temple; not the temple in Jesus' day.

Because of Dispensationalist teachings, most Evangelicals today expect a third Jewish Temple to be rebuilt according to it's former glory.

The Second Jewish Temple ("Temple of Herod")

The only problem is that the location for the Jewish Temple is now occupied by the Dome of the Rock; the third most holy site of Islam. In the 4th century the first Christian Roman Emperor, Constantine, destroyed the Temple of Jupiter that Hadrian had constructed on the site of the old Jewish Temple of Herod (the Second Temple). What remained was only a flat area known today as the "Temple Mount". In the late 7th century, Muslims conquered Jerusalem (renamed by Emperor Constantine) and renamed it "The Holy City". They built a dome over a rock which stuck out from the temple mount; which Muslims came to believe was the rock which the Prophet Muhammed ascended to heaven during a "night journey". Later, the dome was covered with gold. It became known as the "Dome of the Rock". Near this was built the Al-Aqsa Mosque; both of which remain today on the Temple Mount.

The Dome of the Rock

A few Orthodox Jews plan to built a Third Temple and renew the daily sacrifices as proscribed in the Torah. But there is much opposition to this; because the entire Temple Mount is controlled and operated by Muslims, and they consider the entire mount most sacred. They won't accept a Jewish Temple built beside it on the mount; much less the destruction of the Dome of the Rock or the Al-Aqsa Mosque! Jews are only allowed to pray along the outside of it; along the Western Wall (called "The Wailing Wall"). They are not allowed to set foot on the Temple Mount (which Muslims call Haram al-Sharif-"The Noble Sactuary") itself; because it is considered holy Muslim ground.

The entire Islamic world (over 1 billion and counting) would spill its combined blood long before the Dome of the Rock is destroyed in order to build a third Jewish Temple.

The Temple Mount as it stands today

Evangelicals are confident that an earthquake, a tornado, or simply the decree of the Anti~christ will make way for the building of the Third Jewish Temple. Then, the Anti~christ will enter the Temple and proclaim himself "God" and command everyone to be marked with a "666" (either a literal mark or a computer chip installed) on the forehead or right-hand.

Many historians and scholars, however, feel that Paul was referring to a Roman Emperer who would be the catalyst for the "Day of Christ"; which referred NOT to the "Second Advent"; but to a day of great destruction in Judea as Christ had foretold in Matthew chapter 24; when he warned His disciples to "flee" to the mountains. And Christians did flee, and they escaped being killed by the Roman Legions or becoming slaves of the Romans after the war ended in 135 A.D.

In 2 Thessalonians chapter 2, Paul was telling Christians not to be troubled about the "Day of Christ" (when Jesus prophecied of the first holocaust among the Jews) was at hand, but first must come a "falling away" (Greek: apostasis-which means "rebellion") and the "man of sin" (Greek: "lawlessness") be revealed; the "son of perdition". The term "son of perdition" in Hebrew is "beni Belial"; which is a reference to a man, or men, who are rebellious and sexually deviant. Hadrian was a homosexual; which was considered an "abomination" (foul and disgusting thing) in the Law of Moses. He also demanded~like Nero and other ceasars~that his image (statue) be worshipped. When Hadrian placed his statue in the Holy Place, this was, for the Jews, the same as if he identified himself with GOD.

Christians in Thessalonia believed that the "Day of Christ" as "close at hand", and wanted to bring their loved ones (many early Greek-speaking Christians were Jews) out of Judea. Paul was saying, 'Don't let any man deceive you that the Day of Christ is here. That day will not come until the Jews openly rebel, and the Man of Lawlessness is revealed'.

That occurred; in the years 132-135 A.D.; with the Second Jewish Revolt.

Most Evangelical Christians believe that the "falling away" is a apostasy of "the Church"; meaning that many Evangelicals will abandon "Bible-truth" for "doctrines of the devil". While the Latin word apostasia means "to fall away from a standing position" the original Greek, in which the apostle Paul wrote, says apostasis; which comes from the Greek words aposta ("to rebel") and histanai ("to stand, to place"), and it means simply "to stand in rebellion". The Jews stood in rebellion against the Romans, and this is what Paul was referring to when he wrote that before the "Day of Christ" there would be a "falling away" before the "Man of Sin" was revealed. And all of this happened in the secound century A.D. The Christians fled and were saved from the great Tribulation; which destroyed Jerusalem, killed millions of Jews, and destroyed the Temple.

Evangelical Christians who await the building the of third Jewish temple must be told that it was already built in the 2nd century A.D., defiled by the "man of sin", and later destroyed by a Christian Roman emperor. The only reason they believe otherwise is because of writings of "Rabbi Ben Erza" and the men who popularized his interpretations.

The third Temple, the Abomination of Desolation, the Great Tribulation, have already happened just as Jesus prophecied!

Baha'u'llah and The Spirit of the Antichrist

Baha'is do not believe that all Christians will someday suddenly "disappear". They do not believe in one End-Times Antichrist who will stamp everyone on the forehead or right-hand with "666"; nor install some computer chip under their skin.

Baha'is do not believe that "The Beast" is the European Union, the UN, a computer in Belgium, nor some future "revived Roman Empire".

Baha'is don't believe the "False Prophet" of Revelations is the Prophet Muhammad (as the Reformers did) nor some man in the future.

However...

Baha'is DO believe that the Spirit of Antichrist is still in the world today! Just as the Spirit of Christ "anoints" certain Manifestations of God, so certain men arise with the Antichrist-spirit who oppose Them.

Baha'is believe that every Manifestation of God has one main "adversary". In Hebrew, the word for adversary is "satan". Each Manifestation of God has an "adversary" or "satan" that opposes Him. For Jesus, it was Simon Magus. For Muhammad, it was Mu'awiya (661-680 A.D.). for The Bab, it was Mirza Aqasi; the Chancellor of Persia. For Baha'u'llah, it was Siyyid Muhammad Isfahani.

Muslim prophecies speak of Al-Dajjal ("The Liar"). The Dajjal would come in the last days and oppose Isa (Jesus) when He returns, but Isa would destroy him. The Dajjal would be blind in one eye. He would have the name of the Prophet (i.e. "Muhammad"), and be from Isfahan, in Iran.

During the time of The Bab, the Antichrist was the Chancellor of Persia; Hajj Mirza Aqasi. He did everything he could to lie about the Babis ("baubeez"), the followers of The Bab, and persecute them.

Over 20,000 Babis became martyrs. Babi men, women, and sometimes children were killed. Many Babi men were tortured by having the soles of their feet cut off and forced to run over stones, or having cuts made in their flesh and inserting burning candles into them. Entire Babi families had their throats cut by Shi'ite Muslim mobs enraged by anti-Baha'i Mullas (clergymen). Mirza Aqasi did all in his power to encourage this. The Bab wrote to the Shah (King) of Persia, the following before He was killed:

"Doest thou imagine him whom thou has appointed Chanceller in thy Kingdom to be the best leader and the best supporter? Nay, I swear by thy Lord. He will bring thee into grievous trouble by reason of that which Satan instilleth in his heart, and verily, he himself is Satan.
*** Fear thou God and suffer not thy soul to be chastised beyond that which it hath already been tormented; for ere long thou shalt pass away and shalt declare thyself clear of the devil whom thou has appointed as thy Chancellor, saying: 'O would that I had not taken the Devil as my Chancellor, nor appointed an imposter as my guide and adviser." ( Selections from the Writings of The Bab, p.14 online)

Siyyid Muhammad Isfahani was a disciple of The Bab, and became the follower of Baha'u'llah's half-brother Yahya (called Sub-i-Azal= "The Dawn of Eternity"). Because of the lies of this man, many Baha'is were killed. He wanted power for himself, and he wanted to control Yahya; to be the 'power' behind the throne. He wanted Yahya to lead the Babis, and saw Baha'u'llah as his only hinderance to control. He lied to Yahya; causing him to reject his illustrious Brother. He lied to the Turkish authorities; causing them to persecute the Baha'is; the followers of Baha'u'llah. He was blind in one eye. He was eventually killed by seven Baha'is whose relatives he had killed via his lies.

Whatever man arises to become the main adversary ("satan") of the Manifestation of God is in fact "Satan" (the Devil) for that Dispensation (the period of time in which the Holy Law of a particular Manifestation reigns). In the time of Adam (Whom Baha'is accept as a Manifestation of God), there was one who opposed Him. The Bible calls him a "serpent" with the power of speech. The Hebrew word for "serpent" is nachash: which can be translated as "snake" or "serpent" or "shaman" (witch-doctor). It literally means "to hiss/whisper". In ancient Arabia, shamans were called by various terms. If you used a shaman to help you, he was called a Kahen, but if a shaman was used to oppose you he was called a Shaitan ("adversary"). When in trances they "hissed"; so they were called "Hissers" ("serpents").

There is no one "Satan". The "satans" (Hebrew: "adversaries") are the adversaries of the Manifestations of God. The Qur'an says:

"And they followed what the Shaitans chanted of sorcery in the reign of Solomon; and Solomon disbelieved not, but the Shaitans disbelived by teaching people sorcery;...." (2:102)

"Surely the squanderers are the fellows of the Shaitans, and the Shaitan is ever ungrateful to his Lord." (17:27)

"So by your Lord! We will most certainly gather them together and the Shaitans, then shall We certainly cause them to be present round Hell on their knees." (19:68)

"And say: O my Lord! I seek refuge in Thee from the evil suggestions of the Shaitans." (23:97)

The "shaitans" ALSO refer to the rebellious Ego (Self) we all have within us. Our "spirits" always follow God, but our "soul" (self/ego) is a rebel against God. When Peter tried to stop Jesus from surrending Himself to the Sanhedrin (to be crucified for the sins and iniquities of all mankind) Jesus said to him: "Get thee behind me Satan: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but the things that be of men." (Matthew 16:23). Was Peter "Satan"? For that moment he was; for his "lower nature" tried to prevent Jesus from His appointed task as the "Lamb of God" which takes away the sins of the World. Peter was worried more about losing his position as chief disciple, rather than Jesus' death.

In Matthew chapter 4, verses 1 through 11, we read that the Spirit led Jesus to the wilderness to "be tempted of the Devil", and that He fasted 40 days and nights. The Gospels say He was "tempted" by Satan; who offerred Jesus all the kingdoms of the earth if He would just worship him. Most Christians (especially Evangelical Christians) believe that the Devil appeared to Jesus, and took Him to the pinnacle of the Temple saying, "If you are the Son of God, cast yourself down", and showed him all the word's kingdoms; offering them if he would only worship Satan. Baha'is, on the other hand, believe that Satan was Jesus' own Nafs (Ego/Self/Lower-Nature) that tempted Him to avoid the Cross and rule the world with His unlimited power as a Manifestation of God and the Son of God. Jesus overcame this temptation, and accepted the Cross.

Satan tempting Jesus with the kingdoms of the world

For Baha'is then, Satan is very close to each of us! Indeed, he is our Self; our Ego/Id/Nafs/Lower-Nature that exists in all of us and tempts us moment-by-moment to rebel against God.

Baha'u'llah has written:

"The Evil One is lying in wait, ready to entrap you. Gird yourselves against his wicked devices, and ,led by the light of the name of the one true God, deliver yourselves from the darkness that surroundeth you. Center your thoughts in the Well-Beloved, rather than in your own selves." (Gleanings, p.168)

"When I contemplate, O My God, the relationship that beindeth Me to Thee, I am moved to proclaim to all created things: Verily, I AM God; and when I consider My own self, lo, I find it coarser than clay!" (The Kitab-i-Aqdas, p.234)

This is not to say "There is no Satan". Of course there is! And he is closer to us than most of us think!

The ills of human nature, and the world-at-large, are directly tied to Self. Racism is about Self. Nationalism is about Self. Elitism is about Self. Materialism is about Self. War is often about megalomaniacs (self-worshippers) trying to glorify their own image and "Self". Dictators fight for more power; to build their own egos, at the expense of the innocent. Some people love money and material things because it builds their "Self" esteem. Others take drugs, and become involved in crime, because they have a low "Self" esteem and they believe that drugs or better material things will help build a high "Self" esteem.

Many religions and philosophies of today teach that the "Self" is Divine; even "God":

Humanists

"The mind, or the Self, is divine." (The Humanities Handbook, p.229 online)

"God is the Self...." (Alan Watts, The Creation Myth, p.3)

"God is the SELF projected onto reality...." (Positive Atheism's big List of Quotations, p.7 under "U" online)

"God is your Self." (Questions We All Ask, No.7 online)

"God is your Self." (Understanding the Body, Tape 13, side 1, p.4 online)

"They believe in only one god. That god is the Self." (Holy Mass-Holy Innocents: The Holy Sacrifice verses Human Sacrifice, p.2 online)

"The Self is divine." (The Five Points of Wiccan Belief, p.3 online)

"...the self is divine." (Satanic Perspective: Literal vs. Symbolic, p.2 online)

"God is the Self." (Islands~Seizing the Ox, part 16,p.4 online)

"When you meditate, you discover your self again and realize that your Self is God who resides within you." (Talking With the Angels, p.2 online)

"...the self is divine." (MSIA: Movement of Spiritual Inner Awareness, p.5 online) "Within your Self is God." (Unconditional Self Love, p.2 online)

"God is the Self within the heart,...." (Stranger By The River, p.14)

"Your Self is God, and your Self is Guru." (Sri Swamiji Speaks, p.1 online)

"God is the Self." (The Practical Psychology of Self-Realization, p.7 online)

"Verily, you are God. Your very Self is God and God is yourself." (Saigita p.174)

"God is the self of all man, animal, plant, everything." (Sri Sarada Math, p.4 online)

'Abdu'l-Baha wrote:

"When one is released from the prison of self, that is, indeed, freedom! For self is the greatest prison. When this release takes place, one can never be imprisoned." (Paris Talks, p.50)

"The only people truly free of the 'dross of self' are the Prophets, for to be free of one's ego is a hall-mark of perfection.***
The ego is the animal in us, the heritage of the flesh which is full of selfish desires. By obeying the laws of God, seeking to live the life laid down in our teachings, and prayer and struggle, we can subdue our egos. We call people 'saints' who have achieved the highest degree of mastery over their egos.
Arise, O people, and, by the power of God's night, resolve to gain the victory over your own selves, that haply the whole earth may be freed and sactified from its servitude to the gods of its idle fancies--gods that have inflicted such loss upon, and are responsible for the misery of, their wretched worshippers." (Unfolding Destiny, p.453)

The self is the adversary (Heb: "Satan" or Arabic: "Shaitan") of the spirit. The "self" is our lower nature, and our "spirit" is our higher nature.

Indeed, it could be said there there are only TWO religions: the religion which says that the "Self" is "God", and the Religion of God which says that the "self" is Satan!

Gnosticism

Some religions and philosophies teach that the "Self" is divine; indeed the "Self" is the same as "God". These religions and philosophies speak much about "self-love" and "self-realization" and "self-fulfillment". To worship one's "Self" they say, is to worship "God". All of these religions and philsophies are ultimately tied to Gnosticism.

Researcher Maureen Roberts writes:

"The various Gnostic systems vary in terms of detail, but the basic elements in common to them all are, firstly, the belief that the self is divine,...." (Keat's Gnostic Vision of Soul-Making, p.2 online)

Simon Magus is called the father of Gnosticism. The symbol of Gnosticism is the serpent which swallows it's tail.

Here are some movements which were inspired by Gnosticism:

*Racism orginated with the Gnostics; who believed the Jehovah was the evil creator-god. To Gnostics, darkness and matter were "evil", but light and spirit were "good". The darker the skin and hair and eyes the more "matter" a race had, and thus the more "evil" and "lower" it was!

* The Nazi Party was founded by members of a Gnostic secret cult called the Thule Society. Here was their symbol:

* The Communist Party was founded by Socialists who were influenced by the Gnostics; especially the Cathari of the middle-ages. The first Socialists were members of a Gnostic body called the "Grand Orient of France"; whose symbol was the Blazing Red Star of Gnosis...

The Symbol of the Grand Orient

The symbol of the Socialist International (the worldwide Socialist movement which still exists today) is a fist clutching a red rose. The red rose was the symbol of Mani; a 3rd century Gnostic "prophet" who taught that Jehovah was an evil Archon.

The Gnostics believed that Lucifer was the "God of Light"; or the positive aspect of the Cosmos, and Jehovah represented the "God of Darkness", or the negative aspect of the Cosmos. They saw "Lucifer" and "Jehovah" as the two equal aspects of the Cosmos; constantly at war with each other. They were the 'light' and 'dark' side of the same 'Force'.

*The most popular Gnostic writer of modern times was Helena Blavatsky; a Russian medium who tried to popularize Gnostic thought to the masses. She wrote:

"The appellation Satan (in Hebrew Adversary) belongs by right to the first and cruelist 'Adversary' of all other Gods--JEHOVAH; not to the Serpent which spoke only words of sympathy and Wisdom." (The Secret Doctrine 3:386)

"Satan, the Serpent of Genesis, is the real creator and benefactor, the Father of spiritual mankind. For it is he who opened the eyes [of Adam and Eve], and he who was he first to whisper, 'In the day ye eat thereof, ye shall be as ELOHIM [Gods], knowing good and evil: he [Lucifer] can only be regarded in the light of a Saviour." (The Secret Doctrine 3:246)

"And now it stands proven that Satan, the Red Fiery Dragon, the 'Lord of Phosphorus', and Lucifer, or 'Light-Bearer', is in us: it is our Mind--our Tempter and our Redeemer, our intelligent Liberator and Saviour from pure animalism." (The Secret Doctrine 2:514)

Blavatsky taught that Jehovah was the "true satan" and Lucifer was the "God of light" in opposition to the evil Jehovah. She started a Theosophical magazine in Longdon, England, in 1888 called LUCIFER. Her disciple Alice Bailey started Lucifer Trust in 1938; now called Lucis Trust. The emblem of Helena P. Blavatsky included the swastika and the Oroboros ("Red Dragon of Wisdom": the symbol of Gnosis)...

*The Assassins ("Hashish-eaters") of Iran and Egypt belonged to a Gnostic society of Muslims called the Ismailis. They used suicide assassins full of hashish to get rid of all who opposed them. Some researchers seem direct connections between the Assassins and the modern Islamic extremist societies; who again use "suicide" assassins to try to create war between Jews and Muslims and Muslims and Christians.

*The Ku Klux Klan was founded by men who belonged to a secret order called the Knights of the Golden Circle; a Gnostic society formed by Albert Pike (who was also a founder of the Ku Klux Klan as well as a Confederate general).

Pike's famous work Morals and Dogma contain many Gnostic ideas and teacings. Pike is purported to have said:

"If Lucifer were not God, would Adonay [Jehovah]~whose deeds prove his cruelty, perfidy and hatred of man, barbarism and repulsion of science,~would Adonay and his priests culminate him? Yes, Lucifer is God, and unfortunately Adonay is also god, for the eternal law is that there is no light without shade, no beauty without ugliness, no white without black, for the Absolute can only exists as two gods; darkness being necessary to the statue, and the brake to the locomotive. Thus, the doctrine of Satanism is heresy; and the true and pure philosophical religion is the belief in Lucifer, the equal of Adonay [Jehovah], God of Light and Godd of Good, is struggling for humanity against Adonay, the God of Darkness and Evil." (Occult Theocrasy, pp.220-221)

Pike was a member of the Grand Orient of France; the largest Gnostic society at that time; a society whose members continued the ancient shamanistic practices and beliefs...

A Grand Orient convocation

The Conferderate States of America was founded by men who belonged to one or more Gnostic societies.

*The Muslim Brotherhood, which sponned the current anti-Semitic and anti-American terrorist groups around the world, was founded by a Gnostic "Muslim" in Egypt in the 1920s. One former Muslim Brotherhood leader, Sami al-Joundi, wrote:

"We were racists. We admired the Nazis. We were immersed in reading Nazi literature and books...." (Militant Palestinian & Islamic Organizations, p.2 online)

Why are the Nazis, the Islamic militants, the White-supremacists, and the occultists all teaching the same things?

This is no mere coincidence!

The late Guardian of the Baha'i Faith, Shoghi Effendi, called Racism, Nationalism, and Communism the "three false gods" of the modern age. All three movements were founded by Gnostics or men heavily influenced by Gnosticism. Shoghi Effendi had warned Americans of what lay ahead in the future. One Baha'i reported him saying:

"With a glint of sarcasm in his voice he denounced the so-called American security in giant skyscrapers and collossal edifices. With a swift movement of his hand, he demonstrated how quickly these institutions could be swept away in seconds. How foolish of the Americans, he stated, for them to regard their security in these 'Towers of Babel'." (William Allison Notes, p.1, Baha'i Academics Library online)

Regarding Baha'u'llah, Shoghi Effendi wrote:

"Ezekiel had extolled Him as the 'Lord' Who 'shall be king over all the earth,' while to His day Joel and Zephaniah had both referred as the 'day of Jehovah,' the latter describing it as 'a day of wrath, a day of trouble and distress, a day of wasteness and desolation, a day of darkness and gloominess, a day of clouds and thick darkness, a day of the trumpet and alarm against the fenced cities, and against the high towers.'" (God Passes By, p.95)

The "false gospels" Paul warned Christians about were the Gnostic gospels; which presented "Another Gospel" and "Another Jesus". The Gnostics believed that Yehovah was an evil creator-god, and that Jesus came to liberate mankind from the rule of this evil deity.

The Forces of Darkness have current control of this planet.

In the Book of Revelations John sees Michael the Archangel doing battle with the "Dragon" and his angels. Michael the Archangel and his angels (messengers) defeat the "Dragon" and his "angels" and the "Dragon" and his angels are cast out of Heaven...

For Baha'is, Michael the Archangel is Baha'u'llah; Who casts the "Dragon" (Gnosticism) out of "Heaven" (the "high places" of power and authority on earth).

'Abdu'l-Baha, the Eldest Son of Baha'u'llah and Interpeter of the Faith, declared:

"The Lord of Hosts hath descended with the Army of Light and angels of heaven and depressed the armies of darkness." (Tablets of 'Abdu'l-Baha, p.289)

"These souls [the Baha'is] are Thy Heavenly Army." (Tablets of the Divine Plan, p.35)

Shoghi Effendi, the grandson of 'Abdu'l-Baha and Guardian of the Faith, wrote:

"Evidences of increasing hostility, persistent machinations within, foreshadowing dire contests destined to range the Army of Light against the forces of darkness, both secular and religious, predicted in unequivocal language by 'Abdu'l-Baha,...." (Messages to the Baha'i World: 1950-1957, p.123)

The Spirit of Antichrist is much more frightening that some World Dictator who stamps everyone with "666"! The Spirit of Antichrist is not one man, but thus cannot be killed. The Spirit of Antichrist can only be "bound", and the Mission of Baha'u'llah is to bind this spirit and cast it from the earth. Only then will true World Peace and the Justice of God be firmly established.

The Great Tribulation

Thanks to the writings of the "Rabbi Ben Ezra" (i.e. Lacunza) and to the work of John Darby and Cyrus Schofield, most Evangelical Christians on earth today believe that the End-Times Antichrist will appear 7 or 3 1/2 years before the Second Coming. He promoter and "PR man" will be the False Prophet. Either at the beginning or in the middle of the final 7-year period will be the "Great Tribulation"; where everyone will receive the 'Mark of the Beast' on their right-hand or forehead (perhaps an imbedded computer chip) and won't be able to buy or sell without it. Christians (i.e. evangelical Christians) will refuse to worship the Image of the Beast, and be persecuted.

Some hold to the Pre-Tribulation Rapture view; that Christians will escape the 7 (or 3 1/2 year) Great Tribulation by being "raptured" up to meet Jesus in a cloudy sky. Some hold to the Mid-Tribulation view in which Christians will be raptured in the middle of the tribulation. Still others hold to the Post-Tribulation view in which Christians will go through the entire 7-year Great Tribulation, and be raptured at the end of it. These three views are known as Pre-Trib, Mid-Trib, and Post-Trib.

A small minority (perhaps 3%) of Evangelical Christians are known as "Preterists"; from the Latin word preter which means "before". Many of these are Bible scholars and historians. They believe that the Great Tribulation occurred during the two Jewish Revolts against Rome. Most of them believe that the first Beast of the Apocalyse is pagan Rome, the image of the Beast was Nero's statues, the 'mark' (Greek: "stamp") of the Beast his image stamped upon coins, the number of the Beast (666) refers to Nero, that the False Prophet was Simon Magus, etc.

Jesus actually prophesied of the "tribulation" in Matthews chapter 24. And The Book of Revelations actually mentions "42 months" of tribulation.

What does this mean?

Christian Preterists believe it refers to the two Jewish Revolts against Rome; each lasting 42 months (3 and 1/2 years). The Evangelical Christian Heart of Wisdom series says:

"After Jesus' time, in 66 A.D., the Jewish Revolt against Rome broke out. The Roman Army destroyed Jerusalem, killed over 1 million Jews, took about 100,000 into slavery, and destroyed the Temple in 70 A.D. The second revolt took place between 132 and 135 A.D. A half-million Jews were killed; thousands were sold in to slavery or taken into captivity. The rest were exiled from Palestine and scattered throughout the known world in what is called the 'Diaspora' [Greek: dispersion]." (Heart of Wisdom Unit Studies, The Jewish Revolts, p.1 online)

The leader of the second revolt was Simon Bar Kochba. He arose in 132 A.D. and said "I am the Messiah" (Talmud, Sanhedrin 93b). The Jewish clergy accepted him as the Messiah, and most of the Jews followed their leaders. The Nasara'is (Jewish Christians) did not accept Simon Bar Kochba, and they were pesecuted by him and his followers. They escaped to Syria and other Near Eastern countries. Simon Bar Kochba failed to drive out the Romans and was killed. The Jews were made slaves and scattered. The Jews still today refer to Simon Bar Kochba ("Simon Son of the Star") as "Simon Bar Koziba" ("Simon Son of the Lie"); referring to his false claim of messiahship that proved disasterous for the Jewish people and nation.

The Jewish priests (Sadducees) and doctors of the law (Pharisees) were deceived. They called Jesus a "deceiver" but they themselves were later deceived by Simon Bar Kochba; which they later discovered after millions died, he was killed, and the Jews were dispersed from the Holy Land. And the common people simply followed their religious leaders; which led to their deaths slavery by the Romans, and the end of their nation until 1948.

A small percentage of Evangelical Christians (most of them Seventh-day Adventists) believe in what the old Protestants believed; that the Antichrist was the Papacy, the "Beast" the Roman Catholic Church, the "False Prophet" Muhammed, etc. Seventh-day Adventists believe the "Mark" of the Beast is worshipping on Sunday instead of Saturday; the true Sabbath day (in their view).

The Battle of Armageddon

The Apocalypse (Book of Revelations) says in chapter 16 that "all nations" would meet at "Armageddon" to do final battle between the forces of light and the forces of darkness. Most Evangelical Christians (at least in North America) believe that just before the return of Christ in His Glory there will be the "Battle of Armageddon". Thanks to John Darby, Cyrus Scofield, and other "Dispensationalist" preachers and writers such as Hal Lindsey (author of The Late Great Planet Earth and many other works) most Evangelical Christians believe that there shall be in the last days a "7-year period" of Great Tribulation. Before this period there shall arise two men: the False Prophet and the Antichrist. The False Prophet will be the "PR Man" for the Antichrist. The man who will be Antichrist will be some sort of political leader; perhaps the head of the European Union.

Evangelical Christian author Hal Lindsey (whose books have sold in the hundreds of millions) wrote in the 1970s that the European Union (then with 10-members) was the "Beast" with "10 horns" in The Book of Revelations (Apocalyse). He wrote that the end-times Antichrist would be the head or president of the EU, and he would arrange a peace treaty with Israel and the Arabs. Then, he would make statues of himself and demand to be "worshipped", and the False Prophet would cause everyone to "worship" the "image of the Beast" (i.e. the Antichrist's image).

35 million copies sold in 54 languages

Lindsey wrote that before the 7-year "Great Tribulation" all true Christians (i.e. true Evangelical Christians) would be "raptured" from the earth; this being known as the "Pre-Trib Rapture". One day people would wake up and notice MILLIONS of people missing! Lukewarm Evangelical Christians (i.e. those who call themselves "Born-again Christians" but haven't really been "born-again") will be "left behind" to realize their state and "go through" the Great Tribulation. After the Rapture the newspapers and television reports will speculate that either aliens did it, or Mother Earth had gotten rid of people it didn't want (i.e. because Evangelical Christians were anti-environment).

Lindsey and other "End-Time Preachers" (as they are called) write that during the 7-year (or 3 1/2 year) tribulation period the Beast (Antichrist) shall cause everyone to be marked on the right-hand or forehead with a "666"; either as a literal mark, or perhaps a computer barcode. Nobody would be able to buy or sell without the 'mark'. Only those Christians "left-behind" will refuse the mark; realizing they had not yet been 'born-again' and that the mark was in fact the 'Mark of the Beast'. They shall be persecuted by the Beast (Antichrist). All other peoples will worship the Beast (Antichrist); believing he is God in the flesh because of his seeming wisdom and miraculous powers.

Lindsey wrote during the 1970s that the Second Coming of Christ would occur "one generation" after the Jews returned to the Holy Land; based upon a combination of Old Testament prophecies concerning the return of the Israelites to the Holy Land and Jesus' words in Matthew chapter 24 that "this generation shall not pass away until all these things shall be fulfilled." (Matthew 24:34). The Bible identifies one "generation" as 40 years. Lindsey wrote that the Bible prophesy that the Jews would return to the Holy Land occurred in 1948; with the founding of the state of Israel. He wrote that the Rapture would occur just before the 7-year Tribulation period; thus 1948 + 40 years - 7 years = 1981. The Pre-Trib Rapture of all Christians (except those 'left behind') would occur in 1981.

Lindsey wrote that the Arabs would break the Peace Treaty with Israel, and that China and the Soviet Union (whom Lindsay incorrectly identifies as "Gog" and "Magog") would invade Israel from the North and East; China bringing 200 million troops. The Arab countries would join with the Soviet Union and China. The EU (under the Antichrist's leadership) would betray the agreement with Israel, and join the others against Israel and America. America and Israel would fight alone against the world! The final battle with all the armies of all the nations of the world (including the 200 million Chinese troops) would take place in the Valley of Jezreel; otherwise known as Armageddon. Nuclear bombs would wipe-out the Chinese and most of the others, and Israel would defeat whoever was left. Just as the war would end, Jesus would appear in a cloudy sky over Jerusalem, and descend upon the Mount of Olives. The mount would cleave into two; forming a valley. Then Jesus would enter Jerusalem as "King of kings and Lord of lords"; to reign over the earth for 1000 years. Near the end of the 1000 years "Satan" would be loosed "for a season" and their again would be war and conflict. At this point, God decides to destroy the earth by fire; which is the end of wicked humanity. All Christians (i.e. born-again Evangelical Christians) are "saved" in Heaven for all eternity; to sing praises to the Lord unendingly. All other souls (Hindus,Muslims,Catholics,Buddhists,Sikhs,Jains,Atheists,Animists,Mormons,Liberal Protestants,Baha'is,New Agers,etc.) will burn in Hell for all eternity without end or mercy.

Lindsey had been a river-boat captain who later decided to become a minister. He enrolled in and graduated from the Dallas Theological Seminary; which was founded by Cyrus I. Scofield; disciple of John Darby, and self-proclaimed and self-taught "Bible Scholar".

No other person ever popularized the Dispensationlist views of Darby and Scofield as did Hal Lindsey.

However....all was NOT well in Paradise!

After 1981 came and went without any "rapture" Lindsey recalculated, and said that the Jews "really" didn't return to Israel until they had conquered and reunited all of Jerusalem; which occurred during the 1967 "6-Day War". Thus, if one takes 1967 + 40 years ("one generation" according to the Bible) - 7 years (tribulation period) then the pre-Trib Rapture MUST occur in the year 2000 (1967+40-7=2000).

Also, Lindsey wrote that the Antichrist would be the head of the European Union since the Apocalypse said that the "Beast" had "10 horns". However, by 1989 the EU had 15 members, and now projects 25 members by 2005 and 28 members by 2010! Was the "Beast" growing more "horns" the John (author of the Apocalypse) didn't know about? [;~)]

After the year 2000 came and went with no pre-Trib Rapture, Lindsey began suggesting that a "generation" according to the Bible was really "70 years" and not 40 after all! Whoever is reading this after the year 2030 please let us know if the Rapture happened! [;~)].

Today, other "Prophecy Teachers" are writing books and producing high-budget and high-quality films which combine the "Dispensationalism" of John Darby and Cyrus Schofield along with warnings about the "New World Order" as the "Reign of Antichrist". Now Evangelical Christians were being told that the False Prophet will prepare the way for the Antichrist; who shall be the head of the evil NEW WORLD ORDER which was somehow divided into 10 "departments" (to make it 'fit' with the description of the Beast in the Apocalyse having 10 horns). Most of the new "Prophecy Teachers" are not setting "dates", but hint that these things are "near".

After Hal Lindsey other "Prophecy Teachers" arose espousing the same Darby/Scofield/Lindsey worldview. In the 1990s Tim LaHaye, an Evangelical Christian "Prophecy Teacher", wrote a series of novels titled Left Behind; a fictional story about those Evangelical Christians not "raptured" along with the rest. It toes the Dispensationalist party-line. After tens of millions of copies of the books were sold, a film was released by the same title.

Left Behind(film/video)

The Baha'is, on the other hand, do not believe in any physical rapture of the physical body into a physical heaven! The "Rapture" as Paul spoke of it referred to one's "soul" being raptured; which can take place "in the body" (in a mystical experience) or "out of the body" (at death).

Baha'is don't believe in any one End-Times Antichrist who shall come and be head of the EU or some 10-divisioned "New World Order". Baha'is believe that there arises one main "opposer" of every Manifestation of God. In Jesus' day, it was Simon Magus. In the day of Baha'u'llah, it was Siyyid Muhammed Isfahani; the one-eyed "Liar" ("Dajjal" in Arabic)whose lies caused many innocent Baha'is to be killed.

Of course, Baha'is believe that the "Spirit of Antichrist" is alive and well and living on planet earth! Racism, nationalism, communism, and many other "isms" partake of this evil spirit. There is no one man or organization controlling it all in "smoked-filled back rooms", but many Gnostic and Gnostic-inspired organizations "network" and spread their teachings outwardly in many different forms; very often to people and groups who would never think of becoming Gnostics themselves and would never believe that they have been duped into believing Gnostic principles!

For Baha'is, "Armageddon" is symbolic of the final struggle between the Forces of Darkness and the Army of Light.

The Greek word "Armageddon" is a tranliteration of the Hebrew "Har-Megiddo"; which means "Hill of the Place of Troops"; a small hill overlooking the Valley of Jezreel in Northern Israel. Mount Megiddo was the scene of many battles in ancient times. The entire Mount is no larger than a football field; it could not contain the "combined armies of the world" in one final battle! Even the Valley of Jezreel is too small for that!

The Mound of Megiddo is too small for a literal all-nations Battle of Armageddon

The Apocalypse (Book of Revelations) contains symbols! The Beast is a symbol of the pagan Roman Empire; the Beast with 7 heads and 10 horns that arose from the Sea represented the City of Rome which was built on 7 hills, and the Empire which arose in order to control the "sea trade routes" in the Mediterranean. The "10 horns" represent the 10 Ceasars who ruled from Augustus (recognized as the first Emperor of Rome) to Titus; the Roman Emperor who burned Jerusalem and the Jewish Temple to the ground. John the Revelator saw that the Ceasars would hate the Woman (Jerusalem "playing the harlot" with Rome and other pagan 'kings'):

"And the ten horns which thou sawest upon the beast, these shall hate the whore, and shall make her desolate and naked. And shall eat her flesh, and burn her with fire." (Rev. 17:16-18)

The number 666 referred to the name of the "Beast": in John's time it was NERON KESAR in Hebrew. In Hebrew NERON KESAR equaled "666". Using Latin letters instead of Greek letters, the number of NERO CEASAR equals "616", and, in the oldest Latin manuscripts of the Apocalypse (Revelations), the number of the Beast is indeed "616".

The "False Prophet" who "gave power" to the Beast by causing his "image" to speak was Simon Magus; an "enchanter" (hypnotist) who enchanted people to think the statues of Nero could move and speak. Simon Magus proclaimed that "he" was the Christ! He and his followers were rewarded by Nero and other ceasars while at the same time the ceasars persecuted and killed Christians.

The Antichrists were those who had, in Jesus' day and thereafter, said, "I am Christ"; like Simon Bar Kochba who proclaimed himself messiah and persecuted the Christians; only to be killed by the Roman legions.

Almost everything in the Apocalyse is a "symbol". A "symbol" is not real, but something that represents something else this is real. The symbol of Armageddon in Revelations chapter 16 is a symbol of the "final conflict" between the Forces of Darkness and the Army of Light.

For Baha'is, the Battle of Armageddon does have a beginning! On Oct. 26, 1912, 'Abdu'l-Baha was in Sacramento California addressing the Baha'is of California. He said:

"We are on the eve of the battle of Armageddon. The time is two years hence, when only a spark will set aflame the whole of Europe.***By 1917 kingdoms will fall and cataclysms will rock the earth." (Baha'u'llah & The New Era, p.243)

The Battle of Armageddon began in 1914, but in continues today! The Second World War, the Cold War, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the African wars, the wars in Bosnia and Serbia, and in the Holy Land, the terrorist attacks against the U.S., are all just local "events" in the final battle!

And the battle continues! The Battle of Armageddon, the final conflict between the Forces of Evil and the Armies of Light on this planet, will continue until the establishment of the the Most Great Peace; at which time the World Order of Baha'u'llah will be firmly established.

The Army of Light wants to establish a New World Order of Peace, Justice, and Equality for all! It is the Forces of Darkness that want to oppose the New World Order, and this is why they demonize it and try to get Muslims and Christians and others to fight against it; thinking they are doing God a service thereby.

The symbol for the World Order of Baha'u'llah in the Apocalypse is the City of New Jerusalem which descends from Heaven upon the earth. The City of Peace; with 12 gates, and 12 foundation~stones.

Muhammad In The Bible

Baha'is accept the Prophet Muhammad (May Peace Be Upon Him!) as a true Prophet and Messenger of God; evan a Manifestation of God. Baha'is are not "Muslims"; because they do not accept Him as the Messenger of God for our Day; nor do they accept the Qu'ran as God's Final Revelation to man (as Muslims do).

The Prophet Muhammed
(His nickname was "Amin" which means "Faithful and True")

Baha'is see Islam much as Christians see Judaism. As Judaism prepared the way for Christianity, so Islam prepared the way for the Baha'i Faith. As the clerics of Judaism persecuted the Christians, so the clerics of Islam persecuted (and continue to persecute) the Baha'is.

History truly repeats itself.

Muhammad was a Prophet "like unto Moses". The LORD told Moses:

"What they say is good. I will raise up for them a Prophet like unto you among their brothers; I will put My words in his mouth, and he will tell them everything I command him. If anyone does not listen to My words that the Prophet speaks in My Name, I will Myself call him to account." (Deuteronomy 18:17-19)

The "brothers" (Hebrew: "close relatives") of the Israelites were the Ishmaelites (Bedouins); the descendants of Abraham and Hagar the Egyptian. Muhammad was an Ishmaelite.

The Qu'ran confirms that Muhammad was the Prophet like unto Moses:

"We have sent to you (Arabs) a Messenger (Muhammad) as a witness over you, even as We sent to Pharaoh a Messenger (Moses)." (Qur'an 73:15)

Moses and Muhammad were alike in ten ways:

1. Both were Prophets and the Heads of State of Their peoples.

2. Both were born of a natural father.

3. Both received their call on a mountain.

4. Both led men into battle.

5. Both names begin with "M".

6. Both were exiled. Moses to Midian, and Muhammed to Madina.

7. Both were married and had children.

8. Both produced Books of Law: Moses the Torah, and Muhammad the Qur'an.

9. Both led their Communities in the desert.

10. Both died and were not resurrected three days later.

Jesus was never a Head-of-State. He was not born of a natural father. He did not receive His call on a mountain. He never led men into battle. His name does not begin with "M". He was never exiled. He never married nor begot children. He never led His community in the desert. He never authored a Book of Holy Law. He was raised from the dead after three days.

Jesus CANNOT BE "That Prophet". Only Muhammad can!

Peter was not saying Jesus was "that Prophet", only that He would RETURN with "That Prophet".(Acts 3:22). He did.

The Jews expected 3 to come:

1. The Messiah (Christ)

2. Elijah

3. "That Prophet" like unto Moses

When the priests and Levites approached John the Baptist they asked him if he was the Christ, or Elias (Greek for "Elijah") or "That Prophet":

And this is the record of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, Who art thou? And he confessed, and denied not; but confessed, I am not the Christ. And they asked him, What then? Art thou Elias? And he saith, I am not. Art thou THAT PROPHET? And he answered, No." (John 1:19-21)

John was not the Messiah. He was not PHYSICALLY Elijah. The Jews believed that Elijah did not die but was caught up bodily in a fiery-chariot, and they expected him to come down from Heaven in his literal physical body. John the Baptist denied he was Elijah. This was true. He was not LITERALLY Elijah come down from Heaven. He was not the reincarnation of Elijah either. But he came "in the spirit and power" of Elijah.

Baha'is believe that Elijah died, and Elisha (his disciple) saw Elijah IN VISION being carried up into Heaven by a chariot of fire. This was a VISION, and not a literal "physical" event.

John the Baptist denied he was "That Prophet". This was the nickname the Jews gave for "that prophet like unto Moses" Who was to come.

Christians don't accept Muhammad was a true Prophet because not long after Muhammad had died (in the late 7th century) Muslim armies fought against Christendom (Catholic Europe). The Popes called Muhammad "The False Prophet" of the Book of Revelations. Later the Reformers (who considered the Popes to be Antichrists) "casually" accepted this view, and continued to believe that Muhammad was "The False Prophet" even though a Pope (whom they considered to be Antichrist) was the first to designate Him as such. Later (as we have seen) Evangelical Christianity abandoned the belief that the Pope was Antichrist, and the belief that Muhammad was "The False Prophet" of the Book of Revelations. The False Prophet had to come right before the End-Times Antichrist. Muhammad could not be "The False Prophet" because He died in the 7th century!

However, at the same time, they retained the belief that Muhamamd was "a false prophet" but not "ThE False Prophet".

Get it?

Don't feel bad if you're confused: SO WERE THE PROTESTANT REFORMERS!

Muhammad was NOT a "false prophet"! He was a true Prophet. He IS, in fact, mentioned in the Book of Revelations:

"And I saw, and behold, a white horse, and its rider had a bow; and a crown was given to him, and he went out conquering and to conquer." (Rev. 6:2)

"Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! He who sat upon it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war." (Rev. 19:11)

The one called 'Faithful and True' would ride a white hourse and conquer pagan nations to establish the Justice of God.

It is admitted by all historians that:

1) Muhammad worn a white turban that resembled a crown (a middle-eastern crown). The eminent Evangelical Christian scholar E.B. Elliot (1793-1875) speaks of the turbans of the Bedouins:

"And let me add, in regard to turban-crown, it happens very singurlarly that Ezekiel (13:42) describes the turbans of the Sabean or Keturite Arabs under this precise appellation: 'Sabeans from the wilderness, which put beautiful crowns upon their heads'....Of the four peculiar things that they were wont in a national proverb to specify bestowed by God upon the Arabs, the first was that their turbans should be to them instead of diadems." (The Symbols of the Fifth Trumpet Analyzed To Shew The Origin of the First Woe, p.2 online)

A Muslim commentatory writes:

"The Gospel refers to him also as he who wears a crown. What is meant here by crown is turban, and it is the Arabs who have worn headcovers with a wrapper around them since ancient times." (Proofs of Muhammad's Prophethood in the New and Old Testament, p.4 online)

2) Muhammad road on a white Arabian stallion (horse).

3) Muhammad made war upon Pagan tribes and nations and conquered them. He made war to "establish righteousness" just as the Book of Revelations says.

4) Arabs had given names, but they were most known by was their nickname. Muhammad's nickname was "Amin"; which is Arabic for "Faithful and True".

5) Contrary to popular belief, Muhammad did not wield a sword. Rather, He was an archer. He carried a bow and arrows:

"Muhammad spent his youth mostly pasturing sheep and goats. He once went on a cravan to Bostra in Syria and was noted by the Christian hermit Bahira. In Mecca a sacrilegious war occurred after a trecherous murder. In the earlier battles Muhammad was too young to fight, but he gathered enemy arrows and gave them to his Quraysh uncles to shoot back. In the last battle when he was about twenty, Muhammad did shoot arrows for the Hashim clan at the enemy and was praised for his valor." (Muhammad and the Spread of Islam, p.1 online)

"The importance of archery in early warfare is reflected in the traditions of the Prophet Muhammad, who himself was an excellent archer and he encouraged the activity." (Turkish Archery, p.1 online)

Some modern Christian artists depict Jesus returning on a white horse with a crown on his head and carrying a bow (or a sword) but there is nothing in the Bible to justify this view. The Rider on the White Horse does not refer to Jesus, but to Muhammad.

Jesus and His Apostles spoke Syriac (Aramaic); not Hebrew. Jesus says that He would send the "Comforter" to help them. In Syriac Bibles, the word for "Comforter" is "Manhamanna"; which means "Praised One". In Arabic, a language closely related to Syriac, the word for "Manhamanna" is "Muhammad".

Most Christians have never bothered to crack open a copy of the Qur'an. They believe that Muhammad was "a false prophet" simply because that is what they were taught by their pastors or other Christians. Few know the truth; that the tradition that Muhammad was a false prophet began with a Roman Catholic Pope angered at Muslims armies attacking Christendom LONG AFTER the Prophet Muhammad was dead!

The Prophet Muhammad in fact NEVER attacked Christians! On the contrary, He protected them! The Prophet Muhammed led Muslim armies against PAGAN Arabs! Isaiah wrote:

"The Lord shall go forth as a mighty man, he shall stir up jealousy like a man of war: she shall cry, rea, roar; he shall prevail against his enemies." (Isaiah 42:13)

"Muhammad did go forth as a mighty prophet of Allah, did stir up jealousy among the most influential and dominating tribe of the pagan Arabs in Arabia. Finally with a war cry and roar, Muhammad did prevail upon the enemies of the Lord--the idolaters, fulfilling the above prophecy." (Did Jesus and Isaiah PROPHESY the coming of Muhammad? p.3 online)

The Miracles of Muhammed

The Prophet Muhammed also performed miracles. Most of these had to do with water. Muhammed lived in a harsh desert where water often meant the difference between life and death. He performed no miracle unless there was an absolute necessity to do so. One of His companions named Abdullah reported one of these:

"Once we were with Allah's Apostle on a journey, and we ran short of water. He said, 'Bring the water remaining with you.' The people brought a utensil containing a little water. He placed his hand in it and said, 'Come to the blessed water, and the blessing is from Allah.' I saw the water flowing from among the fingers of Allah's Apostle, ...." (Sahih al-Bukhari 4.56.779)

The "Prophet Like Unto Moses" did miracles like unto Moses!

Moses bringing water pouring from a rock in the desert.

Of course, many Christians will simply "dismiss" the miracles of Muhammed with a wave of a hand, saying, "Oh! Well, we can trust the miracles of Jesus but these are all mere stories!" Others will say, "If Muhammed did any miracles, they were done with the power of Satan!" When Jesus performed miracles, the Pharisees and Sadducees said He did so with the help of the "Prince of the Devils".

Christians reject the Qur'an as the Word of God NOT because of what it actually says, but because of what Muslims say it says; how they interpret it! The Baha'i interpertations of the Qur'an are often very different from the Muslim interpretations, but Baha'is still believe the Qur'an is the "Word of God". The Qur'an were the divine poems that the Angel Gabriel had revealed to Muhammed. They are actually the divine poems of Gabriel!

Gabriel is the Holy Spirit!

Many Christians assume that the Qur'an contradicts the New Testament.

The Qur'an does NOT contradict the New Testament; only interpretations of the Qur'an do. True, Orthodox Islam rejects Jesus as the "Son of God", but the Shi'ite Imams (like the Imam Ja'far as-Sadiq) called Jesus "The Son of God". Baha'is believe that Jesus is "The Son of God". Not the "only" Son of God, but the Only Virgin-born Son of God. The Qur'an says that Allah did not "beget" a Son, but the New Testament calls Jesus the "Only Begotten Son".

How can this contradiction be explained?

Easy.

First of all, the term "Only Begotten Son" is a mistranslation that all Evangelical Christian Bible-scholars admit! The Greek word translated for centuries as "Only Begotten Son" is Monogenes, and means "Only (Mono) Kind (Genes)". It does not mean "only", but only (mono) kind (genes). The reason why monogenes was mistranslated as "Only Begotten" is because of the error of an ancient Christian scribe.

St. Jerome was a Latin Christian who knew the Greek language, but did NOT know it well! He thought monogenes meant "Only Begotten" because he thought "genes" meant "Begotten". He was mistaken. The Greek word for "begotten" is "gennao". The term monogennao DOES NOT APPEAR in any ancient manuscript of the Greek New Testament. The Latin word for monogenes is unicus ("unique"), but Jerome translated monogenes into the Latin word unigenitus ("only begotten"). St. Jerome wrote the first Latin Bible which was called the Vulgate (385 A.D.). After that time, all Christians in the West began to refer to Jesus as the "Only Begotten" Son of God!

Of course, Bible scholars today recognize Jerome's honest mistake. In the newer translations of the New Testament, such as the New International Version, Jesus is never called the "Only Begotten" but rather the "Unique" or "One of a kind" Son of God.

The Aramaic New Testament (the language Jesus and His apostles spoke was Aramaic) calls Him not the "Only Begotten" but "ehadaya"; which means "most beloved son" and "heir". It has no meaning of "to beget" or "begotten" whatsoever. Also, it cannot mean "only son".

When Christians first read the Qur'an they thought it blasphemy because it denies that God (Allah) "begot" Jesus! It says:

"It is not befitting to Allah that He should beget a son. Glory be to Him! When He determines a matter He only has to say 'BE' and it is." (19:35)

All this because Jerome has mistraslated the Greek word "monogenes" into "Only Begotten" instead of what it really meant: "Unique/One-of-a-Kind".

Jesus was not the "Only" Son of God (Adam is called "The Son of God" in Luke 1:38). Jesus was the "unique" Son of God in that He alone was born of a virgin.

And Jesus IS "unique". He was the ONLY Son of God to be born of a virgin. God did not "beget" Jesus; He only said 'BE' and Jesus was created in the womb of Mary.

All Evangelical Christians agree with that! God the Father did not physically sire Jesus (as men sire sons), but merely willed it and it was! The Qur'an says that Allah said "Be!" and Jesus was created in Mary's womb.

The Qur'an upholds the Virgin Birth of Jesus Christ, and all of His miracles. The Qur'an seems to deny the Deity of Christ, calling Jesus "only the Messenger of God"(Qur'an 4:171). This is because Jesus has not one but "two" natures. He was both a Messenger of God, and the WORD of God made flesh. This is true for all Manifestations. The New Testament emphasizes His Divine-nature, and the Qur'an emphasizes His human-nature.

All of the Manifestations of God has two natures; one Divine, and one human. The Divine Nature is God, but the human nature is not. In His Divine Nature Jesus was the unique Son of God. In His human nature, Jesus was a Prophet; a Messenger of God.

Muhammed was "That Prophet" like unto Moses Who would arise among the "brethren" (Ishmaelites) of the Israelites. He was the one "Faithful and True" in the Book of Revelations Who would be a "man of war" and conquer and defeat the idolaters (pagan) in order to establish God's justice. The Qur'an is the "Recital" of the Angel Gabriel Who revealed it to Muhammed. The words of the Angel Gabriel are the words of the Holy Spirit, and thus Scripture.

The Signs in the Heavens

Jesus said that before the coming of "the Son of Man" there would be certain 'signs in the heavens':

"Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken." (Mattew 24:29)

"The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and terrible day of the Lord come." (Joel 2:31)

"And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake, and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood; and the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind." (Revelation 6:12-13)

Adventist Christian author Glen Walker has written:

"These are the opening signs announcing that Jesus would come again soon. First the earth shook mightily--this was commonly called the Lisbon earthquake of November 1, 1755. It was the most terrible earthquake every recorded. It involved most of Europe and Africa and even reach America, Great Britain, and Ireland. It covered more than four million square miles.
Next came the great dark day. The Great Dark Day of May 19, 1780. Since the time of Moses no period of darkness of equal density, extent, and duration has ever been recorded. Joel prophesied "The sun will be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord." Joel 2:31. After midnight the darkness disappeared and the moon, when first seen, had the appearance of blood.
Next was a vision of the stars falling as thick and fast as late-ripening figs fall from a tree when shaken by a strong wind. Read in history books about the fulfillment of this great meteoric shower of November 13, 1833." (Project Lighthouse, Lesson 15, pp.4-5 online)

"The Lisbon earthquake, which occurred on November 1, 1755, is the most notable earthquake in history."

The Dark Day of May 19, 1780, was not an eclipse! Scientists still can't explain it. At noonday the Sun turned black, and the Moon appeared blood-red.

The last 'sign' was the falling of the stars. It says in the Apocalypse:

"And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig free casteth her untimely figs when she is shaken of a might wind." (Rev. 6:13)

Night of the Falling Stars

The Rev. Henry Ward wrote a letter to the New York Journal of Commerce which appeared Nov. 14, 1833, in which he said:

"Here is the exactness of the prophet [Joel]. The falling stars did not come, as if from several trees shaken, but from one: whose which appeared in the East fell toward the East; those which appeared in the North fell toward the North; those which appeared in the West fell toward the West, and those which appeared in the South fell toward the South (for I went out of my residence into the park); and they fell, not as the ripe fruit falls. Far from it. But they flew, they WERE CAST, like the unripe fruit, descending; and in the multitude falling some cross the tracks of others, as they are thrown with more or less force." (Signs of the Times, Oct. 11, 1843).

Christians throughout the world believe that these 'signs' must take place before Christ can return "in the Glory of the Father". Some Christians expect the literal "stars" to fall to earth; all the billions of suns (many of whom are much larger than our Sun) to fall upon the earth. Some expect the Moon to turn literally into blood! Others expect no such literal fulfillment.

Baha'i Hand of the Cause (apostle) William Sears writes of these historic 'signs in the heavens' and how many Bible prophecies are fulfilled in the Baha'i Faith, in his popular book Thief in the Night; available at many Baha'i Centers or via Baha'i Booksource International on the Internet.

Baha'is believe that every 'Sign of God' (a holy Verse in Scripture, a prophecy, a Biblical story, etc.) has "one and seventy meanings"; all of which are true. This means every 'sign' has "1" literal meaning and "70" (a great multitude) of esoteric or "inner" meanings. Baha'u'llah explains many "inner" meanings of the 'signs in the heavens' in His Book of Certitude.

In The Clouds of Heaven

To most Christians, His return "in the Glory of God" and in "the clouds of Heaven" refers to Him coming in the literal "clouds" of the sky; spitting fireballs upon the wicked, and with tens of thousands of angels blowing their trumpets...

However, this presents the following 'problems':

*Most areas of the earth have skies that are not cloudy.

*The earth is round, therefore if Jesus descends in a cloudy-sky over Jerusalem, He won't be seen (much less recognized) by anyone except those in Jerusalem.

*For Jesus to descend in a cloud, even with 10,000 angels, and been seen "by every eye" then He must descend hundreds of thousands of times in hundreds of thousands of locations on the earth in order to "all eyes to see him". Still then, how will "all eyes" see him when some will be in the bellies of ships, others in mines, others in houses, etc.

Evangelical Christians believe that Jesus will return "in the clouds of Heaven"; the clouds of Heaven meaning the "a cloudy sky".

Baha'is, however, don't see it that way! They believe that Jesus returing "in the clouds" refers to the "clouds of heaven"; which were NOT the white puffy clouds of the sky, but the KABOD-I-YEHWEH: the "Glory of God" clouds which were the earthly theophanies of GOD THE FATHER.

Jesus would return "IN" God the Father!

How is this possible?

With God, all things are possible!

If God the Father could be "in" Jesus 2000 years ago, then Jesus could come "in" God the Father.

The Three Wise Men

Jesus likened the coming of "the Son of Man" to the advent of the Three Wise Men.

Jesus said:

"For as the lightning cometh out the East, and shineth even unto the West, so shall the coming of the Son of Man be." (Matt. 24:27)

"The Kingdom of Heaven is like unto leaven, which a woman took, and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened." (Matt. 13:33)

The only time the Bible mentions "light" that comes out of the East and goes unto the West is when the "Star of Bethlehem" appeared in the East and guided the "three wise men" to baby Jesus in Bethlehem.

In the Arabic Gospel of the Infancy it says:

"And it came to pass, when the Lord Jesus was born at Bethlehem of Judea, in the time of King Herod, behold, Magi came from the East to Jerusalem, as Zeraduscht [Zoroaster] had predicted, and there were with them gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh." (7:1)"

Was Zoroaster a false prophet? How could a false prophet predict the coming of the Savior?

Jesus said that the Son of Man would come like the Three Wise Men who came from the East to the West; guided by a shining star. Jesus also said that the Kingdom of Heaven would be "hidden" in three measures of meal until it was "leavened" (fully established).

The Three Maja'i see His Star in the East

Baha'is believe that Three Messengers of God came after Jesus:

1) Muhammad (570-643 A.D.)

2) The Bab (1819-1850 A.D.)

3) Baha'u'llah (1817-1892 A.D.)

Like the Three Wise Men (also known as the "Magi"~pronounced "Maja'i") two came from Persia, and one from Arabia. Muhammad came from Arabia, but The Bab and Baha'u'llah came from Persia.

These Three Messengers are the "Three Measures of Meal" that Jesus spoke about. These are the "Three Angels" of Revelations chapter 14! In Hebrew "angel" is "malakh", and means "Messenger".

Many a young child has asked in Sunday School, "Who were the Magi?" They are usually told, "They were astrologers!" or "They were Kings!" or "Don't worry about it!"

The Magi were actually Zoroastrian priests. The Greek calls them "Magoi"; the plural of "Magos" or "Magus". A Magus was not only a priest, but an official of Persia when it was ruled by Zoroastrian kings. Magus also existed in Babylon (now Iraq). Daniel was made the Rab Mag (Chief Magus) by the Babylonian King (Daniel chapter 5).

Ancient Christian tradition calls the Three Wise Men Belthazzar, Gaspar, and Melchior. Two were Persian, and one was Arabian. They were Zoroastrian Magoi.

Zoroaster was an ancient Persian prophet. Baha'is accept Him as a Manifestation of God; equal to Muhammed or The Bab or Moses, etc. He taught the worship of the One True God Who was called "Ahura Mazda"; which means "Wise Lord". Zoroaster wrote:

"The two primeval Spirits who are twins were revealed to me while in a sleep. Their ways of thinking, speaking, and behaving are two; the good and the evil. And between these two Ways the Wise Men have rightly chosen, and not the foolish ones." (Gathas Y30:3-4)

The Prophet Zoroaster

Zoroastrian prophecy tells of three Saviors or Sayoshants who would come and save Mankind. The Magus of Babylon (of whom Daniel was once their chief) combined these Zoroastrian prophecies with the Jewish prophecies concerning the Messiah ben Joseph, and they came to the conclusion that the Messiah, the King of the Jews, would be born when certain stars were in the constellation of Leo (the Lion).

The Magi saw the Messiah's star in the East

Christians are told that the Bible, and the Bible alone is the "Word of God".

But that would mean that Zoroaster is a false prophet!

Do YOU believe that the Magi (the three wise men) were followers of a false prophet ? How could the prophecies of a "false" prophet send them directly to the Christ child when the Jews (who poured over their prophecies of the Messiah every day) failed to recognize Him?

The only conclusion there can be is this:

*Zoroaster was a TRUE Prophet of God! But He was not a "biblical" prophet. He revealed the Word of God!

*The Bible IS the "Word of God". But is is NOT His "only" Word!

Jesus Returns in the Glory of His Father

Jesus said the "Son of Man" would come "in the glory of His Father" (Matthew 16:27). In Arabic, Baha'u'llah means "The Glory of God (the Father)".

Jesus would return "in" His "Glory".

In Arabic, the word for "glory" is "BAHA".

Jesus would return IN "The Glory of God".

In Arabic, "The Glory of God" is Baha'u'llah.

Jesus would return "IN" Baha'u'llah!

While Jesus was on earth 2000 years ago He told His disciples that GOD THE FATHER was "in" Him!

Philip said to him,
"Master, show us the Father, and that will be enough for us."
Jesus said to him, "Have I been with you for so long a time and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, 'Show us the Father'? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on my own. The Father who dwells in me is doing His works. Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else, believe because of the works themselves." (John 14:8-12 NAB)

The Son of Man was to come "in the clouds of heaven". This refers to the "glory clouds" (the pillar of smoke by day and the pillar by fire by night) that led Israel and filled the Tabernacle. The "clouds of heaven" do NOT refer to to clouds of the sky. In the Old Testament, the "clouds of heaven" were called "The Glory of Yehweh [God]", or, in Arabic Bibles, "BAHA'U'LLAH".

Baha'u'llah wrote:

"O Jews! If ye be intent on crucifying once again Jesus, the Spirit of God, put Me to death, for He hath once more, in My Person, been made manifest unto you."

( Gleanings, p.101)

Two thousands years ago the Father was manifest "in" the Son. A century ago, the Son became manifest "in" the Father. Jesus, the Spirit of God, returned in the Manifesation of God the Father on earth! The theophanies of God the Father on earth in the Old Testament were called "The Glory of the LORD". Or, in Arabic Bibles, they were called "Baha'u'llah".

The Father was IN the Son, and the Son was IN the Father. They are One.

Yeh'o'shua (Jesus) is the Messiah ben Joseph: the First Anointed One. He was the Suffering Messiah. Baha'u'llah is Messiah ben David: the Second Anointed One. He was the Reigning Messiah. They are the "Two Olive Branches" of Zechariah 4:12!

They are the "two anointed ones" (messiahs/christs) of Zechariah chapter 4.

The White Stone/New Name

The Apocalypse (Book of Revelations) speaks that those Christians who "overcome" will be given "hidden manna" plus a "white stone" with a "new name" in it:

"He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches;
To him that overcometh I will 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, saving he that receiveth it." (Rev. 2:17)

"The Bab presented His followers and Baha'u'llah with a scroll often called the 'White Stone' on which He inscribed a pentacle (five-pointed star) with 360 derivatives of the word 'BAHA'. The scroll represented a revealtion of the name of the New Manifestation to follow Him. Only those who accept the Baha'i Revelation will understand the meaning of the New Name." (Apocalypse Unsealed, p.69)

In The Book of Revelations the Beloved Apostle John has a vision of a city that comes down from Heaven:

The city is foursquare, and it has 12 Gates. John writes:

"21:2 And I John saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.***
21:11 Having the Glory of God:***
21:23 And the city had no need of the sun, neither the moon to shine for it: for The Glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb of God was the light thereof." (Rev. 21:2,11,23)

The size of a literal New Jerusalem

Baha'is do not interpret New Jerusalem as a literal space-cit--1500 miles square and 1500 miles tall--which lands upon the earth. Rather, Baha'is see it as the World Order of Baha'u'llah; which is based upon the 12 Heavenly Principles which Baha'u'llah revealed.

New Jerusalem ("City of Peace")

John was a Jew, and he was using the Jewish science of numbers called "Gematria".

John wrote that the heavenly city was 12,000 fulongs in length, width, and heighth. Using Gematria, we come to this:

12,000 X 12,000 X 12,000= 1728[ with the 9 zeros removed]= 1+7+2+8= 18= 1+ 8 = 9.

144,000

In Revelations chapter 7 John sees 12,000 out of each of the 12 Tribes of Israel (144,000) being sealed. Later, John writes that "the Father's name" was written on their foreheads (Rev. 1:14).Again, using the science of Gematria, we come to this:

12 X 12,000= 144,000= 1+4+4+0+0+0= 9.

The Gematria meaning of 144,000 is "9".

It means all those who are "sealed" to Eternal Life (not a literal 144,000) and have the Father's Name written on their foreheads (i.e. they are servants to the Father) shall be sealed with "9" and recognized by the number "9".

The symbol of the Baha'i Revelation is the 9-pointed star. The name BAHA is Arabic for "GLORY", and consists of the letter BA (2) and the letter HA (7); which equals 9.

Baha'u'llah wrote:

"These are they who are blessed by the Concourse on High, who are glorified by the denizens of the everlasting Cities, and beyond them by those on whose foreheads Thy most exalted Pen hath written, 'These! The People of Baha!'" (Baha'i Prayers, 178:8)

"I will write upon him My New Name." (Rev. 3:12)

John was giving readers gematric clues to identify not only Nero, but to identify the esoteric meaning of the New Jerusalem and the 144,000.

The People of BAHA (Ba[2]+Ha[7]=9); those that recognize that Jesus has returned in "The Glory of God" the Father, have entered the New Jerusalem.

He who has eyes, let him see!

Jesus' name in Greek is IESOUS, and equals 888: 8 + 8 + 8 = 24 = 2 + 4 = 6. The number 6 is the number of Man. The number of the Beast is 666 which is a negative number because it is associated with evil. Thus i"666" is 6 - 6 - 6 = -6; the opposite of 6. The number of Christ is 6, and the number of Antichrist is -6.

The Glory of God the Father

Shoghi Effendi wrote of Baha'u'llah:

"To Him Jesus Christ had referred to as the 'Prince of this world,' as the 'Comforter' Who will 'reprove the would of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment,' as the 'Spirit of Truth' Who 'will guide you into all truth,' Who 'shall not speak of Himself, but whatsoever He shall hear, that shall He speak,' as the 'Lord of the Vineyard,' and as the 'Son of Man' Who 'shall come in the glory of His Father' 'in the clounds of heaven with power and great glory,' with 'all the holy angels' about Him, and 'all nations gathered before His Throne." (God Passes By, p.93)

"...and the city had no need of the sun or moon to shine upon it for THE GLORY OF GOD is its light;..." (Rev. 221:23)

The World Order of Baha'u'llah will establish Universal Peace on this planet

New Jerusalem is the heavenly "City of Peace" which descends from heaven to the Earth. This symbolically represents the World Order of Baha'u'llah; based upon the 12 Principles of the Faith. The World Order of Baha'u'llah shall be the Kingdom of God upon Earth, and it shall save Humanity as a whole~as a living species~from total self-destruction. This is why Shoghi Effendi called Baha'u'llah the "Savior of the whole human race" and that the Faith's "aim is the salvation, through unification, of the entire planet." (The Promised Day is Come, pp.114,116).

The collective sins of Humanity has made it ripe for the Wrath of God upon it. Baha'u'llah wrote:

"The time for the destruction of the world and its people hath arrived. The hour is approaching when the most great convulsion will have appeared. The promised day is come, the day when tormenting trials will have surged about your heads, and beneath your feet, saying: 'Taste ye what your hands have wrought!' Soon shall the blasts of His chastisement beat upon you, and the dust of hell enshround you. The day is approaching when its flame will devour the cities, when the Tongue of grandure will proclaim: 'The Kingdom is God's, the Almighty, the All-Praised!' The day will soon come, whereon they will cry out for help and receive no answer. The day is approaching when the wrathful anger of the Almighty will have taken hold of them. He, verily, is the Omnipotent, the All-Subduing, the Most Powerful. He shall cleanse the earth from the defilement of their corruption, and shall give it for an heritage unto such of His servants as are nigh unto Him." (The Promised Day is Come, pp.3-4)

Mankind has earned itself the Wrath of God. Abortion on demand, sexual perversion, the destruction of the environment for the purpose of gain, greed and corruption in business and government, the extremes of poverty and wealth, starvation in a world of plenty, wars, illegal drugs, gangs, racial,religious, and ethnic hatred and conflict, etc. All these things have earned Humanity the Wrath of a Just and Angry God.

The 7-Bowl Judment

But...

God is Merciful, and has provided a means of escaping His Righteous Wrath!

At least one of the 7-Bowls has already been poured out upon mankind! The invasions of the barbarians seeking Roman coin (i.e. tormenting those with the 'Mark' of the Beast). The Vandals, Visigoths, Huns, and others tormented the Romans for hundreds of years; all seeking Roman coins (i.e. coins with the image of the Emperor stamped upon them). Millions were tortured and died. Thousands of Roman cities and villages went up in flame. Rome itself was ravaged and burned numerous times. Later, the Black Plague killed a third of all who lived in Europe.

Some believe that the World Wars were also Bowls filled with the Wrath of God being poured out.

Could Humanity survive all 7 Bowls being poured out? Read and ask yourself that question.

But mankind does not have to suffer God's Righteous Wrath, nor self-destruction! God has provided a way to save Humanity as a whole; that is the World Order of Baha'u'llah otherwise known as The New Jerusalem. If Humanity builds the New Jerusalem, based upon the 12 Principles of the Faith, then Humanity will be saved.

Jesus=Personal Savior=Savior of the Soul.

Baha'u'llah=World Redeemer=Redeemer of the Whole.

They are the Father and the Son.

Will Humanity survive or will Humanity be utterly destroyed?

God's Wrath upon an unjust planet

That all depends on if Humanity recognizes Baha'u'llah and obey's His Holy Laws and builds the New Jerusalem (the World Order of Baha'u'llah) as He has outlined in His Writings. Only then will Humanity be spared from the "Third Woe".

Humanity actually has a choice. To be saved, or to become extinct as a living species; To establish peace and use the resources now spent on war and luxury to help the needed and colonize new worlds, or will Humanity incure the Wrath of an Angry and Just God?.

That is Humanity's choice.

The choice is ours to make.

Will we make the right choice?

?

Will Humanity be destroyed by Fire (the "Final Doom")?

OR

Will Humanity be saved by the Spirit of Truth?

Jesus is the Son. He is the Messiah ben Joseph.

Baha'u'llah is the Father. He is the Messiah ben David.

They are ONE.

Conclusion

Jesus is Lord! The Son of God! The Very Savior of Man! The Redeemer of Souls!

Baha'u'llah is the Heavenly Father! The Spirit of Truth! The World Redeemer!

They are the "Father" and the "Son".

They are ONE!

Jesus said:

"Howbeit when he, THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH is come, he will guide you unto all truth; for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. He shall glorify Me..." (John 16:12-14)

Baha'u'llah wrote:

"Verily, He Who is THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH is now come to guide you unto all truth. He speaketh not as prompted by His own Self, but as bidden by Him Who is the All-Knowing, the All-Wise. Say, this is the One Who hath glorified the Son and hath exalted His Cause." (Tablets of Baha'u'llah, p.12)

He Who is the Father is come, and the Son, in the holy vale, crieth out: 'Here am I, here am I, O Lord, My God!'" (The Proclaimation of Baha'u'llah, p.27)

THE LORD OF THE VINEYARD HAS COME!

THE FATHER HAS COME!

CHRIST HAS RETURNED "IN" THE GLORY OF HIS FATHER!

ALL CHRISTIAN HOPES AND PROPHECIES CONCERNING THE SECOND ADVENT AND THE COMING OF THE NEW JERUSALEM HAVE....BEEN...FULFILLED!!!

It is time for Christians to recognize The Spirit of Truth that Jesus said would come to teach us "all things" pertaining to the Kingdom of God and the Salvation of the Human Family. You owe it to Jesus to investigate this Truth for yourselves. You owe it to your children and generations not yet born on this planet. Please, come hear Him! Come to a Baha'i Fireside and listen to His Words being recited in prayers. You will KNOW THEN **if*** HE _is_ Whom He claims to be!

You MUST come and hear His Words and prayers being recited!

Then you will know that the Father, The Lord of the Vineyard, has come!

In Summary

*There are over 7 million Baha'is on earth today in almost every country on the globe.

*Baha'is are followers of Baha'u'llah ("The Glory of God") Whose Divine Nature is that of GOD THE FATHER, and Whose human nature is that of THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH. God is a Spirit (John 4:24) that from time-to-times becomes a God-Man. God did so as Jesus 2000 years ago, and as Baha'u'llah a century ago. All the Manifestations of God are "God-Men", but They have different "stations". Jesus came in the station of the "Son", and Baha'u'llah came in the station of the "Father".

*Jesus is NOT the only Son of God. Adam is called "the Son of God" (Luke 3:38). All of the Manifestations of God are the "Sons of God". Jesus is the unique (Greek: Monogenes) Son of God in that He alone was born of a virgin and had no human father.

*The Baha'i Faith is the Millennial Kingdom; the 1000 year Reign of Christ on this planet. The Dispensation of Baha'u'llah shall last 1000 years, then another Manifestation of God shall come.

*The Baha'i Faith is the "Army of Light" that does spiritual battle in the last days with the "Forces of Darkness". Michael the Archangel (Chief Messenger of God) is a symbol of Baha'u'llah; the Prince of Persia Who arises in the last days to combat and defeat the "Dragon" and his angels.

*Baha'u'llah is the "Lord of the Vineyard" Who sends prophets, then His own Son, then comes Himself to the Holy Land; a literally fulfillment of Mark 12:1-9.

*Baha'is ARE "Christians" because they believe that Jesus is "the very Savior of man", the virgin-born Son of God Who offerred His life as a "sacrifice for the sins and iniquities of all mankind". Among the Manifestations of God, He holds the exalted station (rank) of "Son".

*Baha'is do NOT believe that Jesus was raised in His physical body, but in a spiritual body that can only be seen in visions.

*Baha'u'llah is the Messiah ben David; the SECOND Anointed-One. Jesus is Messiah ben Joseph: otherwise known as "The Suffering Messiah". Zechariah chapter 4 speaks of "two anointed ones (Christs) and not one only.

*One can be 'saved' without being a "Christian" (at least one does not need to use that name). The disciples of Jesus never referred to themselves as "Christians" until long after Jesus was gone back to the Father. They were first called "Christians" by pagans in Antioch. Were they not 'saved' until they began to be referred to as 'Christians'? Jesus called His followers "Talmeeth" ("Students" or "disciples"). In the Middle-East, Christians are called "Nasara'i" ("Belonging to The Branch"). One can be a disciple of Jesus without being called, or calling themselves, "Christian". The only name important regarding personal salvation is "Jesus". Baha'is accept Jesus as the only virgin-born Son of God Who is the Author of Personal Salvation.

*The Baha'i Faith is NOT a "cult", but will be called such and persecuted by the orthodox clergymen of the day; the same as what occurred in the times of Jesus; Who was called by the priests and ministers and scholars "That Deceiver". What was true of the Son shall also be true of the Father.

*The Bible is the Word of God, but not the ONLY Word of God. Zoroaster prophecied of the Messiah, and His disciples (the Wise Men) worshipped Him and offerred Him gifts while the Jews rejected and crucified Him. If Zoroaster was a true Prophet, then He revealed the Word of God outside of the Bible.

*Baha'is do NOT believe in a Rapture of the physical body, but of the soul at death (or 'near death') or in mystical experiences.

*Jesus appeared as the Archangel Gabriel as a "thief in the night" in a cave near Mecca to the Prophet Muhammed with a SHOUT, and revealed to Him (over the course of many months) the Qur'an. This is when the Resurrection of all Christians who lived before occurred; not in the physical dimension, but in the Unseen World.

*The Great Tribulation occurred during the 42 months of the first and second Jewish/Roman wars during which the Temple was destroyed (70 A.D.) and the Jewish people dispersed (135 A.D.). These were two periods of 42 months (3 1/2 years) each. The Christians avoided both tribulations by fleeing to the mountains of Jordan; as Jesus recommended they do in Matthew chapter 24.

*Baha'is do NOT believe in one End-Times Antichrist who shall rule the EU (or a 10-divisioned "New World Order") and mark everyone on the forehead or righthand with a "666" computer barcode. The first Beast was the pagan Roman Empire, and also Nero Ceasar. The Mark of the Beast was the "stamp" of the Roman emperor's face on coins; nobody could buy or sell without the stamp. The "Image" of the Beast was the statues of the Emperor that citizens were expected to worship; which Simon Magus made appear to speak.

*The "Antichrist" of the Baha'i Revelation was Siyyid Muhammed Isfahani; the prophecied one-eyed "Dajjal" ("Liar") expected by all Muslims to arise an oppose Isa (Jesus) in the last days. His lies led to the deaths of many innocent Baha'is. He was killed by Baha'is who were avenging the deaths of their loved ones.

*Baha'is believe the "New World Order" is the World Order of Baha'u'llah; otherwise known as the "New Jerusalem"; a city with 12 gates and 12 foundationstones (which are symbolic of the 12 Principles of the Faith).

*The 144,000 who are "sealed" with the Father's Name written on their foreheads are the Baha'is; who are the followers of BAHA (1+4+4=9) Whose Dispensation shall last 1000 years (000=thousandths).

*The Battle of Armageddon is a symbol of the final earthly battle between the Forces of Good and Evil on this planet. It began in 1914 with World War I, but is still continuing today in various conflicts around the globe, on television, in university, in culture, and in the minds of men and women everywhere.

*Baha'is believe that Muhammed was a true Prophet of God; even a Manifestation of God. They do not believe He was a false prophet or "ThE False Prophet" of Revelations. They believe He was "That Prophet" expected by the Jews. He was "That Prophet Like Unto Moses" expected to arise from the "brothers" of the Israelites (the Ishmaelites/Bedouins). He was the one "Faithful and True" with a bow and riding a white horse mentioned in the Apocalypse.

*Baha'is believe that Jesus is THE ONLY WAY TO GOD; the Only Mediator between God and man: because He was a Manifestation of God, and each of Them is the ONLY WAY to God. They are not in competition with each Other! They are "The Way" both individually and collectively. They are ONE! Only their disciples are divided and in competition.

*Baha'is believe that Baha'u'llah is THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH that Jesus promised would come and teach us "all truth" pertaining to the Kingdom of Heaven on earth and the Salvation of all Humanity. Jesus is the Savior of the SOUL (saves us from an eternal Hell), and Baha'u'llah is the Redeemer of the WHOLE (saves Humanity as a living species from the Final Doom upon the planet). Jesus' Mission was the Personal Salvation of souls. Baha'u'llah's Mission was the Universal Salvation of Humanity as a whole from final extinction.

*Christians who reject Baha'u'llah are making the same mistake the Jews made 2000 years ago when they rejected Jesus, called Him a "false prophet" and "false christ", and followed their uninspired religious leaders; the "blind" leading the blind. Those Mullas (Muslim clerics) and Ministers (Christian clerics) who recognize Baha'u'llah as the Father must sacrifice their pastorships, their current livelihoods, and become Baha'is. If they are not willing to make such a sacrifice, they are unworthy of Him.

*Christians who become Baha'is do not cease to be Christians, but rather have become CHRISTIANS OF THE SECOND ADVENT.

*To know if Baha'u'llah is the Spirit of Truth or not you must attend a Baha'i Fireside (informational meeting) and hear His Words being recited by Baha'is in prayers. The sheep will recognize the Voice of the Shepherd.

Baha'i Magazine/Firesides

You are cordially invited to call for a free copy of The Baha'is magazine to be mailed to you (if you live in the Continenal U.S.). You can request literature only, or you can also request the Baha'is near you to call you.

You are also invited to attend a Baha'i Fireside (informational meeting) near your home. These meetings are very casual, and includes refreshments and perhaps the showing of a video about the Faith. You are invited to ask questions, but Baha'is are forbidden to get into debates or arguments about religion. You can merely observe if you wish. Those who attend these meetings who are not Baha'is are called "Seekers".

If you live in the U.S. (except for Alaska and Hawaii) and would like a FREE COPY of The Baha'is magazine to be mailed to you, or if you would like to attend a Baha'i Fireside near your home, then just call the toll-free number below anytime (24-hour U.S. hotline):

1-800-228-6483

The Baha'is magazine for Seekers

Contacting the Baha'is:

Continental U.S.: 1-800-228-6483
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United Kingdom: CLICK HERE or nsa@bahai.org.uk

If your country is not mentioned above then please CLICK HERE or check your local telephone director for "Baha'i Faith" in the White Pages or in the yellow pages under "Churches" or "Religious Organizations".

For a photo tour of Baha'i Shrines and Temples and the Baha'i World Center please CLICK HERE.

Go in Peace!

To the LSA: Please have copies of this article printed and put into three-ring binders; to give to Christian Seekers on loan. This article is not copyrighted. Anyone can copy it, distribute it, reproduce it by any means, publish it for free or profit, without the permission of the author. This article is not an official Baha'i publication, but reflects the personal views and opinions of its author~Darrick T. Evenson